JP2006081599A - Enclosed ball type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the taking-out of game balls as service balls when feeding the game balls in a winning hole as the service balls after an error processing in an enclosed ball type game machine. <P>SOLUTION: An enclosed ball circulation unit 200 recovering game balls B shot to a game area 1a, circulating the game balls B, and returning them again to a shooting position is provided with a circulation passage 220 for circulating the game balls to be used circulatively and a ball supplement device 260 supplementing the game balls B to the circulation passage 220. This game machine is also provided with a ball takeout device taking out the game balls B stored for the supplement in a ball storage part 262 of the ball supplement device 260 to the front side of the enclosed ball type game machine. The ball takeout device 30 is provided with a ball outlet 32 discharging the game balls B of the ball storage part 262 to the outside and an opening/closing member 33 opening/closing the ball outlet 32. This machine is further provided with a guide passage 36 guiding the game balls B to a service ball pick-up tray in the front side of the enclosed ball type game machine 1 receiving the game balls B discharged from the ball outlet 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention plays a game by firing a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the main body of the game machine from the launch position to the game area, while collecting the game balls that have been played and guiding them to the launch position to circulate the game balls The present invention relates to an enclosed ball type game machine to be used.

  Enclosed ball type that encloses a predetermined number of game balls in the gaming machine, launches the game balls from the launch position to the game area, collects the game balls that have flowed down the game area, and guides them to the launch position again to circulate and use the game balls A gaming machine is known. In such a pachinko gaming machine as an enclosed ball type gaming machine, the gaming ball flows down in the gaming area in the same way as a normal pachinko gaming machine. There is a possibility that a game ball may be sandwiched between the two structures, or a plurality of game balls may be aggregated and accumulated between the structures, causing a ball stop that cannot flow down.

  When an error such as a ball stop occurs, an attendant of a game store or the like releases the glass frame on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine to eliminate the error such as a ball stop. In addition, when the error is resolved, for example, a clerk may hold a glass frame as compensation for the game being interrupted due to the error or the chance of winning a game ball decreasing due to the ball stopping. In some cases, before the game is closed, a service is performed in which a game ball (service ball) is inserted into the winning opening and the prize ball is paid out.

  However, in ordinary pachinko machines, game balls are exposed on the upper plate, etc., so it is possible to easily pick up several game balls from these game balls and insert them into the prize opening as service balls. However, in the case of an encapsulated ball pachinko machine, if the ball that has stopped is flowed down and collected in the pachinko machine from the outlet, etc. There are no game balls, and it has been difficult to provide the above services. In addition, it is conceivable that an attendant carries a service ball and inserts this service ball into the winning opening, but if the service ball is externally awarded to the winning opening of a sealed ball type pachinko machine, The number of game balls enclosed in the pachinko game machine will increase. When the number of enclosed game balls increases, there may be a problem in the circulation of the balls inside the enclosed ball type pachinko gaming machine.

Therefore, a part of the game balls enclosed in the enclosed ball type game is held so as to be discharged to the outside of the gaming machine, and the held gaming balls are taken out of the gaming machine by an external operation. A gaming machine that can be taken out and used as a service ball has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the enclosed ball type gaming machine shown in Patent Document 1, when a game ball that has flowed down the game area wins, a path for collecting the winning game ball and a game ball that has flowed into the outlet without winning are collected. The game balls collected by these paths joining together are guided to the launch position.

Also, the path for collecting the game balls (winning balls) won from the game area winning opening is branched out from this path and used for taking out the game balls for discharging the game balls to the outside of the gaming machine for service balls A passage is formed. A predetermined number of game balls to be taken out as service balls are always held in the take-out passage, and the game balls held in the take-out passage are discharged to the outside of the gaming machine by the discharge operation. It has become so.
Also, after the game ball in the take-out passage is discharged as a service ball, when the game ball is won as a service ball, the game ball (winning ball) is collected and flows into the path for collecting the winning ball At this time, the winning balls are preferentially flowing into the take-out passage where there is a vacancy. In other words, if there is a vacancy in the service ball take-out passage, the winning ball is not sent to the launch position but is held in the take-out passage.
JP-A-9-47560 (page 8-9, FIG. 6, FIG. 8)

  By the way, in the conventional pachinko gaming machine shown in Patent Document 1, a service ball game ball, which is a part of a game ball sealed in a limited space of the game machine, is held in the take-out passage. For example, if the number of game balls that can be used in circulation is reduced due to clogging of balls in the game area, etc., the number of game balls is insufficient and the number of game balls is insufficient. Problems such as the game ball being supplied to the position in time and the launch interval of the game balls becoming longer are likely to occur. If such a state occurs during a jackpot game, there is a possibility that problems such as puncture without winning a V prize during the jackpot may occur.

As described above, in the take-out passage, when a game ball is taken out as a service ball to the outside of the gaming machine, a game ball that is insufficient for the service ball is replenished by the winning ball.
Accordingly, even if there are not enough game balls to circulate, if there are winning balls, a predetermined number of game balls to be held in the take-out passage for service balls can be secured. It is the composition which is easy to occur. In other words, when the game balls are spilled to the outside by opening the glass frame or the like, and the number of circulating game balls is actually reduced, the number of game balls held for the service balls remains unchanged. Without this, the number of game balls used in circulation is reduced.

  Also, the game balls in the take-out passage are not used while being held in the take-out passage unless they are taken out for service balls. It is not likely to be rusted and is likely to rust, and there is a high possibility that it will rust ahead of the game balls that are being recycled. In addition, when the game ball held in the take-out passage is taken out as a service ball and won from the winning opening, the winning ball flows into the take-out passage as described above, so the game ball used as the service ball Is held again in the take-out passage, and there is little possibility that a game ball used as a circulation and a game ball used as a service ball are exchanged, and the game balls in the take-out passage are relatively frequently used as service balls. Even if it is used as a game ball, the possibility that the held game ball will rust before the game ball used for circulation is not lowered.

Since game balls used for circulation also have rusting and dirt adhesion, they need to be replaced in the long term, but because a part of the enclosed game balls accumulate in the take-out passage, When a game ball used for circulation is taken out of the gaming machine for replacement, the game ball remains in the take-out passage, and the game ball held in the take-out passage is used for circulation. It must be operated separately. Furthermore, as described above, the game ball in the take-out passage is more likely to rust first, so that it is necessary to separately exchange the game ball used for circulation and the game ball in the take-out passage. There is sex.
In addition, there is a space for taking out a service ball that is less frequently used in a limited space in the gaming machine, which results in poor space efficiency.

  In addition, in conventional gaming machines, there is a communication passage for the pick-up passage in the path for collecting the winning balls, so that if the service balls taken out from the pick-up passage are awarded from the winning openings, the winning game balls are taken out immediately. However, if the service balls are collected from the outlet without winning the prize, the game balls collected from the outlet will not reach the communication port of the circulation path of the take-out passage, and during the game Until the game ball is won, the game ball does not return to the take-out passage, and even if there is not a shortage of game balls, the game ball in the take-out passage remains free for a relatively long period of time.

  Further, in the conventional gaming machine, the gaming ball discharged from the take-out passage is discharged from a ball outlet provided on the rear side of the panel provided with an upper plate or the like covering the lower front surface of the gaming machine. Therefore, the service ball cannot be taken out unless the panel is opened.

  An object of the present invention is to hold a part of a game ball that is enclosed and circulated in a sealed ball type game machine so that it can be taken out as a service ball in the game machine and a part of the enclosed game ball It is to provide an encapsulated ball type game that can prevent a shortage of game balls that are used in circulation due to holding for the service ball.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a game ball sealed in a predetermined number in a game machine body is launched from a launch position to a game area to play a game, while Collect and lead to the launch position and use game balls in circulation,
A collecting ball channel that guides the collected game balls to flow down and a standby channel that is located downstream of the collecting ball channel and waits for a predetermined number of game balls before being sent to the launch position In the enclosed ball type gaming machine that configured the circulation path as
A ball storage portion that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
Replenishment conversion means capable of converting into a storage state in which the game ball is stored in the ball storage unit and a replenishment state in which the game ball flows out from the ball storage unit to the circulation path and is replenished;
And having a ball replenishment device that converts the replenishment conversion means to the replenishment state and replenishes the standby flow path with game balls when there is a shortage of game balls waiting in the standby flow path,
A ball outlet provided in the ball reservoir, and for discharging game balls stored in the ball reservoir to the outside of the circulation path;
An opening / closing member that converts the state of opening and closing the ball discharge port to store the game ball of the ball storage unit and the state of discharging the game ball of the ball storage unit;
An operation unit for operating the opening and closing member;
And a ball take-out device that takes out the game balls stored in the ball storage unit as service balls by operating the operation unit.

Here, the “enclosed ball game machine” is, for example, a ball game machine such as various pachinko machines using a game ball, an arrange ball game machine, or a sparrow ball game machine, and a game launched in the game area. A gaming machine that circulates and uses a gaming ball enclosed in a gaming machine without discharging the ball outside the gaming machine.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine, the game ball launched into the game area is collected and reaches the standby flow path through the collection ball flow path, and reaches the launch position in the standby flow path. The game ball waits for being guided, and the game ball waiting in the standby flow path is sent to the launch position, and is again launched into the game area.

  Then, the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path decreases due to a decrease in the number of game balls collected in the circulation path due to the ball stopping in the game area of the game balls or dropping of the game balls from the game machine, etc. In this case, the replenishment conversion means of the ball storage unit changes from the storage state in which the game balls are stored to the replenishment state in which the game balls are replenished, and the game balls stored in the ball storage unit communicate with the circulation path. The number of game balls waiting in the standby channel is increased through the communication port to increase the number of game balls waiting in the standby channel, thereby preventing troubles in launching of game balls due to lack of game balls. The replenishment conversion means is controlled by the control device. For example, when a shortage of game balls is recognized by a device connected to the control device to detect a shortage of game balls, It is preferable that the control changes the storage state to the replenishment state.

In addition, the open / close member provided at the ball discharge port of the ball storage unit is operated by the operation unit, and the open / close member is closed (closed) (the game ball is stored) from the open (open) state (the game ball is discharged). State), the game balls are discharged from the ball discharge port to the outside of the circulation path, the game balls can be taken out, and the removed game balls can be used as service balls.
Therefore, when there is a shortage of game balls waiting in the standby flow path during the game, the game balls stored in the ball reservoir are replenished to the standby flow path (circulation path), thereby delaying the launch of the game balls. Can be prevented, and the situation such as the above-mentioned big hit puncture can be prevented, and the game ball stored in the ball storage unit can be used as a service ball by the ball take-out device.

  As described above, when there is a shortage of game balls stored in the ball storage part and in the circulation path, the game balls that are replenished to make up for the shortage can be used for service balls. A game ball and a service ball for a service ball can be used together without being stored separately. Therefore, the limited space inside the enclosed ball type gaming machine can be used effectively. In addition, by combining the game balls as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the main body of the gaming machine are launched from the launch position to the game area to play the game, while the game balls that have been played are collected and guided to the launch position. Recycle game balls,
A collecting ball channel that guides the collected game balls to flow down and a standby channel that is located downstream of the collecting ball channel and waits for a predetermined number of game balls before being sent to the launch position In the enclosed ball type gaming machine that configured the circulation path as
A ball storage portion that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
A ball outlet provided in the ball reservoir, and for discharging game balls stored in the ball reservoir to the outside of the circulation path;
An opening / closing member that converts the state of opening and closing the ball discharge port to store the game ball of the ball storage unit and the state of discharging the game ball of the ball storage unit;
An operation unit for operating the opening and closing member;
A ball take-out device that takes out the game ball stored in the ball storage unit as a service ball by operating the operation unit,
The communication port is formed at a position facing the standby channel, and game balls waiting in the standby channel are connected, and when reaching the communication port of the ball storage unit, the game balls flowing down from the recovery ball channel are It is guided by the game ball that has reached the communication port, and flows into the ball storage unit for storage.

According to the configuration described in claim 2, the game ball stored in the ball storage unit is operated as in the case of the invention described in claim 1 to open the opening / closing member of the discharge port of the ball storage unit. By doing so, it can be taken out of the circulation path and used as a service ball.
The ball storage unit has a communication port communicating with the circulation path, and game balls waiting in the standby channel are connected. When the ball storage unit reaches the communication port of the ball storage unit, the game ball flowing down from the recovery ball channel is It is guided by the game ball that has reached the communication port, flows into the ball storage section, and is stored. Therefore, for example, by stopping the launch of the game ball, the game ball in the gaming machine returns from the game area to the standby flow path of the circulation path, and when the game balls waiting in the standby flow path are in a continuous state, When the connected game balls reach the communication port of the ball storage unit, and further the game balls flow into the standby flow channel from the collection ball channel, the flowed game balls flow into the ball storage unit from the communication port.

  Therefore, even if the game balls run short and the game balls connected to the standby channel do not reach the communication port even if the launch of the game balls is stopped, the inflow even if the game balls flow into the standby channel from the recovery ball channel The played game ball is not guided to flow into the communication port. Therefore, when the game balls are taken out from the ball storage unit for the service balls, if there are not enough game balls in the circulation path, the game balls in the ball storage unit are not refilled without being filled in the ball storage unit. Less than the required number of game balls that can be stored in the storage unit. That is, when there are not enough game balls, even if the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit is reduced, the game balls are replenished from the game balls used in circulation to the ball storage unit to the ball storage unit. In spite of the fact that the number of game balls used in circulation is decreasing, the game balls used for circulation are not stored in the ball storage section and the number of game balls used for circulation is not decreased.

  In addition, in a state where game balls are actually fired and used in circulation, a part of the game balls flow down in the game area, and there are few game balls waiting in the standby flow path of the circulation path. In the state where the game balls are being fired sequentially without being connected to the communication port in the standby channel, the game balls do not flow into the ball storage unit, and the game balls are replenished to the ball storage unit during the game. As a result, the number of game balls used in circulation does not decrease. In addition, when the game balls discharged from the ball storage unit are awarded as service balls to the winning opening, if the number of game balls being recycled is reduced, the game balls used as service balls in the ball storage unit The game balls in the ball storage section decrease without the game ball returning, whereas the game balls in the circulation path increase and the game balls do not return to the ball storage section when there are not enough game balls. Therefore, the shortage of game balls used in circulation is compensated.

  In addition, if the game balls discharged from the ball storage unit are awarded as service balls to the winning award in a state where the number of game balls used in circulation has not decreased, The game balls in the circulation path will increase, but in the state where the launch of the game balls is stopped, as described above, the game balls are connected to the communication port in the standby flow path, and more game balls are It will flow into the sphere reservoir until the sphere reservoir is full.

  That is, the game ball that has flowed into the circulation path from the winning opening as a service ball basically returns to the ball storage unit. In some cases (for example, when a player starts firing a game ball before the service ball reaches the standby channel), another game ball in the circulation path is stored in the ball storage unit instead of the service ball. There is also a possibility that. In addition, for example, when a plurality of game balls are discharged from the ball storage unit, a part of the game balls are won from the winning opening and the remaining game balls are allowed to flow into the gaming machine from the out opening. The game ball that has flowed in from the mouth flows into the collection ball flow path, enters the circulation path, and returns to the ball storage section in the same manner as when winning at the winning opening. Basically, when the service ball is returned to the gaming machine from the winning or exit port, if the game ball is stopped, the returned service ball is stopped in the standby channel by stopping the game ball. It will be returned to the ball storage unit by the game balls that continue to the communication port.

