JP2003310897A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved pachinko game machine which does not give frustrations to a player even when a large amount of game balls are pay out. <P>SOLUTION: The machine includes a shooting motor M1 for shooting the balls, and game ball control parts 44 and 45 for controlling the operation of the motor M1. A pay-out control board 44 constituting the game ball control parts 44 and 45 includes a speed change means which confirms that a game is changed into a big prize-winning game based on a control command from a main control board 40, and changes-over the frequency of a clock signal to be supplied to the shooting control board 45 into a low frequency, in order to change a shooting operation by the shooting motor M1 to be performed at low speed in response to the confirmation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball-and-ball game machine capable of shortening the waiting time felt by a player to the utmost, and is particularly preferably applied to an arrange ball machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Arrange ball machines are usually equipped with a multi-inlet ball entrance having 16 entrances arranged in a horizontal row at the bottom of a game board and a launching device for launching a game ball onto the game board. It is provided and configured. Then, 16 game balls are fired for each game by the launching device, and the winning combination is determined by the combination of the ball entrances into which the game balls enter, and the 16 game balls enter the ball entrance. Check the ball and finish one game.

When a game ball enters the consecutive entrances, for example, one point is given every four consecutive entrances, and the obtained score × 16 game balls. Are being paid out as prize balls. Note that there is a limit to the maximum score in one game (for example, 10 points).
Points), if you reach this maximum score in the middle of the game, you will not be able to get any more points. In addition, the prize ball operation requires a processing time as much as mechanically performed by the rotating operation of the payout device, and if 160 game balls corresponding to the highest score, for example, a time of about 8.5 seconds It will be consumed.

[0004]

By the way, in such an arrange ball machine, it is not possible to shift to the next game unless the payout operation is completed due to the legal regulations, which may give the player a feeling of frustration. It was For example, in a jackpot game in which a large number of game balls are scheduled to be paid out, the maximum score can be obtained relatively easily. For example, when the maximum score is reached by the first few game balls, The player feels that the waiting time until the next game is very long.

Explaining this point with reference to FIG. 10, for example, when the highest score is reached with the first three game balls, even if the prize ball operation is started thereafter, 16 game balls are provided. You'll have to wait quite some time after you've fired. For example, if we estimate the interval between shots of a game ball to be 0.5 seconds and the time from the launch of a game ball to 2 seconds, it will take only 0.5 × 2 + 2 = 3 seconds to reach the maximum score. Since the payout operation of the game balls thereafter takes about 8.5 seconds, the firing stop time is 3 + 8.
It becomes 5-15 × 0.5 = 4 seconds, which means that the player waits for 4-2 = 2 seconds even after the last game ball is confirmed.

In the first place, since a large number of amusement balls can be expected during the big hit game, it is a human feeling that the player wants to quickly shift to the next game, and during the big hit game. However, if it gives an irritating feeling, the playability of the arrange ball machine may be spoiled. Although a measure to increase the operating speed of the payout device is conceivable, the operating speed is limitless in order to secure an accurate prize ball operation as long as the game ball is actually paid out by a mechanical operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an improved ball game machine which does not give a player a feeling of frustration even when a large amount of game balls are paid out. The challenge is to provide.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a launching device for launching a game ball, and a game ball control section for controlling the operation of the launching device. In the ball game machine, the game ball control unit has a speed changing means for switching the launching operation by the launching device to a low speed side in response to a transition to a game state in which more game balls than usual are scheduled to be paid out. Is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is a bullet-ball game machine including a launching device for launching a game ball and a game ball control unit for controlling the operation of the launching device, wherein the game ball control unit is There is provided speed changing means for switching the shooting operation by the shooting device to the low speed side in response to the start of the payout operation of the game ball. Here, "recognizing the payout movement of the game ball" includes not only recognition of the fact that the payout movement is actually performed but also recognition of that the payout movement is supposed to be performed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 1, this arrangement ball machine is configured such that a front frame 2 is pivotally attached to a front side of a device body 1 so as to be openable and closable. A glass door 3 and a front plate 4 are attached to the front frame 2, and a game board 5 is detachably attached to the rear side thereof.

An upper plate 6 is mounted on the front plate 4, and a ball wiping lever 7 is provided at the front edge of the upper plate 6. Front frame 2
A lower plate 8 and an operating handle 10 for the launching device 9 are provided at the lower part of the upper plate 6 when the operating handle 10 is operated.
The game balls are supplied to the launching unit one by one, and the game balls are launched on the game board 5 by the operation of the launching motor.

