JP2001062035A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent action of illicitly adding credits in a game machine for fetching game balls as the credits. SOLUTION: When a controller 40 turns an output port 40a to a high level and turns the output port 40b to the low level, a DC motor 58 is normally rotated. Only when the output port 40a is at the high level and a light receiving element 84b is off (detects the game ball), the output level of an AND circuit AND becomes high and the controller 40 inputs it as a detection signal of the light receiving element 84b. When the light receiving element 84b detects the game ball while a game ball fetching device fetches the game ball, the detection signal is inputted to the controller 40, however, in other cases, the detection signal of the light receiving element 84b is not inputted to the controller 40 even when light from a light emitting element 84a to the light receiving element 84b is interrupted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine in which a game ball (pachinko ball) is used as a game medium incorporates a large number of game balls in advance (credits) and enables a game within the range of the credits. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-1 is an example.
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 23444.

In such a gaming machine, when a player throws a game ball into the saucer and turns on, for example, a credit switch, the gate means is brought into a loading state and the game ball flowing down from the saucer is taken into the intake passage. The game ball is guided into the game machine and captured, and at that time, a game ball passing through the capture passage is detected by a sensor or the like,
In general, the number of credits is added in accordance with the detection signal, and the credit for the number of bets is subtracted when the game is executed, and if there is a payout due to the game, the number of credits is added to update the number of credits.

[0004]

Since the capture of the game ball as a credit has been performed as described above, for example, a foreign object is inserted into the intake passage from the receiving tray side, and the sensor is caused to malfunction by the foreign material. There was a possibility that cheating, in which credits would be added without taking in game balls, would be performed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to prevent such misconduct.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The described gaming machine has a saucer into which a game ball is inserted, a take-in path for guiding the game ball from the saucer into the game machine, a cut-off state in which the take-in path is cut off and the game ball is not passed, and In a gaming machine comprising a gate means for switching to a take-in state allowing passage and a counting means for counting game balls passing through the take-in passage, the counting means is not operated when the gate means is in the cut-off state. Since the counting means is provided, the counting means can be operated only when the gate means is in the catching state, that is, when the game ball is taken in. Therefore,
It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts of adding credits without taking in game balls.

Since there is no danger of performing the above-mentioned misconduct by putting the gate means in the receiving state without throwing the game balls into the saucer, when the game balls are located upstream of the gate means, It is preferable that the gate means can be switched to the loading state only. That way, when the gate means is in the loaded state, the game ball will be taken in reliably,
According to the first aspect, the effect of preventing fraud can be further ensured.

[0008] As a good example of such a configuration, as described in claim 2, in the gaming machine according to claim 1, when there is no more than a set number of game balls upstream of the gate means, the gate means is taken in. There is a configuration including a gate control unit that does not cause the state. The set number is not particularly limited as long as it is appropriately set according to the configuration of the gaming machine (particularly, the configuration of the gate means and the intake passage). In order to determine whether or not the set number of game balls is present on the upstream side of the gate means, for example, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the set number of game balls may be provided. This sensor or the like may be incorporated in a part of the gate means. Immediately before the gate means is switched to the taking-in state, there are some game balls upstream of the gate means, and these game balls also serve to prevent intrusion of foreign substances due to cheating. Therefore, the effect of preventing fraud is enhanced.

The gate means is configured to block or open a take-in passage by, for example, a plate reciprocally driven by a solenoid, and to feed a game ball by rotating a rotating body such as a sprocket or a screw by a motor (take state). , Configuration in which the game ball is not passed if the rotation is stopped (blocked state),
When the rotating body such as a sprocket is in a free state, the game ball can rotate and pass by its load (take-in state), but when the rotating body is locked, the game ball cannot be passed (blocking state). Although illustrated, it is not limited to these.

The counting means is not particularly limited as long as it can count the number of game balls passing through the intake passage.
However, it is an object of the present invention that the position where the counting means detects the game ball is located downstream of the gate means. The counting means includes a passing ball sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the intake passage, and a counter for adding and updating a count value based on a detection signal of the passing ball sensor. Then, it is suitable for electrical processing by the control device (microcomputer) of the gaming machine.

In order to disable the counting means by the counting stopping means, the signal path of the passing ball sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the intake passage when the gate means is in the shut-off state may be turned off. By taking the AND of the detection signal of the passing ball sensor and the drive signal of the gate means,
What is necessary is just to invalidate the detection signal of the passing ball sensor. Here, invalidating means that the detection signal cannot be transmitted to the counter side or is not accepted (ignored) by the counter side. Alternatively, even if the detection signal of the passing sphere sensor is input to the counter, the counting means will not operate unless the count value of the counter is updated. That is, as described in claim 4, in the gaming machine according to claim 3, the counting stop means invalidates the detection signal of the passing ball sensor when the gate means is in the shut-off state or the count value. Is not added and updated, the counting means can be simply and reliably not operated.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings to explain the embodiments of the present invention.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine 10 corresponding to a gaming machine includes a symbol display device 14 in which three symbol belts 12 are juxtaposed. Each symbol belt 12 of the symbol display device 14 can be independently rotated and stopped,
That is, scroll display and static display of the symbol are possible.

