JP2003190602A - Apparatus for game - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for games which can implement settlement of accounts in the halfway of games in such a manner as to allow the continuation of the games even after the settlement. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with a means which adds the number of game balls as such to update the number of usable game balls for games based on the detection of the game balls by an overflow game ball detection means, a storage part for storing the number of game balls added and a display part for displaying the number of game balls stored. There also are provided an end settlement means by which, based on the operating of a settlement operation means done by game players, the number of game balls at a game ball standby part is calculated and a counting processing is executed to add the number of game balls on standby to the number of game balls stored in the memory part so that a record medium allowing the specifying of the number of game balls is issued and then, the number of game balls in the memory part is deleted, a means by which based on the operating of a halfway settlement means done by game players, a record medium is issued having information that allows the specifying of the number of game balls stored in the storage part at the moment of operating the halfway settlement means and the specified number of game balls is subtracted from the number of game balls stored to update and a display part for displaying the number of game balls settled in the halfway. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is not a pachinko game machine, a sparrow ball game machine, an arrange ball type pachinko game machine, or a coin, which is installed at an appropriate place where a game can be played, such as a game hall. The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a gaming machine such as a slot machine gaming machine for playing games using gaming balls, and particularly to a gaming machine capable of significantly reducing the amount of gaming balls required for one gaming machine. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a game arcade has been installed in the game arcade from the viewpoint of increasing the number of game machine models accompanying the diversification of tastes of game players and improving the operational efficiency of the game arcade. The number of gaming machines is increasing.

On the other hand, in these installed gaming machines, gaming machines such as card reader (CR) type pachinko machines, which have a higher gambling level than conventional cash machines, have become the mainstream. ..

With the improvement of the gambling of these gaming machines, the number of pachinko balls, which are gaming balls that are discharged and stocked outside the gaming machine, tends to increase, and the gaming machines are installed in the gaming hall as described above. As the number of gaming machines tends to increase, it is necessary for the gaming hall to prepare and manage a huge amount of pachinko balls, which is a large amount of gaming balls. However, there is a problem that it costs a lot of money to manage, and as a game machine that can solve these problems, etc., once credit the game ball obtained by the game, and if necessary, A credit-type gaming machine (gaming device) in which the credited gaming balls are paid out again and can be used for gaming, and the credited gaming balls are recorded and issued on a recording medium etc. It has been considered.

[0005]

In these credit type game machines (gaming devices), when adjusting the number of credited game balls, conventionally, an appropriate amount of game balls used for the game can be retained. After the waiting ball waiting in the game ball waiting section such as the above-mentioned dish is added to the credit ball number, the credit ball number that has already been added to the waiting ball is settled, so that the game There is a demand for a person to settle all or part of the number of credit balls, leaving a waiting ball waiting in the game ball waiting section, and to carry out an intermediate settlement so that the game can be continued after the settlement. However, there is a problem that these requests cannot be met.

Therefore, the present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of performing midway settlement such that a game can be continued after the settlement. Has an aim.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the gaming machine of the present invention has a gaming ball payout unit for paying out a gaming ball based on the establishment of a predetermined payout condition, and the gaming ball payout. A game device including a game ball standby unit for waiting for a game ball paid out from a unit, the game device including a game machine for performing a game using the game ball waiting in the game ball standby unit, wherein the game ball standby Overflowing game ball passage through which the game ball discharged from the game ball paying section passes when the game ball overflowing from the game ball and the game ball waiting section is full of waiting game balls, and the overflowing game ball Overflow game ball detection means for detecting the game ball passing through the ball passage, and based on the detection of the game ball in the overflow game ball detection means, the detected number of game balls is added and updated as the number of game balls usable for the game. Addition updating means for Based on the operation of the storage unit that stores the added game ball number, the game ball number display unit that displays the game ball number stored in the storage unit, and the settlement operation means operated by the player, the game Count the number of game balls in the ball standby unit, execute a counting process of adding the number of game balls for the standby balls of the game ball standby unit to the number of game balls stored in the storage unit, and execute the counting process. After that, based on the operation of the ending settlement means for issuing a recording medium in which the information for specifying the number of game balls is recorded and deleting the number of game balls in the storage unit, and the midway settlement means operated by the player, Without performing the counting process,
At the time of operation of the midway settlement means, a recording medium in which information capable of specifying the predetermined number of game balls within the range of the number of game balls stored in the storage unit is issued, and the predetermined number of game balls is stored in the storage medium. It is characterized by comprising an intermediate settlement means for subtracting and updating from the number of game balls stored in the section, and an intermediate settlement game ball number display section for displaying the number of game balls temporarily cleared by the intermediate settlement means. . According to this feature, by having the midway settlement means, the player has a predetermined number of game balls within the range of the number of game balls to which the standby balls of the game ball standby unit stored in the storage unit have not been added. Can be settled,
Even after the midway settlement by the midway settlement means, the game can be continued by using the waiting balls in the game ball waiting section or the number of game balls in the storage section, and the number of game balls settled in the middle can be set in the middle. Since the number is displayed on the settlement game sphere number display section, the player can easily confirm the number of game spheres settled during the process.

The gaming device of the present invention displays the total number of game balls, which is the sum of the number of midway settlement game balls that were midway settled by the midway settlement means and the number of game balls stored in the storage section. It is preferable to provide a total game ball number display unit. By doing so, the player can easily confirm the total number of game balls.

In the gaming device of the present invention, the cumulative settlement game sphere number storage unit for adding and updating the midway settlement game sphere number that is halfway settled by the midway settlement unit, and stored in the cumulative settlement game sphere number storage unit It is preferable to provide a cumulative settlement game sphere number display unit that displays the accumulated settlement game sphere number. By doing this, even if a plurality of intermediate settlements are carried out, the cumulative settlement game ball number, which is the total number of intermediate settlement game balls settled by these multiple intermediate settlements, is the cumulative settlement game ball number. Since the information is displayed on the display unit, the player can easily check the total number of midway settlement game balls that have been settled by the plurality of midway settlements.

The gaming machine of the present invention preferably comprises a predetermined game ball number selection means by which the player can select the predetermined game ball number settled by the midway settlement means. In this way, the player can select the predetermined number of game balls to be settled by the midway settlement device by the predetermined game ball number selection device.

In the gaming machine of the present invention, it is preferable that the total number of game balls and the number of midway settlement game balls or the number of cumulative settlement game balls are simultaneously displayed. In this way, the player can visually check the total number of game balls together with the number of midway settlement game balls or the number of cumulative settlement game balls at the same time, and the number of midway settlement game balls already accumulated from the total number of game balls or the cumulative settlement game. By easily grasping the number of balls, it is possible to improve the reliability of the player.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an external front view showing a single island 1 on which a pachinko machine 2 which is a game machine of this embodiment is installed. FIG. 2 shows a game machine of this embodiment. Included,
4 is an external front view showing a pachinko machine 2 installed on a single island 1, FIG. 3 is a top view showing a hitting ball waiting tray 220 provided on the pachinko machine 2 of the present embodiment, and FIG.
It is a rear view showing the circulation path of the game ball provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 2 of the present embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 2 which is a game machine is provided on a single island 1 which is a game machine of this embodiment.
Then, by inserting a prepaid card or a membership card, which is a recording medium for game, corresponding to the pachinko machine 2, the pachinko machine 2, which is a game ball, can be lent out and the game can be executed. A card unit 3 is provided.

Also, in the single island 1 of the first embodiment, above the pachinko machine 2, the number of big hits with the pachinko machine 2, the number of times of starting from the end of the previous big hit, and the game by playing. The number of credit balls, which is the number of game balls that the person has acquired, the game interruption time, and the number of balls that have been settled halfway and the amount of midway calculation when the credit balls are settled midway as shown in FIG. The total number of balls owned by the player
(Excluding game balls on 20) etc. are displayed by splitting the screen, and the card issuance described later so that the player can easily understand that the settlement card described later is issued at the time of settlement. An information display device 228 for displaying an arrow indicating the direction of the mouth 523 is provided, and
An analog display 600 for displaying the size of the credit sphere in a lighted state is provided at a position further above the information display device 228, and a side position of the information display device 228 is provided with an analog display 600 at the time of payment or interruption. At the time, a card issuing slot 523 where a settlement card, which is a recording medium for settlement in which the number of credit balls is recorded, or an interruption card, which is a recording medium for interruption, is issued
A ticket issuing LED 524 for notifying that the settlement card or the suspension card can be issued at the time of payment or interruption of the game, and a ticket issuing button 525 operated by the player for issuing the card, and during the game. Is provided with a midway settlement button 605 that is operated when the user wants to perform midway settlement of a credit ball, and a card reader / writer for issuing the settlement card or the interruption card is provided inside the card issuing slot 523. 224 are arranged in series.

The analog display 60 used in this embodiment
0 has a structure in which five independent display units that can be individually turned on are connected in series, each display unit has an LED housed therein, and the credit sphere count is a predetermined value. In this embodiment, 1 out of 1000 on the left display unit
It is designed to be turned on one by one, and all the display parts are turned on, which means that 5000 or more credit balls have been credited. By doing so, in the conventional pachinko machine, Since the ball-box container containing the ball is placed under the player's feet, the player playing the game with the pachinko machine 2 has acquired it, just as he was able to know the approximate number of balls. Not only the player but also other players and staff can grasp the approximate number of credit balls. Further, during a special game state, that is, a big hit, which will be described later, all of the five display portions are blinked to notify that the special game state is in effect.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined numerical value at which one display unit is turned on is 1000, as described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these predetermined numerical values are appropriately set. It may be determined, and it is optional to provide a setting unit for setting these predetermined numerical values so that the setting can be variably set.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lighting order is such that the left display unit is turned on sequentially, but the lighting mode is not limited, and conversely, the lighting is performed from the right direction. Alternatively, or if the analog display has a configuration in which display units are arranged in a vertical direction, the display may be turned on from below.

In addition to the display of the number of credit balls, the information display device 228 can selectively display the number of big hits on the pachinko machine 2, the number of start-ups from the end of the previous big hit, the interruption time of the game, and the like. However, only the number of credit balls may be displayed on a separate display device.

Next, the pachinko machine 2 which is the gaming machine of the present embodiment will be described. The pachinko machine 2 has a glass door frame 201 formed in a frame shape as shown in FIG.
A hitting ball waiting tray 220 is provided at a substantially central position of the gaming machine in a projecting manner. Further, below the hitting ball waiting tray 220, a hitting ball operation handle 240 for firing a pachinko ball waiting on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are temporarily stored as standby balls on the upper surface of the ball hitting standby plate 220, and the lower position of the standby balls in the downflow direction is made narrower, and A tray portion 221 that aligns and transfers the standby balls to a standby ball supply trough that supplies the standby balls to the swing hammer 293 ′ that shoots a pachinko ball by operating the ball operation handle 240 is provided, and the upper surface of the plate portion 221 is , A transparent lid 2 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 226.
25, the storage state of the pachinko balls waiting in the dish 221 can be visually confirmed, and the pachinko balls taken out by opening the opening / closing lid 225. Etc. can be directly input. In the present embodiment, the opening / closing lid 225 is
The opening angle is regulated to about 45 degrees in order to make it easier to take out the pachinko balls from the opening / closing lid 225, but the present invention is not limited to this.

A standby ball detection sensor 222 for detecting the presence of the standby ball is provided at a central position of the tray 221 in the downflow direction of the standby ball.
Based on the detection information by 2, the pachinko ball preferential automatic refund from the credit number, and the pachinko ball automatic lending from the prepaid frequency which is the gaming value by the prepaid card or the membership card, A shutter 245 is provided in the flow path leading to the standby ball supply gutter.
4 is provided, and the shutter 245 is opened by the solenoid 245 ′, so that the standby ball on the dish portion 221 is moved to the standby ball discharge port 244 as shown in FIG. Further, it flows in and is sent to the credit ball switch 283 provided on the lower portion of the back surface of the pachinko machine 2 through the standby ball discharge passage 277, and is detected, and the standby ball is added to the number of credit balls.

As shown in FIG. 3, a player inserts a dish portion 221 into a card insertion slot 305, which will be described later, provided in the card unit 3, on the upper surface of the hitting ball waiting dish 220. The card balance display unit 227 for displaying the prepaid frequency which is the value of the game remaining in the card specified by the recorded information of the prepaid card or the membership card, and the information display device 228, which is used for the game. A credit display unit 223 for displaying the number of credit balls, which is the number of possible pachinko balls, and the number of credit balls displayed on the credit display unit 223 when the start of a game or the automatic ball lending mode described later is not set. When the remaining balance number is present in the card balance display portion 227 by pressing when the number becomes “0” or the like, a predetermined number (in the present embodiment, 12 A spherical rental button 231 that is operated to receive a pachinko ball lending spheres), the standby ball detection sensor 222 Setting automatic ball rental mode automatic lending pachinko balls are made based on the detected status of the standby ball /
An automatic ball lending button 232 for canceling, an automatic ball lending lamp 233 that is turned on when the automatic ball lending button 232 is set to the automatic ball lending, and a predetermined interruption process by being operated at the time of interruption Interruption button 235
Then, an interruption lamp 236 that is turned on when the interruption button 235 is operated, a return button 234 that is operated when returning the prepaid card or the membership card inserted in the card unit 3, and the game ends. And a counting button 238 for counting the number of pachinko balls stored in the ball striking standby plate 220 and adding them to the credit ball, which are operated when performing the settlement. It is mounted on a first operation board 229 provided inside 220.

Further, in the present embodiment, the counting button 23
When 8 is operated, the number of pachinko balls stored in the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is counted and added to the credit balls, and the number of stored credit balls can be settled by operating the ticket issuing button 525. Therefore, after the count button 238 is operated, the game based on the number of credit balls cannot be played.

In addition, at the lower center position of the pachinko machine 2,
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, an external outlet 2 for taking out the credit ball obtained in the game to the outside of the pachinko machine 2.
49 is provided, and by operating the external payout button 239 provided on the upper right side of the hitting ball waiting tray 220, while the external payout button 239 is being operated, the credit display section 223 is provided. The credit ball shown in FIG. 2 is ejected from the external outlet 249. An extraction preparation detection sensor 250 for detecting that a storage box 251 for storing the pachinko balls discharged from the external outlet 249 is arranged at a lower position of the external outlet 249 is provided. However, when the storage box 251 is not detected by the extraction preparation detection sensor 250, the pachinko balls are not discharged from the external outlet 249.

