JP2001070572A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly distinguish prize balls from lent balls by providing a flow passage with an upstream side communicated with a ball discharge flow passage of a ball discharge unit and a downstream side branched into a flow passage for prize balls and a flow passage for lent balls, providing a flow passage switching valve at the branch starting point and providing each ball detecting device on each of the flow passage for prize balls and the flow passage for lent balls. SOLUTION: In a flow passage switching unit 33 as a flow passage switching device which is successively provided on a downstream side of a ball discharge unit provided on a rear mechanism board of a pachinko machine, a flow passage formed at the inside is branched into a flow passage 52 for prize balls and flow passage 53 for lent balls from the midway. Each of the flow passage 52 for prize ball and the flow passage 53 for lent ball is formed in a meandered state in front and rear directions and a flow passage switching valve 54 is disposed at the branching part of both of the flow passages 52, 53. The flow passage switching valve 54 is switched and operated by a flow passage switching solenoid 56. A prize ball detecting device 59 and lent balls detecting device 60 are provided on the midway of the flow passage 52 for prize balls and on the midway of the flow passage 53 for lent ball, respectively. Balls guided into each flow passage 52, 53, are detected one by one by each detecting device 59, 60 and a counting is performed based on each of the detection signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko game machine having a ball discharging mechanism for discharging a game ball, and more particularly to a game machine capable of detecting a ball actually discharged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described by taking a pachinko game machine as a typical game machine as an example. In a conventional pachinko game machine, a prepaid card (game card) is inserted into a card insertion slot of a card unit juxtaposed with the pachinko machine body, and a ball lending operation unit is operated to discharge a ball in the pachinko machine body. A so-called CR machine type in which a mechanism (ball ejection device) is operated to borrow a game ball in an upper plate in exchange for valuable information stored in a game card and play a game, and a pachinko machine body are separately installed. There is a so-called cash machine type in which a game ball borrowed from a ball rental machine is thrown into an upper plate of a pachinko machine to play a game.

[0003]

However, in the case of the CR machine type, since the ball discharging device also functions as the prize ball discharging device, it is determined whether the discharged ball is a prize ball or a lending ball. I couldn't do that.

In order to check the number of balls actually ejected by the ball ejection device, a ball detector is provided immediately downstream of the ball ejection device regardless of the type of the CR machine or the cash machine. And the number of spheres actually ejected had to be counted based on the signal from the sphere detector. In order to distinguish whether the ball ejected by the ball ejection device is a prize ball or a lending ball and to count the number of ejected balls, a ball detector is provided immediately downstream of the ball ejection device. The flow path on the downstream side of the sphere detector must be branched into a prize ball flow path and a ball lending flow path, and a sphere detector must be provided in each of the prize ball flow path and the ball lending flow path. Did not. For this reason, three ball detectors are provided in the middle of the ball downflow path, which complicates the mechanical structure, increases the number of manufacturing steps, and also complicates the control (electrical structure).

[0005] Further, if the structure of the ball discharge device and its downstream side are made different depending on the type, such as a CR machine or a cash machine, dedicated parts of each type must be separately stocked, and the parts management becomes complicated. Become. For example, if two types of back mechanism panels are used, one for a CR machine and one for a cash machine, two types of molds for the back mechanism panel, which are large molded products, must be manufactured, so the manufacturing labor is also large,
Management is also troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of counting the number of balls actually ejected and simplifying the structure. It is assumed that. Another object is to facilitate common use of parts between the CR machine type and the cash machine type.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the first aspect of the present invention provides a ball discharge mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls in a case. The ball discharge unit and the ball discharge unit incorporated are arranged downstream of the ball discharge unit. In the case, the upstream side communicates with the ball discharge channel of the ball discharge unit, and the downstream side from the branch start point and the prize ball flow path and ball lending. And a flow path switching valve that guides the ball from the ball discharge unit to either the prize ball flow path side or the ball lending flow path side at the branch start point,
A flow path switching unit provided with a prize ball detector in the flow path for prize balls, a flow path switching unit provided with a ball rental detector in the flow path for ball rental, and the above-described ball discharge mechanism is controlled. A discharge control means for counting the number of balls discharged based on a signal from the detector, wherein the flow path switching unit is detachably attached to a back mechanism panel. is there.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball discharging unit in which a ball discharging mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of balls is incorporated in a case, and a ball discharging unit provided downstream of the ball discharging unit, and an upstream portion is provided in the case. The side forms a flow path that communicates with the ball discharge flow path of the ball discharge unit. In this flow path, a flow path unit provided with a prize ball detector and the above-described ball discharge mechanism are controlled, and the flow from the prize ball detector is controlled. A discharge control means for counting the number of balls discharged based on a signal, wherein the flow path unit is detachably attached to a back mechanism panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a ball discharge unit in which a ball discharge mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of balls is incorporated in a case, and discharge control means for controlling the ball discharge mechanism. , A compatible unit mounting portion is formed below the back mechanism panel to which the ball discharging unit is detachably mounted, and the compatible unit is removably mounted on the compatible unit mounting portion. The sphere from the ball discharge unit is formed at the branch start point by communicating with the ball discharge flow path of the discharge unit and branching the downstream side from the branch start point into a prize ball flow path and a ball lending flow path. A flow path switching valve is provided to guide either the flow path side for the prize ball or the flow path side for the lending ball. The prize ball detector is provided in the flow path for the prize ball, and the ball rental detector is provided in the flow path for the ball rental. Flow path switching unit provided and flow path switching unit The mounting arrangement for the compatible unit mounting portion of the case in the common were cases, the upstream side to form a flow path communicating with the spherical discharge channel of the sphere discharge unit,
In this flow path, either a flow path unit provided with a prize ball detector, or in a state where the flow path switching unit is attached, the discharge control means controls the signal from the prize ball detector or the ball lending detector. The number of ejected balls is counted based on the number of balls ejected based on the signal from the prize ball detector in the state where the flow path unit is attached. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball removing unit provided with a ball removing valve for guiding a ball to either the player side or the outside of the game machine on the downstream side of the channel switching unit or the channel unit. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 1 and a card unit 2 which are typical gaming machines, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 1 and a card unit 2.

