JP2002018055A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine with a feeding device for game balls, capable of enhancing the accuracy of feeding game balls while keeping the feeding speed of the game balls from the feeding device. SOLUTION: A transmit pulse width to a pulse motor 620 for discharging the game ball is set to a corrected pulse width W2 larger than a normal pulse width W1 at least for the last one of serially discharged plural game balls. In the case of discharging one ball, the ball is discharged with the corrected pulse width W2. In the case of corrected discharge for discharging the game balls not discharged by basic discharge, discharge is performed with the corrected pulse width W2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine provided with a discharge device for discharging game balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some gaming machines (for example, pachinko machines) are provided with a discharge device for paying out game balls to a player.
Such a discharge device includes a motor that drives a discharge mechanism, and the game balls are discharged at a discharge speed (the number of game balls discharged per time) determined by the rotation speed of the motor.

[0003]

In such a discharge device, it is necessary to discharge a large number of game balls as the game progresses, so that it is necessary to secure a certain discharge speed. However, if the rotation speed of the motor is too high, it is difficult to stop the operation of the discharge mechanism just at a position corresponding to the target number of game ball discharges, the motor is rotated too much by inertia, and the game balls are excessively discharged. There is a risk that it will.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. In a gaming machine provided with a discharge device for discharging game balls, a game machine is provided while maintaining the speed of discharging game balls from the discharge device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of improving the accuracy of ball discharge.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a game machine provided with a discharge device capable of continuously discharging game balls, a game ball discharged at least last in a continuous series of discharging operations is described. A discharging speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharging device is provided such that a discharging speed per one game ball becomes lower than a normal discharging speed per one game ball.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a game machine provided with a discharge device for continuously discharging game balls for each target number, the discharge speed per game ball when the target number is one ball is equal to the target speed. Discharge speed control means is provided for controlling the operation speed of the discharge device so as to be lower than the average discharge speed per game ball when the number is plural.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a game machine provided with a discharge device capable of discharging game balls, at least a game ball to be discharged at last in a series of discharge operations for continuously discharging a plurality of game balls. Discharge speed control means is provided for controlling the operation speed of the discharge device so that the discharge speed per ball is lower than the discharge speed per game ball in the entire series of discharge operations.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a discharge device for discharging game balls, a basic discharge control means for causing the discharge device to perform a basic discharge for discharging a target number of game balls, and a target number of game balls by the basic discharge. And a correction discharge control means for causing the discharge device to perform a correction discharge for discharging the shortage of the game balls when the discharge is not performed, the discharge speed per game ball in the correction discharge is: Discharge speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharge device so as to be lower than a discharge speed per game ball in the basic discharge is provided.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the discharge device includes a motor as a drive source, and the discharge speed control means controls a rotation speed of the motor.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a continuous series of discharging operations, the discharging speed per game ball at least for the last discharged game ball is the standard discharging speed per game ball. Slower than speed. That is, the discharge speed of the game balls (the number of discharges per unit time) is made lower than the standard discharge speed in the last part of the continuous discharging operation. Therefore, since the operation speed of the discharging mechanism is reduced to such a degree that the discharging mechanism can be stopped correctly when a series of discharging operations is completed, the discharging mechanism may operate beyond the original stop position due to inertia (for example, According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the motor as the drive source from rotating beyond the original stop position due to inertia. On the other hand, except for the last part of the continuous discharging operation, the game balls are discharged at the standard discharging speed, so that the necessary discharging speed is secured in the entire discharging operation, and the game balls are discharged. It doesn't take too long.

[0011] In the second invention, the discharge speed per game ball when the target number is one ball (the number of discharges per unit time) per game ball when the target number is plural. Since the ejection speed is made slower than the average ejection speed, when only one game ball is ejected, the operation speed of the ejection mechanism is too fast to stop the game properly (for example,
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the motor as the drive source from rotating beyond the original stop position due to inertia. On the other hand, when discharging a plurality of game balls, 1
Since the game balls are discharged at a higher discharge speed than when only the balls are discharged, the required discharge speed is secured, and the discharge of the game balls does not take too much time.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in a series of discharging operations for continuously discharging a plurality of game balls, at least the discharging speed per game ball of the lastly discharged game ball is reduced in the entire series of discharging operations. Is made slower than the discharge speed per game ball in. That is, the discharge speed of the game balls (the number of discharges per unit time) is made slower than the discharge speed of the entire discharge operation (average discharge speed) in the last part of a series of discharge operations. Therefore, since the operation speed of the discharging mechanism is reduced to such a degree that the discharging mechanism can be stopped correctly when a series of discharging operations is completed, the discharging mechanism may operate beyond the original stop position due to inertia (for example, According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the motor as the drive source from rotating beyond the original stop position due to inertia. On the other hand, in the entire series of discharging operations, the required discharging speed is secured, so that it does not take too much time to discharge the game balls.

