JP2003275390A - Slot machine using game ball - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine using game balls in which control load on a main control means is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A game can be started by setting the number of bets for one game by using the game balls, and one game is ended by deriving and displaying the display result of a variable display device 50 which can change a display state. Then a prescribed prize is won in response to the display result of the variable display device 50 in the slot machine 1 using the game balls. The machine 1 includes: the main control means 200 for controlling a game state; a first sub-control means 201 which is connected to the main control means 200 for data communication, and controls a rendition means; and a second sub-control means 400 which is connected to the main control means 200 for data communication, and performs control to take in the game balls to be used for setting the number of bets and to put out the game balls when the prize is won. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine for playing a game using a game medium, and more particularly to a slot machine for playing a game using a game ball such as a pachinko ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of slot machine, a slot machine capable of playing a game using medals as a game medium (hereinafter, medal type slot machine)
However, in recent years, there is a desire to install these medal-type slot machines on the gaming island where existing pachinko machines are installed, so a game using pachinko balls (gaming balls) as a game medium is used. Some slot machines using pachinko balls that can be performed have been proposed.

[0003]

In the slot machine using the pachinko balls, it is necessary to control the take-in of the pachinko balls for setting the bet number and the payout control of the prize balls associated with winning. In the slot machine using the pachinko balls that have been performed, the control of taking in these pachinko balls and the control of paying out the prize balls, the progress control of the game with a relatively high processing load, etc.
Since the main control means for controlling the gaming state is performing, there is a problem that a lot of load is applied to the main control means.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a slot machine using a game ball capable of reducing the control load of the main control means. .

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the slot machine using the game balls of the present invention can start the game by setting the bet number for one game using the game balls. At the same time, one game is completed by displaying and displaying the display result of the variable display device capable of changing the display state, and a game in which a predetermined prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device. In a slot machine using a ball, main control means for controlling a game state, first sub-control means connected for data communication with the main control means and for controlling effect means, the main control means and data A second sub-control means that is communicably connected and that controls the taking-in of gaming balls used to set the bet number and the payout control of gaming balls when a winning occurs. It is a symptom. According to this feature, the control of the effect means is performed by the first sub control means, and the control of taking in and paying out the game balls is performed by the second sub control means, so that the control load is the first sub control means and Since it is distributed to the second sub control means, the control load of the main control means can be reduced. Also,
2nd with the same control of taking in game balls and paying out of game balls
Since it is performed by the sub-control unit, the number of control units does not increase too much, and the device configuration can be simplified.

The main control means and the first sub control means of the slot machine using the game ball of the present invention are only capable of one-way communication from the main control means to the first sub control means. Is preferred. By doing so, it is possible to prevent an inconvenience such as an illegal signal being input from the first sub control unit to the main control unit.

It is preferable that the main control means and the second sub control means of the slot machine using the game ball of the present invention are capable of bidirectional communication. By doing so, it is easy to achieve consistency between the main control means for controlling the game state and the second sub-control means for performing the take-in control and the payout control of the game balls which are directly related to the control of the game state. be able to.

A slot machine using a game ball according to the present invention comprises a valuable value accumulating means capable of accumulating the value of a valuable value possessed by a player as data, and the second sub-control means has the valuable value accumulating means. Is preferably controlled. In this way, the second sub-control means controls the valuable value accumulating means related to the game ball take-in control and the payout control, so that the control associated with the valuable value accumulation can be simplified.

The main control means of the slot machine using the game balls of the present invention transmits control information to that effect to the second sub control means when a predetermined take-in condition or pay-out condition is satisfied, It is preferable that the second sub-control unit performs the intake control or the payout control based on the reception of the control information, and returns the control completion information to the main control unit after the completion of the intake control or the payout control. By doing so, it is possible to confirm that the main control means has completed the game ball uptake control and payout control performed by the second sub control means.

The second sub-control means of the slot machine using the game balls of the present invention can accept the game recording medium in which the information for identifying the valuable value for the game that can be used for lending the game balls is recorded. It is preferable that the game device can be connected to any other gaming device, and a predetermined lending process can be executed based on the received record information of the game recording medium. By doing so, since the connection with the game device is made between the second sub-control means, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as the input of an illegal signal directly from the outside to the main control means.

The second sub control means of the slot machine using the game balls of the present invention preferably controls the output of the game ball related information relating to the taking in and paying out of the game balls. With this configuration, the output control can be simplified by the second sub-control unit performing the output control of the game ball related information related to the game ball take-in control and the payout control.

[0012]

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

First, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a game ball for playing a game by setting a bet number using a pachinko ball which is an example of a game machine to which the present invention is applied. And a front view of a slot machine 1 using the card and a card unit 800 used in parallel with the slot machine 1,
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the slot machine 1 and the card unit 800. The slot machine 1 includes a frame body 4 having front and rear surfaces opened, and a front door 2 pivotally supported at a side end of the frame body 4 and provided on the back surface of the front door 2. By rotating a predetermined key inserted into a keyhole 3a of a locking device (not shown) in a clockwise direction, the locking is released and the front door 2 can be opened.

A game effect lamp section 41 and a winning symbol explanation panel 5 are provided on the upper front surface of the front door 2, and a game panel 6 and various display sections are provided on the center section. Further, below the game panel 6, an upper plate 7 on which a pachinko ball as a game ball used for a game can be placed is projected, and various operation buttons are provided on an upper surface 7a and a front surface 7b of the upper plate 7. 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b,
40L, 40C, 40R, 302a, 302b, a start lever 38, a frequency display unit 301, and the like are provided. Further, game effect lamp portions 42 to 44 are provided on the left and right sides of the front door 2 and the left and right portions of the upper plate 7, respectively. Further, a lower plate 11 serving as a game ball returning portion capable of storing pachinko balls overflowing from the upper plate 7 is provided at a lower part of the front surface of the front door 2 and the lower plate is provided on the front surface of the lower plate 11. A return lever 16 for discharging the pachinko balls stored in 11 to the outside is provided.

On the left and right sides of the upper part of the front door, sound emitting portions 12a and 12b for emitting sounds output from high-pitched loudspeakers 136a and 136b (see FIG. 6) are provided, respectively. On the lower right side, there is provided a sound emitting portion 13 for emitting a sound output from a low-pitched speaker 137 (see FIG. 6) provided inside, and from these sound emitting portions 12a, 12b, 13 , Each speaker 13
6a, 136b, and 137, sound effects such as voices and melodies for enhancing the effect effect are emitted.

A liquid crystal display unit 15 is provided at the center of the winning symbol explanation panel 5, and various display contents corresponding to the game state are displayed by a liquid crystal display 135 (see FIG. 6) provided inside. It has become so.

On the game panel 6, the reels 51L, 51C, 51 installed in the frame body 4 of the slot machine 1 are installed.
A transparent window 14 through which R can be seen through, a 1BET betting display portion 21 and a 2BET betting display portion 2 located on the left side of the perspective window 14.
2, 23, 3BET betting display sections 24, 25, and transparent window 1
4, a game over display portion 26, a replay display portion 27, a weight display portion 28, and a start display portion 2 which are located on the right side of 4.
9, a BET instruction display unit 30, a credit display unit 31, a game count display unit 32, and a payout display unit 33, which are located below the see-through window 14, are provided.

The game over display section 26 has a function B described later.
When the game is stopped due to the end of B, or when some kind of error occurs and the game cannot be progressed, the game over lamp 117 (see FIG. 6) incorporated therein is Light. The replay display unit 27 has a replay lamp 119 (see FIG. 6) incorporated therein when a replay prize described later occurs.
(See) lights up. The start display unit 29 has a start lamp 118 incorporated therein when a start operation can be performed by setting the bet number.
(See FIG. 6) is turned on and is turned off when a valid start operation is detected. The BET instruction display unit 30 is a pachinko ball or credit display unit 31 placed on the upper plate 7.
When the bet number can be set using the credit displayed in, the BET indicator lamp 111 (see FIG. 6) built therein blinks, and when the maximum bet number is set, The light goes out when the game is started.

When the start operation is detected during the wait time, the wait display section 28 lights the built-in wait lamp 139 (see FIG. 6), and turns off after the wait time has elapsed. The wait time is a game progress restriction period that is set to prevent the game from progressing too fast.If a start operation is detected during this wait time, the reels will be released after the wait time has elapsed. It is set to start. Therefore, when the game is advanced with a sufficient time interval, the progress of the game is not restricted when the start lever 38 is operated, but when the game is to be advanced in a short time, the game is performed depending on the wait time. Is temporarily restricted, and the reel is in a waiting state until the wait time elapses.

In the slot machine 1, a game progress restriction period of, for example, 4.1 seconds is set with reference to the time point when the reel starts rotating in the previous game.
3. When the reels started spinning in the last game.
If the current start operation is detected before 1 second has elapsed, the reel starts rotating after the game progress restriction period has elapsed.

The credit display section 31 is a display section in which the corresponding segment of the credit display unit 109 (see FIG. 6) provided inside is turned on and the credit is displayed. Credits are the number of BETs equivalent to the number of pachinko balls stored in the storage unit inside the slot machine 1 as a valuable value owned by the player (1 BET (the number of pachinko balls required to set the minimum bet number) = credit balls). The number of credits is 5/5), and the credit is added based on the award of a prize ball due to the occurrence of a prize, or the credit is subtracted based on the setting of the number of bets and the settlement operation.
Credits will also be updated. This slot machine 1
In this case, the upper limit of the value that can be stored as credits is set to 50 BET (250 balls) at the maximum, and when this upper limit is reached and a request for credit update exceeding the upper limit is generated. The amount of pachinko balls that exceeds the upper limit is paid out to the upper plate 7.

The number-of-games display section 32 lights up the corresponding segment of the internally provided number-of-games display unit 108 (see FIG. 6) to determine the regular bonus (RB) winning status in the big bonus (BB), It is a display unit that displays the number of winnings during RB. In particular, when BB ends and the player is in the stopped state, the character "END" is displayed to notify the player that the player is in the stopped state. Further, the game number display unit 32 also functions as an error display device for displaying and notifying various abnormalities that have occurred in the slot machine 1, and when the abnormalities are detected by the control unit, an error code that can specify the abnormal type. Is "E-1" or "E-2"
And the like.