The pachinko machine 1 is a so-called CR machine type game machine, in which a game card (prepaid card) is inserted into a card insertion slot 3 of a card unit 2 and a ball lending operation section described later is operated to operate the pachinko machine. The game is played by borrowing a ball from the upper plate 4 of the machine 1 and firing the ball.

In the pachinko machine 1, a frame-shaped front frame 6 having a large opening is attached to the machine frame 5 so as to be openable and closable, and the glass decoration frame 7 is closed by closing the opening of the front frame 6 from the front.
An opening and closing panel 9 having an upper plate 4 and an upper plate 4 are attached so as to be openable and closable, and a lower plate 10, an ashtray 11, and a firing operation unit 12 are provided below the opening and closing panel 9. And the front frame 6
The game board 14 is mounted in a game board storage frame 13 attached to the back of the game board 14 and the game area 1 formed on the surface of the game board 14.
5 is configured to be visible through the transparent glass of the glass decorative frame 7. The upper plate 4 is provided with a ball lending operation unit 16.

On the back side of the pachinko machine 1, a back mechanism board 17 having an opening is attached to the back of the game board storage frame 13 so as to be openable and closable, and various control devices and power supply devices 19 are mounted on the back mechanism board 17. Attach. In the present embodiment, the control devices are divided into functions and stored in separate cases (substrate boxes) to form a unit, and the game control device 20, the display control device 21, the decoration control device 22, the sound control device 23,
The card unit 2 and the ejection control device 24 are electrically connected to each other via a relay board 26. Note that these control devices function as control means, and are mounted in an independent state.

The back mechanism board 17 is provided with a ball storage tank 27 at an upper portion thereof, and a ball lead-out gutter 2 for guiding the balls from the ball storage tank 27 while aligning the balls in two rows (two rows).
9 is provided, and on one side of the back mechanism board 17 where the inclined lower end of the ball outlet gutter 29 is located, a bent channel member 30 for changing the flowing direction of the ball from the ball outlet gutter 29 downward is provided. A member 30 is provided with a semicircular ball sensor (semispherical ball detection switch) 31, and below the bent channel member 30, a ball discharging unit 32 functioning as a ball discharging device, a channel switching unit 33 functioning as a channel switching device, and a ball. A ball punching unit 34 functioning as a punching device is sequentially mounted, and a ball discharging gutter 35 for guiding the ball to the upper plate 4 is formed below the ball punching unit 34, and a ball discharging the ball to the outside of the pachinko machine 1. An extraction path 36 is formed. Note that the odd-sphere sensor 31
Is a sensor for detecting whether or not there is a minimum number of balls required for one ball discharge.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the ball discharge unit 32 is a unit for discharging (flowing down) a predetermined number of balls from the ball outlet gutter 29, based on a control signal from the discharge control device 24. Controlled. This ball discharge unit 32
In the transparent plastic case 37, two ball discharge channels 39 are formed. The provision of the two ball discharge passages 39 is for the purpose of efficiently discharging the ball, and does not directly relate to the distinction between the prize ball and the lending ball.

The ball discharge unit 32 includes a pair of sprockets 40, a first gear 41, and a stop gear 42 as main parts of a ball discharge mechanism, and these are the same rotating shaft 43 rotatably provided in a case 37. It is fixed to. The first gear 41 meshes with a second gear 45 attached to the output shaft of the ball discharge motor 44. As a result, the sprocket 40, the first gear 41, and the stop gear 42 are integrally driven to rotate by the ball discharge motor 44. Ball discharge motor 44
Is composed of, for example, a pulse motor, and its rotation drive is controlled by the discharge control device 24.

The stop gear 42 has a stopper member 46 in the form of a flapper, which is pivotally mounted at one end thereof and can swing. The stopper member 46 is normally urged by the return spring 47 and is arranged at a position where it engages with the pawl of the stop gear 42 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
However, when the stopper solenoid 49 is energized, it is attracted to the stopper solenoid 49 side against the bias of the return spring 47 and retracts to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. Thereby, the engagement (lock) between the stopper member 46 and the stop gear 42 is released, and the stop gear 42
Becomes rotatable.

As described above, by providing the stopper mechanism for the rotation of the rotating shaft 43 as a part of the ball discharging mechanism, it is possible to prevent the rotating shaft 43 from rotating excessively due to the inertia of rotation and the weight of the ball. The rotation of the sprocket 40 can be accurately controlled by the discharge control device 24.

Each of the two sprockets 40 has a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) ball fitting recesses 50 on the outer periphery of which a ball can be fitted. 39 are arranged. This allows
The sphere passing through the sphere discharge channel 39 has one sphere fitting recess 50.
And is discharged together with the rotation of the sprocket 40. That is, one ball is ejected each time the sprocket 40 rotates one ball fitting concave portion 50 (in the present embodiment, there are eight in the entire circumference and each time it rotates 45 degrees). In other words, a number of balls proportional to the amount of rotation of the sprocket 40 are discharged.

Further, the two sprockets 40 are shifted in phase from each other by a half of the
Therefore, even when the ball rotates in the ball discharge channel 39, it rotates back and forth by half a ball. For this reason, the two sprockets 40 rotate integrally, but the discharge of the balls is performed alternately, whereby even the two ball discharge passages 39 discharge an odd number of balls by controlling the rotation amount. be able to.