  Note that a game ball is connected to the communication channel until the communication channel reaches the communication channel, and when the game ball flows down to the standby channel, the game ball that has flowed down is guided to the communication channel and communicated. The game ball will not flow into the communication port unless it is guided by the game ball that continues to the communication port (however, if the game ball is repelled) In addition, if game balls flow into the standby channel in the state where the game balls are connected to the communication channel in the standby channel, if there is a vacancy in the ball storage part and communication port, basically from the communication port The game ball does not flow into the ball storage section and does not continue to the standby channel so as to exceed the communication port (except in the case of a ball jam or the like).

Further, the position of the communication port is, for example, when the predetermined number of game balls that are circulated from the launch position to the upstream side of the standby flow channel are connected by stopping the launch of the game balls, It is preferable that the game ball that is (the farthest from the launch position) reaches a position. It is assumed that the predetermined number of game balls used in circulation does not include the game balls stored in the ball storage unit.
In this way, if even one game ball that is used in circulation decreases, even if game balls are connected to the standby flow path, the communication port does not reach, and the number of game balls that are used in circulation decreases. Reliably prevents game balls from being replenished into the ball reservoir, and even though the number of game balls used in circulation is decreasing, the ball reservoir is replenished and further circulated. It is possible to prevent the number of game balls used from decreasing.
In addition, in this way, for example, if the number of all game balls enclosed in a gaming machine that combines game balls that are used in circulation and game balls that are stored in the ball storage unit decreases, After the game balls once stored in the ball storage unit are taken out, the game balls are not returned to the ball storage unit by the reduced amount of all the game balls. In this state, if all of the game balls stored in the ball storage unit are taken out, the required number of game balls are not stored in the ball storage unit. By calculating the shortage of game balls from, the number of shortage of game balls can be determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to the first aspect,
When replacing the game balls enclosed in the gaming machine main body in the ball storage unit, a supply port for supplying the predetermined number of gaming balls from the outside of the gaming machine main body is provided,
When a game ball is replenished to the circulation path from the replenishment port via the ball storage unit, a replenishment conversion operation unit that converts the replenishment conversion unit to the replenishment state is provided.

Here, the supply port replenishes the predetermined number of game balls from the outside of the gaming machine main body when replacing the enclosed game balls. It is an inflow port for game balls that can flow into the circulation path via the. That is, it is preferable that the game ball can be used not only when replacing all the game balls but also when adding a reduced game ball due to the game balls coming out of the gaming machine main body.
Further, it is preferable that the replenishment conversion operation means can be operated not only when the game ball is replenished but also, for example, when the front frame body is opened, and when a game ball is replaced, a predetermined number of games Before refilling the ball, it is preferable that the replenishment conversion means is in a replenishment state in order to discharge the game ball so that the game ball can be discharged from the ball storage portion to the circulation path side.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the game balls are insufficient and the game balls are replenished to the circulation path of the gaming machine, the replenishment conversion means of the ball storage unit is set to the replenishment state by the replenishment conversion operation means. In addition, since the game ball is replenished to the circulation path from the replenishment port via the ball storage part, when the game ball is replenished, the game ball stored in the ball storage part also flows into the circulation path. . In this case, basically, the game balls stored in the ball storage section first flow into the circulation path, and the refilled game balls can flow into the circulation path because the standby path of the circulation path is full. Will remain in the sphere reservoir.

In addition, when the refilled game balls enter the circulation path, when the game balls are sequentially fired and stopped, the game balls are connected to the standby flow path, and the game is transferred from the communication port to the ball storage section as described above. A ball will flow in.
Therefore, if the game balls are replenished, the game balls stored in the ball storage section enter the circulation path, but the game balls newly stored in the ball storage section are different from the game balls stored previously. The game ball stored in the ball storage unit by refilling the ball can be replaced with a refilled game ball or a game ball that has been used in circulation. Thereby, it can prevent that the game ball of an unused state is stored for a long time by the ball | bowl storage part, and will rust. According to the configuration of claim 1, even when a ball stop or the like occurs in the game area, the game ball in the ball storage portion is replenished into the circulation path and is used in a circulating manner when the ball stop is eliminated. It is highly possible that the game balls returned to the ball storage unit as described above, and the game balls stored in the ball storage unit are replaced. Therefore, there is a higher possibility that the game balls stored in the ball storage unit will be replaced before they rust.

The invention according to claim 4 is the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A lead-out passage for guiding the game ball discharged from the ball discharge port down,
A game ball flowing down through the lead-out passage is guided, and a service ball pick-up dish provided on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine is provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the game ball discharged from the ball discharge port of the ball storage section is guided to the service ball pick-up dish disposed on the front side of the game machine through the lead-out passage. After taking out the game ball from the club, the staff can easily take the game ball. That is, in order to take a game ball, for example, it is not necessary to open a front panel on the lower side of the game area, and a service ball can be taken very easily.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the encapsulated ball type gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a main body frame to which a game board on which the game area is formed is attached, and the main body frame is opened and closed. A transparent member holding frame that holds the transparent member in a state of closing the opening and forming an opening that can be attached and can visually recognize the game area of the game board. It can be operated by opening the door.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when an error such as a ball stop occurs, a staff member unlocks the glass frame (transparent member holding frame) and opens the glass frame to stop the ball in the game area. Such an error is eliminated, and the service ball is awarded to the winning area in the game area. Therefore, by opening the transparent member holding frame, the operation unit for taking out the service ball can be operated. It is possible to efficiently take out, insert the service ball into the winning opening, and close the transparent member holding frame. Therefore, the workability of error processing by the staff is improved. Furthermore, since the service ball take-out operation (opening of the opening / closing member) cannot be performed by the ball take-out device unless the glass frame is opened, it is possible to prevent mischief and fraud such as extracting the game ball.

According to the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to the present invention, when the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path during the game is insufficient, the game balls stored in the ball storage section are used as the standby flow path (circulation path). By replenishing, it is possible to prevent the launch of the game ball from being delayed, and to prevent a situation such as the above-mentioned big hit puncture, and the game ball stored in the ball storage unit as a service ball by the ball take-out device Can be used.
As described above, when there is a shortage of game balls stored in the ball storage part and in the circulation path, the game balls that are replenished to make up for the shortage can be used for service balls. A game ball and a service ball for a service ball can be used together without being stored separately. Therefore, the limited space inside the enclosed ball type gaming machine can be used effectively. In addition, by combining the game balls as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The enclosed ball type gaming machine of the present embodiment is an application of the present invention to a pachinko gaming machine. For example, the game content can be the same as that of a conventional pachinko gaming machine, The same size is also possible, and it can be installed in the current island facility of the pachinko amusement store, but it does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island facility. That is, the number of game balls based on data input from a storage medium such as a card or the like (data on the number of rented balls) using a pre-enclosed game sphere as the enclosed ball type gaming machine, The game ball can be launched into the game area in correspondence with the data on the number of possessed balls, and when the game ball is launched, the data on the number of possessed balls is subtracted in accordance with the number of game balls launched. . In addition, when a game ball that has been launched wins a prize device such as various prize opening or a variable prize device and a prize ball (game ball) is generated, the actual number of balls held without paying out the actual game ball The number of prize balls is added to the data. Further, when the data on the number of possessed balls becomes 0, it becomes a state where a game ball cannot be launched. In this state, if a numerical value (that is, the number of rented balls or the number of replayed balls) is added to the data of the number of balls based on the data of the amount stored in the storage medium such as a card or the data of the stored balls, the number is again increased. Game balls can be launched.
In addition, the game balls that have been launched reach the game area, and a part of them wins and is guided to the back side of the game board to be collected as safe balls, and the remaining game balls that are not won are collected as out balls. The collected game balls can be launched again through the circulation path, and the game balls are circulated in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. In addition, the game balls that have become fouls are also collected in the circulation path.
Therefore, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine of this example, while playing a game by launching a predetermined number of game balls sealed in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area, collects and launches the game balls that have finished the game. A circulation path that circulates and uses the game ball by guiding it to the position is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes a machine frame 110 configured in a rectangular frame shape, and one side of the machine frame 110 has the machine frame 110. On the other hand, a front frame 120 having a rectangular frame shape is pivotally supported. Further, the front frame 120 is pivotally supported on the front frame main body 130 serving as a base for mounting various members and the like provided in the front frame 120 so as to be rotatable on the front side of the front frame main body 130. And a launching operation unit 150 attached to the lower side of the glass frame 140 on the front surface of the front frame main body 130.

  The front frame main body 130 is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within the machine frame 110 having a rectangular frame shape, and accommodates the game board 1 described later in a portion extending from the center to the upper end portion. For this purpose, a rectangular opening 136 is formed. The front surface of the game board 1 accommodated in the front frame body 130 faces the front side from the opening 136 of the front frame body 130. Further, the glass frame 140 is arranged so as to cover an opening 136 into which the game board 1 of the front frame body 130 is fitted, that is, a portion extending from a slightly lower side to the upper end portion from the center of the front frame body 130. Between the front surface of the board 1 and the glass plates 141 and 141 fitted in the glass frame 140, a portion surrounded by the guide rail 2 provided on the front surface of the game board 1 is launched and the game ball B is launched and flows down. It is designated as a game area 1a.

In addition, one side (left side) of the glass frame 140 is pivotally supported by one side (left side) of the front frame main body 130 so as to be freely opened and closed like a door. By opening, the front side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 can be opened.
An opening 145 is formed in the glass frame 140 corresponding to the game area 1 a of the gaming board 1, and a glass plate 141 is held so as to close the opening 145. And the space | interval which becomes the game area | region 1a in which the game ball B can flow down between the glass frame 140 between the game boards 1 inserted by this opening part 136 so that the opening part 136 of the front frame main body 130 may be substantially obstruct | occluded. And the double glass plate 141 is fixed. In the glass frame 140, at least a portion of the game area 1 a on the front side of the game board 1 can be visually recognized from the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 through the glass plate 141 and the opening 145. The front frame body 130 is provided with a glass frame open detection sensor 142 (shown in FIG. 13) that detects that the glass frame 140 has been opened.
Therefore, in this enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the front frame main body 130 (main body frame) to which the game board 1 in which the game area 1a is formed is attached, and the game of the game board 1 attached to the front frame main body 130 so as to be openable and closable. While forming the opening part 145 which can visually recognize the area | region 1a, it has the glass frame 140 (transparent member holding frame) which hold | maintains the glass plate 141 (transparent member) in the state which block | closes this opening part 145.

  Further, on the front side of the glass frame 140, as shown in FIG. 2, external appeal decoration lamps 11,..., Side lamps 12, 12, speakers 13, 13, error display are provided at positions that do not hinder the viewing of the game area 1a. Containers 14 and 14 are provided. The external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are for informing the surroundings when the number of acquired game balls mainly becomes large in the upper part of the glass frame 140. For example, the difference ball number (difference ball) that is the difference between the number of balls entered (the number of balls that the player has struck into the gaming machine) and the number of balls exited (the number of prize balls that the game ball B has entered through the winning slot etc.) The numerical value obtained by adding the number of balls lent to the player by the game store to the absolute value of the number is the number of balls possessed by the player. Here, the number of balls possessed is the launch of the game ball B described above. The external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are turned on when the number of difference balls (the number of possessed balls) becomes high. In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, the payout of the winning ball is not performed, and the above-mentioned number of outgoing balls, number of incoming balls, number of difference balls, number of held balls (number of game balls), etc. It is not the number of spheres B but a numerical value on the data. In other words, there are only a limited number (for example, 25) of game balls B that are actually used, and the number of possessed balls is detected by, for example, the game balls B that are launched into the game area 1a. The number of fired balls counted, the number of foul balls counted by detecting the game ball B that was launched but returned, the number of recovered balls counted by detecting the game ball B that was launched and collected in the game area, From the numerical values such as the number of winning balls when winning a prize and the number of balls rented from an amusement store, the above-mentioned number of entering balls, the number of exiting balls, the number of difference balls, the number of possessed balls can be obtained.

  As long as there is no trouble such as opening the glass frame 140 and the game ball B going out, the number of fired balls = the number of foul balls + the number of collected balls (when the number of collected balls does not include the number of foul balls) Become. Then, the number of entered balls = the number of collected balls = the number of launched balls−the number of foul balls, the number of issued balls = the number of awarded balls (integrated value) = the number of entered balls−the number of rented balls (the number of replayed balls) + the number of held balls, Number of balls held = number of balls rented (or replayed balls) + number of balls played-number of balls entered, number of balls entered-number of balls played = number of balls difference, number of balls held = number of balls lent (or number of replayed balls) + The absolute value of the difference ball number. As described above, the game by the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is completely performed as a numerical value in the data, and an error caused by spilling the game ball B or leaving the game ball B on the lower plate or the upper plate. Can be reliably managed in integer units. However, it is difficult to obtain satisfaction and superiority that the player can obtain by obtaining a large number of game balls B and collecting them in the game ball box by increasing the number of balls. Therefore, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are used so that the player can obtain satisfaction and superiority.

  More specifically, the operation of the external appeal lamps 11,... Will be described. For example, when the number of balls held or the number of difference balls reaches 1000 or more, one of the external appeal lamps 11,. For example, when the number of balls held or the number of difference balls reaches 2000 or more, two of the external appeal decoration lamps 11... Are lit and the luminescent color is changed. Each time the number of balls increases by a predetermined number, the number of lighting of the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Is increased and the light emission color is changed to notify the player in the game store of the number of balls with a large difference in number. It is now appealing that players who play games have acquired a large number of game balls.

  In addition, the side lamps 12 and 12 perform effects such as lighting, blinking, and emission color change corresponding to the gaming state. In addition to the side lamps 12 and 12, the external appeal lamp 11,... And the error indicators 14 and 14 may emit light as effects. Further, the error indicators 14 and 14 have a function of notifying the staff of various errors by being turned on by a lighting method such as a color or blinking different from the light emission for production.

In addition, a firing operation unit 150 is attached to the lower side of the glass frame 140 on the front side of the front frame body 130. The firing operation unit 150 holds a touch panel display unit 151, a handle touch detection unit 152, a firing slide volume 153, a show ball decoration unit 154, a speaker 155, and these members, and a pocket for operating the launching device 61 described later. A launch operation space forming frame 159 that forms a concave portion 158 (space) is provided.
The touch panel display unit 151 includes a liquid crystal display as a display device. As basic functions, the touch panel display unit 151 has information on the number of balls, amount information (remaining amount stored in a storage medium such as a card), and storage information (prize). Display game information such as the number of game balls stored in the game store without exchanging them, so that the number of balls can be checked at any time without paying out the actual game balls B. Various information including the occurrence of an error can be displayed to a person or a store clerk. The touch panel display unit 151 is a touch panel that enables display switching and other input operations corresponding to display contents. The touch panel display unit 151 can be rotated around a rotation axis set in the left-right direction of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 100 to adjust the inclination, and the player can adjust the player's physique according to the physique of the player. It can be changed to an easy-to-see angle. When the glass frame 140 is opened, the touch panel display unit 151 can be detached from the launch operation unit 150 (the launch operation space forming frame 159) together with the support portion and the sphere decoration portion 154 that support it. ing.