In the fourth aspect, the discharge speed in the corrected discharge is made slower than the discharge speed in the basic discharge. Therefore, when the target number of game balls cannot be discharged in the basic discharge, the discharge mechanism in the corrected discharge is used. Since the operation speed is too fast, it is possible to prevent the target number of game balls from being discharged even in the corrected discharge, and to further require the corrected discharge. Therefore, if at least one correction discharge is performed, the possibility that the correct number of game balls can be discharged increases, and the correct number of game balls can be reliably discharged without reducing the discharge speed of the game balls as a whole. .

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a CR machine in which a card ball lending unit 2 is added to a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) 1. The front frame 3 of the gaming machine 1 is assembled to a main body frame (outer frame) 4 via a hinge 5 so as to be openable and closable, and the game board 6 is housed in a storage frame attached to the back of the front frame 3. .

The game board 6 is detachable from the front frame 3,
It can be separated from the gaming machine main body (the configuration other than the gaming board 6 of the ball game machine). As a result, the game type determined by the type of the game board 6 can be changed together with the replacement of the game board 6.

On the surface of the game board 6, a display device 8, a variable winning device 10 having a large winning opening therein, and a general winning opening 11 to 11.
15. A game area in which the starting port 16 is provided is formed.
A cover glass 18 that covers the front of the game board 6 is attached to the front of the front frame 3.

An opening / closing panel 20 below the front frame 3 has an upper plate 21 for supplying game balls to the hitting ball firing device, and a fixed panel 2.
2, a lower plate 23, an operation unit 24 of the hit ball launching device, and the like are provided.

A first notification lamp 31 and a second notification lamp 32 are provided above the frame of the cover glass 18. The first and second notification lamps 31 and 32 notify the occurrence of an abnormal state by lighting.

The card ball lending unit 2 has a card (a prepaid card or the like) inserted in the card insertion portion 25 on the front.
A card reader / writer and a ball lending control device for reading and writing the data of the card lending unit are built in. An operation panel 26 for the card lending unit is formed on the outer surface of the upper plate 21 of the gaming machine 1.

The operation panel 26 for the card ball lending unit has a card balance display section (not shown) for displaying the balance of the card, a ball lending switch 28 for commanding a ball lending, and a card for commanding a card return. A return switch 30 and the like are provided.

FIG. 2 shows the back side of the gaming machine 1 and the card ball lending unit 2. On the back side of the gaming board 6, the winning prize balls which have won a large winning opening, a general winning opening 11 to 15 and a starting opening 16. Winning ball set cover (not shown), game control device 100, display control device 150, decoration control device 2
00, a sound control device 250, an external terminal 41 for a game board, and the like.

On the back side of the storage frame of the front frame 3, a back mechanism board 35 is attached. At the center of the back mechanism board 35, each device (game control device 10) on the back side of the game board 6 is provided.
0, a display control device 150, a decoration control device 200, a sound control device 250, etc.).

A ball storage tank 36 for storing game balls and a guide gutter 37 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 36 to a gutter unit (half-end sensor unit) 38 are attached to the upper portion of the back mechanism board 35. The guide gutter 37 and the gutter unit 38 are formed in two channels. The gutter unit 38 is provided with an odd ball detection switch for detecting a shortage of game balls to be supplied to the discharge unit 600.

On the upper right side of the back mechanism board 35, a terminal board 42 is provided. The frame external output terminal 42A provided on the terminal board 42 is a management device (a host computer that manages a plurality of gaming machines 1 in a game arcade).
This is a relay board to which an external signal line is connected and a power supply line from the outside (island equipment of a game arcade) is connected. Signal transmission from the game control device 100 on the game board 6 is performed via the frame external output terminal 42A.

On the right side of the opening window of the back mechanism panel 35, the balls of the gutter unit 38 are placed on the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 23 on the front side of the gaming machine.
A discharge device (discharge unit 600 and flow path switching unit 700) for paying out is attached.

The lower part of the back mechanism board 35 has a power supply device 3
00, a discharge control device 40 for controlling the discharge unit 600
0, a launch control device 55 for controlling the hit ball launch device 500
0, a card ball lending unit relay board 43 and the like are attached.