Next, the flow path switching unit 33 will be described. The flow path switching unit 33 also has two rows (two rows) of flow paths formed in parallel in the case 51 similarly to the above-described ball discharge unit 32. These flow paths are bent in a horizontal U-shape and arranged side by side in the right and left direction with the meandering directions aligned. In addition, the upper end opening (inlet) of the flow path is a lower end opening (outlet) of the ball discharge flow path 39 of the ball discharge unit 32 in a state where the flow path switching unit 33 and the ball discharge unit 32 are attached to the back mechanism board 17. Communicate with

As shown in FIG. 7, the flow path switching unit 33
Is branched into a prize ball flow path 52 and a ball lending flow path 53 from the middle thereof, and the prize ball flow path 52 and the ball lending flow path 53 meander in the front-rear direction. It is formed in a state. To be more specific, the prize ball flow path 52 is gently inclined downward from the lower side than the branch starting point to the rear side (the rear side of the gaming machine in the attached state, corresponding to the left side in FIG. 7), 51, it is folded back at the rear end to form a horizontal U-shape gently inclined forward (corresponding to the right side in FIG. 7). Further, the ball-for-sale channel 53 is formed in a horizontal U-shape that is inclined downward more steeply than the prize-ball channel 52 from the branch start point toward the front side, and then is turned back. In other words, the prize ball flow path 52 and the ball lending flow path 53 are formed with their U-shaped openings (heads) facing each other. The flow path 53 for a ball rental is shorter than that. The prize ball flow path 52 and the ball lending flow path 53
Are merged at the junction at the lower end portion of the flow path switching unit 33, and after being merged, discharged to the upper plate 4 via the ball removing unit 34.

A flow path switching valve 54 is provided at a branch point (branch start point) between the above-mentioned prize ball flow path 52 and the ball lending flow path 53. The flow path switching valve 54 is attached so as to be rotatable around a rotation support shaft 55 fitted to a base end portion.
The flow path switching valve 54 rotates with the excitation / demagnetization of a flow path switching solenoid 56 functioning as a flow path switching drive source,
Switching the ball flow path that guides the game ball. That is, in the demagnetized state of the flow path switching solenoid 56, the flow path switching valve 54
By the urging force of the spring of the flow path switching solenoid 56,
The game balls flowing down from the ball discharge unit 32 are stopped in a state of being guided to the prize ball flow path 52 (solid line in FIG. 7), and the game balls flowing down from the ball discharge unit 32 are excited when the flow path switching solenoid 56 is excited. Is switched to a state of guiding the ball to the flow path 53 for ball rental.

The passage switching solenoid 56 is electrically connected to the discharge control device 24. Excitation and demagnetization are controlled by a drive signal from the discharge control device 24. For example, the flow path switching solenoid 56 is excited for a predetermined ball discharge period in conjunction with the discharge and release of the ball rental, and guides the ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 32 to the ball rental channel 53 side. The flow path is switched so that

In the present embodiment, the flow path switching solenoid 56
A power transmission member for transmitting the power to the flow path switching valve 54 includes a first connection gear member 57 a having a base end connected to a plunger portion of the flow path switching solenoid 56, and a base end side of the flow path switching valve 54. Second connection gear member 57b having a base end connected to the portion
It consists of: The second connection gear member 57b
Are flow path switching valves 54, 5 provided in each of the two rows of flow paths.
4 and is connected to these flow path switching valves 54 and 54 by two shafts of the rotation support shaft 55 and the connection shaft. Further, the first connection gear member 57a and the second connection gear member 57b are disposed in a state where teeth provided at the distal end portion are engaged with each other.

In the demagnetized state of the flow path switching solenoid 56, the plunger of the flow path switching solenoid 56 is moved downward by the elastic force of the spring.
In this demagnetized state, the free end of the flow path switching valve 54 is directed substantially upward, and the flow of the ball to the prize ball flow path 52 is allowed, and the flow of the ball to the ball lending flow path 53 is allowed. Is the flow path switching valve 5
The state blocked by 4 is formed.

On the other hand, when the flow path switching solenoid 56 is excited, the plunger moves upward against the elastic force of the spring. Thus, the first connection gear member 57a rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 55. That is,
The base portion rotates upward, and the tip portion (gear surface) rotates downward. The second connection gear member 57b rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the rotation of the first connection gear member 57a. The second connection gear member 57b is configured such that the rotation support shaft 55 is
The tip (gear surface) rotates downward. The rotation of the second connection gear member 57b is transmitted to the flow path switching valve 54 via the connection shaft, and the flow path switching valve 54
, Is rotated counterclockwise rearward until the tip abuts on the flow path partition wall. In this state, the ball rental channel 5
3 is allowed to flow down, and the flow of the game ball to the prize ball flow path 52 is prevented by the flow path switching valve 54.

Further, the flow path switching solenoid 5 in the excited state
When the magnet 6 is returned to the demagnetized state, the plunger of the flow path switching solenoid 56 moves downward by the elastic force of the spring. As a result, the first connection gear member 57a is
, The second connecting gear member 57b and the flow path switching valve 54 return to rotate clockwise about the rotation support shaft 55. Then, the game balls are allowed to flow down to the prize ball flow path 52 side, and the state is switched to a state in which the game balls are prevented from flowing down to the ball lending flow path 53.

In the middle of the above-mentioned prize ball flow path 52,
In the middle of the part downstream from the folded part (bent part),
A prize ball detector 59 is provided, and similarly, a ball rental ball detector 60 is provided in the middle of the ball rental channel 53. The prize ball detector 59 and the ball lending detector 60 are one type of ejected ball detection means, and are configured by sensors capable of detecting balls one by one. In the present embodiment, each detector is constituted by a proximity sensor. The prize ball detector 59 and the ball lending detector 6
Since the 0s are provided on the downstream side of the folded portions (bent portions), it is possible to detect a prize ball having a lowered flowing speed, and to reliably detect the ball.

