JP2002336438A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply pachinko game balls to be shot by a shooting device to the shooting device by a simple mechanism without troubling the hands of a player in a game machine with the shooting device for shooting the pachinko game balls toward a game board for the player to play a game through the use of the pachinko game balls. SOLUTION: The game machine is provided with an upper bowl part 50 and a lower bowl part 52 both protruding to the front and vertically arranged with a gap between them in such a way that the pachinko game balls put out as prizes are supplied for the upper bowl part first among them. The upper bowl part and the lower bowl part are connected to each other by a communication passage 82 through which the pachinko game balls flow. The pachinko game balls put out as prizes are supplied from the upper bowl part to the lower bowl part and then supplied for the shooting device 16 from the lower bowl part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko machine, such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball game machine, and the like, which is equipped with a game board for a player to play a game using pachinko balls. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in technology for supplying a pachinko ball to be fired by the firing device to the firing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, such a gaming machine is configured to include a machine frame, a launching device, and a storage unit. The machine frame is used by attaching a game board for a player to play a game using a pachinko ball. The firing device responds to the operation of the player,
It is configured to fire a pachinko ball toward a game board mounted on a machine frame. The storage section is configured to exhibit a storage function of storing the pachinko balls paid out as prizes in response to the pachinko balls fired by the firing device entering the hit holes of the game board.

A game machine of this type is generally configured to further include a glass door and a front plate door. The glass door and the front plate door are configured to cover the front surface of the machine frame while being adjacent to each other in the height direction of the machine frame.
Both the glass door and the front plate door can be opened and closed with respect to the machine frame by turning around a turning axis extending in the height direction of the machine frame. The glass door is configured so as to cover a game area partially set on the front surface of the game board mounted on the machine frame in a closed state thereof from the front side thereof in a see-through manner. On the other hand, the front plate portion door has a front plate portion that performs a storage function of storing a pachinko ball paid out as a prize in response to the pachinko ball fired by the firing device entering the hit hole of the game board. It is composed of

In one conventional example of this type of gaming machine, the front plate portion is configured to include an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion which are vertically arranged with a gap in front of a front plate door. You. Both the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion project forward from the front of the front plate door.

In this conventional gaming machine, the paid-out pachinko balls are supplied to the upper plate portion of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. As a result, in this conventional gaming machine, at least the upper plate portion functions as the storage portion.

[0006] In this conventional gaming machine, the launching device is configured to launch the pachinko balls stored in the upper plate portion toward the gaming board. Pachinko balls are supplied to the launching device one by one from the upper plate.

Further, in this conventional gaming machine, a large number of the paid-out pachinko balls are supplied to the upper plate portion, and as a result, the pachinko balls may overflow in the upper plate portion. This is the case where a so-called overflow ball occurs. In this conventional gaming machine, such overflowing balls are designed to be accommodated in the lower plate portion.

Furthermore, in this conventional gaming machine, there is a case where the pachinko ball fired by the firing device fails to reach the game area of the game board, and thus attempts to return from the game board toward the firing device. . This is the case where a so-called foul ball occurs. In this conventional gaming machine, such a foul ball is designed to be captured in front of the launching device and stored in the lower plate portion.

[0009]

As described above,
In the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, overflow balls and foul balls are accommodated in the lower plate portion.

On the other hand, as described above, in this conventional gaming machine, pachinko balls are supplied from the upper plate to the launching device.

Therefore, in this conventional gaming machine,
When the pachinko ball no longer exists in the upper plate or is about to disappear, the player must lift the pachinko ball present in the lower plate into the upper plate and throw it in, which is troublesome. .

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Under such circumstances, the present invention makes it possible to relieve a player from the hassle of supplying a pachinko ball to be fired by a firing device to the firing device. The present invention provides the following aspects.
Each mode is described in the same manner as in the claims, divided into sections, each section is numbered, and described in the form of citing the numbers of other sections as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features described in the present specification and some of the combinations thereof, and the technical features and the combinations thereof described in the present specification have the following aspects. It should not be construed as limited.

