JP2004000721A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pachinko game machine capable of easily and accurately counting the number of game balls shot to a game zone and easily confirming the result of the counting. <P>SOLUTION: The pachinko game machine comprises a game board 3, a shooting device 81 for shooting game balls toward the game zone 6 of the game board 3 according to the shooting operation by a player, a shot ball detecting means 150 for detecting the game balls shot to the game zone 6, a shot ball number memory means for accumulating and storing the number of shot balls detected by the shot ball detecting means 150, and a shot ball number display means 160 for displaying the number of shot balls stored in the shot ball number memory means. In addition, the pachinko game machine also has a reset means for initializing the memory in the shot ball number memory means when the number of shot balls reaches a prescribed number from the start of memory of the number of shot balls in the shot ball number memory means and an arbitrary reset means for arbitrarily initializing the memory of the shot ball number memory means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine, and more particularly, to a pachinko gaming machine provided with a launching ball detecting means for detecting a gaming ball fired toward a game area.

In conventional pachinko gaming machines, although the capability of the launching device, that is, the number of game balls that can be fired in accordance with the launching operation of the launching device by the player is set in advance, actually in the gaming area of the gaming board Generally, there is no launching ball detection means for measuring the number of game balls that have arrived.

In addition, with respect to this kind of pachinko gaming machine, a launching device that states that the number of shot balls fired in the game area during a predetermined time must be kept within a predetermined number (specifically, within 100 balls per minute). There are rules regarding abilities.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional pachinko gaming machine, since it is not possible to know the number of fired balls actually fired in the game area, it is easy to determine whether or not the rules regarding the actual performance of the firing device are followed. It has not been confirmed yet.

In recent years, a shooting sphere detecting means including a shooting sphere passage detector such as a photo sensor or a proximity switch has been arranged near the shooting device for the purpose of judging a failure of the gaming machine or preventing fraud. There has appeared a gaming machine configured to detect a shooting ball fired toward a game area of the game board by the shooting ball detection means.

However, even in a gaming machine having a conventional launching ball detecting means, it has not been possible for anyone such as a player or a clerk of a game arcade to directly grasp the number of launching balls actually launched in the game area. Furthermore, since the launch sphere is detected by providing the launch sphere detection means near the launch device as described above, even when the game ball returns to the launch position of the launch device without being properly launched into the game area, When a game ball that has been detected as a ball and has returned is relaunched, there is a possibility that the game ball may be double detected again as a firing ball, and thus it is difficult to say that the accuracy of counting (detecting) the number of firing balls is high.

In addition, in this kind of pachinko industry, abnormal situations are determined in the event of a machine breakage, clogging of a ball, or a fraudulent act by a malicious player, and the abnormal state is discovered early by a store clerk at a game arcade. There is a strong demand for a model that can be used.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such a situation. In addition to being able to easily and accurately measure the number of game balls actually fired in a game area, the measurement result can be easily confirmed, and furthermore, a launch device It is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko machine capable of easily confirming the actual performance of the game, and enabling early detection of an abnormality caused by a failure, a clogged ball, an illegal act, or the like.

That is, the invention of claim 1 is fired in the game area in a pachinko game machine having a game board and a launching device that shoots a game ball toward a game area of the game board in response to a shooting operation of a player. Launching ball detecting means for detecting game balls, firing ball number storing means for accumulating and storing the number of firing balls detected by the firing ball detecting means, and firing stored by the firing ball number storing means Launching ball number display means for displaying the number of balls, and resetting means for initializing the storage of the number of firing balls storage means when a predetermined number of firing balls has been reached from the start of storing the number of firing balls by the number of firing balls storage means. And an optional reset means for arbitrarily initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the launch ball guide path is formed between an outer guide rail and an inner guide rail erected on a game board for guiding the launch ball to the game area, A launch ball backflow prevention unit having a backflow prevention piece disposed on the exit side of the launching ball guide path is provided, and the launching ball detection unit is provided on the game area side of the backflow prevention piece of the launching ball backflow prevention unit. It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball which has won a winning opening provided in the game area, and an out detecting means for detecting an out ball which has not won the winning opening. An abnormal state is determined when a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detecting means or an out-ball is detected by the out-ball detecting means without detecting a firing ball by the ball detecting means and the launching ball detecting means. It is characterized by comprising a first abnormality determination unit and a first abnormality notification unit for notifying an abnormal state when the first abnormality determination unit determines that the state is abnormal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a prize ball detecting means for detecting a prize ball winning a prize port provided in the game area, and an out ball not winning the prize port. An out-of-sphere detecting means for detecting, and detection of a launch sphere by the launch sphere detecting means, but for a predetermined time from the detection of the launch sphere, when neither a winning prize ball nor an out sphere is detected, an abnormal state occurs. It is characterized by comprising a second abnormality judging means for judging, and a second abnormality notifying means for notifying an abnormal state when the second abnormality judging means judges an abnormal state.

The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in claim 3 or 4, the winning ball detecting means and the out ball detecting means are constituted by a winning ball detecting / out ball detecting means.