The extraction preparation detection sensor 250 used in this embodiment is a magnetic proximity sensor, and a detection portion 250 'made of a permanent magnet is provided at the upper center of the storage box 251 in the longitudinal direction.
By providing the detection target portion 250 ′ at a predetermined position below the external outlet 249, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 250 'is detected. In the present embodiment, a proximity sensor that detects magnetism is used as the extraction preparation detection sensor 250, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, these extraction preparation detection sensors may be irradiated with infrared rays. So-called photosensors that detect the reflection can be used, and as these extraction preparation detection sensors, any sensor can be used as long as it can confirm whether or not the storage box 251 is arranged at a predetermined position. it can.

At the upper left portion of the pachinko machine 2, a full tank notification lamp 241 for notifying that a pachinko ball stored in an upper storage tank 260 described later has reached a predetermined storage upper limit amount. And the out-of-ball sensor 2 described later
A ball out lamp 242 for notifying the ball out due to no ball detection by 63 is provided, and an attendant or the like can confirm the amount of the pachinko ball in the pachinko machine 2 from the outside.

A game board 202 is detachably attached to the rear of the glass door frame 201. Further, a game area 203 is provided on the front surface of the game board 202. In the vicinity of the center of the upper part of the game area 203, a first variable display section 204 on which a plurality of types of identification information called “special symbols” are variably displayed is provided. Also, the game area 203
A specific winning opening 213a and a normal winning opening 213b are formed near the center of the lower part of the, and a distribution device 212 having a rotating disk 213 that constantly rotates when the power is turned on is provided. Also, in the game area 203, a plurality of normal winning openings 2
09, a passage gate 206, a starting winning opening 207, and a first variable winning ball device 210 are provided, and at the bottom of the game area 203, an out opening for collecting a pachinko ball that has not won any winning opening. 217 is formed.

In addition, above the game board 202, a credit indicator 6 for displaying the number of credit balls acquired by the player.
04 is provided, and the credits are displayed similarly to the information display device 228 and the credit display unit 223.

Normally, during the game, the information display device 22
8 and the credit indicator 604 display similar information, that is, the number of credit spheres. However, at the time of midway settlement described later, as shown in FIG. The total number of balls played is displayed, and the total number of balls played is the sum of the number of balls settled in the middle and the number of credit balls remaining in the credit without being settled halfway. The number of remaining credit balls is displayed.

When all the credited spheres that have been credited have been settled, the display on the credit indicator 604 becomes "0", and the value of the storage unit for storing the number of credited spheres is also "0". Become.

As the game board 202 in the pachinko machine 2 of the first embodiment, a game board having a larger diameter than that of a general pachinko machine is used, and thus the large-diameter game board 202 is used. By using, in the present embodiment, a character for enabling the third class game together with the starting winning opening 207, the first variable display portion 204, etc. as a character for enabling the first class game. The distribution device 212 or the like is provided so that both the first type game and the third type game can be executed. This is preferable because the player can play the game in a plurality of game processes and the interest of the player can be greatly improved, but the present invention is not limited to this. .

When the hitting ball operation handle 240 is operated, a hitting ball launching motor 293, which will be described later, provided on the lower rear portion of the gaming machine is driven as shown in FIG. 4, and the swing hammer 293 'is shaken accordingly. The waiting balls that move and stand by in the hitting ball waiting tray 220 are sequentially launched into the game area 203.
At this time, the firing speed is the same as that of the hit ball operating handle 240.
The amount of rotation can be adjusted by the player. These launched pachinko balls enter the game area 203 by being guided by the guide rail 247 ′ through the hitting ball launching rail 247, and then flow down in the game area 203. On this occasion,
As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko balls whose launch momentum is too weak to reach the game area 203 are collected in the foul mouth 248, and the foul balls collected in the foul mouth 248 stand by in the hitting ball waiting tray 220. When counting the number of balls as credits, the waiting ball flows into the waiting ball outlet (not shown) into which the waiting ball flows in (not shown) to reach the foul ball joining port 248 ', and then the foul ball joining port 248'. From the credit ball passage 275 to the credit ball passage 275, the credit ball switch 283 detects the credit, and after adding credits, the recovery ball tank 28 provided at a lower position on the back side of the pachinko machine 2.
Recovered in 4.

In this way, the path of the foul ball is merged with the path through which the standby ball is discharged, and the credit ball switch 2
By making 83 detect, it is not necessary to provide a separate detection switch for counting foul balls or for counting standby balls, the number of switches can be reduced, and the configuration of the game device can be simplified. Although it is preferable because the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection switch for counting the foul ball and the standby ball is provided separately from the credit ball switch 283. May be.

Further, in this embodiment, the foul ball passage and the standby ball discharge passage are joined together.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the passages for the foul balls and the passages for discharging the standby balls may be separately provided, and the detection switches may be provided in the respective passages.

Also, it is driven into the game area 203,
Pachinko balls that have not won any of the winning openings are collected in the out opening 217, and as shown in FIG.
3 is collected by the striking ball merging gutter 257 on the back side of the pachinko machine 2 together with the winning balls that have won the winning prize holes of No. 3, detected by the striking ball detecting switch 279, and then collected in the collecting ball tank 284. .

When the pachinko ball hit in the game area 203 wins the normal winning hole 209, the winning pachinko ball is the normal winning ball detection switch SW3 shown in FIG.
And a predetermined prize ball is paid out to the hitting ball waiting tray 220, and is sent to the hitting ball merging gutter 257 and detected by the hitting ball detection switch 279, as shown in FIG. It is collected in the collected ball tank 284.

When the pachinko ball hit in the game area 203 passes through the passage gate 206, the gate switch SW1 detects the passage of the pachinko ball and the variable display on the variable display section (not shown) starts.

When the display result after the variable display operation of the variable display section becomes a predetermined specific display result, it is provided in the starting winning opening 207 formed substantially in the lower left part of the game area 203. The movable piece 208 is opened for a predetermined time and the pachinko ball is in an advantageous state for the player who easily wins the start winning hole 207.

When a pachinko ball wins the starting winning opening 207, the winning pachinko ball is detected by the starting winning ball detection switch SW2, and all the special symbols on the first variable display section 204 start variable display (variable display). . Then, after that, the left, middle, and right special symbols are stopped, and the stop display result is a predetermined display mode (for example, 777).
When it becomes, the first type specific game state (big hit state) occurs. When a big hit situation occurs like this,
The opening / closing plate 211 provided in the first variable winning ball device 210 is opened to enter the first state advantageous to the player. The first state ends when a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds) elapses or when a predetermined number of pachinko balls (for example, 10) wins, whichever comes first, whichever comes first. The disadvantageous second state, that is, the opening / closing plate 211 is closed. A normal winning opening and a specific winning opening (V pocket) are provided inside the first variable winning ball apparatus 210, and enter the first variable winning ball apparatus 210 in the first state. When the pachinko ball that has been won enters the specific winning opening and is detected by the specific winning ball detection switch (V count switch) SW5, the first state from the second state is waited for until the first state is finished. The repetitive continuation control for controlling the state is performed. The upper limit number of times of this repeated continuation control is set to 15 times, for example.

Also, the pachinko balls that have won the starting winning opening 207 and detected by the starting winning ball detection switch SW2 are the same as the normal winning opening 209, the hitting ball merging trough 2
It is collected at 57, detected by the hitting ball detection switch 279, and collected at the collecting ball tank 284. In addition, the pachinko ball that enters the first variable winning ball device 210, wins the normal winning hole, and is detected by the normal winning ball detection switch SW4 is also the same as the other winning balls. It is collected at 257, detected by the hitting ball detection switch 279, and collected at the collecting ball tank 284. Further, the pachinko ball that enters the first variable winning ball device 210, wins the specific winning port, and is detected by the specific winning ball detection switch SW5 is also the same as the other winning balls. It is collected at 257, detected by the hitting ball detection switch 279, and collected at the collecting ball tank 284.

When the pachinko ball hit in the game area 203 enters the distribution device 212 and wins the normal winning opening 213b of the rotary disc 213, the winning pachinko ball is a normal winning ball detection switch SW7. When the specific winning hole 213a of the rotary disc 213 is detected, the winning pachinko ball is a specific winning ball detection switch SW.
6 is detected. After being detected by each of these detection switches, each winning ball is the same as the other winning balls.
It is collected at 57, detected by the hitting ball detection switch 279, and collected at the collecting ball tank 284.

Further, the specific winning ball detection switch SW6
Based on the detection of the pachinko ball by, the third type specific game state (big hit state) occurs.

When the third type specific game state occurs,
Similar to the first type specific game state described above, opening and closing of the opening / closing plate 211 provided in the first variable winning ball device 210 is repeated, and the upper limit number of times of this repeated continuation control is, for example, 15 times. It is set.

The pachinko balls detected by the specific winning ball detection switch SW6 are also collected by the driving ball merging trough 257 in the same manner as the respective winning balls, and the driving ball detection switch 27 is used.
9 is detected and is collected in the collecting ball tank 284, and all the pachinko balls hit in the game area 203 are discharged and collected in the hitting ball confluence gutter 257. All the balls are detected by the hit ball detection switch 279, and the number of hit balls can be grasped by integrating the number of balls detected by the hit ball detection switches 279. There is. Further, when the pachinko balls are detected by the SW2 to SW7, the pachinko balls corresponding to the number of prize balls set in advance for each detection switch are paid out toward the hitting ball waiting tray 220 by the ball cut-out device 265 described later. To be done.

The winning balls (safe balls) collected by the driving ball merging gutter 257 and detected by the driving ball detection switch 279 and the out balls collected from the out port 217 are shown in FIG. As shown in, the pachinko balls are transferred to and collected at the lower part of the back surface of the pachinko machine 2 through the driven-ball recovery path 258 to the recovery ball tank 284 capable of storing the pachinko balls.

As described above, providing the hitting ball collecting path 258 to transfer and collect the winning balls (safe balls) and the out balls used in the game to the collecting ball tank 284 is effective for these games. Since the used balls are also pumped by the lifting device 288 as a transfer unit to be described later and circulated and used, it becomes possible to effectively use the pachinko balls inside the pachinko machine 2 and It is preferable because it is cleaned every time it is used and the game board surface and each passage are less likely to get dirty, but the present invention is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the upper surface of the back side of the pachinko machine 2 of this embodiment, prize balls are awarded based on a prize described below and arranged in a ball flow path described later, and various kinds of lottery are carried out. A game control board 296 for performing the above, and the game control board 2
Point control which is connected to the game control board 296 at a lateral position of 96 and performs various processing such as prize ball payout, credit ball number calculation processing, credit ball payback processing, settlement processing, interruption processing, and the like. A board 291 is provided, and
A display control board 297 is provided at a substantially central position of the pachinko machine, which is an upper position of each of these boards, so as to be located behind the first variable display section 204.

Further, between the display control board 297, the game control board 296, and the holding point control board 291, the game control board 296 is connected to control the lighting of the game effect lamp, the out-of-ball lamp 242 and the like. A lamp control board 298 to be executed and a voice control board 299 for controlling voice output from a speaker are provided, and the game control board 2 is provided at a side position of the display control board 297.
A jackpot signal (special prize signal) output from 96, a start winning signal that a signal is output again when a pachinko ball is won in the starting winning opening 207, or a variable display of the first variable display unit 204 is determined. There is provided a second information terminal board 255b for outputting the rotation confirmation signal output to the outside to the hall computer 102 described later outside the gaming machine.

At the upper position of the pachinko machine 2, a prize ball signal (prize ball information) output in accordance with the payout of a predetermined number of prize balls from the holding point control board 291 or a predetermined number of balls to be lent. A ball lending signal (ball lending information) output according to the payout, and a ball output used each time a predetermined number of ball hits used for a game detected by a ball hit detection switch 279 described later are output. A hall signal 102, which will be described later, is provided outside the gaming machine, and an input signal (drive-in information) and a credit return signal (credit return information) that is output in response to the return of a predetermined number of credit balls.
Is provided with a first information terminal board 255a for external output.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for the hall computer 102 connected to the pachinko machine 255b, the credit sphere number data recorded on the settlement card and the settlement are recorded in the settlement processing. Card I
D data is transmitted, registered, and managed, and a POS for exchanging prizes is sent to the hall computer 102.
Since the cash register 101 is connected, the credit card number issued in the payment process can be brought to the POS cash register 101 so that the credit number can be used for the gift exchange.

At the lower back position of the pachinko machine 2 of the present embodiment, as described above, the collecting ball tank 284 for collecting and storing the pachinko balls used for the game and collected is the single island 1
It is provided in the form of being arranged on the side. As shown in FIG. 4, the collected ball tank 284 is provided with the hitting ball waiting tray 2
Sphere cutting-out device 2 which is a game sphere discharge part in the plate part 221 of 20
When the pachinko balls discharged and supplied from 65 are full, the credit ball flow path 275 is connected to which the overflowed pachinko balls that cannot flow into the dish portion 221 from the ball inlet 243 flow down, After being detected by the credit sphere switch 283 provided below the credit sphere flow path 275 and added to the number of credit spheres, it is stored in the collected sphere tank 284.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recovery ball tank 284 is provided at a predetermined position on the upper side of the recovery ball tank 284.
In the case where a collected sphere full tank detection sensor 285 for detecting that the number of pachinko balls stored inside has reached a predetermined upper limit amount, and the collected sphere full tank detection sensor 285 detects a pachinko ball In, while the discharge of the pachinko balls from the ball cutting and discharging device 265 is reserved,
When the pachinko ball is detected by the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261 provided in the upper storage tank 260, which will be described later, the ball hitting handle 240
When the operation of is canceled and the ball is controlled so that the ball cannot be shot, a further pachinko ball is stored inside the recovery ball tank 284 and the pachinko ball stops at the credit ball switch 283 or the like. It is supposed to be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pachinko balls stored in these collected ball tanks 284 are supplied to a lifting device 288 which forms a circulation path provided continuously to a lifting ball passage (not shown). To be done. The lifting device 288 includes an upper storage tank 26 provided at an upper position of the pachinko machine 2.
Two hoisting passages 289 that constitute a game ball circulation path that are erected so as to be connected to 0 are connected, and the hoisting device 2
The sprocket 402 provided in 88 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 by a drive motor (not shown), so that the pachinko balls supplied from the above-mentioned lift ball passage (not shown) are sent to the lift passage 289. Then, it is sequentially transferred to the circulation channel 259 and stored in the upper storage tank 260 provided on the path of the circulation channel 259.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the path of the hoisting and feeding path 289, a polishing device 290 as a cleaning section for cleaning the pachinko balls transferred through the hoisting and feeding path 289.
However, it is unitized with the above-mentioned pumping device 288 and the unit island 1
The recovery ball tank 284 is attached after this unit is attached.