In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention, the handle touch detection unit 152 (instead of the rotary operation type handle for operating the launch of the game ball B provided in the conventional pachinko gaming machine is provided. Only the right hand side is shown) and a firing slide volume 153.
The handle touch detection unit 152 includes a touch sensor provided on a conventional operation handle. When the player touches the player's hand, a signal is output to the launch control device 63a, and the launch control device 63a. Under this control, the launching device is operated to launch the game ball B.

  In addition, the handle touch detection unit 152 forms pocket-shaped recesses 158 in the bulged portions on the left and right sides of the firing operation space forming frame 159 in a state of bulging forward on the lower side of the glass frame 140, Of the inner surfaces of the left and right recesses 158, a touch sensor is formed mainly on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and facing the rear. In addition, the bottom surface of the pocket-shaped recess 158 extends outward from the recess 158 so that a player's hand can be placed, so that the user can easily put the hand in the recess 158 and touch the touch sensor. The hand is at the bottom of the recess 158. That is, the bottom surface of the recess 158 functions as an armrest 158a (handrest). In addition, since the handle touch detection units 152 and 152 are provided on the left and right of the firing operation unit 150 at the lower part of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 100, the operation of launching the game ball B can be performed with either the right hand or the left hand. Yes.

  Conventionally, the adjustment of the firing force has been performed by rotating the operation handle, but in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of this example, the firing slide volume 153 provided with the operation lever 156 that can slide up and down. The firing force can be adjusted by moving the operation lever 156 of the firing slide volume 153 that can be moved up and down to increase the firing force, and vice versa. ing. Note that the operation lever 156 can be stopped at an arbitrary position, and even if the hand is released, it does not return to the position where the firing force is minimized by a spring or the like. Then, the player can release the game ball B simply by releasing the operation lever 156 and touching the handle touch detection unit 152 with his / her hand.

  In this example, the armrest 158a on the bottom surface of the concave portion 158 on the left side is a service ball (a part of the game ball enclosed in the gaming machine) taken out from the gaming machine by a ball taking-out device 30 described later when an error occurs. Service ball pick-up tray 31 that receives the product taken out for service). A fall prevention portion 31a for preventing the service ball from dropping is formed on the outer periphery of a portion of the bottom surface of the recess 158 that becomes the service ball picking tray 31 and extends outward from the recess 158.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 and the like, the fall prevention unit 31a is illustrated as a plate (wall), but the surface is curved so that the fall prevention unit 31a does not interfere with the hand of the player who touches the handle touch detection unit 152. It may be in a bulging state. That is, the bottom surface of the concave portion 158 that becomes the service ball picking tray 31 is formed in a state in which the concave portion 158 side of the portion extending to the outside of the bottom surface of the concave portion 158 is curved and depressed downward, and the outer peripheral side is curved and protrudes upward. However, the shape may be such that the central part is gently depressed.
Further, the service ball picking tray 31 may be provided not on the left armrest 158a toward the enclosing ball game machine 100 but on the right armrest 158a as described later.

The show ball decoration unit 154 virtually represents a flow or the like due to a decrease or increase in the game balls B accumulated on the upper plate in the pachinko gaming machine that pays out the game balls B.
That is, when the game balls B are sequentially fired or when the game balls B wins, the game balls B collected on the upper plate of the pachinko game machine are simply increased or decreased on the touch panel display unit 151. Since it is difficult to realize the decrease due to the launch or the increase due to the payout of the prize ball, the movement of the game ball B is virtually reproduced by the show ball decoration unit 154, thereby increasing or decreasing the game ball B with respect to the player. Make it easy to feel.

  The show ball decoration unit 154 represents, for example, the increase or decrease of the game ball B by movement of the game ball B, and is displayed by circulating and moving the actual game ball B or a ball imitating the game ball B. Alternatively, the movement of the game ball B may be displayed by an image as a display, or the movement of the game ball B may be expressed in a pseudo manner by blinking a lamp (LED). In this example, the show ball decoration unit 154 is configured to show a change in increase / decrease of the game ball B by a spherical light emitting member provided with an LED in a pseudo manner.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the speaker 155 has a portion that becomes the enclosure 157 extending from the rear to the left (from the front to the right), and the enclosure 157 has the right handle touch detection unit. 152 overlaps with the front and rear. As a result, the vibration generated by the speaker 155 is transmitted to the player's hand touching the right handle touch detection unit 152 so that the player can experience vibration based on sound with his / her hand. It has become.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine as described above, a game is played in the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 fitted into the opening of the front frame body 130.
In other words, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 plays a game by firing a game ball B (hit ball; game medium) into a game area 1a surrounded by the guide rails 2 of the game board 1 shown in FIG. In the game area 1a, as shown in FIG. 1, the normal figure start gates 6, 6 and the game figure B pass through the normal figure start gates 6, 6, and the normal figure change display game is unprocessed. A general diagram start memory display (not shown) that displays the number of unprocessed times, a normal diagram change display (not shown) that displays a normal symbol (general) variable display game, a normal variable winning device 9, and this normal variation Special figure start memory display (not shown) that displays the number of unprocessed times that the game ball B has won in the winning device 9 and the special figure variation display game has not been processed, and a special symbol (special figure, identification information) Variation display device 4 for displaying a variation display game, special variation winning device 5, general winning Mouth 8, ..., the ball striking direction changing member (not shown) called a windmill, and a large number of nails (not shown) is provided.

  In the gaming board 1 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention, the out ball as the gaming ball B that did not win even if it flows down to the lower end of the gaming area 1a is played at the lower end of the gaming area 1a. A configuration in which a conventional out port leading to the back side of the board 1 is not provided, and the guide rail 2 surrounding the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 is not provided at the lower end of the game area 1a instead. That is, a notch portion is provided in a portion surrounding the lower side of the game area 1 a of the guide rail 2, and the game ball B that has not won a prize is a central portion of the lower end portion of the game board 1. 1 is configured to flow down from the gaming area 1a on the front side of the gaming machine 1 as it is to the outside (lower side) of the gaming area 1a. That is, the notch part at the lower part of the guide rail 2 functions as an out port.

The normal variation winning device 9 includes a pair of left and right opening / closing members and a general electric solenoid 9a (illustrated in FIG. 13: general electric power SOL) for operating the opening / closing member. Although the closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) is held at an interval that allows the inflow of the individual, the result of the normal map change display game of the normal map change display is a predetermined stop display mode (for example, “7 ”), It is changed to a state in which the game ball B is easy to flow into the normal variation winning device 9 (a state advantageous to the player) by opening in a reverse“ C ”shape. .
The normal variation winning device 9 also serves as a special winning start opening. That is, the start condition is established based on the detection of the game ball B by the start port sensor 9b (shown in FIG. 13) provided in the inside of the normal variation winning device 9 (winning area), and the special display variable display game is It is supposed to be started.

Further, a gate sensor 6a (illustrated in FIG. 13: a general diagram start sensor) for detecting the game ball B that has passed through the general diagram start gates 6, 6 is provided in the general diagram start gates 6, 6. Yes.
When the game ball B driven into the game area 1a passes through the normal start gates 6 and 6, a normal variable display game is played on the normal variable display.
Here, the common figure change indicator is composed of, for example, LEDs, etc., and a normal symbol change display game (for example, numbers, symbols, character symbols, etc.) displays the lighting state of the normal figure change indicator for a predetermined time. This is done by stopping the display.
If, as a result of the usual fluctuation display game, the stop indication on the ordinary fluctuation display becomes a special result mode, the opening / closing member of the normal fluctuation prize-winning device 9 is set for a predetermined time (for example, 0). .5 seconds) released as described above. This makes it easier for the game ball B to win the normal variation winning device 9, and it becomes easier to start the special display variation display game.

The special figure variable display device 4 (special symbol display device) includes, for example, a liquid crystal display 41 and a display screen 42 that can change display contents. The display content on the display screen 42 is controlled by an effect control board 50 (sub-board, board effect board) serving as an effect control device 51 (shown in FIG. 13) having a function as display control means. .
Then, based on the fact that the game ball B driven into the game area 1a enters the normal variation winning device 9 that also serves as the start port of the special figure and the start condition is satisfied, a plurality of types of identification information ( For example, it is possible to execute a special symbol variable display game in which numbers, symbols, character symbols, etc.) are displayed in a variable manner. It should be noted that the special figure variable display game is performed by displaying a plurality of types of identification information in a variable manner on the display screen 42 for a predetermined time.
As a result of the special display variable display game, when the display mode of the display screen 42 is a special result mode (for example, any one of the numbers “7, 7, 7”, etc.), the jackpot It becomes a special gaming state (so-called jackpot state).

Here, the special variable prize-winning device 5 is provided with a large winning opening that is opened and closed by an attacker-type opening / closing door that can be opened by rotating in a direction in which the upper end side is tilted toward the near side, and during the special gaming state A cycle game that facilitates the inflow of the game ball B into the big prize opening by converting the big prize opening from the closed state to the open state is performed up to a predetermined number of times (a predetermined number of rounds). The open / close door is driven by a special prize opening solenoid 5a (shown in FIG. 13: a special prize opening SOL).
In addition, a count sensor 5b for detecting the game ball B that has entered the big prize opening, and a continuous prize area (V) of the game balls B that have entered the big prize opening are inside the big prize opening (winning area). A V winning sensor 5c for detecting the game ball B flowing into the (winning area) is provided.
In each of the general winning ports 8,... (Winning area), a winning port sensor 8a for detecting the game ball B that has entered the general winning ports 8,.

  Here, the game ball B driven into the game area 1a flows into any of the winning ports (winning tools) such as the general winning port 8, the normal variable winning device 9, and the special winning port 5 of the special variable winning device 5. When the winning occurs, the winning game balls B are detected by the sensors of each winning opening, and based on the detection, the predetermined number of winning balls set corresponding to each winning opening is the number of gaming balls ( It is added to the data of the number of balls).

Therefore, by performing the above-described cycle game during the special game state, the player has an opportunity to acquire a high number of game balls (specific game value).
That is, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is a pachinko gaming machine, and when a special figure variation display game results in a predetermined special result mode (when it is a big hit), a specific game value is given to the player. It is configured to be able to generate a special gaming state to which

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the effect control board 50 is disposed on the back side of the game board 1 in the box 52 on the rear side of the liquid crystal display 41 and the box 22 on the lower side thereof. A game control board 20 serving as a game control device 21 that controls the game in the state of being housed in the game machine is disposed. When the game control device 21 detects the winning of the game ball B with a sensor, the game control device 21 outputs a signal indicating a win (number of winning balls) to the frame control device 83 to be described later, and the normal start gates 6 and 6 are connected to the game balls. When the gate sensor 6a detects that B has passed, it controls the start of the usual variable display game and controls the determination of the hit of the normal variable display game. Then, the game control device 21 performs control for operating the normal variation winning device 9 (general power solenoid 9a) when the usual variation display game is won. Further, the game control device 21 controls the special display variable display game via the effect control device 51 when the game ball B wins the normal variation winning device 9. That is, the game control device 21 causes the effect control device 51 to perform display control of the variable display device 4 and also controls determination of big hit and miss.
Note that the game board 1 is provided with sensors, solenoids, display devices, and the like related to the game, and a game control device 21 and an effect control device 51 for controlling these, so that by changing the game board 1 The game content of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 can be changed.

  In addition, the lower part of the front frame body 130, which is below the opening to which the game board 1 of the front frame body 130 is attached, is mounted with the firing operation unit 150 having the above-described firing operation space forming frame 159 on the front side. As shown in FIG. 4, a mounting board 131 to which a launching unit 60 equipped with a launching device 61 for launching a game ball B, a launching rail 62, and the like is mounted on the back side thereof is provided. The front frame main body 130 including the mounting board 131 is integrally formed of resin and has various members mounting members, ribs, and the like formed thereon.

The above-mentioned launch unit 60 is provided on the back side of the mounting plate 131 below the front frame body 130, and the launch control board 63 (arranged in the box 631), which serves as the launch control device 63a for controlling the launch device 61, is launched. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 (encapsulated ball circulation device) that collects the game balls B launched into the game area 1 a by the device 61 and supplies them to the launch device 61 again, and supplies power to each device in the encapsulated ball game machine 100. Power supply board 71 (arranged in box 71a), first frame control board 81 (arranged in box 81a) for controlling the apparatus provided in front frame 120 other than game board 1 and A two-frame control board 82 (arranged in the box 82a) is attached. The first frame control board 81 and the second frame control board 82 function as the frame control device 83, and excluding devices attached to the game board 1, for example, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,. The unit 151, the show ball decoration unit 154, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and a frame control device 83 for controlling the data communication device with the outside. The first frame control board 81 controls the second frame control board 82 and the launch control board 63 based on the control from the game control board 20 and the effect control board 50.
The front frame body 130 having the mounting board 131 is provided with a structure for attaching each member to the attachment position of each member. For example, a reinforcing rib is formed so as to surround the attached member. Or a boss or the like for attaching a member with a screw or the like.
Therefore, an encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 as an encapsulated ball circulation device for deriving the collected game ball B to the launch position again is provided at the lower part on the back side of the enclosed ball game machine 100.

The launch unit 60 includes an attachment plate 64 attached to the attachment board 131, a launch rail 62 attached to the attachment plate 64 via a rail attachment base 69 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), and a game ball B on the launch rail 62. And a launching device 61 provided with a launcher 66 and the like for firing the game ball B by hitting.
The launch rail 62 is formed in a V-shaped cross section so as to guide the game ball B along the launch rail 62, and is below the game board 1 and directly below the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1. The launching device 61 is disposed at the lower end of the portion where the guide rail 2 is doubled on the outside and inside so as to guide the game ball B launched on the left side, for example, at the lower part of the game area 1a. The game ball B that is hit by the ball extends to the left and right along the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and the left end portion is higher than the right end portion when viewed from the front of the enclosed ball type game machine 100. So that they are arranged diagonally.

The launching device 61 has a motor 68 (stepping) attached to the front surface side of the mounting plate 64 so as to be stored in a storage space formed between the mounting plate 131 and the mounting plate 64 attached to the mounting plate 131. A motor, shown in FIG. 3), and a rotation rod connected to the motor 68 and driven to rotate, thereby firing the game ball B and firing the game ball B, and the rotation angle of the launch rod 66 is regulated. Stopper member 67 and ball positioning for stopping game ball B supplied from encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 on firing rail 62 at a predetermined position where it can be hit by firing rod 66 on the lower end portion of firing rail 62 as will be described later. A member (not shown).
The position at which the game ball B is held by the ball positioning member on the rear end portion (inclined lower end portion) of the launch rail 62 is the launch position at which the game ball B is fired.

  In the firing unit 60, the launching device 61 and the front side of the firing rail 62 are closed by the mounting plate 64, and the firing rail 62 is formed by ribs formed around the mounting plate 64 of the mounting plate 131 to which the mounting plate 64 is mounted. The top, bottom, left, and right except for the path of the launch ball (game ball B) that is launched through are substantially closed, but the back side (rear side) of the launch unit 60 is open. However, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the back surface side of the launch unit 60 of the mounting board 131 so as to overlap the front and rear of the launch unit 60 as will be described later, and the launch unit 60 is launched by the front surface of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200. The rear side of the portion of the rail 62 and the launching device 61 is almost covered and closed.