In the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention, the number of fired balls that accumulates and stores the number of fired balls detected by the fired ball detection means for detecting game balls fired in the game area. A storage means, a shot ball number display means for displaying the number of shot balls stored by the shot ball number storage means, and when a predetermined number of shot balls is reached from the start of storage of the shot ball number by the shot ball number storage means. Since reset means for initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means and optional reset means for optionally initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means are provided, the fired balls actually fired in the game area are provided. The number can be measured, and the measurement result can be directly and quickly grasped by anyone, such as a player or a store clerk at a game arcade. As a result, it is possible to easily grasp the usage of the gaming machine, judge the failure of the gaming machine, prevent fraud, and the like, which is extremely useful in the pachinko industry. In particular, measurement of how many game balls are fired at a certain time, or how long it takes to fire a predetermined ball of game balls, that is, confirmation of the ability of the launching device that is currently being reset, With the provision of the means, it is possible to automatically and constantly initialize the storage of the number of fired balls storage means, so that it is possible to extremely easily confirm the capability of the launching apparatus, and furthermore, an arbitrary reset means. Is provided, there is an advantage that the capability of the launching device can be confirmed at any time and the start time of the confirmation can be arbitrarily set.

In particular, as in the second aspect of the present invention, if the launching ball detecting means is provided on the game area side relative to the backflow preventing piece of the launching ball backflow preventing means disposed on the exit side of the launching ball guideway, Only the game balls that have reached the game area can be detected, and it is not necessary to consider the game balls that return to the launch device side as in the related art, and the number of effective firing balls properly fired in the game area can be accurately counted. The structure can also be simplified.

In addition, as in the third aspect of the present invention, abnormal detection occurs when a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detecting means or an out ball is detected by the out ball detecting means even though the firing ball is not detected by the firing ball detecting means. If the first abnormality judging means for judging the state and the first abnormality notifying means for notifying the abnormal state when the first abnormality judging means judges the abnormal state are provided, the prize ball detecting means may be erroneously detected. Anomaly notification will be given if there is any fraudulent activity, such as the aim of paying out prize balls, so that clerks at amusement arcades can quickly detect the presence or absence of fraudulent activities and prevent such fraudulent activities. Can be. Further, even when a failure has occurred in the launching device, the launching ball detection means, or the like, the abnormality is notified, so that the failure can be found early.

Further, as in the invention of claim 4, when there is detection of a shooting sphere by the shooting sphere detection means, and when no winning prize ball or out ball is detected for a predetermined time from the detection of the shooting sphere, If a second abnormality determining means for determining an abnormal state and a second abnormality notifying means for notifying an abnormal state when the second abnormality determining means determines the abnormal state are provided, a winning ball detecting means, If an out ball detection means has a failure such as a disconnection or short circuit, or if a failure such as clogging of a ball has occurred on a game board or the like, an abnormality is notified, so that the failure and the failure can be found early. Thus, disadvantages given to the player can be reduced.

Still further, if the winning ball detecting means and the out ball detecting means are constituted by the winning ball detecting and out ball detecting means as in the invention of claim 5, one detecting means can detect the winning ball and the out ball. Since all can be detected, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an entire pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gaming board, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a back structure of the whole pachinko game machine, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where some parts of the back structure of the whole pachinko game machine are removed, and FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a decorative member used in the pachinko game machine. 7, FIG. 7 is an XX cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative member, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the decorative member before the launch sphere detecting means is attached to the base lens portion, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a control block diagram illustrating an electrical connection relationship of the pachinko gaming machine, FIG. 11 is a flowchart relating to storage and reset processing of the number of shot balls in the pachinko gaming machine, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart relating to a first abnormality determination processing of the pachinko gaming machine. 13 is the same pachinko 14 is a flowchart relating to a second abnormality determination process of a gaming machine, FIG. 14 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of a launching ball detection unit of a pachinko gaming machine according to another embodiment, and FIG. 15 is an overall pachinko gaming machine according to still another embodiment. FIG. 16 is a view showing the back structure, and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a portion Y in FIG.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a game board 3 is detachably housed inside a frame 2, and the outside guide rail 4 and the inside guide rail 5 of the game ball are provided on the game board 3. An image display device 9 and a normal electric accessory are arranged on the center line of the game area 6, which is erected in a substantially circular shape and is surrounded by the outer guide rails 4 and the inner guide rails 5 on the game board surface 3 a, in order from the upper part to the lower part. Certain first-type start winning openings 10 and 11, a special winning combination 15 which is a special electric accessory, and an out opening (also referred to as a discharge opening) 17 are provided, and lamp windmills 18a and 18b are provided on both upper sides. Below the left gate 19 for the start of normal symbol change and the right gate 21 for the start of normal symbol change, the windmills 22a and 22b below it, the left sleeve winning opening 23 and the right sleeve winning opening 25 below it, and the big winning opening below. 15 drops left on both sides 27 and right off the winning port 29 is disposed.