As described above, the hoisting device 288 as the game ball recirculation path, the hoisting route 289, and the polishing device 290 are unitized and provided on the unit island 1 as the game machine installation structure. When exchanging 2, it is possible to recycle the hoisting device 288, hoisting path 289, and polishing device 290 while leaving them on the unit island 1, and to replace only the pachinko machine. The cost of the whole island can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the lifting device 288 is used.
Although the pumping path 289 and the polishing device 290 are unitized and the collected ball tank 284 is configured as a separate body, the collected ball tank 284 is a unitized pumping device 288 and pumped. The path 289 and the polishing apparatus 290 may be unitized, or the lifting apparatus 288, the lifting path 289, the polishing apparatus 290, and the recovery ball tank 284 may be provided as separate units. good.

Further, in the present embodiment, a lifting device 288,
The pumping path 289 and the polishing device 290 are attached to the unit island 1. For example, a housing portion on the back surface of the gaming machine is attached to the unit island, and the lifting device 288 is attached to the housing. The lifting path 289 and the polishing device 290 may be attached.

Incidentally, the polishing device 29 used in this embodiment.
Reference numeral 0 indicates that a pachinko ball is polished by a polishing cassette (not shown) that is detachably attached to a pedestal (not shown), and the polishing is wound in the polishing cassette (not shown). Polishing is performed by the cloth (not shown) and the pachinko balls that are fed on the feeding path 289 slidingly contacting each other. Thus, the polishing apparatus 290 using the polishing cassette (not shown) is used. When used, a polishing cloth (not shown) that is not dirty is brought into sliding contact with the pachinko ball as appropriate, so that good polishing (cleaning) can be performed, space is saved, and the polishing cloth can be replaced with a cassette shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any polishing (cleaning) can be performed as long as it can clean the pachinko balls pumped through these pumping paths 289. ) Use the device It can be.

The pachinko balls polished (cleaned) by the polishing device 290 and pumped through the pumping path 289 are stored in the upper storage tank 260 provided on the path of the ring channel 259. Go.

In this upper storage tank 260, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper tank full tank detection sensor 261 for detecting that the pachinko balls stored in the upper storage tank 260 have reached a predetermined upper limit amount. Is provided, and when the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261 detects a pachinko ball, it is controlled so that the lifting of the pachinko ball by the lifting device 288 is stopped.

At the lower position of the upper storage tank 260,
An annular flow path 259 for guiding the stored pachinko balls to the ball cutting-out device 265 provided on the right side of the back surface of the pachinko machine 2.
In addition, the pachinko balls stored in the upper storage tank 260 are made to flow into the recovery ball tank 284 at the lower position of the pachinko machine 2 through the ball removing passage 273 in the path of the circulation channel 259. A ball removal valve 262 is provided, and a ball cut sensor 263 for detecting the presence or absence of a pachinko ball supplied to the ball cutting and dispensing device 265 is provided at a position immediately above the ball cutting and dispensing device 265, and When the pachinko ball is not detected by the ball break sensor 263, the pachinko ball payout by the ball cut dispensing device 265 is withheld, and the ball break lamp 242 is notified by the lighting of the ball break lamp 242.

The ball cutting and dispensing device 265 used in this embodiment.
Further, FIG. 5 shows a flow path around the ball cutting and dispensing device 265. In the ball cutting and discharging device 265 of the present embodiment, a ball cutting portion (not shown) having a cutout portion capable of accommodating a pachinko ball is formed on one surface thereof, and is driven via a transmission gear (not shown). A sprocket 452 capable of discharging three balls to the downstream side by one rotation by being rotated by a motor 450, and a path of a pachinko ball discharged from the sprocket 452 are operated by a solenoid 269 to discharge a path 266. Alternatively, a path switching valve 268 for switching to the ejection ball passage 276, and a payout ball detection switch 28 provided immediately below the path switching valve 268 for detecting a pachinko ball flowing down the payout path 266.
1 and a subtraction switch 270 for detecting a pachinko ball flowing down the take-out ball passage 276 are provided, and the sprocket 45 is driven by the drive motor 450.
2 rotation is controlled appropriately, and the solenoid 26
By appropriately controlling the operation of No. 9, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are discharged to either the payout path 266 or the takeout ball passage 276.

The sprocket 452 is provided on each of the two articles into which the pachinko balls flow in from the upper part of the ball cutting and ejecting device 265, and the sprocket 452 of each article is provided at 60 degrees with respect to each other so that two articles are provided. Alternately, the balls that flow down to the ball cutting and dispensing device 265 are flowed down, and the pachinko balls that have flowed in in the two rows are merged into one row at the downstream position of the sprocket 452 and the dispensing path 266 or the removal ball passage 276. It is possible to surely make it flow down.

The ball that has flown down to the payout path 266 is paid out to the hitting ball waiting tray 220, and when the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is full, the credit ball passage 275.
After being detected by the credit sphere switch 283 and credits are added, the sphere flows down to the recovery sphere tank 284, while the sphere that flows down to the extraction ball passage 276 flows down to the external ejection port 249. Then it is taken out to the outside.

Reference numeral 282 in FIG. 4 is a door opening / closing detection switch for detecting opening / closing of the glass door frame 201 of the pachinko machine 2.

The situation of paying out a pachinko ball by the ball cutting and paying-out device 265, in particular, the condition of path switching will be described with reference to FIG. 5. First, in FIG. 5A, when the credit ball is paid back to the hitting ball waiting tray 220. It shows the situation (prize and ball lending will be paid out in the same situation)
The pachinko ball discharged from the sprocket 452 is
After flowing down the payout path 266 without changing its course, and after the credit ball number is subtracted and updated by being detected by the payout ball detection switch 281, the plate portion 221 of the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is inserted from the ball inlet 243. If it flows into the inside, or if the plate portion 221 is full, it flows down through the credit ball flow path 275, is detected by the credit ball switch 283, credits are added, and the credit ball is stored in the recovery ball tank 284.

FIG. 5B shows the situation when the credited ball is taken out from the outside. The pachinko ball ejected from the sprocket 452 is routed by the path switching valve 268. It is changed to the take-out ball passage 276, is detected by the subtraction switch 270 while flowing down the take-out ball passage 276, and the number of credit balls is subtracted and updated. It is supposed to be done.

The pachinko balls discharged to the hitting ball waiting tray 220 are stored in the collected ball tank 284 through the hitting ball merging trough 257 and the hitting ball collecting path 258 as used in the game as described above. The foul balls that have not been used in the game are merged with the credit ball channel 275 and finally stored in the collected ball tank 284. In this way, all the pachinko balls are collected in the collected ball tank. It is collected in 284 and stored as a pumping ball, and is pumped to the upper storage tank 260 by the pumping device 288, so that it is recycled.

As in the present embodiment, the path switching valve 268 is provided so that the path of the pachinko ball discharged from the sprocket 452 is switched appropriately. 1
However, the present invention is not limited to this.
A payout device for paying out a predetermined number of pachinko balls may be provided for each individual path.

In the present embodiment, the payout path 266 leading to the hitting ball waiting tray 220 through the payout passage and the external payout opening 24.
It is divided into a take-out ball passage 276 leading to 9 and by doing so, only one passage can be switched, and the configuration of the game machine can be simplified, which is preferable. It is not limited to.

Further, in this embodiment, the sprocket 4 is used.
Although the ball cut-out device 265 capable of discharging a predetermined number of pachinko balls by the rotation control of 52 is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and these game ball pay-out units have a predetermined number of balls. Any item can be used as long as it can pay out the pachinko balls.

As shown in FIG. 4, a ball clogging sensor 519 for detecting a ball clogging of the ejection ball passage 276 is detachably provided at a position below the ejection ball passage 276 by a locking claw 520. When the ball clogging is detected, the payout of the ball is stopped.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the card reader / writer 224 used in this embodiment is provided at a left upper position of the single island 1 so as to stand obliquely downward. , Card issuing slot 523, ticket issuing LED52 on the front
4, a ticket issuing button 525, and a midway payment button 605 are provided. When the card reader / writer 224 is provided upright so as to face obliquely downward as in the present embodiment, the card reader / writer 224 does not project rearward and the rear space is effectively provided. The present invention is not limited to this, although it is preferable because it can be used. Further, the payment card is ejected downward and the ticketing button 525 is provided downward, so that the player can easily press the ticketing button 525 or the midway payment button 605 from the lower side. However, the card reader / writer 224 may be provided sideways, and the ticket issuing button 525 and the midway payment button 605 may not be oriented downward so as to face the player.

The structure of the card reader / writer 224 will be briefly described below.
Is composed of a cover section and a main body section (not shown), and detects the rewrite card for controlling the insertion, placement, and ejection of the rewrite card issued as the settlement card or the interruption card in the main body section. Sensor, a transport path through which the rewrite card is transported, a communication head that records data in the memory of the rewrite card in a non-contact manner, and printing and erasing on the printing section of the rewrite card Is equipped with a thermal head, etc., to record information on the issued rewrite card and to read the recorded information on the interrupted card to be inserted, and to the printing section provided on the rewrite card. Printing and erasing are possible, and the conveyance path is arranged so as to communicate with the card issuing slot 523.

Further, the card reader / writer 22 of the present embodiment.
A storage box capable of storing a rewrite card issued as a settlement card or an interruption card is provided at the position of the end of the conveyance path of No. 4, and the rewrite card can be easily replenished by exchanging the storage box. It is like this.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the pachinko machine 2 and the card unit 3 of this embodiment are the management computer 1
00, POS cash register 101, and hall computer 10
2 is connected, and information such as the number of balls to be paid out and the number of balls to be lent from the pachinko machine 2 is managed.

Hereinafter, the configurations of the pachinko machine 2 and the single island 1 which are the game devices of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. A mechanism plate on which various substrates are mounted is installed above various passages formed on the back surface of the pachinko machine 2, and the pachinko machine 2 is controlled on the mechanism plate. Various boards are mounted. As these boards, a game control board 296 for giving prize balls based on winning and performing the various kinds of lottery, a display control board 297 for performing display control of the first variable display section 204, a game effect lamp, A lamp control board 298 that controls the lighting of the out-of-ball lamp 242 and the like, a voice control board 299 that controls the sound output from the speaker, and a game area 203 of a pachinko ball at a launch speed based on the operation of the hit ball operation handle 240. A firing control board 292 for controlling the hitting ball firing motor 293 so as to fire
A hoisting control board 295 that controls the driving of the hoisting device 288 and the polishing device 290, calculation of the number of credit spheres based on the detection of pachinko spheres by the credit sphere switch 283 and the subtraction switch 270, and provision on each operation board. Various processings such as credit ball withdrawal processing, settlement processing, interruption processing, etc. corresponding to the input of various switches provided, and drive control of a drive motor 450 and a solenoid 269 for paying out pachinko balls in the ball cutting and dispensing device 265. The holding point control board 291 for implementing the above is provided, and these various boards are connected as shown in FIG.

Explaining the structure of these various boards, the game control board 296 is provided with a game control microcomputer (not shown), and the game control microcomputer is provided at each winning port of the game board 202. The display control board 297 and the lamp control board 2 are provided while prize balls are awarded and various lottery is performed based on the detection of the pachinko balls by the various switches SW1 to SW7.
98, various instruction signals are output to the voice control board 299, and effect control according to the game state is performed on each board. Further, the game control microcomputer, the various switches SW1 to SW7
The prize ball signal indicating the number of prize balls given based on the detection of the pachinko ball in FIG.
And various signals such as a ball payout prohibition signal due to non-detection of a pachinko ball by the ball break sensor 263 are sequentially output to the holding point control board 291.

In this embodiment, as described above, the ball burnout sensor 263 is connected to the game control board 296, and based on the non-detection of the pachinko ball by the ball burnout sensor 263, the lamp control board 298 is detected. A bulb out lamp 2
The lighting instruction signal of 42 is output, and the out-of-ball lamp 242 is output.
The ball-out lamp 242 is informed that the ball-out lamp 242 is turned off and the ball-out lamp 242 is turned off based on the detection of the pachinko ball by the ball-out sensor 263. There is.

In addition, the launch control board 292 is connected to the hit ball operating handle 240 and the hit ball launching motor 293, and is provided with a launch control microcomputer (not shown). In a state in which the launch permission signal output from the holding point control board 291 is output, the operation of the hit ball operation handle 240 is validated, and the pachinko ball is launched at a launch speed corresponding to the rotation amount of the hit ball operation handle 240. While controlling the hitting ball launching motor 293 to launch the game ball into the game area 203, the motor stop signal output from the lifting control board 295 to be described later based on the detection of the pachinko ball by the collected ball full tank detection sensor 285. Based on the control, the driving of the hitting ball firing motor 293 is stopped, So as not to implement the firing of pachinko balls by the operation of the hitting operation handle 240.

Further, on the lifting control board 295, the opening / closing device for detecting the open / closed state of the full tank detecting sensor 261, the lifting ball detecting sensor 287 and the glass door frame 201, including the lifting device 288 and the polishing device 290. Detection switch 28
2 (see FIG. 2), a full tank notification lamp 241 for notifying that the upper storage tank 260 is full, and a recovery for detecting that the pachinko balls recovered in the recovery ball tank 284 are full. A ball full tank detection sensor 285, a circulating ball detection switch 529 for detecting a pachinko ball supplied to the upper storage tank 260 are connected as shown in FIG. 7, and a lifting control microcomputer (not shown). Is provided, and the lifting control microcomputer is provided with the upper tank full tank detection sensor 26.
The drive control of the lifting device 288 and the polishing device 290 is performed based on the detection statuses of No. 1, the lifted ball detection sensor 287, the collected ball full detection sensor 285, and the door open / closed detection switch 282.

The lifting control microcomputer is
The lifting amount is calculated based on the detection of a circulating ball detection switch (not shown) provided in the connected lifting device 288, and in this embodiment, the winding motor ( (Not shown) is rotated to control to wind a predetermined length of the polishing cloth (not shown), and the full tank notification lamp 241 is turned on based on the pachinko ball detected by the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261. And so on. In this embodiment, these polishing devices 2
Since 90 is provided on the single island 1 side, detachable connection terminals that are connected to the lifting device 288 and the polishing device 290 are provided on the lifting control board 295.

Further, the pumping control board 295 is adapted to receive the signal from the recovered sphere full tank detection sensor 285 and the signal from the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261 provided in the upper storage tank 260. As described above, the lifting control microcomputer outputs the motor stop signal to the firing control board 292 based on the detection status of the pachinko ball by each of these sensors. The hit ball operation handle 24
The enable / disable of the firing of the pachinko ball by the operation of 0 is controlled.