The payout display section 33 is provided with an award corresponding to a segment of a payout display unit 110 (see FIG. 6) provided inside the payout display section 33. The display unit displays the number of BETs corresponding to the number of balls (1BET = number of prize balls / 5).
The display of the payout display unit 33 is updated every time a prize ball is awarded based on a winning.

A 1BET button 36a and a MAXBET button 36b as bet number setting means are provided on the right side of the upper surface 7a of the upper plate 7, and a settlement button 37 is provided on the left side.

The 1BET button 36a is a button that is pressed when a bet of 1BET (5 balls), which is the minimum number of bets from the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7 or credits, is bet on the game, and the MAXBET is a maximum bet. Button 36b is
The maximum number of bets allowed in one game (3 BETs in this embodiment) is a credit, or a button to be pressed when betting on the game within the range of the pachinko ball placed on the upper plate 7. Is. 1 BET button 36
Inside the a, there is a BET button lamp 121a and M
The BET button lamps 121b are respectively built in the AXBET buttons 36b (see FIG. 6), and these BET button lamps 121a and 121b are lit when the operation of the corresponding BET button is valid, and are invalid. Turns off when there is.

The settlement button 37 is a button that is pressed when performing a settlement operation of the credit and the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7. With the depression operation of the settlement button 37, the pachinko balls for the credits are released. The coins are paid out to the upper plate 7, and accordingly, the credits are updated by subtraction until the number of credits displayed on the credit display section 31 becomes zero. Further, when the pachinko balls are placed on the upper plate 7, after the payout of the pachinko balls for the credit is completed, the pachinko balls placed on these upper plates 7 are once taken in by the intake device 700 described later. Are taken in and discharged to the lower plate 11. The adjustment button lamp 123 is built in the adjustment button 37 (see FIG. 6). The adjustment button lamp 123 lights up when the adjustment button 37 is pressed and the adjustment is possible. Turns off when it is impossible.

The start lever 3 is provided on the front surface 7b of the upper plate 7.
8, stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R, a frequency display portion 301, a ball lending button 302a, and a return button 302b are provided respectively. The start lever 38 is a lever that is operated when starting a game, and the reels 51L, 51C, and 51R are started to rotate by operating the start lever 38 after the setting of the bet number is completed.

Stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R
Is the reel 51L, 51C, 51 after the game starts
It is a button that is operated when stopping the rotation of R, and the operation valid lamp 122L is inside the stop button 40L.
However, the operation valid lamp 1 is inside the stop button 40C.
22C, the operation enable lamp 122R is built in the stop button 40R (see FIG. 6). These operation valid lamps 122L, 122C, 122R are turned on when the operation of the corresponding stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R is valid, and are turned off when the operation is invalid. In addition, the stop button unit 39 in which the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R are arranged is used for BB winning and R winning.
When the B winning internal winning flag is set, the bonus notification lamp 120 (see FIG. 6) incorporated therein is turned on.

The frequency display section 301 is inserted into a card insertion slot 804, which will be described later, of the card units 800 arranged side by side when the corresponding segment of the frequency display unit 813 (see FIG. 6) provided inside is turned on. The display unit displays the frequency read from the prepaid card. The ball lending button 302a is used to lend a pachinko ball by using the frequency displayed on the frequency display unit 301, that is, the frequency as the game valuable value read from the prepaid card inserted in the card unit 800. The return button 302b is a button that is pressed against the card unit 80.
This is a button that is pressed when returning the prepaid card inserted in 0.

In addition, at a position below the upper plate 7 on the inner surface of the front door 2, there is provided a take-in device 700 for taking in a pachinko ball inside, and a state in which no credit remains (the display of the credit display section 31 is shown. 1 bet on 0)
By operating the button 36a or the MAXBET button 36b, the pachinko balls corresponding to the BET from the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7 can be taken into the slot machine 1 by the take-in device 700. There is.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the intake device 700 is divided into two lines through an intake preparation ball passage 710 that guides a pachinko ball from the upper plate 7 to the intake device 700. Pachinko balls are supplied. When the pachinko balls supplied from the upper plate 7 are divided into two lines in the intake preparation ball passage 710, these pachinko balls are divided almost uniformly.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c),
Sprocket 706 for cutting a ball is provided corresponding to each line of the intake preparation ball passage 710. This sprocket 7
Three cutouts (see FIG. 4B) are formed on the outer periphery of 06, and these sprockets 706 are attached to the intake motor 7.
The pachinko balls that have entered the notches by being driven by 01 are discharged downward one by one. Further, the sprockets 706 corresponding to the respective rows are arranged so that the positions of the notches are displaced from each other, and the pachinko balls are alternately ejected by the synchronous rotation of both sprockets 706.

Below the sprocket 706, the flow path of the pachinko ball discharged by the rotation of the sprocket 706, which is swung by the excitation or cancellation of the distribution solenoid 702, is used as a take-in ball guide path 708 or a return path. A flow path switching valve 707 for switching to either one of the ball guiding passages 709 is provided. Further, a take-in ball detection switch 704 for detecting passage of a pachinko ball taken in for setting the number of bets is provided at an outlet connected to the take-in ball guide passage 708, and a return ball guide passage A return ball detection switch 705 for detecting passage of a pachinko ball discharged to the lower tray 11 via a return ball flow passage 509, which will be described later, is provided at the discharge port connected to 709.

In this intake device 700, when the pachinko balls supplied from the upper plate 7 are taken into the inside, the flow path switching valve 707 is brought into the state shown in FIG. 4 (b) so that the sprocket 706 rotates. The discharged pachinko balls are detected by the take-in ball detection switch 704, and then discharged into the take-in ball guide passage 708, and the taken-in ball flow passage 51 is introduced as described later.
It is designed to be collected in the out-ball tank inside the game island through 0. Further, when the pachinko ball of the upper tray 7 is discharged to the lower tray 11 by the adjustment operation, the flow passage switching valve 707 swings due to the excitation of the distribution solenoid 702, as shown in FIG. State, sprocket 706
After the pachinko ball discharged by the rotation of the ball is detected by the return ball detection switch 705, it is discharged into the return ball guide passage 709, and is discharged to the lower plate 11 via the return ball flow passage 509 as described later. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of kinds of symbols, "7", "BAR", in this embodiment, are provided in the substantially central portion of the frame body 4.
Reel 51L, 51C, 51R having a translucent strip-shaped reel sheet around which a pattern including "watermelon", "cherry", "bell", and "plum" is printed.
A variable display device 50 having (a game reel used to execute the progress of the game) is provided. Each reel 51L, 51C, 51R is configured to independently rotate (drive) and stop in the vertical direction by reel motors 54L, 54C, 54R, which are stepping motors provided corresponding to each reel. As the reels 51L, 51C, and 51R rotate, the various symbols are displayed on the display window 14 while continuously changing. Although the reel type variable display device 50 is applied as the variable display device in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and, for example, a plurality of types of symbols are printed in place of these reels. A variable display device using an endless belt may be used.

Between the reels 51L and 51C arranged side by side in the lateral direction, and between the reels 51C and 51R, arc-shaped inter-reel concealing members 5 for closing the space between the reels.
3 is provided so that the inside cannot be seen from between the reels. In the see-through window 14, three regions divided by dividing the field of view by the reel concealing member 53, that is, three region portions in which each reel is visible, are associated with each reel, and the left variable display portion, the middle The variable display section and the right variable display section (area) are called.

From each variable display section of the see-through window 14, three consecutive symbols out of a plurality of symbols drawn on each reel are displayed in the upper, middle, and lower positions, and in the upper part of the upper stage. A part of the symbol that appears in the upper position soon is displayed, and a part of the symbol that disappears soon under the variable display unit is displayed in the lower part of the lower column.

A reel sensor 56 (see FIG. 6) for detecting the reference position of each reel is provided in each reel 51L, 51C, 51R so that the reel sensor 56 can derive the stop position of a predetermined symbol. In addition, a plurality of reel lamps 55 capable of individually irradiating specific display areas (upper, middle, and lower display areas) on the respective reels 51L, 51C, and 51R from the back side are respectively upper, middle,
These reel lamps 55 are installed in the lower row.
It is designed to function as a backlight that is lit from the rear so as to make each symbol displayed on the see-through window 14 stand out in a normal state.

Although not shown, a main switch portion for turning on / off the main power source and a main switch portion at a lower position inside the frame 4 and the game can be continued again at the time of ending the BB or when an error occurs during the game. Reset button to reset to normal state, setting button to change winning probability, automatic settlement selection switch part to turn on / off automatic settlement function, and stop to turn on / off automatic stopping function Provided on the front side is a selection switch section and a setting key insertion section for enabling / disabling operation of the setting button by performing a predetermined operation while inserting a specific key possessed by a game hall manager or the like. Power supply board 202
A power supply unit 64 including therein is disposed.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined winning probability values are stored as set values of six patterns, and the winning probabilities are changed by arbitrarily selecting the values by operating the setting buttons. It becomes possible to play a game.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner surface of the front door 2,
A mechanism plate 500 (see FIG. 3) provided with a pachinko ball flow path and a payout device 600, which will be described later, for paying out the pachinko ball is attached, and the back surface of the mechanism plate is mainly used as described later. A game control unit 21 for controlling the progress of the game
0 (see FIG. 7) and a gaming control board 200 as a main control means provided with various circuits and a pachinko ball take-in control executed by a take-in device 700, a pachinko ball pay-out control performed by a pay-out device 600, and the like. Take-in and withdrawal control unit 401
(See FIG. 8) and a take-in / pay-out control board 400 as a second sub-control unit provided with various circuits, an effect control unit 230 (see FIG. 8) for controlling effects associated with a game, various circuits, etc. The effect control board 201 as the provided first sub control means is housed and fixed in a housing case.

