JP2005342248A - Ball withdrawing device for pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball withdrawing device installed in a pinball game machines which accomplishes the prevention of the fraudulent attempt to withdraw the game balls held within the ball paths and others. <P>SOLUTION: The ball withdrawing device discharges the game balls held within the spare prize ball path 102 with a prize ball put-out device 52 outside the pachinko game machine 1. Even when the operation of withdrawing the game balls is detected with a ball withdrawing operation switch 202, the ball withdrawing operation is kept from being carried out under the state of keeping the front frame open or others in the game machine, thereby preventing the fraudulence of withdrawing the game balls under such circumstances. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball removing device provided in a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine. More specifically, the present invention is provided on the back side of a game board and stands by in a preliminary prize ball passage to be paid out by a prize ball payout device. The present invention relates to a ball removing device for discharging a game ball to the outside as needed.

  A pachinko machine, which is a bullet ball game machine, plays a game while launching the game ball onto the game board according to the turning operation of the launch handle, and the game ball falls into a winning opening such as a chucker provided on the game board. Thus, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the tray unit as prize balls. In general, pachinko machines have a rectangular outer frame that is fixedly supported on the game island of the game facility, and main equipment such as a game board and a launching handle that are attached to the outer frame so as to be openable and closable. And a front frame is provided.

  On the back side of the front frame, a base frame body called a back set board is provided, and here a prize ball payout device which is a device for paying out a game ball to a saucer when winning or lending operation, A spare ball tank for storing game balls (also referred to as “preliminary prize balls”) supplied by the game facility side, a preliminary prize ball passage for guiding game balls stored in the spare ball tanks to the prize ball dispensing device, and prize ball dispensing Ball paths such as a prize ball path for guiding prize balls or rental balls paid out by the apparatus to the tray, and a ball discharge path for guiding game balls extracted by the prize ball payout apparatus to the outside of the machine are formed. .

  When performing maintenance and inspection work on the prize ball payout device or the like, or when replacing the main body of the pachinko machine, it is necessary to discharge game balls remaining inside the pachinko machine to the outside of the machine. In the conventional ball removing device, the ball removing operation lever provided on the side edge of the back set panel is tilted and the prize ball dispensing device discharges the game ball to the ball discharge passage, so that the spare ball tank and the preliminary prize are discharged. The game balls remaining in the ball passage were removed.

  However, according to the conventional ball removal device using the prize ball dispensing device, once the ball removal operation lever is tilted, the prize ball dispensing device is activated to perform the ball removal operation. However, if the front frame of the ball game machine is intentionally unlocked by a fraudster and the above-mentioned ball removal operation is performed, the game ball is easily stolen from the ball discharge port at the bottom of the front frame. There was a problem. In addition, if a ball removal operation is performed while game balls can be replenished from the game island, the ball removal operation will continue while the shortage of game balls discharged by the ball removal is replenished. As a result, many game balls were stolen and the amusement hall side could be seriously damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball removal device for preventing an illegal ball removal action and a ball game machine including the same.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a ball game machine in which a game ball held in a ball passage formed in a ball game machine is discharged to the outside by a prize ball payout device. A ball removal device, for example, a ball removal operation detecting means for detecting a ball removal operation, for example, a ball removal operation switch, and a front frame opening switch or a glass frame opening switch for detecting a gaming machine state of the ball game machine. And a ball removal permission means for permitting and executing a ball removal operation by the prize ball payout device according to the detected state of the gaming machine.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the ball removal device according to claim 1, wherein the ball removal permission means is configured to release the prize ball when at least the front frame member is open in the ball game machine. The ball removing operation by the apparatus is not performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball removal device according to the first aspect, the ball removal permission means is configured to release the prize ball when at least the glass frame member is open in the ball game machine. The ball removing operation by the apparatus is not performed.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the ball removal device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the front frame member or the glass frame member is opened during the ball removal operation by the prize ball dispensing device. It further comprises an abnormality notifying means for notifying an abnormality when the state detecting means detects.

  According to the ball removal device of claim 1, for example, when the ball removal operation detecting means that is a ball removal operation switch detects the ball removal operation, the ball removal permission means detects the gaming machine state detected by the gaming machine state detection means. Accordingly, the ball removal operation by the prize ball dispensing device is permitted and executed. For example, in a gaming machine state in which the front frame member is open, for example, by preventing the ball removal permitting means from permitting the ball removal operation, unauthorized ball removal for a ball game machine in such a state can be prevented. Is done. This improves the safety of the ball game machine.

  According to the ball removal device of claim 2, the ball removal permission means does not issue a ball removal permission when at least the front frame member is open in the ball game machine, and the ball removal by the prize ball dispensing device. No action is taken. Therefore, unauthorized ball removal in this state is prevented, and the safety of the ball game machine is improved.

  According to the ball removal device of claim 3, the ball removal permission means does not issue a ball removal permission and at least the ball removal by the prize ball dispensing device when the glass frame member is open in the bullet ball game machine. No action is taken. Therefore, unauthorized ball removal in this state is prevented, and the safety of the ball game machine is improved.

  According to the ball removal device of claim 4, when the gaming machine state detection means detects the opening of the front frame member or the glass frame member during the ball removal operation, the abnormality notification means notifies this as an abnormality. Certainly prevent fraud during ball removal.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if a ball removal operation is detected, the ball game machine may be illegally removed, for example, the front frame member is open. In some cases, the ball removal operation is not allowed and is not performed. For this reason, unauthorized ball removal in such a state can be prevented in advance, and the safety of the ball game machine is improved.

  In addition, when the opening of the front frame member or the glass frame member is detected during the ball removing operation, the abnormality notifying unit notifies this as an abnormality, so that it is possible to reliably prevent an illegal act during the ball removing operation.

  Hereinafter, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pachinko machine, which is a typical example of a ball game machine, will be described, and an outline configuration thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external structure of the pachinko machine, FIG. 2 is a front view mainly showing the structure of the front side of the game board and front frame of the pachinko machine in a state where the glass frame and the integrated dish unit are opened, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the external structure of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof.