Specifically, when a signal indicating that the collected sphere full tank detection sensor 285 detects a pachinko ball is output to the lifting board 295, the lifting control microcomputer causes the motor stop signal to be output. Is output to invalidate the operation of the hitting ball operation handle 240 and prevent the collected pachinko balls from overflowing into the recovered ball tank 284 by continuing the game.
A firing motor 293 for swinging the swing hammer 293 '.
Are prevented from being driven unnecessarily.

Returning to FIG. 7, the holding point control board 2 of the present embodiment.
Describing 91, the point control board 291 includes
Ball control microcomputer 291a for performing various controls, calculation processing, data communication processing, etc. carried out in the point control board 291 and various control programs such as a credit ball number calculation program executed by the point control microcomputer 291a ROM 291 that stores information such as
b, RAM 291c used as work memory, etc.
(Memory unit) and the like are provided.

In the RAM 291c, a frequency register for storing the prepaid frequency read from the prepaid card or the membership card accepted by the corresponding card unit 3 and the number of credit balls usable for the game are updated and stored. The number of pachinko balls to be paid out by the ball payout / payout device 265 is additionally stored based on the credit ball number register as a storage unit and the prize ball signal from the game control board 296, and the ball cutout is paid out. The number of pachinko balls paid out in the device 265 is subtracted and stored, and the unpaid ball register in which the number of award balls unpaid by the ball cut-out device 265 is updated and stored, or detected by the hit ball detection switch 279. The number of struck balls that is added and updated is stored and the number of spheres detected by the subtraction switch 270 is added and updated. A game information register for updating and storing game information based on a memorized supply ball number register, a big hit signal output from the game control board 296, and various signals such as a start signal of the first variable display unit 204, and a game. An interruption register for storing interruption information and the like output to the card unit 3 at the time of interruption, and a settlement ball register for storing the number of settlement balls output to the ticketing control board 601 described later at the time of settlement are provided. Has been.

On the holding point control board 291, an information display device 228 provided at the central position of the upper portion of the pachinko machine 2 via the first operation board 229 provided on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 and the communication section 602, and , A credit indicator 6 provided above the game board 202 via the display driver 606
04 is connected as shown in FIG. 7, and the ball control microcomputer 291a is connected to the RAM 291c.
The credit display section 223 provided on the information display device 228 and the first operation board 229.
The credit display 604 is controlled to be displayed, and the game information stored in the game information register is transmitted to the information display device 228 via the communication unit 602. In the device 228, the game information such as the number of big hits and the number of times of starting,
The number of credit balls can be selected and displayed together.

Further, when the settlement is performed on the way, the new settlement number and the new credit number after subtraction are added together with the new settlement number updated and added to the settlement ball register. The total number of game balls, which is a total value, is also transmitted, and the new settled ball number and the total number of game balls are displayed on the information display device 228.

When a ball out signal indicating that the pachinko ball is not detected by the ball out sensor 263 is output from the game control board 296, the ball control microcomputer 291a causes the launch control board 292 to operate. On the other hand, by not stopping the output of the launch permission signal, the standby ball remaining in the hitting ball standby dish 220 can be used for the game.

As shown in FIG. 7, the holding point control board 291 receives signals from the credit ball switch 283, the subtraction switch 270, the hitting ball detection switch 279, the payout ball detection switch 281, and each switch. It is adapted to be input, and the ball control microcomputer 291a carries out addition update to the credit sphere number stored in the credit sphere number register based on the signal from the credit sphere switch 283, and The credit ball number stored in the credit ball number register is decremented and updated based on the signal from the payout ball detection switch 281, and the hit ball detection switch 279 is executed.
The addition and updating of the number of hit balls in the hit ball number register is performed based on the signal from, and the subtraction update of the number of credit balls stored in the credit ball number register is performed based on the signal from the subtraction switch 270. Along with carrying out the addition update to the external payout ball number of the supply ball number register,
When the payment is made on the way, the addition and update to the adjusted sphere register is executed based on the credit sphere number subtracted and updated from the credit sphere counter.

Further, the holding point control board 291 is connected with the take-out preparation detecting sensor 250, the ball clogging sensor 519, and the waiting ball detecting sensor 222 provided in the hitting ball waiting tray 220. Computer 2
91a outputs the payout signal to the ball cutting and dispensing device 265 when there is a signal input from the takeout preparation detection sensor 250 and the pachinko ball is not detected by the ball clogging sensor 519, so that the external takeout port The pachinko balls are delivered to the 249, the pachinko balls are prevented from being inadvertently discharged from the external outlet 249, and the pachinko balls are detected by the standby ball detection sensor 222. When the detection signal is not input, the credit ball is paid out by outputting the payout signal to the ball-cutting-out / paying device 265 in a situation where the credit ball remains.

Further, the shutter 2 is provided on the holding point control board 291 so as to close the standby ball discharge port 244.
A solenoid 245 ′ for opening and closing 45 is connected, and the holding ball control microcomputer 291a excites the solenoid 245 ′ based on the operation of the counting button 238 to open the shutter 245. The pachinko ball waiting on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 flows down to the credit ball switch 283 through the waiting ball discharge port 244, is detected by the credit ball switch 283, and is added to and updated in the credit ball register.
When the standby ball is not detected by the credit ball switch 283 for a predetermined time (3 seconds in this embodiment), the solenoid 245 'is deenergized to release the shutter 2.
After performing control to close 45, by transmitting the settlement information including the number of credit balls stored in the credit ball register to the card reader / writer 224, the number of credit balls is calculated based on the operation of the ticket issuing button 525. A settlement card is recorded that records information that can identify

In this way, when the game is finished, the shutter 245 is opened by operating the counting button 238, and the waiting ball remaining on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is transferred to the credit ball switch 283 and credit is added. Performing the settlement process of all the credit balls after performing the game prevents the player from forgetting to settle the waiting balls remaining in the hitting ball waiting tray 220 at the time of the settlement when the player finishes the game. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, the holding ball control microcomputer 291a of the present embodiment, in the situation where the pachinko ball is detected by the ball break sensor 263, the prize ball signal output from the game control board 296 or the award ball signal. The input detection of the ball lending button 231 provided on the first operation board 229, the non-detection of the pachinko ball by the standby ball detection sensor 222 when the automatic ball lending button 232 is set, and the second operation board 237 are provided. External payout button 23
Based on the input detection of 9, the pachinko ball route instruction signal to be paid out (actually, the direction information of the route switching valve 268).
In addition, by outputting a payout signal including information on the number of payout balls to the ball cutting and paying device 265, the pachinko balls are paid out by the ball cutting and paying device 265.

Further, the ball-holding control microcomputer 291a operates the firing control board 292 based on the operation of the interruption button 235 provided on the first operation board 229.
To stop the operation of the ball hitting handle 240, and transmit predetermined interruption information to the corresponding card unit 3,
It invalidates the return of the prepaid card and member card being accepted, and invalidates the operation of each operation button provided on the first operation board 229 and the external payout button 239 provided on the second operation board 237. hand,
It is designed to immobilize the processing of refunds and settlements.

Further, the holding ball control microcomputer 291a causes the first operation board 22 to operate based on the setting / non-setting state of the automatic ball lending mode and the interruption mode by operating the automatic ball lending button 232 and the interruption button 235.
In the interruption mode in which the automatic ball rental lamp 233 and the interruption lamp 236 provided in FIG. 9 are turned on and the interruption lamp 236 is turned on, the interruption standby routine shown in FIG. A control for displaying an interruption time display is performed on the information display device 228 provided at the upper center position of the glass door frame 201 by executing the interruption standby processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the holding point control board 291 is provided with a first communication section (COM1) 254 for data communication with an external device such as the card unit 3 and the like.
When connected to an external device such as a hall computer, the external device such as a hall computer receives a prize ball signal (prize ball information), a ball lending signal (ball lending information), a driving signal (driving information), and a credit withdrawal signal ( An information terminal board 255a for outputting (credit withdrawal information) is connected to the hall computer 102, and together with the above-mentioned information, when the interruption button 235 is operated, an interruption indicating that the interruption is in progress is made. The middle information and the interruption elapsed time are output.

As shown in FIG. 1, the holding control board 291 is connected to the ticket issuing control board 601 provided at the inner side position of the information display device 228 via the communication section 603. It is possible to send and receive various data to and from the ticket issuing control board 601.

The ticket issuing control board 601 used in this embodiment.
Includes a ticket issuing control microcomputer (MPU) 601a for performing ticket issuing processing of a suspended card or a settlement card executed in the ticket issuing control board 601, various controls such as lighting control of the ticket issuing LED and lighting control of the analog display 600, and the like. A ROM 601b in which a control program of the ticket issuing control microcomputer (MPU) 601a and the like are stored, and the holding point control board 291.
A RAM 601c, which is used as a work memory for storing the number of credit balls used to control the lighting of the analog display 600 transmitted from the computer, writing information to the interruption card or the settlement card, and the like are provided.

Further, on the ticket issuing control board 601, the card reader / writer 224 shown in FIG. 1 described above, a ticket issuing LED 524 which is turned on when a settlement card can be issued, and
A ticketing button 525 that is operated when issuing a settlement card while the ticketing LED 524 is lit, the analog display 600 that displays the approximate number of credit balls, and an intermediate settlement that is performed when a settlement is performed. A button 605 is connected to the ticket issuing control microcomputer (MP) mounted on the ticket issuing control board 601 for controlling these operations and display.
U) 601a.

Further, the first communication unit (COM1) 254
As shown in FIG. 7, a card unit 3 is connected to the card unit 3. The game value information, the ID data of the card, the usage frequency data used by the input of the ball lending button 231 and the like, the interruption information and the like are exchanged.

Further, the ball cut-out device 265 is connected to the holding point control board 291, and the ball cut-out device 26 is connected.
5 is the ball cutting and dispensing device 2 based on a route instruction signal included in a dispensing signal output from the holding point control board 291.
The solenoid 269 provided at 65 is energized or released, and switching control is performed to appropriately switch the discharge path of the pachinko ball discharged from the ball cutting and discharging device 265 to the discharge path 266 or the discharge ball passage 276. Pachinko balls of the number based on the payout ball number information included in the payout signal are paid out by appropriately driving the drive motor 450 provided in the ball cutting and payout device 265.

Here, the card unit 3 used in this embodiment will be briefly described. Card unit 3 of this embodiment
1, as shown in FIG. 1, a bill insertion slot 303 into which a bill can be inserted, the bill insertion slot 303, and a card insertion slot 305 into which a prepaid card or a membership card as a game recording medium can be inserted. A coin input port 306 into which coins can be input, a coin return button 307 for returning the input coins to the coin return port 310, and the coin return port 310 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, the construction of the card unit 3 of this embodiment is for identifying the authenticity and type of the banknotes that are connected to the banknote insertion slot 303 and are inserted from the banknote insertion slot 303. Of the banknote identification unit 311 and the card insertion slot 305, which are connected to the card insertion slot 30.
5, a card reader / writer 312 that accepts a prepaid card or a member card inserted therein and reads and writes recorded information recorded on the prepaid card or the member card, and the coin slot 30.
A coin discriminating unit 3 for serially identifying the authenticity and type of coins inserted into the coin slot 306.
13 is provided, and a control microcomputer (MPU) 318 that is connected to each of these parts and controls the same is provided. The control microcomputer (MPU) 318 includes the control microcomputer (MPU) 318. A ROM 314 in which a control program to be executed is recorded and a RAM which can be used by the control microcomputer (MPU) 318 in various processes.
315 is connected.

Further, the control microcomputer (MPU) 318
Includes a first communication unit (COM1) 25 of the pachinko machine 2.
4, and a second communication unit 31 for performing data communication with the management computer 100 connected to each card unit 3, as shown in FIG.
6 is connected, and when a prepaid card or a membership card is accepted in the card insertion slot 305, the record information of the prepaid card or the membership card accepted by the card reader / writer 312 is read out, and In the management computer 100, the card ID and the residual number data individually given to the prepaid card or the membership card together with the unit ID given in advance to the card unit 3 are transmitted to the management computer 100. The remaining frequency is checked. If the result of the collation does not match, the accepted card is returned, and if the result of the collation matches, the card ID and the remaining count data are transferred to the pachinko machine 2 through the first communication unit 317. Point control board 2
By transmitting to 91, a card ID is registered at a predetermined address of the RAM 291c, and the remaining frequency data is registered in the frequency register and displayed on the card balance display unit 227, thereby playing the frequency. It can be used for.

From the second communication section 316, as described above, the card ID, the frequency data and the unit I recorded on the prepaid card or the membership card are recorded.
Data such as D is transmitted, and the management computer 100 manages the remaining number of each card.

As described above, the card unit 3 of this embodiment can accept bills and coins that are currency and identify them. A prepaid card or a membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 305. When the bill or coin is accepted during acceptance, the control microcomputer (MPU) 318 determines the remaining prepaid frequency at that time via the first communication unit 317. Obtained from the point control board 291, add a prepaid frequency which is a gaming value of a size corresponding to the received monetary amount to the obtained remaining prepaid frequency, and add a new prepaid frequency after the addition. It is recorded on the prepaid card or member card being accepted by the reader / writer 312.

The information on the new prepaid frequency is used for the unit I which is given to the card unit 3 in advance.
Along with D and the card ID of the prepaid card or member card being accepted, the remaining prepaid frequency data of the corresponding card ID that is transmitted to the management computer 100 through the second communication unit 316 is updated, and the new prepaid frequency information. Is transmitted to the holding point control board 291 via the first communication unit 317, and the holding point control board 2
The remaining prepaid frequencies of the frequency register provided in the RAM 291c of 91 are updated, the new prepaid frequencies are displayed on the card balance display portion 227, and these new prepaid frequencies can be used for the game. There is.

In this embodiment, in order to update the prepaid frequency recorded on the prepaid card or the membership card, the bill insertion slot 303 or the bill insertion slot 303 is inserted when the prepaid card or the membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 305. When the amount of money is inserted from the coin slot, it is possible to write the amount of money inserted into a prepaid card or a membership card.For example, a card unit dedicated to a prepaid card or a prepaid card or a membership card The card unit may be configured so that the amount of money cannot be added, and the specifications of the card unit used are not limited in any way.