The mechanical plate 50 applied in this embodiment is used.
0 is almost the same structure as a mechanical board of a pachinko machine that has been conventionally manufactured, and it is preferable because no significant design change is required and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It is not limited to.

In the space formed between the front door 2 and the mechanism plate 500, a reel relay board 203 (FIG. 6) described later is provided.
Various substrates such as a reel lamp relay substrate 204 (see FIG. 6) and an external output substrate 205 (see FIG. 6) are attached.

Further, on the back surface of the front door 2, high-pitched loudspeakers 136a, 136b and low-pitched loudspeaker 137 are fixed so as to face the above-mentioned sound emitting portions 12a, 12b, 13 respectively, for example, BET. Operation, operation of start lever 38, operation of stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R, etc. When various operations are performed during the game, and a combination of specific symbols is displayed in line on the activated effective line and predetermined. In a variety of game states such as when the winning condition is satisfied or when BB and RB are executed, a predetermined game effect sound corresponding to the game state is output from each speaker 136a, 136b, 137. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 3, a ball storage tank 501 for storing pachinko balls replenished from a replenishing device (not shown) of the gaming island in which the slot machine 1 is installed is provided at an upper position of the mechanism plate 500. A guiding gutter 502 is provided continuously below the ball storage tank 501 and is laid laterally. The pachinko balls stored in the ball storage tank 501 are used as a payout device 600 to be described later. You will be guided towards.

At the downstream end of the guide gutter 502, two ball supply passages 504 are connected in series via a curve gutter 516 and a ball supply gutter 514.
The lower end of 04 is connected to a payout device 600 for paying out prize balls given by the occurrence of a prize or the like and paying out credit balls by a settlement operation and discharging the credit balls to the upper plate 7. The pachinko sphere that flows down is a guide gutter 50.
After being divided into two at 2, the curve gutter 516 converts the downward direction from the left-right direction to the downward direction, and is supplied to the dispensing device 600 via the ball supply gutter 514 and the ball supply passage 504. . When the pachinko balls supplied from the ball storage tank 501 are split into two lines in the guide trough 502, the pachinko balls are split substantially uniformly. Numeral 503 shown in FIG. 3 is a ball removal valve for discharging the pachinko balls stored in the ball storage tank 501 to the above-mentioned out-ball tank of the game island via the ball removal passage 513.

In this embodiment, FIG. 4 (a) and FIG.
As shown in (a), as the payout device 600, a device having the same structure as the above-described take-in device 700 is used. As described above, in the present embodiment, the payout device 600 and the take-in device 700 have the same structure, which is preferable because the manufacturing cost of the slot machine 1 can be reduced, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, devices having different structures may be used as the intake device and the dispensing device.

Although the dispensing device 600 has the same structure as the take-in device 700, the names and symbols of the respective parts in the dispensing device 600 are different from the names and the symbols of the respective parts in the take-out device 700, and therefore the dispensing device here. A description will be given based on the names and reference numerals of the respective units according to 600.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the dispensing device 600 is adapted to be supplied with the pachinko balls divided into two lines from the ball supply passage 504, and to be supplied corresponding to each line. A ball detection switch 505 is provided, and the presence or absence of a pachinko ball in the ball supply passage 504 is detected by the supply ball detection switch 505.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c),
Sprocket 606 corresponding to each line of the ball supply passage 504
Is provided, and these sprockets 606
The detection path of the pachinko ball discharged by the rotation of the sprocket 606, which is swung by the excitation or cancellation of the distribution solenoid 602, is located below the detection path on the prize ball detection switch 604 side or the ball lending detection switch. A flow path switching valve 607 for switching to either one of the detection paths on the side of 603 is provided. Below the payout device 600, there is a prize ball detection switch 604 for detecting the passage of the pachinko balls discharged based on the payout of the prize balls, and for detecting the passage of the pachinko balls discharged based on the payout of the rental balls. A ball rental detection switch 603 is provided.

In this payout device 600, when the prize balls are paid out, the flow path switching valve 607 is set to the state shown in FIG. 5B, so that the pachinko balls discharged by the rotation of the sprocket 606 are transferred to the prize ball detection switch 604. After being detected, the ball is discharged to the downflow gutter 506. Further, when the ball lending is paid out, the flow passage switching valve 607 swings due to the excitation of the distribution solenoid 602, and the state shown in FIG. 5C is reached, and the pachinko ball discharged by the rotation of the sprocket 606 is a ball lending ball. After being detected by the detection switch 603, it is discharged to the downflow gutter 506.

A communication port 10 communicating with the upper plate 7 of the front door 2 is provided below the dispensing device 600.
The pachinko ball dispensed from 00 is dispensed to the upper plate 7 through the communication port 10 and placed.
Further, on the side of this communication port 10, the lowermost end portion is connected to a surplus ball passage 507 which communicates with the lower plate 11 of the front door 2 via the lower plate outlet 9, and is mounted on the upper plate 7. Since the pachinko balls placed are full, the pachinko balls overflowing from the communication port 10 flow down through the surplus ball passage 507 and the lower plate 11
Are to be paid out. In addition, 50 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a full tank switch for detecting a state in which the pachinko balls stored in the lower plate 11 are full and the lower part of the surplus ball passage 507 is blocked by the pachinko balls.

Further, at a lower position of the mechanism plate 500, there is provided an intake ball downflow passage 510 which is connected to an intake ball guide passage 708 which is connected to the intake device 700 through an intake ball inlet 512. The pachinko balls discharged by the intake device 700 flow down the intake ball flow-down passage 510 and are discharged to the out-ball tank on the game island.

Further, at the upper position of the intake ball flow-down passage 510, a return ball guide passage 709 connected from the intake device 700 via a return ball inlet 511 is provided continuously.
A return ball downflow passage 509 is provided, the downstream side end portion of which is connected to the surplus ball passage 507 described above.
The pachinko balls discharged by 00 flow down the return ball flow-down passage 509 and join the surplus ball passage 507, and the lower plate 11
It is designed to be discharged to.

On the front surface of a card unit 800 as a game device which is used in parallel with the slot machine 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, an operation lamp 801, a direction indicator lamp 802, a card receiving lamp 803, and a card insertion slot 80.
4 are provided.

The operation lamp 801 is a card unit 80.
0 is a lamp that lights up to indicate that it is in a usable state. The direction indicator lamp 802 is a card unit 80.
0 is a lamp for indicating the direction of the connected slot machine 1 by lighting, and a card receiving lamp 803.
Is a lamp that lights up to notify that the prepaid card is being accepted in the card insertion slot 804.

Further, the card insertion slot 804 is an insertion slot into which a prepaid card in which a frequency as a game valuable value used as a consideration for lending a pachinko ball is recorded can be inserted, and the prepaid card insertion slot 804 is used. When the card is inserted, the inserted prepaid card is taken into a card reader / writer described later and the recorded information is read.

Inside the card unit 800, a card reader / writer (not shown) for reading and rewriting recorded information of the prepaid card inserted into the card insertion slot 804 as described above is connected to the card insertion slot 804. In addition to being provided, a control unit and the like for controlling the card reader / writer and controlling the operation lamp 801, the direction indicator lamp 802, and the card receiving lamp 803 described above are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit of the card unit 800 and the take-in / out control board 400 of the slot machine 1 arranged in parallel are connected via a signal cable 814. Various signals are transmitted and received between the control unit 800 and the take-in / pay-out control board 400 to lend a ball.

Next, the operation for the player to play a game (game) and the operating conditions of various devices associated with this operation will be described.

When starting the game, a prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 804 of the corresponding card unit 800. Based on this, the frequency read from the inserted prepaid card is displayed on the frequency display unit 301.

When the ball lending button 302a is operated in this state, it is read from the prepaid card and the frequency display portion 301 is displayed.
A predetermined lending unit (10 degrees in the present embodiment) is subtracted from the frequencies displayed in, and the number of balls (250 balls) corresponding to the subtracted frequency is paid out to the upper plate 7.

When the bet number can be set, BE
The T instruction lamp 111 is turned on, and in this state, the operation of the 1BET button 36a and the MAXBET button 36b is valid.

MAXBET button 3 to set the bet number
Press 6b or 1BET button 36a,
The credit displayed on the credit display section 31 is 0
In this case, when the MAXBET button 36b is pressed, the 3BE corresponding to the maximum number of bets allowed in one game from the pachinko ball placed on the upper plate 7 is applied.
Pachinko balls of the number of T's (15 in this embodiment) are taken in to set a bet number of 3 BETs, and 1 BET.
When the button 36a is pressed, the number of balls for 1 BET (5 balls in this embodiment) is taken from the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7, and the number of bets for 1 BET is set. When the number of pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7 is less than 3BET, the range of the bet number that can be set is limited to the range of the number of balls. In addition, among the pachinko balls that have been taken in, the game balls that have become a fraction because they do not reach the unit number are paid out to the upper plate 7 and returned after a predetermined time has elapsed.

When the player operates the 1 BET button 36a, the bet number is set to 1 BET, the pay line L1 in the horizontal row in the middle row is activated, and 1 BET indicating that the pay line L1 is activated. Betting lamp 112
(See FIG. 6) lights up. 1BET button 36a
When is pressed twice, the bet number is set to 2BET,
Top, middle, and bottom rows of three horizontal pay lines L1, L2, L2 '
Becomes effective, and these winning lines L1, L2, L2 '
1 BET betting lamp 112, 2 indicating that
The BET betting lamps 113 and 114 are turned on. 1 in a row
When the BET button 36a is pressed three times or the MAXBET button 36b is pressed, the bet number is 3BE.
It is set to T, and the winning lines L in the upper, middle, and lower rows in three horizontal rows
1, L2, L2 'and two diagonal winning lines L
3 and L3 'become effective, and these winning lines L1 and L
1BE indicating that 2, L2 ', L3, L3' are now valid
T betting lamp 112, 2BET betting lamp 113, 11
The 4 and 3 BET betting lamps 115 and 116 are turned on.
If the maximum number of bets is set to 3BET, the maximum number of bets cannot be set.
The ET instruction lamp 111 is turned off.