The upper half of the front of the slot machine 10 has a transparent display window 16 facing the front of the symbol display device 14.
Is covered with a front cover 18 having Along the lower side of the front cover 18, three light-emitting blocks 17a, 17
A remaining amount display unit 17 composed of b and 17c is provided, and a credit number display unit 19 is provided at the lower right corner. Light emitting blocks 17a and 17b constituting the remaining amount display section 17,
17c has a built-in compound light emitting diode capable of emitting two colors of red and green, and can emit and display three colors of red, green and orange (red + green). On the other hand, the credit amount display section 19 includes three 7-segment LEDs, and can display a three-digit number.

Below the front cover 18, a dish door 22 having an upper plate 20 for storing game balls (pachinko balls) supplied to the slot machine 10 as game media is provided with respect to the main body of the slot machine 10. It is attached to the door so that it can be opened and closed. Note that the upper plate 20 corresponds to the tray of the present invention.

A bet switch 2 for selecting the number of game balls to be thrown in one game is provided at the right end of the plate door 22.
4a, 24b and 24c are attached, and a credit switch 26 is attached at the lower left corner. A ball movement switch 27 is mounted on the upper surface of the upper plate 20.

When the bet switch 24a is turned on, 3
When the betting switch 24b is turned on, one unit of the game ball is turned on, and when the bet switch 24c is turned on, two units of the game ball are turned on. It is taken in.
Details of the capture will be described later.

It is also possible to play the game after the gaming balls are loaded into the slot machine 10 as credits. In this case, the bet switches 24a, 24b, 24
The credit of 3 units, 1 unit or 2 units is subtracted according to the ON operation of c. The credit switch 26
A switch for instructing the execution and settlement of credits.The switch changes from a protruding position, which is an off position, to a pressing position, which is an on position, when the pressing operation is performed. This is a switch that returns to the position. If the player puts the game ball into the upper plate 20 and puts the credit switch 26 to the push position, or puts the credit switch 26 into the push position and then puts the game ball into the upper plate 20, the player puts the game ball into the upper plate 20. Is taken in as a credit, and thereafter, when the credit switch 26 is returned to the protruding position, the game ball corresponding to the credit is paid out.

An effective determination line is determined according to the bet switches 24a to 24c. In this example, if the bet switch 24b (1 unit), lines crossing the center of the symbol display device 14 (lines B, E, and H in FIG. 1) are valid. Three lines are also valid including the lines (A, D, G and C, F, J), and two more diagonal lines (A, E, J, C, E, G) with the bet switch 24a (3 units). In addition, five lines are valid.

At the front edge of the upper plate 20, a start switch 28 for instructing the start of a game (that is, the start of rotation of each symbol belt 12 of the symbol display device 14) and each symbol of the symbol display device 14 are provided. Stop switches 30a, 30b and 30c for stopping the belt 12 are attached.

After the player throws a game ball into the upper plate 20 and turns on one of the bet switches 24a to 24c to take in one to three units of the game ball, or after taking it as a credit, Bet switches 24a to 24c
Is turned on and the start switch 28 is turned on, the three symbol belts 12 of the symbol display device 14 start rotating (scroll display). When the player presses the stop switch 30a, the left symbol belt 12 stops, when the stop switch 30b is pressed, the center symbol belt 12 stops, and when the stop switch 30c is pressed, the right symbol belt 12 stops. When the three symbol belts 12 stop, the operated bet switches 24a to 24a-2
If the symbol combination along one of the determination lines validated according to 4c becomes one of the preset prize combinations (there are a plurality of types), the number of game balls according to the established prize combination Is paid out as a prize ball. The paid out prize balls are discharged from the upper plate opening 20a to the upper plate 20, and when the upper plate 20 is full, the balls are discharged from the lower plate opening 32a to the lower plate 32 attached below the upper plate 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outflow passage 20b of the upper plate 20 has a game ball capturing device 5 corresponding to a gate means.
0 is connected, and the game ball flowing out of the upper plate 20 is supplied to the game ball capturing device 50. In addition, at the downstream end of the outflow path 20b (the entrance portion of the game ball capturing device 50), the upstream side of the gate means serves as upstream detection means for detecting whether or not a set number or more of game balls are present. Gaming ball sensor 31
Is installed.

A take-up path 34 and a return path 36 are connected to the discharge side of the game ball taking-in device 50. The lower end of the take-in path 34 is open, and a collecting gutter (not shown) is connected thereto, so that the game balls flowing into the take-in path 34 are taken into the slot machine 10 side (that is, the game store side). The intake path 34 constitutes an intake path together with the outflow path 20b. On the other hand, the downstream end of the return path 36 is
The game sphere connected to a and flowing into the return path 36 is discharged to the lower plate 32 (returned to the player side).