  The pachinko machine 1 is an outer frame for fixing and holding the main body to the game island, a wooden outer frame 2 formed in a rectangular shape, and attached to the outer frame 2 by a hinge member 3a so as to be opened and closed. In some cases, a front frame 3 that closes the front surface of the outer frame 2 is provided. On the front surface of the front frame 3, a glass frame 4 to which a double transparent plate formed of a transparent resin plate such as acrylic or a transparent glass plate is attached, and an integrated dish unit integrally formed of hard plastic 5 is attached so that opening and closing is possible.

  The front frame 3 is automatically locked by closing the front frame 3 to the outer frame 2 side, and automatically locked by closing the glass frame 4 together with the integrated dish unit 5 to the front frame 3 side. A locking device (not shown) is provided, which can be opened by inserting a predetermined key into the key hole 6 formed in the right front portion of the front frame 3 and performing an unlocking operation. Yes.

  Further, a glass frame opening switch 42 (see FIG. 1) is provided at one position on the front surface of the front frame 3 and facing the back surface portion of the glass frame 4, and the front surface portion of the outer frame 2 on the back surface side of the front frame 3. A front frame opening switch 41 (see FIG. 4) is provided at one opposed position. Each of the glass frame opening switch 42 and the front frame opening switch 41 is formed of a push-type switch. The glass frame opening switch 42 is turned off when the glass frame 4 is closed with respect to the front frame 3, and is turned on when the glass frame 4 is opened, thereby closing and closing the glass frame 4. Detect open state. The front frame opening switch 41 is turned off when the front frame 3 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2 and is turned on when the front frame 3 is opened. Detects closed and open states.

  Next, the structure of the front side of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  On the front upper part of the glass frame 4, there are provided lighting units 4a and 4b for production that incorporate lamps such as high-intensity light emitting diodes. Further, at the left corner of the glass frame 4, there is similarly provided a high-intensity light emitting diode, and for example, a notification illumination unit 4 c for notifying an opening error of the glass frame 4 or the like is disposed.

  The integrated dish unit 5 is formed with a tray part 5a for storing and aligning paid-out game balls. In the lower part of the front surface of the integrated dish unit 5, an effect sound emitting unit 5 b including a speaker 9 for guiding the sound effect relating to the game of the pachinko machine 1 or the progress of the game by voice is disposed.

  In addition, a ball release button for discharging the game balls stored in the tray portion 5a from the ball discharge port 5e at the bottom of the integrated dish unit 5 to a lower ball box (dollar box), etc. 5c and 5d are provided. The left ball removal button 5c discharges the game ball on the tray 5a from the vicinity of the ball launcher 50, and the right ball removal button 5d lowers the game ball of the tray 5a from the vicinity of the winning ball payout exit 27. This is an operation button for removing the ball.

  In the lower right part of the front surface of the integrated dish unit 5, a firing handle 8 for performing an operation of launching a game ball stored in the tray part 5a toward the game board 20 is disposed. The firing handle 8 has a rotation operation unit 8a that is constantly urged counterclockwise by a built-in spring, and the player operates the rotation operation unit 8a against the urging force while touching the rotation operation unit 8a. Is turned clockwise, the ball launching device 50 is operated to launch a game ball with a striking force corresponding to the turning angle of the turning operation portion 8a.

  A CR operation panel 7 including a ball lending switch 7a and a return switch 7b is disposed on the upper left portion of the front surface of the integrated dish unit 5. The ball lending switch 7 a is a switch for lending a game ball from a CR unit (not shown) adjacent to the pachinko machine 1. Each time the ball lending switch 7a is pressed, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the integrated dish unit 5 within a frequency range stored in, for example, a magnetic card inserted in the CR unit. The return switch 7b is a switch for discharging and returning the magnetic card inserted in the CR unit.

  The front frame 3 is composed of a hard plastic base frame 30 integrally formed with a frame portion having substantially the same size and shape as the outer frame 2 and a ball assembly cage or the like inside the frame portion. A game board housing portion 31 that is an opening for detachably housing the game board 20 is formed in the center of the opposing base frame body 30.

  A plurality of rotation lock members 301 are arranged at appropriate positions on the front side of the base frame body 30, and the game board 20 allows the rotation lock member 301 to be inserted into a locking hole 20 a formed in the game board 20. By rotating the rotation lock member 301 by 90 degrees, the rotation lock member 301 is housed and held in the game board housing portion 31 of the base frame body 30. When the glass frame 4 is closed to the front frame 3 side, the front of the game board 20 and the transparent plate of the glass frame 4 face each other at a predetermined interval, so that the game ball falls and moves to the game board 20. A game area is formed.

  In the game area, a gauge which is an array pattern in which a plurality of nails are driven is formed. The game ball launched into the game area collides with a plurality of nails constituting the gauge and falls downward while accidentally changing its direction.

  Also, in the game area of the game board 20, a plurality of chuckers 21a and 21b that wins when a game ball enters the winning opening, and a lottery to a special gaming state such as jackpot by similarly entering the winning opening. The starting chucker 22 that activates the player, and in a special gaming state, the player is released until a certain amount of time or a certain number of game balls have entered, and when a game ball enters, a winning combination such as an attacker 23 that pays out more award balls than usual is appropriate. It is arranged at the position. Further, at the lower part of the game area, an out port 24 is provided for collecting and discharging out balls that have fallen without entering the winning port. Further, a decoration member 25 that can see through the display portion of the liquid crystal display unit 53 is provided at the approximate center of the game area.

  A game auxiliary board 30 a is formed on the front surface of the base frame body 30 below the game board housing part 31. A prize ball payout opening 27 that opens to the front is formed on the right side of the game auxiliary board 30a, and a storage tank 26 having a gentle downward slope toward the prize ball payout outlet 27 is provided in the game auxiliary board 30a. Is housed and attached. A prize ball that is paid out at the time of winning a prize in a game or a loan that is lent out by a lending operation is paid out from the prize ball payout outlet 27 to the tray 5a through the storage tank 26. Further, the foul balls and other spilled balls are collected in the storage tank 26 and returned to the tray part 5a.