Card insertion part 25 of card ball lending unit 2
When a card is inserted into the card ball lending unit and the ball lending switch 28 on the operation panel 26 for the card lending unit is pressed, a ball lending request is issued from the card ball lending unit 2 to the discharge control device 400,
The discharge unit 600 is driven by the discharge control device 400, and a predetermined number of lending balls are paid out to the upper plate 21 and the like from the discharge device.

When a ball fired from the hitting ball firing device into the game area wins a general winning opening 11 to 15, a starting opening 16, or a large winning opening, a prize ball control command is sent from the game control device 100 to the discharge control device 400. The ball is discharged and the ball discharge unit 600 is driven by the discharge control device 400, and a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the upper plate 21 or the like from the discharge device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show in detail a discharge-related unit comprising a discharge unit 600 and a flow path switching unit 700. FIG.

The discharge unit 600 and the flow path switching unit 700 are composed of two spherical flow paths (a ball flow path 602 and a game ball flow path from the introduction path 702 to the discharge path 705).
In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, one of the systems is shown in a sectional view, and in the following description, this one system will be described as a representative. The other one system is provided in parallel on the back side of the paper of FIGS. 3 and 4.
Further, the reason that two ball channels are provided is to efficiently discharge game balls, and is not related to the distinction between prize balls and lending balls.

As shown in the figure, the discharge unit 600 and the flow path switching unit 700 are integrally assembled vertically and constitute a discharge-related unit.

The discharging unit 600 is a discharging mechanism for game balls, and includes a casing 601, a ball sending section 610, a discharging pulse motor 620, a stopper mechanism 630, and the like.

In the transparent casing 601, the spherical channel 60
2 are formed. The game balls from the upper gutter unit 38 are introduced into the ball flow channel 602 from the ball inlet 603, and are discharged from the ball outlet 604 to the lower flow channel switching unit 700.

The sphere sending section 610 is provided so as to face the sphere flow path 602. The ball sending portion 610 is provided with sprockets (notched disks) 611 and 612 and a driven gear (not shown) fixed to the same rotating shaft 613 supported in the casing 601, and is provided with synchronous rotation. It is supposed to. Note that the sprocket 612 is a sprocket of a system on the side where the flow path is not shown in FIGS.
It is arranged so as to face another spherical flow path 602 (not shown).

A portion between the teeth on the outer periphery of the sprockets 611 and 612 is a plurality (eight in the embodiment) of ball receiving portions 614 arranged at equal intervals, and a part of these ball receiving portions 614 is It faces the spherical channel 602. Thereby, the game balls passing through the ball channel 602 are held one by one in one ball receiving portion 614, and the sprockets 611, 61
2 are sequentially sent out with the rotation operation. Therefore,
From the discharge unit 600, sprockets 611, 61
A number of game balls in proportion to the movement amount (rotation amount) of 2 are discharged.

It should be noted that two types of sprockets 611,
612 are fixed to the rotating shaft 613 in a state where the phases are shifted from each other by half of the ball receiving portions 614. This allows the game balls to be sent out from the sprockets 611 and 612 alternately from each system, so that the game balls can be quickly and smoothly discharged from the discharge unit 600.

The rotation axis of the discharge pulse motor 620 includes
A driving gear (not shown) and a rotation restricting gear 631 of the stopper mechanism 630 are fixed. A transmission gear 622 is provided between the driving gear and the driven gear of the ball sending section 610. Thereby, the driven gear and the sprocket 611,
612 is driven to rotate integrally by a discharge pulse motor 620.

The stopper mechanism 630 controls the rotation of the discharge pulse motor 620.
1, stopper member 633, return spring 635,
It is composed of a stopper solenoid 636 and the like.

The same number of ratchet teeth 632 as the above-described ball receiving portions 614 on the outer periphery of the sprocket 611 are formed on the outer periphery of the rotation restricting gear 631 at equal intervals. A stopper member (flapper) 633 is attached to these ratchet teeth 632.
Is engaged, the rotation of the rotation restricting gear 631 (clockwise rotation in FIG. 4) is prohibited. Note that the rotation restricting gear 631 and the stopper member 633 constitute a ratchet mechanism, and even when engaged, reverse rotation (counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 4) is allowed.

The stopper member 633 is swingably supported at its upper end by a hook portion 634, and the ratchet teeth 6
32, and is normally urged by the return spring 635 to engage with the ratchet teeth 632.