  In the game area 1a, a launch ball introduction port is provided at a lower end portion of a portion serving as a guide path for the launch ball composed of the two guide rails 2 and 2 on the outer side and the inner side. There is a launching ball introducing portion that becomes a return port when returning as a foul ball without flowing down the region 1a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear frame portion of the front frame body 130 is attached to the lower frame portion of the front frame body 130, that is, the upper edge of the mounting frame 131 of the front frame body 130. A bottom wall portion 134 that closes a lower portion of the game area 1 a between the rear surface of the glass plate 141 on the side and the front surface of the game board 1 is formed. A launch ball passage port 135 is provided in a portion of the bottom wall portion 134 of the front frame body 130 that faces the launch ball introduction portion of the above-described game area 1a.

  Then, after being launched by the launching device 61 and moving obliquely upward on the launch rail 62, the game ball B heading into the game area 1a from the launch ball introduction part of the game area 1a passes through the launch ball passage port 135. In addition, the foul ball passes through the launch ball passage port 135 when the foul ball returns to the mounting plate 131 side. Note that the tip surface of the launch rail 62 is disposed in front of the launch ball passage port 135 and the foul ball returning to the launch ball passage port 135 flows down before the launch rail 62 without returning to the launch rail 62. Then, it reaches the foul ball collection part 257 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 has a collection port 211 for collecting game balls B (including out balls and safe balls, excluding foul balls) that have been launched into the game area 1a. As a part of the upstream side of the circulation path 220, the member 210, the circulation path 220 for guiding the game ball B from the collection port 211 to the launch position of the game ball B of the launching device 61 and circulating the game ball B are collected. A recovery ball flow path 280 for flowing the game ball B down from the port 211 to a standby flow path 221 to be described later, a recovery ball sensor 212 as a recovery ball detection means for detecting the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280, A standby channel 221 that is a part of the downstream side of the circulation path 220 and waits for the game ball B before being sent to the launch position, and a ball shortage state detection that detects a shortage state of the game ball B waiting in the standby channel 221 hand And a ball shortage detection sensor 264 as a downstream end of the standby flow path 221, and the lower end of the launch rail 62 of the launch device 61 (the launch position of the game ball B) is played through the ball supply port 247. A ball feeding device 240 that sequentially sends one gaming ball B to the ball B according to the timing of launching the ball B is provided.

  Note that the standby flow path 221 is a portion for waiting for the game ball B before being sent to the launch position by the ball feeder 240, and is used for circulation except for a replenishment game ball B described later in the circulation path 220. This is the range in which the game balls B are accumulated. This range is maximized when the game balls B are stopped from being fired and all the game balls B to be used for circulation are in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. In this example, the portion of the circulation path 220 that is the maximum range in which the game balls B that are circulated and accumulated is the standby flow path 221. That is, with reference to FIG. 6 showing a state in which all of the game balls B to be circulated are in a standby state, a ball storage plate of a ball storage unit 262, which will be described later, below the recovery ball sensor 212 from the recovery port 211. The vicinity of the height position of 261 is a collection ball flow path 280, and the height position of the ball storage plate 261 below the collection ball sensor 212 to the ball feeding device 240 is a standby flow path 221.

From the above, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 launches a game ball B encapsulated in a predetermined number in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area 1a, while playing the game ball B after the game is finished. A collection ball channel 280 for collecting and guiding to the launch position and circulatingly using the game ball B, and guiding the game ball B collected through the game area 1a, and a downstream side of the collection ball channel 280 The circulation path 220 is configured by communicating with a standby flow path 221 that waits for a predetermined number of game balls B before being sent to the launch position.
Note that the circulation path 220 includes a supply flow path 245 on the downstream side of a ball feeding device 240 described later, and may include a foul ball flow path 252 described later.

  In addition, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is the foul ball collection means 250 again, although it is fired between the inner guide rail 2 and the outer guide rail 2 by the launch device 61, the launch device 61 side again. A foul ball collection port 251 that collects foul balls that have returned to the front (including launch balls that did not reach between the guide rails 2), a foul ball sensor 253 that detects the collected foul balls, and a foul A foul ball channel 252 is provided for allowing the foul ball (game ball B) collected from the ball collection port 251 to flow down to the standby channel 221 (circulation path 220). That is, the foul ball collecting means 250 includes a foul ball channel 252 that guides the game ball B that has been fouled without reaching the game area 1a to the standby channel, and the foul ball channel 252. And a foul ball sensor 253 as a foul ball detecting means for detecting the game ball B flowing down.

  The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 includes an adhering substance removing unit 400 that removes adhering substances on the game ball B that moves in the standby flow path 221 every time the game ball B is fired, and a ball removing device that removes the ball in the circulation path 220. 230.

  In addition, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 stores the game balls B for replenishment in addition to the game balls B that are normally used in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and replenishes when the game balls B that circulate during the game decrease. And a ball exchange cassette (not shown) storing a predetermined number of game balls B for replacement of the game balls B (for example, 30 balls including the above-described game balls B for supply) are attached. In addition, a ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 for supplying the game ball B in the ball exchange cassette into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is provided.

  In addition, when an error such as a ball stop in the game area 1a occurs in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 and the clerk cancels the error, the game ball that becomes the service ball is compensated for any error as a compensation ball ( When the game ball stored in the ball replenishing device 260 is used as a service ball on the above-described service ball pick-up plate 31 when being inserted into the normal variation winning device 9 or the general winning port 8) serving as a start winning port. A ball take-out device 30 for taking out is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main part of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is substantially box-shaped from a front wall member 310 constituting the front side of the main part and a rear wall member 320 constituting the back side of the main part. The above-described circulation path 220 (including the recovery ball flow path 280 and the standby flow path 221) and the foul ball flow path 252 are formed inside the main part. Basically, members constituting the path of the above-described game ball B are formed on the front wall member 310 side, and members for attaching sensors, solenoids and the like are formed, and the rear wall member 320 is attached with each member. And an outer peripheral wall 326 that surrounds the outer periphery of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. The front wall member 310 and the rear wall member 320 are each integrally formed of a transparent synthetic resin, and the game ball B in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, the game ball B on the front side of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and the launch The unit 60 and the like can be seen through, and the clogging of the game ball B can be visually confirmed from the back side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The front wall member 310 and the rear wall member 320 are detachably joined.

In addition, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 has left and right attachment portions 132 and 132 (shown in FIG. 4) provided at predetermined positions below the attachment position of the firing rail 62 of the attachment plate 131 of the front frame body 130 at the lower end thereof. )) Are provided with left and right connecting members 201, 201 that are detachably and pivotably connected, and are rotatable about a rotation axis set in the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 falls from the vertical state (use state) along the back surface of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 (the back surface of the mounting board 131) to the rear side with the connection member 201, 201 as the center. Thus, it can be rotated to a substantially horizontal state (maintenance state).
In addition, the connection members 201 and 201 of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 have a cylindrical shape into which protrusions serving as axes of the mounting portions 132 and 132 of the mounting board 131 are rotatably inserted. Since the slits are formed and the shafts can be moved in and out of the slits 201a and 201a, the connecting members 201 and 201 can be detached from the mounting portions 132 and 132, and the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the mounting frame of the front frame body 130 It is detachable (detachable) from 131.

  At both left and right ends of the rear wall member 320, there are mounting members 203, 203 for detachably attaching the rear wall member 320 to the mounting board 131 in a state where the front wall member 310 is attached to the front side of the rear wall member 320. Is provided. By removing the mounting members 203, 203 from the mounting plate 131, the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be rotated so as to be tilted rearward.

The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the back surface side of the front frame body 130 that is the back surface side of the encapsulated ball game machine 100. The mounting board 131 which is the lower part of the front frame body 130 is configured such that a substantially vertical flat plate portion which is a main part thereof is in front of the game board 1 fixed to the front frame body 130. The firing unit 60 having the above-described launching device 61 and the like attached to the back surface of the board 131 is arranged substantially directly below the game area 1a on the front side from the game board 1.
The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is disposed on the rear side of the launch unit 60 and attached to the attachment plate 131 so as to overlap the launch unit 60 attached to the attachment plate 131 in the front-rear direction. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is arranged substantially directly below the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130 in a state of being attached to the attachment board 131.

  The recovery member 210 is formed at an upper end (upper part) that is an upper part of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200. Then, the recovery member 210 has a front portion of the game board 1 such that the out ball, which is the game ball B flowing down without winning from the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1, can be recovered. The lower portion of the guide rail 2 on the lower side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 extends from below to the lower side of the above-described notch. Further, the recovery member 210 has a game board so that a rear portion thereof can recover a safe ball that is a winning game ball B that flows down the back side of the game board 1 and is discharged to the lower side of the game board 1. 1 extends from below the safe ball discharge path (not shown) on the back side of the game board 1. That is, the recovery member 210 has a front-rear width that is at least twice as large as the diameter of the game ball B than the thickness of the game board 1, and the recovery member 210 is a glass plate on the rear side of the glass frame 140 in front of the game board 1. It is arranged in a range from the back surface of 141 to the rear end of the winning safe ball discharge path behind the game board 1. Further, the horizontal width of the recovery member 210 is the width of the notch portion of the guide rail 2 on the lower side of the game board 1, and the recovery member 210 is arranged in the range from the right end to the left end of the notch portion of the guide rail 2. Is done. In addition, the exit of the discharge path | route (not shown) of the safe ball | bowl on the back surface side of the game board 1 is arrange | positioned in the left-right range of the notch part of the guide rail 2. As shown in FIG.

Here, the guide rail 2 in the lower part of the game board 1 is, for example, a special variable winning device 5 (attacker) such as 2 times or more, for example, 4 times, 5 times, etc., compared with the left and right width of the conventional out port. Since it is cut out more widely and widely, the out ball can flow down efficiently (rapidly). Correspondingly, a later-described out ball collection port 215 of the collection member 210 having substantially the same left-right width as the notch portion of the guide rail 2 is also a dimension that is larger in the left-right direction (at least larger than the special variable winning device 5). Since it is set, the falling out ball can be collected efficiently.
Similarly, a safe ball collection port 216, which will be described later, is also set to have a large size in the left-right direction (a size equivalent to the out ball collection port 215), so that the falling safe ball can be collected efficiently.
In addition, an introduction inclined portion 213 of a later-described game ball introduction port 219 for introducing the game ball B from the collection member 210 into the main body of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 corresponds to the safe ball collection port 216 and the out ball collection port 215. Since it has a large size in the left-right direction (a little narrower than the safe ball collection port 216 and the out ball collection port 215), it has a structure that prevents the ball from clogging even if the game ball B flows down from the left and right at once. Can be smoothly introduced into the collection ball sensor 212. That is, at the game ball introduction port 219, it is possible to prevent a smooth flow of the game balls B from being suppressed due to a plurality of game balls B coming into contact with each other, such as a ball clogging.

  The front-rear width of the main body portion below the collection member 210 of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B, but is narrower than the thickness (front-rear width) of the game board 1. The recovery member 210 extends from the front and rear of the main body of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 below the game board 1.

  In addition, the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is arranged behind the launch unit 60 on the back side of the mounting board 131, but in the portion of the mounting board 131 where the collecting member 210 on the lower side of the game board 1 is arranged, A gap portion (not shown) corresponding to the shape of the member 210 is formed, and when the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 that is rotatable around the lower end portion as described above is attached to the attachment board 131, The front portion of the collection member 210 of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is inserted into the gap portion, and the front portion of the collection member 210 extends ahead of the game board 1.

In addition, the recovery member 210 has a rectangular shape that is long along the left-right direction of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 in plan view, and a surrounding wall 214 forms a substantially vertical periphery. Further, the central part of the collection member 210 (inside the enclosure wall 214) is extended to the left and right except for the right end, and the game balls B collected in the collection member 210 are contained in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. A recovery sphere flow path 280 having an introduction inclined portion 213 leading to the recovery sphere sensor 212 (inside the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200) is provided. The introduction inclined portion 213 is a member that becomes the bottom portion of the collection ball channel 280 that guides the game ball B collected by the collection member 210 to the collection ball sensor 212.
A portion that is surrounded by the surrounding wall 214 of the recovery member 210 and opened upward is a recovery port 211 that recovers the out ball and the safe ball. Further, the front part below the front side of the game board 1 of the collection port 211 is an out ball collection port 215 for collecting out balls, and the rear part under the back side of the game board 1 is a safe ball for collecting safe balls. It is a recovery port 216.

The bottom portion of the front part of the recovery member 210 below the out ball collection port 215 guides the out ball collected by flowing down to the out ball collection port 215 to the introduction inclined portion 213 that is the front and rear central portions of the collection member 210. Thus, it is set as the back inclination part 217 which inclines downward toward back. In addition, the bottom portion of the rear part of the recovery member 210 below the safe ball recovery port 216 is disposed on the introduction inclined portion 213 that is the central portion of the recovery member 210 before and after the safe ball that has flowed down to the safe ball recovery port 216 and recovered. It is set as the front inclination part 218 which inclines down toward the front so that it may guide | induced.
It should be noted that the right end portion from the rear of the recovery member 210 does not incline in the front-rear direction, but inclines so as to decrease from the right (end) to the left (center side) from the rear, and will be described later. In this way, it is arranged so as to cover the hole 212a through which the game ball B of the collection ball sensor 212 arranged at the tip of the inclined lower end of the introduction inclined part 213 passes, and in the hole 212a of the collection ball sensor 212 The game ball B is prevented from flowing in directly from the game board 1 side (without flowing down the introduction inclined portion 213). If there is a game ball B that flows directly into the hole 212a of the recovery ball sensor 212, the relationship with other game balls B that flow down the introduction inclined portion 213 and then flow into the hole 212a (collision, contact, etc.) As a result, ball clogging is likely to occur, so that the game ball B is guided onto the introduction inclined portion 213 on the upstream side of the collected ball sensor 212. Further, the upper end portion of the firing unit 60 that is formed so as to rise to the right from the rear and the right end portion is increased by increasing the right end portion from the rear of the bottom portion of the recovery member 210 by the above-described configuration. And the right end of the bottom of the recovery member 210 do not interfere with each other.

  In the recovery member 210, an introduction inclined portion 213 is formed between the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218. The introduction inclined portion 213 is one step lower than the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218, and is disposed in the main body portion of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 below the collection member 210. Accordingly, an opening is formed between the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218 of the recovery member 210, and this open portion joins (aggregates) the out sphere and the safe sphere recovered by the recovery member 210. The game ball introduction port 219 flows down into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 (inside the main body). Note that the game ball introduction port 219 is located on the introduction inclined portion 213 and is formed in the central portion of the recovery member 210 in the front-rear direction.

  The recovery ball sensor 212 is, for example, a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch, and has a hole 212a through which the game ball B passes, and outputs a HIGH or LOW signal when the pachinko ball passes through the hole 212a. is there. Further, in the front wall member 310, the rear portion is fixed to the sensor mounting portion 330 formed at an interval at which the game ball B can flow downward from the downstream end of the introduction inclined portion 213, and the hole 212a is formed. The front portion thus extended extends from the sensor mounting portion 330 to the end of the introduction inclined portion 213 described above.

