JP2001347012A - Ball shooting game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the electrostatic discharge by a game ball passing a supplying passage within a game machine in a ball shooting game machine equipped with a game ball delivery mechanism. SOLUTION: The ball stored in a ball storage tank 38 passes through a guide gutter 39 and reaches a ball delivery device 97 through ball supplying gutters 186a and 186b. A ball shortage switch 187 is provided on the upstream part (the part adjacent to the ball storage tank 38) in the guide gutter 39. When a lack of game ball is deselected by the ball shortage switch 187, the movement of the ball delivery device 97 is immobilized. Since it can be guaranteed that game balls are regularly present in the passage extending from the upstream part of the guide gutter 39 to the ball delivery device 97, each game gall is closely fitted. Accordingly, the game ball misses an opportunity to discharge even if charged with electricity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine in which a game is played in response to a player's operation, and more particularly, to a ball game machine in which a game is played using a game ball in a game area of a game board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a gaming machine, a game ball is launched into a game area by a launching device, and when a game ball wins a winning area such as a winning opening provided in the game area, a predetermined number of winning balls are given to the player. There are ball game machines that are paid out. Since a ball-and-ball game machine pays out a prize ball in accordance with a prize, it must have at least a payout mechanism that can pay out a prize ball.

[0003] A player borrows a game ball and plays a game using the borrowed game ball and the game ball paid out according to a winning. At that time, a lending request for a game ball from a player is once received by a lending request processing device such as a card unit, and the lending control means of the gaming machine receives a lending request from the player by communicating with the lending request processing device. Then, the lending management means controls the payout mechanism to lend the game balls. Alternatively, by inserting coins into a ball rental machine that pays out game balls according to coin insertion,
Some ballistic game machines are based on the premise that a player borrows game balls from a ball rental machine.

In general, the supply of game balls to the payout mechanism of each ball game machine in a game store is performed collectively from a supply mechanism provided on a game machine installation island in the game store. That is, game balls are supplied from outside the gaming machine. Gaming balls supplied from outside the gaming machine need to be guided to the payout mechanism provided inside the gaming machine,
A game ball supplied from the outside is stored in a supply tank provided at an upper portion of the gaming machine, and a structure in which the ball is discharged from the supply tank to a payout mechanism is often employed. Due to demands for cost reduction and weight reduction of gaming machines, such down-flow routes (supply routes)
Is realized by a synthetic resin channel.

[0005]

Then, there is a possibility that the game balls are charged by friction while the metal game balls are rolling through the supply path made of synthetic resin. There is no problem if a large number of game balls pass through the supply path while closely contacting each other, but if there is a gap between the game balls, the game that has flowed down the supply path to the game balls stopped at the payout mechanism The ball touches. At this time, if the flowing game balls are charged, discharge may occur when approaching the previously replenished game balls. Such electrostatic discharge may cause noise on signal lines and power supply lines of various electric components and boards provided in the gaming machine. Then, a malfunction or a signal error may occur due to the noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine having a game ball payout mechanism, in which a static electricity discharge by a game ball passing through a replenishment path in the game machine is prevented, thereby preventing noise from being generated. And

[0007]

A ball game machine according to the present invention plays a game using a game ball, and a game ball stored in a ball storage tank is supplied to a ball dispensing device via a guide rail. It is a ball game machine, and it is determined that there is a shortage of payable game balls at a stage where game balls are present near the upstream portion of the guide rail, and the payout operation of the ball payout device based on the determination. Can be stopped.

[0008] The game machine is located near the upstream portion of the guide rail.
A ball detecting means capable of detecting a ball shortage state in which the game balls are short is provided, and in accordance with the ball shortage detection by the ball detection means, it is configured to determine that there is a shortage of payable game balls. May be.

In this case, it is preferable that a ball detecting means is provided at the upstream end of the guide rail.

[0010] When the game control means for controlling the progress of the game and the payout control means for controlling the ball payout device are provided, a ball out detection signal from the ball detection means is inputted to the game control means, and the game control means is provided. The control means makes a determination according to the ball out detection signal, transmits a payout operation stop command signal to the payout control means according to the determination, and the payout control means receives the payout operation stop command signal. May be configured to stop the operation of the ball payout device on the condition that:

Preferably, the payout control means stops the operation of the ball payout device after a series of payout operations is completed.

When the payout control means controls the payout of both a prize ball based on a prize and a loaned ball based on a player's request, when the payout operation is stopped by detecting the lack of the ball, the prize ball and the rental ball are stopped. It is preferable to stop both payouts.

When the ball payout device starts the payout operation, it is preferable to pay out the game balls at a low speed for a predetermined period after the start.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 1 as a ball game machine as viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2, there is a hit ball supply tray 3. Below the hitting ball supply tray 3, a surplus ball receiving tray 4 for storing game balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle (operation knob) 5 for firing a hitting ball are provided. A game board 6 is detachably mounted behind the glass door frame 2. A game area 7 is provided on the front of the game board 6.

In the vicinity of the center of the game area 7, a variable display section (special symbol display device) 9 for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols and an ordinary symbol display (ordinary symbol display device) 10 using 7-segment LEDs are provided. A variable display device 8 is provided. In the variable display section 9, for example, "left", "middle",
There are three symbol display areas of "right". Variable display device 8
Is provided with a passage gate 11 for guiding a hit ball. The hit ball that has passed through the passing gate 11 is guided to the starting winning opening 14 via the ball exit 13. In a passage between the passage gate 11 and the ball outlet 13, there is a gate switch 12 for detecting a hit ball that has passed through the passage gate 11. The winning ball that has entered the starting winning port 14 is guided to the back of the game board 6 and detected by the starting port switch 17. In addition, a variable winning ball device 15 that performs opening and closing operations is provided below the starting winning port 14. The variable winning ball device 15 is opened by the solenoid 16.

Below the variable winning ball device 15, there is provided an opening / closing plate 20 which is opened by a solenoid 21 in a specific game state (big hit state). In this embodiment, the opening and closing plate 20 serves as a means for opening and closing the special winning opening. The winning ball that enters one (V zone) of the winning balls guided from the opening / closing plate 20 to the back of the game board 6 is detected by the V count switch 22. The winning ball from the opening / closing plate 20 is detected by the count switch 23. Variable display device 8
A start winning prize storage display 18 having four display sections for displaying the number of winning balls entering the starting winning prize port 14 is provided below. In this example, the start winning prize storage display 18 increases the number of lit display units by one each time there is a starting prize, with the upper limit being four. Then, each time the variable display of the variable display unit 9 is started, the number of the lit display units is reduced by one.

The game board 6 is provided with a plurality of winning ports 19 and 24, and the winning of the game balls into the respective winning ports 19 and 24 is determined by setting the corresponding winning port switches 19a and 19a.
19b, 24a and 24b. At the left and right sides of the game area 7, there are provided decorative lamps 25 which are displayed blinking during the game, and at the lower part there is an out port 26 for absorbing hit balls which have not won. In addition, two speakers 27 that emit sound effects are provided at upper left and right sides outside the game area 7. On the outer periphery of the game area 7, a game effect LED 2
8a and gaming effect lamps 28b and 28c are provided.

In this example, one of the speakers 27
Prize ball lamp 5 that lights up when there are remaining prize balls near
1 is provided, and near the other speaker 27, a ball-out lamp 52 is provided, which lights up when the supply ball is out. Further, FIG. 1 also shows a card unit 50 that is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 and that allows a ball to be lent by inserting a prepaid card.

The card unit 50 has a usable indicator lamp 151 for indicating whether or not the card is ready for use. If there is a fraction (a number less than 100 yen) in the balance information recorded in the card, the fraction is displayed. Fraction display switch 1 for displaying on a frequency display LED provided near hit ball supply tray 3
52, a connecting stand direction indicator 15 indicating which side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 the card unit 50 corresponds to
3. Card insertion indicator 154 indicating that a card has been inserted into card unit 50, card insertion slot 155 into which a card as a recording medium is inserted, and a card reader provided on the back of card insertion slot 155 A card unit lock 156 is provided to release the card unit 50 when checking the mechanism of the writer.

The hit ball fired from the hitting ball launching device enters the game area 7 through the hitting rail, and thereafter, the game area 7
Come down. When a hit ball is detected by the gate switch 12 through the passage gate 11, the number displayed on the symbol display 10 normally changes. When a hit ball enters the starting winning opening 14 and is detected by the starting opening switch 17,
If the change of the symbol can be started, the symbol in the variable display section 9 starts rotating. If it is not possible to start changing the symbol, the start winning memory is increased by one.

The rotation of the image in the variable display section 9 stops when a certain time has elapsed. If the combination of images at the time of stop is a combination of big hit symbols, the game shifts to a big hit game state. That is, the opening / closing plate 20 is opened until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of hit balls is won. Then, when a hit ball wins in the specific winning area while the opening and closing plate 20 is opened and is detected by the V count switch 22, a continuation right is generated and the opening and closing plate 20 is opened again. Generation of the continuation right is permitted a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 rounds).