On the front side of the frame 2, a glass frame 31, an upper ball receiving tray 32 for receiving paid-out game balls, a mounting plate 33 for mounting the upper ball receiving tray 32, and an upper ball receiving tray 32 are provided. A lower ball tray 34 for receiving a game ball at the time of saturation, a lamp display 35 for notifying a game state, a speaker 36 for emitting a sound or sound effect to notify a player of a game state, and for preventing fraud. A key 37 for making the frame 2 non-detachable or non-openable and closable, a launching device 81 for launching a game ball toward the game area 6 of the game board 3 in response to a launch operation of the player, and the like are assembled respectively. I have.

In addition, regarding the image display device 9 in the figure, reference numeral 41 is a normal symbol display device capable of changing and stopping the display of figures, alphabets, symbols or pictures, etc., 43 is a special symbol display device, and 45 is a normal symbol display device. Reference numeral 41 denotes a normal symbol display portion made of 7-segment digital or the like; 49, a window frame portion of the image display device; 50, an image display portion of the special symbol display device 43, such as a liquid crystal display panel (dot matrix display); A left display portion 50b of the display portion 50 is also a middle display portion, 50c is a right display portion of the same, 51 is a symbol change number storage display lamp, and reference numeral 61 is an opening / closing plate for the special winning opening 15, and 63 is a specific area. It is a winning port, and reference numeral 140 is a top decoration member (top decoration lamp) provided for decoration on the upper part of the game board 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side (back side) of the game board 3, a first type start winning opening solenoid 53 for opening and closing the movable pieces 11a and 11b of the lower first type start winning opening 11 is provided. And a winning prize ball detecting means 55a, 55b for a starting prize port, which includes a photo sensor or a proximity switch for detecting a prize ball in the first kind start prize port 10, 11, is provided in a prize ball path. The symbol change of the special symbol display device 43 is started by detecting the winning ball. Further, the normal symbol change start left gate 19 and the normal symbol change start right gate 21 are provided with gate prize ball detecting means 56 and 57 comprising a photo sensor, a proximity switch and the like. By detecting a game ball passing through both gates 19 and 21 at 57, the symbol change of the ordinary symbol display device 41 is started.

Further, on the back side of the special winning opening 15 of the gaming board 3, a special winning opening solenoid 59 for opening and closing the opening and closing plate 61 of the special winning opening 15, and an opening / closing door of the specific area winning opening 63 (not shown). ) Is provided with a specific area opening solenoid 64 for opening and closing under predetermined conditions. Further, a prize ball detecting means (specific prize ball detection switch) 65 for a specific region prize hole, which includes a photo sensor or a proximity switch for detecting a prize ball to the specific region prize hole 63, is provided. As a result, a continuation right to reopen the special winning opening 15 is established, and a special winning opening detecting means (winning ball count switch) 67 for detecting the number of winning balls to the special winning opening 15 is provided. Have been. The operation of the special winning opening 15 will be described. When a game ball wins in the first-type starting winning opening 10 or 11 and a winning ball is detected by the winning winning opening detecting means 55 for the starting winning opening, the special symbol is displayed. The change of the special symbol is started on the left display unit 50a, the middle display unit 50b, and the right display unit 50c of the image display unit 50 of the display device 43. Then, after the change for a predetermined time, the special symbol stops fluctuating, for example, in the order of the left display unit 50a, the middle display unit 50b, the right display unit 50c, the left display unit 50a, the right display unit 50c, the middle display unit 50b, and the like. Then, the stop symbol is confirmed and displayed. When the combination of the stop display symbols at that time becomes a predetermined special jackpot combination, for example, a so-called zigzag line composed of a combination of the same symbols, the jackpot is established. When the jackpot is won, the opening / closing plate 61 of the special winning opening 15 is opened to receive the game ball falling in the game area 6 and enable the winning into the special winning opening 15.

Also, on the back side of the gaming board 3 of this embodiment, a left sleeve winning opening winning ball passage connected to the left sleeve winning opening 23, and a right sleeve winning opening winning ball connected to the right sleeve winning opening 25. In the passage, there are provided a winning sleeve detecting means 71a for a left sleeve winning opening and a winning ball detecting means 71b for a right sleeve winning opening comprising a photo sensor, a proximity switch and the like. In addition, a left drop winning prize port prize ball passage connected to the left drop prize port 27 and a right drop prize port prize ball path connected to the right drop prize port 29 are provided with a left side composed of a photo sensor, a proximity switch, and the like. A winning ball detecting means 72a for a winning opening and a winning ball detecting means 72b for a winning opening are provided. Further, in this embodiment, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out based on the detection result of the prize balls in each winning port.

Further, in this embodiment, the detecting means is provided for each winning opening as described above, but the pachinko gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the winning balls of each winning opening may be collected and detected at one place, and the cumulative calculation of the winning balls may be performed.

Still further, in this embodiment, the out ball passage connected to the out port 17 provided at the lowermost portion of the game area 6 wins any of the winning ports (including the gate). Instead, an out ball detecting means 76 including a photo sensor, a proximity switch, and the like for detecting the out ball collected at the out port 17 is provided. Although the out ball detection means 76 only checks the out ball, the invention is not limited to this, and the out ball cumulative calculation may be performed.