The detection signal from the prize ball detector 59 is
It is output to the game control device 20 and the discharge control device 24 via the relay board 61. The discharge control device 24 recognizes or counts the prize balls actually discharged based on the detection signal from the prize ball detector 59. In addition, ball rental detector 6
The detection signal from 0 is output to the emission control device 24.
Then, the discharge control device 24 recognizes or counts the actually discharged ball rental based on the detection signal from the ball rental detector 60.

Next, the ball removing unit 34 will be described. Like the ball discharge unit 32 and the flow path switching unit 33, the ball removal unit 34 also has two rows (two rows) of flow paths formed in the case 62 in parallel. The upper end opening (inlet) of the flow path is provided with the flow path switching unit 33.
And, in a state where the ball removing unit 34 is attached to the back mechanism panel 17, it communicates with the lower end opening (exit) of the ball discharge channel 39 of the channel switching unit 33.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flow path of the ball removing unit 34 includes a ball discharge flow path 63 and a ball discharge flow path 64 from the middle.
The ball discharge flow passage 63 is formed so as to meander in the front-rear direction, and the ball discharge flow passage 64 is formed substantially vertically. More specifically, the ball discharge flow passage 63
Is gently downwardly inclined from the lower side of the branch start point to the rear side (rear side of the gaming machine in a mounted state, which corresponds to the left side in FIG. 8), and then is folded back at the rear end portion of the case 62 to form a front side (FIG. 8 (corresponding to the right side in FIG. 8). Then, the lower part of the fraud prevention member 65 that closes the flow path without pivoting to the upstream side by pivoting to the downstream side to open the flow path but not to the upstream side by pivotally attaching the upper end to the portion bent in the horizontal U-shape. The half is faced from above, and a fraud prevention groove 66 is formed in the outer ceiling portion of the bent portion, and a fraud prevention groove 67 is also formed in the bent portion upstream of the bent portion. Therefore, when a piano wire or the like is illegally inserted from the downstream side, entry is prevented by the fraud prevention groove 66 on the downstream side,
Even if it passes here, the anti-fraud member 65 prevents entry, and even if it passes here, the intrusion prevention groove 67 on the upstream side can prevent entry. In addition, since the fraud prevention member 65 rotates downstream, there is no problem when the ball flows down.

A ball release valve 69 is provided at a branch point (branch start point) between the ball discharge flow path 63 and the ball discharge flow path 64. The ball vent valve 69 is connected to the passage switching valve 54.
The basic configuration is the same as that described above, and is mounted so as to be rotatable around a rotation support shaft 70 fitted to the base end portion, and is connected to a ball removing solenoid 71 via a link mechanism. When the ball removing solenoid 71 is in the demagnetized state, as shown in FIG. 8, the ball removing valve 69 causes the ball flowing down from the flow path switching unit 33 to be released by the urging force of the spring of the ball removing solenoid 71. Stop in the state of guiding to. Therefore, in this state, the ball flowing down in the ball discharge flow path 63 is discharged to the upper plate 4 or the lower plate 10 through the ball discharge gutter 35 to the player side. On the other hand, when the ball removing solenoid 71 is excited, the flow path is switched to a state in which the ball flowing down from the flow path switching unit 33 is guided to the ball removing flow path 64 as shown in FIG. Therefore, in this state, the balls that have flowed down in the ball draining flow path 64 are discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 1 via the ball draining path 36.

The ball-pulling solenoid 71 is electrically connected to the discharge control device 24. Excitation and demagnetization are controlled by a drive signal from the discharge control device 24.
For example, when a staff member inserts an operation pin into the ball hole of the front frame 6 and operates the ball hole switch 72 on the rear surface of the front frame 6,
Discharge control device 2 receiving a signal from ball release switch 72
4 excites the ball-pulling solenoid 71 to switch the flow path to the ball-pulling flow path side to bring the ball-pulling state.

Next, the mounting of the ball discharge unit 32, the flow path switching unit 33, and the ball removal unit 34 to the back mechanism board 17 will be described. In each unit case, as a mounting means, a hook-shaped mounting hook 73 whose tip is bent downward and a mounting claw portion 75 are protruded from a front surface portion facing the back mechanism panel 17 so as to be vertically adjacent to each other. A concave portion and a convex portion to be fitted between the mating case are formed.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the mounting hook 7 is attached to the upper part of the front surface of the case 37 of the ball discharging unit 32.
3a, and a mounting claw portion 75a is projected from a lower portion. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a case 51 is attached to the flow path switching unit 33 attached below the ball discharging unit 32.
A mounting hook 73b is protruded at an upper portion of a front portion of the device, and a mounting claw portion 75b is protruded at a lower portion, and a connecting member 76 to the case 37 of the ball discharge unit 32 is rotatably mounted near an upper surface of the case 51, On the lower surface of the case 51, a convex portion 77 forming a part of the side wall of the merging flow path is formed. As shown in FIG. 8, the ball removing unit 34 attached below the flow path switching unit 33 has an attachment hook 73c at the top of the front surface of the case 62 and an attachment claw 75c at the bottom.
Are formed on the upper surface of the case 62, and a concave portion 79 is formed on the upper surface of the case 62 so as to form a part of the side wall of the flow channel and fit into the convex portion 77 of the case 51 of the flow channel switching unit 33.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
3, and each case 37, 51, 6 of the ball removing unit 34
2 are formed in the longitudinal direction in series with the fitting groove 80 just fitted, and the bottom of the mounting groove 80 is formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of each case.
A fitting hole 81 is formed in which the vertically long mounting hole 74 and the mounting claw portion 75 are fitted. In the lower part of the mounting groove 80, the inlet of the ball discharge gutter 35 communicating with the upper plate 4 is located at a position communicating with the lower end opening (exit) of the ball discharge flow path 63 of the ball discharge unit 34, The entrances of the ball emptying passages 36 are respectively opened at positions communicating with the outlets 64, and the entrances are formed in such a size that the lower end exits of the slightly protruding ball discharge flow passages 63 can be fitted without excess or shortage.