  In addition, a ball launcher 50 is provided on the left side of the game assisting board 30a. The ball launching device 50 is a device that launches game balls stored in the tray part 5a of the integrated dish unit 5 to the game area of the game board 20 one by one in response to the turning operation of the launching handle 8. In addition, the game assisting board 30a has a launch rail 503 for launching a game ball toward the outer rail 71 in the game area in alignment with the striking hammer 502 of the ball launcher 50, a speaker 9 for generating a production effect sound, and the like. Is attached. The game assisting board 30a is located on the back side of the integrated dish unit 5, and the surface side is covered with the integrated dish unit 5 that is always kept closed.

  Next, the structure of the back side of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the front frame 3, a locking hook 304 that is movable up and down by a locking device provided in the front frame 3 is locked to a locking portion 2 a that protrudes inward from the outer frame 2 on the back side of the pachinko machine 1. The outer frame 2 is closed and held.

  Further, on the back side of the front frame 3, the back set board 10 to which various devices such as the prize ball payout device 52 and various control boards such as the main control board 60 are attached is detachably attached. A plurality of rotation lock members 302 are installed on the back side of the base frame body 30 of the front frame 3, and a horizontally long locking port 101 is formed in the back set panel 10 in alignment with the rotation lock members 302. The back set board 10 is attached to the back surface of the base frame 30 by inserting each rotation lock member 302 through the locking hole 101 and rotating the rotation lock member 302 by 90 degrees.

  Although details will be described later, the back set board 10 includes a preliminary prize ball passage 102 for guiding preliminary prize balls from a preliminary ball tank 51 to which preliminary prize balls are replenished to the prize ball dispensing apparatus 52, and a prize ball dispensing apparatus. A winning ball path 105 that guides the winning balls or rental balls paid out from 52 to the tray portion 5a of the integrated dish unit 5, a gaming ball that has entered the winning opening, and an out ball that has been collected through the out opening 24 A ball discharge passage 106 for collecting and discharging to a collection ball tank (not shown) on the lower gaming facility side, and a preliminary award ball removed by the prize ball payout device 52 is guided to the ball discharge passage 106 to collect the collected ball. A ball passage 107 and the like for discharging to the tank are formed.

  A rectangular opening is formed substantially at the center of the back set board 10, and when the back set board 10 is attached to the front frame 3, the back surface of the game board 20 is projected along with the liquid crystal display unit 53. The sub-control board 61 attached to is received in the opening. A semi-transparent plastic cover member 108 is attached so as to cover the liquid crystal display unit 53 and the sub control board 61.

  Further, the back set board 10 has a payout control board 62 for performing payout control of prize balls and rental balls, a power supply unit 63, and a plurality of connectors, and a game board relay for relaying control signals and power. A board 64 and an external terminal board 65 for outputting the operation state (game machine information) of the pachinko machine 1 to a management computer (for example, a hall computer) in the game hall facility are attached, and these various devices and electronic circuit boards are installed. It is electrically connected with a wire harness or the like. Here, the payout control board 62 is a control board that controls the payout of the predetermined number of prize balls or balls by operating the prize ball payout device 52 when winning or when a lending operation is performed. Further, as will be described later, when a ball removing operation for removing the game balls remaining in the preliminary prize ball passage 102 is performed, the prize ball payout device 52 is operated to discharge the game balls to the outside.

  The power supply unit 63 is formed with a power distribution circuit, and supplies power necessary for the operation of the pachinko machine 1 to the various devices, the control board, and other devices.

  The pachinko machine 1 is installed at a game island of a game facility while being held at a required backward tilt angle (for example, 1 degree).

  The pachinko machine 1 is used in a game in which the front frame 3, the glass frame 4 and the integrated dish unit 5 are closed and locked, and a game ball is stored in the tray part 5a, and the launch handle 8 is operated to rotate. Is started. When the player touches the turning operation portion 8a of the launching handle 8, the game balls stored in the tray portion 5a are sent one by one onto the firing rail 503 by a ball feeding device (not shown), and the ball launching device 50 is hit. When the hammer 502 hits the game ball to the game area of the game board 20 with a striking force corresponding to the operation amount of the rotation operation unit 8a, the subsequent pachinko game is developed.

  Next, the configuration of each part of the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above will be described in more detail.

  The game board 20 has a belt-like outer rail 71 and inner rail 72 made of stainless steel plate or the like fixed to the front side of a decorative board in which cells are attached to the surface of a laminated plywood having a predetermined thickness. And the game area | region mentioned above is formed in the inner side enclosed by these guide rails. In the game area, a prize pattern such as chuckers 21a and 21b, starter chucker 22, and openable attacker 23, as well as a liquid crystal display unit 53, as well as a gauge pattern in which a large number of nails are placed as described above. A decorative member 25 or the like is provided.

  Each of the chuckers 21a and 21b has a winning opening into which a game ball can be dropped, and a winning ball sensor for detecting the gaming ball that has entered the winning hole is attached. This winning ball sensor is formed from a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball in a non-contact manner by, for example, magnetic, optical, or electrical means.

  The starter chucker 22 is a so-called electric tulip winning component, and is configured such that the probability of winning can be varied by opening and closing the left and right wing members. In addition, a winning ball sensor (starting port winning ball sensor) similar to the above-described chuckers 21a and 21b is also provided in the winning opening of the starting chucker 22, and when a ball entering the starting chucker 22 is detected, the pachinko machine 1 The main control board 60 performs a lottery to shift to a gaming state in which a game can be played under conditions more advantageous than usual, such as a big hit (probable hit).

  The attacker 23 has a large winning opening consisting of a horizontal rectangular opening at the center, and an open / close door is attached to enable opening / closing of the large winning opening by a solenoid (large winning opening solenoid). In the normal gaming state, the door is closed, and when the special game state such as a big hit is established as a result of the lottery performed when entering the starter chucker 22 described above, the door is opened approximately 90 degrees forward. Defeated.