Next, referring to FIGS.
0 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, a case 52 serving as an outer shell of the game ball capturing device 50 includes a pair of boxes 54.
a and 54b are joined. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insides of the boxes 54 a and 54 b have partitions 56 a and
56b, and one is divided by a DC motor 58 (FIG. 3).
(Not shown) and motor housings 60a, 60b for housing circuit boards, wiring, and the like, not shown, and the other passages 62a, 6 for receiving and discharging game balls.
2b.

The partitions 56a and 56b are provided with semicircular notches 57a and 57b, respectively.
4b, a circular through-hole is formed as shown in FIG. 4 to 6, a screw body 59 having a spiral ridge 59a penetrates the through hole. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the base end of the screw body 59 is The DC motor 58 is fixed to the output shaft.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
The notches a and 62b are provided with notches serving as game ball receiving ports 64a and 64b, and ribs 66a and 66b meandering from positions adjacent thereto and reaching the partitions 56a and 56b. The wall 67 facing the ribs 66a, 66b
The protrusions 68a, 68b project from the protrusions a, 67b, and a gap is formed between the ribs 66a, 66b and the protrusions 68a, 68b so that the game balls can move in a line.
The lower ends of the passage portions 62a and 62b are open, but the open portion is divided into two parts by ball receivers 70a and 70b provided upright on the walls 69a and 69b. Ball receiver 7
0a, 70b and partitions 56a, 56b and ball receiver 7
A gap through which the game ball can pass is secured between the first and second walls 0a and 70b and the walls 67a and 67b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the boxes 54a and 54b are provided between the passages 62a and 62b.
2, a partition body 72, a first guide path 74a partitioned by ribs 66a and protrusions 68a are formed on the side of the passage 62a, and the partition 72 and ribs are formed on the side of the passage 62b. A second guide path 74b defined by the projection 66b and the projection 66b is formed. Game balls that have passed through the first taxiway 74a and the second taxiway 74b are:
As shown in FIG. 4, the setting is to drop on the upper surfaces 76a and 76b of the ball receivers 70a and 70b, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ribs 66a,
At the lower ends of the projections 66a and the projections 68a and 68b, the distance therebetween is widened, and the partitions 56a and 56b and the walls 67a and 67
A space in which the game balls can move along the axial direction of the screw body 59 is formed between the screw balls 59 and b. The space portions along the axial direction of the screw body 59 are a first communication passage 78a and a second communication passage 78b.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the first communication path 7
Both ends of the ball receiver 8a communicate with a space partitioned by the ball receiver 70a. The wall 67a of the ball receiver 70a is a first A discharge path 80a, and the partition 56a is a second A discharge path 82a. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, both ends of the second communication passage 78b communicate with the space partitioned by the ball receiver 70b on the second communication passage 78b side as well as on the first communication passage 78a side. The wall 67b side of the ball receiver 70b is the first B discharge path 80.
b, the partition 56b side is a second B discharge path 82b.

As shown in FIG. 6, a light-emitting element (LED in this example) 84a is mounted on the wall 69a, and a light-receiving element (phototransistor in this example) 84b faces the light-emitting element 84a on the wall 69b. Installed. The set of the light emitting element 84a and the light receiving element 84b corresponds to a passing ball sensor,
Gaming balls passing through the first A discharge path 80a and the first B discharge path 80b can be detected. Although not provided in this example, the second A discharge path 82a and the second B discharge path 82b are also provided with similar detection means including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and pass through these discharge paths. Gaming balls can also be detected.

The game ball taking-in device 50 thus configured discharges the game ball received from the receiving port 64a from the first A discharge path 80a or the second A discharge path 82a according to the rotation direction of the screw body 59. The game balls received from the receiving port 64b can be discharged from the first B discharge path 80b or the second B discharge path 82b according to the rotation direction of the screw body 59.

In this embodiment, however, as shown in FIG. 3, the receiving port 64b is connected to the downstream end of the outflow path 20b of the upper plate 20, but the receiving port 64a has a path for supplying game balls. Not connected. For this reason, in the case of the present embodiment, the game balls received from the receiving port 64b are supplied to the first B discharging path 80b.
Alternatively, it is only discharged from the second B discharge path 82b. Although not shown in detail, the first A discharge path 80
a and the open ends of the first B discharge path 80b are connected to the intake path 34, and the open ends of the second A discharge path 82a and the second B discharge path 82b are connected to the return path 36.

That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the game ball taking-in device 50 transfers the game balls flowing from the outflow path 20b of the upper plate 20 to the receiving port 64b through the first B discharge path 80b.
4 and then to the return path 36 via the second B discharge path 82b. The operation of the game ball capturing device 50 will be described below.

