JP2004121651A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine the quality of a position detection means for detecting the rotating position of a rotary member every power-on operation. <P>SOLUTION: After the power-on, when the power-off determination value HA of ROM and a power-off determination value HB of RAM are not conformable to each other(S12:NO), a driving motor is driven for 48 steps to turn a rotating reel twice (S14 to S17). During the two revolutions, when two sensor signals are normally received (S18:Yes), the whole of the presentation pattern similar to the presentation pattern (e.g. "STAR") at the start of rotation when the power is applied at this time is displayed normally. When no sensor signal is normally received during the two revolutions (S18:No) however, the driving motor is further driven for 6 steps (S19), and the rotating reel is further rotated extra for 1/4 revolution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a rotating member on which a plurality of symbols are separately provided for production, and more particularly to a position detecting means for detecting the rotating position of the rotating member every time power is turned on. The pass / fail is detected.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pachinko machine which is a kind of a game machine, in addition to a normal winning means, a normal symbol starting means (so-called gate means) and a special symbol starting means (so-called electric tulip) are provided on a game board. ) A normal symbol display means capable of variably displaying one or a plurality of normal symbols, a special symbol display means capable of variably displaying a plurality of special symbols, and a large winning opening means (openable prize means) called an attacker. In the case where a game ball fired by the shooting means on the game area of the game board wins the special symbol starting means, the plurality of special symbols on the special symbol display means fluctuate for a predetermined change time and stop.
[0003]
At this time, if the result of the lottery at the time of winning the special ball starting means of the game ball is a big hit, a special symbol mode (a so-called "777" big hit symbol mode) is set, and the special winning opening means is set based on a predetermined condition. Then, the opening and closing operation is repeated up to a set number of times (for example, 16 rounds), and a special game advantageous to the player is provided (for example, see Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).
[0004]
Also, in a spinning machine which is a slot machine, a rotating display device including a plurality (for example, three) of rotating reels is provided, and the rotating reels rotated simultaneously by a start lever operation are operated by a player's stop button operation. If the special game symbols such as “777” are aligned on any of the winning lines according to the number of inserted medals when sequentially stopped, a big hit or a regular bonus occurs as a big hit, and An advantageous special game is provided.
[0005]
By the way, in a pachinko machine or a slot machine, a rotating reel for effect provided separately as a fourth reel in the vicinity of a special symbol display means or a rotating display device has been put to practical use. By the way, the effect rotating reel is driven to rotate by open-loop control by a drive motor including a stepping motor. Therefore, a notch or a protrusion is provided at one position on the rotating reel, and a detection sensor for detecting the notch or the protrusion is provided. Each time the rotating reel makes one rotation, an origin position signal output from the detection sensor is provided. , It is possible to detect the rotation position of the rotating reel, that is, the stop position to stop at the effect symbol to be stopped and displayed.
[0006]
By the way, when the detection sensor breaks down, not only can the origin position of the rotating reel not be detected, but also the drive control of the rotating reel cannot be performed so as to display a predetermined effect symbol and stop. Various techniques capable of detecting a failure have been proposed.
[0007]
For example, Japanese Patent No. 2676196 discloses that a notch formed in one position of a rotary drum of a rotary drum unit is detected by a photo sensor, and when power is turned on, the value of a step counter SC1 is reset to a reset value (a predetermined excitation phase). Even if the detection signal is not input from the photo sensor, if the detection signal is still not input from the photo sensor after waiting for one rotation of the rotating drum, the stepping for driving the rotating drum is performed. A defect of a drive motor or a photo sensor composed of a motor can be detected. However, when the photo sensor is normal, a predetermined effect symbol is displayed (for example, see Patent Document 3).
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-66091
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-102462
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent No. 2676196 (page 7, FIG. 11)
[0009]
In the ball game machine described in Japanese Patent No. 2676196, when the power is turned on, the driving motor is first driven until a detection signal is received from the photo sensor, and the starting point of the driving motor is determined. After the position is set, the drive motor is further driven by a predetermined number of steps, so that the drive motor must be drive-controlled twice to display the predetermined identification information of the rotating drum, There are problems such as complicated drive control and long time required for failure diagnosis of the photosensor.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily determine whether or not a position detecting unit that detects the rotational position of a rotating member is good or bad every time the power is turned on.
[0011]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine comprising: a game control means for controlling the game machine in a comprehensive manner; and a sub-control for controlling a predetermined effect means based on a control command from the game control means. Means for controlling the rotation of a rotating member having a plurality of symbols on its outer periphery, an electric motor for rotating the rotating member, and drive control means for controlling the driving of the electric motor. The means controls the driving of the electric motor such that the rotating member is rotated by a predetermined first rotation angle of 360 degrees or more after the power is turned on.
[0012]
Here, the predetermined first rotation angle of 360 degrees or more may be a rotation of the rotation member once, or may be an arbitrary number of rotations such as two rotations, three rotations, etc., which are larger than that. Further, the gaming machine may be a ball-and-ball game machine (so-called pachinko machine) playing a game using a game ball, or may be a slot machine playing a game using a medal.