  The recovery ball sensor 212 is disposed at a position where the game ball B flows down from the inclined lower end of the introduction inclined portion 213 and the hole 212a from the inclined lower end of the introducing inclined portion 213, The recovery sphere flow path 280 is directed to the upstream end portion of the standby flow path 221 and a merging section 254 described later, which is a downstream end portion of the foul sphere inclined portion 255 serving as the bottom of the foul sphere flow path 252. The game ball B flowing down is detected.

  The standby flow path 221 has, as its bottom part, the following members extending in a wall shape (plate shape) from the front wall member 310 to the rear side in three upper and lower stages. That is, the circulation path 220 is a downstream end portion of the above-described foul sphere flow path 252 as a member serving as a bottom portion thereof, and the circulation path 220 is replenished to the circulation path 220 from the foul sphere and ball replenishing device 260 flowing down the foul sphere flow path 252. A replenishment sphere that is a game sphere B, a confluence 254 where three kinds of game spheres B, the recovery sphere flowing down from the recovery sphere flow path 280 through the recovery sphere sensor 212 as described above, and an encapsulated sphere game A downstream slope 222 that slopes downward from left to right when viewed from the back side, and a downward slope that is downwardly inclined from right to left when viewed from the back side of the machine 100, and a downward slope A standby inclined portion 223 that is inclined downward from the right to the left when viewed from the back side and reaches the ball feeding device 240 below the portion 222.

In addition, on the standby inclined portion 223 of the standby flow path 221, during the game of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 (the game balls B are sequentially fired, and several or more game balls B flow down to the game area 1a. The game ball B is accumulated regardless of whether the game ball B is being fired or not (the state in which the game ball B is not being fired). Is moved downward by a distance of
The circulation path 220 including the standby flow path 221 is formed over a plurality of upper and lower stages. In each stage, the circulation path 220 extends along the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and moves the game ball B to the left and right. The game ball B is led out to the lower stage while flowing down along the direction.

  Moreover, it is used when controlling the operation of the ball replenishing device 260 above the downstream portion of the falling slope portion 222 of the standby flow path 221, that is, below the upstream portion of the foul ball slope portion 255 of the front wall member 310. A proximity sensor mounting portion 319 for mounting the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is provided, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is attached thereto. The ball shortage detection sensor 264 is a well-known proximity sensor switch, and outputs a signal indicating that the game ball B exists in a state where the metal game ball B is in proximity. That is, if a normal game ball B stays in the standby flow path 221, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 exists in a portion where the game ball B is directly below the ball shortage detection sensor 264 of the standby flow path 221. A HIGH or LOW signal indicating that there is no shortage of spheres is output.

When the game balls B are sequentially fired and the game ball B stays just below the ball shortage detection sensor 264, the game ball B moves by the diameter of each game ball B fired. As a result, the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 periodically changes corresponding to the movement of the game ball. In addition, when the game ball B stays downstream from directly below, the game ball B passes directly below the ball shortage detection sensor 264 every time the game ball B is collected from the game area 1a. The output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 varies between the detection state and the non-detection state every time the recovered ball returns. In addition, in the state where the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball is basically stopped in the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B. Does not vary with the state.
When the game ball B stops, for example, in the game area 1a, a delay occurs in the collection of the game balls, and a delay occurs in the detection of the game balls B in the ball shortage detection sensor 264. The game balls are not detected for a considerably longer period, and thus, it is possible to detect the lack of game balls, that is, the lack of game balls B.

In addition, the foul sphere inclined portion 255 and the falling inclined portion 222 having the merging portion 254 are arranged to overlap with each other in a state of being substantially the same length and slightly shifted left and right. It is longer than the sphere inclination part 255 and the flow-down inclination part 222, for example, is about twice as long as these. Then, the upstream half (part) of the standby inclined part 223 is vertically overlapped with the foul sphere inclined part 255 and the downflow inclined part 222, and the downstream half (part) of the standby inclined part 223 is the foul sphere inclined. The circulation path 220 is not present on the downstream portion of the standby inclined portion 223 without overlapping the portion 255 and the downstream inclined portion 222 in the vertical direction. Further, a replenishment solenoid 263 (to be described later) of the ball replenishing device 260 and a ball feed solenoid 244 (to be described later) of the ball feeding device 240 are disposed on the downstream portion of the standby inclined portion 223.
With such an arrangement of the circulation path 220, the space efficiency of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 is increased, and the enclosure sphere circulation unit 200 is reduced in size.

  Note that the length of the standby flow path 221 is, for example, a length that can store all of the game balls B circulating in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 without including the refill balls stored in the ball refill device 260. In this state, the game ball B that is circulated and used in the standby flow path 221 is in a state where the game ball B is stopped from being emitted. In addition, the number of game balls B that are used in circulation is the number of game balls B that cannot be released when the game balls B are sequentially fired, because the collection of the game balls B is not in time (for example, 25). ). Therefore, the length of the standby flow path 221 is set to a necessary and sufficient length. When the game balls B are insufficient due to ball stoppage or the like in the game area 1a, the game balls B are replenished by the ball refill device 260.

  Further, the recovery ball flow path 280, the standby flow path 221 and the foul ball flow path 252 which become the circulation path 220 are in a state where the front side is closed by the front wall member 310 and the rear side is closed by the rear wall member 320. The front and rear widths thereof are slightly longer than the diameter of the game ball B, the game balls B can be stored in a line, and the game balls B flow down without overlapping the front and rear. It is like that. Also, the introduction slope 213 of the collection ball channel 280 is open as the game ball introduction port 219, but a foul ball is introduced on the foul ball slope 255 of the foul ball channel 252. The sensor mounting part 330 is arranged on the upper part of the slope excluding the upstream end part with a space slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B, and the confluence part 254 which is the lower part of the fall of the foul ball channel 252. , The inclination direction (inclination angle) of the ball replenishing device 260 is spaced above the portion below the portion where the refilling game ball B and the collection ball meet, with a space slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B. A ball storage plate 261 that can be freely converted is disposed. It should be noted that, even if the inclination angle of the sphere storage plate 261 is changed within a predetermined angle range in which the inclination angle can be changed, the sphere storage plate 261 is positioned between the sphere storage plate 261 and the lower junction 254. An interval at which the game ball B can flow down is maintained.

  In addition, on the flow down inclined portion 222 of the standby flow path 221, the flow down ceiling portion 224 whose upper end is integrally joined with the merge portion 254 of the foul ball inclined portion 255 and whose lower end is integrally joined with the standby inclined portion 223. Is formed. The flow-down ceiling 224 is formed to have the same inclination as the flow-down inclined portion 222 with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B between the flow-down inclined portion 222. It should be noted that the lower part of the descending ceiling part 224 (the end part on the lower side of the slope) and the part where the game ball B flows almost directly from the descending slope part 222 to the standby slope part 223 corresponds to the flow path of the game ball B. It is in a state of being joined to the standby inclined portion 223 at that portion.

In addition, a standby ceiling portion 225 whose upper end is integrally joined to the flow-down inclined portion 222 is formed on the standby inclined portion 223 of the circulation path 220. The standby ceiling part 225 is formed so as to have the same inclination as the standby inclination part 223 with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B between the standby ceiling part 225.
From the above, in the foul ball flow path 252 and the circulation path 220, the gap is slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B in the left and right and up and down with respect to the flow direction of the game ball B in many parts. Thus, the game balls B do not pass vertically and vertically, so that the game balls B flow down one by one or in a line.

In the foul ball collection means 250, the foul ball collection port 251 is provided on the upper end portion of the foul ball flow channel 252, and is located below the foul ball collection port 251 and at the upper end portion of the foul ball flow channel 252. A foul ball sensor 253 is arranged on the upper side.
The foul ball collection port 251 is an opening formed at the upper right end portion when viewed from the rear surface side of the front wall member 310 that constitutes the front surface of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200. It is designed to be introduced inside. Further, at a position corresponding to the lower edge of the foul ball collection port 251 on the front surface side of the front wall member 310, a foul ball collection portion 257 extending forward from the front surface of the front wall member 310 is provided. The foul ball collection part 257 is formed in a plate shape whose upper surface is inclined downward toward the rear foul ball collection port 251 and protrudes upward surrounding the periphery except for the rear edge connected to the foul ball collection port 251. When the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is mounted in a state substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 131, the foul ball collection unit 257 is adjacent to the upper end portion (the end portion in the firing direction) of the firing rail 62. Thus, a foul ball that is disposed directly below the launch ball passage port 135 and flows down through the launch ball passage port 135 is received.

Accordingly, in the foul ball collecting means 250, the foul ball collecting unit 257 receives the foul ball that has flowed from the front side of the game board 1 through the launching ball passage port 135 to the lower side of the game board 1. Then, the foul sphere reaching the upper surface of the foul sphere collecting unit 257 enters the foul sphere flow path 252 in the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 from the rear foul sphere collecting port 251 along the inclination of the upper surface, and the foul sphere collecting port 251 It passes through the lower foul sphere sensor 253 and reaches the foul sphere inclined portion 255 which is the bottom of the foul sphere flow path 252. Then, the game ball B on the foul ball inclined portion 255 reaches the merging portion 254 along the inclination, reaches the above-described standby flow channel 221 so as to merge with the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow channel 280, and this The standby flow path 221 flows down.
The foul ball sensor 253 is a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch similar to the collection ball sensor 212, and is attached to the lower side of the collection ball sensor 212 of the sensor mounting portion 330 in the opposite direction to the collection ball sensor 212. A hole 253 a through which the game ball B of the foul ball sensor 253 passes is arranged at the upper end portion of the foul ball channel 252. Then, similar to the collection ball sensor 212, a foul ball is detected and a signal is output.

  In addition, from the above, the flow path is formed so that the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the game ball B flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 merge. In this example, the recovery sphere flow path 280 becomes a standby flow path 221 almost at the height position of the sphere storage plate 261, and the standby flow path 221 is located above the junction 254 slightly below the sphere storage plate 261. The foul ball passage 252 joins. In other words, in this example, the recovery sphere flow path 280 is a standby flow path 221 slightly upstream from the portion where the foul sphere flow path 252 merges, and the standby flow path 221 and the foul sphere flow path 252 merge. However, the collection sphere channel 280 is regarded as the standby channel 221 on the junction 255 (below the sphere storage plate 261), and the collection sphere channel 280 and the foul sphere channel 252 May be regarded as the standby flow channel 221 from the portion where the flow channels merge directly.

  The ball removing device 230 is provided in front of the ball feeding device 240 at the downstream end of the standby flow path 221. The downstream end portion of the standby inclined portion 223 serving as the bottom portion of the standby flow path 221 is disposed in a state of being spaced apart from the ball feeding device 240 by a distance wider than the diameter of the game ball B. That is, a ball removal opening 231 is provided between the ball removal device 230 and the standby inclined portion 223 as an interval at which the game ball B can flow down.

  The ball removal device 230 is connected to the ball removal opening 231, a plate-like ball removal opening / closing member 232 that opens and closes the ball removal opening 231, and the ball removal opening / closing member 232. A slider 234 provided with an operating lever 233 for opening and closing 232, and a square for slidably holding the slider 234 along the plate-like standby inclined portion 223 below the downstream end of the standby inclined portion 223 A cylindrical guide portion 235, a coil spring 236 that is disposed between the slider 234 and the bottom of the cylindrical guide portion 235, and biases the slider 234 toward the ball removal device 230, and below the ball removal opening 231. And a ball passage 237 formed downward on the side and opened downward.

  The ball opening / closing member 232 normally extends to the ball removing device 230 to close the ball opening 231. In the closed state, the ball opening / closing member 232 is inclined in the same manner as the standby inclined portion 223 with the upper surface of the end portion on the standby inclined portion 223 side in contact with the lower surface of the standby inclined portion 223. In this state, at the position of the ball opening 231, the ball opening / closing member 232 functions as the bottom of the lower end portion of the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220, and the game ball B flowing down on the standby inclined portion 223 is one step down. It reaches the top of the ball opening / closing member 232 and the game ball B passes over the ball opening / closing member 232 and reaches the ball feeding device 240.

Further, when the ball opening / closing member 232 is moved along the standby inclined portion 223 to the upper side of the inclination of the standby inclined portion 223, the ball opening opening portion 231 is opened, and the lower end portion of the ball opening / closing member 232 is inclined. And a gap wider than the diameter of the game ball B between the ball removal device 230 and the game ball B can flow down from the ball removal opening 231.
The guide portion 235 is formed on the back side (inner surface side) of the front wall member 310, and extends downward to the lower end portion of the plate-like standby inclined portion 223 and below the lower end portion of the standby inclined portion 223. Thus, the slider 234 is sandwiched between the standby inclined portion 223, the guide lower wall 235a formed in parallel with the standby inclined portion 223, the lower end portion of the standby inclined portion 223, and the guide lower wall 235a. The interior of the front wall member 310 between the front wall member 310 and the portion between the lower end of the standby inclined portion 223 of the rear wall member 320 connected to the front wall member 310 and the guide lower wall 235a is the longitudinal direction. Is in the shape of a rectangular cylinder having a rectangular parallelepiped space along the standby inclined portion 223. Further, the guide portion 235 is the bottom of the cylindrical guide portion 235 at the upper end of the guide lower wall 235a parallel to the standby inclined portion 223 and perpendicular to the guide lower wall 235a and the standby inclined portion 223. A bottom wall 235b extends rearward from the front wall member 310.

  In addition, on the inclined lower side of the guide portion 235, left and right ball-extracted side walls 237a and 237b extending rearward from the front wall member 310 so as to constitute a ball-extracting channel 237 and being substantially vertical are provided. They are formed with an interval equal to or greater than the diameter of the game balls B, and the right ball-extracting side wall 237b is closed from the rear side of the cylindrical guide portion 235 from the rear. Note that the upper end of one ball-extracted side wall 237b is integrally connected to the lower end of the inclined side of the standby inclined portion 223. Is formed, and the ball opening / closing member 232 is movable along the standby inclined portion 223 in a state of passing through the slit.

  An operation lever 233 extends rearward of the slider 234 and protrudes rearward of the rear wall member 320 from a slit 326 a formed in the rear wall member 320. A coil spring 236 is disposed between the slider 234 and the bottom wall 235b, and one end of the coil spring 236 engages with the slider 234, and the other end is the bottom wall of the guide portion 235. 235b is engaged.

  The ball removing device 230 as described above is for taking out the game ball B enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 by an external operation of an attendant or the like. Maintenance of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, It is used for taking out the game ball B from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 for exchange or the like. By moving the operation lever 233 to the upper side of the inclination of the standby inclined portion 223 against the urging force of the coil spring 236, the ball opening / closing member 232 is moved in the opening direction to open the ball opening 231 and enclose it. The game ball B in the ball circulation unit 200 is taken out from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200) through a ball removal channel 237 communicating with the ball removal opening 231.