If the combination of images in the variable display section 9 at the time of stoppage is a combination of big hit symbols accompanied by a probability change, the probability of the next big hit increases. That is, a high probability state, which is more advantageous for the player, is obtained. When the stop symbol on the ordinary symbol display 10 is a predetermined symbol (hit symbol = small hit symbol), the variable winning ball device 15 is opened for a predetermined time. Further, in the high probability state, the probability that the stop symbol on the ordinary symbol display 10 hits the symbol is increased, and the opening time and the number of times the variable winning ball device 15 is opened are increased.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mechanical plate of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the rear. The game balls stored in the ball storage tank 38 pass through a guide gutter (guide rail) 39, and reach the ball dispensing device 97 via the ball supply gutters 186a and 186b as shown in FIG. An upstream switch (portion close to the ball storage tank 38) in the guide gutter 39 has a ball cutout switch 187.
Is provided. The ball out switch 187 is a switch for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball in the game ball passage, and a ball out detection switch 167 for detecting a shortage of replenishment balls in the ball storage tank 38 is also provided. Ball out detection switch 16
When the game ball 7 detects the shortage of the game balls, the supply mechanism provided on the game machine installation island supplies the game machines with the game balls.

As the ball-out switch 187, for example, a proximity switch of a flat type is used so that the presence of a relatively cluttered (not yet rectified) game ball can be detected. As described later, the ball cut switch 187
Detects that the ball has run out, the payout operation of the ball payout device 97 stops. In FIG. 2, the ball cut switch 187 is installed at a predetermined position in the upstream part of the guide gutter 39, but may be installed in the most upstream part.

The game balls paid out from the ball payout device 97 are supplied to the hit ball supply tray 3 provided on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 through the communication port 45. On the side of the communication port 45, an excess ball passage 46 communicating with the excess ball tray 4 provided on the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is formed.

A large number of prize balls are paid out based on the prize, and the hitting ball supply plate 3 becomes full.
When the game balls are further paid out after reaching 5, the game balls are guided to the surplus ball tray 4 via the surplus ball passage 46. When the game balls are further paid out, the sensing lever 47 presses the full tank switch 48 and the full tank switch 48 is turned on. In that state, the rotation of the stepping motor in the ball discharging device 97 stops, the operation of the ball discharging device 97 stops, and the driving of the hit ball firing device 34 also stops.

Next, the structure of the intermediate base unit installed on the mechanism plate 36 will be described. The intermediate base unit includes the ball supply gutters 186a and 186b and the ball discharging device 9
7 is installed. As shown in FIG. 3, connecting concave protrusions 182 are formed on the upper and lower sides of the intermediate base unit. The connection concave projection 182 connects and fixes the intermediate base unit and the upper base unit and the lower base unit of the mechanism plate 36.

A passage member 18 is provided above the intermediate base unit.
4 is fixed. The ball dispensing device 97 is fixed to a lower portion of the passage body 184. The passage body 184 is a payout ball passage 186 that allows the two rows of game balls whose flow direction has been changed left and right by the curve gutter 174 (see FIG. 2) to flow down.
a, 186b. When the ball out switch 187 stops detecting the game ball, the rotation of the payout motor (not shown in FIG. 3) in the ball payout device 97 is stopped, and the ball payout is immobilized.

The central portion of the passage body 184 is formed in a shape curved right and left so as to reduce the ball pressure of the game ball flowing down inside. And the payout ball passages 186a, 186b
A stop hole 189 is formed therebetween. The mounting boss provided on the intermediate base unit is fitted into the back surface of the stop hole 189. The set screw is screwed in that state,
The passage body 184 is fixed to the intermediate base unit. Before being screwed, the positioning of the passage body 184 can be performed by a locking projection 185 provided on the intermediate base unit.

Below the passage body 184, a ball payout device 97 is provided.
To supply the game balls to the ball, and in the event of failure, the ball payout device 9
A ball stopping device 190 for stopping the supply of game balls to the game ball 7 is provided. The ball dispensing device 97 installed below the ball stopping device 190 is housed inside a rectangular parallelepiped case 198. Protrusions are provided at four places on the left and right of the case 198. The lower end of the case 198 is fitted into an elastic engagement piece provided at a lower portion of the intermediate base unit with each projection being related to a positioning projection provided on the intermediate base unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball payout device 97. The configuration and operation of the ball payout device 97 will be described with reference to FIG. Ball payout device 97 in this embodiment
, Pays out game balls one by one by rotating a screw 288 by a stepping motor (payout motor) 289. The ball payout device 97 pays out not only premium balls based on winnings but also game balls to be lent.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ball payout device 97
There are two cases 198a and 198b. The ball dispensing device 9 is provided at two places on the left and right of each case 198a, 198b.
7 is provided with an engagement projection 280 that is in contact with a positioning projection provided at the upper part of the installation position. In each case 198a, 198b, a ball supply path 281a,
81b are formed. Ball supply path 281a, 281b
Has curved surfaces 282a and 282b, and has curved surfaces 282a and 282b.
Below the end of 282b, there is a ball feed horizontal path 284a, 2
84b are formed. In addition, ball feed horizontal path 284
Ball discharge passages 283a and 283b are formed at the ends of a and 284b.

Ball supply paths 281a and 281b, ball feed horizontal paths 284a and 284b, and ball discharge paths 283a and 283b.
Are formed in front of partition walls 295a and 295b that partition the cases 198a and 198b forward and backward, respectively.
Further, in front of the partition walls 295a and 295b, a ball pressure buffering member 285 is sandwiched between the cases 198a and 198b. The ball pressure buffering member 285 distributes the game balls supplied to the ball payout device 97 to the left and right sides and the ball supply path 281.
a, 281b.

Further, a payout motor position sensor including a light emitting element (LED) 286 and a light receiving element (not shown) is provided below the ball pressure buffering member 285. Light emitting element 2
86 and the light receiving element are provided at a predetermined interval. The distal end of the screw 288 is inserted into the space. The ball pressure buffering member 28
When the cases 198a and 198b are attached to each other, the case 5 is completely stored and fixed therein.

The ball feed horizontal paths 284a and 284b have a screw 28 rotated by a payout motor 289.
8 are arranged. The payout motor 289 is fixed to the motor fixing plate 290, and the motor fixing plate 290 is
Fixing grooves 291a, 2 formed behind 5a, 295b
Fits into 91b. In this state, the motor shaft of the dispensing motor 289 projects forward of the partition walls 295a, 295b, so that the screw 288 is fixed forward of the projection. On the outer periphery of the screw 288, a spiral protrusion 288a for moving the game ball placed on the ball feed horizontal path 284a, 284b forward by the rotation of the payout motor 289.
Is provided.

A recess is formed at the tip of the screw 288 so as to house the light emitting element 286, and two notches 292 are formed 180 degrees apart from each other on the outer periphery of the recess. Therefore, while the screw 288 makes one rotation, the light from the light emitting element 286 is
Is detected twice by the light receiving element via the.

That is, the dispensing motor position sensor including the light emitting element 286 and the light receiving element is for stopping the screw 288 at a fixed position and detecting that the dispensing operation has been performed. The wires from the light emitting element 286, the light receiving element, and the payout motor 289 are collectively pulled out to the outside through drawout holes formed below the rear portions of the cases 198a, 198b, and connected to the connector.

When the game ball is in a ball feeding horizontal path 284a, 284b
When the payout motor 289 rotates in a state where the screw 288 is placed on the
The game ball moves forward on the ball feeding horizontal paths 284a and 284b. And finally, ball feed horizontal path 28
4a, 284b from the end of the ball discharge path 283a, 283b
To fall. At this time, the left and right ball feed horizontal paths 284a,
The drop from 284b is performed alternately. That is, every time the screw 288 makes a half turn, one game ball falls from one side. Therefore, every time one game ball falls, light from the light emitting element 286 is detected by the light receiving element.

As shown in FIG. 3, below the ball payout device 97, a ball distribution member 311 is provided. The ball distribution member 311 is driven by the distribution solenoid 310. For example, when the solenoid 310 is on, the ball sorting member 311 falls to the right, and when it is off, it falls to the left. Below the distribution solenoid 310, a prize ball count switch 301A and a ball lending count switch 301B are provided by proximity switches. At the time of the prize ball based on the winning, the ball sorting member 311 falls to the right side and the ball discharge path 283
The game balls from a and 283b both pass through the prize ball count switch 301A. Also, at the time of lending a ball, the ball distribution member 311 falls to the left side, and game balls from the ball discharge paths 283a and 283b both pass through the ball lending count switch 301B. Therefore, the ball payout device 97 can switch the payout flow path between a prize ball and a ball loan, and can pay out a predetermined number of game balls.

As described above, by providing the ball distribution member 311, the game balls that have fallen down the two ball passages are only one of the prize ball count switch 301 A and the ball lending count switch 301 B. Do not pass. Therefore, the number of prize balls or the number of ball lending can be immediately grasped from the detection output of the prize ball count switch 301A and the ball lending count switch 301B without determining whether the ball is a prize ball or a ball lending.

In this embodiment, a ball payout device 97 that pays out game balls by rotation of a stepping motor is used as a ball payout device that pays out game balls by driving an electric drive source. A ball payout device having a structure in which a game ball is sent out by a driving source of the above may be used, or a ball payout device having a structure in which a stopper is removed by driving an electric drive source to pay out the game ball by its own weight may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the ball payout device 97 capable of performing both the prize ball and the ball lending is exemplified, but the ball payout device for the prize ball and the ball payout device for the ball lending are separately provided. The present invention can be applied even in the case where it is provided.

According to the above-described configuration, the ball-break switch 1
87 detects the shortage of the game balls in a state where the game balls are present near the upstream portion (the portion near the ball storage tank 38) of the guide gutter 39. When the shortage of the game balls is detected, the operation of the ball payout device 97 is immobilized. Then, it is guaranteed that the game ball always exists on the path from the upstream portion of the guiding gutter 39 to the ball payout device 97.
That is, in the path, each game ball is in close contact. Therefore, even if the game balls are charged, there is no chance to be discharged, so that the occurrence of the electrostatic discharge due to the increased interval between the game balls is prevented.