Next, the launching device 81 and the like will be described in detail. As can be understood from FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the firing device 81 includes an operating lever 82, a firing motor 83 driven by the operation of the operating lever 82, and an intermittent driving by the driving of the firing motor 83. And a hitting rod 84 for swinging and firing a game ball. The shooting ball fired by the shooting device 81 is guided to the game area 6 via a shooting ball guide path 85 formed between the outer guide rail 4 and the inner guide rail 5 erected on the game board surface 3a. It has become. The game ball guided to the game area 6 by the launch ball guide path 85 falls downward while rolling, and wins the above-mentioned devices and each winning opening, or the above-mentioned out opening if it does not win anywhere. 17 is configured to be discharged to the back side of the game board 3.

In this embodiment, a launching ball backflow prevention means 86 is provided on the exit 85a side of the launching ball guide path 85. The shooting ball backflow prevention means 86 is for preventing the game ball once put out in the game area 6 from returning to the shooting ball guide path 85 again. The launching ball backflow prevention means 86 has a backflow preventing piece 87 made of a leaf spring or the like having a predetermined elastic force that curves in one direction in the illustrated example and opens and closes an outlet 85a of the launching ball guide path 85. I have.

4, reference numeral 91 denotes a tank for storing game balls, 92 denotes a tank rail, 93 denotes a frame external output terminal, 94 denotes a frame external output terminal board, 95 denotes a frame decoration lamp relay board, 96 denotes a power supply board, Reference numeral 97 denotes an emptying prevention switch, 98 denotes an emptying prevention switch board, 99 an external output terminal for a board, 100 an external output board for a board, 101 a center cover, 102 a voice control board, 103 a lamp control board, and 104 a photo. A distribution board, 105 is a middle plate, 106 is a CR prize ball payout control board, 107 is a launching apparatus control board, 108 is a lower board base, 109 is a main board, and 110 is a power plug. Also, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 121 denotes a top decoration lamp board, 122a and 122b denote lamp windmill boards, 123 denotes a normal symbol display board, 124 denotes a symbol variation count storage display lamp board, 125 denotes a special symbol control board, and 126a and 126b denote the same. Center lamp substrate, 127 is a left gate lamp substrate, 128 is a right gate lamp substrate, 129 is a left sleeve winning opening lamp substrate, 130 is a right sleeve winning opening lamp substrate, 131a, 131b, 131c are large winning opening lamp substrates, 132 is It is a special winning opening switch relay board.

In this pachinko gaming machine 1, on the game area 6 side of the backflow prevention piece 87 of the launching ball backflow prevention means 86, that is, on the downstream side of the backflow prevention piece 87 (on the front side with respect to the advancing direction of the game ball). , A launching ball detecting means 150 is provided. As the launch sphere detecting means 150, a proximity switch, a photo sensor, and the like (a proximity switch in the embodiment) are exemplified. If the launching ball detecting means 150 is provided closer to the game area 6 than the backflow preventing piece 87 of the launching ball backflow preventing means 86 as described above, only the game ball that has reached the gaming area 6 will be detected, as in the related art. It is not necessary to consider the returning game balls, the number of effective firing balls properly fired in the game area 6 can be accurately detected, and the structure can be simplified. Preferably, the launch sphere detection means 150 is disposed near the backflow prevention piece 87 of the launch sphere backflow prevention means 86. Then, immediately after the game ball reaches the game area 6, it is possible to detect all the game balls that have reached the game area 6, so that the detection omission of the game ball that has reached the game area 6 can be prevented. And the counting (detection) accuracy of the number of shot spheres is improved.

In addition, as a method of arranging the launching ball detecting means 150, a plurality of attached members provided on the game board 3, for example, a lamp windmill, each winning opening (including a gate), an image display device, an outside guide rail, It may be provided integrally with at least one member such as a firing rail and a decorative member. The attachment members are not limited to those exemplified above, and include all members attached to the game board 3.

In this embodiment, the launching ball detecting means 150 is provided integrally with a decorative member (top decoration member) 140 provided on the upper part of the game board 3 as shown in FIGS. The decorative member 140 includes a base 141, a base lens 142, and a sub-lens 143. In this embodiment, a light-emitting body (not shown) such as a lamp is housed between the base portion 141 and the base lens portion 142 or the sub-lens portion 143. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In some cases, a luminous body such as a lamp is not accommodated between the portion 142 or the sub-lens portion 143. Reference numeral 144 in the drawing denotes an attachment portion formed on the base portion 141 for attaching the decorative member 140 to the game board 3.