On the front of the game board 5, as shown in FIG.
A guide rail 11 for guiding a game ball shot by the launching device 9 is provided, and a central entrance surrounded by the guide rail 11 has a sky entrance 12, a variable symbol display device 13, a central entrance device 14, and an entrance. Ball entrance 15, top left entrance entrance 16, right upper score increasing device 17, left and right passage 18,1
9, game parts such as a lower left starting ball entrance 20, a lower right ball entrance 21 and the like are arranged, and a lower ball entrance device 22 is provided below these game parts.
Are arranged, and an obstacle nail group is provided between the lower ball entrance device 22 and each game component.

The lower ball entrance device 22 includes 16 ball entrances EN.
T (1) to ENT (16) are provided in a horizontal row, and
A lower display device 30 is provided. Lower display device 30
Is the 16 entrances ENT (1) to E of the lower entrance device 22
The display lamps 31 corresponding to NT (16) are arranged in a row in a row, and the game balls that are fired are in any of the entrance ports ENT.
When (1) to ENT (16) is entered, the corresponding display lamp 31 is turned on to display the numbers 1 to 16. In addition, on the upper right of the game board 5, a score display unit 32 for displaying the winning score is arranged.

The variable symbol display device 13 has three symbol display portions 23, 24, 25, and a starting entrance 20 for starting.
When a game ball enters, the symbols displayed on the symbol display sections 23, 24, 25 are changed for a predetermined time. And
When the stopped symbols of the symbol display portions 23, 24, 25 after the change become a predetermined winning symbol combination (for example, "7/7/7"), the opening / closing plate 26 of the central entrance device 14 is opened. It is like this. It should be noted that three passages are provided inside the central ball entrance device 14, and the central passage is set in the operation area 27.

After the central ball entrance device 14 is opened, when the first game ball passes through the operation area 27 of the central ball entrance device 14, it becomes a big hit state and a predetermined game including the game (eg, 14 games).
Over, the entrance 15 and the lower right entrance 21 become effective, and when a game ball enters these entrances 15, 21,
The score increasing device 17 is opened. When a game ball enters the score increasing device 17, the score is doubled only for that game.

In this embodiment, each entrance 12, 16, 2
The entrance to 0 is the second entrance E of the lower entrance device 22.
NT (2) is the 7th entrance E into the entrance 15.
NT (7), the entrance to the entrance 21 is the 14th entrance ENT (14), the entrance to the score increase device 17 is 5,
6th, 8th and 9th entrance entrances ENT (5), ENT (6),
In ENT (8), ENT (9), the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 9th entry holes ENT (4), EN
The same treatment as when entering the ball at T (5) and ENT (8) is performed, and the corresponding display lamps 31 of the lower display device 30 are turned on.

Although 16 game balls are used in one game, when the player enters all four consecutive entrances ENT (i), the winning points are scored according to the difficulty of the establishment, and the points are scored. It is displayed on the display unit 32. In principle, the winning score is 1
Regarding points, when the player continuously enters the entrances ENT (6) to ENT (9), the number of points is calculated to be 3 in particular. Then, 16 gaming balls are paid out for each winning score, but the maximum winning score is 10 points for one game, and up to 160 winning balls are paid out.

Now, consider a big hit game. After the central winning device 14 is opened, when the game balls pass through the operation area 27 and become a big hit state, the ball entrance 15 and the lower right entrance 21
Is enabled. In a game like this,
When the first game ball enters the entrance 15, the display lamp of the entrance ENT (7) is turned on in response to the entry and the score increasing device 17 is opened.

Next, the second game ball is a score increasing device 17
When entering the ball, four entrances ENT (5), ENT
The four display lamps corresponding to (6), ENT (8), and ENT (9) are turned on, and the score of this game is doubled. Further, assuming that the third game ball enters the entrance ENT (10), the three game balls result in ENT (5), ENT (6), and ENT.
(7), ENT (8), ENT (9), ENT (10)
It will be treated the same as entering the ball.

In this case, the score calculation is ENT (5) -E.
1 point for NT (8), 3 for ENT (6) -ENT (9)
Points, 1 point for ENT (7) to ENT (10), and each score is doubled by the operation of the score increasing device 17, resulting in a total of 1
It will be counted as 0 points.

