JP2006043218A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can reduce the jamming of two or more game balls which simultaneously enter a prize-winning aperture. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine for the game to launch a game ball into a game range is equipped with the prize-winning aperture in the game range, wherein the prize-winning aperture has a movable member which can be opened and closed and is disposed to be opened for a prescribed time by satisfying a prescribed condition, and is equipped with a first channel to make a prize-winning game ball in the prize-winning aperture pass through, a second channel disposed to be connected to the first channel and a game ball guiding member which can guide the prize-winning game ball in the prize-winning aperture from the first channel to the second channel for each the prescribed number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that plays a game by launching a game ball into a game area.

  Conventionally, there is a ball game machine as one of the game machines, and a pachinko game machine is known as a representative of this ball game machine.

  A pachinko gaming machine is a game that is played for the purpose of launching a game ball on a game board to win a predetermined winning opening and obtaining more game balls to be paid out in accordance with the winning. On the game board, obstacle nails that change the flow direction of game balls, windmills, ball passage detection gates that detect the passage of game balls, and electric open / close members that are movable members that can be opened and closed provided at the prize opening, etc. A gaming member is provided. In addition, on the back side of the game board, a cylindrical passage through which a winning game ball passes in the winning opening is provided.

  The electric opening and closing member is generally called an electric tulip accessory, and is, for example, an accessory configured to be opened for a predetermined time when a normal symbol is hit, and a special symbol variation time reduction period (hereinafter referred to as time reduction). Are frequently opened and closed. The electric opening / closing member is provided at the entrance of a winning opening such as a start opening. When the electric opening / closing member is in an open state, the game ball can be awarded in the winning opening, and when the electric opening / closing member is in a closed state, It is impossible to win a prize / difficult to win.

Further, a pachinko gaming machine has been proposed that changes the opening / closing operation mode of the electric opening / closing member on condition that a lottery flag is set (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-117156 A

  In a pachinko gaming machine, a plurality of game balls may simultaneously win a winning opening when the electric opening / closing member is in an open state. In particular, since the electric opening and closing member is frequently opened during the time, there is a high probability that a plurality of game balls will win simultaneously.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that a plurality of game balls that have been won at the same time may cause clogging of the balls inside the winning opening, specifically inside the passage.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the game ball conducting member is configured to guide a predetermined number of game balls from the first passage into the second passage in the winning opening. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the clogging of a plurality of game balls that are simultaneously won in the winning opening.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine that plays a game by launching a game ball into a gaming area, and the gaming area is provided with a winning opening, and the winning opening satisfies a predetermined opening condition. A movable member that can be opened and closed for a predetermined time is provided, a first passage through which a game ball won in the winning opening passes, and a second passage connected to the first passage, And a game ball conducting member capable of guiding a predetermined number of game balls from the first passage to the second passage.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, even when the movable member that can be opened and closed provided at the winning opening is frequently opened, the balls are jammed in the passage of a plurality of gaming balls that have won the winning opening at the same time. Can be reduced.

  The gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine that plays a game by launching a game ball into a gaming area, and the gaming area is provided with a winning opening, and the winning opening satisfies a predetermined opening condition. There is provided a movable member that can be opened and closed for a predetermined time, a first passage through which a game ball that has won a prize passes in the winning opening, and a second passage that is connected to the first passage, And a game ball conducting member capable of guiding a predetermined number of game balls from the first passage to the second passage.

  In the gaming machine (for example, gaming machine 1) of the first invention, a gaming ball (for example, gaming ball 5) is launched into the gaming area (for example, gaming area 10a) to play a game. The game area is provided with a winning opening (for example, the start opening 2), and the winning opening is a movable member that can be opened and closed for a predetermined time when the predetermined opening condition is satisfied (for example, the electric opening and closing member 20). , 20). The gaming machine further includes a first passage (for example, the first passage 41) through which the game ball won in the winning opening passes, and a second passage (for example, the second passage 42) provided in connection with the first passage, A game ball conducting member (for example, a conducting member 312, a conducting member 322, or a conducting member 332) capable of guiding a predetermined number of game balls from the first passage to the second passage is provided.

  The movable member is opened for a predetermined time by satisfying a predetermined opening condition (for example, passage of the ball passage detection gates 18 and 18 by a game ball). When the game ball launched into the game area does not pass through the gate, the movable member is in a closed state, and the game ball is prevented from winning in the winning opening or difficult to win. For this reason, a plurality of game balls do not win simultaneously. On the other hand, when the game ball launched into the game area passes through the gate, the movable member is opened for a predetermined time, and the game ball can be won in the winning opening. For this reason, a plurality of game balls may win simultaneously.