  The ball feeding device 240 is provided on the downstream side of the standby flow path 221, and lowers the inclination of the game ball B due to the load of the game balls B waiting in line on the standby flow path 221 due to the inclination of the standby flow path 221. A ball receiving portion 242 for receiving only one gaming ball B at the lowest inclination of the gaming balls B arranged as described above, and a game ball B held by the ball receiving portion 242 Is formed on the opposite side of the ball receiving portion 242 of the restriction wall 241 and the ball feed solenoid 244 for raising and lowering the ball feed member 243. Supply path 245 for deriving the game ball B to the launching device 61 (launch position on the launch rail 62), a supply ball sensor 246 for detecting the game ball B passing through the supply path 245, and a supply path 24 And a ball supply port 247 which is a (sealed ball circulation unit 200) game ball outlet port to the launcher 61 B of.

  The restriction wall 241 stops the game ball B at the lowermost inclination of the game balls B arranged on the inclined standby flow path 221 and supplies only the game balls B that have passed over the restriction wall 241 to the launching device 61. For example, it is formed in a plate shape having a height lower than the diameter of the game ball B (the height from the upper surface of a ball holding portion 243a described later of the ball feed member 243 positioned at the bottom). Has been. The ball receiving portion 242 includes a holding portion bottom wall 248 that is joined to the restriction wall 241 at a right angle, and the restriction wall 241 and the holding portion bottom wall 248 are L-shaped.

  The ball feeding member 243 includes a ball holding portion 243a that is disposed on the holding portion bottom wall 248 of the ball receiving portion 242 and holds the game ball B that has flowed into the ball receiving portion 242, and the left and right and front sides are open. It is formed in a U shape (channel shape) so that the game ball B can be passed from right to left. The ball holding portion 243a is a portion that becomes the bottom of the U-shaped ball feeding member 243. The ball feed member 243 has a plunger of a ball feed solenoid 244 connected to the upper end portion thereof. Then, the ball holding solenoid 244 causes the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a on which the game ball B is placed to be lower than the upper surface of the ball opening / closing member 232 serving as the bottom portion of the lower end of the circulation path 220, and the ball holding portion 243a. It is possible to move up and down between the upper surface of the control wall 241 and a position above the upper end of the restriction wall 241.

  Further, the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a is inclined so as to descend from right to left from the back surface side, and the ball of the ball feeding member 243 disposed on the ball receiving portion 242 from the standby inclined portion 223 of the standby flow path 221. The game ball B that has flowed onto the holding portion 243a is brought into contact with the regulating wall 241 by approaching the regulating wall 241 due to its inclination on the ball holding portion 243a. Then, when the ball feed member 243 is raised by the ball feed solenoid 244 and the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a becomes higher than the upper end of the regulating wall 241, the game ball B on the ball holding portion 243a is moved to the ball holding portion 243a. By the inclination, it flows down to the supply channel 245 side over the regulation wall 241. In addition, when the lower end of the ball feeding member 243 is raised, the ball B that is next sent to the ball feeding member 243 on the ball opening / closing member 232 is prevented from entering under the ball feeding member 243. The diameter of the game ball B waiting on the extraction opening / closing member 232 (the lowest part of the standby flow path 221) is prevented from rising higher.

  In addition, an opening is formed in the ball feed cover portion 326b behind the ball feed member 243 of the rear wall member 320 that covers the rear side of the ball feed member 243, and the game ball B on the ball holding portion 243a is It is made to flow from the supply flow path 245 side by operating from the outside. This is to prevent the game ball B from remaining on the ball feed member 243 when the game ball B is discharged from the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 using the ball removing device 230. In addition, since the ball holding portion 243a is inclined downward toward the opposite side of the ball removing device 230, the ball holding portion 243a cannot be discharged to the outside only by opening the ball removing opening / closing member 232 of the ball removing device 230. .

  The ball feed solenoid 244 is attached to a ball feed solenoid mounting portion 311 provided on the front wall member 310 with the plunger directed substantially vertically downward, and the ball feed member 243 is connected to the tip of the plunger. In this state, the plunger is driven up and down. The ball feed solenoid 244 is controlled in synchronization with the launching device 61 by the launch control board 63, and immediately after the launching device 61 launches the game ball B, it moves up and down to send the game ball B to the launching device 61. It has become.

  The supply channel 245 is formed on the side of the restriction wall 241 opposite to the ball feeding member 243, and after the game ball B has flowed almost directly along the restriction wall 241, it is guided forward to the front ball supply port. From 247, the game ball B is led out to the launching device 61 side on the front side of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. The supply channel 245 is formed by a supply channel wall portion 245a that extends rearward from the front wall member 310. In addition, a channel rib 245b that is erected vertically along the front-rear direction of the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 is formed at a position that becomes the bottom of the supply channel 245, and the channel rib 245b is placed from the rear to the front. The game ball B that has flowed down on the flow channel rib 245b rolls forward on the flow channel rib 245b from the rear to the front and is led out from the ball supply port 247. ing.

  The supply ball sensor 246 is a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch similar to the recovery ball sensor 212, and is attached to a supply sensor provided at a position of the front wall member 310 on the opposite side of the supply channel 245 to the ball feeding device 240. A rear end portion is attached to the portion 312, a front end portion is disposed in contact with or close to the restriction wall 241, and a hole 246 a through which the game ball B that passes over the restriction wall 241 and flows down directly below the supply flow path 245 passes. The game ball B formed and flowing down the supply flow path 245 and passing through the hole 246a is detected. The supply ball sensor 246 also detects the game ball B and outputs a signal in the same manner as the collection ball sensor 212. Since the game ball B detected by the supply ball sensor 246 is supplied to the launching device 61 and fired immediately after detection, the supply ball sensor 246 is on the front side of the launching device 61 but detects the launch of the game ball B. It also serves as a launching ball sensor.

  The ball feeding device 240 is configured to supply the game balls B to the launching device 61 one by one by slightly raising the game balls B so as to get over the regulation wall 241. Compared to the structure in which the discharge is performed one by one on the lower side in the flowed-down state, many parts of the ball feeding device 240 are not arranged below the standby flow path 221, and the ball feeding device Since 240 is below the standby flow path 221 which is the lower part of the circulation path 220, the vertical length of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 can be prevented from being increased, and the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 can be downsized. In particular, the vertical width of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 can be shortened.

  Further, the ball feeding device 240 raises the game ball B by the length of the radius in order to get over the regulation wall 241 and does not lift the game ball B over a long distance. The enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be sufficiently accommodated within the minimum required vertical range of the circulation path 220 and the foul ball flow path 252, and the vertical width of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be reliably shortened. Can do. The ball feeding device 240 has a simple structure in which the ball feeding member 243 is directly attached to the plunger of the ball feeding solenoid 244, and the possibility of occurrence of trouble is extremely low.

  The sphere replenishing device 260 is provided on the upper side of the circulation path 220 and has a sphere storage portion 262 including a sphere storage plate 261 that is elongated to the left and right and is rotatable to change the inclination angle, and a sphere storage plate 261. The replenishment solenoid 263 for switching the ball storage unit 262 between a state in which the game ball B is stored and a state in which the game ball B is replenished, and the left side (foul ball viewed from the back side of the ball storage plate 261) A ball restraining member that is provided on the opposite side of the flow path 252 and regulates the fall of the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 and guides the game ball B flowing from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 onto the ball storage plate 261 H.265.

  The ball storage plate 261 is pivotally supported by a rotation pin 313 provided on the front wall member 310 at a position in front of the central portion thereof and supported by the rear wall member 320, and the front wall member 310 is front and rear. And the rear wall member 320. The sphere storage plate 261 is normally in a storage state in which the sphere is stored, and is slightly so that the rear end of the sphere holding member 265 side, which is one end of the sphere storage plate 261, is on the bottom. A plurality of (for example, five) game balls B are placed in a row on the ball storage plate 261 in a state where the game balls are inclined to each other. At this time, the game ball B placed on one end side of the game balls B on the ball storage plate 261 is held by the ball holding member 265, and the game is played along the inclination of the ball storage plate 261. The sphere B does not flow down. As will be described later, the portion of the ball restraining member 265 that comes into contact with the game ball B is a slope that moves away from the game ball B toward the front side, and guides the game ball B toward the ball discharge port 32 described later. It is supposed to do.

In addition, the front end portion, which is the other end portion of the sphere storage plate 261, is located on the merging portion 254 on the lower side of the inclination of the foul sphere inclined portion 255 (foul sphere channel 252). When the other end on the side of the ball flow path 252 is inclined downward, the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 is caused to flow down on the junction 254. In other words, in the replenishment state in which the game ball B serving as the replenishment ball is replenished, the ball storage plate 261 is inclined so that the other end portion on the foul ball flow path 252 side faces downward.
The other end of the sphere storage plate 261 becomes a communication port 266 of the sphere storage unit 262 communicating with the circulation path 220. That is, in a state of being adjacent to the other end of the sphere storage plate 261, a recovery sphere flow path 280 of the circulation path 220 and a standby flow path 221 below the circulation path 220 are provided. In the replenishment state, the communication port 266 is on the other end of the ball storage plate 261 where the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 falls from the ball storage plate 261 in the middle of the circulation path 220. Therefore, the ball storage unit 262 that can store the game ball B has a communication port 266 that communicates with the circulation path 220. In addition, the communication port 266 communicates with the circulation path 220 at a position directly below the collection ball sensor 212. The recovery ball channel 280 and the standby channel 221 are connected so as to be in communication with each other at approximately the height position of the communication port 266 (almost the height position of the other end of the sphere storage plate 261). The communication port 266 is provided at a position facing the standby flow path 221.

  Further, at one end portion of the ball storage plate 261, a locking portion 261a that is locked to a latch plate 263a connected to the plunger 263b of the replenishing solenoid 263 is provided on the lower side thereof, and the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 263 is provided. The inclination angle of the sphere storage plate 261 can be changed by the vertical movement of the 263b. When the plunger 263b is lowered, the sphere storage plate 261 is inclined so that one end of the sphere storage plate 261 is downward. In a state where the plunger 263b is raised, the ball replenishment state is established by inclining so that the other end of the ball storage plate 261 is downward. Therefore, the ball storage plate 261 and the replenishment solenoid 263 provided in the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishment device 260 are stored in the storage state in which the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262, and from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220. The replenishment conversion means can be converted into a replenishment state for replenishing game balls. That is, the ball replenishment device 260 serves as a replenishment conversion means. Further, the sphere storage plate 261 of the replenishment conversion means forms the bottom surface of the sphere storage portion 262, and the inclination direction of the bottom surface is inclined upward toward the communication port 266 (one end of the sphere storage plate 261 is the other end). It is configured to be convertible between a state in which it is higher than the other end portion and a state in which it is inclined downward toward the communication port 266 (the other end portion of the ball storage plate 261 is higher than the one end portion).

  Further, an engaging member 261b extending from the locking portion 261a along the extension line of the ball storage plate 261 to the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 is formed at one end of the ball storage plate 261. The engaging member 261b is engaged with an operation link member 273, which will be described later, of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and is lifted upward when the ball exchange cassette is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. The sphere storage plate 261 is placed in a sphere replenishment state by inclining so that the end of the sphere is higher than the other end.

  The replenishing solenoid 263 is attached to a replenishing solenoid mounting portion 314 formed on the front wall member 310 with the plunger 263b facing upward, and is controlled by the first frame control board 81 by a ball shortage detection sensor 264 as described later. When the game ball B is not detected continuously for a time (the game ball B is in a shortage state), there is a shortage of game balls B waiting for the frame control device 83 as the supplement control means to be launched. It is determined that the plunger 263b is raised. As a result, when the game ball B runs short in the circulation path 220, the tilt angle is changed by the replenishment solenoid 263 so that the ball storage plate 261 enters the ball replenishment state, and the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 is circulated. This is supplied to the junction 254 that is the upstream end of the path 220.

Accordingly, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 sets the replenishing conversion means to the replenishment conversion means when the shortage state detection means does not detect the game balls continuously for a predetermined time (when the shortage state of the game balls B is detected). There is provided a replenishment control means for converting to a replenishment state and replenishing the standby flow path with a game ball.
Note that the shortage of balls is collected by the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 when, for example, a game ball B stops in the game area 1a and there are more game balls B than usual in the game area 1a. This occurs when the number of game balls B to be reduced or when the game balls B flow out to the outside when the glass frame 140 is opened. In addition, the above-mentioned predetermined time is set to be shorter than the time when there is no game ball in the standby flow path 221 when the game ball is fired, and the game balls are being sequentially fired. Thus, when it is determined that there is a shortage of balls after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the game balls are replenished, the game balls B in the standby flow path 221 do not become zero. Therefore, if the game ball is replenished after the predetermined time has elapsed, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the game ball is not fired at the launch timing of the game ball B.

  In addition, after the game balls are replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, for example, the game balls B that have stopped in the game area 1a flow down, and the game balls B that have circulated have increased. As shown in FIG. 8, all the game balls B flowing down the game area 1a are collected and all of the game balls B are collected in the standby flow path 221, but the circulating game balls B are replenished. Therefore, the increased number of game balls B due to replenishment does not fit in the standby flow path 221 and overflows from the communication port 266 at the height position that is the upper end portion of the standby flow path 221. The overflowing game balls B are accumulated on the ball storage plate 261 of the ball storage unit 262 through the communication port 266. At this time, the ball storage plate 261 is in a storage state, and the game balls overflowing on the ball storage plate 261 are stored in the ball storage unit 262.

Therefore, when the shortage state of the game balls B is resolved, the game balls B that are replenished and increased during the shortage of balls are stored again in the ball storage unit 262. That is, when the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are connected and reach the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262, the game balls flowing down from the collection ball flow channel 280 reach the communication port 266. It is guided by the sphere B and flows into the sphere storage section 262 to be stored.
Note that the game ball B overflowing from the communication port 266 as described above flows into the ball storage unit 262, so that the game ball overflowing from the standby channel 221 to the communication port 266 is directly recovered from the standby channel 221. Even if the number of game balls in the circulation path 220 increases by being replenished with the game balls B without being connected to the path 280, the recovery ball path 280 or the foul ball path 252 side The game balls B are connected to each other, and the connected game balls reach the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253, and the state where the game balls B are detected when the release of the game balls B is stopped is prevented. it can.

  In addition, the ball storage unit 262 is provided with a storage ball detection sensor 262a (shown in FIG. 13) serving as a storage ball detection unit that detects the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262. This is because when the storage ball detection sensor 262a serving as the storage ball detection means has not detected a game ball after a predetermined time has elapsed since the launching device 61 that discharges the game ball B is stopped, This is because the shortage state of the game balls B stored is detected, and the shortage state of the game balls B in the ball storage unit 262 is notified to prompt the ball storage unit 262 to replenish the game balls B. . The notification may be performed by, for example, the touch panel display unit 151, or may be performed by the error indicators 14 and 14 provided on the left and right of the front upper portion of the glass frame 140. Further, error information may be transmitted to a management device 90 (described later) outside the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, and the above-described notification may be performed by a monitor (not shown) provided in the management device 90. Accordingly, at least one of the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, etc. serves as the notification means. Further, the storage ball detection sensor 262a may be a proximity sensor similar to the ball shortage detection sensor 264, or other sensors that detect the presence or absence of a game ball can be used. In addition, the storage ball detection sensor 262a may be configured to detect whether or not there is a game ball in the ball storage unit 262, as long as the shortage state of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 can be detected. It may be configured to detect whether or not a predetermined number of game balls B exist in the ball storage unit 262.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 12, the ball take-out device 30 is for taking out the game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260 as described above as service balls. Yes, the ball discharge port 32 provided in the ball storage unit 262 for discharging the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 to the outside of the circulation path 220 (enclosed ball circulation unit 200), and opening and closing the ball discharge port 32 Then, the open / close member 33 for converting the game ball of the ball storage unit 262 into a state of storing (closed) and the open / closed state of discharging the game ball of the ball storage unit, and operating the open / close member 33 to open / close And an operation unit 34 for performing the operation. In addition, the ball takeout device 30 guides the game ball discharged from the ball discharge port 32 to the service ball picking tray 31 disposed on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 outside the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. A passage forming member 37 that forms a lead-out passage 36 that flows down like this, and the service ball pick-up dish 31 are provided.