It is preferable that the ball cutout switch 187 is installed on the upstream side as much as possible. This is because the longer the upstream side, the longer the state in which the game balls are in close contact. That is, it is preferable to be installed at the upstream end of the guide gutter 39.

In this embodiment, a structure in which game balls are dropped from the ball storage tank 38 to the guiding gutter 39 is illustrated, but the relationship between the ball storage tank 38 and the guiding gutter 39 is limited to such a structure. Absent. The present invention can be applied to any structure as long as the game balls from the ball storage tank 38 enter the guiding gutter 39. For example, the structure may be such that the game balls are pushed out from the ball storage tank 38 in the horizontal direction (the direction in which the game balls fall is the vertical direction), and then enter the guide gutter 39. In that case, a ball cutout switch 187 is installed in a portion immediately after the ball storage tank 38 or the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the main board 31. FIG. 5 also shows a payout control board 37, a lamp control board 35, a sound control board 70, a firing control board 91, and a symbol control board 80.
On the main board 31, the pachinko machine 1
, A gate switch 12, a starting port switch 17, a V count switch 22, a count switch 23, winning port switches 19a, 19b, 24a,
24b, the full tank switch 48, the ball out switch 187, and the switch circuit 58 that supplies signals from the prize ball count switch 301A to the basic circuit 53, and the variable prize ball device 1
A solenoid 16 that opens and closes the opening 5, a solenoid 21 that opens and closes the opening and closing plate 20, and a solenoid circuit 59 that drives a switching solenoid 21 A for switching a path in the special winning opening in accordance with a command from the basic circuit 53 are mounted.

According to the data supplied from the basic circuit 53, jackpot information indicating occurrence of a jackpot, effective start information indicating the number of start winning balls used to start image display on the variable display section 9, and probability fluctuation have occurred. An information output circuit 64 for outputting an information output signal such as probability change information indicating the fact to an external device such as a hall computer is mounted.

The basic circuit 53 includes a ROM 54 for storing a game control program and the like, a RAM 55 as an example of a storage means used as a work memory, a CPU 56 for performing a control operation according to the program, and an I / O port unit 5.
7 inclusive. In this embodiment, the ROM 54 and the RAM 5
5 is built in the CPU 56. That is, the CPU 5
Reference numeral 6 denotes a one-chip microcomputer. In addition, 1
The chip microcomputer has at least the RAM 55
And the ROM 54 and the I / O port unit 57 may be external or internal.

Further, the main board 31 is provided with a system reset circuit 65 for resetting the basic circuit 53 when the power is turned on.

A hit ball launching device that hits and launches a game ball is driven by a drive motor 94 controlled by a circuit on a launch control board 91. Then, the driving force of the driving motor 94 is adjusted according to the operation amount of the operation knob 5. That is, the circuit on the firing control board 91 is controlled so that the hit ball is fired at a speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation knob 5.

In this embodiment, the lamp control means mounted on the lamp control board 35 is used to display the start memory display 18, the gate passage memory display 41 and the decorative lamp 25 provided on the game board. Controls the game and the game effect lamp / LED 28 provided on the frame side.
a, 28b, and 28c, display control of the award ball lamp 51, and the ball out lamp 52 are performed. The display control of the variable display unit 9 for variably displaying special symbols and the ordinary symbol display 10 for variably displaying ordinary symbols is performed by display control means mounted on the symbol control board 80.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing components related to payout, such as components of the payout control board 37 and the ball payout device 97. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection signal from the full tank switch 48 is transmitted to the main board 3 via the relay board 71.
1 is input to the I / O port 57. Full tank switch 4
Reference numeral 8 denotes a switch for detecting whether the surplus ball tray 4 is full. Further, the detection signal from the ball cut switch 187 is also transmitted to the main board 31 via the relay board 72 and the relay board 71.
It is input to the / O port 57.

The CPU 56 of the main board 31 checks whether the detection signal from the ball out switch 187 indicates that the ball is out.
Alternatively, when the detection signal from the full tank switch 48 indicates the full tank state, a payout control command to instruct payout prohibition is transmitted. When receiving the payout control command instructing the payout prohibition, the payout control CPU 37 of the payout control board 37
1 stops the ball payout process.

Further, the detection signal from the prize ball count switch 301A is also input to the I / O port 57 of the main board 31 via the relay board 72 and the relay board 71. The prize ball count switch 301A is provided below the ball payout device 97, and detects a prize ball payout ball actually paid out.

When there is a prize, the payout control board 37 has output ports (ports 0, 1) 570, 571 of the main board 31.
, A payout control command indicating the number of winning balls is input. The output port (output port 1) 571 outputs 8-bit data, and the output port 570 outputs a 1-bit strobe signal (INT signal). The payout control command indicating the number of winning balls is input to the I / O port 372a via the input buffer circuit 373A. The INT signal is input to the interrupt terminal of the payout control CPU 371 via the input buffer circuit 373B. The payout control CPU 371
A payout control command is input via the / O port 372a, and the ball payout device 97 is driven in accordance with the payout control command to perform award ball payout.

In this embodiment, the payout control C
PU 371 is a one-chip microcomputer,
At least a RAM is built-in. Further, a part or all of the RAM is a backup RAM backed up by a backup power supply.

In the main board 31, the output port 5
Buffer circuits 620 and 68A are provided outside 70 and 571. As the buffer circuits 620 and 68A, for example, 74HC250 and 7HC which are general-purpose CMOS-ICs
4HC14 is used. According to such a configuration, since a signal inputted from the outside to the inside of the main board 31 is blocked, a signal line to which a signal may be given from the payout control board 37 to the main board 31 is further reliably eliminated. be able to. Note that a noise filter may be provided on the output side of the buffer circuits 620 and 68A.

The payout control CPU 371 is connected to the output port 3
A ball lending number signal indicating the lending ball number is output to the terminal board 160 via the 72g and the information output circuit 377,
The buzzer drive signal is output to the buzzer board 75. A buzzer is mounted on the buzzer board 75. Further, an error signal is output to the error display LED 374 via the output port 372e.

Further, the input port 3 of the payout control board 37
The detection signal from the ball lending count switch 301B is input to 72b via the relay board 72. The ball lending count switch 301B is provided at the lower part of the ball payout device 97, and detects the actually paid lending ball. The drive signal from the payout control board 37 to the payout motor 289 is transmitted to the payout motor 289 via the output port 372c and the relay board 72. The payout of the game balls is performed according to the rotation of the payout motor 289.

Below the ball payout device 97, a ball sorting member is provided. The ball sorting member is a sorting solenoid 31.
Driven by 0. For example, when the solenoid 310 is on, the ball sorting member falls to the right, and when it is off, it falls to the left. Below the distribution solenoid 310, a prize ball count switch 301A and a ball lending count switch 301B are provided by proximity switches. At the time of a prize ball based on a winning, the ball distribution member falls to the right side, and the paid out game ball passes through the prize ball count switch 301A. Also, at the time of lending a ball, the ball distribution member falls to the left side, and the paid out game ball passes through the ball lending count switch 301B. Therefore, the ball payout device 97 can switch the payout flow path between a prize ball and a ball loan, and can pay out a predetermined number of game balls.

The card unit 50 is provided with a microcomputer for controlling the card unit. Also,
The card unit 50 is provided with a fraction display switch 152, a connection board direction indicator 153, a card insertion indicator lamp 154, and a card insertion slot 155 (see FIG. 1). The balance display board 74 is connected to a frequency display LED, a ball lending switch, and a return switch provided near the hit ball supply tray 3.

From the balance display board 74 to the card unit 50
In response to the operation of the player, a ball lending switch signal and a return switch signal are given via the payout control board 37. In addition, the balance display board 74 from the card unit 50
, A card balance display signal indicating the balance of the prepaid card and a ball lending possible display signal are given via the payout control board 37. Between the card unit 50 and the payout control board 37, a connection signal (VL signal) and a unit operation signal (B
RDY signal), ball lending request signal (BRQ signal), ball lending completion signal (EXS signal) and pachinko machine operation signal (P
RDY signal) is exchanged via the I / O port 372f.

When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on,
The payout control CPU 371 of the payout control board 37 outputs a PRDY signal to the card unit 50. The card unit control microcomputer outputs a VL signal. The payout control CPU 371 determines the connection state / non-connection state based on the input state of the VL signal. When the card is accepted in the card unit 50 and the ball lending switch is operated to input a ball lending switch signal, the microcomputer for controlling the card unit outputs a BRDY signal to the payout control board 37.

When a predetermined delay time has elapsed from this point, the microcomputer for controlling the card unit outputs a BRQ signal to the payout control board 37. Then, the payout control CPU 371 of the payout control board 37 starts up the EXS signal to the card unit 50 and, when detecting the fall of the BRQ signal from the card unit 50, drives the payout motor 289 and removes a predetermined number of lending balls. Pay out to players. At this time, the distribution solenoid 310 is in a driving state. That is, the ball distribution member is directed to the ball lending side. When the payout is completed, the payout control CPU 37
1 causes the EXS signal to the card unit 50 to fall. Thereafter, if the BRDY signal from the card unit 50 is not in the ON state, the winning ball payout control is executed.

As described above, the signal from the card unit 50 is input to the payout control board 37 directly connected to the card unit 50. Therefore,
Regarding ball lending control, the card unit 50 sends the main board 3
No signal is input to 1, and there is no room for a signal to be incorrectly input from the card unit 50 side to the basic circuit 53 of the main board 31.