[0013]
After the power supply to the gaming machine is turned on, the electric motor is driven and controlled, and the rotating member is rotated by a predetermined first rotation angle of 360 degrees or more. Then, any one of the plurality of symbols that have been rotated one or more turns among the plurality of symbols marked on the outer peripheral portion is displayed and stopped. Even if the symbol stopped and displayed at this time is different from the symbol at the start of rotation, depending on the setting of the first rotation angle, any symbol on the outer peripheral portion may be displayed properly or may not be displayed properly. . That is, the entire symbol may or may not be displayed correctly.
[0014]
Therefore, the employee of the game hall visually checks the display state of the symbol to determine whether the rotation control of the rotating member is normal, that is, whether the rotation position detection required for the rotation control of the rotating member is normal. Can be easily determined. Here, the electric motor comprises a stepping motor, the drive control means stores a first step number for rotating the rotating member by the first rotation angle, a position detecting means for detecting a specific rotational position of the rotating member, Abnormality determining means for counting the number of detection signals received from the position detecting means while outputting the driving pulse of the first step number from the driving control means, and determining whether or not the position detecting means is abnormal based on the detected signal number May be provided.
[0015]
Further, when the abnormality determination means determines that the position detection means is abnormal, the drive control means drives and controls the electric motor so as to rotate the rotating member by a predetermined second rotation angle. Is also good. Further, the second step number for rotating by the second rotation angle is a step number different from an integer multiple of the pitch corresponding step number for rotating the rotating member by an angle corresponding to the circumferential arrangement pitch of the symbol. You may.
[0016]
The sub-control means includes a microcomputer including a ROM and a RAM, and the drive control means includes a power-off determination value stored in the ROM in advance after power-on and a power-off determination value stored in the RAM while being updated in the RAM. May be compared with each other, and only when they do not match, it is determined that the power has been cut off, and drive control for rotating the rotating member by the first rotation angle may be performed. Further, when the abnormality determination means determines that the position detection means is abnormal, the effect means may notify that the position detection means is abnormal.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a first-type pachinko machine called a card-type ball game machine, which is installed in an island structure of a pachinko hall. In the structure, a plurality of card-type ball lending machines 1 and a plurality of pachinko machines 2 are alternately arranged in the length direction, and the card-type ball lending machine 1 is electrically connected to the pachinko machine 2. .
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pachinko machine 2 which is a card-type ball game machine has a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 3 and a front frame 4 pivotally connected to the outer frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. The outer frame 3 is detachably fixed to an island structure (not shown) while the card-type ball lending machine 1 is sandwiched therebetween. A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 4 from the back side, and a glass door 6 having a window 6a on the front side of the game board 5 and a front plate 7 to which a ball receiving tray 8 is attached are hinged so as to be openable and closable. At the pivot.
[0019]
A lower plate 9 and a firing handle 11 of the firing means 10 are provided below the front frame 4. The launching means 10 includes a launch handle 11 for rotating operation, and a launch motor 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for launching a game ball with a hitting hammer 12 with a hitting force corresponding to the turning angle of the firing handle 11. ing. On the right side of the ball tray 8, an operation panel 14 for ball lending operation for the card-type ball lending machine 1 is provided, a card balance display portion 14a, a ball lending switch 14b for instructing ball lending of game balls, and a card lending switch. And a return switch 14c for return. At the lower end of the front frame 4 and on the left side of the lower plate 9, there is provided a stop switch 16 for manually stopping the rotation of the effect rotating reel 29, which will be described later.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, on the outer peripheral portion of the game board 5, a guide rail 15 composed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail is provided in a substantially annular shape. In the game area 5a inside the guide rail 15, a center case 20, a color liquid crystal display 21 incorporated in the center case 20, a plurality of normal winning means 22, and right and left normal symbol starting means 23 are provided in the game area 5a inside the guide rail 15. , A special symbol starting means 24, a special winning opening means (open / close type winning means) 25 and the like are arranged at predetermined positions. At the upper part of the center case 20, four ordinary symbol operation holding lamps 26 are provided, and at the lower part thereof, four special symbol operation holding lamps 27 are provided.
[0021]
Next, a description will be given of an effect rotating display device 28 integrally provided on the upper portion of the center case 20 with reference to FIGS.
The rotating display device 28 rotates a rotating reel (corresponding to a rotating member) 29 rotatably supported on a horizontal plane, a transparent curved front cover 30 covering a front end of the rotating reel 29, and a rotating reel 29. A driving motor 31 (which corresponds to an electric motor) to be driven, and a photo interrupter 32 (which corresponds to position detecting means) for detecting passage of one downwardly projecting portion (not shown) protruding into the rotating reel 29. And so on.
[0022]
The rotating reel 29 includes a reel frame 29a fixed to the drive shaft of the drive motor 31, and a belt-shaped design sheet 29b adhered to an outer peripheral portion of the reel frame 29a. Six types of effect symbols are marked on the symbol sheet 29b at intervals of 60 °. These six types of effect symbols are, for example, "star", "diamond", "bell", and so on. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive motor 31 is composed of, for example, a two-phase excitation type stepping motor, and has a 24-step configuration with one rotation. Therefore, the number of steps corresponding to the pitch in the arrangement pitch of one effect symbol is four steps.