  The sphere discharge port 32 is an opening formed in the front wall member 310, and when the sphere storage plate 261 constituting the bottom surface of the sphere storage unit 262 is inclined and stored as described above, It is formed so as to correspond to the lower end of the slope. As shown in FIG. 6, in the storage state in which a predetermined number of five game balls are stored in the ball storage unit 262, the end on the left side when viewed from the rear of the ball storage plate 261 (opposite of the communication port 266). Is inclined so as to be lower than the end portion on the right side (end portion on the communication port 266 side) when viewed from the rear. As a result, the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 does not flow to the communication port 266 side and flows down to the opposite side of the communication port 266, but the ball restraining member 265 formed on the opposite side of the communication port 266. Thus, the flow of the game ball is suppressed and the game ball B is stored.

  The ball discharge port 32 is a game ball B on the end opposite to the communication port 266 of the stored ball storage plate 261 (the game that is in contact with the ball holding member 265 on the leftmost side when viewed from the rear). It is formed corresponding to the sphere B). That is, the ball discharge port 32 is formed so that the game ball B placed on this end can pass when the end of the ball storage plate 261 opposite to the communication port 266 is at the lowest position. ing. Accordingly, the diameter of the ball discharge port 32 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact surface (the end surface on the communication port 266 (ball storage plate 261) side) of the ball restraining member 265 that contacts the game ball B is moved toward the front side of the gaming machine. The slope is away from the sphere B. That is, it is a slope that guides the game ball B applied with a force so as to flow down to the ball restraining member 265 to the ball discharge port 32 side of the front wall member 310 by the sloped ball storage plate 261 in the storage state. Thereby, when the opening / closing member 33 that opens and closes the ball discharge port 32 is in an open state, the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 is caused by the inclination of the ball storage plate 261 and the slope of the ball holding member 265. It flows down so as to be discharged from the ball discharge port 32 to the outside of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200.

  In addition, without providing the inclined surface to the ball holding member 265, for example, an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the front (toward the ball discharge port 32) may be formed on the upper surface of one end portion of the ball storage plate 261. . From the above, by opening the opening / closing member 33 that opens and closes the ball discharge port 32, the outside of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 that forms the circulation path 220 from the ball discharge port 32 (the outside of the circulation path 220). ) Can be discharged. When the opening / closing member 33 is held in the open state, all of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262, that is, all of the game balls B on the ball storage plate 261 are discharged from the ball discharge port 32.

  The opening / closing member 33 is disposed so as to be movable up and down at a position overlapping the front and rear ball discharge ports 32 of the front wall member 310, and the opening / closing member 33 is located at the lowest position. The ball discharge port 32 is closed before and after the outlet 32 and closed, and the opening and closing member 33 and the ball discharge port 32 do not overlap with each other at the position where the opening and closing member is at the uppermost position, so that the ball discharge port 32 is opened. That is, the opening / closing member 33 moves up and down to open and close the ball discharge port 32.

  Further, a guide member 35 is provided at a position directly above the ball discharge port 32 at the position of the opening / closing member 33 on the front side of the front wall member 310 with the opening / closing member 33 interposed between the front wall member 310 and the front surface. Yes. The guide member 35 has a longer width than the opening / closing member 33, and the left and right end portions are fixed to the front wall member 310. The guide member 35 guides the opening / closing member 33 so as to be movable up and down (openable and closable) by sandwiching the opening / closing member 33 with the front wall member 310. Further, the guide member 35 is formed with guide ribs 35a and 35a on the front surface of the opening / closing member 33 along the vertical direction with an interval corresponding to the left / right width of the opening / closing member 33. The inclination of 33 is regulated. Therefore, the guide member 35 can move the opening / closing member 33 only in the vertical direction by restricting the movement of the opening / closing member 33 to the front side (movement in a direction away from the front wall member 310) and the movement to the left and right. Yes.

  The operation unit 34 is a member formed integrally with the opening / closing member 33, and can be opened / closed by moving the operation unit 34 up and down integrally with the operation unit 34. Yes. Therefore, for example, when a clerk of the game store pulls the operation unit 34 upward, the opening / closing member 33 is opened, the ball discharge port 32 is opened, and the game ball B is discharged outside the circulation path 220.

  The operating portion 34 is joined so that the lower end portion thereof is continuous with the upper end portion of the opening / closing member 33 and extends upward from the upper end portion of the opening / closing member 33. Further, the upper end portion of the operation portion 34 comes out slightly above the upper end of the recovery member 210 on the front side of the recovery member 210 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 in a state where the operation portion 34 is disposed at the lowermost side. ing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper part of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 including the recovery member 210 has a funnel cross section, and based on this, the upper part of the front surface of the front wall member 310 is After the portion extends forward and obliquely upward, the surrounding wall 214 extends vertically upward, and the upper portion of the front wall member 310 has a substantially crank shape. Accordingly, the shape of the opening / closing member 33 and the operation portion 34 formed integrally therewith is substantially crank-shaped corresponding to the front surface of the upper portion of the front wall member 310, and is formed on the upper portion of the opening / closing member 33. The lower part 34a of the connected operation part 34 extends obliquely upward and forward along the front surface of the recovery member 210, and the upper part 34b of the operation part 34 above the lower part 34a of the extended operation part 34 is vertical. It is in a state of extending upward.

  Further, the upper part 34b of the operation part 34 extending vertically upward includes a protruding part in front of the recovery member 210 and a part (spilled ball recovery part 139) that is below the glass frame 140 of the front frame body 130. The operation unit 34 is arranged in a state sandwiched between the two, and the back-and-forth movement of the operation unit 34 is restricted. Further, in the enclosure wall 214 of the recovery member 210 on the front wall member 310 side, the portion where the upper portion 34b of the operation portion 34 slides up and down corresponds to the width of the upper portion 34b of the operation portion 34 as shown in FIG. A recessed portion 214a is formed. In the recess 214a, the enclosure wall 214 of the recovery member 210 is convex rearward, and the recess 214a is formed in a rectangular shape with the upper and lower ends open. The operation unit 34 is guided up and down on the left and right inner surfaces of the recess 214a, and the movement and tilting to the left and right are restricted. Since the operation unit 34 is restricted from moving forward by the spilled ball collecting unit 139, the operation unit 34 is prevented from coming off from the recess 214a whose front side is open. From the above, the member in which the operation unit 34 and the opening / closing member 33 are integrated is restricted from moving to the left and right and front and rear in the upper and lower portions, and can move only in the vertical direction.

  The spilled ball collecting portion 139 has a groove-like shape extending to the left and right, and is directly below the two glass plates 141 and 141 of the glass frame 140. When the glass frame 140 is opened, the upper part is opened. When the glass frame 140 is opened, the game ball B, which has fallen slightly forward from the game area 1a when the glass frame 140 is opened, is received from the game area 1a when the glass frame 140 is opened. This prevents the outflow and collects the dropped game ball B. The spilled ball collecting portion 139 extending left and right under the glass plates 141 and 141 is inclined downward from right to left toward the foul sphere collecting port 251, and the spilled ball collecting portion of the mounting plate 131. A through-hole penetrating back and forth is formed in a portion corresponding to the foul ball collection port 251 of 139 so that the game ball is led out from the spilled ball collection unit 139 toward the foul ball collection port 251 on the back side of the mounting board 131. It has become. Accordingly, the game balls B collected by the spilled ball collection unit 139 are led out to the foul ball collection port 251 and returned from the foul ball collection port 251 into the circulation path 220 (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200).

  A hooking portion 34c is horizontally formed at the upper end of the upper portion of the operation portion 34 so as to extend forward and backward of the operation portion 34 so that the operation portion 34 has a T-shaped cross section. When the operating part 34 is moved upward to open the open / close member 33 in the closed state, the engaging part 34c easily pulls the operating part 34 upward by placing a fingertip on the engaging part 34c. The opening / closing member 33 integral with the operation unit 34 can be moved upward to be in the open state. As will be described later, the opening / closing member 33 is urged in the closing direction (downward) by a spring 34d, and is automatically opened when the finger is released from the operation unit 34 after being opened by the operation unit 34. However, even if the spring 34d is not provided, the upper end surface of the operating portion 34 is widened by the hooking portion 34c so that the upper surface of the hooking portion 34c can be easily pushed with a finger. It has become. Therefore, by pressing the upper surface of the latching portion 34c with a fingertip, the open / close member 33 integrated with the operation portion 34 can be pushed down to close the open / close member 33.

  Further, when the operating portion 34 is pushed down, the latching portion 34 c comes into contact with the upper front end of the recovery member 210, and the operating portion 34 is brought into contact with the upper end portion of the recovery member 210. Further, the downward movement of the opening / closing member 33 is restricted. When the opening / closing member 33 reaches the lowermost closed position, the latching portion 34c provided at the upper end of the operation portion 34 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the recovery member 210. The stop part 34c functions as a stopper for positioning the opening / closing member 33 in the closed state.

  Further, the lower part 34 a of the operation unit 34 is parallel to the bottom surface of the protruding portion toward the front side of the recovery member 210, and when the operation unit 34 is pulled upward, the lower part 34 a of the operation unit 34 In this example, the upper part of the lower part 34 a of the operation part 34 and the bottom part of the front part of the recovery member 210 can be restricted. A spring 34d (spring coil) that urges the operation portion 34 and the opening / closing member 33 downward is provided so that the lower portion 34a of the operation portion 34 and the bottom surface of the front portion of the recovery member 210 do not come into contact with each other. It has become. However, when the spring 34d is in the most compressed state, the upward movement of the operation unit 34 is restricted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operation unit 34 from being positioned at a position where the opening / closing member 33 is in the open state and the operation unit 34 being raised too much.

  Further, as described above, the spring 34d for urging the operation portion 34 and the opening / closing member 33 downward is disposed between the bottom surface of the front portion of the recovery member 210 and the lower portion 34a of the operation portion 34. The opening / closing member 33 can be automatically closed after being opened, and the opening / closing member 33 is always biased downward to prevent the opening / closing member 33 from moving upward when the operation unit 34 is not operated. can do. That is, it is possible to prevent the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 from being discharged from the ball discharge port 32 when the opening / closing member 33 is opened due to vibration or the like other than during use.

The operation unit 34 is arranged on the rear side (inside) of the closed glass frame 140 including the upper end portion thereof, and it is necessary to open the glass frame 140 in order to operate the operation unit 34. is there. The glass frame 140 is normally locked and can be opened by inserting a key into the key hole 143 shown in FIG.
Further, the position of the upper end portion of the operation unit 34 is a portion where the guide rail 2 is cut out so as to guide the out ball to the recovery port 211 of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 in place of the out port as described above. When the frame 140 is opened, the upper end portion of the operation unit 34 is arranged in front of the lower end portions of the left and right center portions of the game board 1. Therefore, the clerk who unlocks and opens the glass frame 140 puts his hand in the lower end of the game area 1a whose front side is open because there is no guide rail 2, and holds the hook 34c of the operation unit 34. Can be operated with a finger. That is, the operation unit 34 can be operated by opening the glass frame 140.

  The ball discharge port 32 formed in the front wall member 310 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 of the ball extraction device 30 is discharged from the ball discharge port 32 on the back surface side (rear side) of the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130. A passage that forms a lead-out passage 36 that guides the game ball B to the service ball pick-up plate 31 on the bottom surface of the concave portion 158 on the left side of the launch operation space forming frame 159 that passes through the mounting plate 131 and is attached to the front side of the mounting plate 131. A forming member 37 is connected.

  The passage forming member 37 is a cylindrical (tubular) member whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and is connected in a state where the opening / closing member 33 is sandwiched between the ball discharge port 32 and the front side of the ball discharge port 32. An introduction port 37a, a tubular introduction portion 37b extending through the attachment plate 131 of the front frame body 130 and extending to the front side of the attachment plate 131 while being inclined downward from the introduction port 37a toward the front side, and the attachment plate 131 A tubular lead-out extending from the front end portion of the introduction portion 37b to the left side obliquely downward in the firing operation space forming frame 159 and extending from the firing operation space forming frame 159 into the left recess 158. It has a part 37c and a lead-out port 37d that opens to the front end of the lead-out part 37c and leads the discharged game ball B onto the service ball pick-up dish 31. With such a configuration, the passage forming member 37 allows the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 32 to flow down so as to be guided to the service ball catching plate 31 disposed on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. 36 is formed.

The introduction portion 37 b of the passage forming member 37 passes through the mounting plate 131 of the front frame main body 130, and the game ball discharged from the ball discharge port 32 through the passage forming member 37 passes through the mounting plate 131. A lead-out hole 138 is formed so that B can be led out from the back side of the mounting board 131 to the front side.
Further, the lead-out portion 37 c of the passage forming member 37 is arranged from the upper part on the back surface side of the touch panel display unit 151 in the firing operation space forming frame 159 toward the lower part of the left concave portion 158.

  In this example, since the bottom surface of the recess 158 to be the armrest 158a is used as the service ball picking tray 31 as described above, the left armrest 158a that is used less frequently than the right armrest 158a is used. The service ball picking tray 31 is provided. On the other hand, when using the ball take-out device 30 as will be described later, for example, when a ball stop occurs in the game area 1a and is notified to an attendant, the player interrupts the game, The clerk unlocks and opens the glass frame 140 to eliminate the ball stop. Next, the clerk operates the operation unit 34 to open the opening / closing member 33 of the ball discharge port 32, thereby taking out the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 to the service ball picking tray 31 and taking it out. The game ball B is picked up, and a part or all of the extracted game ball B is awarded as a service ball to a winning opening (for example, the normal variation winning device 9).

At this time, the clerk usually encloses the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 (player) that is on the open end (opposite side of the axis attachment side) side of the glass frame 140 that is rotatably attached to the front frame main body 130 on the left side. Since the glass frame 140 is opened and closed while standing on the right side, if the service ball picking tray 31 is provided on the left armrest 158a, it becomes difficult for the staff to pick up the game ball B taken out from the service ball picking plate 31. Therefore, the service ball picking tray 31 may be provided on the right side of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 100, that is, on the armrest 158a portion on the opposite side of the glass frame 140 from the axis attachment side. In this case, the lead-out passage 36 is disposed in the opposite direction.
In addition, it is preferable that the service ball pick-up plate 31 is a concave portion having a curved shape as described above so that the service ball pick-up plate 31 does not hinder the function of the player's game ball as the armrest 158a.