Further, in this embodiment, a housing 145 for a shooting sphere detecting means is provided on the game area 6 side of the decorative member 140 (the base lens part 142 in the illustrated example), and the housing 145 for the shooting sphere detecting means is provided in the housing 145. The shooting sphere detection means 150 is provided detachably. More specifically, as can be easily understood from FIG. 9, the shooting sphere detecting means 150 is provided with fixing portions 151 and 152, and the shooting sphere detecting means 150 is used for the shooting sphere detecting means of the decorative member 140. After being accommodated in the accommodating portion 145, the firing sphere detecting means 110 is detachably fixed to the decorative member 100 via the fixing portions 151 and 152 with an appropriate fixing member B such as a screw. Note that reference numeral 146 in the drawing denotes a detection opening which enables the detection of the passage of a shooting sphere by the shooting sphere detection means 150 formed on the decorative member 140, and reference numerals 153 and 154 denote fixing parts 151 of the shooting sphere detection means 150. , 152 for the fixing member B.

As described above, by integrally providing the launching ball detection means 150 with the plurality of attached members on the game board 3, the assembling work and the wiring work of the game machine can be simplified as a whole, and the production of the game machine can be simplified. Efficiency can be improved, and the appearance can be prevented from being impaired. In particular, if the launching ball detecting means 150 is detachably provided in the launching ball detecting means accommodating portion of the attachment member as in this embodiment, the launching ball detecting means 150 can be easily and reliably fixed, Since removal can be easily performed, maintenance work such as replacement of the shot sphere detecting means 150 can be easily performed. Furthermore, if the launching ball detecting means 150 is configured to be accommodated in the decorative member 140 on the upper part of the game board 3 as in this embodiment, the launching ball detecting means 150 does not exist in appearance, and the appearance is good. The ball detection means 150 can be arranged near the backflow prevention piece 87 of the fired ball backflow prevention means 86, and detection can be performed immediately after the game ball reaches the game area 6 as described above, and the number of fired balls can be measured. Accuracy increases.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the shooting sphere detection means 150 is connected to a shooting sphere number storage means including a CPU, a RAM, a shooting sphere counter, and the like of a main control circuit described later. The shooting sphere number storage means accumulates (adds) the number of shooting spheres detected by the shooting sphere detection means 150 and stores the number obtained by the accumulation. Further, the number-of-launched-balls storage means is connected to a number-of-launched-balls display means 160 (see FIG. 1) composed of a 7-segment LED, a liquid crystal display panel, or the like. Is displayed by the number-of-launched-balls display means 160. With this configuration, anyone, such as a player or a clerk at a game arcade, can directly and quickly grasp the number of the shooting balls, so that the usage of the game machine can be grasped, the failure of the game machine can be determined, and the illegal operation can be performed. The act can be easily prevented and is extremely useful in the pachinko industry. In the illustrated example, the number-of-launched-balls display means 160 is buried in the upper-side sphere tray 32, but, of course, the position of the number-of-launched-balls display means 160 may be anywhere. Also, without newly providing a launching ball number display unit, another display device is also used so that the effective launching ball number is displayed on another display unit such as the image display unit 50 of the image display device 9. Is also good.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 initializes the storage of the number of fired balls storage means when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of storage of the number of fired balls by the number of fired balls storage means or when the number of fired balls has reached the predetermined number. Reset means for resetting. In the embodiment, in the main control circuit to be described later, as the reset means, when a predetermined time (for example, one minute) has elapsed from the start of storing the number of fired balls by the fired ball number storage means, the fired ball number storage means (launched) A reset counter for initializing the storage of the ball counter is provided. By providing such a reset means, it is possible to automatically and regularly or regularly initialize the storage of the number of fired balls storage means. In the case where the reset means for automatically initializing the storage of the number of fired balls is provided, the initialization execution time from the start of storage of the number of fired balls to the initialization of the storage is described in the section of the prior art. In accordance with the rules in accordance with the rules, specifically 1 minute, when the number of fired balls exceeds the number of balls (100 balls) specified in the rules during the initialization execution time, an abnormality is notified or fired. The number of initialized execution spheres for initializing the memory of the number of spheres is set to the number of spheres according to the rule, specifically 100 balls, and the time required to reach the number of initialized execution spheres is set to the ruled time (1 minute). The abnormality may be notified when the time is shorter, so that a store clerk or the like at the game hall may grasp that the above rule is violated. Examples of the abnormality notification method include emitting a sound or sound effect from the speaker 36, blinking each lamp or LED, and displaying characters or characters on the image display unit 50.

Furthermore, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the resetting means for automatically initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means, the resetting means 170 for arbitrarily initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means (See FIG. 4). With this, it is possible to extremely easily confirm how many game balls are actually being fired in the game area 6 during a predetermined time (for example, one minute). ), And there is an advantage that the confirmation start time can be set arbitrarily. In the illustrated example, the reset means 170 has a reset button 171 on the back side of the gaming machine 1, and when the reset button 171 is pressed, the storage of the number of fired balls storage means is initialized. By providing the reset button 171 on the back side of the gaming machine 1 as described above, only the persons involved in the game arcade can operate the reset means 170. Of course, the reset button 171 is provided on the front side of the gaming machine 1, The player may be allowed to operate the reset means 170. Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, the storage of the number-of-launched-balls storage means is initialized even when the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned off. Note that the reset means for automatically initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means may not be provided, and only the reset means which can be arbitrarily initialized may be provided.