[0023]
That is, the first effect design “star” Z1, the second effect design “diamond” Z2, the third effect design “bell” Z3, and the other fourth to sixth effect designs Z4 to Z6 are at 60 ° intervals, that is, 4 steps. Every other is arranged. Therefore, only one of the first to sixth effect symbols Z1 to Z6 can be selectively viewed from the player via the curved front cover 30. Here, the photo interrupter 32 includes a light emitting device and a light receiving device, and each time the rotating reel 29 makes one rotation, light from the light emitting device is blocked by a projection (not shown) provided at one place on the rotating reel 29. An L-level sensor signal is output.
[0024]
As will be described later, when a special symbol starts to fluctuate in each of the display portions 21 to 21c of the symbol display means 100, the rotating reel 29 is automatically rotated in a predetermined rotating direction depending on the type of the fluctuating pattern. When the player manually operates the stop switch 16 during the operation, the drive motor 31 is displayed such that only one of the effect symbols Z1 to Z6 corresponding to the stop timing is displayed via the curved front cover 30. Is stopped.
[0025]
A plurality of windmills, a large number of game nails, and the like are provided in the game area 5a, but are not shown. In the special symbol starting means 24, a pair of open / close claws 24a on the left and right sides can be opened and closed by a normal electric accessory solenoid 28. In the special winning opening means 25, when a big hit occurs and the open / close plate 25a is opened forward, a profit state advantageous to the player is generated.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a gate-shaped game board holder (so-called three-sided frame) 35 is fixed to the back side of the front frame 4, and the game board 5 and a back mechanism plate 36 located on the rear side thereof are played. It is detachably attached to the front frame 4 by a board holder 35. Above the back mechanism plate 36, a substrate cover 37 accommodating an external output substrate 38, a ball tank 39, and a tank rail 40 extending from the ball tank 39 are provided. A mechanism 41 is provided on a side of the back mechanism plate 36, and a payout ball guide path 42 connected to a downstream side of the payout / ball lending mechanism 41 is provided below the back mechanism plate 36.
[0027]
The game balls or the game balls for ball lending paid out from the payout / ball lending mechanism 41 as prize balls are paid out to the ball tray 8 via the payout ball guiding path 42. A back cover 43 mounted on the back side of the game board 5 is fitted into a rectangular opening 36a formed substantially at the center of the back mechanism plate 36. A main control board 45 is provided on the rear side and a symbol control board 46 is provided on the front side inside the board case 44 mounted on the rear surface of the back cover 43.
[0028]
The liquid crystal display 21 is electrically connected to the symbol control board 46 via a liquid crystal driver 96 (see FIG. 5). A sound / lamp control board 48 is provided inside the board case 47 attached to the back cover 43 below the board case 44. A power supply board 50, a payout control board 51, and an external interface control board (see FIG. 7) 52 are provided inside a board case 49 mounted on the back mechanism plate 36 below the board case 47.
[0029]
A firing control board 53 is provided inside a board case 52 mounted on the rear side of the firing means 10. The main control board 45 and the other control boards 46, 48, 51 are electrically connected via a plurality of signal lines via connectors, and a predetermined signal is transmitted from the main control board 45 to each of the control boards 48 (46), 51. Various control commands for executing the game operation can be basically transmitted by one-way communication.
[0030]
Next, a control device of the pachinko machine 2 will be described based on a block diagram of FIG.
The main control board 45 is provided with a CPU 45a constituting a single-chip microcomputer, a ROM 45b, a RAM 45c, and input / output interfaces 45d and 45e.
[0031]
The main control board 45 includes a plurality of normal winning switches 22a for detecting a winning of the game ball to the plurality of normal winning means 22 and a normal symbol starting for detecting the winning of the game ball to each normal symbol starting means 23. A switch 23a, a special symbol start switch 24a for detecting a winning of the game ball to the special symbol starting means 24, a normal winning switch 25c for detecting a winning of the game ball to the normal winning area 25b of the large winning opening means 25, A specific winning switch 25e for detecting a winning of a game ball to a specific winning area 25d (so-called V zone) of the special winning opening means 25, a normal electric auditors solenoid 28, and a special electric auditors solenoid 29 are respectively connected. ing.
[0032]
The dispensing control board 51 is provided with a CPU 51a constituting a single-chip microcomputer, a ROM 51b, a RAM 51c, an input / output interface 51d, and the like. The dispensing control board 51 is directly connected to the external I / F control board 52. The payout / ball lending mechanism 41 includes a switching solenoid 41a that selectively switches a payout path of a game ball between a prize ball and a ball lending, a payout motor 41b, a ball lending counting switch 41c, and a prize ball counting. The switches 41d are connected to each other.
[0033]
As described above, the payout control board 51 can directly receive various control commands transmitted from the main control board 45. The external I / F control board 52 is further connected with the operation panel 14, the card-type ball lending machine 1, and the launch control board 53, respectively. The emission control board 53 is provided with a motor drive circuit 53 a, and the emission motor 13 is driven and controlled by the emission control board 53. The audio / ramp control board 48 is provided with a CPU 48a constituting a single-chip microcomputer, a ROM 48b, a RAM 48c, an input / output interface 48d, and the like.