  When game balls drop into the big winning opening of the attacker 23, more game balls are paid out than other winning combinations. For this reason, in the special game state, the player can play a game with a higher winning probability than usual. There are two winning holes on the left and right inside the grand prize winning opening, and one of the winning openings forms a special area. For example, when winning a big hit, as long as the game ball falls into the winning area in this special area The special gaming state can be continued up to the maximum number of times that is scheduled. In each of the winning holes of the attacker 23, a winning ball sensor and a specific area winning ball sensor similar to those of the chuckers 21a and 21b are provided.

  At the bottom of the game area, there is provided an out port 24 that collects and discharges out balls that have fallen without entering any of the winning ports such as chuckers 21a and 21b, starter chucker 22, and attacker 23. .

  The back set board 10 is arranged on the back side of the game board 20 at a predetermined interval. The game balls dropped into the winning openings and the game balls discharged from the out openings 24 (these are referred to as “game-completed balls”). ”) Falls between the back surface of the game board 20 and the front surface of the back set board 10, and is collected in a ball assembly basket formed on the back side of the game auxiliary board 30 a of the front frame 3. These game-completed balls pass through the ball discharge passage 106 formed in the back set board 10 and are collected into a collection ball tank which is equipment on the game island side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a reserve ball tank 51 for storing a reserve prize ball replenished from a ball replenishment basket of the game island facility is attached to the upper portion of the back set board 10. A tank ball cut switch 57 is provided at the bottom of the spare ball tank 51. The tank ball cut switch 57 is formed with a switch lever that is biased upward from the bottom surface of the spare ball tank 51. When there is no spare prize ball in the spare ball tank 51, the switch lever is raised and the switch is turned off. As a result, the ball-out state of the reserve ball tank 51 is detected, and a signal for requesting catching of the reserve prize ball is sent to the ball supply device on the game facility side.

  Inside the back set board 10, a preliminary prize ball passage 102 communicating from the preliminary ball tank 51 to the prize ball payout device 52 is formed. The preliminary prize ball passage 102 is connected to the preliminary ball tank 51 and has an inclined flange 103 that gently slopes downward to the right, and an S-shaped rail part 104 that is connected to the prize ball payout device 52 at the end and bent into a substantially S shape. It is roughly divided into

  A rib-shaped partition wall 103a is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inclined flange 103 along the direction in which the game ball flows down, thereby forming two rows of ball passages. Further, the ball leveling member 541 of the ball leveling mechanism 54 protrudes into the inclined flange 103 and is suspended in two locations along the flow-down direction of the game ball. With this configuration, the game balls (preliminary prize balls) that flow down from the bottom surface of the inclined flange portion 103 at a certain height or more are leveled almost uniformly by moving while colliding with the ball leveling member 541, and the rib-shaped partition wall 103a is aligned in two rows and efficiently transferred to the S-shaped rail portion 104. Since the S-shaped rail portion 104 is formed of a ball path that is bent in two stages while facing downward, the S-shaped rail portion 104 acts on the prize ball payout device 52 by the game balls stacked in the preliminary prize ball path 102 and waiting. The heavy pressure is reduced.

  In the vicinity of the terminal end of the inclined flange 103, a ball stopper mechanism 55 is provided that can manually close the ball passage as necessary to stop the flow of the preliminary prize ball.

  A prize ball payout device 52 is attached to the back set board 10 in connection with the S-shaped rail portion 104 of the preliminary prize ball passage 102. The prize ball payout device 52 is connected to the end of the S-shaped rail portion 104 at the upper center to receive a preliminary prize ball, and at the lower part is a payout outlet for paying out the prize balls and rental balls to the prize ball passage 105. A payout opening is provided for discharging the preliminary prize ball to the ball discharge passage 106 during the pulling operation. The prize ball payout device 52 has a front and rear two-stage impeller, a ball payout motor for rotating these impellers, and the like inside the case member, and according to a payout command signal output from the payout control board 62 under predetermined conditions. The ball payout motor operates, rotates the impeller counterclockwise, pays out a quantity of game balls (prize balls or rental balls) based on the payout command signal from the left payout opening, and rotates the impeller clockwise to make a preliminary prize The game ball in the ball passage 102 is discharged from the right payout exit. The detailed description of the prize ball payout device 52 will be described later.

  The prize ball passage 105 communicates with the prize ball passage outlet 105a that is bent from the prize ball payout device 52 above the descending power supply unit 63 and gently descends to the left and opens to the front of the back set board 10. . Furthermore, the prize ball passage outlet 105a is in close contact with one end of the storage tank 26 accommodated in the game auxiliary board 30a of the front frame 3. As a result, the prize balls or rental balls paid out from the prize ball dispensing device 52 pass through the prize ball passage 105 in the back set board 10 and the storage tank 26 on the front frame 3 side to the tray part 5a of the integrated dish unit 5. It is configured to be paid out.

  The upper end of the ball discharge passage 106 communicates with the end of the ball assembly cage formed on the back side of the front frame 3 and the out port 24 in a state where the back set board 10 is attached to the front frame 3. As a result, the game balls that have entered the respective winning entrances and are collected in the ball assembly cage and the out balls that have entered the out port 24 are received by the ball discharge passage 106 and to the ball discharge passage outlet 106a that opens downward at the end. And fall. In a state where the pachinko machine 1 is installed on the game island, the game balls discharged from the ball discharge passage outlet 106a are collected by a collection ball tank which is equipment on the game island side.

  Next, in the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above, a prize ball or a rental ball is paid out to the tray part 5a of the integrated dish unit 5, and a game ball (preliminary prize ball) standing by in the ball path on the upstream side of the prize ball payout device 52 is used. The details of the mechanism (ball dispensing and ball removal device) for discharging the ball to the outside of the pachinko machine 1 through the ball removal passage 107 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ball payout and ball removal device, in which the cover member on the back side of the back set board 10 is removed and the prize ball payout device 52 is broken. 6 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the prize ball payout device 52, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the prize ball payout device 52. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a ball stopper mechanism 55 for manually closing the preliminary prize ball passage 102 when necessary is provided near the end of the inclined flange 103 of the preliminary prize ball passage 102, and the S-shaped rail portion. A prize ball payout device 52 is provided in connection with the end of 104.