The outflow path 20b of the upper plate 20 is connected to the receiving port 64b.
Game balls flowing into the second guiding path 74 from the receiving entrance 64b.
b into the ball receiver 70b from the second taxiway 74b.
Trying to fall on the upper surface 76b of the camera. At this time, if the ridge 59a of the screw body 59 is not between the upper surface 76b and the second guide path 74b, the screw body 59 can fall on the upper surface 76b of the ball receiver 70b as in the game ball B1 of FIG.

However, if the ridge 59a of the screw body 59 is located between the upper surface 76b and the second guide path 74b, this blocks the drop of the game ball, so that, for example, the game ball B3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. For example, FIG.
When the screw body 59 is rotated leftward (hereinafter referred to as forward rotation) as viewed from the DC motor 58 side in the state of FIG. 7A, the game ball B1 on the upper surface 76b is moved rightward by the ridges 59a. And the first as shown in FIG.
It falls into the B discharge path 80b and is discharged. 1st B discharge path 8
The game ball passing through the light receiving element 84b blocks light emitted from the light emitting element 84a and reaching the light receiving element 84b.
The signal level of b changes, whereby the passage (discharge) of the game ball can be detected.

On the other hand, for example, from the state of FIG.
This is called reverse rotation. ), The game ball B1 on the upper surface 76b is moved leftward by the ridges 59a, and is dropped and discharged to the second B discharge path 82b.

In this embodiment, the game ball is not supplied to the receiving port 64a, that is, the upper surface 76a of the ball receiver 70a, but when the game ball is supplied here, the game ball also moves in the rotation direction of the screw body 59. Accordingly, the gas is discharged from the first A discharge path 80a or the second A discharge path 82a. And ball receiver 7
0a and the ball receiver 70b are provided with the ridges 59 of the screw body 59.
Since there is a phase difference a, game balls are alternately supplied to the upper surfaces 76a and 76b, and are discharged alternately therefrom.

The upper surfaces 76 of the ball receivers 70a, 70b
Only one game ball is placed on each of the a and b, and the ridge 59a of the screw body 59 is rotated until the screw body 59 rotates by an amount corresponding to drop the preceding game ball on the upper surfaces 76a and 76b. Since the subsequent game balls are prevented from falling, neither two or more game balls exist in the first communication path 78a nor two or more game balls exist in the second communication path 78b.

Therefore, when the rotation direction of the screw body 59 is changed, the two game balls are not moved through the same communication paths 78a, 78b, and the next game ball is moved between the two game balls. The game ball does not fall and get stuck, resulting in poor rotation. Next, control of the operation of the game ball capturing device 50 (capture of game balls accompanying a game) will be described.

The configuration of the control system of the slot machine 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. The control device 40, which is the center of the control system, is a microcomputer having a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output port, etc., and a part of the RAM is a credit counter 4 corresponding to a counter of a counting means.
1a, and is also used as the unit capture counter 41b. Although details will be described later, the control device 4
0 also functions as gate control means.

The controller 40 includes a bet switch 24a
-24c, credit switch 26, ball movement switch 2
7, start switch 28, stop switch 30a ~
Switches and sensors such as 30c, the game ball sensor 31, the light emitting element 84a, and the light receiving element 84b are connected, and the control device 40 can acquire these detection signals and the like. The control device 40 is also connected to devices such as a remaining amount display unit 17, a credit number display unit 19, a symbol display device 14, a game ball capturing device 50, a payout device 42, and the like. Display and operation can be controlled.

The connection circuit between the light receiving element 84b of the game ball capturing device 50 and the DC motor 58 and the control device 40 is as shown in FIG. First, a PNP junction transistor TR1a and an NPN
The collector of the junction transistor TR2a is connected together, the emitter of the transistor TR1a is connected to the power supply, and the emitter of the transistor TR2a is connected to the ground. The bases of the transistors TR1a and TR2a are both connected to the output port 40a of the control device 40. The other power supply path 58b is also connected to a transistor TR1b having a PNP junction and a transistor T1 having an NPN junction.
The collector of R2b is connected together and the transistor TR1
The emitter of transistor b is connected to the power supply, the emitter of transistor TR2b is connected to ground, and the bases of transistors TR1b and TR2b are both connected to output port 40b of controller 40.

With this configuration, when the control device 40 sets the output port 40a to high level and the output port 40b to low level, the transistors TR1a and TR2b
Is turned off and the transistors TR1b and TR2a are turned on, so that a current is supplied to the DC motor 58 through a path from the power supply on the transistor TR1b side to the transistor TR2a, and the DC motor 58 rotates forward. Conversely, when the output port 40a is set to low level and the output port 40b is set to high level, the transistors TR1a and TR2b are turned on,
Since the transistors TR1b and TR2a are turned off, the transistor TR2b
Is supplied to the DC motor 58 in a path toward the DC motor 58, and the DC motor 58 rotates in the reverse direction. That is, the control device 40 switches the levels of the output ports 40a and 40b,
The direction of the current supplied to the DC motor 58 can be controlled, whereby the DC motor 58 can be rotated forward and backward.