  The first passage and the second passage may be, for example, one end side and the other end side of an L-shaped passage, or may be an upper end side and a lower end side of an I-shaped passage. The game ball conducting member is provided, for example, inside the first passage or between the first passage and the second passage. The game balls won in the winning opening are guided from the first passage to the second passage every predetermined number. Therefore, when the number of gaming balls won in the winning opening is less than the predetermined number, the gaming balls won in the winning opening are game balls. The conductive member is temporarily stored in the first passage, so that the game ball does not pass through the second passage. The game balls once stored by the game ball conducting member are guided from the first passage to the second passage by the game ball conducting member for every predetermined number, so that the game balls pass through the second passage.

  The gaming machine as described above guides a predetermined number of game balls in the winning opening from the first passage to the second passage for every predetermined number, so that the first passage or the second passage (hereinafter referred to as a passage if they are not distinguished). Ball clogging inside can be reduced.

  The gaming machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the game ball conducting member is a rod-shaped member that performs switching operation between opening and closing between the first passage and the second passage.

  In the gaming machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, the game ball conducting member is an opening / closing member configured by a shutter or a lid that performs switching operation between opening and closing between the first passage and the second passage. It is characterized by.

  A gaming machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the gaming ball conducting member is a screw-like rotating body that performs a rotating operation for placing and moving the winning game ball in the winning opening.

  The gaming machine of the second invention includes a game ball conducting member (for example, a game ball conducting member 312) that is a rod-shaped member that performs switching operation between opening and closing between the first passage and the second passage. . In the gaming machine of the third invention, an opening / closing member (for example, a game ball conducting member 322) configured by a shutter or a lid that performs switching operation between opening and closing between the first passage and the second passage is provided. Prepare. In the gaming machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a gaming ball conducting member that is a screw-like rotating body (for example, a gaming ball conducting member 332) that performs a rotating operation for placing and moving the winning game ball in the winning opening. Is provided.

  The game ball conducting member, which is a rod-like member, closes between the first passage and the second passage by being disposed so as to protrude into the first passage, for example. The game ball conducting member, which is an opening / closing member constituted by a shutter or a lid, is disposed so as to close the space between the first passage and the second passage, for example. The game ball conducting member, which is a screw-like rotating body, is disposed, for example, between the first passage and the second passage in a direction intersecting with the game ball passing direction of the first passage. In the above case, the winning game ball comes into contact with the game ball conducting member and does not pass through the second passage. That is, the winning game ball is temporarily stored in the first passage.

  Further, after the winning game balls are stored, the game ball conducting member, which is a rod-shaped member, retreats from the first passage to open the space between the first passage and the second passage. The game ball conducting member, which is an opening / closing member constituted by a shutter or a lid, moves so that the space between the first passage and the second passage changes from the closed state to the open state. The game ball conducting member, which is a screw-like rotating body, rotates in a state where the stored game balls are placed. In the above case, the game balls stored in contact with the game ball conducting member are guided from the first passage to the second passage by the game ball conducting member, pass through the passage stably, and do not cause ball clogging. .

  The gaming machine as described above uses a rod-shaped member, an opening / closing member composed of a shutter or a lid, or a screw-shaped rotating body to guide game balls from the first passage to the second passage every predetermined number of times. Ball clogging inside can be reduced. In addition, since the bar-shaped member can open and close the bar-shaped member, for example, the game ball can be stably conducted to the second passage every predetermined number. Furthermore, the opening / closing member constituted by the shutter or the lid is opened and closed so as to be orthogonal to the gaming ball entering the winning opening, for example, so that the second number of gaming balls can be stably increased every predetermined number. It can be conducted to the passage. Furthermore, the screw-like rotator stops rotating when, for example, a predetermined number of game balls are conducted to the second passage and rotates again every predetermined number of times, thereby rotating the predetermined number of game balls. Can be conducted to the second passage stably.

  A gaming machine according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a driving device that drives and operates the gaming ball conducting member.

  The gaming machine of the fifth invention includes a driving device (for example, a motor 311, a motor 321, or a motor 331) that drives and operates the game ball conducting member.

  The drive device closes / opens the space between the first passage and the second passage by causing the game ball conduction member to project / retreat with respect to the first passage, for example, a game ball conduction member that is a rod-shaped member. To drive. Further, the driving device drives the game ball conducting member, which is an opening / closing member composed of, for example, a shutter or a lid so that the game ball conducting member closes / opens between the first passage and the second passage. Further, the driving device drives the game ball conducting member, which is a screw-like rotating body, for example, so that the game ball conducting member stops / rotates.