  The ball stop mechanism 55 is a mechanism for temporarily stopping the flow of game balls in the preliminary prize ball passage 102. Normally, the ball stopper mechanism 55 is set to a position where the preliminary prize ball passage 102 is opened. For example, when performing maintenance and inspection work of the prize ball payout device 52, the ball stopper mechanism 55 is moved to the ball passage closing position. To stop the flow of the game ball downstream from this, and perform a ball removal operation described later to discharge the game ball in the S-shaped rail portion 104 so that the above operation can be performed quickly or easily. Yes.

  The ball stop mechanism 55 includes a regulating member 551 that is pivotally supported in the upper part of the preliminary prize ball passage 102, an upper cover member 552 that covers the upper part of the preliminary prize ball path 102, and a wall surface of the back set board 10. It is mainly composed of a locking piece 553 that is formed and holds the restricting member 551 in the ball passage open position or the ball passage close position.

  The restricting member 551 bends in the rotational direction from the pivot portion 551a pivotally supported by the shaft hole formed in the upper portion of the preliminary prize ball passage 102, the arm portion 551b extending from the pivot portion 551a, and the tip of the arm portion 551b. And two control claw portions 551c projecting from the arm portion 551b and an operation lever portion 551d extending from the tip of the arm portion 551b in a direction parallel to the rotation axis (rear of the pachinko machine 1). Is formed.

  An upper cover member 552 is attached to the upper portion of the preliminary prize ball passage 102, and the upper cover member 552 is aligned with the restriction claw portion 551c when the restriction member 551 is turned to the ball passage closed position. Two openings 552a for penetrating the regulation claw 551c and projecting into the preliminary prize ball passage 102 are formed.

  The locking piece 553 is formed by separating the upper and lower sides and the right side from the wall portion of the back set board 10, and a protruding protrusion 553 a is formed near the right end of the locking piece 553 toward the regulating member 551. That is, the locking piece 553 is elastically deformed while the left side portion thereof is integrated with and supported by the wall portion of the back set board 10, so that the protrusion 553a formed at the right end portion thereof can be displaced in the front-rear direction. Yes.

  The ball stopper mechanism 55 is normally set to a ball passage opening position where the restricting member 551 is rotated to the downstream side of the preliminary prize ball passage 102. At this time, the restricting member 551 is held by the protruding portion 553a of the locking piece 553 whose arm portion 551b protrudes rearward from the wall surface of the back set board 10, and is held at the above-described ball passage opening position. When stopping the supply of game balls, such as maintenance and inspection work of the prize ball payout device 52, the preliminary award is obtained by rotating the operation lever portion 551d of the regulating member 551 to the upstream side of the preliminary prize ball passage 102. It is set to a ball passage closing position for closing the ball passage 102. At this time, the locking piece 553 is elastically displaced forward while the protrusion 553a is in sliding contact with the arm 551b of the restricting member 551. When the restricting member 551 reaches the ball passage closed position, the protrusion 553a becomes the back set board. It returns to the position which protrudes back from 10 wall surfaces. As a result, the arm 551b of the restricting member 551 is locked to the protrusion 553a and is held at the ball passage closed position. When the restricting member 551 is in the ball passage closed position, the restricting claw portion 551c protrudes into the preliminary prize ball passage 102, so that the flow of game balls in the preliminary prize ball passage 102 is blocked by the restriction claw portion 551c.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the prize ball payout device 52 pays out a prize ball or a rental ball, and receiving holes 523a and 523b for receiving game balls (preliminary prize balls) supplied via the S-shaped rail portion 104. It has a rectangular case member 521 in which a payout outlet is formed, and a cover member 522 to which a ball payout motor is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a front and rear two-stage impeller 527a in which a groove portion for holding a game ball is formed in an outer peripheral position divided into three equal parts along the circumferential direction inside the case member 521 of the prize ball payout device 52. 527b is rotatably provided and the tip of the drive shaft of the ball payout motor 528 is connected to the rotation shaft of the impellers 527a and 527b inside the case member 521 when the cover member 522 is attached to the case member 521. Engage. Thereby, the impellers 527a and 527b formed integrally are rotated by the ball payout motor 528.

  In addition, in the case member 521, two front and rear rows of introduction passages 524a and 524b for guiding the game balls supplied from the receiving ports 523a and 523b to the impellers 527a and 527b, and an impeller 527a that is driven to rotate counterclockwise. 527b guides the game ball sent out while being held in the groove portion 527b to the lower payout port 526a side, and the game ball sent out while being held in the grooves of the impellers 527a and 527b that are also driven to rotate clockwise. Is formed with a payout passage 525b that guides the lower portion to the lower payout port 526b side.

  Here, FIG. 7A shows a state where one groove portion of the impeller 527b is at the uppermost position and holds one game ball supplied from the receiving port 523b, and FIG. 7B shows the impeller. 527b rotates about 90 degrees counterclockwise and the game ball is sent out to the payout passage 525a.

  In this way, the prize ball payout device 52 controls the ball payout motor 528 by the above-described payout control board 62 when the winning is confirmed in the game of the pachinko machine 1, for example, and the impellers 527a and 527b are counteracted by a predetermined rotation amount. By rotating clockwise, the number of prize balls corresponding to the type of the prize is paid out through the payout opening 526a. Also, when a game ball lending operation is performed on the pachinko machine 1, the payout control board 62 controls the impellers 527a and 527b to rotate counterclockwise by a predetermined rotation amount. The ball is paid out through the payout exit 526a.

  On the other hand, in the ball removal operation that is executed when the ball removal operation is performed and the pachinko machine 1 is in a required state, which will be described later, in the prize ball dispensing device 52, the ball dispensing motor 528 is controlled by the dispensing control board 62. As the impellers 527a and 527b rotate clockwise, the preliminary prize balls in the S-shaped rail portion 104 are discharged through the payout opening 526b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a count sensor 529, which is an optical sensor, is provided on the payout path 525a side of the prize ball payout device 52 from which a prize ball or a rental ball is paid out. The count sensor 529 detects a winning ball or a lending ball paid out by the winning ball payout device 52 and sends the detection signal to the payout control board 62. Since the payout control board 62 grasps the number of game balls actually paid out and controls the ball payout to the prize ball payout device 52, an accurate number of game balls can be paid out.