[0034]
The voice / lamp control board 48 includes a speaker 55 provided on the back side of the ball tray 8, a probability state display lamp 56, a decoration lamp group 57, a normal symbol operation holding lamp 26, and a special symbol operation holding lamp. The lamp 27 and the like are connected. The voice / lamp control board 48 can directly receive various control commands transmitted from the main control board 45. The symbol control board 46 includes a CPU 46a constituting a single-chip microcomputer, a ROM 46b, a RAM 46c, an input / output interface 46d, and the like.
[0035]
The symbol control board 46 receives a switch signal from the stop switch 16 and a sensor signal from the photointerrupter 32 in addition to outputting a display drive signal to the liquid crystal display 21 via the liquid crystal driver 96 and drives the symbol. A drive pulse signal is output to the motor 31 to control the rotation of the rotating reel 29.
[0036]
Here, the liquid crystal display 21 displays three special symbols (left symbol, middle symbol, right symbol) on the left display portion 21a, middle display portion 21b, and right display portion 21c, and two normal symbols (left symbol, left symbol, In addition to displaying the right symbol (the right symbol) on the small left display unit 21d and the right display unit 21e, it is also possible to display the motion of various characters such as moving images and speech balloons. The power supply board 50 is provided with a power switch 50a, a clear switch 50b for erasing all game information stored in the RAMs 45c and 51c after the power is turned on, a backup power supply 50c for a power failure, and the like. .
[0037]
Next, various functions achieved as the main control means 60 by a control program stored in the ROM 45b of the main control board 45 in advance will be described with reference to a functional block diagram of FIG. The main control means 60 configured on the main control board 45 controls the game operation according to the game mode and the behavior of the game ball, that is, various game components 24 and 25 provided on the game board 5 and various game balls. It mainly controls the game control of the game board 5 relating to the input and output of signals to the prize switches 22a to 24a, 25c, 25e and the like provided in the prize means 22 to 25 and the like. Various control commands are sequentially transmitted and output to the means 90 and the payout control means 105 as required.
[0038]
The main control means 60 (which corresponds to the game control means) includes a random number generating means 61 having both a special symbol and a normal symbol, a random number extracting means 62, a holding means 63, a determining means 64, In addition to the change means 65, the ordinary profit state generating means 66, the special profit state generating means 67, and the symbol change determining means 68, a command transmitting / receiving means 69, a winning counting means 70 and the like are provided.
[0039]
The random number generating means 61 repeatedly generates a control random number, for example, “0 to 9” for a normal symbol at a predetermined minute update cycle (for example, about 2 msec), and generates a control random number, for example, “0 to 299” for a special symbol. Are repeatedly generated. Among a plurality of control random numbers from “0 to 9” generated by the random number generating means 61, “0 to 8” is set as a predetermined hit determination value. In addition, among a plurality of control random numbers from “0 to 299” generated by the random number generating means 61, only one control random number (for example, “17”) is set as a predetermined jackpot determination value. .
[0040]
The random number extracting means 62 extracts one control random number when the game ball passes the right or left normal symbol starting means 23 among the plurality of control random numbers cyclically generated by the random number generating means 61. I do. Furthermore, the random number extracting means 62 also extracts one jackpot determination random number when the game ball is won in the special symbol starting means 24, and also extracts a jackpot symbol random number for determining whether or not the probability is changed. The holding means 63 temporarily stores up to four sets of the holding ball information and the number of the holding balls (that is, the number of variable holdings) generated when the game ball passes the normal symbol starting means 23. Therefore, it is possible to suspend the symbol change operation.
[0041]
In addition, the holding means 63 temporarily stores up to four sets of the held ball information generated when passing through the special symbol starting means 24 and the variable number of held balls which is the number of the held balls. , The special symbol change operation can be suspended. However, the retained ball information in this case includes the extracted jackpot determination random number and the jackpot symbol random number. That is, each time the holding means 63 receives the holding ball information, the holding ball information is sequentially stored up to the holding number 1, the holding number 2,..., The holding number 4, and the variable holding number is incremented by one.
[0042]
If it is not fluctuating, the stored ball information of the stored number 1 is shifted to the reserved number 0 for determination, and the stored ball information of the stored number 2 and subsequent ones is reduced one by one. By shifting over to the number on the number side, that is, the number on the lower side, and overwriting, the number of storage of the reserved ball information is reduced and a free area is provided.
[0043]
The determination unit 64 determines whether the hit random number for the normal symbol supplied from the holding unit 63 is “hit” that matches the hit determination value or “out” that does not match at the time before the change of the normal symbol. Is determined. The determining means 64 further determines whether the special symbol jackpot determination random number supplied from the holding means 63 is equal to the jackpot determination value at the time before the change of the special symbol. Is included).