Thus, by the first three game balls,
This means that 160 (= 10 points x 16) prize balls will be obtained, and if it is a conventional arrange ball machine, then the remaining 1
Although there is a fairly long waiting time after the three game balls have been fired, such a long waiting time does not occur in this embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, the number N (16) of game balls required for one game, the minimum number n (3) of game balls required to obtain the maximum number of game balls (160), and the maximum number of game balls. Based on the number payout time T, the firing time interval τ0 of the game ball in the big hit game is τ0 ≦ T / (N−n),
Since it is determined as τ0≈T / (N−n), the waiting time felt by the player is extremely short.

This point will be described with reference to FIG. now,
It can be considered that the time from the start of the game until the third game ball enters the entrance is τ0 × (n−1) + τ1. It should be noted that τ0 is a shooting interval of the game balls during the big hit game, and τ1 is an average time from the game ball shooting to the ball entry. The minimum number of game balls n required to obtain the maximum number of prize balls (160) is three in this embodiment. When the time required to pay out the maximum number of prize balls is T, the time from the start of this game to the end of the game (that is, the time from the start of this game to the start of the next game) is T
It becomes + (tau) 0x (n-1) + (tau) 1 ... (Formula 1).

On the other hand, when the player confirms that the last (16th) game ball has entered, he feels that the game has ended, but in the game, the first game ball is launched to the last game ball. The time consumed until the ball enters is τ0
X (N-1) + [tau] 1 (Equation 2). Therefore, the waiting time from when the player feels that the game has ended to when the next game starts is calculated as the difference between (Equation 1) and (Equation 2), and T + τ0 × (n-1) + τ1- {τ
0 × (N−1) + τ1}. If this is arranged, the waiting time felt by the player is T−τ0 (N−n).

However, in this embodiment, during the big hit game, τ0≈T / (N-) under the condition of τ0≤T / (N-n).
n) is set. Therefore, the waiting time of the player becomes almost zero even when 10 points are obtained by the first three game balls. In the case where the highest score is obtained from the three i-th game balls (in an exceptional case), the waiting time of the player is T-τ0 (N-
i), but since τ0≈T / (N−n), the waiting time felt by the player is T × (i−n) even in this case.
/ (N-n).

Substituting a concrete numerical value into the above equation, in the case of the embodiment, since n = 3 and N = 16, the waiting time felt by the player is T × (i-3) / 13 at worst. Is.
Normally, 1 is triggered by the entry of the i-th game ball.
Since the payout operation of 60 pieces is not started and the prize ball operation is started before that, naturally the waiting time is less than T × (i−3) / 13. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the waiting time is the same as the conventional one even in an exceptional case where the highest score is obtained by the last fourteenth to sixteenth game balls. When the points are obtained, the waiting time felt by the player is shortened accordingly, and the player is not irritated.
Also, the firing time interval changes by only about 23% (as will be described later, F1 = 73.62 Hz, F2 = 95.
It does not break the player's game rhythm or give a sense of discomfort.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an arrange ball machine that realizes the above operation. The illustrated arrangement ball machine is a main control board 40 that mainly controls the game operation, a lamp control board 41 that blinks the lamps, a symbol control board 42 that controls the operation of the variable symbol display device 20, and a voice. Sound control board 43 for realizing a realistic game effect, a payout control board 44 for paying out a game ball, a launch control board 45 for launching a game ball under the control of the payout control board 44, and a game ball for receiving a prepaid card. Is mainly composed of a card unit 46 for lending a credit card and a frequency display board 47 for driving a balance display portion of a prepaid card.

The main control board 40, the lamp control board 41, the symbol control board 42, the voice control board 43, and the payout control board 44 are each composed of a computer circuit having a one-chip microcomputer, and each sub control board 41 to 41. 44
Realizes individual control operations based on a control command CMD from the main control board 40.

The control command CMD transmitted from the main control board 40 to the payout control board 44 is a "prize ball command" for designating the payout of 16 game balls and a "firing stop command" for designating the stop of the shooting operation. , A "restart firing command" that specifies the restart of the firing operation, a "guidance increase device operation command" that indicates that the jackpot game has started, and a "guidance increase device end command" that indicates that the jackpot game has ended. It is composed of.