The card balance display signal indicating the balance of the prepaid card and the ball lending permission display signal are transmitted to the balance display board 74 without passing through the payout control CPU 371. The ball lending switch signal and the return switch signal sent from the balance display board 74 are also transmitted to the payout control CPU 371.
Is transmitted to the card unit 50 without going through.

In this embodiment, the case where the card unit 50 is provided is described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where a game ball is lent according to the amount of money when a coin is inserted.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine will be described. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the CPU 56 on the main board 31. When the power to the gaming machine is turned on, in the main process, the CPU 56 first performs necessary initial settings.

In the initial setting process, the CPU 56 first sets interrupt prohibition (step S1). Next, the interrupt mode is set to the interrupt mode 2 (step S2), and a stack pointer designated address is set to the stack pointer (step S3). Then, the internal device registers are initialized (step S4). After initializing a built-in device (built-in peripheral circuit) CTC (counter / timer) and PIO (parallel input / output port) (step S5), the RAM is set to an accessible state (step S6).

Note that the interrupt mode 2 is an interrupt mode of the CPU 56 used in the present embodiment, in which the value (1 byte) of the specific register (I register) and the interrupt vector output from the built-in device are output. In this mode, an address synthesized from (1 byte: least significant bit 0) indicates an interrupt address.

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, the power failure occurrence NMI processing such as the addition of parity data) has been performed when the power is turned off (step S7). In this embodiment, when an unexpected power failure occurs, a process for protecting data in the backup RAM area is performed. The case where such protection processing has been performed is regarded as backup. After confirming that there is no backup, the CPU 56 executes an initialization process.

When the backup is confirmed, the CPU 5
6 performs a game state restoring process for returning the internal state of the game control means and the control state of the electric component control means such as the display control means to the state when the power is turned off (step S8). Then, the saved value of the PC (program counter) stored in the backup RAM area is set in the PC, and the program returns to that address.

In the initialization process, the CPU 56 first sets R
An AM clear process is performed (step S11). In addition, a predetermined work area (for example, a normal symbol determination random number counter, a normal symbol determination buffer, a special symbol left middle right symbol buffer,
An initial value setting process for setting an initial value to a payout command storage pointer or the like is also performed. Further, a process for initializing the sub-boards (the lamp control board 35, the payout control board 37, the voice control board 70, and the symbol control board 80) is executed (step S13). The process of initializing the sub board is
For example, a process of transmitting an initialization command.

Then, the register of the CTC provided in the CPU 56 is set so that the timer is interrupted periodically every 2 ms (step S14). That is,
A value corresponding to 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value. Since the interrupt is prohibited in step S1 of the initial setting process, the interrupt is permitted before the initialization process is completed (step S1).
5).

In this embodiment, the built-in C
The TC is set to repeatedly generate a timer interrupt. In this embodiment, the repetition period is set to 2 ms. When a timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 56
Sets a timer interrupt flag indicating that a timer interrupt has occurred, for example.

Execution of initialization processing (steps S11 to S1)
When 5) is completed, the process proceeds to a loop process in which the main process checks whether or not a timer interrupt has occurred (step S17). In the loop, a display random number update process (step S16) is also executed.

The CPU 56 determines in step S17
Upon recognizing that a timer interrupt has occurred, step S2
The game control processing of 1 to S31 is executed. In the game control process, the CPU 56 firstly receives, via the switch circuit 58, the gate sensor 12, the starting port sensor 17, the count sensor 23, and the winning port switches 19a, 19b, 24.
The states of the switches such as a and 24b are input and their states are determined (switch processing: step S21).

Next, various abnormality diagnosis processes are performed by the self-diagnosis function provided inside the pachinko gaming machine 1, and an alarm is issued if necessary according to the result (error process: step S22).

Next, a process of updating each counter indicating a random number for determination such as a random number for big hit determination used in game control is performed (step S23). The CPU 56 further includes:
A process for updating a display random number such as a random number for determining the type of stop symbol is performed (step S24).

Further, the CPU 56 performs a special symbol process (step S25). In the special symbol process control, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a special symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a predetermined order according to a gaming state. Then, the value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each processing according to the gaming state. Also, a normal symbol process is performed (step S26). In the normal symbol process process, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a normal symbol process flag for controlling the variable display 10 using the 7-segment LED in a predetermined order. Then, the value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.

Next, the CPU 56 sets a display control command relating to the special symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM 55 and performs a process of transmitting the display control command (special symbol command control process: step S27). Further, a display control command relating to a normal symbol is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 55, and a process of transmitting the display control command is performed (ordinary symbol command control process: step S28).

Further, the CPU 56 performs an information output process for outputting data such as jackpot information, start information, and probability variation information supplied to the hall management computer (step S29).

The CPU 56 issues a drive command to the solenoid circuit 59 when a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S30). The solenoid circuit 59 drives the solenoids 16 and 21 in response to the drive command, and brings the variable winning ball device 15 or the open / close plate 20 into an open state or a closed state.

Then, the CPU 56 has switches 17, 23, 19a, 19 for detecting a winning in each winning opening.
A prize ball process for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection outputs of b, 24a and 24b is executed (step S31). Specifically, a payout control command is output to the payout control board 37 in response to the winning detection. The payout control CPU 371 mounted on the payout control board 37 drives the ball payout device 97 according to the payout control command.

According to the above control, in this embodiment, the game control process is started every 2 ms.
In this embodiment, for example, in the timer interrupt processing, only a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred is set, and the game control processing is executed in the main processing.
The game control process may be executed by a timer interrupt process.

Hereinafter, the winning ball processing executed by the CPU 56 will be described. First, input processing of switches related to the prize ball processing will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between each switch and the assignment of input ports. In this embodiment, two 8-bit input ports (input port 0 and input port 1) are used for inputting a switch detection signal (switch signal), and respective I / O ports are used.
The addresses are 0E (H) and 0F (H).

Bits 0 to 7 of the input port 0 are respectively assigned to a winning opening switch 24a, a winning opening switch 24b, a winning opening switch 19a, a winning opening switch 19b, a starting opening switch 17, a count switch 23, and a V count switch (specifying). The detection signals of the area switch 22 and the gate switch 12 are input. The detection signals of the prize ball count switch 301A, the full tank switch 48, and the ball out switch 187, and the count switch short-circuit signal are input to bits 0 to 3 of the input port 1, respectively.

In this embodiment, when the ON state of the detection signal continues for a predetermined time, it is determined that the switch has been turned on. A switch timer is used to measure a predetermined time. Switch timer is backup RAM
This is a 1-byte counter formed in the area, and is incremented by 1 every 2 ms when the detection signal indicates the ON state.
As shown in FIG. 9, switch timers are provided by the number n of detection signals. In this embodiment, n = 12. In the RAM, the addresses of the switch timers are arranged in the same order as the bit arrangement order of the input ports (the order from top to bottom shown in FIG. 8).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the input judgment value table. As shown in FIG. 10, in the input determination value table, "2", "50", "250", "3"
Determination values of “0”, “250”, and “1” are set.
These numerical values are for determining whether or not the switch has been turned on. In other words, based on the value of the timer counter (switch timer), it is a numerical value for determining whether or not to start processing related to the corresponding control.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the prize ball processing in step S31 (see FIG. 7) in the game control processing. In this embodiment, in the prize ball process, it is determined whether or not the winning opening switches 19a, 19b, 24a, 24b, the count switch 23, and the starting opening switch 17 have been reliably turned on. Is sent to the payout control board 37, and the full tank switch 48 and the ball out switch 1
It is determined whether or not the switch 87 has been turned on without fail. When the switch 87 has been turned on, processing such as controlling to send a predetermined payout control command to the payout control board 37 is performed.

In the prize ball processing, the CPU 56 sets “0” as an offset of the input determination value table (step S121), and sets “0” as an offset of the address of the switch timer (step S122). The offset “0” of the input judgment value table means that the first data of the input judgment value table is used. Also,
Since each switch timer is arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, the offset "0" of the address of the switch timer means that the switch timer corresponding to the winning opening switch 24a is designated. I do. Also,
"4" is set as the number of repetitions (step S12)
3). Then, the switch-on check routine is called (step S124).

In this case, in the switch-on check routine (see FIG. 14), if the value of the switch timer corresponding to the winning opening switch 24a matches the switch-on determination value "2", the switch-on flag is set. (Step S125). When the switch-on flag is set, 10 counters are incremented by 1 (step S126). The switch check-on routine is executed for the initially set number of repetitions (Steps S127 and S128) while the offset of the address of the switch timer is updated (Step S129).
As for the winning opening switches 19a, 19b, 24a and 24b, the value of the corresponding switch timer is compared with the switch-on determination value "2". The ten counter is a counter that indicates the number of ten game ball payouts as prizes.

Next, the CPU 56 sets "0" as an offset of the input judgment value table (step S13).
0), “4” is set as the offset of the address of the switch timer (step S131). The offset “0” of the input judgment value table means that the first data of the input judgment value table is used. Further, since each switch timer is arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, the offset “4” of the address of the switch timer indicates that the switch timer corresponding to the starting port switch 17 is designated. Means Then, the switch-on check routine is called (step S13).
2).

In the switch-on check routine,
If the value of the switch timer corresponding to the starting port switch 17 matches the switch-on determination value "2", the switch-on flag is set (step S133), and the six counters are incremented by 1 (step S134). . In addition,
The six counter is a counter that indicates the number of payouts of six game balls as prizes.