(1) A machine frame mounted with a game board for a player to play a game using a pachinko ball,
In response to a player's operation, a launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward a gaming board mounted on the machine frame, and a pachinko ball launched by the launching device enters a hit hole of the gaming board. And a storage unit for storing another pachinko ball paid out as a prize.
With the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion jutting out in front of the machine frame and vertically arranged with a gap therebetween, the paid-out pachinko ball is supplied to the upper plate portion among them, first, Thereby, at least the upper plate portion functions as the storage portion, and is connected to the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion,
A communication path forming member that forms a communication path through which the pachinko ball flows from the upper plate portion to the lower plate portion, and the firing device is configured to move the pachinko ball accommodated in the lower plate portion toward the game board. A gaming machine characterized by being fired. According to this gaming machine, the paid-out pachinko balls are guided from the upper plate portion to the lower plate portion through the communication passage according to gravity, and then supplied to the launching device from the lower plate portion. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, when the lower plate overflows with pachinko balls, the overflowing balls are stored in the upper plate, and if pachinko balls are required in the lower plate in this state, the pachinko balls are removed from the upper plate. It is automatically replenished to the lower pan and then automatically supplied to the launching device. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, without bothering the player,
The overflowing ball can be supplied to the launching device in the gaming machine without employing a complicated mechanism. By the way, according to this gaming machine, since the pachinko balls are supplied to the launching device from the lower plate portion, not from the upper plate portion, the firing position at which the pachinko balls are fired by the launching device is changed to the upper plate portion. Tends to be lower than in conventional gaming machines where pachinko balls are supplied to the launching device. On the other hand, if the firing position is reduced in this manner, it becomes easy to optimize the component layout of the gaming machine from the viewpoint of increasing the size of the gaming board and increasing the area of the gaming area. This is because a lower firing position makes it easier to secure a continuous area for the gaming board in the gaming machine. Such an increase in the area of the game area leads to, for example, easily increasing the scale and the degree of freedom of the game that can be performed by the player using the gaming machine. Therefore, when the gaming machine according to this section is implemented in a mode in which the launch position is set lower than that of the conventional gaming machine, it is easy to enlarge the gaming board and enlarge the area of the gaming area thereof. Become. (2) Further, the foul sphere, which is a pachinko ball which is fired by the launching device but fails to reach the game area of the game board and tries to return from the game board toward the launching device, is used as the launching device. The gaming machine according to (1), further including a foul ball passage forming member that forms a foul ball passage that is caught in front of and that leads to the upper plate portion, the communication passage, or the lower plate portion. According to this gaming machine, the foul ball is guided to the upper plate portion, the communication passage or the lower plate portion by the foul ball passage, and in any case, is finally supplied from the lower plate portion to the launching device. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, a foul ball can be supplied to the launching device in the gaming machine without bothering the player and using a complicated mechanism. (3) a front plate door attached to the machine frame so as to be openable and closable with respect to the machine frame by rotation about a rotation axis extending in the height direction of the machine frame; The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), wherein the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are provided together on a unit door. According to this gaming machine, not only the upper plate portion mainly having a storage function, but also the lower plate portion having a supply function of supplying a pachinko ball to the launching device can be opened and closed with respect to the machine frame. In the opened state of the plate portion and the lower plate portion, it becomes possible for an operator to access them from the rear surface. As a result, for example, the operator can easily maintain the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. Furthermore, according to this gaming machine, since the upper plate and the lower plate can be opened and closed integrally with each other, the configuration of the front plate door is different from the case where the opening and closing operations are separately performed. Can be easily simplified. Furthermore, according to this gaming machine, since the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are provided together on the front plate portion door, the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are compared with a case where they are provided separately. It is easy to simplify the configuration of the communication path forming member that forms the communication path connecting the first and second communication paths. In this section, the “front plate door” can be configured as a component independent of a glass door described later, or can be configured as an integrated door that is a component integrated with the glass door. (4) Behind the upper plate and the lower plate,
The pachinko ball fired by the launching device is configured so as not to have a member that obstructs a path through which the pachinko ball passes when heading toward the game board (1) to (3). Gaming machine. According to this gaming machine, the path through which the pachinko ball passes when the pachinko ball fired by the firing device goes to the game board is freely set without being affected by the presence of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. It becomes possible. (5) Further, a front plate door attached to the machine frame so as to be openable and closable with respect to the machine frame by rotation about a rotation axis extending in the height direction of the machine frame, and a front plate door thereof. A sensor for detecting that the number of pachinko balls accommodated therein, which is the number of pachinko balls accommodated therein, exceeds a set limit, and a pachinko ball fired by the firing device enters a hit hole of the game board. A payout device that pays out another pachinko ball as a prize in response to the sensor, and when the sensor detects that the number of pachinko balls accommodated exceeds the set limit, The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (4), including one that stops paying out pachinko balls. In this gaming machine, when the sensor detects that the number of pachinko balls accommodated exceeds the set limit, the payout device stops paying out the pachinko balls toward the upper plate portion. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the payout device is prevented from further paying out pachinko balls even though the number of pachinko balls accommodated exceeds the set limit. As a result, for example, some components of the gaming machine, such as the payout device, may be caused by the pachinko ball being forcibly pushed into the path of the pachinko ball connecting the payout device and the upper plate portion or the lower plate portion. Can be prevented from being overloaded. Furthermore, according to this gaming machine, the front plate door is opened in the dispensing stop state, whereby the pachinko ball passage between the dispensing device and the upper plate portion is opened, even if the pachinko ball passage is opened. It is prevented that the pachinko ball is paid out and goes out of the gaming machine. In this section, the “front plate door” can be configured as a component independent of a glass door described later, or can be configured as an integrated door that is a component integrated with the glass door. (6) The sensor is disposed near an inlet through which the paid-out pachinko balls flow into the upper plate (5).
A gaming machine according to the item. In this gaming machine, a sensor for detecting that the number of pachinko balls accommodated in the front plate door has exceeded the set limit is disposed near the entrance where the pachinko balls dispensed from the dispensing device flow into the upper plate portion. Have been. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the pachinko ball can be accommodated in the front plate door until both the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are likely to overflow with the pachinko ball. Can easily increase the storage capacity of pachinko balls. (7) The communication passage includes: (a) the paid-out pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate portion through a short path on the upper plate portion, so that the pachinko balls are connected to the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion; A first passage formed therebetween; and (b) the dispensed pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate portion via a long path on the upper plate portion, so that the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are provided. The second formed between
The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (6), including a passage. In the gaming machine according to any one of the above (1) to (6), the path for the pachinko ball to travel to the launching device after dispensing the pachinko ball becomes longer than in the conventional gaming machine, and as a result, the pachinko ball However, there is a tendency that the time required to reach the launch device after dispensing it is long. On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to this section, the communication passage is provided between the upper plate and the lower plate because the paid out pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate via a short path on the upper plate. Since the first passage is configured to include the first passage formed between the pachinko ball and the pachinko ball, the time required for the pachinko ball to reach the firing device after dispensing the pachinko ball can be easily reduced. obtain. Further, in the gaming machine according to any one of the above (1) to (6), in order to enhance the ability of the upper plate portion to store the pachinko balls, the pachinko balls are required to pass through a long path on the upper plate portion. It is considered that it is effective to supply the ink to the dish portion. This is because the long path can function as a reservoir for pachinko balls. Therefore, in the gaming machine according to this item, the communication passage is provided with the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion because the paid-out pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate portion through a long path on the upper plate portion. The second formed between
It is configured to include a passage. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the demand for shortening the time required for the pachinko ball to reach the launching device after the pachinko ball is paid out and the demand for improving the storage capacity of the upper plate portion are selectively or simultaneously satisfied. It becomes easier. In this section, "short path"
Can be interpreted to include a path of zero length. (8) the upper plate portion includes: (a) a storage portion for storing the discharged pachinko balls, the storage portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to a horizontal direction; and (b) an upstream of the storage portion. (C) a pachinko ball formed downstream of the storage portion and stored in the storage portion, wherein the pachinko ball stored in the storage portion is formed in the second passage. (7)
A gaming machine according to the item. In this gaming machine, the pachinko ball is moved from the entrance to the exit in the upper plate portion by utilizing gravity. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the movement of the pachinko ball in the upper plate portion can be realized by a simple mechanism. (9) The first passage is configured to be used to supply the paid-out pachinko balls from the upper plate portion to the lower plate portion with priority over the second passage. The gaming machine according to (7) or (8). According to this gaming machine, it becomes easy to satisfy the demand for shortening the time required for the pachinko ball to reach the launching device after the pachinko ball has been paid out, overriding the demand for improving the storage capacity of the upper plate portion. (10) Further, manually selecting, from the first passage and the second passage, a passage used to supply the dispensed pachinko balls from the upper plate to the lower plate. (7) to (9) including a selection mechanism that enables
A gaming machine according to any one of the above items. According to this gaming machine, which of the request for reducing the time required for the pachinko ball to reach the launching device after dispensing the pachinko ball and the request for improving the storage capacity of the upper plate portion is preferentially satisfied. Can be manually selected according to the player's or worker's intention. As a result, for example, usability of the gaming machine is improved. (11) A position where a part of the communication passage forming member forms an opening for allowing an operator to access the communication passage formed inside the communication passage forming member from outside, and the opening thereof. The gaming machine according to any one of the above modes (1) to (10), wherein the movable section is capable of selectively taking a position to be shut off. According to this gaming machine, since a part of the communication passage forming member is a movable portion, the inside of the communication passage forming member can be opened, so that, for example, an operator can easily maintain the communication passage forming member. Can be done. In this section, the “movable part” may be, for example, a part of the communication passage forming member facing the inside and outside thereof and a completely separable part that can be completely separated from other parts. is there. In this case, the completely separable portion is attached to the communication passage forming member to block the inside thereof from the outside, and a position completely separated from the communication passage forming member to open the inside thereof. Will be selectively located at The “movable part” may be a part of the communication passage forming member facing the inside and outside thereof, and may be a rotating part attached to another part so as to be opened and closed by rotation. is there. In this case, the rotating portion is selectively rotated between a closed position where the inside of the communication passage forming member is shut off from the outside and an open position where the inside of the communication passage forming member is opened. (12) The launching device comprises: (a) an actuator;