In the case of an arrangement ball machine, one shot
1 when all 6 game balls enter any of the entrances
The game is complete. Therefore, the main control board 40 is
When the 16th game ball is detected to be emitted in the game, a "fire stop command" is transmitted to the payout control board 44, and the payout control board 44 receives this command, The firing action is prohibited. In addition, the main control board 40 performs a determination process for determining a winning combination each time a game ball enters the ball entrance, and when there is a winning ball associated with the establishment of a winning combination, the payout control board 44 is provided. , The "prize ball command" is transmitted as many times as the number of prize balls. If there are no prize balls, a "launch restart command" is transmitted to the payout control board 44 after confirming that the 16 game balls have entered the ball entrances. Sends a "prize ball command", confirms the payout of the prize ball (receives a payout completion signal from the payout control board 44), and then transmits a "firing restart command".

On the payout control board 44, "prize ball command"
When receiving, the payout motor M0 is driven to execute the payout operation of the required number of game balls. And the payout control board 44
When the payout of all prize balls is confirmed, the main control board 40
To the firing control board 4 on the condition that the payout completion signal is transmitted to the main control board 40 and the "launch restart command" is received from the main control board 40.
The game ball launch operation in 5 is permitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the payout control board 44 supplies the firing control board 45 with the firing signal SG and the firing clock signal Φck in addition to the AC and DC voltages. The firing clock signal Φck is a drive pulse (ΦA, ΦB, which drives the firing motor M1 which is a stepping motor).
ΦA bar, ΦB bar) is a reference clock for generating
During the normal game, the firing clock signal Φck of the frequency F1 (≈95.238 Hz) is output.
On the other hand, when the “guidance increasing device operation command” is received from the main control board 40, the frequency F2 lower than the frequency F1 is received until the “guidance increasing device end command” is received.
The firing clock signal Φck ′ of (≈73.620 Hz) is output. By such operation, during the normal game,
The firing cycle of the game ball is τ, while the jackpot game realizes a firing cycle τ0 longer than the normal firing cycle τ.

In this way, in this embodiment, the frequency of the firing clock signal is changed according to the control command received from the main control board 40 at the start of the game operation,
Although it has a simple structure, it is possible to prolong the firing cycle of the game ball during the big hit game, and to minimize the waiting time felt by the player.

Next, the reason why the frequency of the firing clock signal during the normal game is set to about 95.2 Hz will be described. In the case of an arrange ball machine, after confirming that N (16 in the embodiment) game balls have been fired for each game, it is confirmed that the N game balls that have fired have entered the ball entrance. The firing pause time of t0 (about 2 seconds) occurs before confirmation. Now, assuming that the shooting cycle of the game balls in the normal game is τ, the time required for one game is N × τ + t0 seconds. Therefore,
The number of games per minute is 60 / (N × τ + t0), and the total number of shots per minute is 60 / (N × τ + t).
0) × N.

Therefore, in order to limit the total number of shots per minute to about 100 balls in accordance with legal regulations, 100 is required.
> 60 / (N × τ + t0) × N is required, and in the end, τ> 3 / 5-t0 / N. In the previous equation, t0 = 2, N
By substituting = 16, the firing cycle τ of the game ball in the normal game is τ> 19/40 = 0.475. Therefore,
In this embodiment, the reference clock is set to about F1 = 95.2 Hz to generate the drive pulse (pulse cycle 1/9).
(5.2 seconds), at the stage of supplying 48 steps of this drive pulse, the game ball is set to be launched. That is, the firing period τ in the normal game is τ = 48 × 1/9
5.2 (≈0.504 seconds), and τ> 0.4 described above.
The condition of 75 seconds is satisfied.

On the other hand, during the big hit game, as described above, the reference clock of F2 = 73.62 Hz is supplied, so that the drive pulse (pulse cycle 1/73. By firing a game ball every 48 steps of (62 seconds), a firing speed of about 0.652 mS (= 48 / 73.62 seconds) is realized. In the case of this embodiment, the time T required to pay out 160 game balls is
Since it is about 8.5 seconds, T / (N−n) calculated from the above (Formula 4) is 8.5 / (16−3) = 0.6.
538, which satisfies the condition of τ0 ≦ T / (N−n) (Equation 4) in relation to the firing cycle τ0 = 0.652 mS.

By the way, the firing signal SG supplied from the payout control board 44 to the firing control board 45 is the firing motor M1.
Is a signal for switching the driving state to the non-driving state. When the prepaid card unit 46 is not connected, or until the "launch restart command" is received after receiving the "launch stop command" from the main control board 40, The firing motor M1 is in the non-driving state by the level signal. In this embodiment, the connection between the prepaid card unit 46 and the payout control board 44 is checked by the DC voltage VL from the prepaid card unit 46.