Next, the CPU 56 sets "0" as an offset of the input judgment value table (step S13).
5), “5” is set as the offset of the address of the switch timer (step S136). The offset “0” of the input judgment value table means that the first data of the input judgment value table is used. Also, since each switch timer is arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, the offset “5” of the address of the switch timer indicates that the switch timer corresponding to the count switch 23 is designated. means. Then, the switch-on check routine is called (step S1).
37).

In the switch-on check routine,
If the value of the switch timer corresponding to the count switch 23 matches the switch-on determination value "2", the switch-on flag is set (step S138).
The five counters are incremented by 1 (step S134). The 15 counter is a counter indicating the number of payouts of 15 game balls as prizes.

Further, the CPU 56 sets "1" as an offset of the input judgment value table (step S15).
0), “9” is set as the offset of the address of the switch timer (step S151). The offset “1” in the input judgment value table is equal to 2 in the input judgment value table.
This means that the second data “50” is used. Further, since each switch timer is arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, the offset “9” of the address of the switch timer indicates that the switch timer corresponding to the full switch 48 is designated. Means Then, the switch-on check routine is called (step S152).

In the switch-on check routine,
If the value of the switch timer corresponding to the full tank switch 48 matches the full tank switch-on determination value "50", the switch-on flag is set (step S15).
3) The full tank flag is set (step S15)
4). Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 12, when the value of the switch timer corresponding to the full tank switch 48 becomes 0, the full tank flag is reset.

The CPU 56 sets "2" as an offset of the input judgment value table (step S15).
6), “0A (H)” is set as the offset of the address of the switch timer (step S157). The offset “2” in the input determination value table means that the third data “250” in the input determination value table is used. Further, since each switch timer is arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, the offset “0A (H)” of the address of the switch timer is specified by the switch timer corresponding to the out-of-ball switch 187. Means to be done. Then, the switch-on check routine is called (step S158).

In the switch-on check routine,
If the value of the switch timer corresponding to the out-of-ball switch 187 matches the out-of-ball switch-on determination value "250", the switch-on flag is set (step S1).
59), a ball out flag is set (step S16)
0). Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 12, a switch-off timer corresponding to the out-of-ball switch 187 is prepared, and when its value reaches 50, the out-of-ball flag is reset.

Then, the CPU 56 checks whether or not the payout is stopped (step S201). The payout stop state is a state after a payout stop state designation command is sent to the payout control board 37. If it is not the payout stop state, it is checked whether the above-mentioned ball out-of-ball state flag or the full tank flag is turned on (step S202).

When either of them changes to the ON state,
A command transmission control process for payout stop state designation is performed (step S203). In the command transmission control process, after predetermined data is set in the command transmission table for the payout control command, a process of transmitting the payout control command is executed. In step S202, when one of the flags is already on, and the other flag is on, the command transmission control process (step S203) is not performed.

If the payout is stopped, it is checked whether both the out-of-ball flag and the full tank flag have been turned off (step S204). When both are turned off, a command transmission control process for payout stop release designation is performed (step S205).

Next, the CPU 56 sets a payout control command relating to the number of winning balls according to the winning in the command transmission table, and performs control to transmit a payout control command according to the set content. First, the values of the 15 counters are checked (step S221). As described above, the fifteen counters are counted up when the game ball wins the big winning opening and the count switch 23 is turned on. If the value of the fifteen counters is not 0, a command transmission control process relating to the fifteen winning ball number instructions is performed (step S22).
2). In the command transmission control process, after predetermined data is set in the command transmission table for the payout control command, a process of transmitting the payout control command is executed. Also,
The value of the 15 counters is decremented by one (step S223).
Further, 15 is added to the value stored in the total prize ball storage buffer (step S224).

The total prize ball number storage buffer is a buffer for storing the cumulative value of the prize ball number instructed to the payout control means (however, it is subtracted when the payout is made).
It is formed in the backup RAM.

If the value of the 15 counter is 0, the value of the 10 counter is checked (step S225). As described above, the ten counters indicate that the gaming ball has won the winning opening and the winning opening switches 19a, 19b, 24a, 24b
Counts up when turns on. If the value of the ten counter is not 0, a command transmission control process for the ten winning ball number instructions is performed (step S226). Further, the value of the ten counters is decremented by one (step S22).
7). Further, 10 is added to the value stored in the total prize ball storage buffer (step S228).

If the value of the ten counter is 0, the value of the six counter is checked (step S231). As described above, the six counters are counted up when the game ball wins the starting winning port and the starting port switch 17 is turned on. If the value of the six counter is not 0, a command transmission control process relating to an instruction for the number of six winning balls is performed (step S232). Further, the value of the six counters is decremented by one (step S233). Further, 6 is added to the value stored in the total prize ball storage buffer (step S234).

As described above, when the payout control command indicating the number of winning balls is to be output from the game control means to the payout control board 37, the command transmission table is set, and then the command transmission table is set. The set payout control command is sent to the payout control board 37. Then, when the payout control command indicating the number of winning balls is transmitted, the awarding ball paying flag is turned on (step S235). When the award ball paying flag is on (step S236), the number of award balls actually paid out from the ball payout device 97 is monitored and the value stored in the total award ball number storage buffer is subtracted. A number subtraction process is performed (step S237).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a switch-on check routine. In the switch-on check routine, the CPU 56 sets the start address of the input determination value table (see FIG. 10) (step S).
91). Then, an offset (in this case, “0”) is added to the address (step S92), and the switch-on determination value is loaded from the address after the addition (step S92).
93).

Next, the CPU 56 sets the start address of the switch timer (step S94), adds an offset (in this case, “4”) to the address (step S95), and sets the switch timer of the switch timer from the added address. The value is loaded (step S96). Since the switch timers are arranged in the same order as the bit order of the input port shown in FIG. 8, for example, if the switch-on check routine is called in step S132, the start-up switch 1
The value of the switch timer corresponding to 7 is loaded.

Then, the CPU 56 compares the value of the loaded switch timer with the switch-on determination value (step S97). If they match, a switch-on flag is set (step 98).

FIG. 15 shows a state in which the main board 31 controls the payout control board 3.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command form of a payout control command sent to the control unit 7; In this embodiment, the payout control command has a 2-byte configuration, and the first byte is MODE.
(Command classification), and the second byte indicates EXT (command type). The first bit (bit 7) of MODE data is always "1", and the first bit (bit 7) of EXT data is always "0". The command form shown in FIG. 15 is an example, and another command form may be used. In this example, the control command is 2
That is, the number of control signals constituting the control command may be one, or three.
There may be a plurality of the above.

FIG. 16 shows the structure of the payout control command 8
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a bit control signal and an INT signal (strobe signal). As shown in FIG.
When a predetermined period elapses after the MODE or EXT data is output to the output port, the CPU 56 turns on an INT signal that is a signal indicating data output. When a predetermined period elapses therefrom, the INT signal is turned off.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of the payout control command. In the example shown in FIG.
Command FF0 of E = FF (H) and EXT = 00 (H)
0 (H) is a payout control command for specifying a payable state. A command FF01 (H) of MODE = FF (H) and EXT = 01 (H) is a payout control command for specifying a payout stop state. The command F0XX (H) of MODE = F0 (H) is a payout control command for specifying the number of winning balls. "XX" which is EXT indicates the number of payouts.

When the payout control means receives the payout control command of FF01 (H) from the game control means of the main board 31, the payout control means stops the winning ball payout and ball lending.
When the payout control command of (H) is received, it becomes possible to pay out prize balls and lend a ball. Further, when a payout control command specifying the number of winning balls is received, prize ball payout control according to the number specified by the received command is performed.

Next, the command sending process will be described. As described above, the payout control board 3
When the payout control command is to be output to 7, the command transmission table is set. FIG. 18 (A)
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a command transmission table.
One command transmission table is composed of 3 bytes, and 1
INT data is set in the byte. In the command data 1 of the second byte, MODE data of the first byte of the control command is set. Then, in the command data 2 of the third byte, EXT data of the second byte of the control command is set.

Although the EXT data itself may be set in the command data 2 area, the command data 2
May be set to data for specifying an address of a table in which EXT data is stored. In this embodiment, bit 7 of command data 2
If (work area reference bit) is 0, it indicates that the EXT data itself is set in the command data 2. Such EXT data is data in which bit 7 is 0. If the work area reference bit is 1,
The other 7 bits indicate an offset for specifying the address of the table in which the EXT data is stored. In this embodiment, a command transmission table is prepared for each control command.

FIG. 18B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of INT data. Bit 0 in the INT data indicates whether or not a payout control command should be sent to the payout control board 37. If bit 0 is "1", it indicates that a payout control command should be sent. Therefore, the CPU 56
In the prize ball processing, when the payout control command is transmitted, the payout control command IN
"01 (H)" is set in the T data.

Bits 1, 2, 3 of the INT data
Are bits indicating whether a display control command, a lamp control command, and a voice control command are to be sent, respectively. When these commands are to be sent, the CPU 56 sends a command transmission table indicated by the pointer. , INT data, command data 1 and command data 2 are set. When these commands are transmitted, the corresponding bit of the INT data is set to “1”, and MODE data and EXT data are set in the command data 1 and the command data 2.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the command sending process. The command sending process is a process called when sending not only the payout control command but also other control commands. In the command control process, the CPU 56 first saves the address of the command transmission table in a stack or the like (Step S331). Then, the INT data of the command transmission table is loaded into the argument 1 (step S332). Argument 1 is input information for a command transmission processing routine to be described later. Further, the address indicating the command transmission table is incremented by 1 (step S333). Therefore, the address indicating the command transmission table matches the address of the command data 1.