  Since the gaming machine as described above drives the game ball conducting member with a driving device such as a motor or a solenoid, for example, the gaming ball is reliably transferred from the first passage to the second passage as compared with the case where the driving device is not provided. This can lead to a further reduction in ball clogging in the passage.

  Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention stores the game balls won in the winning opening by the game ball conducting member, and measures time for storing the stored game balls, and the storage time measured by the time measuring means. Drive control means for performing control to drive the drive device when the time is longer than a predetermined time.

  Furthermore, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, a game ball that has won a prize in the winning opening is stored by the game ball conducting member, and a detecting unit that detects storage of the game ball by the game ball conducting member, and the detecting unit includes: A control means may be provided for performing control to drive the driving device when the storage of a predetermined number or more of game balls is detected.

  In such a gaming machine, the game balls won in the winning opening are stored by the game ball conducting member, and the timing means (for example, the main CPU 60, the main RAM 62, and the clock pulse generation circuit 64) stores the game balls stored. When the storage time is measured and the storage time measured by the time measuring means is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the drive control means (for example, the main CPU 60 in step S18 in the case of YES in step S17) controls to drive the drive device. Do. Further, in such a gaming machine, the game balls won in the winning opening are stored by the game ball conducting member, and the detecting means (for example, the first winning ball sensor 21) is used to play the game balls by the game ball conducting member. When the storage is detected and the detection means detects the storage of a predetermined number or more of game balls, the control means (for example, the main CPU 60 in step S18 in the case of YES in step S13) performs control to drive the drive device. .

  For example, when detecting means is provided in the vicinity of the entrance on the inside of the winning opening, and the detecting means detects winning of a game ball (for example, YES in step S11), the winning game ball is temporarily stored in the first passage. Further, the storage unit starts measuring the storage time (for example, step S15). When the measured storage time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (for example, YES in step S17), the stored game ball is transferred to the first passage. The driving control means drives the driving device to operate the game ball conducting member so as to guide the game ball to the second passage (for example, step S18). In this case, the number of game balls guided to the second passage is at least one.

  In addition, when a detecting means is provided in the vicinity of the entrance on the inner side of the winning opening, and the detecting means detects winning of a game ball (for example, step S11), the winning game ball is temporarily stored in the first passage, Further, the number of stored game balls is counted (for example, step S12). When a predetermined number or more is stored (for example, YES in step S13), the stored game balls are guided from the first path to the second path. As described above, the control means drives the driving device to operate the game ball conducting member (for example, step S18). In this case, the number of game balls guided to the second passage is a predetermined number or more.

  The gaming machines as described above can stably guide the winning game balls from the first passage to the second passage, and reduce the occurrence of ball clogging in the passage due to a plurality of game balls winning simultaneously at the winning opening. it can. Further, the driving device can be driven when a predetermined time has elapsed or a predetermined number of storage conditions are satisfied. That is, it is not necessary to drive the driving device at all times, so that power can be saved.

  The drive control unit and the control unit may be the same. That is, for example, a configuration in which one main CPU functions as a drive control unit and a control unit may be employed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overview of a gaming machine 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 includes an outer frame for fixing the gaming machine 1 to a gaming machine installation base (amusement island) (not shown) provided in the game hall, and a main body disposed in the outer frame. A frame, a game board 10 attached to the main body frame and other various parts (not shown), and a front frame that is pivotally attached to the main body frame and can be opened and closed. In addition, the liquid crystal display device 11 is detachably attached to the back side of the main body frame from the back side of the game board 10 with the display surface 110 facing forward at approximately the center of the game board 10.

  On the display surface 110 of the liquid crystal display device 11, for example, a special symbol 11a as identification information in a variable display game is variably displayed, and an effect image and a background image relating to the game are displayed. In addition, the structure which variably displays the normal symbol as identification information in the normal symbol game may be displayed on the display surface 110 of the liquid crystal display device 11.

  .. Are attached to the upper part of the main body frame, lamps 13, 13,... Are attached to the respective parts of the main body frame, and a launching handle 19 is attached to the lower right side of the main body frame. Further, on the back side of the launching handle 19, a launching device 82 including a bullet ball device for launching a game ball is provided, and a game ball to be supplied to the launching device 82 is stored in the lower front portion of the main body frame. A tray unit 80 having an upper plate and a lower plate is provided.