On the other hand, the light receiving element 8 which is a phototransistor
4b, the emitter is connected to the ground, the collector is connected to the power supply, and the signal line branched from the collector side is an AND circuit AN.
D is connected to one input terminal. AND circuit AND
Is connected to an output port 40a of the control device 40.

Therefore, the output level of the AND circuit AND becomes high only when the output port 40a is at the high level and the light receiving element 84b is turned off (the game ball is detected), and the control device 40 receives this signal. Input as a detection signal of the element 84b. That is, if the light receiving element 84b detects a game ball when the DC motor 58 is rotated forward (when the game ball capture device 50 captures a game ball), the detection signal is sent to the control device 40. In other cases (when the game ball capturing device 50 is not operating or the DC motor 58 is rotating in the reverse direction), the light from the light emitting element 84a to the light receiving element 84b is blocked. Even when the game ball is detected, the detection signal of the light receiving element 84b is not input to the control device 40. That is, the AND circuit AND corresponds to the counting stop means.

The control device 40 executes various control processes regarding the execution of the game in the slot machine 10,
Among them, the processing closely related to the present invention will be described. Since the slot machine 10 allows a gaming ball to be taken into the slot machine 10 as a credit prior to the execution of the game, and a credit game in which the credit is subtracted upon the execution of the game is possible, first, the credit taking process will be described. explain.

The credit taking process is as shown in FIG. 10. The controller 40 determines whether or not the credit switch 26 is turned on (S401). If the credit switch 26 is turned off, the game is not a game using credits (S401: NO). ), Return without performing any substantial processing (return to other processing).

When the credit switch 26 is ON (S401: YES), it is determined whether or not the game ball sensor 31 detects the presence of a game ball (S402). If there is a game ball at the entrance of the loading device 50 (S402: YES), the control device 4
0 rotates the screw body 59 of the game ball capturing device 50 forward (S403). However, when the game ball sensor 31 has not detected the presence of the game ball (S402: NO),
Return (turn to other processing). As shown in FIG. 4, the first guiding path 74a and the second guiding path 74
Taxiway 74b (receiving entrances 64a, 64b to upper surfaces 76a, 7
6b), a maximum of four game balls can be held, so that after the game ball sensor 31 stops detecting the presence of the game ball, the first ball discharge path 80b is turned off.
Until a number of game balls are discharged (four passages are detected by the light receiving element 84b), an affirmative determination may be made in S402 regardless of the detection state of the game ball sensor 31.

By the rotation of the screw body 59 in S403, the game balls are discharged from the first B discharge path 80b of the game ball take-in device 50, and are taken in through the take-in path 34. At this time, if the control device 40 confirms the passage of the game ball by the change in the signal level of the light receiving element 84b (more precisely, the AND circuit AND) (S404: YES), the control device 40 changes the count value of the credit counter 41a provided in the RAM. One is added, and the display of the credit amount display unit 19 is updated (S40).
5). Note that the value (initial value) of the credit counter 41a and the display of the credit number display unit 19 when the slot machine 10 is activated are 0. And credit counter 4
It is determined whether or not the value of 1a has reached the upper limit value (250 in this example) (S406). If it has reached the upper limit value (S406: YES), the rotation of the screw body 59 is stopped (S406). S407), and return.

When the upper limit has not been reached (S
406: NO), and return to S402. On the other hand, S404
When the passage of the game ball is not detected in (S
404: NO), the control device 40 determines whether or not the signal of the light receiving element 84b continues at the non-detection level for a set time, for example, 2 seconds or more (S408). If the time is less than the set time, the process returns to S403. If the time is longer than the set time (S408: NO), it is determined that some trouble (for example, ball clogging in the game ball capturing device 50) has occurred, and the screw body Error processing such as stopping the rotation of 59 and issuing an alarm is executed (S409).

Next, an outline of a game process executed by the control device 40 during a game will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 40 controls the bet switch 24a.
Wait until any one of Nos. To 24c is turned on (S30).
1) When any one is turned on (S301: YE)
S), a bet process (S302) is executed.

In the betting process, the game balls of a unit number corresponding to the operated bet switches 24a to 24c are taken into the game ball taking-in device 50, or if the game balls are taken in advance as credits, Subtract
An effective determination line is also set according to the operated bet switches 24a to 24c.

The details of the betting process are as shown in FIG. 12. The control device 40 determines whether or not the credit switch 26 is on (S351), and when the credit switch 26 is off (S351: NO) ), If the game ball sensor 31 detects the presence of a game ball (S3)
52: YES), the screw body 5 of the game ball capturing device 50
9 is rotated forward (S353).