When the bet number of 1BET which is at least the minimum number is set as described above, the start lever 3
The start lamp 118 indicating that the operation 8 is effectively received, that is, the game can be started and the operation of the start lever 38 is effectively received is lit.

The number and shape of the activated lines activated according to the set number of bets can be arbitrarily changed and is not limited to the form of this embodiment. Also,
The number of activated lines activated according to the number of bets can be arbitrarily changed, and for example, all the five pay lines L1, L2, L2 ′, L3, L can be set by the bet number setting of 1 BET.
3'may be enabled.

When the settlement button 37 is operated in a state where the number of bets can be set, the pachinko balls for credits are settled and paid out to the upper plate 7, and then the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7. Are discharged to the lower plate 11.

As described above, when the start lamp 118 is lit, that is, the bet number is set to 1 BET or more, and the start lever 38 is pressed while the game can be started, the variable display device 50 is activated. Then, the reels 51L, 51C, 51R rotate, and a plurality of types of symbols are displayed on the see-through window 14 so as to continuously change. As described above, if the predetermined time has elapsed after the rotation of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R was started, each stop button 40
Operation valid lamps 122L, 122C, 122R indicating that the operation of L, 40C, 40R is enabled and the operation of these stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R is enabled.
Lights up. Operation valid lamps 122L, 122C, 12
If the player presses any of the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R while 2R is lit, the corresponding operation valid lamps 122L, 122C, 122R are extinguished and the corresponding reels 51L, 51C, 51.
The rotation of R is stopped, and the symbol is displayed on the corresponding variable display section through the transparent window 14 in the upper, middle, and lower stages.

In addition, the player can use the stop buttons 40L, 4L
If the 0C and 40R are not pressed, the reels 51L and 5L
It automatically stops in the priority order of 1C and 51R.

Then, when the rotation of any two reels out of the three reels is stopped, the same kind of pay lines L1, L2, L2 ', L3, L3' which are activated according to the bet number are displayed. The reach is established when the symbols are stopped and displayed together.

Further, all reels 51L, 51C, 51
When R is stopped, if a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on any of the pay lines L1, L2, L2 ', L3, L3' activated according to the number of bets, the prize is won. , The game effect lamps 130 to 133 (see FIG. 6) built in the various game effect lamp units 41 to 44, and the reel lamps 55 corresponding to the pay lines L1, L2, L2 ', L3, L3' are lit. Together with the speaker 13
6A, 136b, and 137 output effects such as sound effects and the like. Then, a predetermined prize ball corresponding to the winning content is given to the player, credits are added according to the number of prize balls, and the credit display unit 3
1 is also added and updated. Further, when the credit reaches the upper limit value, the prize balls are directly paid out to the upper plate 7. In addition, B corresponding to these award balls
The ET number is displayed on the payout display portion 33.

In addition, especially when a combination of predetermined special symbols is displayed and a big win is won, a prize ball is given to the player and the game state is different from the normal game state. There is a special game state that is advantageous for players, that is, a lot of prize balls can be won
BB and RB, which will be described later, are given to the player as a game value.

The "gaming value" given to the player by winning in this way is not limited to a valuable value such as a prize ball, but is given to the player in the case of a jackpot as described above. It includes all the benefits related to the game such as BB and RB that are granted to the game.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between various boards provided in the slot machine 1 and electric parts. Further, FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the game control unit 210 provided on the game control board 200 as the main control means, and FIG. 8 is a production control board 201 as the first sub control means. It is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the effect control unit 230 provided in, and the configuration of the take-in and pay-out control unit 401 provided in the take-in and pay-out control board 400 as the second sub-control means. .

Of the various boards provided in the slot machine 1, the game control board 200 mainly controls the game state, and the effect control board 201 performs effect control according to the game status, and takes in and pays out control. The board 400 controls the taking-in of pachinko balls, the lending of balls, and the payout control of pachinko balls by the generation of prize balls. In addition, the power supply board 20
Power is supplied to the slot 2 from outside the slot machine 1.
The power supply board 202 is connected with a power supply cord 84 for receiving a power supply of 100 VAC and a main switch 80.

In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, AC is used.
Although it is possible to operate by being supplied with a power supply of 100 V, the present invention is not limited to this, and a power supply of another voltage, for example, the same AC2 as the current pachinko machine is used.
It may be operable by being supplied with a power supply of 4V. By doing so, the slot machine 1 can be installed without changing the power supply facility of the gaming island where the existing pachinko machine is installed. Is also good.

The game control board 200 is a production control board 20.
1, the take-in and pay-out control board 400, the power supply board 202, and the reel relay board 203, and the external output board 205 via the reel relay board 203, and the reel lamp via the effect control board 201. It is connected to the relay board 204.

Game control section 210 of game control board 200
Is an RB signal indicating that the gaming state is the RB state, or a BB signal indicating that the gaming state is the BB state,
The reel relay board 203 includes reel control signals (motor phase signals) for controlling the reel motors 54L, 54C, 54R corresponding to the reels 51L, 51C, 51R.
The output is controlled from the external output board 205 to the outside of the slot machine 1 via. Incidentally, the stop switch 10
The stop switch signal indicating that the operation of 3L, 103C, 103R is performed is a signal directly output from the stop switches 103L, 103C, 103R as described later.

The game control board 200 is connected with various switches, lamps, and wires from the display.

For example, the setting switch 83, the setting key switch 82, and the second reset switch 81, which are wire-connected to the power supply board 202, are relayed by the power supply board 202 and are wire-connected to the game control board 200. The detection signal of is input to the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200.

The reel motors 54L, 54C, 54R and the reel sensor 56, which are wire-connected to the reel relay board 203, are relayed by the reel relay board 203 and wire-connected to the game control board 200.
The detection signal of 6 is the game control unit 21 of the game control board 200.
Input to 0. The reel lamp 55 is relayed by the reel lamp relay board 204 and connected to the effect control board 201 by wiring. When the start condition (input of the detection signal of the start switch 102) is satisfied, the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 is reel motors 54L, 54.
After the control signal is output to C and 54R to start the fluctuation of the reel, the variable display control for deriving and displaying the display result is executed.

Of the switches wired to the game control board 200, the 1BET switch 100 detects the operation of the 1BET button 36a, the MAXBET switch 101 is a switch for detecting the operation of the MAXBET button 36b, and the start switch 102 starts. The left, middle, and right stop switches 103L, 103C, 103R are switches for detecting the operation of the lever 38, and are switches for detecting the operation of the left, middle, right stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R. The settlement switch 104 is a settlement button 3
The first reset switch 105 is a switch that detects the operation of the slot machine 1 by the key inserted into the key hole 3a of the locking device 3.

The game number display unit 108 is a display unit constituting the game number display unit 32. The BET instruction lamp 111 is a lamp built in the BET instruction display unit 30, the 1BET betting lamp 112 is displayed on the 1BET bet display unit 21, and the 2BET bet lamps 113 and 114 are 2BE.
3BET betting lamp 11 is displayed on the T betting display areas 22 and 23.
Reference numerals 5 and 116 are lamps incorporated in the 3BET betting display portions 24 and 25.

The game over lamp 117 is a lamp built in the game over display section 26, the start lamp 118 is a lamp built in the start display section 29, and the replay lamp 119 is a replay display section 2.
It is a lamp built in 7, and a bonus notification lamp 12
Reference numeral 0 is a lamp built in the stop button unit 39. BET button lamp 121a is 1 BET button 3
6a, the BET button lamp 121b is a lamp built in the MAXBET button 36b. The settlement button lamp 123 is a lamp built in the settlement button 37.
The left operation effective lamp 122L is the left stop button 40L.
122C which is a lamp built into the
Is a lamp built in the middle stop button 40C, and the right operation valid lamp 122R is the right stop button 4
It is a lamp built in 0R, and a weight lamp 139.
Is a lamp built in the weight display unit 28.

Various lamps and indicators wired to the game control board 200 are controlled by the game control section 210 mounted on the game control board 200. Also, the game control unit 210 is connected to the game control board 200, or
It receives the detection signals of various switches connected to the game control board 200 via the power supply board 202 or the reel relay board 203, and controls the game state.

As shown in FIG. 7, the game control section 210 provided on the game control board 200 is a CPU (Central Processing U) capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure.
(nit) 211, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 213 that stores a control program of the CPU 211, and a RAM (Random Acc) that can write and read necessary data.
ess memory) 212 and an I / O port 214 for ensuring signal matching between the CPU 211 and an external circuit.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the game control board 2
Reference numeral 00 indicates an initial reset circuit 217 that gives a reset pulse to the CPU 211 when the power is turned on, a clock generation circuit 218 that gives a clock signal to the CPU 211, and a clock signal from the clock generation circuit 218 is divided to periodically generate an interrupt pulse. A pulse frequency dividing circuit (interrupting pulse generating circuit) 219 to be provided to the CPU 211, a random number generating circuit 221 that continuously generates a random number within a fixed range at high speed, and a sampling circuit 222 that samples the random number from the random number generating circuit 221. And a buffer circuit 220 are provided. Further, the game control board 200 is provided with a switch circuit 215 to which signals from various switches are input, a motor circuit 216, and the like.

The RAM 212 has a game count display 10
Information necessary for the game, such as the information to be displayed at 8, the bet number, the internal winning flag, etc., is stored and read out as necessary.

In the ROM 213, in addition to the control program of the CPU 211, each game state (normal game state, BB,
RB) Combination of winning symbols, payout number of medals,
For internal winning lottery tables in which corresponding internal winning flags and the like are set, and internal winning probabilities for each gaming state (normal gaming state, BB, RB) and for each winning combination are sampled in the internal lottery processing described later. An internal winning probability table defined as an allocation range of random numbers is stored.

Further, each reel 5 is stored in the ROM 213.
Each reel 51 for each symbol number of 1L, 51C, 51R
The number of symbols that moves from the stop operation of L, 51C, and 51R until the corresponding reel stops is set according to the gaming state, the setting status of the internal winning flag, the stop order of each reel, and the like. A reel control table (not shown) is stored.

