JP2001104591A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely detect the abnormality of the flow of the pachinko balls of a ball passage from a ball storage tank to a payout device and to normally pay out the pachinko balls at all times. SOLUTION: This pachinko game machine is provided with a ball flow-down detection sensor 10 capable of detecting the pachinko balls flowing down to the ball passages 2 and 3 from the ball storage tank 1 to the payout device 4 one by one. Also, it is detected by a payout control circuit 7 that the pulse signals of a prescribed cycle are transmitted from the ball flow-down sensor at the time of ball payout and the abnormality is reported in the case that the pulse signals are not transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for detecting an abnormality in a ball payout operation of a pachinko game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a ball storage tank provided at an upper rear portion of a pachinko game machine communicates with a payout device through a ball passage such as a tank rail or a curve rail, and the pachinko machine discharged from the payout device. The ball is paid out to a ball plate on the front of the gaming machine through the payout gutter.

[0003] By the way, conventionally, a detection switch operated by the load of a pachinko ball is provided in a ball passage such as the above-mentioned tank rail or curve rail, and the detection switch constantly detects the presence or absence of a pachinko ball in the ball passage. If the pachinko ball is not detected, the payout control circuit notifies the abnormality and stops paying out the pachinko ball. In addition, an optical sensor or an electromagnetic sensor may be used as the detection switch.

[0004]

However, in the conventional structure, for example, even if the pachinko ball is clogged in the middle of the ball passage and the pachinko ball cannot be actually dispensed,
If a ball pressure is applied to the detection switch located upstream of the ball, an abnormality cannot be detected, and there is a possibility that the pachinko ball cannot be paid out normally. Further, the same problem occurs even when an optical sensor or an electromagnetic sensor is used. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko gaming machine that can more reliably detect an abnormality in the flow of a pachinko ball in the ball passage.

[0005]

In order to achieve the object, a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention detects a flow of a pachinko ball flowing down a ball passage from a ball storage tank to a dispensing device and transmits a pulse signal. A ball falling detection sensor is provided, and the dispensing control circuit detects that a pulse signal is transmitted from the ball falling sensor when the ball is dispensed. Further, the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with a ball down detection sensor capable of detecting pachinko balls flowing down to the ball passage from the ball storage tank to the payout device one by one. It is characterized in that the dispensing control circuit detects that a periodic pulse signal is transmitted, and when the pulse signal is not transmitted, an abnormality is notified. Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the above-mentioned pachinko gaming machine, the payout device is stopped when a pulse signal of a predetermined period is not transmitted from the ball falling detection sensor. Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned pachinko gaming machine, the hit ball launching device is stopped when a pulse signal of a predetermined period is not transmitted from the ball falling detection sensor. Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned pachinko gaming machine, when a pulse signal of a predetermined period is not transmitted from the ball flow detection sensor, the progress of a character such as a symbol variation display, a special winning opening is stopped. . Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned pachinko gaming machine, pachinko balls to be paid out in accordance with at least one payout command are stored in a ball passage between the ball flow detection sensor and the payout device. Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the above-mentioned pachinko gaming machine, the ball falling detection sensor is an optical sensor having an optical axis arranged so as to cross the ball path.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the back structure of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention, 1 is a ball storage tank, 2 is a tank rail formed integrally with or separately from the tank, 3 is a curve rail, 4 is a payout device, 5 is a payout device. It is a ball discharge gutter. Reference numeral 6 denotes a board case in which a payout control circuit 7 is built in. Reference numeral 8 denotes a prize ball that has entered a prize hole on the game board, which is collected and detected by a collecting case 9, and the prize balls are discharged one by one after the prize ball is paid out. It is a winning ball discharging device to be made.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention. The payout control circuit 7 is connected to the payout device 4 and the winning ball discharging device 8 and detects a ball flowing down. The sensor 10 is connected. Reference numeral 20 denotes an abnormality notifying means including a lamp, a buzzer, or a remote communication notification means, etc., reference numeral 28 denotes a control circuit of the hit ball launching device 30, and reference numeral 29 denotes a control circuit of an accessory such as a symbol variation display, a winning port. The payout device 4 pays out a predetermined number of pachinko balls according to the number of rotations of the screw 12 by an actuator 11 such as a motor in accordance with a command from the payout control circuit 7, and 13 denotes the paid out pachinko ball. The ball counting sensor counts the balls and sends the signal to the payout control circuit 7. When the prize ball sensor 14 detects a prize ball, the prize ball discharge device 8 outputs a signal to the payout control circuit 7, and when receiving a prize ball discharge command from the payout control circuit 7, the actuator 15 such as a solenoid discharges the discharge valve. 16 to 1
Spin to eject the winning ball.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ball flow detection sensor 10 is provided with a light projecting device 17 and a light receiving device 18 on opposing side walls of the curved rail 3, which is a ball passage, so that its optical axis 1
The optical axis 19 is intermittently interrupted by a pachinko ball flowing down the ball path, and a predetermined period following the intermittent cycle of the optical axis is received from the light receiver 18. A pulse signal is transmitted, and the pulse signal is detected by the payout control circuit 7. Reference numeral 24 denotes a wiring board on which the light emitter 17 and the light receiver 18 are mounted.
Both ends of the wiring board are inserted into ear pieces 25 formed integrally with the curve rail 3 and the wiring board is fixed, so that the ball flow detection sensor 10 is attached to the curve rail 3.