However, when the game ball sensor 31 has not detected the presence of a game ball (S352: NO), the process returns (returns to another process). In the same manner as in the case of the credit take-in described above, after the game ball sensor 31 stops detecting the presence of the game ball from detecting the presence of the game ball, four game balls are discharged from the first B discharge path 80b ( Light receiving element 84
Until four passes are detected by b), an affirmative determination may be made in S352 regardless of the detection state of the game ball sensor 31.

By the rotation of the screw body 59 in S353, the game ball is discharged from the first B discharge path 80b of the game ball take-in device 50, and is taken in through the take-in path 34. At this time, if the control device 40 confirms the passage of the game ball by the change in the signal level of the light receiving element 84b (S354: YE
S), the count value of the unit capture counter 41b is incremented by 1 (S355). Note that the value (initial value) of the unit capture counter 41b at the time of starting the slot machine 10 is 0. Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the unit capture counter 41b has reached the bet unit corresponding to the bet switch 24a to 24c whose operation has been detected in S301 (S356). (S356: YES), the rotation of the screw body 59 is stopped, and a bet (valid determination line) is set (S357).

When the bet unit has not been reached (S355: NO), the flow returns to S352. Before the count value of the unit take-in counter 41b reaches the bet unit corresponding to the operated bet switches 24a to 24c, for example, when there is no game ball on the upper plate 20 and a negative determination is made in S352, until that time, If the number of game balls (the value of the unit capture counter 41b) captured by the player is a multiple of 5 and there is no fraction, a bet (valid judgment line) corresponding to the value of the unit capture counter 41b at that time is placed. Set. For example, even if the bet switch 24a is turned on (even if the player indicates a bet of 3 units),
If the number of game balls actually taken in is 2 units or 1 unit, only the bet corresponding to the taken-in amount is accepted.

If there is a fraction at that time, the payout device 4
2 is operated, a fraction of the game balls are paid out, and bets (valid judgment lines) are set for the number of units taken in. For example, even if the bet switch 24a is turned on (even if the player indicates a bet of 3 units), if the number of game balls actually taken is 2 units or 1 unit, it corresponds to the taken amount. Only accept bets. If the number does not reach one unit, the bet itself will not be accepted because the fractional payout and the take-in number become 0.

When the passage of the game ball is not detected in S354 (S354: NO), the control device 40 determines whether or not the signal of the light receiving element 84b continues at the non-detection level for a set time, for example, 2 seconds or more. (S358).
If the time is equal to or shorter than the set time, the process returns to S353. If the time exceeds the set time (S358: YES), it is considered that some trouble (for example, ball clogging in the game ball capturing device 50) has occurred, and the screw body 59 is determined. Error processing, such as stopping the rotation of the motor and issuing an alarm, is performed (S359).

In this way, unit take-in and bet acceptance are performed. Note that the unit take-in counter 41b is cleared when a bet is set (for example, in S357). On the other hand, if the credit switch 26 is on, it is a game using credits (S351: YES), and if there is a credit (S361: YES), the value of the credit counter is incremented by the unit corresponding to the bet switches 24a to 24c that have been turned on. Subtract and display the number of credits 1
The display of No. 9 is updated, and a bet (valid judgment line) for the unit is set (S362). However, when there is no credit (the value of the credit counter 41a is 0) (S361: NO), no bet is accepted.

If the bet is not accepted because the number of acquisitions does not reach one unit in the above-mentioned acquisition, or if the bet is not accepted because there is no credit, the control device 40 proceeds to S303 shown in FIG. The flow returns to S301 without executing the following processing. Subsequent to the setting of the bet (valid determination line) (S362), a remaining amount display process (S363) shown in detail in FIG. 13 is executed.

In the remaining amount display process, the control device 40 reads the value of the credit counter 41a and determines whether or not there is a credit (S370). When there is no credit (the value of the credit counter is 0) (S3
70: none), the light emitting block 17a of the remaining amount display section 17,
17b and 17c are all caused to emit red light (S371).

When there is a credit, it is 15
If (3 units in this embodiment) or more (S372: YE
S), the light emission blocks 17a, 17b of the remaining amount display section 17,
17c is caused to emit green light (S373). If the credit is less than 15 and equal to or more than 10 (2 units in this embodiment) (S374: YES), the light emitting block 17a of the remaining amount display unit 17 is turned orange and the light emitting block is turned on. 17b and 17c emit green light (S375), and if the credit is less than 10 and 5 or more (1 unit in this embodiment) (S376: YE
S), the light-emitting block 17a of the remaining amount display unit 17 turns red,
The light emitting block 17b is colored orange and the light emitting block 17
c emits green light (S377). If the credit is less than 5 (S376: NO), the light emitting blocks 17a and 17b of the remaining amount display unit 17 emit red light and the light emitting block 17c emits orange light (S378).