From the game control section 210 of the game control board 200 to the effect control board 201, various commands capable of specifying the game state controlled by the game control section 210 are output via the buffer circuit 220. The buffer circuit 220 allows the output of signals from the inside of the game control board 200 to the outside, but functions to prevent the input of signals from the outside of the game control board 200 to the inside. Therefore, one-way communication from the game control board 200 to the effect control board 201 is secured between the game control board 200 and the effect control board 201, and an illegal signal is sent to the game control board 200 via the command transmission path. It is possible to prevent fraudulent behavior that causes an input to perform an illegal control operation.

From the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 to the take-in and pay-out control board 400, an instruction to take in a pachinko ball via the output circuit 223 and a take-in control command indicating the number of taken-in balls at that time. An instruction for paying out a pachinko ball or a payout control command indicating the number of payout balls at that time is output. On the other hand, the take-in and pay-out control board 400 to the game control board 20
To the game control unit 210 of 0, a take-in completion command indicating that the take-in is completed and a payout completion command indicating that the pay-out is completed are input via the input circuit 224.

As shown in FIG. 7, the start switch 10
The detection signal of 2 is input to the game control unit 210 via the switch circuit 215 and the sampling circuit 22.
Entered in 2. The control unit 210 uses the start switch 1
02, the reel control signal is output via the motor circuit 216. This reel control signal is sent to each reel 51L, 51C, 51R via the reel relay board 203.
It is input to separately provided reel motors 54L, 54C, 54R. Further, the reel control signal is output to the outside of the slot machine 1 via the reel relay board 203 and the external output board 205.

As a result, each reel 51L, 51C, 5
1R begins to fluctuate. In addition, the reel control signal transmission path is the reel motor 54 in the reel relay board 203.
The reel control signal is branched to the L, 54C, 54R side and the external output board 205 side, and the reel control signal output to the external output board 205 side is output from the external output board 205 to the slot machine 1.
Is also output to outside. In this way, the external output board 20
The reel control signal output from 5 is not a signal processed for external output, but reel motors 54L, 54C, 5
It is the signal itself for controlling the drive of the 4R.

On the other hand, the sampling circuit 222 samples one random number from the random number generation circuit 221 at the timing when the detection signal of the start switch 102 is input,
The random number is delivered to the control unit 210. Game control unit 210
Refers to the sampled random number and the internal winning probability table stored in the ROM 213 to execute an internal lottery process for determining whether or not to allow the generation of a prize, thereby allowing the generation of a prize. Whether or not to perform is determined for each winning combination, and the determination result is stored in the RAM 212. As a result, the internal lottery process described later is performed at a timing substantially equal to the timing at which the start operation is performed, and it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won. After that, the game control unit 210 controls the reels according to the winning result for each winning combination.

Further, each stop switch 103L, 10L
The stop switch signals output from 3C and 103R are transmitted through a signal path that reciprocates between the game control board 200, the reel relay board 203, and the external output board 205, and then input to the switch circuit 215 of the game control board 200. . Furthermore, the stop switches 103L, 103C,
The stop switch signal output from 103R is directly
It is configured to be output to the outside via the external output board 205.

The game control section 210 which receives the input of the stop switch signal, the reel motors 54L, 54C, 5 corresponding to the stop switch signal via the motor circuit 216.
A reel control signal for stopping 4R is output. This reel control signal is supplied to the reel motors 54L, 54C, 5
It is input to 4R and is output to the outside of the slot machine 1 via the external output board 205.

The signal output from the external output board 205 can be used, for example, when a third party organization performs a type test. In this type test, for example, it is confirmed whether or not each reel 51L, 51C, 51R corresponding to each stop button 40L, 40C, 40R is stopped within 190 ms after the operation of each stop button 40L, 40C, 40R. In the case of this slot machine 1, since the stop switch signals output from the respective stop switches 103L, 103C, 103R are directly output from the external output board 205, the respective stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40
The timing at which R is operated can be accurately grasped outside the slot machine. Similarly, since the reel control signal output from the motor circuit 216 is directly output from the external output board 205, the start and stop timings of the reels 51L, 51C, and 51R can be accurately grasped outside the slot machine. Therefore, by using the signal output from the external output board 205, “each stop button 40L, 40
Each reel 51L corresponding to each stop button 40L, 40C, 40R within 190 ms from the operation of C, 40R,
An accurate test result can be obtained by performing the "test for whether 51C and 51R stop". In addition, “a configuration in which the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 once captures a signal and then outputs the signal to the external output board 205”
In such a case, there is a possibility that a fraud such as processing and outputting a signal is made on the game control board 200 side, but according to the present embodiment, such fraud can also be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the effect control board 201, game effect lamps 130 to 133 as effect means,
The liquid crystal display 135 and the sound emitting unit 1 that constitute the liquid crystal display unit 15.
Speakers 136a, 1 built in 2a, 12b, 13
36b, 137, fluorescent lamps 138 for illuminating the game panel 6 from the inside are respectively connected, and further reels 51L, 51C, 51R via a reel lamp relay board 204.
The reel lamp 55 built in is connected.

As shown in FIG. 8, on the effect control board 201, the effect control unit 230 and the speakers 136a and 136 are provided.
b, a speaker drive circuit 235 for outputting sound, a display drive circuit 236 for display control of the liquid crystal display 135, and a lamp drive circuit 237 for lighting or blinking various lamps. ing.

The effect control unit 230 has a CPU 231 and a RAM 2 capable of writing and reading necessary data.
32, a ROM 233 for storing a control program, and I
/ O port 234. The RAM 232 stores information necessary for effects accompanying a game, such as a game state based on various commands transmitted from the game control board 200.

The ROM 233 stores a command table storing data capable of specifying the contents of various commands transmitted from the game control board 200, and corresponds to the commands transmitted from the game control board 200. A control pattern table that defines the control pattern of each unit is stored. This control pattern table is
Each game effect lamp 130-134, liquid crystal display 135,
Each speaker 136a, 136b, 137, each fluorescent lamp 13
8 and reel lamps 55 are classified, and when the command is received from the game control board 200, the effect control unit 230 responds to the game state specified by the received command and the effect pattern set at that time. Extracted control pattern, and according to the extracted control pattern, each game effect lamp 130-134 as an effect means,
Liquid crystal display 135, speakers 136a, 136b, 1
37, each fluorescent lamp 138, the reel lamp 55, etc. are controlled.

As shown in FIG. 6, wirings from various switches and indicators are connected to the take-in / out control board 400.

The detection signals of the supply ball detection switch 505 and the full tank switch 508 connected to the intake and payout control board 400 are input to the intake and payout control section 401 of the intake and payout control board 400.

Of the indicators connected to the take-in / payout control board 400, the credit indicator 109 is the indicator constituting the credit display section 31, and the payout indicator 110 is the payout display section 33. It is an indicator. These indicators are controlled by the take-in and pay-out control unit 401 mounted on the take-in and pay-out control board 400.

In addition, in the take-in and pay-out control board 400,
The capture motor 701, the distribution solenoid 702, the capture ball detection switch 704, and the return ball detection switch 705 which constitute the capture device 700 are connected by wiring, and the detection signals from the respective switches of the capture device 700 are collected. The drive control of the take-in motor 701 and the distribution solenoid 702 is input to the take-in and pay-out controller 401, and the take-in and pay-out controller 4 is performed.
01 is implemented.

In addition, in the take-in and pay-out control board 400,
The payout motor 601, the distribution solenoid 602, the ball-renting detection switch 603, and the prize ball detection switch 604 that constitute the payout device 600 are connected by wiring, and the detection signals from the respective switches of these payout devices are taken in and taken out. While being input to 401, drive control of the payout motor 601 and the distribution solenoid 602 is performed by the take-in and pay-out control unit 401.

In addition, in the take-in and pay-out control board 400,
The ball lending switch 811, the return switch 812, and the frequency indicator 813 mounted on the operation board 800 are wired and connected, and as described above, they are used in parallel through the signal cable 814 (see FIG. 2). Card unit 800
The control unit is connected so that various signals can be transmitted and received.

As shown in FIG. 8, the take-in and pay-out control board 400 has a take-in and pay-out control section 401 and switch circuits 412 and 41 to which signals from various switches are input.
3, 415 and the intake motor 70 in the intake device 700
1 and the payout device drive circuit 414 that controls the drive of the distribution solenoid 702, the payout device drive circuit 411 that controls the drive of the payout motor 601 and the distribution solenoid 602 in the payout device 600, and the capture output from the game control board 200. An input circuit 406 to which a control command and a payout control command are input, and an output circuit 40 which outputs a take-in completion command and a payout completion command to the game control board 200.
7. An input / output circuit 410 for inputting / outputting signals to / from the control unit of the card unit 800 is provided.

The payout control unit 401 and the CPU 402 and the RAM 4 capable of writing and writing necessary data.
03, a ROM 404 for storing a control program, and I
/ O port 405.

The RAM 403 stores credits as a valuable value owned by the player, and information necessary for control of taking in and paying out pachinko balls, such as the number of unpaid balls and the number of taken balls. It is read out accordingly.

In the ROM 404, in addition to the above-mentioned processing program, a command in which the number of take-in balls instructed by the take-in control command transmitted from the game control board 200 and the number of pay-out balls instructed by the pay-out control command are registered The table is stored, and the taking-in and paying-out control unit 401 receives the taking-in control command from the game control board 200, and subtracts the credit corresponding to the number of taking-in balls corresponding to the received taking-in control command. By receiving the payout control command as well as performing the processing and the pachinko ball take-in processing, the credit addition processing and the pachinko ball payout processing corresponding to the number of payout balls corresponding to the received payout control command are performed.

In addition, the taking-in / paying-out control unit 401 sets the number of balls corresponding to the subtracted credits or the number of taken-in balls, that is, the number of bets, in the above-mentioned credit subtracting process and pachinko ball taking-in process. The external output control is performed to externally output the sphere IN signal indicating the number of spheres used for this as 1 pulse 1 sphere through the external output substrate 205. In addition, in the above-described credit addition process or pachinko ball payout process, a ball OUT indicating the number of balls corresponding to the added credits or the number of paid-out balls, that is, the number of balls given to the player due to the occurrence of a prize. External output control is performed to output the signal as one pulse per one ball through the external output substrate 205.