On the other hand, the stopper solenoid 636
, The stopper member 633 is attracted to the stopper solenoid 636 side, and retreats against the return spring 635. Thereby, the engagement between the stopper member 633 and the rotation restricting gear 631 is released, and the discharge pulse motor 620 becomes rotatable.

By providing the stopper mechanism 630 in this way, the discharge pulse motor 620 can be prevented from being excessively rotated due to the inertia of rotation or the weight of the game ball, and the rotation amount of the sprocket 611 can be controlled by the discharge control device 200. Can be precisely controlled by

The channel switching unit 700 includes a casing 7
01 has a game ball flow path from the introduction path 702 to the discharge path 705. The introduction path 702 is connected to the discharge unit 600.
(For each system).

The game ball flow path branches into a prize ball flow path 703 into which game balls as prize balls are introduced, and a rental ball flow path 704 into which game balls as rental balls are introduced. The prize ball flow path 703 and the lending ball flow path 704 are provided with a prize ball detection sensor 713 and a ball lending detection sensor 714, respectively, so that the number of passed game balls can be counted for each flow path.

A flow path switching valve 720 is provided at the branch between the prize ball flow path 703 and the lending ball flow path 704. Flow path switching valve 72
0 rotates around the rotation axis 721 and the prize ball flow path 703.
And the entrance of the ball lending channel 704 is selectively closed.

The flow switching valve 720 is connected to the plunger 731 of the flow switching solenoid (device) 730 by the linking member 72.
2,723 are linked.

The flow path switching solenoid 730 is of a latching type, and the position of the plunger 731 is selectively changed by switching the energizing direction.
After the power is turned off, the position of the plunger 731 at that time is held.

More specifically, the plunger 731 is magnetized by a permanent magnet 732 fixed to the outer periphery, and a solenoid 733 is disposed on the outer periphery of the plunger 731. Driven up or down. Also,
A metal fixing member 734 and a fixing plate 735 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the plunger 731, respectively. When the plunger 731 is driven upward, its upper end is adhered to the fixing member 734 by magnetic force, and the plunger 731 moves downward. When driven, the lower end adheres to the fixing plate 735 by magnetic force. Therefore, the energization of the solenoid 733 is
Even in the case of F, the position of the plunger 731 is maintained at a position adhered to the fixing member 734 or the fixing plate 735.

The linking member 723 is rotatably supported by a shaft 724, and has one end connected to the lower end of the plunger 731 and the connecting member 725.
And the other end is meshed with the linking member 722. The link member 722 is connected to the rotation shaft 72 of the flow path switching valve 720.
1 and rotates integrally with the flow path switching valve 720. The linking member 722 is urged by the holding spring 725 so that the flow path switching valve 720 does not wobble.

With such a configuration, the flow path switching valve 720
Is switched with the vertical movement of the plunger 731 due to energization of the solenoid 733, and the position immediately before energization is maintained even after the energization of the solenoid 733 is turned off.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the plunger 731 is driven downward by energizing the solenoid 733, the linking member 723 rotates counterclockwise.
Rotates clockwise, and the flow path switching valve 720 switches to a valve position for closing the ball lending flow path 704 and opening the prize ball flow path 703. As a result, all the game balls introduced into the introduction path 702 flow into the prize ball flow path 703 and are detected by the prize ball detection sensor 713. In this state, even if the power supply to the solenoid 733 is turned off, the plunger 731
Is held at the position where it is adhered to the fixing plate 735, so that the flow path switching valve 720 also holds the valve position where the winning ball flow path 703 is opened.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
When the plunger 731 is driven upward by energization of the motor 3, the linking member 723 rotates clockwise and the linking member 722 rotates counterclockwise, and the flow path switching valve 720 closes the prize ball flow path 703 to lend it. It switches to a valve position that opens the spherical flow path 704. As a result, all the game balls introduced into the introduction path 702 flow into the ball lending flow path 704 and are detected by the ball lending detection sensor 714. Also, in this state, even if the power supply to the solenoid 733 is turned off, the plunger 731 is held at the position where the plunger 731 is adhered to the fixing member 734, so that the flow path switching valve 720 also holds the valve position for opening the ball lending flow path 704 as it is. .

The prize ball flow path 703 and the lending ball flow path 704 join at a downstream discharge path 705. The game ball is the discharge path 7
It is discharged downward from 05 and reaches the upper plate 21.

The relay board 740 relays the transmission of the detection signal by the prize ball detection sensor 713 to the discharge control device 400 and the game control device 100, and the transmission of the detection signal by the ball lending detection sensor 714 to the discharge control device 400. Is what you do.