FIG. 10 is a control block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of the pachinko gaming machine 1. As shown in the control block diagram, the pachinko gaming machine 1 controls the symbol variation display on the ordinary symbol display device 41 and the special symbol display device 43 of the image display device 9 and a prize ball when each winning ball is won. The main control circuit Z1, a relay circuit Z2 connected to the main control circuit Z1, a lamp control circuit, and the like, as circuits for performing various processes necessary for the game, such as payout control of the game and control of the operation of the special winning opening at the time of a big hit. Z3, a voice control circuit Z4, a display control circuit Z5, a photo distribution circuit Z6, a payout control circuit Z7, and a firing control circuit Z8 connected to the payout control circuit Z7.

The main control circuit Z1 includes a ROM for storing a predetermined control program and initial data, a CPU for executing various arithmetic processes in accordance with the control program for the ROM, a RAM for temporarily storing the arithmetic results of the CPU, A computer having a firing sphere counter for processing and storing the input signal detected by the means 150, a reset counter (reset means) for periodically initializing the storage of the firing sphere number storage means, Circuits Z1 to Z7, launching ball detecting means 150, resetting means 170, winning ball detecting means in each winning opening, out-ball detecting means 76, launching ball number displaying means 160, and other input / output circuits connecting solenoids 180 and the like. Is done.

The winning circuit 15 is connected to the relay circuit Z2, a lamp 181 is connected to the lamp control circuit Z3, and the speaker 36 is connected to the voice control circuit Z4. The display control circuit Z5 includes a control unit, a calculation unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, and the like, a CPU for performing arithmetic control, a RAM having a storage area for various data and a work area by the CPU, and the like. And a ROM in which design data such as display data for the image display unit 50 and the like and various display programs are written. A prize ball payout device 182 is connected to the photo distribution circuit Z6 and the payout control circuit Z7, and a card unit 183 is also connected to the payout control circuit Z7. The firing device 81 is connected to the firing control circuit Z8.

Next, an example of the process of storing the number of fired balls and resetting processing executed by the number of fired balls storage unit of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this example, first, it is determined whether or not a launch sphere is detected by the launch sphere detection means 150 (S1). Then, the case where it is determined that there is detection of shot ball, numerical C _n of shot ball counter of the shot ball number storage means in which the main control circuit Z1 is updated by 1 Cumulative (addition), and the update value Is stored as the latest (current) number of launched balls (S2), and the stored latest number of launched balls is displayed on the launched ball number display means 160 (S3).

Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of storage of the number of fired balls by the fired ball number storage means, or whether or not the number of fired balls has reached the predetermined number (S4). The operation of the reset means (reset counter) in the circuit Z1 initializes the storage of the number of fired balls storage means (S5). On the other hand, if the condition is not satisfied, it is further determined whether or not a reset operation of the reset means (arbitrary reset means) 170 has been performed (S6). Is initialized (S5). If it is determined in step S1 that there is no fired ball detected, it is determined whether or not the reset operation of the reset means 170 has been performed (S6). The storage is initialized (S5).

Note that the initialization execution time from the start of storing the number of shot spheres in step S4 or the number of initialized execution shot spheres is set to the time or the number of shot spheres (specifically, 1 minute or 100 balls) corresponding to the above-described rule. This makes it easy to check whether or not the above rules are being observed.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detecting means of each winning opening even though the firing ball is not detected by the firing ball detecting means 150, or the out ball detecting means 76 A first abnormality determining unit that determines an abnormal state when an out ball that does not win each winning opening is detected; and a first abnormality notification unit that notifies an abnormal state when the first abnormality determining unit determines that the winning state is abnormal. An abnormality notification unit is provided. In this way, for example, an illegal act that aims to give an excessive winning profit, such as detecting a winning ball by inadvertently malfunctioning each winning opening without firing a game ball at all in the game area 6, is performed. Since the presence or absence can be quickly detected, fraudulent acts can be prevented. In addition, there is an advantage that a failure of the launching device 81 or the launching ball detecting means 150 can be detected at an early stage.

The first abnormality determination means may be constituted by an abnormality determination program incorporated in the ROM of the main control circuit Z1 and a CPU. Examples of the first abnormality notification means include: a means for notifying audibly by sound or the like; a means for notifying visually by display, operation of an object (member or the like); and a means for notifying audibly by vibration or the like. Can be configured. Note that the first abnormality notification means may be newly provided at an appropriate place of the gaming machine 1 or may use another device that already exists. As an example of using other devices, a speaker 36 emits a sound or sound effect indicating occurrence of an abnormality, blinks each lamp or LED provided on a game board or the like, or generates an abnormality on the image display unit 50. Displaying meaningful characters, characters, and the like can be cited. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of determining whether or not the first abnormality is present by the first abnormality determination unit of the main control circuit Z1. Hereinafter, the first abnormality determination process will be described in detail.