Ball discharge unit 32, flow path switching unit 3
In order to attach the ball removal unit 34 and the ball removal unit 34 to the back mechanism panel 17, first, the ball removal unit 34 is attached, then the flow path switching unit 33, and finally, the ball ejection unit 32.

In order to mount the ball removing unit 34 to the back mechanism panel 17, the case 62 is inserted into the mounting groove 80 with the case 62 being held slightly higher than a predetermined height, and the mounting hook 73c is mounted.
Is inserted into the mounting hole 74 of the back mechanism panel 17, and the mounting hook 7 is
3c is fully inserted to the lower end, and is lowered.
3c is engaged with the opening edge of the mounting hole 74, and the mounting claw portion 75c on the lower surface is fitted into the fitting hole 81 of the back mechanism board 17. In this manner, the ball removing unit 34 is moved to the back mechanism board 17.
The ball discharge unit 34 of the ball removal unit 34
3 communicates with the ball discharge gutter 35 of the back mechanism board 17,
The ball removal flow path 64 of the ball removal unit 34 is
Of the mounting hook 7 in this state.
3c is engaged with the opening edge of the mounting hole 74 and the mounting claw 75
The ball removing unit 3
4 does not come off from the mounting groove 80 of the back mechanism board 17 to the near side, and does not move in the left-right direction because it is sandwiched between the left and right side walls of the mounting groove 80.

After attaching the ball removing unit 34,
Next, the flow path switching unit 33 is attached. In order to attach the flow path switching unit 33 to the back mechanism panel 17, the case 51 is pushed into the mounting groove 80 while holding the case 51 slightly higher than the predetermined height, and the upper part is attached in substantially the same manner as the mounting operation of the ball removing unit 34. The hook 73b is inserted into the mounting hole 74 of the back mechanism panel 17, the lower mounting claw 75b is inserted into the fitting hole 81 of the back mechanism panel 17, and the downwardly protruding merging outlet is replaced with a ball removal unit. 34, the mounting hook 73b is lowered to a state in which the mounting hook 73b is inserted far enough to engage the mounting hook 73b with the opening edge of the mounting hole 74, and the convex portion on the lower surface (the merged ball). The outlet portion 77 of the flow path is fitted into the concave portion 79 of the ball removing unit 34. In this way, the flow path switching unit 33 is
7, the spherical flow path after the flow path switching unit 33 merges with the spherical flow path of the ball removing unit 34. In this state, the engagement of the mounting hook 73b with the opening edge of the mounting hole 74 and the mounting claw portion The channel switching unit 33 does not come out of the mounting groove portion 80 of the back mechanism panel 17 due to the fitting of the 75b into the fitting hole 81, and does not move in the left-right direction because it is sandwiched between the left and right side walls of the mounting groove portion 80.

After the passage switching unit 33 is attached, the ball discharge unit 32 is attached next. In order to mount the ball discharge unit 32 to the back mechanism panel 17, the case 37 is held slightly higher than the predetermined height in the mounting groove 80 in substantially the same manner as the mounting operation of the ball removal unit 34 and the flow path switching unit 33. And insert the upper mounting hook 73a into the mounting hole 74 of the back mechanism panel 17 and the lower mounting claw 75a into the fitting hole 81 of the back mechanism panel 17 so that the mounting hook 73a is fully inserted. When the case 37 is inserted, the case 37 is lowered and the mounting hook 73a is inserted into the mounting hole 74.
Engages with the opening edge. In this way, the ball discharge unit 32
Is attached to the back mechanism board 17, the ball discharge flow path 63 of the ball discharge unit 32 communicates with the ball flow path of the flow path switching unit 33. Then, the previously installed flow path switching unit 33
Of the connecting member 76 of the connecting member 76,
6 'is fitted into the concave portion 82 of the ball discharge unit 32 to connect the ball discharge unit 32 and the flow path switching unit 33.

As described above, when the case members 37 and 51 of the vertically stacked units are connected by the connecting member 76, the connecting portion of the ball flow path does not shift, and the ball flows down smoothly.
In this state, the ball discharge unit 32 is attached to the mounting hook 7.
The engagement of the opening 3a with the opening edge of the mounting hole 74 and the mounting claw 75
By the fitting into the fitting holes 81, the mounting mechanism 80 does not come out of the mounting groove 80 of the back mechanism panel 17 and does not move in the left-right direction while being sandwiched between the left and right side walls of the mounting groove 80.

Note that a connection member may be provided between the cases of the flow path switching unit 33 and the ball removing unit 34 to ensure the connection.

The ball discharge unit 32, the flow path switching unit 33, and the like mounted as described above are controlled by the game control device 20 and the discharge control device 24.

As shown in FIG. 10, the game control device 20 includes a hemisphere detecting switch 31 and a metal frame opening detecting switch 9.
0, a special symbol start switch 91, a normal symbol start switch 92, an attacker count switch 93, an attacker continuation switch 94, a general winning opening switch 95, an overflow switch 96, a prize ball detector 59 of the flow path switching unit 33, and various detection devices. Is input.
The detection signal from the overflow switch 96 and the detection signal from the prize ball detector 59 of the flow path switching unit 33 are branched via the relay board 61,
Is also entered.

The CPU of the game control device 20 performs overall control of the game by the game program stored in the ROM based on the detection signal.