[0044]
The determining means 64 further determines whether or not the special symbol large hit symbol random number is a probability variable type big hit, and when it is determined that the special variable is a probability variable type, the special game in the profit state is terminated. After that, until the next or subsequent big hits, or until a predetermined number (for example, 100 times) of the special symbol change is completed, the probability changing means 65 is sent to the probability changing means 65 via the special profit state generating means 67 to determine the judgment value as the big hit. Instruct the number to be larger than usual and the jackpot probability to be higher than usual (for example, 1/60). As described above, when the probability changing mode is set, the probability changing unit 65 increases the jackpot probability and instructs the ordinary profit state generating unit 66 described later to give a predetermined profit.
[0045]
When the ordinary profit state generating means 66 receives the above-described probability variation instruction from the probability changing means 65, the ordinary profit means 24b of the special symbol starting means 24 is operated normally (for example, on the condition that the ordinary symbol becomes "hit") (for example, , About 0.5 seconds), and gives the player a profit state in which the game balls can easily enter by opening the state for a longer time (for example, about 3 seconds). The special profit state generation means 67 further receives a jackpot determination result from the determination means 64, or a predetermined symbol included in the game control on condition that the stopped symbol after the change of the special symbol display device 23 becomes a large symbol. A special game is given by the special game control routine of (1).
[0046]
In this case, the special game is performed when the opening / closing plate 25a of the special winning opening means 25 is opened forward and a predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) has elapsed, or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls have been won. Ends. By the way, when the opening and closing plate 25a is closed, if at least one game ball has passed the specific winning area 25d, the special game can be continued up to a predetermined round (for example, 16 rounds), and the special game advantageous to the player. A state is given.
[0047]
According to the determination result from the determination means 64, the symbol variation determining means 68 executes a predetermined lottery program to determine the variation of the ordinary symbol, the variation pattern designating command for the ordinary symbol, and the left symbol and the right symbol. Are determined by lottery. The symbol variation determining means 68 further determines, by lottery, a variation pattern designation command for a special symbol related to the big hit and a symbol designation command for the left symbol, the middle symbol, and the right symbol when the "big hit" is set. .
[0048]
Further, the symbol variation determining means 68 determines a variation pattern designation command for departure, a symbol designation command for departure, and a departure symbol by lottery in the case of "departure" with respect to the ordinary symbol and the special symbol. The command transmission / reception means 69 sequentially sends the voice / ramp control means 80 the variable pattern designation command for the normal symbol and the special symbol, and the symbol designation command. By the way, the winning counting means 70 counts a plurality of normal winning means 22, the special symbol starting means 24, and the game balls which win in the normal winning area 25b and the specific winning area 25d included in the special winning opening means 25.
[0049]
Accordingly, the command transmitting / receiving means 69 creates a payout command command for instructing payout of game balls based on the number of game balls won by the winning counting means 70, transmits the command to the payout control means 105, and transmits the payout control means 105. Thus, various kinds of information such as prize ball payout number information and error occurrence information can be received. The command transmission / reception unit 69 further transmits various control commands, such as a control command for reserved ball information relating to the number of retained game balls and a control command for probability variation information indicating a probability variation state, to the control units 80, 90, and 105 to be transmitted. And output individually.
[0050]
Next, various functions achieved as the sound / ramp control means 80 by a control program stored in the ROM 48b of the sound / ramp control board 48 in advance will be described with reference to a functional block diagram of FIG.
The voice / ramp control means 80 configured on the voice / ramp control board 48 receives the fluctuation pattern designation command from the main control means 60, and receives a large number of decorative lamps provided on the game board 5, the front frame 4, and the like. It controls the lighting of the lamp groups 26, 27, 56 and 57 including the effect lamps and the like, and controls the sound output control by driving and controlling the speaker 55 provided on the back side of the ball tray 8.
[0051]
Therefore, the sound / lamp control means 80 includes a command transmission / reception means 81, an effect pattern storage means 82, an effect pattern determination means 83, a random number generation means 84, a lighting control means 85, a sound generation control means 86, and the like. ing. The command transmission / reception means 81 receives the variation pattern designation command and the symbol designation command from the command transmission / reception means 69 of the main control means 60 and sends the variation pattern designation command and the symbol designation command to the command transmission / reception means 91 of the symbol control means 90. Etc. can be transmitted.
[0052]
The variation pattern storage means 82 has a plurality of types of lamp effect control patterns for controlling the lighting and blinking of the lamp groups 56 and 57 such as various display lamps and decorative lamps for each of the variation pattern designation commands, and sounds the speaker 55. A plurality of types of loudspeaker effect control patterns to be performed are stored in advance. The variation pattern determining means 83 selects a lamp effect control pattern or a speaker effect control pattern corresponding to the variation pattern designation command, and selects a plurality of options for the lamp effect control pattern and the speaker effect control pattern. Extracts one of a predetermined number of control random numbers generated by the random number generation means 84 and determines one option based on the extracted control random numbers.
[0053]
The lighting control means 85 controls the lighting / flashing of the lamp groups 56 and 57 by outputting a lighting driving signal based on the lamp effect control pattern determined by the fluctuation pattern determining means 83, and also includes a normal symbol operation holding lamp. The lighting control of the special symbol operation holding lamp 27 and the special symbol operation holding lamp 27 is performed. The sound generation control unit 86 causes the speaker 55 to sound based on a drive signal based on the speaker effect control pattern determined by the fluctuation pattern determination unit 83.