  Next, a ball removal operation part provided on the right edge of the back set board 10 is pivotally supported by the ball set operation switch 202 which is a micro switch having a hinge lever and the back set board 10 so as to be rotatable. It comprises a ball removal operation lever 201 for operating the operation switch 202.

  The ball pulling operation lever 201 is pivotally supported by the back set board 10 and is positioned so as to protrude from the side edge of the back set board 10 by protruding rightward from the pivot part 201c and bending upward. The lever part 201a and a pressing piece 201b that extends downward from the pivotal support part 201c and contacts the hinge lever of the ball removal operation switch 202 are integrally formed of plastic. By tilting the operation lever portion 201a of the ball removal operation lever 201 backward, the hinge lever is pressed by the pressing piece 201b, and the ball removal operation switch 202 is turned on.

  Next, a control system provided in the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The main control board 60 is equipped with a CPU as an arithmetic unit and electronic components such as a ROM and a RAM, which are semiconductor memories, and the CPU performs a winning combination and effects lottery according to a system program stored in the ROM in advance. A pachinko game is developed by executing arithmetic processing. In addition, each control board such as a sub control board 61, a payout control board 62, and a game board relay board 64 is connected to the main control board 60 by a wire harness, and a command signal is transmitted to these control boards to control each control board. The overall control of the pachinko machine 1 is controlled by causing the substrate to perform distributed control.

  Here, the sub-control board 61 includes an image control unit 611 that controls the liquid crystal display unit 53 to display an image related to the effect, an audio control unit 612 that performs ringing control on the speaker 9, and an effect illumination unit 4a. 4b and a lamp controller 613 for lighting lamps such as the notification illumination unit 4c.

  The image control unit 611 is equipped with a ROM that stores compressed image data and a video signal processing circuit (VDP: Video Display Processor) having a frame memory or a video RAM, and the main control board 60 for the liquid crystal display unit 53. Control is performed to display various effect images based on the command signal. The audio control unit 612 includes a ROM that stores compressed sound source data of various effect sound effects, a sound signal processing circuit that demodulates sound source data selected based on a command signal of the main control board 60, and reproduces the sound signal, and a reproduction An amplifying circuit for amplifying the received audio signal is mounted. The lamp control unit 613 includes a drive circuit that lights or blinks the effect lighting units 4a and 4b according to the sequence selected by the main control board 60.

  The main control board 60 is connected with a start opening winning ball sensor 221. When the starting opening winning ball sensor 221 detects a ball entering the starting chucker 22, a command signal indicating that a predetermined number of winning balls should be paid out. Is sent to the payout control board 62, and the hardware lottery circuit is activated to draw the winning combination. At this time, the main control board 60 sends a control signal to the sub-control board 61 so that a plurality of symbols are variably displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 53 provided on the decorative member 25, or the effect sound emitting section 5b The speaker 9 generates a sound effect related to winning, or turns on or blinks the lighting units 4a and 4b for effects to produce an effect that raises the expectation of winning.

  In addition, a winning ball sensor 211 provided on the chuckers 21a and 21b is connected to the main control board 60 via the game board relay board 64, and when the winning ball sensor 211 detects a ball entering the winning opening, a predetermined value is obtained. A command signal indicating that a plurality of prize balls should be paid out is sent to the payout control board 62.

  When a winning combination such as a big win is won, the main control board 60 shifts the processing of the game to a special game state, controls the game board relay board 64 and activates the big prize opening solenoid 233 to perform an attacker under certain requirements. Open the 23 doors. Thereby, in the special game state, it is possible to enter the attacker 23, and the main control board 60 allows the winning ball sensor 231 provided in the attacker 23 or the specific area winning ball sensor 232 to enter the winning opening. Each time it is detected, a command signal indicating that a predetermined number of prize balls should be paid out is sent to the payout control board 62.

  The payout control board 62 is connected with a ball payout motor 528 of the prize ball payout device 52 and a count sensor 529. Further, a ball lending switch 7a and a return switch 7b provided on the CR operation panel 7 are connected to the payout control board 62 via a CR connection terminal board 67, and a CR unit (not shown) is connected to the CR connection terminal board 67. For example, it is connected so that serial communication is possible. When a game ball enters the winning opening or the ball lending switch 7a is operated, the payout control board 62 operates the ball payout motor 528 of the prize ball payout device 52 to count the actually paid out winning balls. By controlling the ball payout motor 528 while detecting by the sensor 529, a predetermined number of prize balls or balls are paid out.

  The payout control board 62 receives a detection signal from the tank ball break switch 57 provided in the spare ball tank 51 via the external terminal board 65, and the ball break state in the spare ball tank 51 is more than a predetermined time. When the operation continues, the operation of the prize ball payout device 52 is controlled to be stopped.

  The payout control board 62 is connected to a ball removal operation switch 202 operated by a ball removal operation lever 201 when a ball removal operation described later is performed by the ball removal control means 120.

  In addition, a discharge control board 66 is connected to the payout control board 62. The launch control board 66 is a control board that controls the operation of the ball launcher 50 in accordance with the operation of the launch handle 8, and includes a touch sensor 81, a potentiometer 82, a stop switch 83, A ball launch solenoid 501 and the like of the launch device 50 are connected.

  The touch sensor 81 provided on the firing handle 8 is formed of, for example, a capacitance type sensor, and controls the firing of a detection signal (ON signal) while a player or the like is touching the rotation operation portion 8a of the firing handle 8. Delivered to the substrate 66. The potentiometer 82 changes its electrical resistance in accordance with the rotation angle at which the turning operation unit 8a is turned. For this reason, for example, by supplying a constant current to the potentiometer 82, the firing control board 66 can obtain a voltage signal corresponding to the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 8. The stop switch 83 is a push-type switch provided on the firing handle 8 in order to stop the launch of the game ball.