Therefore, the CPU 56 sets the command data 1
Is read and set as argument 2 (step S334).
The argument 2 also becomes input information for a command transmission processing routine described later. Then, a command transmission processing routine is called (step S335).

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine. In the command transmission routine,
First, the CPU 56 sets the data set in the argument 1, that is, the INT data, in the work area determined as the comparison value (step S351). Then
The number of processes = 4 is set in the work area determined as the number of processes (step S352). Then, the address of the port 1 for outputting the payout control signal is set to the IO address (step S353). In this embodiment, the address of port 1 is the address of output port 571.

Next, the CPU 56 shifts the comparison value one bit to the right (step S354). It is determined whether or not the carry bit has become 1 as a result of the shift processing (step S355). The fact that the carry bit has become 1 means that the rightmost bit in the INT data is “1”.
It means that it was. In this embodiment, four shift processes are performed. For example, when it is specified that a payout control command should be sent, the carry bit becomes 1 in the first shift process.

When the carry bit becomes 1, the data set in the argument 2, in this case, the command data 1 (ie, MODE data) is output to the address set as the IO address (step S3
56). When the first shift processing is performed, since the address of the port 1 is set in the IO address, the MODE data of the payout control command is eventually output to the port 1 (output port 571).

Next, the CPU 56 sets the IO address to 1
While adding (step S357), 1 is subtracted from the number of processes (step S358). If the port 1 is indicated before the addition, the IO address is set to the address of the port 2 by the addition processing for the IO address. Port 2 is an output port 572 in this embodiment.
And a port for outputting a display control command. Then, the CPU 56 checks the value of the number of processes (step S359), and returns to step S354 if the value is not 0. The shift process is performed again in step S354.

In the second shift processing, the value of bit 1 in the INT data is pushed out, and the carry flag becomes "1" or "0" according to the value of bit 1. Therefore,
A check is made as to whether it is specified that a display control command should be sent. Similarly, in the third and fourth shift processes, it is checked whether or not it is specified that the ramp control command and the voice control command should be transmitted. As described above, when each shift process is performed, the IO address corresponding to the command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) set by the shift process is set in the IO address. Have been.

As described above, when the carry flag becomes "1", a control command is sent to the corresponding output port (port 1 to port 4). That is, a single common module (command transmission processing) can perform control command transmission processing to a plurality of control means. In this embodiment, the addresses of ports 3 and 4 are an output port for transmitting a lamp control command and an address for transmitting a voice control command, respectively.

Next, the CPU 56 reads the contents of the argument 1 storing the INT data before the start of the shift processing (step S360), and outputs the read data to the port 0 (step S361). In this embodiment,
The address of port 0 is the address of output port 570. For the INT data, steps S351 to S359
Control commands (payout control commands,
The bit corresponding to the output bit of the INT signal according to the display control command, the lamp control command, and the voice control command is “1”. Therefore, port 1 to port 4
The INT signal corresponding to the control command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) output to any of the above is turned on.

Next, the CPU 56 sets a predetermined value in the weight counter (step S362), and decrements by one until the value becomes 0 (steps S363 and S36).
4). This processing is performed according to I shown in the timing diagram of FIG.
This is a process for setting the ON period of the NT signal (control signal INT). When the value of the wait counter becomes 0, clear data (00) is set (step S365),
The data is output to port 0 (step S36)
6). Therefore, the INT signal is turned off. And
A predetermined value is set in the weight counter (step S36)
2) Subtract 1 by 1 until the value becomes 0 (steps S368 and S369). This process is a process for setting a period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of EXT data output.

Accordingly, the value set in the wait counter in step S367 is such that the period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of the EXT data output ensures that all the control means to receive the control command receive the command. This is a value that is a period sufficient for performing the receiving process. Also, the value set in the wait counter is that the period is
This value is longer than the time required for the processing of steps S351 to S359.

As described above, the MODE data of the first byte of the control command is transmitted. Therefore, CPU5
6 adds 1 to the value indicating the command transmission table in step S336 shown in FIG. Therefore, the area of the command data 2 in the third byte is specified. The CPU 56
The contents of the indicated command data 2 are loaded into the argument 2 (step S337). Further, it is determined whether the value of bit 7 (work area reference bit) of the command data 2 is “0” (step S339). If it is not 0, the start address of the command extension data address table is set in the pointer (step S339), and the address is calculated by adding the value of bit 6 to bit 0 of the command data 2 to the pointer (step S340). Then, the data of the area indicated by the address is loaded into the argument 2 (step S341).

In the command extension data address table, EXT data that can be transmitted to the control means is sequentially set. Therefore, if the value of the work area reference bit is “1” by the above processing, the EXT data in the command extension data address table corresponding to the content of the command data 2 is loaded into the argument 2 and the work area reference bit is set. If the value is “0”, the content of the command data 2 is loaded as it is into the argument 2. Even when EXT data is read from the command extension data address table, bit 7 of that data is “0”.

Next, the CPU 56 calls a command transmission routine (step S342). Therefore, MOD
The EXT data is transmitted at the same timing as the transmission of the E data.

As described above, the command transmission processing module, which is one control signal output module,
Each control command having a 2-byte configuration (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) is transmitted to the corresponding control means. When the control means detects the falling edge of the INT signal as the fetch signal, the control means starts fetching the control command. Note that each control unit may start the process of capturing a control command at the rise of the INT signal. Further, the polarity of the INT signal may be reversed from that shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the payout control CPU 371. In the main processing,
The payout control CPU 371 first performs necessary initial settings (step S601).

The payout control CPU 371 checks whether backup data exists in the payout control backup RAM area (step S60).
2). That is, for example, similarly to the processing of the CPU 56 of the main board 31, it is determined whether or not backup data exists by determining whether or not a backup flag that is set when the power is turned off is in a set state. If the backup flag is set, it is determined that there is backup data. If it is determined that there is no backup data, it means that there was no unpaid game ball when the power was last turned off, and there is no need to return the internal state to the state when the power was turned off. Accordingly, the payout control CPU 371
An initialization process that is executed when the power is turned on, not when the power is restored, is executed (steps S602 and S603).

When the backup data exists in the backup RAM area, the payout control CPU 371
Performs a data check (parity check in this example) of the backup RAM area (step S604).
If the power is restored after an unexpected power failure, the data in the backup RAM area should have been saved, and the check result becomes normal. If the check result is not normal, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state at the time of power failure, an initialization process executed at the time of power-on without power recovery is executed (steps S605 and S60).
3).

If the check result is normal, the payout control CPU 371 performs a payout state restoring process for returning the internal state to the state when the power is turned off (step S606). Then, the process returns to the address indicated by the PC (program counter) stored in the backup RAM area (step S607).

Execution of normal initialization processing (step S60)
After 3), the main process executed by the payout control CPU 371 shifts to a loop process in which the timer interrupt flag is monitored (step S608).

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the payout control processing in step S610. In the payout control processing, the payout control CPU 371 first determines whether or not the prize ball count switch 301A and the ball lending count switch 301B input to the input port 372b via the relay board 72 are turned on (switch processing: Step S6
51).

Next, the payout control CPU 371 performs processing such as checking the signal input state from a sensor (for example, a motor position sensor for detecting the number of revolutions of the payout motor 289) to determine the state of the sensor (for example). Input determination processing: Step S652). The payout control CPU 371 further analyzes the received payout control command and executes a process according to the analysis result (command analysis execution process: step S65).
3).

Next, the payout control CPU 371 sets the payout stop state when the payout stop instruction command is received from the main board 31, and releases the payout stop state when the payout start instruction command is received (step S654). ).
Further, a prepaid card unit control process is performed (step S655).

Also, the payout control CPU 371 performs control to pay out a lent ball in response to a ball lending request (step S).
656). Further, the payout control CPU 371 performs a winning ball control process of paying out a predetermined winning ball (step S65).
7). Then, the payout control CPU 371 outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 289 in the payout mechanism portion of the ball payout device 97 via the output port 372c and the relay board 72, and the ball lending control processing in step S656 or the ball lending control processing in step S657. A payout motor control process for rotating the payout motor 289 by the number of revolutions set in the prize ball control process is performed (step S658).

In this embodiment, the payout motor 2
A stepping motor is used as 89, and a 1-2-phase excitation method is used to control the payout motor 289. Therefore, specifically, in the payout motor control processing, eight types of excitation pattern data are repeatedly output to the payout motor 289. In this embodiment, each excitation pattern data is output for 4 ms.

Next, error detection processing is performed, and a predetermined display is performed on the error display LED 374 according to the result (error processing: step S659).

Further, processing for outputting an information signal to the terminal board 160 is performed (output processing: step S66)
0). The information signal is, for example, a signal that is turned on for a predetermined time for each unit of payout of a lent ball (for example, 25 pieces), and subsequently, is output as off for a predetermined time.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of use of the RAM incorporated in the payout control CPU 371. In this example,
In the backup RAM area, a total number storage (for example, 2 bytes) and a rental ball number storage are respectively formed.
The total number storage stores the total number of awarded ball payouts instructed from the main board 31 side. The rental ball number storage stores the number of unpaid ball rentals.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a receiving buffer for storing the payout control command received from the main board 31. In this example, a ring buffer type receiving buffer capable of storing six payout control commands having a 2-byte configuration is used. Therefore, the reception buffer is constituted by a 12-byte area of the fixed command buffers 1 to 12. Then, a command reception number counter indicating in which area the received command is stored is used. The command reception number counter takes a value from 0 to 11.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a payout control command receiving process by the interrupt process. An INT signal for payout control from the main board 31 is supplied to a payout control CPU 371.
Are input to the CLK / TRG2 terminal. For example, when the INT signal from the main board 31 is turned on, the value of the timer counter register CLK / TRG2, for which the initial value is set to “1”, becomes 0, and the payout control CPU 3
At 71, an interrupt occurs. Then, the payout control command receiving process shown in FIG. 25 is started. The start address of the payout control command receiving process is an address determined by the interrupt vector output from the built-in CTC and the value set in the I register. Also, the timer counter register CLK
When the value of / TRG2 becomes 0, that value is automatically returned to the initial value ("1" in this example).