  A player who plays a game on the gaming machine 1 is positioned on the front side of the gaming machine 1 so as to be able to operate the launch handle 19 and is opposed to the gaming board 10. When the shooting handle 19 is gripped by the player and is rotated in the clockwise direction, electric power is supplied to the shooting device 82 according to the rotation angle, and the game balls are sequentially fired onto the game board 10. Is done.

  The game board 10 according to the present embodiment is formed of a transparent member using acrylic resin and is entirely transmissive. Arc guide rails 141 and 142 are provided on the front surface of the game board 10. The inside surrounded by 141 and 142 is a game area 10a. The game ball launched by operating the launch handle 19 is guided by the guide rail 141 and flows down in the game area 10a. Also, a plurality of obstacle nails, windmills, etc. (not shown) are provided on the game board 10 so that the flow direction when the game ball flows down from the upper part to the lower part of the game area 10a is changed in a complicated manner. .

  Further, the game board 10 is executed when a plurality of general winning holes 15, 15,... That are awarded when a game ball enters the game board 10, the start opening 2 that triggers the start of the variable display game, and the variable display game are won. The game balls that have not won a prize in various winning holes such as the grand prize opening 16 that can be opened for a predetermined time in the round game and the general prize openings 15, 15,. An out port 17 for discharging to the outer area is provided.

  Furthermore, a pair of electric opening / closing members 20, 20, which are so-called electric tulips, are attached to the start port 2 so as to be openable and closable. The electric opening and closing members 20 and 20 are initially closed, and in the closed state, the game ball wins the starting port 2 only from a narrow space between the pair of electric opening and closing members 20 and 20. For this reason, a plurality of game balls rarely win the start port 2 at the same time. On the other hand, when the electric opening / closing members 20, 20 are driven in the opening direction, the electric opening / closing members 20, 20 serve as a guide, so that the game ball can easily enter the start port 2. For this reason, it is easy to win a plurality of game balls simultaneously at the start port 2.

  Sphere passage detection gates 18 and 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the start port 2. When the passing ball sensor 180 disposed in each ball passing detection gate 18 detects the passing of the game ball, an internal lottery is performed by the main CPU 60 described later, and the lottery result is attached to the start port 2 by the solenoid 200. The electric opening / closing members 20, 20 are driven in a predetermined opening / closing pattern. When a predetermined time elapses, the electric opening and closing members 20 and 20 are closed again, and the game ball returns to a state where it is difficult to enter the starting port 2. Needless to say, the electric opening / closing members 20 and 20 are not driven when the lottery is out of the internal drawing.

  FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing an overview of the start port 2, and shows a case where the start port 2 and the electric opening / closing members 20, 20 are viewed from the back side of the game board 10.

  A passage 4 through which a game ball 5 that has won a prize at the start port 2 passes is provided so as to be connected to the inlet 2a of the start port 2 where the electric opening and closing members 20 and 20 are provided. The passage 4 has a cylindrical shape having a diameter appropriately larger than the diameter of the game ball 5, and is provided substantially horizontally with a first passage 41 and a third passage 43 in which the axial direction of the tubular portion is provided substantially vertically. The second passage 42 is formed. In the second passage 42, an inlet 4a and an outlet 4b are formed in the inner wall portions on one upper side and the other lower side, the inlet 4a is an outlet of the first passage 41, and the outlet 4b is an inlet of the third passage 43. It is. Further, the first passage 41 is connected to the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 from the inlet 2a of the start port 2, and the third passage 43 is a game ball 5 that has won prizes at various winning openings from the outlet 4b of the second passage 42. Is connected to a game ball housing portion (not shown).

  A first winning ball sensor 21 and a second winning ball sensor 22 for detecting the winning of the game ball 5 to the starting port 2 are respectively provided in the vicinity of the inlet 2a in the first passage 41 and in the vicinity of the outlet 4b in the third passage 43. Is provided.

  The game ball 5 that has won the starting port 2 descends vertically through the first passage 41, then moves horizontally through the second passage 42, and further passes through the passage 4 by descending vertically through the third passage 43. . When the game ball 5 wins at the start port 2, when the second winning ball sensor 22 of the third passage 43 detects the winning of the game ball 5, the variable display game is started and the display screen 110 of the liquid crystal display device 11 is displayed. Then, the special symbol 11a is variably displayed. On the other hand, the detection of the game ball 5 by the first winning ball sensor 21 does not trigger the start of the variable display game.

  A conducting member driving unit 3 is installed in the vicinity of the inlet 4 a of the second passage 42, and the conducting member driving unit 3 includes a motor 311 and a rod-like conducting member 312. The motor 311 is a drive device that drives and operates the conducting member 312, and a cam 311 a that is a drive shaft of the motor 311 is disposed near the inlet 4 a at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the game ball 5. It arrange | positions so that it may protrude in the direction which cross | intersects each channel | path 42 in the axial direction. The motor 311 rotates the cam 311 a that is the drive shaft of the motor 311 only when operating the conducting member 312.