More specifically, the game control device 20
Outputs a decoration control command and a prize ball discharge command to the decoration control device 22 and the discharge control device 24, respectively. Based on this control command, the decoration control device 22 sets the special symbol storage display 9
7. Ordinary symbol memory display 99, award ball discharge LED 100,
The emission control device 24 controls the light emission of the decorative LED 101 and the like, and controls the discharge of the sphere from the sphere discharge unit 32 and the switching of the flow path of the flow path switching unit 33, and also controls the removal of the sphere of the ball removal unit 34. .

The game control device 20 transmits control signals to the attacker solenoid 102, the normal fluctuation winning device solenoid 103, and the like, and controls the energization of these solenoids.
The opening and closing of the normal variable winning device 105 is controlled. Further, the display of the ordinary symbol display 106 is controlled.

Further, the game control device 20 monitors whether or not the prize ball is discharged correctly. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the target number of prize ball discharges transmitted as the prize ball control command to the discharge control device 24 matches the actual discharge number counted based on the signal from the prize ball detector 59. The monitoring process and the monitoring process for determining whether or not the prize ball has been ejected even though the prize ball ejection command has not been transmitted are performed. When an abnormality is recognized by these monitoring processes, a warning signal is transmitted to the decoration control device 22 to display the decoration LED.
The game is forcibly interrupted by giving a warning by blinking the 101 all at once, or stopping the game control, stopping the hit ball firing, and the like.

Although not shown in the drawing, the emission control device 2
4, a ball lending control signal from the card unit 2 is input separately from the prize ball control signal from the game control device 20. The discharge control device 24 controls the ball discharge unit 32 based on the prize ball control signal and the ball rental control signal, and discharges the prize ball and the ball rental.

More specifically, when a prize ball control command (including the number of prize balls) is received from the game control device 20,
The discharge control device 24 controls the energization of the stopper solenoid 49 to unlock the stop gear 42 first. Next, a drive pulse signal is sent to the pulse motor which is the ball discharge motor 44, and the ball discharge unit 32 discharges the target number of balls determined based on the commanded prize ball number. The target number may be the commanded prize ball number (for example, 7, 13 or the like) included in each prize ball control command, or may be the command prize ball number included in a plurality of prize ball control commands. May be added. The ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 32 is introduced into the flow path switching unit 33. In this case, since the flow path switching solenoid 56 is not excited, the ball is guided to the prize ball flow path 52, Detected by the detector 59, the number of prize balls discharged is counted.

On the other hand, when receiving the ball lending control signal (including the ball lending number) from the card unit 2, the discharge controller 2
Reference numeral 4 first controls the energization of the flow path switching solenoid 56 to rotate the flow path switching valve 54 to open the ball lending flow path 53 and close the prize ball flow path 52. Next, energization of the stopper solenoid 49 is controlled to release the lock of the stop gear 42, and the operation of the pulse motor 44 causes the ball discharge unit 32 to discharge the designated number of balls (target number) of balls. As a result, the ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 32 is guided to the ball rental channel 53, and the ball rental detector 6 on the way.
0 is detected, thereby counting the number of released balls.

In such prize balls or ball rental discharges,
For example, the number of balls finally discharged is controlled by the following method. First, the sprocket 4 of the ball discharging unit 32
The first-stage discharge is performed by operating 0 by a rotation amount corresponding to a number smaller than the target number (for example, a number obtained by subtracting one from the target number). The discharge in the first stage is detected by the prize ball detector 59 or the ball lending detector 60. If the target value has not been discharged by the counting based on this detection, the process proceeds to the second-stage discharge. In the discharge in the second stage, the sprocket 40 is rotated by a small angle (for example, 10 degrees) at a time, and the prize ball or the lending ball is discharged by this rotation, and the counting based on the prize ball detector 59 or the lending ball detector 60 is performed. To match the target number. This will eventually execute the correct number of ejections.

In order to shorten the discharge time, the first
It is desirable that the sprocket 40 be rotated at a high speed during the ejection at the stage, and at a low speed for accuracy in the ejection at the second stage.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ball discharged from the ball discharging unit 32 is determined according to whether it is a prize ball or a rental ball.
Guided to the prize ball flow path 52 or the ball lending flow path 53 of the flow path switching unit 33, the prize ball detector 59 or the ball lending detector 6
It is detected one by one at 0 and counted based on this detection signal. Therefore, the game control device 20 and the discharge control device 24 can accurately grasp the number of discharged balls by clearly distinguishing the prize ball from the rented ball. In the ball discharge unit 32, the number of balls to be discharged can be controlled by controlling the rotation angle of the sprocket 40, so that the number of discharged balls can be managed to some extent accurately by itself. Moreover, in this embodiment,
Since counting can be performed by the prize ball detector 59 and the ball lending detector 60 provided in the flow path switching unit 33, the number of discharged balls can be grasped more accurately, and further, there is no need to provide a detector in the ball discharge unit 32. .

Next, a description will be given of ball removal for extracting balls such as the ball storage tank 27 and the ball outlet gutter 29 to the outside of the pachinko machine 1. When a ball removal signal is transmitted from the ball removal switch 72 to the discharge control device 24 by an operator or the like, the discharge control device 24 excites the ball removal solenoid 71 of the ball removal unit 34 to move the ball to the ball removal flow path 64. And the channel switching solenoid 56 of the channel switching unit 33 is excited to switch the channel switching valve 54 to a state in which the ball is guided to the ball lending channel 53 side. Then, the stopper solenoid 49 of the ball discharge unit 32 is excited to unlock the stop gear 42, and the pulse motor 44
Is operated continuously. Then, the balls in the flow path such as the ball storage tank 27, the ball discharge gutter 29, and the ball discharge flow path 39 are continuously discharged from the ball discharge unit 32, and the balls are introduced into the flow path switching unit 33 to be used for ball lending. After flowing down the use channel 53, it is introduced into the ball removing unit 34 and discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 1 via the ball removing path 36 of the back mechanism board 17.