(B) driven by the actuator,
The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (11), including a launching tool that launches a pachinko ball toward the gaming board at a position lower than the actuator of the gaming machine. In this gaming machine, the launcher fires a pachinko ball toward the game board at a position lower than the actuator. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is easy to set the firing position of the launching device to a position as low as possible in the gaming machine. As a result, as apparent from the description of the above item (1), the gaming board It is easy to optimize the component layout of the gaming machine from the viewpoint of increasing the size of the game machine and increasing the area of the gaming area. (13) A generally arc-shaped rail is provided on an outer periphery of a game area partially set on a front surface of the game board, for guiding a pachinko ball fired by the firing device to the game area. Any one of (1) to (12), wherein the launching device launches the pachinko ball along a straight line that is in contact with the rail and extends generally parallel to the height direction of the machine frame. The gaming machine described in Crab. Generally, a gaming machine adopts an oblique firing method of firing a pachinko ball obliquely with respect to a vertical direction. In a gaming machine adopting this oblique firing method, a pachinko ball path, which is a path through which a pachinko ball passes from being fired by a launching device to reach a gaming board, crosses the inside of the gaming machine diagonally. On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to this aspect, the launching device launches the pachinko ball along a straight line that is in contact with the rail and extends generally parallel to the height direction of the machine frame. Therefore, according to the gaming machine, the pachinko ball path does not have to cross the inside of the gaming machine obliquely as much as in a gaming machine adopting the oblique firing method. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is easy to optimize the component layout of the gaming machine from the viewpoint of increasing the size of the gaming board and increasing the area of the gaming area. In FIG. 9, the oblique firing method described above is compared with the firing method according to this section (for convenience, which is distinguished from the oblique firing method in terms of expression, referred to as a vertical firing method). Generally, in a gaming machine, the geometry of a rail is designed such that a pachinko ball fired by a firing device contacts a rail at an angle such that repulsive force away from the rail does not occur as much as possible. Therefore, as shown in the figure, a tangent line passing through the firing position LP in the firing device in contact with a circumference C including an arc approximating the curved portion of the rail is assumed. In the oblique firing method, the tangent is a straight line (hereinafter, referred to as a “first straight line”) L1 extending through the firing position LP1 and tangent to the circumference C, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the vertical firing method, a straight line closer to the vertical than the first straight line L1 (hereinafter, a straight line)
This is referred to as a “second straight line”. ) L2. The first straight line L1 contacts the circumference C at the contact point P1, while the second straight line L1
2 is in contact with the circumference C at a contact point P2 higher than the contact point P1. In this section, "a straight line in contact with the rail and extending generally parallel to the height direction of the machine frame" means that when a pachinko ball is fired along the straight line, a pachinko ball in a gaming machine adopting an oblique firing method. Means a straight line at which a pachinko ball is fired at a firing angle closer to the vertical than the firing angle of the ball. If the firing angle of the pachinko sphere, which is the angle θ between the straight line and the horizontal line (the smaller of the two geometrically existing angles between the straight line and the horizontal line), is specifically illustrated by a numerical value, The angle θ can be 45 degrees or more, 55 degrees or more, 65 degrees or more, or 75 degrees or more. The angle θ is 18.5 from 78.5 degrees before and after.
It is also possible to set the angle within a range defined by two values shifted by 1.5 degrees. (14) Further, a glass door attached to the machine frame so as to be openable and closable with respect to the machine frame by rotation about a rotation axis extending in a height direction of the machine frame. Including a game board mounted on the machine frame so as to be able to see through from the front side of the game board, and the glass door,
The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (13), wherein at least the upper plate portion of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion is united to thereby form an integral door. In this gaming machine, at least the upper plate portion of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion is combined with a glass door that can be opened and closed with respect to the machine frame,
Thereby, an integral door is configured. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the front plate and the lower plate are independent from each other in the front plate and the lower plate.
Within one door, it is easy to secure a continuous wide glass area through which the game board can be seen. This means that it is easy to increase the size of the game board. Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is possible to easily secure a continuous large glass area in the integrated door, and it is possible to easily increase the size of the gaming board. (15) The gaming machine according to (14), wherein the integrated door is configured by combining both the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion with the glass door. According to this gaming machine, a wide glass area can be easily secured, and the game board can be easily enlarged, as compared with a case in which only the upper plate portion is combined with the glass door to form an integral door. Becomes