  One end of the conducting member 312 is connected to the cam 311a in a direction crossing the axial direction of the cam 311a, and the other end protrudes along the axial direction of the second passage 42 and is disposed at the inlet 4a of the second passage 42. Has been. The conducting member 312 rotates in the direction of the white arrow in the drawing according to the rotation of the cam 311a, thereby bringing the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 into an open state or a closed state.

  The conductive member 312 closes the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 when a condition for opening the inlet 4a (hereinafter referred to as an opening condition) is not satisfied, and only when the opening condition is satisfied. The inlet 4a of the second passage 42 is opened. In the initial state before the start of the game and immediately after the start, the opening condition is not satisfied, and the entrance 4a is closed by the conducting member 312.

  For this reason, the game ball 5 that has won the starting port 2 is first blocked from passing through the inlet 4a by contacting the conduction member 312 that closes the inlet 4a of the second passage 42. That is, the game ball 5 that has won the starting port 2 is stored in the first passage 41 by the conducting member driving unit 3 (see FIGS. 4A and 5A described later). At the same time, the game ball 5 that has won the starting port 2 is stored in contact with the previously won game ball 5. In the present embodiment, up to three game balls 5, 5,... Are stored in the first passage 41. The opening condition in the present embodiment is that a predetermined number (specifically, three) or more game balls 5, 5,... Are stored in the first passage 41, or one or more game balls 5 are stored. A predetermined time (specifically, 3 seconds in the present embodiment) has passed.

  When the opening condition is satisfied, the conducting member 312 opens the inlet 4 a of the second passage 42. The game ball 5 stored by the conducting member 312 passes through the opened inlet 4 a and starts passing through the second passage 42. That is, the game ball 5 stored by the conducting member 312 is guided into the second passage 42 by the conducting member 312 (see FIGS. 4B and 5B described later). When a plurality of game balls 5, 5,... Wins the start opening 2, each game ball 5 comes into contact with the conductive member 312 or the previously won game ball 5 and is stored, thereby eliminating the momentum at the time of winning. Therefore, when the entrance 4a is opened, the game balls 5, 5, ... pass through the second passage 42 and the third passage 43 in an orderly manner. As a result, the occurrence of ball clogging is reduced.

  The first winning ball sensor 21 is used to count the number of game balls 5, 5,... Stored in the first passage 41 (hereinafter referred to as the number of stored balls). In order to accurately count the number of stored balls, the conducting member 312 and the first winning ball sensor 21 are appropriately spaced apart.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 includes a main control circuit 6 and a sub-control circuit 7 as a control unit for controlling each part of the gaming machine 1. Control for storing and conducting the game balls 5, 5,... By the conducting member 312 in the starting port 2 of the present embodiment is performed by the main control circuit 6 provided in the gaming machine 1.

  The main control circuit 6 includes a main CPU 60, a main ROM 61, a main RAM 62, a serial communication IC 63, a clock pulse generation circuit 64, and the like connected to the main CPU 60, and controls the progress of the game. The main CPU 60 executes various processes according to programs stored in the main ROM 61. The main ROM 61 stores a program for the main CPU 60 to control the progress of the game of the gaming machine 1. The main RAM 62 stores various flags and variable values as a temporary storage area of the main CPU 60. The main CPU 60 supplies commands to the sub control circuit 7 via the serial communication IC 63.

  The clock pulse generation circuit 64 generates a clock pulse having a predetermined frequency and supplies it to the main CPU 60. The main CPU 60 measures the elapsed time by counting the number of clock pulses supplied from the clock pulse generation circuit 64.

 The main control circuit 6 is connected to a payout / launch control circuit 8. The payout / launch control circuit 8 is connected to a payout device 81 for paying out game balls 5, 5,.

  The payout / launch control circuit 8 receives the command supplied from the main control circuit 6 and supplies a predetermined signal to the payout device 81 to pay out the game balls 5, 5,. Let In addition, the payout / launch control circuit 8 performs a control of launching the game ball 5 by supplying a launch signal to the launch device 82.

  When the game balls 5 launched onto the game board 10 by the launching device 82 win the general prize opening 15, 15,..., The big prize opening 16, the start opening 2, etc., the number of game balls 5, 5 corresponding to the prize winning ,... Are paid out to the tray unit 80 by the payout device 81.