In this embodiment, the number of balls taken in and the number of balls paid out of the pachinko ball can be specified externally by the ball IN signal and the ball OUT signal output as one pulse and one ball. The invention is not limited to this. For example, one pulse is provided for every five balls, one pulse is provided for every ten balls, and so on. However, by doing so, the control load required for the external output control can be reduced. In addition, as described above, the ball IN signal and the ball OUT
By making the signal 5 pulses and 1 pulse, the value becomes equal to the value of one medal of the conventional slot machine using the medal, and thus it is possible to apply the conventional hall computer for the slot machine to the slot machine 1. .

The taking-in / paying-out control section 401 inputs / outputs various signals to / from the control unit of the card unit 800 via a switch circuit including a photo coupler provided in the input / output circuit 410 and a signal cable 814 (see FIG. 2). It is designed to perform output, and a platform READY signal (SRDY) indicating that the dispensing is possible from the dispensing control unit 401 and a platform terminal lending completion signal (indicating that the dispensing of the pachinko ball accompanying the ball lending is completed ( EXS) is output to the control unit of the card unit 800, and at the same time, the card unit READY signal (B
RDY) or a base terminal lending request completion confirmation signal (BRQ) indicating a payout request for a ball rental corresponding to one unit (one time), a card unit connection confirmation signal (VL) indicating that the card unit 800 is connected Is input from the control unit of the card unit 800.

Further, a frequency indicator 813 mounted on the operation board 810, a ball lending switch 811, and a return switch 812.
Is connected to the control unit of the card unit 800 via the payout control board 400 and the signal cable 814. The detection signals of the ball lending switch 811 and the return switch 812 are input to the control unit of the card unit 800, and the card is When the display control signal output from the control unit of the unit 800 is input to the frequency display unit 813, the display control of the frequency display unit 813 is performed.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a signal transmission / reception state between the take-in / payout control section 401 of the payout control board 400 and the control unit of the card unit 800 and an operation state of each section. As shown in FIG. 9, the SRD output to the control unit of the card unit 800 in the state in which the payout device 600 can perform the payout and the payout device 600 does not pay the payout.
The Y signal is on and the EXS signal is off, and the BRD input from the control unit of the card unit 800
The Y signal and BRQ signal are turned off. The payout path of the payout device 600 is on the prize ball side, and the payout motor 601 is stopped.

When the ball lending button 302a is operated in this state and the control unit of the card unit 800 detects the ball lending switch 811: on, BR indicating a ball lending processing request
The DY signal is turned on (T1), and subsequently B indicating a ball lending request is displayed.
The RQ signal is turned on (T2). Next, when the ON of the EXS signal indicating that the ball lending operation has started is detected (T
3), the BRQ signal is turned off (T4), and when the off of the EXS signal indicating that the ball lending operation is completed is detected (T5), the BRQ is turned on again,
The on / off control of these BRQ signals is repeatedly performed for the number of ball lending (for this example, 10 degrees), and the BR performed last is performed.
After the ON / OFF control of the Q signal ends, the EXS signal of
When f is detected (T6), the BRDY signal is turned off to indicate the end of the ball lending processing request (T7), and the process associated with the detection of the ball lending switch 811 is ended.

When the payout control unit 401 detects the BRDY signal on and detects the BRQ signal on indicating the ball lending request (T2), the EXS signal is turned on (T3), and the payout path is changed. After changing to the ball lending route side and driving the payout motor 601 to dispense 25 pachinko balls based on one ball lending request, the payout route is returned to the prize ball route side and the EXS signal is turned off. (T5) control is performed. That is, the card unit 800
In the state where the BRDY signal on is detected from the control unit, the 25 balls are paid out every time the BRQ signal on is detected. In the present embodiment, the process of paying out 25 balls, which is equivalent to one unit (one time) of ball lending, is repeated 10 times based on one ball lending operation, and 250 balls are loaned. Although the payout amount is based on the one ball lending operation, the number of payouts of the ball lending based on the one ball lending operation can be changed as appropriate. You may be able to set it.

Next, the game control section 210 in this embodiment.
FIG. 10 shows various control contents executed by the game as the game progresses.
It will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in Sa1, initial setting for preparing for the game start is executed. Especially when the power is turned on, etc., check the connection and operation status of the above-mentioned various devices, check the existence of backup data, and if the backup data exists, restore the state before power-off. Perform processing.

At Sa2, the player is waiting for setting the number of bets using the credit or the pachinko ball placed on the upper plate 7, the number of bets is set, and the number of bets is set when the start lever 38 is pressed. BET processing for confirming is executed. Specifically, 1 BET button 36a or MAX
By pressing the BET button 36b, a take-in control command is transmitted to the take-in / payout control board 400, and a bet number is set by receiving a reply of the take-in completion command, and a bet number of 1 BET or more is set. When the start lever 38 is pressed, the start lever 38 can be pressed,
The number of bets is fixed when is pressed.

When the replay is won in the previous game, the input of the BET buttons 36a and 36b is invalidated, the bet number equal to the bet number in the previous game is set, and the start lever 38 In addition to enabling the pressing operation, the bet number is fixed when the start lever 38 is pressed.

At Sa3, as the game is started by pressing the start lever 38 at Sa2,
An internal lottery process for determining whether or not to win a prize is executed. This internal lottery process means all reels 51
It is executed in order to determine whether or not to allow a prize to be won in a stage before L, 51C and 51R are stopped. That is, the winning is permitted only when the internal winning flag corresponding to any winning won by this lottery is set. That is, the game control unit 210 has a function as a pre-determination unit that determines whether or not to allow winning.

At Sa4, a reel rotation process for rotating each reel 51L, 51C, 51R is carried out at the end of the internal lottery process at Sa3. In this reel rotation process, the error check by the reference position check during the rotation of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R is confirmed at any time by a timer interruption every predetermined time. Also, all reels 51
Stop button 4 when L, 51C and 51R rotate
The pressing operation of 0L, 40C, 40R is made effective, the operation effective lamps 122L, 122C, 122R are turned on, and the timer count for stopping the reel is started.

At Sa5, the player presses the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R or the player presses the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R from the start of the rotation of the reels 51L, 51C, 51R. When the condition for stopping and displaying the symbol is satisfied by the lapse of a predetermined time of 30 seconds without being performed, the stop flag of each reel 51L, 51C, 51R is set, and the stop flag The operation valid lamps 122L, 122C, 122R corresponding to the stop buttons 40L, 40C, 40R that have been pressed based on the setting are turned off, and the corresponding reels 51L, 51C, 51 are also turned off.
A reel stop process for stopping the rotation of R is executed.

At Sa6, when it is determined at Sa5 that the rotation of all the reels 51L, 51C, 51R has been stopped, the display content displayed on the variable display device 50 and the internal winning set at Sa3 are set. The winning determination process is performed to check the content of the flag to determine the winning content, and when it is determined that the winning is achieved, various settings corresponding to the winning content are performed. As the setting contents, for example, the number of prize balls corresponding to the winning contents,
There are settings such as game status and re-game.

At Sa7, a payout process is executed based on the setting contents set corresponding to the winning contents determined at Sa6. Specifically, a payout control command for instructing addition or payout of prize balls awarded by winning is taken in and transmitted to the payout control board 400, and the game state is changed (from the normal game state to the special game state). , Or change from special game state to normal game state, etc.)
The processing for performing is executed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the data transmission / reception status between the game control board 200 and the take-in / payout control board 400 and the processing status of each part when the 1-BET switch 100 or the MAXBET switch 101 is detected in the BET processing. Is.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, with the credit remaining, the 1BET switch 100 or MAXB is set.
When the ET switch 101 is detected, a capture control command for instructing capture of the number of balls required to set the corresponding bet number is fetched from the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 and The information is sent to the payout control board 400. Based on this, the take-in and pay-out control unit 401 mounted on the take-in and pay-out control board 400 confirms whether or not the designated number of credits remains, and when the credits remain, As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the credit for the designated number of balls to be taken is subtracted, and a take-in completion command is returned to the game control board 200. Along with this, the external output control of the ball IN signal indicating the number of balls to be taken in is performed.
On the other hand, the game control board 2 which received the reply of the import completion command
In the game control unit 210 of 00, it is confirmed that the take-in has been normally done, and the corresponding bet number is set.

If the designated number of credits does not remain, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the fetching process for the designated number of balls is executed. In particular,
The capturing instruction signal is output to the capturing device 700, the pachinko balls for the instructed number of capturing balls are captured, and the capturing device detection signal output from the capturing device 700 indicates the instruction. When it is confirmed that the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the number of balls has been confirmed, a capture completion command is returned to the game control board 200. Along with this, the external output control of the ball IN signal indicating the number of balls to be taken in is performed. On the other hand, in the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 that has received the response of the take-in completion command, it is confirmed that the take-in has been normally performed, and the corresponding bet number is set.

When the credits remain, but the credits corresponding to the designated number of balls to be captured do not remain, after subtracting the remaining credits, the process of capturing the required number of pachinko balls is performed. Run.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the data transmission / reception status between the game control board 200 and the take-in / payout control board 400 and the processing status of each part when a prize ball associated with a prize is generated in the payout processing.

First, as shown in FIG. 12, when a prize ball is generated, a payout control command for instructing the payout of the corresponding prize ball is fetched from the game control section 210 of the game control board 200. The information is sent to the payout control board 400. Based on this, the take-in and pay-out control unit 401 mounted on the take-in and pay-out control board 400 confirms whether or not the credit reaches the upper limit by adding the credit for the number of prize balls, and the credit is the upper limit. 12 is not reached,
As shown in (a), add credits for the number of prize balls,
A payout completion command is returned to the game control board 200. Along with this, external output control of the ball OUT signal indicating the number of prize balls is performed. On the other hand, in the game control unit 210 of the game control board 200 that has received the reply of the payout completion command, it is confirmed that the payout has been normally performed, and the process proceeds to the subsequent processing.