The flow path switching valve 720 is not limited to the latching type as in the present embodiment. For example, by providing a return spring to the flow path switching solenoid 730, In the non-energized state, it may be fixed at one valve position (for example, a valve position for opening the prize ball flow path 703) and switched to the other valve position by energizing.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG.

The control system controls the game control device 100, the display control device 150 for controlling the display device 8, the game board 6, the lamps for decoration of the front frame 3 and the various light emitting device groups 70 such as the first notification lamp 31. Control device 200 for controlling the sound output from the sound output device 80, the decoration control device 200, the emission control device 400, etc., and the power supply device 30
0 and so on.

The game control device 100 is composed of an input / output interface, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, and is a main control device for transmitting control commands to various control devices to control the game as a whole. In this case, the communication form between the game control device 1 and various control devices (the display control device 150, the decoration control device 200, the sound control device 250, and the discharge control device 400) is a unidirectional communication from the game control device 100 to the various control devices. It is communication. Thereby, the game control device 1
In this case, an illegal signal can be prevented from being input through the connection line with various control devices at 00, and the reliability of the game can be improved.

The game control device 100 includes a starting port 1
6, a special symbol start switch 51 for detecting a prize, and N (N = 5 in the present embodiment) prize port switches 52.1 to 5 provided for each of the prize ports 11 to 16 for detecting a prize.
2. N, detection signals are input from a count switch 53 for detecting a winning in the special winning opening, and a continuation switch 54 for detecting a winning in a continuous winning opening provided inside the special winning opening. The game control device 100 transmits a control command to various control devices (for example, transmits a prize ball control command to the discharge control device 400), a jackpot lottery, and opens and closes the variable prize device 10 based on these winning detections. Processing such as control of various devices such as the special winning opening solenoid 10A for driving the operation is performed.

The discharge control device 400 is composed of an input / output interface, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, and is a control device for performing discharge-related control.
Discharge unit 600 (discharge pulse motor 620 and stopper solenoid 636) and flow path switching unit 700 (flow path switching solenoid 73) based on a prize ball control command from the player or a ball lending control command from the card unit 2.
The operation of 0) is controlled to discharge a prize ball or a lending ball. Further, when an abnormality related to discharge occurs, the second notification lamp 32 is turned on to notify the user.

The discharge of the prize ball or the lending by the discharge control device 400 will be described in detail.

Each winning port of the gaming machine 1 is assigned the number of prize balls to be paid out for winning. For example, seven prize balls for one game ball to the starting port 16 and one game ball to the general winning ports 11 to 15.
Ten prize balls are allocated to the individual prize, and fifteen prize balls are allocated to one game ball to the grand prize port. When there is a winning in each winning opening, the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning is stored in a transmission preparation counter provided in the RAM of the game control device 100. Here, the transmission preparation counter accumulates and stores, for example, the number of winnings for each assigned number of winning balls.

The game control device 100 transmits a prize ball control command to the discharge control device 400 based on the storage of the transmission preparation counter. For example, a prize ball control command is transmitted in response to each prize stored in the transmission preparation counter, and each prize ball control command includes the number of prize balls assigned to the prize as a discharge request number. It is. The storage of the transmission preparation counter is deleted every time the corresponding prize ball control command is transmitted.

Ejection control device 400 receiving a prize ball control command
Calculates the number of discharge requests contained in this prize ball control command as R
It is accumulated and stored in the storage counter of the AM 403. The storage counter is a counter that temporarily stores the number of prize balls to be discharged, and may be configured as a single counter that accumulates and stores the commanded discharge request number itself, or a type of discharge request number. For example, there are a plurality of counters which accumulate and store the number of commands instructed for each (number).

When the storage counter has a memory, the discharge control device 400 sequentially sets the discharge request number stored in the storage counter as a target number in the discharge counter, and sets the solenoid of the flow path switching solenoid (device) 730 as the target. 7
33 is energized in the opening direction of the prize ball flow path 703, and the flow path switching valve 720 is set to the valve position on the open side of the prize ball flow path 703. Then, a pulse is transmitted to the discharge pulse motor 620 to discharge the prize balls so that the target number (the value set in the discharge counter) is discharged (see the flowchart of FIG. 6 described later).