  Further, a sub control circuit 7 is connected to the main control circuit 6. The sub control circuit 7 includes a sub CPU, a sub ROM, a sub RAM, and the like. In accordance with various commands supplied from the main control circuit 6, display control in the liquid crystal display device 11, control related to sound generated from the speakers 12L and 12R, And the display of the effects is mainly controlled by controlling the lamps 13, 13,.

  Furthermore, the first winning ball sensor 21, the second winning ball sensor 22, the passing ball sensors 180 and 180, the solenoid 200, and the conduction member driving unit 3 are connected to the main control circuit 6. The passing ball sensors 180 and 180 are provided in the ball passing detection gates 18 and 18, and supply a predetermined detection signal to the main control circuit 6 when the game ball 5 passes through the ball passing detection gates 18 and 18. . When the main CPU 60 receives the detection signal, the main CPU 60 sends a drive signal for driving the solenoid 200 to the solenoid 200. The solenoid 200 is connected to the electric opening and closing members 20 and 20 attached to the start port 2 via a link member (not shown), and opens the electric opening and closing members 20 and 20 in accordance with a drive signal sent from the main CPU 60. State or closed state.

  The winning ball sensors 21 and 22 supply the first winning signal and the second winning signal to the main control circuit 6 as predetermined detection signals when the game ball 5 wins the start port 2. Since the first winning ball sensor 21 is provided in the vicinity of the entrance 2a of the first passage 41, the first winning ball sensor 22 detects only that the game ball 5 has won the start port 2, and the second winning ball sensor 22 detects the third passage 43. Since the game ball 5 has won the starting port 2, it has passed through the first passage 41 and the second passage 42 without causing clogging, that is, stored. It is also detected that the game ball 5 that has been connected is made conductive.

  For this reason, when the main CPU 60 receives the first winning signal supplied from the first winning ball sensor 21, the main CPU 60 counts the number of stored balls of the game ball 5, and when the game ball 5 is not stored at all, When the 1 winning signal is received, the storage time of the game ball 5 is started. In the above case, the main CPU 60 causes the main RAM 62 to store the number of stored balls and the storage time. The main CPU 60 adds “1” to the value of the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 every time the first winning signal is received. Further, the main CPU 60 counts the number of clock pulses supplied from the clock pulse generation circuit 64 and stores the storage time corresponding to the counting result in the main RAM 62.

  The main CPU 60 determines that the release condition is satisfied when the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 is 3 or more, or when the storage time is 3 seconds or more. When the opening condition is satisfied, the main CPU 60 sends a driving signal (hereinafter referred to as an opening signal) for operating the conducting member 312 to open the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 to the conducting member driving unit 3. To do. Here, “0” is stored in the main RAM 62 in advance as initial values of the number of stored balls and the storage time. When the value of the number of stored balls and / or the storage time is “0”, the main CPU 60 determines that the game ball 5 is not stored at all and therefore does not measure the storage time. When the storage time value exceeds “0”, it is determined that the game ball 5 is stored and the storage time is also being measured.

  Note that the number of clock pulses, not the storage time, may be stored in the main RAM 62, and it may be determined that the release condition is satisfied when the number of clock pulses stored in the main RAM 62 is greater than or equal to a predetermined number.

  When the second winning signal supplied from the second winning ball sensor 22 is received, the main CPU 60 starts the variable display game, and further drives for closing the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 by the conducting member 312. A signal (hereinafter referred to as a closing signal) is sent to the conductive member drive unit 3. Further, the main CPU 60 finishes counting the number of stored balls and measuring the storage time, and resets the number of stored balls and the storage time stored in the main RAM 62 to “0”, respectively.

  The conduction member drive unit 3 drives the motor 311 according to the drive signal supplied from the main CPU 60 and operates the conduction member 312 to perform switching operation between opening and closing of the inlet 4a of the second passage 42.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of storing and conducting based on the number of stored game balls 5 by the conducting member 312, and FIG. 5 shows storing and conducting based on the storage time of the gaming ball 5 by the conducting member 312. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of game ball conduction processing executed by the main CPU 60. The game ball conduction process is executed by interrupting a main routine (not shown) executed by the main CPU 60 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 2 msec) in order to store and conduct the game balls 5, 5,. The

  The main CPU 60 determines whether or not a first winning signal has been received (step S11). When the first winning signal is received (YES in step S11), the first winning ball sensor 21 detects the winning of the game ball 5 to the starting port 2, and therefore the main CPU 60 stores the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62. Is incremented (step S12), and it is determined whether or not the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 is three or more (step S13).