The processing operation of the ball-holding control microcomputer 291a of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, the ball-holding control microcomputer 291a determines whether or not there is a signal input based on the operation of the ball lending button 231 (Sa1), and if the determination results match, the process proceeds to Sa2. In the case where the card balance display portion 227 has a remaining count, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the ball lending operation is paid out, for example, when paying 5 times in the ball lending operation, 25
A payout signal including a payout signal indicating the number of balls to be paid out and a route instruction signal such that the path of the discharged pachinko balls becomes a payout path 266 as shown in FIG.
When the 25 pachinko balls output to 65 and paid out are detected by the payout ball detection switch 281, a process of subtracting 1 from the remaining number of the card balance display unit 227 and updating is performed 5 times in total. So 125, which is equivalent to 5 times
The individual pachinko balls are discharged from the ball inflow port 243 to the hitting ball waiting tray 220 through the payout path 266, and after the balls have been paid out based on the ball lending operation, the ball lending signal corresponding to the number of balls lent (ball (Rental information) is output from the first information terminal board 255a (Sa3), and the process returns to Sa1 again.

If the determination result in Sa1 does not match, the process proceeds to Sa4, it is determined whether or not a prize ball signal based on the winning is output from the game control board 296, and the determination is matched. In the case of doing, the process proceeds to Sa5 and the payout number information of the number of balls based on the prize ball signal output from the game control board 296 and the route of the discharged pachinko ball are the payout route as shown in FIG. 5 (a). The ball-discharging device 2 outputs a payout signal including a route instruction signal such as 266.
By outputting the winning ball to the ball 65, the prize ball based on the winning is passed from the ball inlet 243 through the payout path 266 to the hitting ball waiting tray 2
20 or when the waiting ball is full in the tray portion 221 of the hitting ball waiting tray 220, it flows down the credit ball passage 275 and is detected by the credit ball switch 283. Based on these prize ball signals. After finishing the payout of the number of balls, the player proceeds to Sa6 and outputs a prize ball signal (prize ball information) corresponding to the number of paid balls, to the first information terminal board 255.
Output from a and return to Sa1 again.

If the determination result in Sa3 does not match, the process proceeds to Sa7 to determine whether or not the pachinko ball is detected by the credit ball switch 283, and the payout is performed in Sa5. Of the prize balls
The pachinko ball flowing down through the credit ball passage 275 and detected by the credit ball switch 283 is
It is detected at a7. When a pachinko ball is detected in Sa7, the process proceeds to Sa8, the addition of the credit ball number register to the credit ball number is updated based on the detection, and then the process returns to Sa1 again.

If the determination result in Sa7 does not match, the process proceeds to Sa9 to determine whether or not there is a signal input based on the operation of the external payout button 239, and if the determination matches. 9, the process proceeds to the external payout routine shown in FIG. 9, and the interrupt by the interrupt processing routine is set to be valid.

As shown in FIG. 8, this interrupt processing routine is performed by the take-out preparation detection sensor 250 to store the storage box 2
In the W-1 step for determining whether 51 is non-detection (“OFF”), and when the non-detection (“OFF”) of the extraction preparation detection sensor 250 is confirmed in the W-1 step, W- to invalidate the operation of the external payout button 239 and cancel the payout from the number of credit balls
When the determination in the W-1 step does not match, the process returns to the W-1 step again, and the non-detection (“OFF”) of the storage box 251 in the extraction preparation detection sensor 250 is performed. It is designed to monitor, and if these non-detections (“OFF”) occur, the W-2
By executing the step, it is possible to prevent the credit balls from being continuously paid out in the state where the storage box 251 is not located at the lower position of the external outlet 249, and after executing the W-2 step. At, the process returns to Sa1.

In this external payout routine, as shown in FIG. 9, first, in Sg1, the ball clogging sensor 519 provided at the upstream position of the external outlet 249 is turned o.
If the ff state or clogging is a state in which no pachinko ball is detected, it is determined. If it is determined that the ball is not clogged, the process proceeds to Sg2. If it is determined that the ball is clogged,
Return to Sa1.

At Sg2, the credit display section 223 is displayed.
In addition, it is determined whether or not the number of credit spheres in the credit sphere count register displayed on the information display device 228 is present, and when the determination result does not match, that is, when the number of credit spheres is "0", When the determination result matches, that is, when the number of credit balls is present, the process proceeds to Sg3.

In Sg5 executed when the number of credit balls is "0" in the judgment of Sg2, the shutter 245 is opened and the ball waiting on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is discharged from the waiting ball discharge port 244. It is made to flow down to the credit sphere passage 275, and it is determined in Sg6 whether or not a credit sphere is detected by the credit sphere switch 283 within a predetermined time.

When there is a ball on the hitting ball waiting tray 220, the waiting ball is detected by the credit ball switch 283, credits are added in Sg7, and then the process returns to Sg3, and the path of the pachinko ball is changed from the payout path 266. The discharge ball passage 276 is changed to allow the balls to be discharged to the external discharge port 249. Further, in Sg6, if the credit ball switch is not detected within the predetermined time, that is, if the ball does not remain on the hitting ball standby dish 220, S
Go to g4.

Further, in Sg3 executed when the number of credit balls is not "0" in the determination of Sg2,
The path of the pachinko ball paid out to the ball cut-out device 265 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the payout path 266 is taken out from the payout path 266.
After outputting the route instruction signal so that the route is changed to 6, the route is switched, and then the process proceeds to Sg4.

Next, in Sg4, the external payout button 239.
Is off, that is, whether or not the external payout button 239 is operated, and the external payout button 239 is determined.
Is not detected, that is, if the operation of the external payout button 239 is continued, the process proceeds to Sg10, it is determined whether or not the ball clogging sensor 519 is detected, and the ball clogging sensor 519 is detected. Is detected, that is, if the ball is clogged, the process proceeds to Sg8. If the ball clogging sensor 519 is not detected, that is, if it is determined that the ball is not clogged, the process proceeds to Sg11. Then, after outputting a payout instruction to the ball cutting and paying-out device 265 and carrying out the payout, the process proceeds to Sg12, and it is determined whether the payout ball is detected by the subtraction switch 270, and the subtraction switch 270 detects the pachinko ball. If there is a detection, the process proceeds to Sg13, the subtraction is performed from the credit sphere count, and the process proceeds to Sg14.

Next, in Sg14, in case that the credit ball switch 283 detects a pachinko ball flowing in from the hitting ball standby plate 220, it is determined whether or not the pachinko ball is detected by the credit ball switch 283, and the credit is determined in the determination. If there is a pachinko ball detected by the ball switch 283, the detected pachinko ball number shown in Sg15 is added to the credit ball number and updated, and then S
Returning to g4, it is determined again whether the external payout button 239 is off, that is, whether the external payout button 239 is operated.

When it is determined in Sg4 that the external payout button 239 is off, that is, when the operation of the external payout button 239 is canceled, Sg8
Then, the payout instruction output to the ball-cutting and paying-out device 265 is stopped to end the payout, and the shutter 24
When 5 is released, the shutter 245 is closed, the pachinko ball path is returned from the withdrawal path 276 to the payout path 266, and then the process proceeds to Sg10 where the credit withdrawal signal corresponding to the number of credited balls ( (Credit withdrawal information) is output and the process returns to Sa1.
While the player is operating the external payout button 239, the payout from the credit number of balls is carried out.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 8 again,
When it is determined that the external payout button 239 is not operated in Sa9, the process proceeds to Sa10, it is determined whether or not the count button 238 is operated, and when the count button 238 is operated in the determination, The procedure moves to the upper dish ball counting routine shown in FIG.

In this upper ball counting routine, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, first, at Se1, the external payout button 2
After the operation of 39, the withdrawal of the number of credit balls by the automatic payout mode, the invalidation of the ball lending, and the invalidation of the operation of the interruption button 235 are set, the process proceeds to Se2, the shutter 245 is released, and the ball waiting tray 220 waits. The flowing ball is made to flow down from the standby ball discharge port 244 to the credit ball passage 275, and a timer count for a predetermined time (3 seconds in this embodiment) is started (Se3).

Next, in Se4, it is determined whether or not a pachinko ball is detected by the credit ball switch 283. If a pachinko ball is detected, the process proceeds to Se5 to add credits, and then 3 seconds at a predetermined time. Is reset and timer counting is started (Se6), and the process returns to Se4.

Further, when the pachinko ball is not detected by the credit ball switch 283 in the determination of Se4, the process proceeds to Se7, and the timer count started in Se3 or Se6 is up.
That is, it is determined whether or not 3 seconds have elapsed, and if the time is not up, the process returns to Se4 to determine whether or not a pachinko ball is detected by the credit ball switch 283, and if the time is up. Proceeds to Se8 and transmits settlement information including the number of credit balls stored in the credit register at that time, a lighting command of the ticket issuing LED 524, and a valid command of the ticket issuing button 525 to the ticket issuing control board 601. The payment card can be issued from the card reader / writer 224.

After sending the settlement information in Se8,
In Se9, when the credit number clear signal returned from the ticket issuing control board 601 upon completion of the payment of the settlement card is in a waiting state, and the credit number clear signal is returned from the ticket issuing control board 601 and input, Going to Se9, the credit sphere number stored in the credit sphere number register is reset (initialized) to "0" (the number of game spheres in the storage section is erased), and the operation of the external payout button 239 is invalidated. After the payout invalidation of the number of credit balls in the automatic payout mode, the ball lending invalidation, and the invalidation of the operation of the interruption button 235 are canceled to make the game possible, the process returns to Sa1.

When the number of credit balls is reset to "0", the adjusted sphere register described later is reset to "0". Also, to delete the number of game balls in the storage unit,
The credit sphere count may be subtracted, or may be finally set to "0".

Here, with respect to the processing of issuing the settlement card performed by the ticketing control microcomputer (MPU) 601a mounted on the ticketing control board 601 upon receiving the settlement information, it will be simply described based on the flowchart of FIG. 13 (a). To explain, first, the ticket issuing LED 52 from the ball holding control board 291.
It is judged whether or not the settlement information including the lighting command of No. 4 and the validity command of the ticketing button 525 is received (Sf1), and if there is the reception in the judgment, the process proceeds to Sf2 to turn on the ticketing LED 524 and issue the ticket. Button 5
25 operation is validated, the process proceeds to Sf3 and the ticket issuing button 52
Wait for operation 5

When the ticket issuing button 525 is operated, the process proceeds to Sf4, the number of credit spheres is recorded on the issued settlement card, and after printing in the printing area of the settlement card, The settlement card is issued from the card issuing port 523.

After the settlement card is issued, the process proceeds to Sf5 to send a credit ball number clear signal to the ball control board 291 and invalidate the operation of the ticketing button 525, and the ticketing LED 524 is turned on and off.

Next, it is judged whether or not the issued settlement card has been removed (Sf6), and when the removal of the settlement card is detected, the blinking ticket-issuing LED 524 is turned off (Sf7). ).

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 8 again,
If it is determined that the counting button 238 is not operated in Sa10, the process proceeds to Sa11, it is determined whether or not the interruption button 235 is operated, and if the interruption button 235 is operated in the determination, the operation proceeds to Sa12. Then, it is determined whether or not the credit sphere count is present in the credit sphere count register. If the determination result does not match, that is, if the credit sphere count is "0", Sa17 is set.
If the determination results match, the process proceeds to Sa13.

At Sa13, interruption information including the number of credit spheres in the credit sphere register at that time and predetermined information indicating the interruption is transmitted to the ticket issuing control board 601 and the interruption is indicated. Predetermined information is transmitted from the card unit 3 by transmitting predetermined information to the card unit 3 and causing the card reader / writer 224 to issue an interrupted card in which the number of credit balls is recorded from the card issuing slot 523, and by operating the return button 234. Disable the return of your card or membership card. At this time, when issuing the suspension card,
The card ID previously given and recorded on the interrupted card to be issued is read out, and the RAM 6 of the ticket issuing control board 601 is read.
Stored in 01c.

In Sa13, when the receipt of the interruption information is successfully performed by the ticketing control board 601 and the card unit 3, the receipt of the reception completion data from the ticketing control board 601 and the card unit 3 is waited for. (Sa14) If the reception completion data is not returned within the predetermined time, the process returns to Sa13, the interruption information is transmitted again, and if the reception completion data is returned within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to Sa15. Advance,
The operation of the counting button 238 and the external payout button 239 and the payout of the number of credit balls and the ball lending by the automatic refund are invalidated, and the process proceeds to Sa16, where the suspended lamp 23
6 is turned on and a predetermined display (in this embodiment, "H" is displayed in all digits) indicating that the information display device 228 is suspended is displayed on the information display device 228 from the first information terminal board 255a to the hall computer 102. On the other hand, after transmitting the interruption information and the machine number previously given to the pachinko machine 2,
The process proceeds to the interruption standby routine shown in 1.

Next, the interruption standby routine shown in FIG. 11 will be described. When Sa16 ends, the ball control microcomputer 291a starts a time count by an internal timer provided therein (Sc1), and Sc2. Go to and go to the card issuing slot 52
Monitor whether there is a card inserted from 3.

If the determination result in the card insertion determination does not match, that is, if the card is not inserted, the process proceeds to Sc8 and the elapsed time which is the time counted is the preset interruption time. If the judgment result does not match,
In other words, if the interruption time has not yet been exceeded, Sc1
After progressing to 0, the elapsed time that is the time counted is updated and displayed on the information display device 228, and then the S
Returning to c2, if the determination result in Sc8 above matches, that is, if the interruption time has already been exceeded, Sc
After proceeding to 9 and displaying a predetermined display (in this embodiment, all digits “E” display) indicating that the interruption time has already been exceeded on the information display device 228, the process returns to Sc2.

If the determination result in Sc2 is matched, the process proceeds to Sc3 and the interruption information including the number of credit balls read from the inserted card, the card ID, and the RAM 601c when the interruption card is issued.
The interruption information and the card ID stored in are acquired, the data of both of them are compared, and the process proceeds to Sc4.

If the comparison result does not match, the process proceeds to Sc7, and an instruction to return the inserted card is issued to the ticket issuing control board 6
After sending to 01, the process returns to Sc2, and if the comparison result is a coincidence, the process proceeds to Sc5 to stop the time count and proceeds to Sc6, the suspending lamp 236 is turned off, and the information display device 228 The predetermined information indicating the suspension is released, the suspension release information and the unit number are transmitted from the first information terminal board 255a to the hall computer 102, and the operation of the counting button 238 and the external payout button 239 and the automatic operation are automatically performed. After paying out the number of credit balls by refund and validating the ball lending, Sa shown in FIG.
It returns to 1 and carries out the normal processing again.

Here, the ticket issuing control board 60 corresponds to the transmission from the holding point control board 291 in the interruption processing.
Ticket issuing control microcomputer (MPU) 601
The process of issuing and accepting (returning) the interruption card performed by a will be briefly described based on the flowchart of FIG. 13B. When transmission of the interruption information (data) in Sa13 is detected (Sh1), the process goes to Sh2. Going forward, the card ID of the interrupted card to be issued is read, the card ID is stored in the RAM 601c, the number of credit balls at that time is recorded, and a predetermined interrupting display including the unit number etc. is printed. Is issued from the card issuing port 523.