The number of prize balls discharged in this manner is detected by the prize ball detection sensor 713, and is input to the game control device 100 and the discharge control device 400 via the relay board 740. As a result, the detected amount of prize ball discharge is subtracted from the storage counter. Therefore, in the present embodiment,
In the discharge operation for one target number, the basic discharge is performed only once, and even if a shortage occurs, this remains as the amount not subtracted from the storage counter (the discharge counter indicates the next time). The number of award balls for the basic discharge is overwritten.) As for the prize ball discharge, the detected amount may be subtracted from the discharge counter, and the number of insufficient discharges remaining in the discharge counter may be discharged as the corrected discharge, as in the case of the ball discharge described later.

When there is a ball lending control command, the discharge control device 400 sets the number of ball lending discharges (for example, 25) as a target number in the discharge counter, and sets the target of the flow path switching solenoid (device) 730. Ball rental channel 7 to solenoid 733
04 is opened, the flow path switching valve 720 is set to the valve position on the open side of the ball lending flow path 704, and then the discharging pulse motor 6 is turned on.
Send the set pulse to the discharge counter at 20, and
Have the rental ball discharge (basic discharge).

[0086] The thus-leaved ball for sale is detected by the ball-for-sale detection sensor 714. This number of detections is input to the emission control device 400 via the relay board 740,
It is subtracted from the discharge counter. In this case, the emission counter should be 0 if the target number of ball-emissions has been discharged in the basic discharge, but if the target number of ball-emissions has not been discharged, the discharge counter will have a remaining number. Then, a corrected discharge for discharging the remaining number is executed.

The discharging of the prize balls and the lending balls is executed as described above. The present invention is characterized by controlling the operating speed of the pulse motor 620 in discharging such game balls. That is, in the present embodiment, the pulse motor 620 makes the operation speed lower than the normal speed (standard speed) in the discharge of the last ball in a series of game ball discharges and the correction discharge. This prevents the pulse motor 620 from being excessively rotated due to inertia when stopped, thereby enabling accurate discharge of the game ball. See FIGS. 6 and 7 for details.
And the timing charts of FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the discharge control main process in the discharge control device 400.

When the power is turned on, an initialization process is first performed in step S1, and processes such as clearing of the RAM are performed.

At step S2, it is determined whether or not there is a ball-lending request (a ball-lending control command from the card unit 2). If there is a ball-lending request, the process proceeds to step S3, and the ball-lending discharge at steps S3 to S9 is performed. Execute the process. on the other hand,
If there is no lending request, the process proceeds to step S10, and the process proceeds to step S10.
The prize ball discharging process of 11 to step S17 is executed.

In step S3, the unit K is set to the discharge counter (for example, 25). In step S4, power is supplied to the flow path switching solenoid 730 to set the flow path switching valve 720 to the open side of the ball lending flow path 704.

In step S5, a pulse motor driving process (refer to the flowchart of FIG. 7) is executed, and a pulse corresponding to the discharge counter value is generated so that the pulse motor 620 operates as necessary to discharge the discharge counter value. By transmitting, the operation of the pulse motor 620 is controlled. In the subsequent step S6, a predetermined discharge ball passage delay time (the discharge ball is moved from the discharge portion of the discharge unit 600 to the flow path switching unit 70)
Since it takes a long time to reach the detection unit of 0, the game waits for the discharge of the game ball for a margin time that allows for this. Then, during the processing of step S5 and step S6, the number of discharged ball rentals detected by the ball rental sensor 714 is subtracted from the discharge counter.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not the discharge counter has a remaining number (whether or not the discharge counter value is greater than 0). If the discharge counter has a remaining number, the process proceeds to step S8. If not, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S8, in order to perform corrected discharge,
The pulse motor 62 uses the pulses of the remaining number of the discharge counter as the pulse width (transmission time of one pulse) as the correction pulse width.
At the same time as transmitting to 0, the number detected by the lending ball detection sensor 714 is subtracted from the discharge counter, and the process returns to step S6 (waiting for elapse of the discharge ball passage delay time). Here, the correction pulse width W1 is set to be longer (for example, twice as long) than the normal pulse width W1 (refer to the flowchart of FIG. 7), and the pulse is transmitted using the correction pulse width W2. Accordingly, the operation speed of the pulse motor 620 becomes lower than the normal speed (the operation speed by transmitting the normal pulse width W1) (see FIGS. 8 and 9). This corrected emission is
It is executed after a predetermined wait time from the end of the basic discharge.

As described above, as long as there is a remaining number in the discharge counter in step S7, the corrected discharge in step S8 is executed. The discharge speed of the game balls in this corrected discharge (the number of game discharges per unit time) is as follows. It is made slower than the normal discharge speed. As a result, even if there is a minor problem that the basic discharge cannot be performed accurately in the discharge mechanism, the corrected discharge is performed slowly, so that there is a possibility that accurate discharge cannot be performed even with the corrected discharge due to the same problem as the basic discharge. Can be reduced. Therefore, there is a high possibility that a shortage with respect to the target number can be discharged by one correction discharge, and the discharge time can be shortened.