  When the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 is two or less (NO in step S13), the main CPU 60 determines whether or not the storage time is being measured (step S14), and is not being measured (step S14). In step S14, NO), the counting of the storage time of the game ball 5 is started (step S15). After the completion of the process in step S15 or when the storage time is being measured (YES in step S14), the main CPU 60 ends the game ball conduction process and returns the process to the main routine.

  When the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 is three or more (YES in step S13), as shown in FIG. 4A, three or more game balls 5, 5,. Reserved. That is, since the opening condition is satisfied, the main CPU 60 sends an opening signal to the conducting member driving unit 3 (step S18).

  In the conducting member driving unit 3 that has received the opening signal, as shown in FIG. 4B, the motor 311 rotates the conducting member 312 in the direction of the white arrow. As a result, the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 is opened, and the game balls 5, 5,... Are conducted to the second passage 42, move in the direction of the arrow, pass through the second passage 42, and further the third. Move to passage 43. As described above, the game balls 5, 5,... Pass through the passage 4 without causing a ball clogging. The game balls 5, 5,... That have moved to the third passage 43 are detected by the second winning ball sensor 22.

  After completion of the processing in step S18, the main CPU 60 ends the storage time measurement (step S19), and resets the storage time stored in the main RAM 62 to "0". Further, the main CPU 60 resets the number of stored balls stored in the main RAM 62 to “0” (step S20).

  Furthermore, the main CPU 60 determines whether or not a second winning signal has been received (step S21). If not received (NO in step S21), the main CPU 60 stands by until it is received. When the second winning signal is received (YES in step S21), the stored game balls 5, 5,... Pass through the second passage 42 and move to the third passage 43, so that the release condition is not satisfied. The main CPU 60 sends a closing signal to the conducting member driving unit 3 (step S22).

  In the conducting member driving unit 3 that has received the closing signal, the motor 311 rotates the conducting member 312 in the direction opposite to the white arrow direction in FIG. As a result, the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 is closed as shown in FIG. For this reason, when a new game ball 5 wins the start port 2, the won game ball 5 is stored by the conducting member 312.

  After completion of step S22, the main CPU 60 ends the game ball conduction process and returns the process to the main routine.

  If the first winning signal has not been received (NO in step S11), the main CPU 60 determines whether or not the storage time is being measured (step S16). If the time is not being measured (NO in step S16), the game Since neither winning nor storage of the ball 5 is performed, the game ball conduction process is terminated and the process is returned to the main routine.

  If the storage time is being measured (YES in step S16), it is determined whether the storage time stored in the main RAM 62 is 3 seconds or more (step S17), and if it is less than 3 seconds (step S17). NO), the game ball is stored but does not satisfy the release condition, so the game ball conduction process is terminated and the process returns to the main routine. When the storage time is 3 seconds or more (YES in step S17), as shown in FIG. 5A, one to two game balls 5, 5,... Are stored, and the opening condition is satisfied, the main CPU 60 moves the process to step S18 and sends an opening signal to the conductive member driving unit 3.

  In the conducting member driving unit 3 that has received the opening signal, the motor 311 rotates and moves the conducting member 312 in the direction of the white arrow as shown in FIG. As a result, the inlet 4a of the second passage 42 is opened, and the game balls 5, 5,... Are conducted to the second passage 42, move in the direction of the arrow, pass through the second passage 42, and further the third. Move to passage 43. As described above, the game balls 5, 5,... Pass through the passage 4 without causing a ball clogging.

  In the gaming machine 1 as described above, a conductive member 312 that is a movable object is provided in the start port 2 that is a winning port, and the conductive member 312 is driven under a predetermined opening condition, whereby a plurality of the start ports 2 are provided in the start port 2. Even if the game balls 5, 5,... Win simultaneously, it is possible to smoothly guide the winning game balls 5, 5,.

  Also, the release condition is based on the number of stored balls and the storage time, and even when a large number of game balls 5, 5,... ,... Are conducted into the passage 4. For example, a large number of game balls 5, 5,... Are stored too much and spilled from the starting port 2, or are blocked by the stored game balls 5, 5,. It is prevented that the game ball 5 cannot win the start opening 2. In addition, even when less than a predetermined number of game balls 5, 5,... Win the start port 2, the game balls 5, 5,. The game balls 5, 5,... Continue to be stored and are not detected by the second winning ball sensor 22, thereby preventing the inconvenience that the variable display game does not start.