The firing control board 45 generates drive pulse signals (ΦA, ΦB, ΦA bar, ΦB bar) based on the firing clock signal Φck received from the payout control board 44, and a positive DC voltage (common signal COM). It is also supplied to the firing motor M1. As explained above, during the normal game,
A drive pulse is generated from a reference clock Φck of about 95.2 Hz, and when the drive pulse is supplied to the firing motor M1 for 48 steps, the game ball is fired. When the firing signal is at the L level, the driving pulse is not output, so the firing motor M1 is in the non-driving state.

The firing control board 45 is also connected to the two stop switches SW1 and SW2. Here, the stop switch SW1 is provided at a position that can be pressed inward from the outer periphery of the firing handle 10 (see FIG. 9), and the stop switch SW2 is provided at a position on the left side of the upper plate 6 (not shown). There is. The stop switch SW1 is normally in the ON state, and is automatically turned off when the player rotates the firing handle 10 (FIGS. 9B and 9C). Further, the stop switch SW2 is constantly in the OFF state.

In this way, the stop switches SW1 and SW2
, Is constantly in the OFF state during the game operation (see FIG. 5), but when the player presses it (see the arrow in FIG. 9C), the stop switch changes to the ON state and the firing motor M
The drive pulse to 1 is not output. The stop switch is a push switch that is used when the firing handle 10 is rotated and the game ball is automatically launched, and when the game ball is stopped for a short time, it is not normally used. It is provided in a discreet position.

The firing control board 45 is also connected to the touch terminal 48. The touch terminal 48 is used for the firing handle 10.
It is a conductive metal plate wound around the outer periphery of the touch terminal 48.
It is also placed in such a position that it also touches (Fig. 9 (a)).
reference).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the payout control board 44. The payout control board 44 is a one-chip microcomputer 50, an input port 51 for receiving the control command CMD from the main control board 1, a first output port 52 for outputting the firing signal SG, and a payout motor for paying out game balls. And a second output port 53 for outputting the driving pulse of FIG. The first output port 52, the AND gate 56, and the noise filter NF make up an output unit of the emission signal SG.

The one-chip microcomputer 50 includes a Z80-equivalent CPU core 50a and a Z80CTC (counter timer c).
ircuit) equivalent counter / timer circuit 50b and ROM (read only memory) 50 for storing control programs
c and RA used in the work area of the control program, etc.
An M (random access memory) 50d and the like are provided. In the case of this embodiment, the one-chip microcomputer 50 has 6.1
A system clock of 44 MHz is supplied.

The counter / timer circuit 50b has the function of a programmable counter circuit, and by writing operating parameters in a control register, the system clock can be appropriately divided and output.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the firing clock signal Φck is generated by dividing the system clock. Specifically, the counter / timer circuit 50b immediately after the power is turned on.
, The system clock of 6.144 MHz is substantially divided by 256 × 126 × 2 to obtain 95.2.
The firing clock signal Φck during the normal game of 38 Hz is generated.

On the other hand, when the "induction increasing device operating command" is transmitted thereafter, the counter / timer circuit 50
The setting of b is changed, and the system clock of 6.144 MHz is effectively divided by 256 × 163 × 2 to obtain 7
A firing clock signal Φck ′ of 3.620 Hz is to be generated. After that, when the "induction increasing device end command" is transmitted, the setting of the counter / timer circuit 50b is returned to the original setting, and the firing clock signal Φck of 95.238 Hz is generated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the DC voltage VL transmitted from the prepaid card unit 46 is the photocoupler 5.
4 is being supplied. Therefore, in this state, the output of the photocoupler 54 becomes L level and the inverter 55
An H level signal is supplied to the AND gate 56 through. On the other hand, from the first output port 52, during the game operation of the arrange ball machine, an H-level control signal is sent based on the "launch resumption command" from the main control board 1 to the AND gate 5
6, the L level control signal is output to the AND gate 56 based on the "fire stop command" from the main control board 1 when the 16 game balls are confirmed to be fired.

Therefore, the firing signal SG, which is the output of the AND gate, is an L level signal from when the prepaid card unit 46 is in the non-connection state or after the 16 gaming balls are confirmed to be fired until the arrival is confirmed. Become. Since the emission signal SG is output through the noise filter NF,
The launch board 45 does not misread the level of the launch signal SG due to noise.