[0054]
Next, various functions achieved as the symbol control means 90 (which corresponds to the sub-control means) by the control program stored in the ROM 46b of the symbol control board 46 in advance will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
The symbol control unit 90 configured on the symbol control board 46 includes a command transmission / reception unit 91, a fluctuation pattern storage unit 92, a fluctuation pattern determination unit 93, a random number generation unit 94, a display device control unit 95, a liquid crystal driver 96, drive control means 97 and the like.
[0055]
The command transmission / reception unit 91 receives a fluctuation pattern designation command and a symbol designation command from the command transmission / reception unit 81 of the voice / lamp control unit 80, and can transmit various control commands to the command transmission / reception unit 81. I have. The variation pattern storage unit 92 stores variation pattern information relating to symbol variation in which a variation content (including variation time) is associated with each of a plurality of variation pattern designation commands for a normal symbol or a special symbol.
[0056]
The variation pattern determining means 93 selects variation pattern information corresponding to the variation pattern designation command, and when a plurality of options are provided in the variation pattern information, a predetermined number of variations generated by the random number generation means 94. One of the control random numbers is extracted, and one option is determined based on the extracted control random numbers. The display device control means 95 transmits to the liquid crystal driver 96 various symbol display signals relating to the symbol variation received from the variation pattern determining means 93 and outputs them.
[0057]
Therefore, the special symbols are variably displayed on the symbol display portions 21a to 21c of the special symbol display means 101 of the symbol display means 100 formed on the liquid crystal display 21, and the normal symbol display means 102 of the symbol display means 100 In addition to the variable display of the normal symbols on the symbol display sections 21d and 21e, various effect displays such as an effect display with a symbol background are performed on substantially the entire symbol display means 100. The drive control unit 97 stores the number of 48 steps corresponding to the first rotation angle (this corresponds to the first step number), and rotates the rotation reel 29 based on the fluctuation pattern designation command received from the command transmission / reception unit 91. When an effect using the reel 29 is required, the rotating reel 29 is driven to rotate.
[0058]
Therefore, the liquid crystal display 21 is a symbol display unit 100 that realizes both display functions of the special symbol display unit 101 that variably displays three special symbols and the ordinary symbol display unit 102 that variably displays two ordinary symbols. is there. In this case, when the change of the special symbol is stopped, the symbol display portions 21a to 21c are stopped in any one of the big hit symbol mode, the reach symbol mode, and the off symbol mode based on the determination result of the determining unit 64. I do.
[0059]
Next, the payout control means 105 is constituted by a control program stored in advance in the ROM 51b of the payout control board 51, and the payout control means 105 includes, as shown in FIG. It comprises a control means 107 and the like, and instructs the payout / ball lending mechanism 41 to pay out game balls based on a payout command command received from the main control means 60 via the command transmitting / receiving means 106.
[0060]
Here, when the external interface control means 110 configured on the external interface control board 52 has not received any error relating to payout from the payout / ball lending control means 107, the external interface control means 110 transmits the firing permission signal to the launch control board 53. In order to transmit to the above-configured launch control means 111, when the player operates the operation handle 11, the launch motor 13 is driven by the launch control means 111, and the game balls can be launched.
[0061]
Next, the rotation reel rotation control executed by the symbol control means 90 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, in the ROM 46b of the symbol control board 46, a specific power-off determination value HA for detecting a power-off state is stored in advance. All of the data stored in the RAM 46c of the symbol control board 46 is backed up by a small backup power supply (not shown) so as not to be erased by an instantaneous power failure. Here, reference numerals Si (i = 11, 12, 13,...) In the figure indicate each step.
[0062]
This control is executed when the power switch 50a is operated and the power is turned on. When this control is started, first, the power-off determination value HB stored in the RAM 46c of the symbol control means 90 is read, and the power-off determination value HA stored in the ROM 46b is compared with the power-off determination value HB of the RAM 46c. A collation process is performed (S11). As a result, since the power-off determination value HB is not stored as a normal value, if the power-off determination values HA and HB do not match (S12: No), the rotation reel 29 is set as the step number count value SC. Is turned two times (this corresponds to a predetermined first rotation angle of 360 degrees or more), and a "48" step is set (S13).
[0063]
Next, the drive motor 31 is rotationally driven by one step (S14), and when no sensor signal is received from the photo interrupter 32 (S15: No), the step number count value SC is decremented by one (S16). When the step number count value SC is not “0” (S17: No), S14 to S17 are repeatedly executed. When the sensor signal is received during the repetition of S14 to S17 (S15: Yes), the sensor signal number count value SN is incremented by one (S25).
[0064]
When the step number count value SC becomes “0” (S17: Yes), and when the sensor signal number count value SN is “2” (S18: Yes), the power-off determination value HA becomes the power-off determination value. HB is stored in the RAM 46c by copying (S26). In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the rotation is started from the effect design "star" Z1 at the start of rotation at the time of turning on the power this time, and when the drive motor 31 is rotated once by a drive pulse signal for 24 steps The rotation reel 29 makes one rotation at the same time, and the same effect design "star" Z1 is displayed. Even when the drive motor 31 makes one more rotation, the same effect design "star" Z1 is entirely passed through the front cover 30. Is normally displayed (see FIG. 2).