When the ball is removed in this manner, the ball discharged from the ball discharging unit 32 flows down the ball-for-ball-use channel 53 of the channel switching unit 33, and the ball-for-ball detector 60 detects the ball. A signal is output to the discharge control device 24, but the discharge control device 24 recognizes that the ball has been removed, and there is no problem.
On the other hand, when the ball is removed by flowing down the inside of the ball rental channel 53, the ball does not flow down the prize ball channel 52, and the prize ball detector 59 sends a ball detection signal to the game control device 20. Never do. For this reason, it is not necessary for the game control device 20 to recognize that the ball has been removed, and the control program of the game control device 20 can be reduced in size.

The above-described embodiment is a so-called CR machine type pachinko machine 1 in which game balls are borrowed using a game card, but by replacing the flow path switching unit 33 with a flow path unit 110 for a cash machine. The machine type pachinko machine 1 can be used. That is, in the present embodiment, the mounting groove 80, the mounting hole 74, the fitting hole 81 of the back mechanism panel 17 configured to mount the flow path switching unit 33.
The mounting structure on the side of the back mechanism board 17 and the mounting structure including the case size, the mounting hook 73, the mounting claw portion 75, and the like corresponding to the same are common to the flow path switching unit 33 and the flow path unit 110. In this way, compatibility is provided between the two. In other words, in this embodiment, the mounting groove 80, the mounting hole 74,
The fitting hole 81 is configured as a compatible unit mounting portion, and the flow path switching unit 33 and the flow path unit 110 are compatible units.

The flow channel unit 110 for the cash machine uses a case 111 having the same mounting structure as the case 51 of the flow channel switching unit 33 in order to make the flow channel switching unit 33 compatible. For this reason, the flow path unit 110 shown in FIG.
1 has the same shape, the same dimensions, the same mounting hook 73a and the same mounting claw portion 75a as those in FIG.
Flow path 1 similar to prize ball flow path 52 of flow path switching unit 33
12 and the prize ball detector 59
Is provided.

Therefore, this flow path unit 110 is
By the same operation as the mounting operation of the flow path switching unit 33, the flow path switching unit 33 is inserted into the mounting groove 80 of the back mechanism panel 17.
Can be mounted instead of. When the channel unit 110 is attached to the back mechanism panel 17, the opening (inlet) at the upper end of the channel 112 communicates with the ball discharge channel 39 of the ball discharging unit 32, and the opening (exit) at the lower end of the channel 112. Communicates with the flow path of the ball removing unit 34.

When the flow path unit 110 is mounted on the back mechanism panel 17 instead of the flow path switching unit 33 to make the cash machine type pachinko machine 1, similar to the CR machine type pachinko machine 1 described above, The prize ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 32 is detected by the prize ball detector 59 of the flow path unit 110.
Thus, the number of prize balls actually ejected can be counted based on the detection signal. Therefore, even if the prize ball detector 59 is not provided in the ball discharge unit 32 itself, the prize ball discharge can be monitored by the prize ball detector 59 of the channel unit 110.

As described above, if the compatibility between the flow path switching unit 33 and the flow path unit 110 is given to the mounting, the C
Since the back mechanism board 17 can be commonly used for the R machine type and the cash machine type, the design and manufacture of the back mechanism board 17 are easy, and management such as inventory management can be rationalized.

In the above embodiment, the ball discharging unit 3
The ball discharge mechanism in 2 is a sprocket type. However, the ball discharge mechanism in the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flow of the ball is controlled by a cam that appears and disappears in the ball discharge channel 39. It may be a cam type. Further, the interchangeable unit mounting portion is not limited to the mounting hook 73, the fitting claw portion, and the like, but may be, for example, an elastic claw piece and an engaging step portion or an engaging hole that engages with the elastic claw piece.