FIG. 5 illustrates the internal circuit of the firing control board 45. The firing control board 45 includes a drive pulse generator 60 including a pair of JK flip-flops 60a and 60b that generates drive pulses based on the firing clock signal Φck, and a sink driver 61 that outputs drive pulses.
A control pulse generation circuit 62 for generating a control pulse having a pulse width corresponding to contact / non-contact of the touch terminal 48, a pulse smoothing circuit 63 for smoothing the control pulse, and a power reset for controlling the motor operation immediately after power-on. It is composed of a circuit 64 and an operation prohibiting circuit 65 for prohibiting the motor operation.

In this embodiment, the JK flip-flop 60 is equivalent to 74112, and the Q1 output and Q1 bar output of the flip-flop 60a are connected to the J2 input and K2 input of the flip-flop 60b, respectively. . Conversely, the Q2 output of the flip-flop 60b and the Q2 output
The bar outputs are connected to the K1 and J1 inputs of the flip-flop 60a, respectively. A firing clock signal Φck is commonly supplied to the clock terminals of the flip-flops 60a and 60b. The operation truth table of this JK flip-flop 60 is as shown in FIG.

The sink driver 61, in this embodiment,
The Darlington sink driver TD62107 is used, and has two enable terminals E1 and E2 and input / output terminals I and Q. This sink driver 61
Are output signals Q1 to Q4 by inverting the levels of the input signals I1 to I4 on condition that E1 = H level and E2 bar = L level.
It is an IC.

Further, the output section is an open transistor, and under the condition of E1 = H level and E2 bar = L level, each transistor of the output section is turned on only when the input signals I1 to I4 are at H level. Collector current flows in. In this case, the common terminal COM (= 3
2V), the drive current flowing into the drive coil of the firing motor M returns to the output terminal of the sink driver 61,
It flows into the transistor in the output section as a collector current.
When the enable terminal is not at the predetermined level or when the input signals I1 to I4 are at the L level, the output section is open.

The control pulse generating circuit 62 is composed of three resistors R1, R2 and R3, a connecting portion 66 to the touch terminal, and a negative logic input type RS flip-flop. The input portion of the control pulse generation circuit 62 has a resistance value R1.
And the input capacitance Co of the inverter N1 form a first time constant circuit, and the resistance value R2 + R3 and the input capacitance Co of the inverter N2 form a second time constant circuit. Here, the input capacitance Co of each inverter is almost the same, but the resistance value R1 is selected to be sufficiently larger than the resistance values R2 + R3. Therefore, the time constant of the first time constant circuit is the same as that of the second time constant circuit. The value is sufficiently larger than the time constant of.

The connecting portion 66 with the touch terminal 48 is composed of a capacitor C, a resistor R and a surge absorber SA. When the player touches the touch terminal 48, the input portion of the control pulse generation circuit is connected to the ground through the human body, but the touch terminal 48 remains open until the player touches it. Therefore, the touch terminal 48 may be charged with static electricity, but in the case of the present embodiment, the static electricity is appropriately discharged by the surge absorber SA. Further, there is no possibility that the static electricity charged in the human body at the moment when the player touches the touch terminal 48 will be added to the control pulse generation circuit and damage the IC.

That is, in the conventional circuit, the touch terminal 4
Since 8 is simply left in an open state, static electricity is discharged through the human body at the moment when the player touches the touch terminal 48, which may cause pain or discomfort to the player, or conversely, the player. Although the IC may be damaged by the charging of the above, in the present embodiment, such a problem is solved by the surge absorber SA.

Next, the operation of the control pulse generating circuit will be described with reference to FIG. Touch terminal 4 with no player
When 8 is in the open state, the time constant (Co × R1) of the first time constant circuit is sufficiently larger than the time constant of the second time constant circuit (Co × (R2 + R3)) as described above. There is. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 (B)-(b),
The firing clock signal Φck (original oscillation pulse) is applied to the R terminal very slowly. Therefore, the Q-bar output of the RS flip-flop becomes a pulse signal with a duty ratio of about 50% (see FIGS. 7 (B)-(d)).

Since this pulse signal is applied to the smoothing circuit 63, the transistor Tr is turned on, and the output of the transistor Tr becomes L level. Therefore, the motor control signal CTL that is the output of the Schmitt trigger is H
Since the level is the level and the enable terminal E1 of the sink driver is at the L level, the drive pulse is not supplied to the firing motor M1 and the firing motor M1 is in the non-drive state.