In the process of receiving the payout control command, the payout control CPU 371 first saves each register in the stack (step S670). Note that when an interrupt occurs, the CPU 371 automatically sets the interrupt to a disabled state. However, if a CPU that does not automatically enter the prohibited state is used, the CPU 371 disables the interrupt before executing the processing in step S670. It is preferable to issue an instruction (DI instruction). Next, data is read from the input port 372a assigned to the input of the payout control command data (step S671). Then, it is confirmed whether or not this is the first byte of the payout control command having the 2-byte structure (step S).
672). Whether it is the first byte or not is confirmed by whether or not the first bit of the received command is “1”.

The head bit should be "1" in the MODE byte (first byte) of the payout control command having a 2-byte structure (see FIG. 15). Therefore,
If the first bit is “1”, the payout control CPU 371 determines that the valid first byte has been received, and stores the received command in the confirmed command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter in the reception buffer area (step S673). .

If it is not the first byte of the payout control command, it is checked whether the first byte has already been received (step S674). Whether or not the data has already been received is confirmed based on whether or not valid data is set in the reception buffer (fixed command buffer).

If the first byte has already been received,
It is checked whether the first bit of the received 1 byte is “0”. And if the first bit is “0”,
Assuming that the valid second byte has been received, the received command is stored in the confirmed command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter +1 in the reception buffer area (step S675). The first bit should be “0” in the EXT byte (second byte) of the payout control command having the two-byte configuration (see FIG. 15). If the confirmation result in step S674 indicates that the first byte has already been received, the process ends if the first bit of the data received as the second byte is not “0”.

When the command data of the second byte is stored in step S675, 2 is added to the command reception number counter (step S676). Then, it is checked whether or not the command reception counter is 12 or more (step S677), and if it is 12, the command reception number counter is cleared (step S678). Thereafter, the saved register is restored (step S679),
Interrupt permission is set (step S680).

The payout control command has a two-byte structure, and the first byte (MODE) and the second byte (EXT) can be immediately distinguished on the receiving side. In other words, the receiving side can immediately detect whether the data as MODE or the data as EXT has been received by the first bit. Therefore, as described above, it can be easily determined whether or not appropriate data has been received. This means that the display control command,
The same applies to the lamp control command and the voice control command.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of the command analysis execution process in step S653 in the payout control process. In the command analysis execution processing, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether or not there is a received command in the confirmed command buffer area (step S65).
3a). If there is a received command, it is confirmed whether or not the received payout control command is a payout number instruction command (step S653b). When there are a plurality of received commands in the confirmed command buffer area, whether or not the received payout control command is the payout number instruction command is checked for the most recently received command.

If the received payout control command is the payout number command, the number specified by the payout number command is added to the total number storage (step S653).
c). That is, the payout control CPU 371 is connected to the main board 3
The number of prize balls included in the number-of-payouts instruction command sent from the first CPU 56 is stored in the backup RAM area (total number storage).

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout stop state setting processing in step S654 in the payout control processing. In the payout stop state setting process, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether or not there is a received command in the confirmed command buffer area (step S65).
4a). If there is a received command in the confirmed command buffer area, it is checked whether the received payout control command is a payout stop instruction command (step S654).
b). If the command is a payout stop instruction command, the payout control CP
U371 sets the winning ball payout stop state (step S
654c).

If it is determined in step S654b that the received command is not a payout stop instruction command, it is checked whether the received payout control command is a payout start instruction command (step S654d). If it is the payout start command, the award ball payout stop state is released (step S654e).

Note that the payout control CPU 371 may immediately set the payout stop state when receiving the payout stop command, but when one unit of payout is completed,
That is, it is preferable to set the payout stop state after the end of a series of payout operations. In this embodiment, one unit of the payout is 25 game balls. If such stop control is performed, the payout control is simplified, and in particular, control is performed so as to complete one unit of ball lending, so that the disadvantage given to the player is minimized.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a ball out switch 187 is provided relatively upstream in the game ball supply path. Therefore, even if such control is performed, the game balls supplied to the ball payout device 97 do not completely disappear, and the payout of one unit can be reliably executed.

The payout stop state is a state in which both the ball lending control process and the award ball control process are skipped. That is, in a gaming machine in which the ball payout device 97 pays out both a premium ball and a rental ball, when a payout stop instruction command is received from the game control means, the payout of both the premium ball and the rental ball is stopped. You.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are flowcharts showing an example of the ball lending control process of step S656 in the payout control process. In this embodiment, the maximum value of the number of continuous payouts is set as one unit (for example, 25) of lending balls. However, the maximum value of the number of consecutive payouts may be another number.

In the ball lending control process, the payout control CP
The U371 confirms whether or not the lending ball is being paid out (step S511). If the lending ball is being paid out, the process shifts to a ball lending process shown in FIG. Whether or not the ball is being paid out is determined based on the state of a ball lending process flag described later. If the ball is not being paid out, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball is being paid out (step S512). Whether or not a prize ball is being paid out is determined by the state of a prize ball processing flag described later.

If neither a loaned ball is being paid out nor a prize ball is being paid out, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether or not a ball lending request has been issued from the card unit 50 (step S5).
13). If there is a request, the ball lending process flag is turned on (step S514), and 25 (the number of ball lending units: 100 yen here) is set in the lending ball number storage in the backup RAM area (step S515). Then, the payout control CPU 371 turns on the EXS signal (step S516). Further, the distributing solenoid 310 is driven to set the ball distributing member 311 below the ball dispensing device 97 to the ball lending side (step S517). Further, a request to turn on the payout motor 289 is issued (step S518), and the process shifts to the ball lending process shown in FIG.

Strictly, the request to turn on the payout motor 289 is made after the BRQ signal is turned off to indicate that the card unit 50 has recognized the reception. In addition, the ball lending process flag is set to the backup RAM.
Set to the area.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing processing during lending a ball in the payout control processing by the payout control CPU 371. In the ball lending process, the payout motor 289 is used.
If is not on, request to be turned on. Further, in this embodiment, in the switch processing of step S751, it is confirmed whether or not the payout of the game ball by the detection output of the ball lending count switch 301B has been performed.
In the ball lending control processing, subtraction of the number of balls to be loaned is not performed.

In the ball lending process, the payout control CP
U371 confirms whether it is during the lending ball passage waiting time or not (step S519). If it is not during the waiting time for passing a rental ball, the rental ball is paid out (step S520),
It is determined whether or not the driving of the payout motor 289 should be finished (whether one unit of the payout operation has been finished) (step S52).
1). Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not the rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts has been completed. The rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts is monitored by the output of the payout motor position sensor. When the rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts has been completed, the payout control CPU 371 issues a request to stop driving the payout motor 289 (step S522), and sets a rental ball passage waiting time (step S523). .

In the ball lending process in step S520, the on / off state of the payout motor position sensor is monitored by a timer. If the on state or the off state continues for a predetermined time or more, the payout control CPU 371 sets the payout motor It is determined that a ball biting error has occurred.

If it is determined in step S519 that the waiting time for passing a lent ball is present, the payout control CPU 371 confirms whether or not the waiting time for passing a lent ball has ended (step S52).
4). The lending ball passing waiting time is the time from when the last payout ball is paid out by the payout motor 289 to when it passes through the ball lending count switch 301B. When confirming the end of the waiting time for passing a lending ball, since all lending balls for lending have been paid out, it is necessary to indicate to the card unit 50 that the next lending ball lending request can be accepted. The EXS signal is turned off (step S524). In addition, the distribution solenoid is turned off (step S5).
25), the ball lending processing flag is turned off (step S5)
27).

If the last payout ball has not passed through the ball lending count switch 301B before the passage of the ball lending wait time, a ball lending route error is determined. In this embodiment, the prize ball and the ball lending are performed by the same payout device.

After turning off the EXS signal indicating acceptance of the ball lending request, the ball lending request signal BR
When the Q signal is turned on, the ball lending process may be continued without turning off the distribution solenoid and the payout motor.
That is, instead of performing the ball lending process for each predetermined unit (in this example, 100 yen unit), the ball lending process may be performed continuously.

FIGS. 30 and 31 show steps S757.
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the award ball control processing. In this example, the maximum value of the number of continuous payouts is the same as one unit of the lending ball (for example, 25), but the maximum value of the number of continuous payouts may be another number.

In the prize ball control processing, the payout control CPU
The 371 checks whether or not the rental ball is being paid out (step S531). Whether or not the ball is being paid out is determined based on the state of the ball lending process flag. If the ball is not being paid out, it is confirmed whether or not the prize ball is being paid out (step S).
532) If the prize ball is being paid out, the processing shifts to the processing during the prize ball shown in FIG. Whether or not a prize ball is being paid out is determined by a state of a prize ball processing flag described later.