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a more specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment includes a machine frame 10, an integrated door 12, and a firing device 16. FIG. 1 shows the integrated door 10 in a front view, while FIG. 2 shows the pachinko machine in a state where the integrated door 10 is removed. That is,
In the present embodiment, the pachinko machine constitutes an example of the “game machine” in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a game board 20 is detachably mounted on the machine frame 10 by a worker at a front side thereof. The game board 20 has a game area 22 set at the center thereof. In the game area 22, obstacles such as a plurality of nails (not shown) are provided to affect the path of the pachinko ball by collision with the ball. On the outer periphery of the game area 22, a generally arc-shaped rail 26 is provided to guide the pachinko ball fired by the firing device 16 to the game area 22.

As is well known, the launching device 16 applies a pachinko ball with a strength corresponding to the degree of operation of the operation handle 28 (see FIG. 1) by the player to the game board 20 mounted on the machine frame 10. Fire at.

For this reason, as shown in FIG.
6 is provided with a holder 30 in which pachinko balls to be fired are loaded and held one by one. This holder 30
Are designed to be fixed to the machine frame 10 and have a rail-shaped portion. The launching device 16 further includes an actuator 32 such as a solenoid or a motor attached to the machine frame 10, and a launching tool 34 driven by the actuator 32.

The firing tool 34 is for firing a pachinko ball toward the game board 20 at a position lower than the actuator 32 in the pachinko machine. The launching tool 34 is swung by the actuator 32 to apply an impact force from behind to the pachinko ball in a direction to launch the pachinko ball. Therefore, the firing tool 34 can be referred to as a hitting hammer, mallet, hammer, or the like.

The launching tool 34 launches the pachinko ball along the holder 30 and toward the rail 26. Holder 3
The pachinko ball released from the ball 0 jumps over a gap provided between the holder 30 and the rail 26 and contacts the rail 26 at an angle as small as possible. Force is not applied to pachinko balls.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the firing tool 34 fires the pachinko ball toward the game board 20 at a position lower than the actuator 32, the firing position of the firing device 16 is set in the pachinko machine. It is easy to set the position as low as possible, and as a result, as apparent from the above description, the parts layout of the pachinko machine is optimized from the viewpoint of increasing the size of the game board 20 and increasing the area of the game area 22. It becomes easy to make it.

The pachinko machine further includes a payout device 36 (see FIG. 7) for paying out pachinko balls as prizes as the pachinko balls fired by the firing device 16 enter the hit holes of the game board 20. . As shown in FIG.
A mechanism board 38 is mounted on the rear surface of the game board 20. Mechanical panel 3
As is well known, a portion 8 mainly controls a flow of a pachinko ball in a pachinko machine. The payout device 36 is attached to the mechanism panel 38.

In the case of a conventional pachinko machine, the glass door and the front plate door are designed to cover the front surface of the machine frame 10 in a state of being adjacent to each other in the height direction of the machine frame 10.
Both the glass door and the front plate door are rotated by a rotation about a rotation axis extending in the height direction of the machine frame 10.
Can be opened and closed. The rotation axis is set so as to coincide with the one located on the left side of the pair of sides of the pachinko machine.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the integral door 12 is formed by combining the front plate door with the glass door. As shown in FIG. 5, the integrated door 12 is provided with two glass plates 40 laminated with a gap therebetween.
Is mounted on a door frame 42 having an opening so as to close the opening. That is, in the present embodiment, the upper part of the integrated door 12 on which the glass plate 40 is mounted to form the glass area corresponds to a glass door in a conventional pachinko machine, and the lower part is:
It corresponds to the front plate door of a conventional pachinko machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, an upper plate 50 and a lower plate 52 projecting forward from the front surface of the integrated door 12 are formed together at a lower portion of the integrated door 12. The upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 are vertically arranged on the front surface of the integrated door 12 with a clearance therebetween.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only the upper plate portion 50 but also the lower plate portion 52 can be opened and closed with respect to the machine frame 10, so that, for example, the worker can
Maintenance of the 0 and lower plate portions 52 can be easily performed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the upper plate 50 and the lower plate 52 can be opened and closed integrally with each other, compared with the case where the opening and closing operations are separately performed, the upper plate 50 and the lower plate 52 are integrated. It is easy to simplify the configuration of the door 12.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 are provided together on the integral door 12, the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 are compared with a case where they are provided separately. It becomes easy to simplify the configuration of a communication passage forming member that forms a communication passage described below that connects the lower plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52.