[0065]
In other words, when the photo interrupter 32 is operating normally and two sensor signals corresponding to two rotations of the rotating reel 29 are normally received from the photo interrupter 32, the rotation of the rotating reel 29 that has stopped rotating is stopped. Since the whole of the effect symbol "star" Z1 is normally displayed, the employee of the game hall knows that the photo interrupter 32 is normal by the normal display state. Thereafter, when the game is started by the player and an effect using the rotating reel 29 is required based on the fluctuation pattern designation command received from the main control means 60, that is, when the drive motor 31 is driven to rotate (S21). : Yes), a plurality of continuous drive pulse signals are supplied to the drive motor 31, and the drive motor 31 is rotationally driven (S22).
[0066]
Before the fluctuation of the three special symbols in the symbol display means 100 stops, for example, a character "star" is displayed on the symbol display means 100 and a message "Please stop with a star" is displayed. When the user operates the stop button 16 so as to stop at "star" (S23: Yes), a stop process of displaying and stopping with the effect symbol corresponding to the received fluctuation pattern designation command is executed (S24). In this case, the effect symbol displayed by stopping the rotation of the spinning reel 29 displays "star" and stops in the case of the probable change mode or the probable change promotion mode. Displays an effect symbol other than "star" and stops. In this way, an effect symbol suitable for the effect controlled by the symbol control means 90 is displayed and stopped.
[0067]
By the way, when the step number count value SC becomes "0", that is, when the rotating reel 29 makes two rotations (S17: Yes), the sensor signal number count value SN has reached "2" during the two rotations. If not, that is, if the two sensor signals cannot be received normally (S18: No), there is a high possibility that the photointerrupter 32 has failed. In this case, the drive motor 31 is further driven for six steps (this corresponds to the predetermined second rotation angle) (S19), and an error message notifying the abnormal state is displayed on the symbol display means 100, for example. , An abnormal state is notified (S20).
[0068]
That is, as shown in FIG. 13, when the drive signal is not properly received even though the rotation reel 29 rotates twice by the drive pulse signal for 48 steps of the drive motor 31, one effect symbol is obtained. The drive reel signal for six steps different from the integral multiple of the pitch corresponding step number (4 steps) corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the rotation reel 29 causes the rotating reel 29 to further carry out 1/4 rotation (in addition to one symbol (4 steps)). 2 extra steps). As a result, a halfway effect design such that half of the effect design consisting of the rear half of the effect design "diamond" next to the effect design "star" Z1 and the front half of the next effect design "bell" is simultaneously displayed. The display state is set.
[0069]
Here, the abnormality determination means is constituted by the rotation reel rotation control shown in FIG. As described above, when the power is turned on, the rotating reel 29 is rotated twice, and when two sensor signals are normally supplied from the photo interrupter 32 during the two rotations, an effect similar to the effect symbol at the start of rotation is obtained. Since all the symbols are normally displayed, it is easily understood that the rotation control of the rotating reel 29 is normally performed and the photo interrupter 32 is normally operating.
[0070]
However, when the sensor signal is not normally supplied from the photo interrupter 32, the drive motor 31 is further driven by a drive pulse signal for six steps different from an integer multiple of the pitch corresponding step number. As a result, a halfway display state is displayed in which two effect symbols are simultaneously displayed half by two. Therefore, when the employee of the gaming hall looks around the hall and discovers such an abnormal display state of the symbol, a failure occurs in the photo-interrupter 32, and as a result, the rotation control of the rotary reel 29 is normally performed. It is easy to find out.
[0071]
Therefore, the employee can replace the failed photo interrupter 32 with a new one at an early stage and respond. Further, when the power-off state is continued for a long period of time, the rotation control of the rotating reel 29 is executed because the power-off determination value HB of the RAM 46c is destroyed. However, when an instantaneous power failure occurs, the power-off determination value HB is destroyed. Therefore, the rotation control of the rotating reel 29 is not executed, and the game by the player can be continued without any trouble.
[0072]
Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.
1) The rotation reel rotation control may be partially changed by providing S30 instead of S19 as shown in FIG. 14 so that the drive motor 31 is continuously rotated when the photo-interrupter 32 fails. Good. That is, to explain the changed part,
When the rotating reel 29 makes two rotations and the step number count value SC becomes “0” (S17: Yes), the sensor signal number count value SN has reached “2” during two rotations of the rotating reel 29. If not (S18: No), the drive motor 31 is continuously driven to rotate (S30). In this case, the employee can easily find the failure of the photo interrupter 32 based on the rotation state of the rotating reel 29.
[0073]
2] In the rotation reel rotation control shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 14, the sensor signal is output from the photo interrupter 32 so as to have a different positional relationship from any of the stop positions of the six effect symbols Z1 to Z6. When the mounting position of the photo interrupter 32 is adjusted, "24 steps" may be set in S13, and the rotating reel 29 may be rotated at least once.