On the other hand, consider a case where the player touches the touch terminal 48. In this case, since the human body is connected, the time constant of the second time constant circuit significantly increases, and as shown in FIGS. 7C to 7C, the S terminal has R
A pulse that is more dull than the terminal will be applied. Therefore, the Q-bar output of the RS flip-flop becomes a pulse wave with a narrow pulse width that rises only when the R terminal and the S terminal fall (see FIGS. 7C to 7D).

This pulse signal is applied to the smoothing circuit 63, but the transistor Tr is turned on because of its narrow pulse width.
The output of the transistor Tr is H
It becomes a level. Therefore, therefore, the motor control signal CTL which is the output of the Schmitt trigger becomes L level,
Since the enable terminal E1 of the sink driver changes to the H level, the firing motor M1 changes from the non-driving state to the driving state. In this state, the CLR bar terminal and the PR bar terminal of the JK flip-flop also become H level, so that the JK flip-flop also starts a normal operation (the operation content will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation prohibiting circuit 65 is
Stop switch SW1, stop switch SW2 and firing signal S
It is composed of a NOR gate for receiving G and the like. The enable terminal E2 bar goes to the L level only when all the input signals to the NOR gate are at the L level, so that the stop switch SW1 or the stop switch SW2 is operated to change to the H level.
If a level signal is applied to the NOR gate or the firing signal SG changes to L level,
The sink driver 61 is in a non-operating state, and the firing motor M1 is in a non-driving state.

The power supply reset circuit 64 drops 5V generated by dropping 32V received from another substrate into a large resistance (1MΩ).
It is a circuit that charges a capacitor (electrostatic capacity of about 1 μF) through a resistance value of about 1 μF. Therefore, the operation shown in FIG. 8 is executed, and the NOR gate is closed for a predetermined time after the power is turned on. That is, after the power is turned on, the output of the NOR gate is stably at the L level for a predetermined time regardless of the level of the motor control signal supplied from the transistor Tr via the Schmitt trigger. As described above, in this embodiment, the sink driver 61 is maintained in the disenable state for a predetermined time after the power is turned on. Therefore, even if the level of the motor control signal fluctuates abnormally immediately after the power is turned on, the firing motor is changed. There is no danger that the will shift from the initial state (home position).

Based on the above, JK Flip Flock 60
The operation will be confirmed based on FIG. As described above, immediately after the power is turned on, an L level signal is always applied to the CLR terminal and the PR terminal based on the function of the power reset circuit 64. Therefore, the output Q1,
Q1 bar, Q2, Q2 bar are all at H level. However, since the sink driver 61 is in the non-operating state (enable terminal E1 = L level), the firing motor M1 is not driven.

Thereafter, the power reset circuit 64 returns NO.
The closing operation of the R gate ends, and the NOR gate inverts the motor control signal and adds it to the control terminals (CLR, PR) of the JK flip-flop 60 and the enable terminal E1 of the sink driver 61. However, unless the player touches the touch terminal 48, the motor control signal CTL is at the H level and the operation content does not change. That is, the outputs Q1, Q1 bar, Q2, Q2 bar of each flop flop are all at the H level, and the sink driver 61 remains in the non-operation state.

In such a standby state, when the player touches the touch terminal 48, the transistor Tr changes from the ON state to the OFF state, and the motor control signal CTL becomes H.
Change from level to L level. This L-level motor control signal CTL is inverted and the JK flip block 6
0 control terminals (CLR, PR) and sink driver 61
To the enable terminal E1. The JK flip-flop of the embodiment changes from CLR = L and PR = L to CLR =
When the state changes to H and PR = H, the Q output of each flip-flop 60 becomes H level and the Q bar output becomes L level.

Therefore, the JK flip-flop 60a,
60b is set to the initial state of Q1 = H, Q1 bar = L, Q2 = H, Q2 bar = L, and then the operation state changes at each falling timing of the firing clock signal Φck. It will change like 6. At this stage, the sink driver 61 is in the operating state, so the output of the JK flip-flop 60 drives the firing motor M1 via the sink driver 61.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific description does not particularly limit the present invention. For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the interval between the game balls is set to be long only during the big hit game. However, instead of this structure, the interval between the game balls is set to match the start of the payout operation. You can make it longer. In this case, each time the payout control board 44 receives the "prize ball command" from the main control board 40, the frequency of the firing clock signal is changed from F1 to F2, and thereafter each time the "fire stop command" is received, or the payout is issued. Each time the operation is completed, the frequency of the firing clock signal is set to F2.
To return to F1. In this case, the firing interval τ of the game ball in the normal time and the firing interval τ 0 of the game ball after the change do not change so much, so the design of the frequencies F2 and F1 is the same as in the previous embodiment. .