Then, the control device 40 executes S371, S3
After executing S73, S375, S377 or S378, the process returns. Table 1 shows the displays of the light emitting blocks 17a, 17b, and 17c of the remaining amount display unit 17 by the remaining amount display processing.

[0064]

[Table 1]

Since the color display as shown in Table 1 is performed, when the player looks at the remaining amount display section 17, it is obvious at a glance how many more games can be played and how many units can be bet on the next game. It is. The balance of the number of credits can be recognized simply by looking at the color of each of the light-emitting blocks 17a to 17c of the remaining amount display section 17, and the time and effort required to interrupt the game to know the degree of the balance are not required. Therefore, it is possible to meet the player's request not to interrupt the game as much as possible.

In addition, the number of credits is 15 (3 units), 1
Since the colors of the light-emitting blocks 17a to 17c change to green, orange or red with reference to 0 (2 units) and 5 (1 unit), it is possible to accurately notify the credit balance. , The player is not worried about credits (all green), running short (lighting block 1
It is possible to recognize minute states such as 7a is orange or red, little remaining or 0 (light emitting block 17c is orange or red). As a result, it is possible to play a game with credit or add credit with confidence.

As shown in FIG. 11, the betting process (S30)
When the start switch 28 is turned on after 2) (S303: YES), the control device 40 instructs the symbol display device 14 to rotate all the symbol belts 12 (S303).
304). When any of the stop switches 30a to 30c is turned on after the symbol belt 12 starts rotating (S
305), the control device 40 stops the symbol belt 12 corresponding to the stop switches 30a to 30c operated by instructing the symbol display device 14 (S306).

The process for stopping the symbol belt 12 is described as 3
Times and the three design belts 12 stop (S
307: YES), the control device 40 determines whether or not a prize combination is established by three symbols along the valid determination line (S308). Here, when the prize combination has been established (S308: YES), the processing of the next S309 differs depending on whether or not the game is a credit game.

First, when the credit switch 26 is off (protruding position) and the game is not a credit game, the control device 40 instructs the payout device 42 to discharge a number of game balls corresponding to the established prize combinations as prize balls. . The paid game balls are discharged to the upper plate 20 or the lower plate 32.
The number of award balls is set to a multiple of the bet unit (five in this example), for example, five, ten, or fifteen.

On the other hand, if the credit game is being played with the credit switch 26 turned on (pressed position),
The control device 40 adds the prize ball amount to the credit counter instead of paying out the prize ball, and updates the display of the credit number display unit 19. And now that your credit balance has changed,
Also in this case, the balance display processing shown in FIG. 13 is performed, and the display of the remaining amount display unit 17 is updated to the display corresponding to the latest balance.

After S309 or when the prize combination is not established (S308: NO), the control device 40 returns to S301. In this manner, the bet, scroll display, scroll stop, determination of establishment of the prize combination, and payout of prize balls (or credit addition) are repeated.

At the end of the game by the slot machine 10, if there is a balance in the credit, it is necessary to settle the balance. This payment instruction only needs to return the credit switch 26 from the pushed position to the projected position. The control device 40
When the credit switch 26 is returned to the protruding position (when it is turned off), the payout device 42 is operated to pay out the same number of game balls as the count value of the credit counter 41a, and the credit counter 41a is reset to 0 and the credit is reset. The display of the number display section 19 is also set to 0.

When the game balls are accumulated in the upper plate 20 to the game ball capturing device 50 by such settlement or by payout according to the game result, the ball moving switch 27 is used.
By operating the game ball capturing device 50, the game balls can be moved to the lower plate 32. That is, when the ball moving switch 27 is turned on, the control device 40 rotates the screw body 59 of the game ball capturing device 50 in the reverse direction. Then, the game ball that has flowed into the game ball capture device 50 from the upper plate 20 falls into the second B discharge path 82b and returns to the second path B 82b.
From 6 is discharged to the lower plate 32. The player may take out the game ball from the lower plate 32 and carry it to the counter using a dollar box or the like.

As described above, according to the slot machine 10 of this embodiment, the DC motor 58
Is rotating forward, and the game balls flowing down from the upper plate 20 are discharged to the intake path 34 and taken in to the slot machine 10 side (that is, the game store side) (when the gate means is in the take-in state). Only at the time), since the detection signal of the light receiving element 84b is input to the control device 40 and the count value of the credit counter 41a is updated, it is possible to prevent a fraudulent act of adding credits without taking in game balls.

In particular, since the game ball sensor 31 detects the game ball (when the game ball is supplied to the game ball capture device 50), the game ball capture device 50 is set in the capture state. When the game ball capturing device 50 is in the capture state, the game balls are reliably captured. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent a fraudulent act of adding credit without taking in the game ball.

The light emitting element 84a and the light receiving element 84b corresponding to the passing ball sensor and the credit counter 41 are used as the counting means.
Since it is configured to include “a”, it is suitable for electrical processing by the control device 40. Since the AND circuit AND is used as the counting stop means, the configuration is simple and the counting means can be reliably operated.