  The launch control board 66 is a ball launcher with a torque corresponding to the turning angle of the turning operation unit 8a detected by the potentiometer 82 while the player or the like touches the launch handle 8 and the touch sensor 81 detects this. 50 ball launch solenoids 501 are activated. Thereby, a game ball is launched to the game board 20 with a striking force corresponding to the amount of rotation operation of the launch handle 8. When the firing control board 66 detects that the stop switch 83 is pressed, the ball launching solenoid 501 stops operating even if the player or the like touches the firing handle 8 during that time. Further, the launch control board 66 regulates the operation of the ball launcher 50 even when the saucer full tank switch 56 connected to the payout control board 62 detects the full state of the game ball held in the saucer part 5a. To interrupt the game.

  The external terminal board 65 is connected to a hall computer, which is a management computer of the amusement hall, by a wiring cable, and an electronic circuit board that mainly functions as an output terminal board for notifying the hall computer of the operating state of the pachinko machine 1 It is.

  The main control board 60 and the payout control board 62 described above are connected to the external terminal board 65, and the current gaming state in the pachinko machine 1 is, for example, a big hit (special gaming state) from these control boards. Receiving gaming machine information such as whether or not the payout device 52 is activated and paying out a winning ball or a rental ball or displaying an effect symbol by the decorative member 25, the hall computer is always notified. The external terminal board 65 is connected to a front frame opening switch 41 and a glass frame opening switch 42 for detecting the opening state of the front frame 3 and the glass frame 4, respectively. The information shown is also notified to the hall computer.

  Next, the operation of the above-described ball dispensing and ball removal device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a rear view showing the ball dispensing and ball removal device during the ball dispensing operation, and is a view showing the prize ball dispensing device 52 in cross section, and FIG. 10 is viewed from the right in the state in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view. FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the ball dispensing and ball removal device during the ball removal operation, and is a view showing the prize ball dispensing device 52 in section, and FIG. 12 is a partial cross section seen from the right in the state in FIG. FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a ball removal operation process executed by the ball removal control means 120 provided on, for example, the payout control board 62 of the pachinko machine 1.

  In a normal game, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a game ball payout operation by the prize ball payout device 52 is performed. That is, when the game balls launched into the game area drop into the chuckers 21a, 21b, the attacker 23, etc., and the winning ball sensors 211, 231 detect this, the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning from the main control board 60 Is sent to the payout control board 62. The payout control board 62 controls the ball payout motor 528 of the prize ball payout device 52 based on the command signal to rotate the impellers 527a and 527b in the counterclockwise direction, thereby waiting on the S-shaped rail portion 104. A predetermined number of game balls are sent out to the award ball passage 105. In addition, when the player operates the ball lending switch 7a of the CR operation panel 7, the payout control board 62 moves the impellers 527a and 527b counterclockwise in order to pay out a predetermined number of game balls. It is rotated and sent out to the prize ball passage 105. As a result, the prize balls or rental balls paid out by the prize ball payout device 52 are discharged to the tray part 5 a of the integrated dish unit 5 through the prize ball passage 105.

  When inspecting the main body of the pachinko machine 1 or when replacing the pachinko machine 1, a ball removal operation by the prize ball payout device 52 based on the flowchart of FIG. 13 is performed. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the operation lever portion 201a of the ball removal operation lever 201 is tilted backward by an operator or the like, the ball removal operation switch 202 is moved by the pressing piece 201b interlocked therewith. By turning on, the ball removal operation is detected. In the ball punching operation, an operator on the back side of the pachinko machine 1 may directly tilt the operation lever portion 201a, but the ball punching operation hole 150 penetrating the glass frame 4 and the front frame 3 is provided. By inserting the operation pin, the operation lever portion 201a may be indirectly tilted from the front side of the pachinko machine 1.

  In FIG. 13, when a ball removal operation is detected (step S101: YES), the ball removal control means 120 determines whether or not the front frame 3 is opened from the detection state of the front frame release switch 41 (step S102). . If it is determined that the front frame 3 is open (step S102: YES), the process is terminated without performing the ball removal operation.

  If the front frame 3 is not in the open state (step S102: NO), it is next determined from the detection state of the glass frame open switch 42 whether the glass frame 4 is in the open state (step S103). If it is determined that the glass frame 4 is open (step S103: YES), the process is terminated without performing the ball removal operation.

  If the glass frame 4 is not in the open state (step S103: NO), it is next determined whether or not the symbol is variably displayed on the pachinko machine 1 (step S104). If it is determined that the symbol is in a variable display (step S104: YES), the process is terminated without performing the ball removal operation.

  If the pachinko machine 1 is not displaying a symbol (step S104: NO), it is next determined whether the pachinko machine 1 is in a big hit (step S105). If it is determined that the jackpot is being hit (step S105: YES), the process is terminated without performing the ball removal operation.

  If the pachinko machine 1 is not in a big hit (step S105: NO), it is next determined whether a winning ball or a rental ball is being paid out (step S106). If it is determined that the pachinko machine 1 is paying out (step S106: YES), the process is terminated without performing the ball removal operation.

  When the ball removal control means 120 determines that the pachinko machine 1 is not currently in any of the above states, the ball removal control unit 120 permits the ball removal operation by the prize ball payout device 52. That is, while the ball removal control lever 201 is tilted, the ball payout motor 528 of the prize ball payout device 52 is driven to rotate the impeller propellers 527a and 527b in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. The game balls in the ball tank 51 and the S-shaped rail portion 104 are discharged out of the machine through the ball discharge passage 106 (step S107).

  When the ball removal operation is started, the lamps of the effect lighting units 4a and 4b are turned on to notify a worker or the like that the ball removal operation is being performed. Further, as a result of executing the ball removing operation, when the tank ball cut switch 57 continuously detects a ball cut state for a predetermined time or more, the lamps are blinked. Thereby, it is notified that the discharge of the game balls in the reserve ball tank 51 and the S-shaped rail portion 104 is finished.

  Then, when the ball removal operation switch 202 is turned off and the completion of the ball removal operation is detected (step S108: YES), the ball removal control means 120 stops driving the ball dispensing motor 528 (step S109).