In addition, when the credit reaches the upper limit by adding the credit for the number of prize balls, FIG.
As shown in (b), after adding to the credit until the upper limit is reached, a payout process for the number of prize balls that cannot be added to the credit is executed. Specifically, the payout instruction signal is output to the payout device 600 to execute the payout of the pachinko balls, and the award ball detection signal output from the payout device 600 outputs the pachinko balls for the instructed number of balls. When is confirmed, the payout completion command is returned to the game control board 200. Along with this, external output control of the ball OUT signal indicating the number of prize balls is performed. On the other hand, the game control unit 2 of the game control board 200 that has received the reply of the payout completion command.
At 10, it is confirmed that the payout has been normally made, and the corresponding bet amount is set.

As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, the control of the lamp, the liquid crystal display, the speaker, etc. as the production means not directly related to the game is the first sub control means, and the production control board 201. In addition, since the control for taking in and paying out the pachinko balls is performed by the taking-in and paying-out control board 400 which is the second sub-control means, the control load is applied to the effect control board 201 and the taking-in and paying-out control board 400. As a result, the control load on the game control board 200, which is the main control means, can be reduced. Further, since the same control of taking-in and paying-out of the pachinko balls is performed by the same taking-in and paying-out control board 400, the number of boards does not become too large, and the device configuration can be simplified.

In addition, especially for controlling the stepping motor,
By performing the take-in control and the pay-out control of the pachinko balls, which require a relatively high processing capacity, with a board other than the game control board 200, the game control board 200 controls the processing load due to the take-in control and the pay-out control of these pachinko balls. There is no influence on the control of the game state, and it is possible to diversify the game property.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the game control board 200 and the effect control board 201 are capable of only one-way communication from the game control board 200 to the effect control board 201. , The game control board 20 through the command transmission path with the production control board 201
It is possible to prevent an inconvenience that an illegal signal is input to 0 and an illegal operation is performed.

In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the game control board 200 and the take-in / pay-out control board 400 are provided.
Is capable of two-way communication, and thereby, a game control board 200 that controls the game state, and a take-in and pay-out control that performs a take-in control and a pay-out control of a pachinko ball that is directly related to the control of the game state. The data consistency with the substrate 400 can be facilitated.

Further, in particular, the take-in and pay-out control board 400.
When the take-in control or the pay-out control is completed, the take-in completion command and the pay-out completion command indicating that are transmitted to the game control board 200, and the game control board 200 also , Take-in and-out control board 4
It is possible to confirm that the intake control or the payout control performed by 00 is normally completed.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, the pachinko ball given as the prize ball can be stored as the credit which is the valuable value owned by the player, and the addition and subtraction of the credit can be controlled. The take-in and pay-out control board 400 is used. In this way, since the control of credit related to the control of taking in and playing the pachinko ball and the control of paying out are performed by the take-in and pay-out control board 400, it is not necessary to send and receive a command accompanying the control of the credit. Can be simplified.

Further, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can be connected to a card unit 800 as a gaming device capable of accepting a prepaid card which is a recording medium for games, and the prepaid card accepted by the card unit 800 can be used. It is possible to lend a pachinko ball by using the frequency that has been read as a valuable value for a game. Further, since the data transmission / reception with the card unit 800 is performed between the take-in / out control board 400, an illegal signal is directly input to the game control board 200 from the outside. The inconvenience of can be prevented.

Further, in the slot machine of the present embodiment, the output control of the ball IN signal and the ball OUT signal as the game ball related information relating to the taking in and the paying out of the game ball is carried out by the take-in and payout control board 400. The ball IN signal and the ball OUT are directly related to the game ball take-in control and payout control.
The output control of the signals is performed by the take-in / payout control board 400, so that the output control of these signals can be simplified.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions may be made within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, it is included in the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the game control board 200 is used as the main control means, the effect control board 201 is used as the first sub control means, and the take-in / payout control board 400 is used as the second sub control means. Although an example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and a control unit or C for controlling the gaming state as the main control means.
PU (game control unit 210 or CPU 21 in this embodiment)
1) is a control unit or a CPU that controls the rendering means based on the control information received from the main control means as the first sub-control means (in this embodiment, the rendering control section 230 or CP).
U231) is a control unit or a CPU for performing pachinko ball uptake control and pachinko ball payout control based on the control information received from the first sub control unit as the second sub control unit.
(Display control unit 401 or CPU 402 in this embodiment)
May be applied to each. Further, in this case, it is not necessary that each control means is mounted on a separate substrate, and for example, the main control means, the first sub control means, the second control means,
All sub-control means mounted on the same board,
Main control means and first sub-control means mounted on a main board, second sub-control means mounted on the sub-board, main control means mounted on the main board, first sub-control means and first sub-control means The sub-control means may be mounted on a sub-board, or the like.

In the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, the game control board 200 and the effect control board 201 are only capable of one-way communication from the game control board 200 to the effect control board 201. Is not limited to this, and these game control board 200 and effect control board 201 may be capable of bidirectional communication.

In the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, the game control board 200 and the take-in / pay-out control board 400 are provided.
Although the two-way communication is possible, the present invention is not limited to this, and one-way communication may be performed from the game control board 200 to the take-in and pay-out control board 400.

In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, the credit addition / subtraction control is the take-in / pay-out control board 4.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the game control board 200 may perform addition / subtraction control of these credits.

Further, the slot machine 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment,
It is used in parallel with the card unit 800, and pachinko balls are lent based on the frequency of prepaid cards inserted into these card units 800, and games are played using these lent pachinko balls. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example,
Slot machine 1 for a cash ball lending machine that pays out pachinko balls equivalent to the amount of money by accepting money.
May be installed in parallel, and a game in the slot machine 1 can be played using the pachinko balls paid out by the cash ball lending machine installed in parallel. Further, the slot machine 1 is separately installed without arranging the card unit 800 and the cash ball lending machine side by side, and the game is played in the slot machine 1 by using the pachinko balls that have been lent at a predetermined place in the game arcade. May be enabled. In the slot machine used in this way, the ball lending button 30 provided on the front surface 7b of the upper plate 7
2a, the return button 302b, and the frequency display unit 301 may not be provided.

In the slot machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, signals are exchanged between the control unit of the card unit 800 and the loading / dispensing control board 400 of the slot machine 1 to lend a ball. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the card unit 8
The control unit of 00 and the game control board 200 may exchange signals to lend a ball.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the frequency as the game valuable value specified by the prepaid card as the game recording medium is recorded in the prepaid card, and the frequency is specified by reading this. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be recorded and registered in both the prepaid card and a management computer that manages these prepaid cards, and the frequencies of both of these may be checked at the time of use. Only the ID may be recorded on the prepaid card, and the frequency registered in the management computer may be specified based on the ID.

In the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, the output control of the game ball related information such as the ball IN signal and the ball OUT signal is carried out by the take-in and pay-out control board 400, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is not limited to this, and the game control board 200 may perform output control of the ball IN signal and the ball OUT signal.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, the display of the credit display portion 31 and the payout display portion 33 is arranged to be displayed in BET units corresponding to five pachinko balls. The present invention is not limited to this, and these may be displayed in units of spheres.

In the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, when the credits are displayed, that is, the credits are stored, the bet amount is set using these stored credits and the credit is 0. In this case, the pachinko ball of the upper plate 7 is taken in and the number of bets is set, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a credit function is not provided, The number of bets may be set using only the pachinko balls placed on the upper plate 7.

In the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, the credit stored as the valuable value owned by the player can store the upper limit value of 50 (250 balls). The present invention is not limited to this, and these upper limit values may be appropriately changed, and further, the credit may not have an upper limit value.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, the maximum bet is not set, and the MAXBET is set.
The pachinko ball taken in by operating the button 36b or the 1-BET button 36a is used for setting the bet number, and in the state where the maximum bet number is set,
MAXBET button 36b or 1BET button 36a
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the maximum bet number is set, the MAXBET button 36b or 1
The pachinko ball taken in by operating the BET button 36a may be stored as a credit. Alternatively, the number of credit balls may be added to all of the pachinko balls taken in, and the bet number may be set using the number of credit balls added by the acquisition of these pachinko balls.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the minimum bet number 1B is used as the operation portion for taking in the pachinko balls of the upper plate 7.
1BET button 36a that can capture pachinko balls for ET
And a MAXBET button 36b capable of taking in a maximum of 3 bets of pachinko balls are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and 3 or more depending on the designated number of take-ins. The operation unit, for example, a 1BET button that can take in 1BET of pachinko balls, a 2BET button that can take in 2BETs of pachinko balls, and a 3BET button that can take in 3BETs of pachinko balls should be provided separately. May be.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of the above embodiment, as the payout device, the motor type payout device 600 for paying out the pachinko balls in the sprocket rotating in synchronization with the drive rotation of the motor is applied. The invention is not limited to this, and for example, a pachinko ball payout device may be applied by opening a pachinko ball payout passage by exciting a solenoid.

Further, the dispensing device of the above-mentioned embodiment is applied with the two-row type dispensing device 600 for paying out the pachinko balls supplied from the two supply passages, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of one, a one-row dispenser or a three-row dispenser or more may be applied.

Further, in the slot machine 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, the motor type take-in device 700 for taking in the pachinko balls in the sprocket rotating in synchronization with the drive rotation of the motor is applied as the take-in device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a solenoid-type take-in device that takes in a pachinko ball by opening the take-in passage of the pachinko ball by exciting the solenoid may be applied. Further, the pachinko ball is made to stand by in the standby groove of the cylindrical rotor provided with a plurality of standby grooves capable of waiting a predetermined number of pachinko balls on the outer periphery, and by rotating this rotor, the standby is made in the standby groove. A capturing device capable of capturing a pachinko ball may be applied.

The two-row uptake device 700 for taking in the pachinko balls supplied from the two-way supply passage is applied to the uptake device of the above-mentioned embodiment, but the present invention is applicable to this. The present invention is not limited to this, and a one-row type take-in device or a three-way type or more take-in device may be applied.