In the first abnormality determination process, first, it is determined whether or not the shooting sphere is detected by the shooting sphere detection means 150 (S11). It is determined whether or not a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detecting means or an out ball is detected by the out ball detecting means 76 (S12). If any of those detections is detected, the first abnormality is detected. The state is determined, and the abnormal state is reported by the first abnormality reporting means (S13). During this abnormality notification, in this example, an error state where the game cannot be performed, such as the firing device 81 being forcibly controlled to be in an inoperable state, is provided. Further, the abnormality notification and the error state are continued until a predetermined error canceling operation is performed (S14). As the error releasing operation, an operation of initializing the storage of the number-of-launched-balls storage unit by operating the reset unit 170 can be considered. If it is determined in step 11 that a launch ball is detected, or if it is determined in step 12 that neither a winning ball nor an out ball is detected, the gaming machine 1 is in the first abnormal state. Is not determined.

Further, as in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, even if the launching ball is detected by the launching ball detecting means 150, a winning ball detecting means in each winning opening or a predetermined time from the detection of the launching ball or A second abnormality judging means for judging an abnormal state when neither the winning ball nor the out ball is detected by the out ball detecting means 76, and an abnormal state when the second abnormal judging means judges an abnormal state. It is preferable to provide a second abnormality notifying unit for notifying. In this way, failures such as disconnection or short-circuit in the winning ball detecting means or out-ball detecting means 76 of each winning port and clogging of balls on a game board or the like can be found at an early stage. Profit can be minimized.

The second abnormality determination means can be provided in the main control circuit Z1 as in the first abnormality means. Further, as the second abnormality notifying means, similar to the first abnormality notifying means, one that audibly notifies by sound or the like, one that notifies visually by display, operation of an object (member or the like), vibration, A device that gives an audible notification by the method can be applied without limit. In addition, the second abnormality notification unit may be newly provided at an appropriate place of the gaming machine 1 or may use another existing device. As an example of using the other device, a voice or a sound effect indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is emitted from the speaker 36, each lamp or LED is blinked, and a character or a character indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is displayed on the image display unit 50. And the like. Here, it is more preferable that the mode of the abnormality notification by the second abnormality notification unit is different from the mode of the abnormality notification by the first abnormality notification unit. For example, the characters and characters displayed on the image display unit 50 are changed according to the abnormal states, and the blinking interval of each lamp or LED is changed. Then, the first abnormal state and the second abnormal state can be easily distinguished from each other, and the clerk of the game arcade can smoothly perform a measure according to each abnormality. FIG. 13 is a flowchart relating to an example of a process for determining whether or not a second abnormality has occurred by the second abnormality determination means of the main control circuit Z1, and the second abnormality determination process will be described in detail below.

In the second abnormality determination process, first, it is determined whether or not the shooting sphere is detected by the shooting sphere detection unit 150 (S21). If the shooting sphere is detected, the detection of the shooting sphere is further performed. It is checked whether a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 10 seconds) has passed (S22). When the predetermined time has passed, detection of a prize ball by the prize ball detection means in each of the prize holes or detection of the out ball is performed. It is determined whether or not the out ball is detected by the means 76 (S23). The reason why the determination of the detection of the winning prize ball or the out sphere is delayed by a predetermined time from the determination of the detection of the shooting sphere is that the game sphere is detected when the game sphere reaches the game area 6 (when the shooting sphere is detected). This is because the time required to enter each winning opening or out opening is considered. If neither a winning ball nor an out ball is detected, it is determined to be the second abnormal state, and the abnormal state is reported by the second abnormality reporting means (S24). During this abnormality notification, in this example, as in the case of the first abnormal state, an unplayable error state occurs, for example, the firing device 81 is forcibly controlled to an inoperable state. In addition, the abnormality notification and the error state are such that after the malfunction which is the cause of the abnormality is repaired or the problem such as clogging of the ball is eliminated, the storage of the number-of-launched-balls storage unit is initialized by operating the reset unit 170. And so on (S25). On the other hand, when it is determined in step 21 that there is no detection of a shooting ball, and when it is determined in step 23 that there is at least one of a winning ball and an out ball, the gaming machine 1 It is determined that the state is not abnormal.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented by appropriately changing a part of the configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 14 showing a part of a pachinko gaming machine according to another embodiment, a launching ball detecting means 190 including a photo sensor and a proximity switch for detecting a playing ball launched into the gaming area 6 is provided. Alternatively, the game ball 3 may be directly fitted to the position of the game board 3 (the position in the vicinity of the backflow prevention piece 87 in the drawing) closer to the game area 6 than the backflow prevention piece 87 of the shooting ball backflow prevention means 86. Reference numeral 191 in FIG. 14 is a detection window that enables the detection of the passage of a shooting sphere. In FIG. 14, the same members as those of the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In addition, a launching ball detecting means for detecting a playing ball launched into the gaming area may be provided on the gaming board side. That is, in addition to providing the launching ball detection means directly on the game board, the shooting ball detection means may be attached to components or members on the front or back side of the game board, for example, a collecting board or a back mechanism board. Therefore, the launching ball detecting means in the present invention can be provided on any one of a game board, an attached member, and a component or a member outside the game board, so that there are many degrees of freedom in design and production efficiency of the gaming machine is taken into consideration. Thus, a member or a part to be mounted on the launching ball detecting means can be selected.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the winning ball that has won each winning opening and the out ball that has been collected in the out opening are separately detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pachinko machines shown in FIGS. As shown in the gaming machine 200, a prize ball path, in the illustrated example, a prize ball collective path 201 for collecting prize balls from each prize ball path and an out ball path 202 are merged. One winning ball detection and out ball detection device 203 including a photo sensor, a proximity switch, and the like may be provided, and the winning ball detection and out ball detection device 203 may detect a winning ball and an out ball. With this configuration, all of the winning ball and the out ball can be detected by one detecting means (at one place) without providing a detecting means at each of the winning opening and the out opening, so that the number of parts can be reduced. Can be reduced, and costs can be reduced. Further, there is an advantage that the confirmation of the detection of the winning ball or the out ball can be simplified, the time required for the confirmation can be greatly reduced, and the above-described first abnormality determination processing or second abnormality determination processing can be smoothly performed. In the drawing, reference numeral 205 denotes a launching device, 206 denotes a launching motor, 207 denotes a game ball launching adjustment dial, 208 denotes a collective board, 209 denotes an upper substrate base, 210 denotes a prize ball payout mechanism, 211 denotes a ball rental payout mechanism, and 212 Is a winning switch relay board, 213 is a lamp relay board, and 214 is a reinforcement switch.