The present invention is not limited to the pachinko machine 1,
A sparrow ball type game machine, an arrangement ball type game machine, and the like may be used.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the invention of claim 1, the upstream side communicates with the ball discharge channel of the ball discharge unit, and the downstream side from the branch start point forms a flow path branched into a prize ball flow path and a ball lending flow path, At the branch start point, there is provided a flow path switching valve for guiding the ball from the ball discharge unit to either the prize ball flow path side or the ball lending flow path side, and the prize ball detector is provided in the prize ball flow path. Since the flow path for lending balls is provided with a flow path switching unit provided with a lending ball detector, it is possible to clearly distinguish whether the ball discharged by the ball discharging unit is a prize ball or a lending ball. ,
Further, since the number of prize balls actually discharged and the number of lending balls can be counted and monitored, it is possible to expect the number of discharged balls to be accurate. Further, even if the number of detectors is small, the balls can be ejected while checking the actually ejected balls, so that not only the mechanical structure is simple but also the electrical structure such as control can be expected to be simplified. And since this flow path switching unit is detachable, when the flow path switching mechanism breaks down,
It can be replaced alone, and the repair work can be shortened and facilitated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a flow path is provided downstream of the ball discharge unit, and a flow path whose upstream side communicates with the ball discharge flow path of the ball discharge unit is formed in the case. Is provided with a flow path unit provided with a prize ball detector, so that the number of prize balls actually discharged can be counted and monitored. Therefore, the number of awarded balls actually ejected can be expected to be accurate. And since this channel unit is removable,
If the prize ball detector breaks down, it can be replaced independently, and the repair work can be shortened and facilitated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, whether a so-called CR machine type or a cash machine type can be dealt with simply by selecting either the flow path switching unit or the flow path unit as a compatible unit. The ball discharge unit and the back mechanism board can be used for any type. Therefore, common use of parts can be promoted, design and manufacturing can be rationalized easily, and management operations such as inventory management can be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a ball removal unit provided with a ball removal valve for guiding a ball to either the player side or the outside of the game machine is provided downstream of the channel switching unit or the channel unit. Is provided, so that almost all the balls in the gaming machine can be extracted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine and a card unit.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine and the card unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a ball discharging unit, a flow path switching unit, and a ball removing unit are attached to a back mechanism panel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a ball discharging unit and a mounting groove.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a ball discharging unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a stopper member and a stop gear.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a flow path switching unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a ball removing unit in a normal state.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the ball removing unit in a ball removing state.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing a connection relationship between control devices.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a flow channel unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 2 Card unit 3 Card slot 4 Upper plate 5 Machine frame 6 Front frame 7 Glass decoration frame 9 Opening / closing panel 10 Lower plate 11 Ashtray 12 Launching operation unit 13 Game board storage frame 14 Game board 15 Game area 16 Ball rental operation Unit 17 Back mechanism panel 19 Power supply device 20 Game control device 21 Display control device 22 Decoration control device 23 Sound control device 24 Discharge control device 25 Launch control device 26 Relay board 27 Ball storage tank 29 Ball lead gutter 30 Bent channel member 31 Half-sphere sensor (half-sphere detection switch) 32 Ball discharge unit 33 Channel switching unit 34 Ball removal unit 35 Ball discharge gutter 36 Ball removal gutter 37 Ball discharge unit case 39 Ball discharge flow path 40 Sprocket 41 First gear 42 Stop gear 43 rotating shaft 44 ball discharge motor (pulse motor) 45 second gear 4 6 Stopper Member 47 Return Spring 49 Stopper Solenoid 50 Ball Fitting Recess 51 Case of Channel Switching Unit 52 Prize Ball Channel 53 Ball Lending Channel 54 Channel Switching Valve 55 Rotating Shaft 56 Channel Switching Solenoid 57 Connection Gear 59 Prize ball detector 60 Ball lending detector 61 Relay board 62 Ball removal unit case 63 Ball discharge flow path 64 Ball release flow path 65 Fraud prevention member 66, 67 Fraud prevention groove 69 Ball vent valve 70 Rotating support shaft 71 Ball release solenoid 72 Ball release switch 73 Mounting hook 74 Mounting hole 75 Mounting claw portion 76 Connection member 77 Convex portion 79 Recess 80 Mounting groove 81 Fitting hole 82 Recess 90 Metal frame opening detection switch 91 Special design start switch 92 Normal design start switch 93 Attacker count switch 94 Attacker continuation switch 95 General input Mouth switch 96 Overflow switch 97 Special symbol memory display 99 Normal symbol memory display 100 Prize ball discharge LED 101 Decoration LED 102 Attacker solenoid 103 Ordinary variable winning device solenoid 104 Attacker 105 Ordinary variable winning device 106 Ordinary symbol indicator 110 Channel unit 111 Case of channel unit 112 Channel

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ball discharging unit in which a ball discharging mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls is incorporated in a case, a ball discharging unit disposed downstream of the ball discharging unit, and a ball of the ball discharging unit upstream in the case. A flow path communicating with the discharge flow path and branching downstream from the branch start point into a prize ball flow path and a ball lending flow path is formed, and a ball from the ball discharge unit is provided at the branch start point with the prize ball flow. A flow path switching valve is provided for guiding either the road side or the ball-gathering flow path side, a prize-ball detector is provided for the prize-ball flow path, and a ball-lending detector is provided for the ball-lending flow path. A path switching unit, and discharge control means for controlling the ball discharge mechanism and counting the number of balls discharged based on a signal from a prize ball detector or a ball lending detector; Is a gaming machine characterized by being detachably attached to a back mechanism panel. 2. A ball discharging unit in which a ball discharging mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of balls is incorporated in a case, and a ball discharging unit is disposed downstream of the ball discharging unit, and the ball discharging unit is upstream in the case. A flow path communicating with the flow path is formed, and in this flow path, a flow path unit provided with a prize sphere detector, and the sphere discharging mechanism is controlled and discharged based on a signal from the prize sphere detector. And a discharge control means for counting the number of balls, wherein the channel unit is detachably attached to a back mechanism panel. 3. A game machine comprising a ball discharge unit incorporating a ball discharge mechanism capable of discharging a predetermined number of balls in a case, and discharge control means for controlling the ball discharge mechanism. A compatible unit mounting section is formed below the back mechanism panel that can be mounted, and the compatible unit is detachably mounted on this compatible unit mounting section. A flow path is formed by branching the downstream side from the branch start point into a prize ball flow path and a ball lending flow path. At the branch start point, the ball from the ball discharge unit is flown to the prize ball flow path side or the lending ball flow path. A flow path switching unit provided with a flow path switching valve for guiding one of the ball flow paths, a prize ball detector provided in the prize ball flow path, and a ball lending detector provided in the ball rental flow path. And the above compatible unit of the case of the flow path switching unit. In the case where the mounting structure for the ball mounting unit is shared, a flow path in which the upstream side communicates with the ball discharge flow path of the ball discharge unit is formed, and a flow path unit provided with a prize ball detector in this flow path, In the state where the flow path switching unit is mounted, the discharge control means counts the number of balls discharged based on a signal from the prize ball detector or the ball lending detector, and attaches the flow path unit. A game machine characterized in that the ejection control means counts the number of ejected balls based on a signal from a prize ball detector in a state where the ball is ejected. 4. A ball release unit provided with a ball release valve for guiding a ball to either the player side or the outside of the game machine is provided downstream of the flow path switching unit or the flow path unit. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.