Next, the outline of the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a winning ball is detected by the winning ball sensor 14, a predetermined payout command is output from the payout control circuit 7, and the process proceeds from step a to step b, where the payout device 4
Is driven and a pachinko ball as a prize is paid out.
Each time the pachinko ball is detected by the ball counting sensor 13, the ball count value is added in steps c and d, and in step e, whether or not a pulse signal is received from the ball falling detection sensor 10 Is determined, and if the pulse signal is not received, the process proceeds to step f, turns on the abnormality notification flag, and then proceeds to step g.
If a pulse signal of a predetermined period is normally received from 0, the process proceeds to step g without going through step f, and in step g, whether the ball count value is a predetermined number of pachinko balls, for example, "15" If it has not yet reached "15", the process returns to step b. If it has reached "15", the process proceeds to steps h and i to stop the payout device 4 and to issue a winning ball discharging command to the winning ball discharging device 8. Discharge the winning prize balls.

At step j, it is determined whether or not the abnormality notification flag is turned on. If the abnormality notification flag is not turned on, the flow returns to step a to continue the payout operation, and the abnormality notification flag is turned on. If so, the process proceeds to step k to activate the abnormality notifying means 20 to notify the occurrence of an abnormality.

At the same time that the occurrence of an abnormality is notified, a stop signal is output to the hit ball firing device control circuit 28 in step 1 to stop the hit ball firing device, thereby making it impossible for the player to fire a hit ball. At the same time, at step m, a command is sent to the accessory control circuit 29 to temporarily stop the operation, a symbol such as "game interruption" is displayed on the symbol variation display, and the current state of the accessory is stored in the memory of the electronic control circuit. By temporarily stopping the progress of the game, it is possible to return to the game state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality after the return.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, a pulse signal is transmitted in step e every time a pachinko ball is paid out. By detecting the presence or absence of the pulse signal described above, the falling of the pachinko ball at the time of the payout may be detected. In short, FIG. 5 shows only the outline of the present invention, and it goes without saying that other embodiments can be adopted.

The position of the ball flow detection sensor 10 may be any position as long as it is upstream of the payout device 4. Pachinko balls to be paid out by at least one payout command are used for the ball flow detection sensor 10 and the payout device 4. It is desirable that the number of pachinko balls for one time be normally paid out even if an abnormality is detected in the middle of the payout, if the ball is stored in the ball path between the pachinko balls. In the case of a pachinko gaming machine having a plurality of types of payout commands such that the number of pachinko balls paid out by one payout command is, for example, 7 or 13, the larger number of pachinko balls (ie, , 13
Is preferably stored between the ball flow detection sensor 10 and the dispensing device 4.

As described above, while the pachinko ball is being paid out, it is always monitored whether or not a pulse signal is transmitted from the ball falling detection sensor 10, and if no pulse signal is transmitted, an abnormality is detected. Therefore, if the pachinko ball does not flow down, the abnormality is surely notified no matter where the ball is clogged in the ball passage, and necessary recovery measures can be taken immediately.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a movable piece 22 is provided outside the curve rail 3 so as to be rotatable by a support shaft 21, and only one pachinko ball in the curve rail 3 is provided with the movable piece. A part of the movable piece is made to face the curve rail 3 so as to be able to come into contact with the movable rail, and the ball down detection sensor 10 including a light emitting and receiving device is moved so that the optical axis is cut off or opened by the movement of the movable piece. It is fixed, and the ball down detection sensor may be provided outside the ball passage. Alternatively, a sprocket that rotates by the weight of the pachinko ball that flows down may be provided, and the rotation may be detected as an electric signal by a rotary encoder or the like.

Generally, the width of one ball passage is about 12 mm, which allows the ball to flow down one ball at a time. However, the width of the passage is widened so that the pachinko balls can be randomly arranged and flow down. Case (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-338483, Japanese Patent Application No. 20)
00-11986, etc.), the flow of pachinko balls at the time of dispensing is not always uniform in each row, and the pulse signal transmitted from the ball flow detection sensor 10 becomes irregular. Even in this case, it is possible to detect the falling of the pachinko ball by the signal judgment by the payout control circuit 7. Also, the mounting form of the ball drop detection sensor 10 is not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 4 and the like as long as the drop of the pachinko machine can be detected.