It is a front view of the whole pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the game board of the pachinko gaming machine. It is a rear view of the game board. It is a figure showing the back structure of the whole pachinko gaming machine in the example. It is a figure showing the state where some parts of the back structure of the whole pachinko gaming machine were removed. It is a partial perspective view of the decorative member used for the pachinko gaming machine. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the decorative member. It is a perspective view before attaching a launching ball detection means to a base lens part of the decorative member. It is a control block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of the pachinko gaming machine. It is a flowchart regarding storage and reset processing of the number of shot balls in the pachinko gaming machine. It is a flowchart regarding a first abnormality determination process of the pachinko gaming machine. It is a flow chart about the 2nd abnormality judgment processing of the pachinko gaming machine. It is an enlarged front view showing the periphery of the launching ball detecting means of the pachinko gaming machine according to another embodiment. It is a figure showing the back structure of the whole pachinko gaming machine concerning other examples. It is a figure which expands and shows the Y part of FIG.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko gaming machine 3 Game board 4 Outer guide rail 5 Inner guide rail 6 Game area 76 Out ball detecting means 81 Launching device 85 Launching ball guideway 85a Exit of launching ball guideway 86 Launching ball backflow preventing means 87 Launching ball backflow preventing means Backflow prevention piece 140 decorative member (attachment member)
145 Decorating member receiving section for launching ball detecting means 150, 190 Launching ball detecting means 160 Launching ball number display means 170 Reset means (arbitrary resetting means)
203 Winning ball detection and out ball detection means

Claims (5)

In a pachinko game machine having a gaming board and a launching device that launches a game ball toward a gaming area of the gaming board in response to a launch operation of a player,
Launching ball detection means for detecting a game ball launched into the game area,
Launch sphere number storage means for accumulating and storing the number of launch spheres detected by the launch sphere detection means,
Launch sphere number display means for displaying the launch sphere number stored by the launch sphere number storage means,
Resetting means for initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means when a predetermined number of fired balls has been reached from the start of storage of the number of fired balls by the number of fired balls storage means;
A pachinko gaming machine provided with optional reset means for arbitrarily initializing the storage of the number of fired balls storage means. A launch ball guideway formed between an outer guide rail and an inner guide rail erected on a game board to guide a launch ball to a game area, and a backflow prevention disposed at an exit side of the launch ball guide route. 2. The pachinko game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a launching ball backflow prevention unit having a piece, wherein the launching ball detection unit is provided closer to the game area than the backflow prevention piece of the launching ball backflow prevention unit. . Winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball which has won a winning opening provided in the game area, out-ball detecting means for detecting an out-ball which has not won the winning opening, and detection of a firing ball by a firing ball detecting means. When there is no winning ball detected by the winning ball detecting means, or when an out ball is detected by the out ball detecting means, the first abnormality determining means determines an abnormal state. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: first abnormality notification means for notifying an abnormal state when the state is determined to be abnormal. Winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball which has won a winning opening provided in the game area, out-ball detecting means for detecting an out-ball which has not won the winning opening, and detection of a firing ball by a firing ball detecting means. However, there is a second abnormality determination unit that determines an abnormal state when neither a winning ball nor an out ball is detected for a predetermined time from the detection of the shooting ball, and the second abnormality determination unit determines that the state is abnormal. The pachinko gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: second abnormality notification means for notifying an abnormal state when the state is determined. 5. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the winning ball detecting means and the out ball detecting means are constituted by a winning ball detecting / out ball detecting means.

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