Furthermore, since the motor 311 that operates the conducting member 312 is driven only when the opening condition is satisfied, the power for driving the motor 311 is saved.
Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view showing an overview of the start port 2 provided in the gaming machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The start port 2 and the electric opening / closing members 20 and 20 are connected to the back side of the game board 10. The case seen from is shown. The gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment and the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment have substantially the same configuration, but the configuration of the conduction member drive unit 3 is different. Other parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The conducting member driving unit 3 includes a motor 321 and a plate-like conducting member 322. The motor 321 is a drive device that drives and operates the conduction member 322, and is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance 4 a at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the game ball 5. The conducting member 322 is an opening / closing member constituted by a shutter or a lid, and swings in the direction of the white arrow in the drawing according to the driving of the motor 311 to open or close the inlet 4a of the second passage 42. To.

The gaming machine 1 as described above has the same effects as the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment.
Embodiment 3. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view showing an overview of the start port 2 provided in the gaming machine 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The start port 2 and the electric opening / closing members 20 and 20 are connected to the back side of the game board 10. The case seen from is shown. The gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment and the gaming machine 1 of the first and second embodiments have substantially the same configuration, but the configuration of the conduction member driving unit 3 is different. Other parts corresponding to those of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  A conducting member drive unit 3 is installed in the vicinity of the inlet 4a of the second passage 42, and the conducting member drive unit 3 includes a motor 331 and a conducting member 332 that is a screw-like rotating body. The motor 331 is a drive device that drives and operates the conducting member 332, and a cam 331 a that is a drive shaft of the motor 331 is disposed in the axial direction of the second passage 42 in the vicinity of the inlet 4 a at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the game ball 5. It is arranged so as to protrude along. The motor 331 rotates the cam 331a that is the drive shaft of the motor 331 only when operating the conducting member 332.

  The conducting member 332 is externally fitted to the cam 331a so that the cam 331a of the motor 331 serves as the rotation shaft of the conducting member 332, and is arranged at the inlet 4a. The conducting member 332 rotates in the direction of the white arrow in the drawing according to the rotation of the cam 331a. Conductive member 332 is driven by motor 331 to rotate when conditions similar to the opening conditions in the first and second embodiments are satisfied.

  The game ball 5 that has won the starting port 2 contacts the conducting member 332 and is stored in a state of riding on the conducting member 332 by the frictional force of the peripheral surface of the conducting member 332. The conduction member 332 moves in the direction of the white arrow according to the rotation of the cam 331a, thereby moving the game ball 5 riding on the conduction member 332 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. As a result, the game ball 5 moves to the second passage 42. That is, the game ball 5 stored by the conducting member 332 is guided into the second passage 42 by the conducting member 332.

  The gaming machine 1 as described above has the same effects as the gaming machine 1 of the first and second embodiments.

  The conducting member driving unit 3 may be provided not only in the start port 2 but also in other winning ports such as a general winning port. Further, a game ball conducting member other than the conducting members 312, 322, and 332 may be used.

1 is a front view showing an overview of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main control circuit of the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a back surface perspective view which shows the general view of the starting port provided in the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of storage and conduction | electrical_connection based on the number of storage balls of the game ball by the game ball | bowl conduction | electrical_connection member of the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of storage and conduction | electrical_connection based on the storage time of the game ball by the game ball conduction member of the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the game ball | bowl conduction | electrical_connection process of the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a back surface perspective view which shows the general view of the starting port provided in the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a back surface perspective view which shows the general view of the starting port provided in the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 10a Game area 18 Ball passage detection gate 2 Start opening 20 Electric opening / closing member 21 1st winning ball sensor 311, 321, 331 Motor 312, 322, 332 Conductive member 42 2nd passage 5 Game ball 60 Main CPU 60
62 Main RAM 62
64 Clock pulse generator

Claims (5)

In a gaming machine that launches a game ball into the game area and plays a game,
A prize opening is provided in the game area,
The winning opening is provided with a movable member that can be opened and closed for a predetermined time by satisfying a predetermined opening condition,
A first passage through which a game ball won in the winning opening passes and a second passage connected to the first passage;
A gaming machine comprising: a gaming ball conduction member capable of guiding a predetermined number of gaming balls in the winning opening from the first passage to the second passage.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game ball conducting member is a rod-shaped member that performs switching operation of opening and closing between the first passage and the second passage.   The said game ball | bowl conduction | electrical_connection member is an opening-and-closing member comprised by the shutter or lid which performs switching operation | movement of opening and closing between the said 1st channel | path and the said 2nd channel | path. Game machines.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game ball conducting member is a screw-like rotating body that performs an operation of rotating to place and move the winning game ball in the winning opening.   The game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a drive device that drives and operates the game ball conducting member.

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