The upper plate portion 50 is shown in a front view in FIG. 1, in a plan view in FIG. 3, and in a side sectional view in FIG.
As shown in these figures, the upper plate portion 50 includes a storage portion 60 that stores pachinko balls. This storage part 60
Is configured to include the bottom portion of the upper plate portion 50.

[0030] As shown in FIG.
It extends in the width direction of the machine frame 10, that is, in the direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the storage portion 60 is inclined so as to descend from the left end toward the machine frame 10 toward the right end.

As shown in FIG. 1, near the upstream end (left end) of the storage portion 60, the integrated door 12 receives the pachinko balls dispensed by the dispensing device 36 in the upper plate portion. An inlet 64 for flowing into 50 is open. In the figure, the arrow indicates the direction in which the pachinko ball flows.

As shown in FIG. 3, at the upstream end (left end) of the storage portion 60, a first outlet 66 through which a pachinko ball flows out to the lower plate portion 52 is opened. Have been.

Further, as shown in the figure, at the downstream end (right end) of the storage portion 60, a second outlet 68 through which pachinko balls flow out to the lower plate portion 52 is provided. It is open.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the second
Since the first outlet 66 is arranged closer to the inlet 64 than the outlet 68, the pachinko balls paid out by the payout device 36 tend to flow into the first outlet 66 preferentially over the second outlet 68. strong.

Further, in this embodiment, since the flow of the pachinko balls from the inlet 64 to the second outlet 68 is performed by gravity due to the inclination of the storage portion 60, the flow of the pachinko balls is performed by a simple mechanism. Will be raised.

On the other hand, the lower plate 52 is shown in a front view in FIG. 1, a plan view in FIG. 4, and a side sectional view in FIG. As shown in these figures, the lower plate portion 52 is also
Similarly to the case 0, a storage section 70 for storing pachinko balls is provided. The storage portion 70 is configured to include the bottom of the lower plate portion 52.

That is, in this embodiment, not only the upper plate portion 50 but also the lower plate portion 52 function as the "reservoir" in the above item (1).

As shown in FIG. 4, a ball hole 74 for dropping a pachinko ball from the storage portion 70 is provided at a substantially central position thereof. The ball hole 74 can be manually opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage portion 70 also extends in the width direction of the machine frame 10, that is, in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, similarly to the storage portion 60. In the present embodiment, the storage portion 70 is also inclined so as to descend from the left end toward the machine frame 10 toward the right end similarly to the storage portion 60.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage portion 70
At the downstream end (right end), there is provided an alignment portion 78 whose width gradually decreases as going from the upstream side to the downstream side. The alignment portion 78 is provided for aligning the pachinko balls in a line and guiding the pachinko balls to the holder 30 of the firing device 16.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, similarly to the conventional pachinko machine, the flow of the pachinko balls from the lower plate portion 52 to the launching device 16 is generated using gravity.

As shown in FIG. 1, the integral door 12 has an entrance 8
0 is opened at a position facing the inside of the lower plate portion 52. The inlet 80 is connected to the first outlet 66 of the upper plate 50.
It is located almost directly below. The pachinko balls flowing out of the upper plate portion 50 flow into the lower plate portion 52 through the entrance 80.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper plate 50 and the lower plate 5
A communication passage 82 through which pachinko balls flow from the upper plate portion 50 to the lower plate portion 52 is formed between the upper plate portion 2 and the lower plate portion 2. The communication passage 82 includes a first passage 84 connecting the first outlet 66 of the upper plate portion 50 and an entrance 80 of the lower plate portion 52, a second outlet 68 of the upper plate portion 50, and an entrance 80 of the lower plate portion 52. And a second passage 86 connecting the two.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the upper plate 50 is dispensed from the dispensing device 36 and enters through the entrance 64.
Is likely to flow into the lower plate portion 52 through a short path through the upper plate portion 50 and the first passage 84, and a lower plate through the long path through the upper plate portion 50 and the second passage 86. And the possibility of flowing into the portion 52.