In step S9, the flow path switching valve 720 is set to the open side of the prize ball flow path 703, and the flow path switching solenoid 73 is set.
The energization to 0 is turned off, and the process returns to step S2.

In step S10, it is determined whether or not the storage counter has a remaining number (accumulation of the number of award ball discharge requests) (whether or not the storage counter value is greater than 0). The process returns to step S11 if there is a remaining number.

In step S11, a current is supplied to the flow path switching solenoid 730 to set the flow path switching valve 720 to the prize ball flow path 703.
Set to open side.

At step S12, it is determined whether or not the storage counter value is larger than the specified discharge number S. If the storage counter value> S, the process proceeds to step S13, where the specified discharge number S is set in the discharge counter. Proceed to S15. On the other hand, if the storage counter value is not> 0, the process proceeds to step S14, the storage counter value is set in the discharge counter, and the process proceeds to step S15. Note that the prescribed discharge number S is, for example,
The maximum number of prize balls is “15”.

In step S15, the pulse motor driving process (the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7) is executed, and the discharge target is set so that the pulse motor 620 operates as much as necessary to discharge the discharge target number set in the discharge counter. The number of pulses corresponding to the number is transmitted to control the operation of the pulse motor 620. In a succeeding step S16, the CPU waits for the discharge of the game ball for a predetermined discharge ball passage delay time. Then, during the processing of step S15 and step S16, the winning ball discharge number detected by the winning ball detection sensor 713 is subtracted from the storage counter value. When the discharge ball passage delay time has elapsed, the process returns to step S2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the pulse motor driving process (the processes of steps S5 and S15 in the flowchart of FIG. 6).

In step S21, initial excitation is performed, and the initial excitation phase (first and second phases, or third and fourth phases) is excited over a predetermined initial excitation width (initial excitation time) W0. You.

In the following step S22, it is determined whether or not the remaining pulse transmission for the target number is for one game ball (6 pulses).
The process proceeds to step S24 if it is for one ball.

In step S23, the pulse width (transmission time of one pulse) is set to a predetermined normal pulse width W1, and a pulse transmission for one game ball (ie, six pulse transmission) is performed.
It returns to step S22. As described above, the pulse transmission with the normal pulse width W1 is performed until the remaining number of pulses reaches the target number, and the game balls are discharged at the normal discharge speed.

On the other hand, in step S24, the pulse width is set to be longer than the normal pulse width W1 (for example, to double the pulse width).
As the set correction pulse width W2, pulse transmission (six pulse transmission) for one game ball is executed, and the routine ends after six pulse transmission. As a result, the last one ball is ejected at a corrected ejection speed lower than the normal ejection speed.

FIG. 8 shows a pulse transmission (pulse motor driving process) in a game ball discharge (prize ball discharge or basic discharge of a lending ball) when the target number is three.

As shown in the figure, when discharging the game ball, first, a pulse is transmitted with a predetermined initial excitation width W0 to the first and second phases, which are the initial excitation phases, and the initial excitation is performed. Subsequent to this initial excitation, pulse transmission with the normal pulse width W1 is sequentially performed in the second phase and the third phase, the third phase and the fourth phase, and so on, to transmit six pulses (two simultaneously excited pulses). If the pulse transmission to the phase is considered different, the transmission of 12 pulses will discharge the first game ball, and the transmission of 6 pulses will discharge the second game ball. In addition, since the normal pulse width W1 is continuously transmitted to each excitation phase every two pulses, the apparent pulse width shown in the figure is 2 × W
It is 1.

By discharging the game balls, the target number (3
When the number of remaining game balls to be ejected from the ball is one, the transmission pulse width is changed to the correction pulse width W2. As a result, the last game ball (third ball) is slowly discharged at the ratio of the corrected pulse width W2 to the normal pulse width W1. For example, if the correction pulse width W2 is twice the normal pulse width W1, the discharge speed will be 。.

FIG. 9 shows a pulse transmission in discharging the game ball when the target number is one.

In this case, since the last ball is discharged immediately after the initial excitation, the pulse is transmitted from the beginning with the corrected pulse width W2, and the discharge is performed at a speed lower than the normal discharge speed.