If neither a loaned ball is being paid out nor a prize ball is being paid out, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether or not there is a ball lending preparation request from the card unit 50 (step S).
533). Whether or not there is a ball lending preparation request is performed by confirming whether the BRDY signal input from the card unit 50 is on (requested) or off (no request).

If there is no ball lending preparation request from the card unit 50, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether or not the number of awarded balls (the number of unpaid awarded balls) stored in the total number memory is not zero (see FIG. 4). Step S534). If the number of award balls stored in the total number memory is not 0, the award ball control CP
U371 turns on the award ball processing flag (step S5).
35) It is checked whether or not the value of the total number storage is 25 or more (step S536). The award ball processing flag is set in the backup RAM area.

The number of award balls stored in the total number storage is 2
If the number is 5 or more, the payout control CPU 371 causes the payout motor 2 to pay out 25 (one unit of payout) game balls.
In order to output a drive signal to the payout motor 289 so as to rotate the 89, a 25 payout operation is set (step S537). If the number of prize balls stored in the total number storage is not 25 or more, the payout control CPU 371
Sets the total number payout operation in order to output a drive signal to rotate the payout motor 289 until all the game balls stored in the total number storage are paid out (step S538). Next, the payout motor 289 is turned on (step S538). Since the distribution solenoid is off, the ball distribution member below the ball payout device 97 is set to the winning ball side. Then, the process shifts to a process during payout ball payout in the award ball control process shown in FIG.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of processing during a prize ball in the payout control processing by the payout control CPU 371. In the process during the prize ball, if the payout motor 289 is not turned on, it is turned on. Further, in this embodiment, in the switch processing of step S751, it is determined whether or not the payout of the game ball is performed based on the detection output of the prize ball count switch 301A. Is not done.

In the processing during the prize ball, the payout control CPU
The step 371 confirms whether or not the award ball passing waiting time is in progress (step S540). If it is not during the waiting time for passing a prize ball, a prize ball is paid out (step S541), and whether or not the driving of the payout motor 289 should be terminated (whether 25 or a predetermined number of less than 25 payout operations have been completed) or not Is confirmed (step S542). Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not the rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts has been completed. The rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts is monitored by the output of the payout motor position sensor. When the rotation corresponding to the predetermined number of payouts is completed, the payout control CPU 371 stops driving the payout motor 289 (step S543), and sets a prize ball passing waiting time (step S544). The prize ball passage waiting time is the time from when the last payout ball is paid out by the payout motor 289 to when it passes through the prize ball count switch 301A.

If it is determined in step S540 that the waiting time for passing a prize ball is in progress, the payout control CPU 371 confirms whether or not the waiting time for passing a prize ball has ended (step S545).
The point in time when the waiting time for passing the prize ball ends is determined in step S537.
Alternatively, all the prize balls set in step S538 have been paid out. Therefore, the payout control CPU 371
Turns off the award ball processing flag if the award ball passage waiting time has expired (step S546). If the last payout ball has not passed through the prize ball count switch 301A before the prize ball passage waiting time has elapsed, it is determined that a prize ball path error has occurred.

In the present embodiment, step S5
11. Although the ball lending is given priority over the prize ball processing by the determination in step S531, the prize ball processing may be given priority over the ball lending.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout motor control processing. In the payout motor control process, the payout control CPU 371 checks whether there is a request to turn on the payout motor 289 (step S55).
1). If there is a request, the rotation speed (the pulse frequency of the stepping motor) is set to a lower value than usual (step S
552). Then, the driving pulse is output to the payout motor 289 (step S553).

In step S551, the payout motor 2
When there is no request to turn on the dispensing motor 89,
It is confirmed whether or not 89 is being driven (step S55).
4). If it is being driven, the payout number is N (in this example, 2
It is checked whether the value is smaller than 5 (for example, about 5) (step S555). If N, the pulse frequency of the stepping motor is returned to a normal value (step S556).

Then, it is confirmed whether or not there is a request to turn off the payout motor 289 (step S557). If there is a request, the driving pulse is not supplied to the payout motor 289 (step S558).

If the payout is suddenly made at a high speed from the ball payout device 97, it is conceivable that the flow of the subsequent ball may not catch up and there may be an interval between the game balls, but the payout is started in this way. Such a problem does not occur if the payout is controlled to be performed at a low speed for a predetermined period. That is, the close contact between the game balls is more reliably maintained.

As described above, in this embodiment, the game ball existing on the guide rail can always be brought into close contact by devising the installation position of the ball out switch 187. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of electric discharge due to the interval between the game balls, and it is possible to prevent the generation of noise due to the game balls.

[0187] In the pachinko gaming machine 1 of each of the above-described embodiments, when the stop symbol of the special symbol variably displayed on the variable display section 9 based on the winning start is a predetermined symbol combination, the predetermined game value is reduced. Although it was a first-class pachinko gaming machine that can be given to a player, a predetermined game value that can be given to a player when there is a prize in a predetermined area of an electric accessory that is opened based on a start winning prize. Two types of pachinko machines,
A third-type pachinko gaming machine in which a predetermined right is generated or continued when there is a prize in a predetermined electric accessory which is opened when a stop symbol of a symbol variably displayed based on a start winning prize is a predetermined combination of symbols. Even so, the present invention can be applied.

[0188]

As described above, according to the present invention, the shortage of game balls that can be paid out to the ball game machine is explained.
Judgment is made at the stage where the game ball is present near the upstream part of the guide rail, and the payout operation of the ball payout device can be stopped based on the judgment, so the supply path in the gaming machine There is an effect that electrostatic discharge due to passing game balls can be prevented, and generation of noise can be prevented.

[0189] Near the upstream portion of the guide rail, ball detecting means for detecting a ball shortage state in which game balls are insufficient is provided.
In the case where it is configured to determine that the payable game balls are in short supply in response to the detection of the lack of the ball by the ball detection means, it is easy to perform the determination based on the detection output of the ball detection means such as a switch. In addition, control for preventing electrostatic discharge by the game ball can be performed.

When the ball detecting means is provided at the upstream end of the guide rail, the distance of the state in which the game balls are in close contact is longer, so that the chance of the electrostatic discharge by the game balls is further reduced.

[0191] A ball out detection signal from the ball detecting means is input to the game control means, and the game control means makes a determination in accordance with the ball out detection signal, and issues a payout operation stop command to the payout control means in accordance with the determination. Signal, the payout control means is configured to stop the operation of the ball payout device on condition that the payout operation stop command signal is received, when the operation of the ball payout device is stopped In addition, the game control means for controlling the entire game can grasp the cause of the payout stop.

If the payout control means is configured to stop the operation of the ball payout device after a series of payout operations, the payout control can be simplified.

If the payout control means is configured to stop paying out both the prize ball and the loaned ball when the payout operation is stopped upon detection of running out of the ball, any one of the prize ball and the ball rental is provided. Also, control for preventing electrostatic discharge is realized.

If the ball payout device is configured to pay out game balls at a low speed for a predetermined period after the start of the payout operation, the state of close contact between the game balls can be ensured. Will be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mechanical panel of the pachinko gaming machine viewed from the rear.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration around an intermediate base unit installed on a mechanism plate.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a ball payout device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a game control board (main board).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing components related to a prize ball, such as components of a payout control board and a ball payout device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a main process executed by a CPU on a main board.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between each switch and the assignment of input ports.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of forming a switch timer in a RAM.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an input determination value table.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a winning ball process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a prize ball process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a prize ball process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a switch-on check process.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command form of a payout control command.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing a relationship between an 8-bit control signal and an INT signal which constitute a payout control command.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of a payout control command.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a command transmission table.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command sending process.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of main processing executed by a payout control CPU.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a payout control process executed by a payout control CPU.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a RAM in the payout control means.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a fixed command buffer.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command receiving process of a payout control CPU.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command analysis execution process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a payout stop state setting process.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a ball lending control process.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a ball lending control process.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a winning ball control process.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a winning ball control process.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a payout motor control process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 game control board (main board) 37 payout control board 38 ball storage tank 39 guide gutter (guide rail) 56 CPU 97 ball payout device 187 ball cutout switch 371 payout control CPU

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A ball game machine in which a game is played using a game ball, and a game ball stored in a ball storage tank is supplied to a ball payout device for paying out the game ball via a guide rail, Insufficient game balls that can be paid out are determined at the stage where the game balls are present near the upstream portion of the guide rail, and the payout operation of the ball payout device is stopped based on the determination. A ball game machine characterized by being possible. 2. A ball detecting means is provided in the vicinity of an upstream portion of the guide rail, which is capable of detecting an out-of-ball state in which the number of playing balls is insufficient. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the ball is short. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein said ball detecting means is provided at an upstream end of a guide rail. 4. Game control means for controlling the progress of the game,
A payout control means for controlling the ball payout device, wherein a ball out detection signal from the ball detection means is input to the game control means, and the game control means makes a determination according to the ball out detection signal, A payout operation stop command signal is transmitted to the payout control means based on the determination, and the payout control means stops the operation of the ball payout device on condition that the payout operation stop command signal is received. The ball game machine according to claim 2 or claim 3. 5. The ball game machine according to claim 4, wherein the payout control means stops the operation of the ball payout device after a series of payout operations. 6. The payout control means controls the payout of both a prize ball based on a prize and a loaned ball based on a player's request, and when the payout operation is stopped by detecting the out of ball,
Claim 4: Stop paying out both the premium ball and the rental ball
6. A ball-and-ball game machine according to claim 5. 7. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball payout device pays out game balls at a low speed for a predetermined period after the start of the payout operation.