After the suspension card is issued or when the suspension information (data) is not received, the process proceeds to Sh3, and it is determined whether or not there is a card insertion (acceptance) from the card issuing slot 523. If the card is inserted, the credit sphere number and the card ID recorded in the inserted card are read, and the read data and the credit sphere number at the time of issuing the interrupted card stored in the RAM 601c. In addition, the card ID, interrupt data (verification)
Is transmitted to the holding point control board 291 (Sh4).

In the collation by transmission in Sh4, when the collation result does not match, the card return instruction returned from the holding point control board 291 is received in Sh5.
If it is determined that the card return instruction is present in Sh5, the process proceeds to Sh6 and the accepted card is returned from the card issuing port 523.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 8 again,
If it is determined that the count button 238 is not operated in Sa10, if the determinations in Sa11 and Sa12 do not match, the process proceeds to Sa17, and it is determined whether or not the automatic ball lending button 232 is operated. If the determination does not match, that is, if the automatic ball lending button 232 is not operated, the process directly proceeds to Sa18, and if the determination is matched, that is, if the automatic ball lending button 232 is operated. Advances to Sa19, the setting of the automatic ball lending is changed, the automatic ball lending lamp 233 is turned on or off according to the setting status, and then the process proceeds to Sa18.

At the Sa18, the waiting ball detecting sensor 2
If it is determined whether the detection of the standby ball by 22 is “OFF” and the determination result does not match, that is, if there are sufficient standby balls in the ball standby tray 220, Returning to Sa1, if the determination result matches, that is, if there are not enough waiting balls in the hitting ball waiting tray 220, the automatic mode routine shown in FIG. 12 is entered.

In this automatic mode routine, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, first, in Sd1, it is determined whether or not the number of credit spheres remains, and when the number of credit spheres does not exist in the determination, that is, when the number of credit spheres is “0”, If the number of credit balls is present, the process proceeds to Sd4, and the process proceeds to Sd2.

At Sd4, which proceeds when the number of credit balls is "0", it is determined whether the automatic ball lending mode is set, and it is determined that the ball lending mode is not set in the determination. In case, return to Sa1,
If the automatic ball lending mode is set, the process proceeds to Sd5 to determine whether the prepaid frequency remains, and if the prepaid frequency does not remain in the determination, the Sa
Returning to step 1, if the prepaid frequency remains, proceed to Sd6, perform the same ball lending processing as Sa2, and then execute S
Proceeding to d7, the ball lending information is output as in the case of Sa3, and then the process returns to Sa1.

In Sd2, which is executed when the number of credit balls is present in the determination of Sd1, the predetermined number based on the payout signal is output by outputting the predetermined number of the payout signal to the ball-cutting / dispensing device 265. After the payout of the pachinko balls is performed, the paid-out pachinko balls are detected by the payout ball detection switch 281, and a credit refund process is performed in which the number of credit balls is subtracted, and then a credit based on the number of payouts. A withdrawal signal (credit withdrawal information) is output (Sd3), and the process returns to Sa1. In the present embodiment, even if the automatic ball lending mode is set by operating the automatic ball lending button 232, withdrawal from the credit sphere is prioritized and the remaining number of the credit spheres remains. It will be implemented when there is no longer any.

Next, in the determination of Sa20, when ON of the midway settlement button 605 is detected, that is, when the midway settlement button 605, which is operated during settlement of the credit sphere during the game, is operated, The procedure proceeds to the midway settlement routine shown in 16.

In this midway settlement routine, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, first, in Sk1, by outputting an instruction to prohibit the firing to the firing control board 292, the operation of the ball striking operation handle 240 is invalidated, and then the procedure goes to Sk2, from the ticket issuing control board 601. , The player waits for a subtraction instruction of how many credit balls to subtract.

At this stage, if there is a subtraction instruction output of the credit sphere number determined by the operation of the midway settlement button 605, the process proceeds to Sk3 and the credit sphere instructed to be subtracted and the credit sphere register are actually registered. Compared with the stored credit number, whether or not it is possible to subtract the credit ball number instructed to be subtracted, the clogging is subtracted. It is determined whether or not (Sk4), and if the number of credits instructed to be subtracted is larger than the actual number of credit balls, the process proceeds to Sk10, and the point control board 2
An error indicating that 91 cannot be subtracted from the ticket issuing control board 601
In response to the control to permit the ball to be launched from the launch control board 292 in Sk9.
The invalidation of the operation of is cancelled, and the process returns to Sa1.

In addition, in the case of Sk4, when it is determined that the credit number of credits instructed to be subtracted can be subtracted,
That is, when the number of credit balls stored in the credit ball register is larger than the number of credit balls instructed to be subtracted, the process proceeds to Sk5, from the credit ball number stored in the credit ball register, The number of credit balls instructed to be subtracted is subtracted, and the subtracted credit ball number is added and updated in the adjusted sphere register in Sk6, and the fact that the subtraction of the credit ball number is completed in Sk7 and the intermediate payment in Sk5. After returning the new credit number to the ticket issuing control board 601, Sk
In 8, the number of credit balls displayed on the credit indicator 604 is updated to the number of credit balls after subtraction, and in Sk9, the invalidation of the operation of the hit ball operation handle is released, and the process returns to Sa1.

As described above, normally, Sa1 → S
a4 → Sa7 → Sa9 → Sa10 → Sa11 → Sa17
By performing each determination at high speed sequentially such as → Sa18 → Sa20 → Sa1, detection and operation of various switches and buttons are detected without delay, and processing corresponding to the detected detection and operation is performed. It is like this.

Here, the operation of the player who owns the number of credit balls during the game to make the settlement and the control MP of the ticket issuing control board 601 shown in FIG.
The control flow of U will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

In addition, as an example of midway settlement, a case where the player owns 3500 credit balls and 2,000 of them are settled during midway settlement will be described. Also, the unit of settlement here is
Every 1000 balls. Here, the information display device 2
When the credit sphere displayed at 28 is blinking, it is possible to make an adjustment on the way, and when it is displayed without blinking, it is not possible to make an adjustment on the way, that is, the adjustment button 605 is operated. Either it has not been done or the settlement has been canceled.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, when the settlement button 605 is operated once, the credited globe is displayed in blinking as shown in FIG. When the settlement button 605 is operated (pressed twice), 1000 balls, which is the minimum unit for settlement, is displayed in blinking as shown in FIG. 14B, and when the settlement button 605 is operated again (three times). 14), as shown in FIG. 14C, 100 is the unit of mid-term settlement in FIG. 14B.
2000 balls added with 0 balls are displayed in a blinking manner, and every time the settlement button 605 is pressed once, 1000 balls are added and blinking is displayed based on the number of credit balls, In addition to displaying the maximum number that can be displayed in units of 1000 balls, if there is a fractional number of credit balls less than 1000, the total number of credit balls will blink when the next settling button 605 is operated. It is supposed to be displayed without doing.

Here, since the number of credit balls is 3,500, as shown in FIG.
After 05 is pressed four times and 3000 balls are displayed,
As shown in FIG. 4 (e), the total number of 3500 balls is displayed without blinking, that is, it indicates that the midway settlement operation has been cancelled.

Next, the ticket issuing control board 601 shown in FIG.
The control flow of the control MPU will be described. First, in Sm1, the operation waits for the midway payment button 605. When the midway payment button 605 is operated in Sm1, the total number of credit balls is displayed on the information display device 228 in Sm2. The display is blinking, and here, 3500 balls, which is the total number of credit balls, are displayed in a blinking manner as shown in FIG.

Next, in Sm3, it is determined whether or not there is an operation of the issuance button 525 for instructing the issuance of the settlement card, and there is no operation of the issuance button 525, that is, 3500 balls, which is the total number of credit balls, are settled. If not, the process proceeds to Sm8, and it is determined whether or not the midway settlement button 605 is operated again, that is, whether or not a part of the credit sphere count is settled instead of the total settlement.

If it is determined in Sm8 that the settlement button 605 is not operated again, the process proceeds to Sm11, where S
In m11, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the settlement button in Sm1, 10 seconds have elapsed here, and if it is determined that the predetermined time of 10 seconds has elapsed, (E), the information display device 228 stops blinking the credit sphere number (3500 spheres) that has been blinked until then, ends the process, and before the midway settlement button 605 is operated. When it is determined in Sm11 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to Sm3 again and waits for the operation of the issue button 525.

In Sm8, the settlement button 605 on the way again
When it is determined that the operation is performed, that is, when not all the credit spheres are settled but a part of the credit spheres is settled, the information display device 228 is displayed in Sm9 as shown in FIG. The display menu processing is performed such that 1000 balls, which is the minimum unit for settlement on the way, is displayed in a blinking manner, and in Sm10, the display menu displays the total number of credit balls, that is, the settlement button 605 on the way is displayed multiple times. , Here, it is determined whether or not the total number of credit balls is displayed without blinking after being operated five times, and when it is determined that the total number of credits is displayed without blinking, as described above, The midway settlement operation is canceled, the process is terminated, and the midway settlement button 60 is first displayed.
The display before 5 is operated is returned.

If it is determined in Sm10 that the total number of credit spheres is not displayed without blinking, that is, if the total number of credit spheres is displayed in blinking, the process proceeds to Sm3. Back again,
The operation waits for the issue button 525.

In Sm3 described above, the issue button 52
When it is determined that the operation of 5 is performed, in Sm4,
Information display device 2 when issue button 525 is operated
The number of credit balls blinking in 28 (Fig. 14
(A) to (d)) The subtraction instruction from the credit sphere is transmitted to the point control board 292, the credit sphere corresponding to the subtraction instruction is subtracted from the credit sphere register, and the subtraction is completed in Sm5. That is, a signal indicating whether or not the designated credit sphere count has been subtracted from the credit sphere register is awaited for reception from the score control board in Sk7.

In addition, in the case of paying all credit spheres stored in the credit sphere register,
The credit sphere register may be cleared to "0" as a subtraction process of the total number of credit spheres stored in the credit sphere register.

When it is determined that the subtraction of the credit sphere is completed, in Sm6, the settlement cards for the number of credit spheres displayed on the information display device 228 at the time when the issue button 525 is operated are issued from the issuing port 523. It is designed to be issued.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), the information display device 228 displays the characters "Ticketing" and the arrow pointing to the left to display from the card issuing slot 523. The state that the settlement card is issued is shown to the player, and when the settlement card issuance is completed, the point control board 2 is operated in Sm7 of FIG.
The number of credit balls that have been settled on the way is added and updated to the settled sphere register provided in 92, and the credit sphere display of the information display device 228, the credit display unit 604, and the credit display unit 223 is updated to the display after subtraction. Then, the processing is finished.

The state of information display at this time is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), when the payment of the settlement card is completed, the information display device 228 displays 2000 balls, which is the settled number, as the settled number, and in the present embodiment, as described above. The total number of balls that have been settled and the number of balls that have not been settled, which is the total number of game balls acquired by the player (excluding the game balls on the ball striking standby plate 220), is divided into three screens of the information display device 228. It is designed to be displayed.

Further, the number of remaining credit balls is 1500, which is obtained by subtracting the credit balls settled in the midway settlement.
The ball is updated and displayed on the credit display unit 604 and the credit display unit 223 provided on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 (c) shows a case in which, in FIG. 15 (b), when the remaining number of credit spheres is 1500, an additional settlement of 1000 spheres is additionally carried out, The information display device 228 has 3 which is the adjusted sphere count.
000 balls (2000 balls of the last time and 1000 balls of this time are accumulated and displayed) are displayed, and 3500 balls, which is the total number of game balls, are displayed as they are, and 1500 balls, which was the remaining number of credit balls, are in the middle. The 500 balls after subtracting the settled 1000 balls will be displayed and updated on the credit display unit 604 and the credit display unit 223.

Here, as an example shown in FIG. 15, when the player has 3500 balls of credit balls,
Two clearing transactions of 2000 balls and 1000 balls are performed, and thereby two clearing cards for 2000 balls and 1000 balls are issued, 500 credit balls remain, and a game is played again using these credit balls. Is able to do.

The flow when the player plays a game on the pachinko machine 2 of this embodiment will be described below. First, the player uses a prepaid card issuing machine (not shown) provided at a predetermined place in the game hall. The prepaid card purchased or the membership card issued from the game hall in advance is inserted into the card insertion slot 305.

By this card insertion, the remaining number of the inserted card is displayed on the card balance display portion 227 of the corresponding pachinko machine 2 as described above. After the player confirms that the frequency remains on the card balance display portion 227, the ball lending button 231 or the automatic ball lending button 2 is displayed.
32 is pressed.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, the operation is detected by the ball control microcomputer 291a, and when the ball lending button 231 is operated, the ball cut-out is performed as described above. A predetermined number of pachinko balls (125 pieces) corresponding to 5 times from the device 265 are discharged and supplied to the plate portion 221 of the hitting ball waiting tray 220, so that the player operates the hitting ball operation handle 240 to set the waiting ball. A game is implemented by driving it into the game area 203.

When the automatic ball lending button 232 is operated, the automatic ball lending setting is set to "ON" as described above, and the standby ball detection sensor 222 does not detect the standby ball at first. (“OFF”), and since there are no credit balls, a predetermined number of 125 pachinko balls are discharged and supplied to the plate portion 221 of the hitting ball standby plate 220, whereby the ball lending is performed. , The player can play the game, and when the waiting balls decrease due to the game and the detection of the waiting balls by the waiting ball detection sensor 222 becomes non-detection (“OFF”) again, it is automatically performed. Similar to the above, 125 pachinko balls are paid out from the prepaid frequency. In addition, these automatic ball lending buttons 23
Even if the automatic ball lending mode is set by the operation of 2, if the number of credit balls is present in the credit display unit 223, the payout of the number of credit balls is prioritized over the payout by the ball lending. It has become. In addition, when the number of credit balls present in the credit display portion 223 is less than 125, the total number of the credit balls is paid out.

When a prize or a big hit is caused by these games, a prize ball corresponding to the prize is paid out from the ball cutting and dispensing device 265 to the ball striking standby plate 220 through the ball inlet 243, and the ball inlet 243. The pachinko balls that could not flow into the dish portion 221 are the credit ball flow path 27.
5 is flowed down and detected by the credit ball switch 283, and is added to the number of credit balls present in the credit display section 223.