3] Instead of the symbol display means 100, the abnormal state is notified by a message “sensor failure” or a warning sound using the speaker 55, or is notified by one of the decorative lamp groups 57 or a separately provided abnormal notification lamp. It may be.
[0074]
4) Instead of the photo interrupter 32, various switches such as a magnetic switch such as a proximity switch and a contact switch such as a limit switch may be provided.
5) The present invention may be applied to a slot machine. That is, a plurality of (for example, three) rotating reels included in the symbol display mechanism are each driven by a dedicated drive motor, and a sensor signal is output from the photo interrupter every one rotation of each rotating reel, When the power is turned on, each rotating reel is rotated twice, and when two sensor signals are not output from the photo interrupter during the two rotations, the rotating reel is rotated extra, whereby a plurality of symbols marked on the surface of the rotating reel are rotated. Some of them may be shifted from the normal stop position and stopped.
[0075]
Similarly, when a fourth rotating reel is provided separately from the symbol display mechanism, a sensor signal is output from the photo interrupter every rotation of the rotating reel. Is rotated twice, and when two sensor signals are not output from the photo interrupter during the two rotations, by rotating the rotating reel excessively, a plurality of symbols marked on the surface of the rotating reel are shifted from a normal stop position. May also be shifted and stopped.
[0076]
6] For example, “6” photointerrupters 32 are provided as position detecting means for outputting a sensor signal (detection signal) each time the rotating reel 29 makes one rotation so as to correspond to the number of symbols “6”. The configuration may be such that when the number of detection signals is smaller than the normal “six” even though the reel 29 has made one rotation, it is determined that the photo interrupter 32 has failed. In this case, the failure of the photo-interrupter 32 can be easily and quickly determined with a small number of rotations of the rotating reel 29.
[0077]
7] Here, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be added without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention can be applied. Further, the present invention can be applied to various game machines such as an arrangement ball and a sparrow ball game machine using various game media.
[0078]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game control means, a sub-control means, a rotating member, an electric motor, and a drive control means. Since the electric motor is drive-controlled so as to rotate by the predetermined first rotation angle, when the rotation member is rotated by the first rotation angle and stopped, depending on the setting of the first rotation angle, the entire symbol is formed. Since it is displayed normally or in some cases, it is not displayed normally, it is visually checked whether the rotation control of the rotating member is normal, that is, the rotation position detection required for the rotation control of the rotating member is normal. Can be easily determined.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a rotary display device provided in a center case.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotary display device.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a control system of a main control unit.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of voice / lamp control means and symbol control means.
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a payout control unit.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of rotation reel rotation control.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an effect symbol of a rotating reel displayed in a normal state.
FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 12, which is displayed when an abnormality occurs.
FIG. 14 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 11 according to a modified embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Pachinko machine (ball game machine)
29 rotating reel
31 Drive motor
32 Photo interrupter
46b ROM
46c RAM
55 speakers
57 Decorative lamp
60 Main control means
90 Symbol control means
97 Drive control means
100 symbol display means

Claims (6)

A game control means (60) for totally controlling the gaming machine; a sub-control means (90) for controlling predetermined effect means (55, 57, 100) based on a control command from the game control means (60); A rotatable rotating member (29) having a plurality of symbols marked on its outer periphery, an electric motor (31) for rotating the rotating member (29), and a drive control means for driving and controlling the electric motor (31) (97)
The drive control means (97) controls the drive of the electric motor (31) so as to rotate the rotating member (29) by a predetermined first rotation angle of 360 degrees or more after the power is turned on. Machine. The electric motor (31) is a stepping motor, and the drive control means (97) stores a first step number for rotating the rotating member (29) by a first rotation angle,
Position detecting means (32) for detecting a specific rotational position of the rotating member (29);
The number of detection signals (SN) received from the position detection means (32) is counted while the drive pulse of the first step number is output from the drive control means (97), and the position is determined based on the number of detection signals (SN). Abnormality determination means (S17 to S18) for determining whether the detection means (32) is abnormal,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: When the abnormality determination means (S17 to S18) determines that the position detection means (32) is abnormal, the drive control means (97) rotates the rotating member (29) by a predetermined second rotation angle. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the electric motor (31) is drive-controlled. The second step number for rotating by the second rotation angle is a step number different from an integral multiple of the pitch corresponding step number for rotating the rotating member (29) by an angle corresponding to the circumferential arrangement pitch of the symbol. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein: The sub-control means (90) includes a microcomputer including a ROM (46b) # and a RAM (46c) #, and the drive control means (97) includes a power-off determination numerical value stored in the ROM (46b) # after power-on. (HA) is compared with a power-off determination value (HB) stored in the RAM (46c) # while being updated, and it is determined that power-off has occurred only when they do not match, and the rotating member (29) is determined. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein drive control for rotating the first rotation angle is performed. When the abnormality determination means (S17 to S18) determines that the position detection means (32) is abnormal, the effect means (55, 57, 100) informs that the position detection means (32) is abnormal. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the game machine is notified.

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