Further, in the embodiment, the "fire resumption command"
Although the “guidance increasing device operation command” and the “guidance increasing device end command” are used, instead of this, a “fire restart command 1” and a “fire restart command 2” are provided and “fire restart command 1” is received. The frequency F1 of the firing clock signal may be set as the condition, and the frequency F2 of the firing clock signal may be set as the condition of receiving the "firing restart command 2".

In the first embodiment, the main control board 40 is centered, and the lamp control board 41, the symbol control board 42, the voice control board 43, and the payout control board 4 as the sub control boards.
4 and the firing control board 45 are provided separately, but each control board may be combined as appropriate. For example, the function of the payout control board 44 and the function of the firing control board 45 can be achieved by a single circuit board, and a one-chip microcomputer incorporating a CPU and a CTC for generating a firing clock Φck is provided on the firing board 45. It is possible to achieve that the designated command from the main control board 40 is received directly or indirectly via the payout control board 44.

In the case of the embodiment, the firing clock signal Φ
The firing control board 45 that has received ck uses this firing clock signal as it is to generate a driving pulse. However, after appropriately dividing the firing clock signal, the driving pulse (eg, ΦA, ΦA bar, ΦB, Of course, ΦB bar) may be generated. Further, in the embodiment, the one-chip microcomputer including the CPU and the counter circuit (typically Z80CPU and Z80CTC) is used, but a dedicated frequency dividing circuit may be separately provided to switch the emission clock frequency Φck.

Further, in the case of the embodiment, whether the firing control board 44 outputs the firing clock during the normal game or the firing clock during the big hit game is determined by receiving a dedicated control command. However, it is not particularly limited. In the embodiment, the payout control board is
Based on one or a plurality of control commands transmitted from the main control board, the corresponding firing rate setting data is selected from the data stored in the ROM (storage unit) and used. However, it goes without saying that the control command transmitted from the main control board may include data for setting the firing speed.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even when a large amount of game balls are paid out, it is possible to realize an improved ball game machine that does not give a player a feeling of frustration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an arrangement ball machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board of the arrangement ball machine.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the arrangement ball machine.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a payout control board.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a firing control board.

FIG. 6 is a time chart explaining the operation of a JK flip-flop that generates a drive pulse.

FIG. 7 is a time chart explaining the operation of an RS flip-flop that generates a control pulse.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a power reset circuit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a launching device.

FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining the relationship between the firing time interval of game balls, the time required to pay out the maximum number of prize balls in one game, and the minimum number of games required to obtain the highest score in one game. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

Φck, Φck 'clock signal (fire clock signal) CMD control command M1 launching device (launching motor) 45 game ball control unit (launch control board) 44 game ball control unit (payout control board)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A bullet-ball game machine comprising a launching device for launching a game ball and a game ball control unit for controlling the operation of the launching device, wherein the game ball control unit has more game balls than usual. A ball game machine characterized in that speed change means is provided for switching a firing operation by the firing device to a low speed side in response to a transition to a game state in which payout is scheduled. 2. A ball game machine comprising a launching device for launching a game ball and a game ball control unit for controlling the operation of the launching device, wherein the game ball control unit starts the payout operation of the game ball. Corresponding to, the ball-ball game machine is provided with speed changing means for switching the firing operation by the firing device to the low speed side. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game ball control unit operates based on a control command from a main control unit that mainly controls the operation of the game machine. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the speed changing unit switches the speed of the firing operation by the firing device based on a control command from another control unit. . 5. The game ball control unit is configured by being divided into a payout control unit that realizes a payout operation of a game ball and a launch control unit that realizes a launch operation of a game ball.
The ball game machine according to any one of 1. 6. The ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein the payout control unit changes a frequency of a clock signal supplied to the firing control unit based on a control command from another control unit. 7. The payout control unit includes a CPU and a counter circuit, and the frequency of the clock signal is determined by software by giving an operating parameter to the counter circuit. The listed ball game machine. 8. When the launching device is switched to a low speed side, the operating speed is the number N of game balls required for one game.
And the minimum number of game balls n required to obtain the maximum number of prize balls,
The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is determined based on a payout time T of the maximum number of prize balls.