When the waiting balls of the hitting ball waiting tray 220 are decreased by the game and it is desired to pay back the number of credit balls to the hitting ball waiting tray 220, the waiting ball detection sensor 222 in Sa18 detects the waiting balls. "OF
On the basis of the detection of "F", the automatic mode routine shown in FIG. 12 is carried out so that a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be refunded.

In this embodiment, as described above, the payout of the number of credit balls can be carried out only automatically. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the payout of the number of credit balls is made. A credit return button or the like for the player to carry out may be provided.

In addition, the number of credit balls is set to the pachinko machine 2
The external outlet 249 provided at the central position of the lower part of the
When it is desired to take it out of the pachinko machine 2 further, after the storage box 251 is arranged in advance at a position below the external outlet 249, the external payout button 239 is pressed to bring the flow chart of FIG. As shown, the operation is S
When the external payout routine shown in FIG. 9 is executed and the credit sphere count remains, the payout from the credit sphere count is executed while the external payout button 239 is pressed. Then, the player can receive a refund of the pachinko balls including the waiting balls remaining in the hitting ball waiting tray 220 from the external outlet 249.

When it is desired to use the pachinko balls once discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine again in the game, the opening / closing lid 225 which covers the upper surface of the plate portion 221 of the hitting ball waiting tray 220 is opened. It can be used for games by throwing in.

Further, when the player wants to interrupt the game due to his need, he pushes the interrupt button 235 to perform the operation as shown in the flow chart of FIG.
The interruption card is issued and the operation of the ball hitting operation handle 240 and the counting button 238 are performed while the processing of Sa12 to Sa16 described above and the interruption standby routine shown in FIG. 11 are executed at a11. The operation of the external payout button 239 and the payout of the number of credit balls by automatic refund and the ball lending are invalidated, so that a third party cannot play the game using the standby balls remaining on the ball hitting waiting dish, It is made impossible to perform payout, withdrawal, and settlement of credit balls, the suspension lamp 236 is turned on, and the information display device 22 is provided.
At 8, the elapsed time of interruption is displayed.

In order to cancel this interruption, the player inserts the issued interruption card into the card issuing slot 523 again to check the card ID of the interruption card and the number of credit balls, and Hit ball operation handle 24 like
With 0 being activated, the operation of the counting button 238 and the external payout button 239 and the payout of the number of credit balls by automatic refund and the ball lending are enabled so that a game using the number of credit balls and the frequency can be carried out. become.

If the player wants to end the game, he or she depresses the counting button 238,
As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, the operation is the Sa1
0 is detected, the upper plate ball counting routine shown in FIG. 10 is executed, and the upper plate ball (standby ball) remaining in the hitting ball waiting plate 220 is sent to the credit ball switch 283 to add credits. After that, the number of credit balls to which the upper dish ball (standby ball) has been added is transmitted to the ticket issuing control board 601, the operation of the ticket issuing button 525 is activated by lighting the ticket issuing LED 524, and the player By operating the ticket issuing button 525, a settlement card in which the number of credit balls is recorded is issued.

The player can bring the issued settlement card to the prize exchange counter in which the POS cash register 101 is installed, and use the credit sphere number in exchange for a desired prize.

Each element in the above embodiment corresponds to the present invention as follows. Claim 1 of the present invention
Game balls (pachinko balls) based on the establishment of predetermined payout conditions
A game ball payout unit (ball cutout payout device 265) for paying out the game ball, and a game ball standby unit (hit ball standby plate 220) for waiting the game ball paid out from the game ball payout unit, the game ball standby unit A gaming machine including a gaming machine (pachinko machine 2) that plays a game using a gaming ball that is on standby, the gaming ball overflowing from the gaming ball standby unit (hit ball standby plate 220) and the game ball standby unit. Overflowing game ball passage (credit ball flow path) through which the game ball paid out from the game ball payout unit (ball cutting and paying-out device 265) passes when the (hit ball waiting tray 220) is full of waiting game balls 275), an overflowing game ball detecting means (credit ball switch 283) for detecting a game ball passing through the overflowing game ball passage, and the detected game ball based on the detection of the game ball by the overflowing game ball detecting means. Number can be used for games Adding updating means for adding updated as the game ball speed (lifting point control microcomputer 291a)
And a storage unit (RAM 291c) for storing the number of game balls added by the addition update means, and a game ball number display unit (credit display unit 223, information display for displaying the number of game balls stored in the storage unit). Device 228) and the settlement operation means (count button 238, issue button 52) operated by the player.
Based on the operation of 5), the game ball standby unit (ball hitting standby plate 2
20) counting the game balls, the storage unit (RAM291)
The number of game balls is added to the number of game balls stored in c), and the number of game balls is added to the number of game balls corresponding to the number of waiting balls in the game ball waiting unit (hit ball waiting dish 220). An end settlement means (point-holding control microcomputer 2 which issues a recording medium (settlement card) on which information that can specify the number is issued to erase the number of game balls in the storage section (RAM 291c)
91a, ticket issuing control board 601, card reader / writer 22
4) and the operation of the midway payment means (intermediate payment button 605) operated by the player, the storage unit (R) is operated at the time of operating the midway payment means without executing the counting process.
Issue a recording medium (settlement card) in which information capable of specifying the predetermined number of game balls within the range of the number of game balls stored in the AM 291c) is recorded, and the predetermined number of game balls is stored in the storage unit (R).
AM291c) subtraction update from the number of game balls stored in AM291c)
1a, ticket issuing control board 601, card reader / writer 22
4), and a midway settlement game sphere number display unit (information display device 22) for displaying the number of game spheres halfway cleared by the midway settlement means.
8) and are provided.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, the number of midway settlement game spheres halfway settled by the midway settlement means (point control microcomputer 291a, ticket issuing control board 601, card reader / writer 224) and the storage unit ( RAM291
It is provided with a total game ball number display unit (information display device 228) that displays the total number of game balls, which is the total number of game balls stored in c).

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the number of midway settlement game spheres that are halfway settled by the midway settlement means (point control microcomputer 291a, ticket issuing control board 601, card reader / writer 224) is added and updated. Settlement game sphere number storage unit (settled sphere register), and accumulated settlement game sphere number display unit (information) which displays the accumulated settlement game sphere number stored in the accumulated settlement game sphere number storage unit (settled sphere register) Display device 228).

According to claim 4 of the present invention, the player can select the predetermined number of game balls settled by the midway settlement means (point control microcomputer 291a, ticket issuing control board 601, card reader / writer 224). Predetermined number of game balls selection means (ticket issuing control board 601, midway payment button 605,
An information display device 228) is provided.

Claim 5 of the present invention is the total number of game balls,
The number of settlement game balls or the number of accumulated settlement game balls is displayed at the same time.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and changes and modifications within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention are possible. Needless to say, the addition is included in the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, by operating the midway settlement button 605, the number of credit balls to be settled midway can be selected. By doing so, the player is settled midway. This is preferable because the number of credit balls can be changed to a desired number of credit balls, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of credit balls to be settled midway may not be selected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the midway settlement button 605 is also used as the predetermined game sphere number selecting means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of credit spheres settled midway is selected. In order to change, an operation button different from the midway settlement button 605 may be provided, or the number of credit balls to be settled midway may be directly input.

Further, in the above embodiment, the midway settlement button 605 is provided in the vicinity of the issuing port 523 which is the upper position of the pachinko machine 2 which is a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. No, these midway payment buttons 60
5 may be provided at another position, for example, on the first operation board 229.

In this embodiment, when the mid-payment button 605 is pressed, the operation of the hit ball operation handle 240 is invalidated and the firing of the pachinko ball is stopped, but when the hit ball operation handle 240 is operated, the mid-payment button is pressed. 605 may be invalidated, and the counting button 238 may be controlled similarly to the midway settlement button 605.

Further, in the above embodiment, the information display device 228 displays the total number of game balls, which is the sum of the number of credit balls that have been settled midway and the number of credit balls that have not been settled. The invention is not limited to this, and the summed value may not be displayed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the RAM 291 is used.
By setting up a settlement sphere register in c, adding and updating the number of credit spheres that have been settled on the way, and displaying the data stored in the settlement sphere register on the information display device 228, the accumulated settlement game sphere number is calculated. I try to display it,
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured not to display these accumulated settlement game sphere numbers.

Further, as a method of displaying the cumulative settlement game ball number, the display of the midway settlement of this time and the display of the total of the midway settlement can be switched, or the history of the number of balls settled midway can be seen at a glance. You may make it display as shown in.

Further, in the above embodiment, the number of midway settlement game balls or the number of cumulative settlement game balls, which is the number of credit balls that have been settled midway, and the number of credit balls that have been settled midway and unpaid credits. The total number of game balls, which is the sum of the number of balls, is displayed simultaneously on the information display device 228 by dividing the screen, but the present invention is not limited to this and displays each of these displays. The display may be switched by switching. Furthermore, instead of simultaneous display by dividing these screens, a display device for displaying the number of midway settlement game balls or the number of cumulative settlement game balls and a display device for displaying the total number of game balls are separately provided and displayed simultaneously. It may be done.

In this embodiment, the display method of the information display device 228 and the credit display device 604 is not described, but the information display device 228 and the credit display device 6 are not described.
Any display method may be used as long as the player can visually recognize the number of credit balls and the number of balls already settled by using a liquid crystal or a dot matrix in the display unit 04.

In the above embodiment, the RAM which is the storage unit
When the automatic ball lending mode is set, the number of credit balls stored in 291c is refunded to the dish portion 221 based on non-detection of the standby ball by the standby ball detection sensor 222, thereby crediting once. Although the number of credit balls can be used again in the game, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of credit balls stored in the RAM 291c is not refunded to a settlement card, a membership card, or the like. It may be possible to record and issue it and only exchange it for a free gift. Further, the membership card may be temporarily stored as a ball, and the ball may be replayed, and the payout for the replay may be paid out from the pachinko machine as in the ball lending.

In the above embodiment, the upper storage tank 260 and the recovery ball tank 284 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these may be used as one tank, or the pumping device 288 may be used. In the case where it has a sufficient pumping capacity, it is possible to use a configuration in which these game ball storage units are not provided.

In the above embodiment, the recovery ball tank 284 is used.
Although the pachinko balls collected in (1) are pumped by the pumping device 288 and are recirculated to the ball cutting and discharging device 265 which is a game ball discharging part, the present invention is not limited to this. The game ball payout unit itself may lift and pay out a pachinko ball that is a game ball, and may not necessarily have the lifting device 288 on the lifting path 289 that is a gaming ball circulation path.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the polishing device 290 which becomes the cleaning section on the hoisting passage 289 which is the above-mentioned game ball circulation path.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these polishing devices 290 may be arranged at any position in the path along which the pachinko balls circulate.

For example, as the cleaning unit, the polishing device 2
90 may be provided in the ball cutting and dispensing device 265, the collected ball tank 284, or the like. Further, these cleaning units are not limited to the polishing device 290, and a unit for cleaning with a liquid cleaning liquid or the like may be used in addition to a unit for wiping dirt off with cloth or paper.

In the above embodiment, the opening / closing lid 225 is provided on the dish portion 221 which is the game ball standby portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the opening / closing lid 225 may not be provided. . Although the opening / closing lid 225 is entirely transparent in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the opening / closing lid 225 may be an opaque member, or a part thereof may be transparent, or the plate may be made transparent. It is optional to provide a scale or the like on the portion 221 so as to confirm how many game balls remain.

Further, in the above embodiment, the upper storage tank 260 is provided at the upper position of the pachinko machine 2. By doing so, it is possible to increase the total amount of pachinko balls that the gaming machine can circulate. In addition, it is possible to use a small one or a cheap one having a relatively low lifting capacity as the lifting path 289 and the lifting device 288, and the space occupied by these lifting devices on the back surface of the pachinko machine 2 is reduced. It is preferable because not only it can be reduced but also the cost of the game machine can be reduced, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case where these pumping devices are small and sufficient pumping capacity can be obtained, The upper storage tank 260 may not be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261 for detecting whether or not the number of pachinko balls stored in the upper storage tank 260 reaches a predetermined upper limit is provided. The operation of the lifting device 288 is controlled according to the state of detection of pachinko balls by the upper tank full tank detection sensor 261. A predetermined amount of pachinko balls is constantly stored in the upper storage tank 260. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

Although not carried out in the above embodiment, the upper storage tank 260 and the collected ball tank 2 are not used.
It is also possible to determine that there is an abnormality when both 84 are in an empty state, and to output these empty notifications by the hall computer 102, an abnormal lamp, or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, an external payout button 239 is provided on the second operation board 237 so that the player can freely take out the number of credit balls from the external outlet 249 by his / her own operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the external payout button 239 may be omitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the opening / closing lid 225 is provided above the hitting ball waiting tray 220 so that the pachinko ball can be thrown in from the outside of the pachinko machine 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the upper surface of the hitting ball standby portion 220 may be covered so as not to be opened and closed so that the pachinko ball cannot be thrown in from the outside.

Further, the opening / closing lid 225 is provided in the above-mentioned embodiment as a part for inserting these pachinko balls from the outside, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the form, installation position, etc. of these inserting parts. May be appropriately selected, and may have a structure in which a pachinko ball is guided to the hitting ball waiting tray 220.

Further, in the above embodiment, by providing the ejection preparation detection sensor 250, the external dispensing button 239 is erroneously operated when the preparation for storing the discharged pachinko balls is not completed. Also, although it is possible to prevent the pachinko ball from being discharged from the external outlet 249, the present invention is not limited to this.

In the embodiment, the automatic ball lending button 232 and the waiting ball detection sensor 222 are provided to automatically lend a pachinko ball when the number of waiting balls on the hitting ball waiting tray 220 becomes small. This is preferable, because it is possible to eliminate the complexity of the player's lending operation, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, the automatic ball lending button 232 is provided so that the player can set the automatic ball lending, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ticket issuing control board 601 and the card reader / writer 224 are provided so that the payment card in which the payment information such as credit ball data is recorded is issued from the card issuing port 523. However, the present invention is not limited to this,
The settlement information may be recorded in a member card or a prepaid card accepted by the card unit 3 and returned, or the destination to which the settlement information is transmitted may be transmitted to another external device such as a dedicated settlement device or You may issue the card which recorded the information of the number of credit balls with the computer for settlement.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the card unit 3 accepts cash and can perform the additional deposit processing of the input cash, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be an ordinary card unit that cannot receive cash.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ticket issuing control board 60 is used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these ticket issuing control board 601 and holding point control board 2 are provided.
91 and 91 may be integrated. Furthermore, in the above embodiment,
Although the holding point control board 291 directly executes the payout control of the ball payout device 265, the present invention is not limited to this, and the payout control board for performing the payout control of these ball payout devices 265. May be separately provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the take-out ball passage 2
A ball clogging switch 519 is provided at a lower position of 76, and when there is a ball clogging by the ball clogging switch 519,
Although the ball is not paid out to the outside, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball clogging switch 519 may not be provided. Further, the ball clogging switch 519 may be detected. In this case, the occurrence of the ball clogging may be notified by, for example, Sg9 in the external payout routine shown in FIG.