In this embodiment, the ball flow detection sensor 10 is provided on the curve rail 3. However, it may be provided on the tank rail 2 or near the ball flow outlet of the ball storage tank 1. 7 to 9 exemplify this, and reference numerals 10a to 10c in the drawings indicate positions where the ball down detection sensor of the tank rail 2 can be installed. As described above, the spherical flow outlet can be provided with the spherical flow detection sensor at the position indicated by reference numeral 10a or 10b, or in such a form that the optical axis passes obliquely through the spherical flow outlet. Even if the pachinko balls are provided in a place where the pachinko balls are tight as described above, an abnormality can be detected in a place where even the flow of the pachinko balls occurs due to the payout operation.

In the case of a tank rail or a curve rail having three or more passages, a detection switch is conventionally provided in each passage, but two of these passages are two passages for the payout operation. At the same time, when the pachinko sphere is caused to flow down, and the pachinko sphere is detected by a pulse signal as in the present invention, as shown by reference numeral 10c in FIGS.
There is no need to provide a detection switch in each passage.
What is necessary is just to be able to monitor the path of the streak with one detection switch.

The optical sensor used as the ball-fall detection sensor in these embodiments is optimal for detecting the falling of a high-speed pachinko ball, but uses a magnetic proximity switch instead of the optical sensor. It is also possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a contact switch 27 is provided in which a small sensing plate 26 to which only one pachinko ball can abut faces the ball passage. Even when the movable contact switch 27 is opened and closed, a pulse signal can be transmitted by the falling of the pachinko ball.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when the ball passage is provided at a spherical portion or when a large number of pachinko balls are dispensed at one time, the flow velocity of the subsequent balls increases, and Since an appropriate interval is generated between the two, a sensing plate 28 in which the number of pachinko balls in contact is about twice is provided on a shaft 29 so as to be rotatable repeatedly,
It is possible to detect a pulse signal from the contact switch 27 provided on the back surface.

In the present invention, it is needless to say that not only the payout of pachinko balls as a prize but also the payout of a lent ball can be performed, and a payout device for a prize ball and a payout device for a ball rental are provided side by side. It can also be applied to pachinko machines.
In the case of a ball rental machine, 25 pachinko balls are usually paid out by inserting 100 yen into a ball rental machine, so that at least 25 pachinko balls paid out by one payout command are balls. It is preferable that the liquid is stored between the falling detection sensor 10 and the dispensing device 4.

In this embodiment, the apparatus provided with the winning ball discharging device 8 has been described. However, a sensor provided in the winning opening detects a winning ball and outputs a winning ball payout signal, or a downstream of the winning ball collecting passage. There are various systems such as a system for detecting and storing a winning ball in the above-mentioned manner, and it is needless to say that in such a case, the winning ball discharging device 8 can be configured without being provided.

[0023]

As described above, the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with a ball falling detection sensor for detecting the flow of a pachinko ball flowing down to the ball passage from the ball storage tank to the dispensing device and transmitting a pulse signal. When the ball is discharged, the discharge control circuit detects that a pulse signal is transmitted from the ball flow-down detection sensor, so that the passage status of the pachinko ball can be monitored successively to judge the ball in the ball passage in real time. This has the effect of reliably detecting any abnormality such as

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a ball passage showing an embodiment of a ball flow detection sensor of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a ball passage showing another embodiment of the ball flow detection sensor of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of a ball passage showing another embodiment of a ball flow detection sensor of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a ball passage showing another embodiment of the ball flow detection sensor of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a ball passage showing another embodiment of the ball flow detection sensor of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a ball passage showing another embodiment of a ball flow detection sensor of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ball storage tank 2 tank rail 3 curve rail 4 payout device 7 payout control circuit 8 winning ball discharge device 10 ball falling detection sensor 17 light emitting device 18 light receiving device 20 abnormality notification means 28 hitting ball launching device control circuit 29 important object control circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A ball down detection sensor for detecting a flow of a pachinko ball flowing down to a ball passage from a ball storage tank to a dispensing device and transmitting a pulse signal is provided, and a pulse signal is transmitted from the ball down detection sensor at the time of ball discharge. A pachinko gaming machine characterized in that the action is detected. 2. A ball down detection sensor capable of detecting pachinko balls flowing down a ball passage from a ball storage tank to a dispensing device one by one is provided, and a pulse signal of a predetermined period is output from the ball down detection sensor at the time of ball dispensing. A pachinko game machine, which detects that a signal is transmitted and notifies the user of an abnormality when a pulse signal is not transmitted. 3. The pachinko game machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout device is stopped when a pulse signal of a predetermined period is not transmitted from the ball falling detection sensor. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein when a pulse signal of a predetermined period is not transmitted from the ball-down detection sensor, the movement of a character such as a symbol change indicator or a winning port is stopped. Pachinko machine. 5. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the hit ball launching device is stopped when a pulse signal of a predetermined cycle is not transmitted from the ball falling detection sensor. 6. The pachinko game according to claim 1, wherein pachinko balls to be paid out in accordance with at least one payout command are stored in a ball passage between the ball flow detection sensor and the payout device. Machine. 7. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball-fall detection sensor is an optical sensor having an optical axis arranged so as to cross the ball passage.