As described above, the discharge speed of the game ball is made slow at least in the discharge of the last ball (the last part of a series of discharges), so that at the end of discharge, the pulse motor 620 has its inertia. Therefore, the rotation can be stopped at a predetermined stop position without excessive rotation. Therefore, the number of discharged game balls becomes accurate. Also, the position of the pulse motor 620 at the time of stoppage deviates from the normal position,
The stopper mechanism 630 does not stop.

The operation speed of the pulse motor 620 is controlled irrespective of the detection result (counting result) of the discharge of the game balls. That is, as described above, the number of game balls detected by the prize ball detection sensor 713 and the ball rental sensor 714 is subtracted from the accumulation counter or the discharge counter, but the control of the operation speed of the pulse motor 620 is updated in this manner. This is performed independently of the values of the storage counter and the discharge counter. For example, when the pulse motor 620 rotates by “the target number of discharges−1”, even if the “target number of discharges−1” game balls are not actually discharged (detected), the discharge speed is reduced. Control to slow down is performed. That is, the control of the pulse motor 620 is determined with respect to the target discharge number, and is not affected by the subsequent detection of the game ball.

Further, according to the control of the present invention, as in the above-described embodiment, the game balls (prize balls or lending balls) discharged from the discharge unit 600 serving as the discharge mechanism are switched to the flow path switching unit 70.
This is particularly effective for a gaming machine of the type detecting at 0. In such a gaming machine, a relatively long flow path exists between the discharge unit of the discharge mechanism (sprockets 611 and 612) and the detection unit of the discharged game balls (prize ball detection sensor 713 and ball lending detection sensor 714). However, by performing control as in the present invention, it is possible to appropriately control the operation speed of the discharge mechanism and perform high-speed discharge of game balls without performing feedback from the detection unit.

In the above embodiment, the ejection speed is changed for the last ball in a series of ejections, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the ejection speed of the last N spheres (for example, two spheres) may be reduced. Further, it is not necessary to change the discharge speed for each game ball. For example, the discharge speed may be reduced in the latter half of the last game ball discharge (for example, the latter three pulses of six pulses).

In the above-described embodiment, the normal discharging speed of the game ball (the discharging speed based on the normal pulse width W1) is determined, but the present invention is not limited to such a mode. For example, even if the normal discharge speed of a game ball is not determined, for example, in the case of discharging one game ball, the discharge speed is set to the discharge speed per one game ball in the case of plural discharges (average discharge speed). It should be slower than that. When a plurality of game balls are discharged in a series of discharges, the discharge speed of the last game ball may be set lower than the discharge speed per game ball in the entire discharge operation. In the case of the corrected discharge, the discharge speed per game ball in the corrected discharge may be set lower than the discharge speed per game ball in the basic discharge.

The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and includes all modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a discharge related unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a discharge-related unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a discharge control main process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a pulse motor driving process.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing transmission pulses to a pulse motor when a plurality of game balls are discharged.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing transmission pulses to a pulse motor when one game ball is discharged.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 game control device 400 discharge control device 600 discharge unit 620 discharge pulse motor

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a gaming machine provided with a discharge device capable of continuously discharging game balls, in a continuous series of discharge operations, the discharge speed per game ball of at least the lastly discharged game ball is reduced. And a discharge speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharge device so as to be lower than a normal discharge speed per one game ball. 2. A game machine equipped with a discharge device for continuously discharging game balls for each target number, wherein the discharge speed per game ball when the target number is one ball is a plural number of target balls. A gaming machine comprising: a discharging speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharging device so as to be lower than an average discharging speed per game ball at a certain time. 3. A game machine equipped with a discharge device capable of discharging game balls, wherein a series of discharge operations for continuously discharging a plurality of game balls includes at least a last one of the game balls discharged per game ball. Of the game ball 1 in the entire series of discharging operations.
A gaming machine comprising a discharge speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharge device so as to be lower than a discharge speed per unit. 4. A discharge device for discharging game balls, a basic discharge control means for causing the discharge device to perform a basic discharge for discharging a target number of game balls, and a target number of game balls is not discharged by the basic discharge. And a correction discharge control means for causing the discharge device to perform a correction discharge for discharging the shortage of the game balls in the case of a game machine, wherein the discharge speed per game ball in the correction discharge is:
A gaming machine comprising a discharge speed control means for controlling an operation speed of the discharge device so as to be lower than a discharge speed per game ball in the basic discharge. 5. The discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge device includes a motor as a drive source, and the discharge speed control means controls a rotation speed of the motor. The gaming machine described in one.