However, as described above, since the first outlet 66 of the first outlet 66 and the second outlet 68 is located closer to the inlet 64, the first passage 84 is a pachinko ball. Unless the first outlet 66 is blocked due to overflow, basically, the pachinko ball quickly flows into the lower plate portion 52 through a short path using the first passage 84. On the other hand, when the first outlet 66 is closed, or when the pachinko ball that has flowed into the upper plate 50 from the inlet 64 is
In a case where the pachinko ball has not entered the pachinko ball 6, the pachinko ball flows into the lower plate portion 52 through a long path via the second passage 86. Since this long path exists, it becomes possible to make the upper plate part 50 function effectively as a storage part.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the pachinko balls dispensed by the dispensing device 36 are moved from the upper plate 50 to the lower plate 52 according to gravity.
It is guided by the communication passage 82, and is thereafter supplied from the lower plate portion 52 to the firing device 16.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the lower plate portion 52 overflows with pachinko balls, the overflowing balls are stored in the upper plate portion 50. In this state, if the pachinko balls are required in the lower plate portion 52, the pachinko balls are required. The ball moves from the upper plate 50 to the lower plate 5
2 is automatically replenished and then automatically supplied to the launching device 16 therefrom.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to supply the overflowing ball to the launching device 16 in the pachinko machine without bothering the player's hand and employing a complicated mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 5, the communication passage 82 is formed in the integral door 12. The communication passage 82 is formed with a communication passage forming member 90 that is formed in
And a communication passage forming member 92 detachably formed on the integral door 12. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the communication passage forming member 92.
When the communication path forming member 92 is removed from the integral door 12, the inside of the communication path 82 is opened, and as a result, the operator can easily maintain the communication path 82.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the pachinko machine, a foul ball passage 96 that straddles the machine frame 10 and the integral door 12 is formed. The foul ball passage 96 is constituted by a combination of a foul ball passage forming member 100 formed detachably or unremovably on the machine frame 10 and a foul ball passage forming member 102 formed removably or unremovably on the integral door 12. Have been. As shown in FIG. 2, the foul ball passage 96 includes a first partial passage 106 for catching a pachinko ball dropped from a gap formed between the holder 30 and the rail 26.
And a second partial passage 110 connecting the outlet of the first partial passage 106 and the opening 108 of the communication passage 82.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the foul sphere is guided to the lower plate portion 52 by the foul sphere passage 96 according to gravity, and is automatically supplied to the firing device 16 therefrom.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to supply a foul ball to the launching device 16 in a pachinko machine without bothering the player's hand and employing a complicated mechanism.

In the present embodiment, the integral door 12 is located behind the upper plate 50 and the lower plate 52,
When the pachinko ball fired by 6 is directed to the game board 20, the pachinko ball does not have a member that obstructs the path of the pachinko ball through which the pachinko ball passes. The pachinko ball passage is defined by the holder 30 and the rail 26.

As a result, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko ball path is set without being affected by the existence of the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52. Specifically, when the pachinko machine is viewed from the front, the pachinko ball path is set at a position overlapping the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is easy to optimize the pachinko ball path from the viewpoint of increasing the size of the game board 20 and increasing the area of the game area 22.

As shown in FIG. 7, a full switch 120 is attached to the integral door 12. Full switch 12
0 is an example of a sensor that detects that the number of pachinko balls accommodated, which is the number of pachinko balls accommodated in a portion corresponding to the front plate door of the integral door 12, has exceeded a set limit.

In this embodiment, a full switch 120 is arranged at the entrance 64 of the upper plate 50 as shown in FIG. The detection area of the full switch 120 is set in the middle of the passage in which the pachinko balls flow from the dispensing device 36 toward the upper plate 50. When both the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 are likely to overflow with the pachinko balls, and as a result, the pachinko balls actually or apparently continue to exist at the entrance 64, the full switch 120 detects the pachinko balls. It continues to output a specific signal indicating the fact.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the pachinko balls can be accommodated in the integral door 12 until both the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 are likely to overflow with the pachinko balls. The storage capacity of pachinko balls in the whole of No. 12 can be easily increased.

As shown in FIG. 7, the full switch 12
0 and the payout device 36, a controller 124 mainly composed of a computer is connected. The controller 124 is attached to the mechanism panel 38.

The controller 124 is further connected to a prize switch 128 which is an example of a sensor for detecting that a pachinko ball has been inserted into a hit hole provided in the game area 22 of the game board 20. Controller 12
4 basically instructs the payout device 36 to pay out the set number of pachinko balls each time the winning switch 128 detects that the pachinko balls have been inserted into the hit hole.

However, the controller 124 controls the upper plate 5
When the full switch 120 detects that both 0 and the lower plate portion 52 are overflowing with pachinko balls, it is detected by the prize switch 128 that the pachinko balls have been thrown into the hit holes. Prohibiting the payout device 36 from paying out the set number of pachinko balls.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart conceptually showing the contents of a program for prohibiting the payout, which is executed by the computer of the controller 124.

This program is repeatedly executed while the power of the pachinko machine is turned on. At the time of each execution, first, step S101 (hereinafter simply referred to as “S101”)
Expressed by The same applies to other steps. ), The ON signal which is an example of the specific signal is output because the full switch 120 detects the pachinko ball.
It is determined whether the N state has continued for a set time or more. It is determined whether or not the full switch 120 continues to detect pachinko balls.