  During the ball removing operation by the prize ball payout device 52, when the front frame opening switch 41 detects the opening of the front frame 3, or when the glass frame opening switch 42 detects the opening of the glass frame 4, or When at least one of the above states is detected in the pachinko machine 1, such as when a change display is performed, when a probable change state such as a jackpot, or when a game ball payout operation is started, for notification The lighting unit 4c, the production sound emitting unit 5b, and the like are driven to notify an error of the pachinko machine 1 to the surroundings or the manager of the game hall.

  According to the pachinko machine 1 having such a configuration, even when a ball removing operation for discharging the game ball waiting in the preliminary prize ball passage 32 to the outside of the machine is performed, when the front frame 3 or the glass frame 4 is opened, or When the pachinko machine 1 is in a gaming state of displaying a symbol, winning a game, or paying out a game ball, the ball removing operation is not executed. That is, when any one of the above conditions that may cause an illegal ball removal action such as the front frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 being in an open state, the ball removal operation is prohibited. It is possible to prevent illegal ball removal performed.

  In addition, an error is notified when the pachinko machine 1 is in any of the above states, such as when the front frame 3 is opened during the ball removing operation for discharging the game ball to the outside of the machine. Actions can be reliably prevented.

  The ball removal control means 120 for controlling the ball removal operation is not limited to the arithmetic processing means executed by the payout control board 62, but may be provided on another control board connected to the payout control board 62. Good. Moreover, the other control boards provided in the pachinko machine 1 such as the main control board 60 may perform arithmetic processing to control the ball removing operation.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view mainly illustrating a front structure of a game board and a front frame of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a rear view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a ball dispensing and ball removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external structure of a prize ball payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the prize ball payout device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system for a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ball dispensing and ball removal device during the ball dispensing operation as viewed from the rear according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ball dispensing and ball removal device viewed from the right in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ball dispensing and ball removal device during the ball removal operation, as viewed from the rear, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ball dispensing and ball removal device viewed from the right in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a ball removal operation process executed by the ball removal control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine, 2 ... Outer frame, 2a ... Locking part,
3 ... front frame, 3a ... hinge member,
4 ... Glass frame, 4a, b ... Illumination unit for production, 4c ... Illumination unit for notification,
5 ... Integral dish unit,
5a ... saucer part, 5b ... sound emitting part for production, 5c, 5d ... ball release button,
5e ... ball outlet,
6 ... keyhole,
7: CR operation panel, 7a: Ball rental switch, 7b: Return switch,
8 ... Launch handle 81 ... Touch sensor, 82 ... Potentiometer, 83 ... Stop switch,
8a ... Rotation operation part, 9 ... Speaker,
10 ... Back set board,
101 ... Locking hole, 102 ... Preliminary prize ball passage, 103 ... Inclined collar,
104 ... S-shaped rail part, 105 ... Prize ball passage, 105a ... Prize ball passage exit,
106: Ball discharge passage, 106a: Ball discharge passage outlet,
107: Ball passage, 108: Cover member,
20 ... Game board, 20a ... Locking hole,
21a, 21b ... chucker, 211 ... winning ball sensor,
22 ... Starting chucker, 221 ... Starting opening winning ball sensor,
23 ... Attacker,
231 ... Winning ball sensor, 232 ... Specific area winning ball sensor, 233 ... Large winning port solenoid 24 ... Out port, 25 ... Decoration member, 26 ... Storage tank, 27 ... Winning ball outlet,
30 ... Base frame,
301, 302 ... Rotation lock member, 304 ... Locking hook,
30a ... Game auxiliary board, 31 ... Game board housing part,
41 ... Front frame opening switch, 42 ... Glass frame opening switch,
50. Ball launcher,
501 ... Ball launch solenoid, 502 ... Hitting hammer, 503 ... Launch rail,
51. Reserve ball tank,
52. Prize ball dispensing device,
521 ... Case member, 522 ... Cover member, 523a, 523b ... Reception port,
524a, 524b ... introduction passage, 525a, 525b ... payout passage,
526a, 526b ... payout port, 527a, 527b ... impeller,
528 ... Ball dispensing motor, 529 ... Count sensor,
53 ... Liquid crystal display unit,
54 ... Spherical leveling mechanism, 541 ... Spherical leveling member,
55 ... Ball stop mechanism,
551 ... Restricting member, 551a ... Axis, 551b ... Arm,
551c ... restricting claw part, 551d ... operating lever part,
552 ... upper cover member, 552a ... opening,
553 ... locking piece, 553a ... projection,
56: Sauce pan full tank switch, 57 ... Tank ball out switch,
60 ... main control board,
61 ... Sub-control board,
611 ... Audio control unit, 612 ... Image control unit, 613 ... Lamp control unit,
62 ... Dispensing control board, 63 ... Power supply unit, 64 ... Game board relay board,
65 ... External terminal board, 66 ... Launch control board, 67 ... CR connection terminal board,
71 ... outer rail, 72 ... inner rail,
201 ... Ball removal operation lever, 201a ... Operation lever part, 201a ... Pressing piece,
202 ... Ball removal operation switch, 120 ... Ball removal control means,
150: Ball removal operation hole

Claims (4)

A ball removing device for discharging a game ball held in a ball passage formed in a ball game machine to the outside by a prize ball dispensing device,
A ball removal operation detecting means for detecting the ball removal operation;
A gaming machine state detecting means for detecting a gaming machine state of the ball game machine;
A ball removal device for a ball game machine, comprising ball removal permission means for permitting and executing a ball removal operation by the prize ball dispensing device according to the detected state of the gaming machine.   The ball removal device according to claim 1, wherein the ball removal permission means does not perform a ball removal operation by the prize ball payout device when at least the front frame member is open in the ball game machine. .   2. The ball removal device according to claim 1, wherein the ball removal permission means does not perform a ball removal operation by the prize ball dispensing device when at least the glass frame member is open in the ball game machine. .   The apparatus further comprises an abnormality notifying means for notifying an abnormality when the gaming machine state detecting means detects the opening of the front frame member or the glass frame member during the ball removing operation by the prize ball payout device. Item 4. A ball removing device according to Item 2 or 3.

Images