Further, in the above embodiment, the counting button 2
In the upper dish ball counting routine of FIG. 10 which is executed based on the operation of FIG. 38, all the balls waiting in the hitting ball waiting dish 220 are counted by one operation, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not a thing, but only while the counting button 238 is operated, the hitting ball waiting tray 2
It is also possible to perform counting of the upper plate ball (standby ball) waiting at 20.

Further, in the upper plate ball counting routine of the above embodiment, when there is no ball detection for a predetermined time of 3 seconds, the total number of upper plate balls (standby balls) waiting in the hitting ball waiting plate 220 is counted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example,
In order to judge the completion of these total ball counts, a separate switch for detecting the end ball of the upper plate ball (standby ball) is provided,
You may make it detect that the upper bowl ball (standby ball) which counts these has run out.

In the upper bowl counting routine of the above embodiment, the settlement information including the number of credit balls, the lighting command of the ticket issuing LED 524 and the valid command of the ticket issuing button 525 is transmitted. The credit sphere count is not limited to the above, and the credit sphere count that is being received in substantially real time for displaying the credit sphere count of the information display device 228 when the settlement information is received may be used as the credit sphere count. It is also possible to confirm by comparing the credit sphere numbers of both of them.

Further, in the above embodiment, the interruption cards are issued, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to play only for a predetermined time without issuing these interruption cards. Alternatively, the end of the interruption time may be notified when these times have elapsed.

Although not carried out in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the predetermined interruption time ends (passes), the credit ball number data in the interruption is stored and managed together with the unit number on the side of the hall computer 102. Every
Either card may be accepted so that the game can be played again.

Further, in the above embodiment, in the automatic ball lending mode, the payout from the number of credit balls is prioritized, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the prepaid in these payouts. The payout from the frequency may be prioritized.

Further, in the above embodiment, the hit ball collecting path 258 is provided to collect the winning balls (safe balls) and the out balls collected by the hit ball confluence trough 257.
It is designed to be transferred to and collected in No. 4, and by doing so, the winning balls (safe balls) and out balls used in these games are also pumped by the pumping device 288, which will be described later, and circulated for use. As a result, the pachinko balls inside the pachinko machine 2 can be effectively used and the pachinko balls can be uniformly cleaned, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, each function such as external payout is disabled at the time of interruption, but of these functions, the function such as counting of the credit sphere can be valid even during interruption and can be counted. However, you may not be able to issue a payment card, or you cannot return the membership card or prepaid card, but you may enable the ball lending function so that you can lend the ball.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the path of the pachinko balls discharged to the ball cutting and discharging device 265 is the discharging path 2.
66 or the take-out ball passage 276 is provided with a path switching valve 268 as a switchable flow path switching unit, so that the ball cutting and dispensing device 2 is provided.
Although only one 65 is provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and a ball cutting and dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined number of pachinko balls may be provided in each of the dispensing path 266 and the dispensing ball passage 276. You can

Also, a separate payout device may be provided for each of lending a game ball, paying out a game ball by winning a prize, and paying out a credit, or the payout mechanism of the payout device may be different, or either one of them may be provided. A common dispensing device may be used, or a mechanism for switching the flow path may be combined in any manner.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the full-tank notification lamp 241 and the out-of-bulb lamp 242 are provided on the glass door frame 201 of the pachinko machine 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. By providing a signal output unit linked to the lighting of the full tank notification lamp 241 and the out-of-bulb lamp 242, the external device, for example, the calling lamp or the hall computer can perform lighting or notification of the lamp based on these signals. Is also good.

Although not carried out in each of the above embodiments, the credit ball count is automatically calculated by the external outlet 24.
It may be possible to set a real ball payout setting such as payout to 9, so that a game can be played like a conventional gaming machine without a credit function.

Although not carried out in this embodiment, when the card inserted in the card unit 3 is a membership card, the payment card is accepted from the card issuing slot and recorded on the payment card. By obtaining the number of credit balls and registering it in the credit register, the player may be allowed to play using the number of credit balls acquired by another pachinko machine 2. In addition, when using the number of credit balls obtained with these other pachinko machines, it is optional to carry out a subtraction of a predetermined percentage of the number of balls as a commission and to be able to use the number of credit balls after the subtraction. It is said that

Further, in the above embodiment, the rewrite card is used as the recording medium (card) to be issued as the settlement card and the interruption card, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these issued records are used. The medium may be an ordinary magnetic card or a receipt printed with a bar code, which is an information recording symbol in which credit sphere number data is recorded, and the recording medium to be issued may have a size of the number of credit spheres. Any information can be used as long as it can record the information that can identify the. Further, the shape of these recording media is not limited to the card shape, and may be a coin shape or a spherical shape. The shape of the membership card or the visitor card, which is the game recording medium inserted in the card unit 3, is not limited to the card shape, and may be a coin shape or a spherical shape.

Also, in the first embodiment, the opening / closing lid 22 is
Since a game can be performed even if no card is inserted in the card unit 3 from here where a pachinko ball can be inserted from 5, the card unit 3 is controlled in order to restrict the game when these cards are not inserted. When a card is not inserted in the ball, the hit ball operation handle 240
The operation of may be invalidated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the information display device 228 is used.
Is provided, and the number of credit balls at that time is displayed on the information display device 228 similarly to the credit display section 223. By doing so, the appeal to other players is improved. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the display data displayed on the information display device 228 may be output to an external device having a display function, such as a calling lamp.

Further, it is optional to provide an operation unit or the like which can be selected and operated by the player so as not to display the number of credit balls on the information display device 228.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the analog display 600 which is lit and displayed according to the size of the credit sphere is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these analog display 600 are provided. The configuration may be omitted.

The second operation board 237 is connected to the first operation board 237.
Although it is provided separately from the operation board 229, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured as a single body, and further, the first operation board 229 and the second operation board may be provided. The arrangement position and the like of 237 may be appropriately selected in consideration of operability.

Further, it goes without saying that the processing contents according to the flow charts shown in the respective embodiments can be appropriately changed depending on the performance of the microcomputer to be used, the capacity of the memory, the capacity of each connected device, and the like.

The present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine including a slot machine gaming machine for playing using a game ball instead of coins, and a slot machine gaming machine for playing using a game ball instead of these coins. In more detail, the game can be started by setting a predetermined number of game balls for one game as the bet number, and the display result of the variable display device capable of changing the display state is One game is ended by the derived display, a predetermined prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device, and a player can play a predetermined number of game balls corresponding to the generated prize. It is a gaming machine that has a gaming ball payout part and uses the gaming balls to play a game, and is also commonly called a pachi-lot.

[0240]

The present invention has the following effects. (A) According to the invention of claim 1, by having the midway settlement means, the player has a range of the number of game balls to which the standby balls of the game ball standby section stored in the storage section have not been added. It is possible to carry out the settlement of a predetermined number of game balls in the game, and even after the midway settlement by the midway settlement means, the game is continued by using the standby balls of the game ball standby unit or the number of game balls of the storage unit. In addition, the number of game balls settled midway can be displayed on the number of midway settlement game spheres display section, so that the player can easily confirm the number of settled game spheres.

(B) According to the invention of claim 2, the player can easily check the total number of game balls.

(C) According to the invention of claim 3, even if a plurality of midway settlements are carried out, the cumulative settlement game is the total number of midway settlement game balls settled by the plurality of midway settlements. The number of balls is displayed on the cumulative settlement game ball number display portion, and the player can easily confirm the total number of midway settlement game balls that have been settled by the plurality of midway settlements.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, the player can select the predetermined number of game balls to be settled by the midway settling means by the predetermined game ball number selecting means.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, the player can simultaneously visually check the total number of game balls together with the number of midway adjustment game balls or the number of cumulative adjustment game balls, and already settled midway from the total number of game balls. By easily grasping the number of clearing game balls or the number of cumulative clearing game balls on the way, it is possible to improve the reliability of the player.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external front view showing a single island, a pachinko machine and a card unit provided on the single island according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external front view showing a pachinko machine and a card unit of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a hitting ball waiting tray of the pachinko machine of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a rear view of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are sectional views showing a ball cutting and dispensing device used in an embodiment of the present invention and a flow path around the device, and showing a path switching state.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram of a game hall in which a pachinko machine and a card unit of an embodiment of the present invention are installed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing configurations of a pachinko machine and a card unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a process flow chart executed by a holding point control microcomputer in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a processing flow chart of an external payout routine executed by the score holding microcomputer in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram of an upper plate ball counting routine executed by the holding point control microcomputer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram of an interruption standby routine executed by the point control microcomputer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a process flow chart of an automatic mode routine executed by the point-holding control microcomputer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a process flow chart executed by the ticket issuing control microcomputer in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display content of the information display device when a midway payment button is operated.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operation of the information display device when the settlement button and the ticket issuing button are operated on the way.

FIG. 16 is a process flow chart of a midway settlement routine executed by the point-holding control microcomputer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a process flow chart executed by the ticket issuing control microcomputer in mid-payment according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 simple island 2 pachinko machines 3 card units 37 rewrite card 100 management computer 101 POS cash register 102 hall computer 201 glass door frame 202 game board 203 game area 204 first variable display section 206 Passage gate 207 Start prize hole 208 Movable piece 209 Regular prize holes 210 First variable winning ball device 211 Open / close plate 212 Sorting device 213 rotating disk 213a Special prize hole 213b Regular prize hole 217 Out mouth 220 ball waiting tray 221 plate 222 Standby ball detection sensor 223 Credit display 224 card reader / writer 225 Open / close lid 226 Hinge 227 Card balance display 228 Information display device 229 First operation board 231 ball lending button 231 'Cancel button 232 Automatic ball lending button 233 Automatic ball rental lamp 234 Return button 235 Stop button 236 Suspended lamp 237 Second operation board 238 Count button 239 External payout button 240 ball hitting handle 241 Full tank information lamp 242 Out of Lamp 243 ball inlet 243 'aperture 244 Standby ball outlet 245 shutter 245 'solenoid 247 ball launch rail 247 'guide rail 248 foul mouth 248 'foul ball confluence 249 External outlet 250 Extraction preparation detection sensor 250 'detected part 251 Storage Box 254 1st communication part (COM1) 255a Information terminal board 255b Information terminal board 257 Driving ball confluence gutter 258 Hit Ball Recovery Path 259 circular flow path 260 upper storage tank 261 Upper tank full tank detection sensor 262 Ball valve 263 Ball out sensor 265 ball cutting and dispensing device 266 withdrawal route 268 path switching valve 269 solenoid 270 Subtraction switch 273 ball passage 275 credit ball passage 276 ball passage 277 Standby ball discharge passage 279 Driven ball detection switch 281 Payout Ball Detection Switch 282 Door open / close detection switch 283 credit ball switch 284 Collection ball tank 285 Collected ball full tank detection sensor 287 Lifting ball detection sensor 288 Lifting device 289 Lifting route 290 polishing machine 291 Ball control board 291a Point control microcomputer (MPU) 291b ROM 291c RAM 292 Fire control board 293 ball firing motor 293 'swing hammer 295 Lifting control board 296 Game control board 297 Display control board 298 Lamp control board 299 Voice control board 303 banknote insertion slot 305 Card slot 306 coin slot 307 coin return button 310 coin return slot 311 Banknote recognition unit 312 card reader / writer 313 coin identification unit 314 ROM 315 RAM 316 Second communication unit 317 First communication unit 318 Control microcomputer (MPU) 450 drive motor 452 sprocket 519 Ball clogging sensor 520 locking claw 523 card issuing port 524 Ticketing LED 525 ticketing button 600 analog display 601 Ticketing control board 601a MPU 601b ROM 601c RAM 602 Communication unit 603 Communication unit 605 Settlement button on the way SW1 Gate switch SW2 Start winning ball detection switch SW3 Normal winning ball detection switch SW4 Normal winning ball detection switch SW5 Specific winning ball detection switch SW6 Specific winning ball detection switch SW7 Normal winning ball detection switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game ball payout unit for paying out a game ball based on establishment of a predetermined payout condition, and a game ball standby unit for waiting a game ball paid out from the game ball payout unit, the game being provided. A game device including a game machine that uses a game ball waiting in a ball standby unit, wherein the game ball overflows from the game ball standby unit and the game ball in the standby state of the game ball standby unit. An overflow game ball passage through which the game balls paid out from the game ball payout portion pass when the game ball is full, an overflow game ball detection means for detecting a game ball passing through the overflow game ball passage, and the overflow game ball. Based on the detection of the game sphere by the detection means, addition and update means for adding and updating the detected number of game spheres as the number of game spheres that can be used in the game, and a memory for storing the number of game spheres added by the addition and update means. Section and the play stored in the storage section. The number of game balls stored in the storage unit is calculated by counting the number of game balls in the game ball standby unit based on the operation of the game ball number display unit for displaying the number of game balls and the settlement operation means operated by the player. The counting process for adding the number of game balls corresponding to the waiting balls of the game ball waiting section is executed, and after the counting process is executed, a recording medium in which information that can specify the number of game balls is recorded is issued and Based on the operation of the end settlement means for erasing the number of game balls in the storage portion and the operation of the midway settlement means operated by the player, the counting processing is not executed and is stored in the storage portion at the time of operation of the midway settlement means. In the process of issuing a recording medium in which information capable of specifying the predetermined number of game balls within the range of the number of game balls is recorded, and subtracting and updating the predetermined number of game balls from the number of game balls stored in the storage unit. Settlement means and the number of game balls settled on the way by the midway settlement means Gaming apparatus characterized by and a middle settlement game ball number display unit for displaying. 2. A total game ball number display unit that displays the total number of game balls, which is the sum of the number of game balls that have been settled halfway by the halfway payment unit and the number of game balls that are stored in the storage unit. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A cumulative settlement game sphere number storage unit in which the number of midway settlement game spheres settled by the midway settlement unit is added and updated, and a cumulative settlement game stored in the cumulative settlement game sphere number storage unit. The gaming device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a cumulative settlement game sphere number display unit that displays the number of spheres. 4. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising a predetermined game ball number selection unit that allows a player to select the predetermined game ball number settled by the midway settlement unit. 5. The game device according to claim 2, wherein the total number of game balls and the number of midway settlement game balls or the number of cumulative settlement game balls are displayed at the same time. .