In this case, if it is assumed that the ON state of the full switch 120 has not continued for the set time or more, the determination in S101 becomes NO, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S102. In S102, the payout device 36 is permitted to pay out the pachinko ball in response to the output signal of the winning switch 128.

On the other hand, this time, the full switch 12
Assuming that the ON state of 0 has continued for the set time or more, the determination in S101 becomes YES, and thereafter, S103
Move to In this S103, the winning switch 1
The dispensing device 36 is prohibited from dispensing pachinko balls in response to the output signal 28.

In any case, one execution of this program is completed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the number of pachinko balls accommodated in the upper plate portion 50 and the lower plate portion 52 exceeds the set limit, the payout device 36 is prevented from further paying out pachinko balls. You. As a result, for example, due to the pachinko balls being forcibly pushed into the passage of the pachinko balls connecting the payout device 36 and the upper plate portion 50, some components of the pachinko machine, such as the payout device 36, are used. A situation in which an overload is applied can be avoided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the pachinko balls are not stored between the dispensing device 36 and the upper plate portion 50, the integrated door 12 is opened in the dispensing stop state. The dispensing device 36 and the upper plate 50
Even if the pachinko ball path between the two is opened, the pachinko ball is prevented from going out of the pachinko machine with the opening.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as long as the full switch 120 continues to detect pachinko balls, the payout device 36 does not pay out pachinko balls. Switch 12
Even when the delivery device 8 outputs a payout signal to the payout device 36, the payout device 36 is prevented from paying out the pachinko balls, which also prevents the pachinko balls from going out of the pachinko machine. Is done.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiments described in the above-mentioned "Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention" will be described. As various modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art,
The invention can be implemented in other modified forms.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an integrated door 12 of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the pachinko machine with the integral door 12 removed.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the upper plate portion 50 of the integrated door 12 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan sectional view showing a lower plate portion 52 of the integrated door 12 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine.

8 is a flowchart conceptually showing the contents of a program executed by a computer of the controller in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front view for explaining a diagonal firing method and a vertical firing method that can be adopted by a general gaming machine in comparison with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Machine frame 12 Integrated door 16 Launching device 20 Game board 22 Game area 26 Rail 32 Actuator 34 Launcher 36 Payout device 50 Upper plate portion 52 Lower plate portion 60 Storage portion 64 Inlet 66 First exit 68 Second Outlet 82 Communication passage 84 First passage 86 Second passage 90, 92 Communication passage forming member

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A machine frame on which a game board for a player playing a game using a pachinko ball is mounted and used, and a game board mounted on the machine frame in accordance with an operation of the player. A launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward it, and a storage unit that stores another pachinko ball paid out as a prize in response to the pachinko ball fired by the launching device entering the hit hole of the game board. In a gaming machine including: an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion, both of which protrude forward of the machine frame and are vertically arranged with a gap therebetween, and the payout is first performed to the upper plate portion. The pachinko ball is supplied so that at least the upper plate portion functions as the storage portion, and the pachinko ball is connected to the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion, and the pachinko ball flows from the upper plate portion to the lower plate portion. Communication passage forming member for forming a passage It includes and gaming machine, characterized in that the firing device, the pachinko balls contained in said lower pan portion is assumed to fire toward the game board. And a front plate door attached to the machine frame so as to be openable and closable with respect to the machine frame by rotation about a rotation axis extending in a height direction of the machine frame. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are provided together on a front plate portion door. 3. There is no member behind the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion that obstructs a path through which the pachinko ball fired by the firing device passes when going to the game board. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is configured as follows. 4. A front plate door attached to the machine frame so as to be openable and closable with respect to the machine frame by rotation about a rotation axis extending in a height direction of the machine frame, and a front plate portion thereof A sensor that is provided on the door and detects that the number of pachinko balls accommodated therein, which is the number of pachinko balls accommodated therein, has exceeded a set limit. A payout device that pays out another pachinko ball as a prize in response to entering the game, when the sensor detects that the number of pachinko balls stored exceeds the set limit while being connected to the sensor. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: stopping paying out the pachinko balls. 5. The communication passage includes: (a) the paid-out pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate portion via a short path on the upper plate portion, so that the upper and lower plate portions are provided. (B) the dispensed pachinko balls are supplied to the lower plate portion through a long path on the upper plate portion so as to be supplied to the lower plate portion and the lower plate portion. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second passage formed between the game machine and the dish portion. 6. A structure in which the first passage is used to supply the paid-out pachinko balls from the upper plate portion to the lower plate portion with priority over the second passage. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein 7. The launching device comprises: (a) an actuator; (b) driven by the actuator;
7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a launching tool that launches a pachinko ball toward the gaming board at a position lower than the actuator of the gaming machine.