The respective elements in the above embodiment correspond to the present invention as follows.

According to claim 1 of the present invention, a game can be started by setting a bet number for one game using a game ball (pachinko ball), and a display state can be changed. One game ends when the display result of the display device 50 is derived and displayed, and in the slot machine 1 using the game balls capable of generating a predetermined prize according to the display result of the variable display device 50, The main control means (game control board 200) for controlling and the main control means (game control board 200) are connected so as to be able to perform data communication, and the effect means (game effect lamps 130 to 13).
4, liquid crystal display 135, each speaker 136a, 136
b, 137, each fluorescent lamp 138, reel lamp 55), and a first sub-control unit (production control board 201),
It is connected to the main control means (gaming control board 200) in a data communicable manner and controls the taking-in of gaming balls (pachinko balls) used to set the number of bets and gaming balls (pachinko balls) when a winning occurs. And a second sub-control unit (acquisition and withdrawal control board 400) for performing the withdrawal control.

In claim 2 of the present invention, the main control means (game control board 200) and the first sub control means (production control board 201) are the main control means (game control board 200) to the first Only one-way communication to one sub control unit (production control board 201) is possible.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the main control means (game control board 200) and the second sub control means (acquisition and payout control board 400) are capable of bidirectional communication.

A fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a valuable value accumulating means capable of accumulating the value of a valuable value (credit) owned by the player as data, and the second sub-control means (acquisition and payout control board). 400) controls the valuable value storage means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the main control means (game control board 200) is to that effect when a predetermined take-in condition (betting number setting operation) or pay-out condition (occurrence of prize balls) is satisfied. Control information (acquisition control command, withdrawal control command) of the second sub-control means (acquisition and withdrawal control board 4)
00), and the second sub-control means (acquisition and withdrawal control board 400) performs acquisition control or withdrawal control based on the reception of the control information (acquisition control command, withdrawal control command) After completion of control or payout control, control completion information (acquisition completion command, payout completion command) is returned to the main control means (game control board 200).

According to claim 6 of the present invention, the second sub-control means (the take-in and pay-out control board 400) can specify a valuable value (frequency) for a game that can be used for lending a game ball (pachinko ball). Game device (card unit 8) capable of accepting a game recording medium (prepaid card) on which various information is recorded.
00), and a predetermined lending process (ball lending process) can be executed based on the received record information of the game recording medium (prepaid card).

According to claim 7 of the present invention, the second sub-control means (acquisition and payout control board 400) is a game ball related information (sphere IN signal, regarding the intake and the payout of the game ball (pachinko ball)). Output control of the sphere OUT signal) is performed.

[0171]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the invention of claim 1, the production means is controlled by the first sub-control means, and
Since the game ball take-in control and payout control are performed by the second sub-control means, the control load is the first sub-control means and the second sub-control means.
Since it is distributed to the sub control means, the control load of the main control means can be reduced. Further, since the game ball take-in control and the game ball payout control are performed by the same second sub-control means, the number of control means does not increase too much, and the device configuration can be simplified.

(B) According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as inputting an illegal signal from the first sub control means to the main control means.

(C) According to the invention of claim 3, the main control means for controlling the game state and the second control for taking in and paying out the game balls which are directly related to the control of the game state.
Consistency with the sub control means can be facilitated.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, the second sub-control means controls the valuable value accumulating means related to the take-in control and the payout control of the game balls, thereby accumulating the valuable value. The control can be simplified.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, it can be confirmed that the main control means has completed the game ball take-in control and payout control performed by the second sub-control means.

(F) According to the invention of claim 6, since the connection with the game device is made with the second sub control means, an illegal signal is directly inputted from the outside to the main control means. It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as being caused.

(G) According to the invention of claim 7, the output control of the game ball is simplified by the output control of the game ball related information related to the take-in control and the payout control of the game ball. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a slot machine using a pachinko ball of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a front door of the slot machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of a mechanism plate provided on a back surface of a front door of the slot machine of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of an intake device applied to the slot machine of the present embodiment,
(B) (c) is sectional drawing which shows the taking in (returning) condition by the said taking in apparatus.

FIG. 5A is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of a payout device applied to the slot machine of the present embodiment,
(B) (c) is sectional drawing which shows the delivery condition by the said delivery apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing signal exchange between the take-in / pay-out control board and the control unit of the card unit in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a game progressing process executed by the game control section of the game control board in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing data exchange between the game control board and the take-in / pay-out control board in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing data exchange between the game control board and the take-in / pay-out control board in the slot machine of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 slot machine 2 front door 3a keyhole 4 frame 5 winning symbol explanation panel 6 game panel 7 upper plate 7a upper surface 7b front face 9 lower plate dispensing hole 10 communication port 11 lower plate 12a, 12b sound emitting part 13 sound emitting part 14 transparent window 15 liquid crystal display unit 16 return lever 21 1BET betting display unit 22, 23 2BET betting display unit 24, 25 3BET betting display unit 26 game over display unit 27 replay display unit 28 weight display unit 29 start display unit 30 BET instruction display unit 31 credit Display unit 32 Number of games display unit 33 Payout display unit 36a 1BET button 36b MAXBET button 37a Settlement button 37b Automatic credit button 38 Start lever 39 Stop button units 40L, 40C, 40R Stop buttons 41 to 44 Game effect lamp unit 50 Variable display device 51L , 51C, 51R reel 53 concealing member between reels 54L, 54C, 54R reel motor 55 reel lamp 56 reel sensor 64 power supply unit 80 main switch 81 second reset switch 82 setting key switch 83 setting switch 84 power cord 100 1BET switch 101 MAXBET switch 102 Start switch 103L, 103C, 103R Stop switch 104 Settlement switch 105 First reset switch 106 Automatic credit switch 108 Number of games display 109 Credit display 110 Payout display 111 BET indicator lamp 112 1BET bet lamp 113, 114 2BET bet lamp 115, 116 3BET betting lamp 117 Game overramp 118 Start lamp 119 Replay lamp 120 Bonus notification lamp 121a, 121b BET button lamp 122L, 122C, 122R Operation valid lamp 123 Settlement button lamp 124 Automatic credit button lamp 130-133 Game effect lamp 135 Liquid crystal display 136a, 136b, High-pitched speaker 137 Low-pitched speaker 138 Fluorescent lamp 139 Weight lamp 200 Game control board 201 Production control board 202 Power board 203 Reel relay board 204 Reel lamp relay board 205 External output board 210 Game control section 211 CPU 212 RAM 213 ROM 214 I / O port 215 Switch circuit 216 Motor circuit 217 Initial Reset circuit 218 Clock generation circuit 219 Pulse division circuit 220 Buffer circuit 221 Random number generation circuit 222 Sampling circuit 223 Backup power supply 2 24 display driver 225 drive driver 230 effect control unit 231 CPU 232 RAM 233 ROM 234 I / O port 235 speaker drive circuit 236 display drive circuit 237 lamp drive circuit 238 backup power supply 301 frequency display unit 302a ball lending button 302b return button 400 capture And payout control board 401 take-in and pay-out control section 402 CPU 403 RAM 404 ROM 405 I / O port 406 input circuit 407 output circuit 410 input / output circuit 411 payout device drive circuit 412 switch circuit 413 switch circuit 414 take-in device drive circuit 415 Switch circuit 416 Indicator drive circuit 500 Mechanism plate 501 Ball storage tank 502 Induction gutter 503 Ball drain valve 504 Ball supply passage 505 Ball supply switch 506 Ball flow down gutter 507 Surplus ball passage 508 Full tank Itch 509 Return ball downflow passage 510 Intake ball downflow passage 511 Return ball inflow port 512 Intake ball inflow port 513 Ball removal passage 516 Curve trough 600 Discharge device 601 Discharge motor 602 Distributing solenoid 603 Ball rental detection switch 604 Prize ball detection switch 606 Sprocket 607 Flow path switching valve 700 Acquisition device 701 Acquisition motor 702 Distribution solenoid 703 Acquisition preparation ball switch 704 Acquisition ball detection switch 705 Return ball detection switch 706 Sprocket 707 Flow path switching valve 708 Acquisition ball guide passage 709 Return ball guide passage 710 Loading preparation ball passage 800 Card unit 801 Operation lamp 802 Direction indicator lamp 803 Card receiving lamp 804 Card insertion slot 810 Operation board 811 Ball lending switch 812 Return switch 813 Frequency display 814 Signal cable L1, 2, L2 ', L3, L3' pay line

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game can be started by setting a bet number for one game using a game ball, and
One game ends when the display result of the variable display device that can change the display state is derived and displayed, and a game ball that can generate a predetermined prize according to the display result of the variable display device is used. In the slot machine, main control means for controlling a game state, data communication with the main control means is possible, first sub control means for controlling the effect means, and data communication with the main control means are possible. And a second sub-control means for controlling the take-in of the game balls used to set the bet number and the pay-out control of the game balls when a winning occurs, and the game ball is used. Slot machine. 2. The game ball according to claim 1, wherein the main control means and the first sub control means are capable of only one-way communication from the main control means to the first sub control means. Slot machine using. 3. The slot machine using a game ball according to claim 1, wherein the main control means and the second sub control means are capable of bidirectional communication. 4. A valuable value accumulating means capable of accumulating the value of a valuable value owned by a player as data, wherein the second sub-control means controls the valuable value accumulating means. A slot machine using any of the game balls. 5. The main control means sends control information to that effect to the second sub-control means when a predetermined take-in condition or pay-out condition is met, and the second sub-device receives the control information. The control means performs the take-in control or the payout control, and returns the control completion information to the main control means after the completion of the take-in control or the payout control. Was a slot machine. 6. The second sub-control means is connectable to a game device capable of receiving a game recording medium in which information for identifying a game valuable value usable for renting a game ball is recorded. The predetermined lending process can be executed based on the received record information of the game recording medium.
A slot machine using the game ball according to any one of 5 to 5. 7. The slot machine using a game ball according to claim 1, wherein the second sub-control means controls the output of game ball related information relating to the taking in and paying out of the game ball.