Further, the slot machine 10 of this embodiment
Has the following effects. First, the color display as shown in Table 1 is performed by the remaining amount display unit 17, so if the player looks at the remaining amount display unit 17, the player can bet on how many more games he can play and how many units can bet on the next game. It is obvious at a glance. Remaining display section 17
By simply looking at the colors of the light-emitting blocks 17a to 17c, it is possible to recognize the balance of the number of credits, and to know the level of the balance, it is not necessary to take time and effort to interrupt the game. It is possible to respond to a player's desire not to interrupt.

In addition, the number of credits is 15 (3 units), 1
Since the colors of the light-emitting blocks 17a to 17c change to green, orange or red with reference to 0 (2 units) and 5 (1 unit), it is possible to accurately notify the credit balance. , The player is not worried about credits (all green), running short (lighting block 1
It is possible to recognize minute states such as 7a is orange or red, little remaining or 0 (light emitting block 17c is orange or red). As a result, it is possible to play a game with credit or add credit with confidence.

The game ball taking-in device 50 includes a screw body 59
The game balls supplied from the upper plate 20 can be selectively discharged to the take-in path 34 (take-in of the game balls) or the return path 36 (move to the lower plate) by simply switching the rotation direction of the game ball. A screw body 59 is used to take in the game balls or return them to the lower plate 32.
Since the game is continuously performed by the rotation of the game ball, it is not necessary to intermittently stop the movement of the game ball, and it is extremely quick.

Since the game balls to be taken in are detected and counted by the light emitting element 84a and the light receiving element 84b installed in the discharge path, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the flow of the game balls for counting. In other words, when capturing game balls while counting them, the capture speed can be increased quickly.

Since the light emitting element 84a and the light receiving element 84b are provided in the game ball capturing device 50, the capturing path 3
It is not necessary to attach a sensor or a switch to 4, which leads to simplification of the assembling process. Moreover, the ball receiver 70a,
The structure is such that the game balls supplied to the upper surfaces 76a and 76b of the 70b are moved by the rotation of the screw body 59, and the sensors for counting the game balls (the light-emitting element 84a and the light-receiving element 84b) are positioned more than the screw body 59. Intake route 3
Since it is on the fourth side, the screw body 59 functions as a protection means against intrusion of wire or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an illegal scheme in which the sensor is erroneously operated by inserting a wire or the like.

In the slot machine 10, the means (receiving tray) for storing game balls to be taken into the game ball capturing device 50, that is, the slot machine 10, is the upper plate 20, and receives the game balls returned to the player side. The means is the lower plate 32, the first B discharge path 80b is connected to the intake path 34, and the second B discharge path 82b is connected to the lower plate 32 via the return path 36. Device 50 and upper plate 2
The connection path between the 0 and the lower plate 32 can be used without significantly changing the structure of the conventional ball game machine, since the structure of the conventional ball game machine (such as a pachinko machine) is only slightly modified. .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the examples, 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 game ball path on an upstream side and a downstream side of a game ball capturing device in the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game ball capturing device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the game ball capturing device according to the embodiment in a state where one box and a partition are removed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the game ball capturing device according to the embodiment,
It is sectional drawing along the A line.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the game ball capturing device of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of discharging a game ball in the game ball capturing device of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a connection between a light receiving element, a DC motor, and a control device in a control system of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a credit take-in process executed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a game process executed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a bet process executed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a remaining amount display process executed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine (gaming machine), 20 ... Upper plate (pan), 20b ... Outflow path (take-in path), 31 ... Game ball sensor, 34 ... Take-in path (take-in path), 40 ... Control device (gate) Control means), 41a: credit counter (counting means, counter), 41b: unit take-in counter (counting means, counter), 42: payout apparatus, 50: game ball taking apparatus (gate means), 58: DC motor, 59: screw body, 84a: light emitting element (counting means, passing ball sensor),
84b ... light receiving element (counting means, passing ball sensor).

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A saucer into which game balls are inserted, a take-in passage for guiding the game balls from the saucer into the gaming machine, a cut-off state in which the take-in passage is cut off so that the game balls do not pass, and a passage of the game balls. In a gaming machine comprising: gate means for switching to a take-in state permitting the game, and counting means for counting game balls passing through the take-in passage, the count not to operate the count means when the gate means is in the cut-off state. A gaming machine comprising a stopping means. 2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a gate control means for preventing said gate means from being taken in when there is no more than a set number of game balls upstream of said gate means. Gaming machine to do. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the counting means includes a passing ball sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the intake passage, and counting based on a detection signal of the passing ball sensor. A gaming machine characterized by including a counter whose value is added and updated. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein said counting stop means invalidates a detection signal of said passing ball sensor or does not add or update said count value when said gate means is in said cutoff state. A gaming machine characterized by the following.