  Further, in this case, there is a possibility that the game ball B taken out from the service ball pick-up plate 31 is likely to spill compared to the case where a wall is provided around the service ball pick-up plate 31, and particularly from the lead-out passage 36. If the game ball B is led out to the service ball picking tray 31 with a strong momentum, the game ball B may come out of the service ball picking plate 31. In order to reduce the speed of the game ball B led out to the service ball picking tray 31 from the outlet 37d, the inner surface of the passage forming member 37 is provided with irregularities or alternately on the left and right side surfaces so that the lead-out passage 36 is zigzag. You may provide a protrusion in.

  In addition, when only a part of the extracted game ball B is awarded to the winning opening, and the extracted game ball B remains, the enclosed ball circulation directly from the notch portion below the guide rail 2 described above. It can be returned to the collection port 211 (out ball collection port 215) of the unit 200, or can be returned from the foul ball collection port 251 to the enclosed ball circulation unit via the above-mentioned spilled ball collection unit 139. Further, as described later, in order to return the game ball B taken out as a service ball to the ball storage unit 262, the taken game ball B is not returned from the foul ball collection port 251 via the spilled ball collection unit 139. It is preferable to win a winning opening or return from the collecting opening 211.

  However, the extracted game ball B is awarded to the winning opening and returned from the safe ball collection port 216 to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 (circulation path 220), returned from the out ball collection port 215 to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, or a foul. When the ball is returned from the ball collection port 251 to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, the game ball returned to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is detected by the collection ball sensor 212 and counted as a collection ball or the foul ball sensor 253. In this case, the relationship of the number of fired balls = the number of collected balls + the number of foul balls is broken.

  Therefore, a service ball detection sensor (service ball detection means) for detecting the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 32 and flowing down the lead-out passage 36 is provided, and the game ball B is transferred from the service ball detection sensor to the frame control device 83. When the detection signal is detected, the number of game balls discharged from the ball discharge port 32 is calculated by counting the detection signal in the frame control device 83, and the calculated number of game balls is fired. It may be added to the number of balls or divided from the number of collected balls or the number of foul balls. In order not to affect the number of balls held by the player, it is preferable that the service balls are basically detected by the collected ball sensor and are divided from the count value of the collected balls (the number of held balls).

  However, in order to simplify the processing, when the service ball is taken out, it is assumed that the game ball is fired, and the detection signal from the service ball detection sensor is detected as the detection signal from the supply ball detection sensor (launch ball detection means). It may be handled in the same way. In this way, when the retrieved service ball is returned to the circulation path 220, it is detected by the collection ball sensor 212 (or the foul ball sensor 253), so that the number of shot balls = the number of collected balls + the foul is easily obtained. The relationship of the number of balls is maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 includes a cassette insertion portion 271 formed on the rear wall member 320, a cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310, and a ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. A cassette latching portion 279 that latches the inserted ball exchange cassette, an operation link member 273 that changes the inclination angle of the above-described ball storage plate 261 when the ball exchange cassette is attached, and a cassette lid opening locking member 274 Have.

  The cassette insertion portion 271 is formed in the rear wall member 320 and is provided to be inserted and inserted around the insertion opening 276 for inserting the ball exchange cassette and the insertion opening 276 of the rear wall member 320. And a cassette guide member 277 for guiding the inserted ball exchange cassette and supporting the inserted ball exchange cassette. In the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, when the ball exchange cassette is set, one end on the side where the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette is located (the ball replenishing device 260 side) is lower than the other end. The game ball B in the ball exchange cassette flows down toward the ball outlet due to the inclination of the ball exchange cassette when the ball exchange cassette is set on the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270.

  The cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310 is a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the front end portion in the insertion direction of the ball exchange cassette, and the cassette receiving portion in which the front end portion of the inserted ball exchange cassette is a concave portion. By being inserted into 272, the front end portion of the ball exchange cassette is supported in a positioned state. Further, the movement of the operation link member 273 that rotates and moves at one of the left and right ends (the right end as viewed from the back) of the cassette receiving portion 272 on the side of the ball replenishing device 260 is not hindered. An operating link member opening (not shown) is formed.

  The cassette hooking portion 279 is formed on the front wall member 310 and extends rearward from the front wall member 310 and is disposed along the cassette guide member 277 from the lower portion of the peripheral edge of the insertion opening 276 of the rear wall member 320. And has an engaging projection 278 on the upper surface at the rear end. The engaging protrusion 278 protrudes into the passage path of the ball exchange cassette when the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. When the engaging projection 278 comes into contact, the cassette latching portion 279 is elastically deformed, and the engaging projection 278 comes out of the passage path of the ball exchange cassette, so that the ball exchange cassette can be inserted into the insertion opening 276.

  The engaging protrusion 278 of the cassette latching portion 279 has a triangular cross section with a tapered surface facing the insertion direction of the ball exchange cassette. Further, the engaging protrusion 278 of the cassette latching portion 279 is disposed so as to be positioned immediately after the rear end portion of the cassette latching portion 279 when the ball exchange cassette is completely inserted into the insertion opening 276. When the ball exchange cassette is completely inserted, the cassette latching portion 279 returns from the elastically deformed state to the original state, and the engagement protrusion 278 is engaged with the lower surface of the ball exchange cassette. It has become. Further, when the ball exchange cassette is operated so as to be pulled out from the insertion opening 276, the cassette hooking portion 279 is elastically deformed, and the engagement protrusion 278 is again in a state where the passage path of the ball exchange cassette comes out. The ball exchange cassette can be removed from the mounting portion 270.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette lid opening locking member 274 is formed to extend rearward in the vicinity of the cassette insertion portion 271 of the rear wall member 320 and on the side of the ball replenishing device 260. And a lid engaging protrusion 274a protruding toward the cassette insertion portion 271. The lid engaging protrusion 274a covers a ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette when the ball exchange cassette is set on the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and slides back and forth to open and close the ball outlet. When engaging and moving the ball exchange cassette forward and inserting it into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the cassette lid is fixed to the ball exchange cassette moving forward, and the cassette lid is fixed to the ball exchange cassette body. The cassette lid is in a state of opening the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette.
Thereby, by setting the ball exchange cassette in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette is opened, and when the ball exchange cassette is set, the game ball B is released from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette. The flow starts to the circulation path 220 side via the ball replenishing device 260.

The operation link member 273 is disposed at the end of the ball replacement cassette mounting portion 270 of the front wall member 310 on the side of the ball replenishing device 260. Further, the space between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260 serves as an introduction port for the game ball B from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 to the ball replenishing device 260 at the time of ball exchange, etc. 273 functions as an opening / closing member that opens and closes the introduction port of the replacement game ball B.
In addition, when the game ball B is supplied from the outside, such as when the game ball B is exchanged, the game ball B passes through the ball replenishment device 260 when the game ball B is sent from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 to the circulation path 220. It is like that. When the game ball B is supplied from the outside, the operation link member 273 converts the ball storage plate 261 of the ball supply device 260 from the inclination angle in the storage state to the inclination angle in the supply state.
The operating link member 273 has an opening / closing door portion 273a that opens and closes the introduction port, and has a front-rear width and a vertical width that block the introduction port so that the game ball B cannot pass. In addition, it has a thickness (horizontal width) that can be reliably pressed when pressed by a ball exchange cassette set as described later. Further, the operating link member 273 has a plate-like link piece 273b extending rearward from the front part of the lower end part at the lower end part below the opening / closing door part 273a as the main part. Moreover, the link piece 273b is arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the lower side of the engaging member 261b of the ball | bowl storage board 261 extended to the above-mentioned ball | bowl exchange cassette attaching part 270 side (it may contact).
Further, the operating link member 273 is rotatably supported by a shaft (not shown) formed on a link member support portion 137 formed on the front wall member 310 at a joint portion between the opening / closing door portion 273a and the link piece 273b. ing.

  The operation link member 273 is in a state in which the opening / closing door portion 273a closes the introduction port of the above-described game ball B during normal times when no force is applied from the outside. In this case, when the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the opening / closing door portion 273a, the ball exchange cassette 260 is inserted into one of the left and right end portions of the portion serving as the passage path of the ball exchange cassette. When the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the insertion opening 276 of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the opening / closing door portion 273a is pushed rearward so that the opening / closing door portion 273a moves rearward and the introduction port is The operating link member 273 rotates and moves so that the link piece 273b moves obliquely upward and forward while being in the open state.

  Further, the link piece 273b is disposed in the vicinity of the lower side of the engaging member 261b of the ball storage plate 261 as described above, and the link piece 273b is inclined upward by inserting the ball exchange cassette as described above. Is pushed upward, the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 side and stored in the storage state where the game ball B is stored, and then moves down toward the foul ball collection means 250. In a replenishment state, the game ball B is inclined to flow down to the junction 254 to replenish the game ball B. Then, the game ball B that has flowed down from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette to the ball replenishing device 260 side flows down on the ball storage plate 261 and flows into the circulation path 220. Since the link piece 273b is disposed below the engagement member 261b of the ball storage plate 261, the replenishment solenoid 263 raises the end of the ball storage plate 261 on the engagement member 261b side to replenish. Even when the sphere is replenished, the link piece 273b does not move, and the open / close door 273a maintains a state where the space between the sphere replacement cassette mounting portion 270 and the sphere replenishing device 260 is closed.

  When the ball exchange cassette is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 as described above, the opening / closing door portion 273a of the operation link member 273 is inserted between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260. The game ball B that has flowed out from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette as described above passes over the ball restraining member 265 formed at the end on the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 side of the ball replenishing device 260 as described above. Then, the ball storage plate 261 flows down onto the ball storage plate 261. At this time, the ball storage plate 261 is replenished by the operation link member 273 and is inclined downward toward the foul ball collection means 250 side. The game ball B to be played flows down on the ball storage plate 261 toward the foul ball collection means 250, falls from the end of the communication port 266 side of the ball storage plate 261, and becomes the upstream end of the circulation path 220. It flows down over the part 254, will flow into the circulation path 220. In this case, the ball exchange cassette also includes game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262, and the game balls used for circulation in the standby flow path 221 are accumulated and connected to the communication port 266. Thus, when the communication port 266 is closed with game balls, the further replenished game balls are connected to the ball storage plate 261. Here, when the ball exchange cassette is removed, the ball storage plate 261 enters the storage state, and the game balls that are connected on the ball storage plate 261 are stored in the ball storage unit 262.

  Further, the operation link member 273 can be operated by pushing the open / close door portion 273a by hand, and the operation link member 273 is pushed in to open the open / close door portion 273a so that a shortage of game balls can be played. It is also possible to supply the circulation path 220 via the storage unit 262. Also in this case, when the operation link member 273 is pushed rearward by hand, the ball storage unit 262 is in a replenishment state, and the game ball replenished manually from the outside is replenished with the game ball B by the ball exchange cassette In the same manner as described above, when flowing down on the ball storage plate 261 and flowing into the standby channel 221 from the communication port 266 and the standby channel 221 becomes full, the ball accumulates on the ball storage plate 261 and enters the game ball in the ball storage unit 262. Is stored.

  From the above, the introduction port to the ball replenishing device 260 between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260 is a replenishing port 267 for replenishing the game ball B from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the middle of the circulation path 220. Thus, the supply port 267 is provided in the ball storage unit 262. When the game ball B is supplied from the supply port 267 to the circulation path 220 via the ball storage portion 262, the opening / closing door portion 273a of the operation link member 273 is opened regardless of whether or not the ball exchange cassette is used. State. In this case, the ball storage plate 261 is brought into the replenishment state as described above by the link piece 273b of the operation link member 273. Therefore, the operation link member 273 serves as a replenishment conversion operation unit that converts the ball storage plate 261 serving as a replenishment conversion unit into a replenishment state, and the game ball B is placed in the middle of the circulation path 220 from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the ball storage unit 262. A replenishment port 267 for replenishment is provided, and when the game ball B is replenished from the replenishment port 267 to the circulation path 220 via the ball storage unit 262, a replenishment conversion operation unit that converts the replenishment conversion unit to a replenishment state is provided. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the adhering matter removing means 400 has a game ball B in the standby flow path 221 upstream of the launch position of the game ball B of the launch device 61 that launches the game ball B in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. It is provided so that the deposits can be removed.
The deposit removing means 400 is provided in the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 so as to be in contact with the game ball B and grounded, and in the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 serving as the flow-down path. A blower fan 420 serving as wind forming means for forming artificial wind by blowing or sucking is provided.

  The metal plate 410 constitutes the bottom of the standby flow path 221 and is attached to a plate-shaped standby inclined portion 223 that extends rearward from the back surface of the front wall member 310. Then, the metal plate 410 is formed on the upper surface which becomes the bottom surface of the standby flow path 221 of the standby inclined portion 223 over almost the entire width of the standby inclined portion 223 in the front-rear width (the width in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the game ball B). A square plate-like upper surface plate 411 disposed, a lower surface plate 412 disposed on the lower surface of the standby inclined portion 223 with the standby inclined portion 223 interposed between the upper surface plate 411, and a rear end portion of the standby inclined portion 223 A connection portion 413 arranged to connect the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412 on the side, and an earth attachment portion formed to extend downward from the front edge portion of the lower surface plate 412 and to which the ground wiring 430 is connected 414.

The metal plate 410 is formed in a U-shaped cross section from the upper surface plate 411, the lower surface plate 412, and the connection portion 413, and the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412 on the opposite side to the side edge portion where the connection portion 413 is formed. The standby inclined portion 223 is sandwiched between the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412 from the open end side where the gap is opened, so that the standby inclined portion 223 is fixed.
Further, the standby inclined portion 223 is thinner than other portions in the plate attachment portion 223a for attaching the metal plate 410, and can be easily positioned, and when the metal plate 410 is attached to the standby inclined portion 223, Further, the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223 where the metal plate 410 is not attached and the upper surface of the metal plate 410 are arranged in substantially the same plane so that the movement of the game ball B is not hindered. It has become. Further, although the metal plate 410 is grounded to the metal launch rail 62, the metal plate 410 may be grounded anywhere as long as the charge of the metal plate 410 can be released.

  The blower fan 420 is a well-known blower fan for exhaust heat (cooling) of power supplies, substrates, etc. of electrical products, and includes, for example, a fan in a substantially square casing when viewed from the front and a motor that rotates the fan. It is provided and is attached to the blower fan attachment part provided in front of the position where the metal plate 410 of the standby flow path 221 is attached on the front side of the front wall member 310. Moreover, the blowing direction of the blower fan 420 is from the front to the back of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 100 in this example.

  Further, vents 318,... (Illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8) are provided at the upper and lower portions of the front wall member 310 where the blower fan 420 is attached and where the metal plate 410 of the standby channel 221 is disposed. ) Is formed. A filter mounting portion 321 for mounting a filter (not shown) is provided at a portion corresponding to the mounting position of the blower fan 420 on the back surface of the rear wall member 320. The filter mounting portion 321 is formed with a filter opening 322 through which dust or the like containing deposits on the game ball B blown off by the blower fan 420 and blown by the blower is passed.

Further, the upper edge of the filter opening 322 is disposed slightly above the standby inclined portion 223 and is disposed obliquely along the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223, that is, the upper surface of the metal plate 410. On the rear side of the path 221, a vent 328 (shown in FIG. 4) on the slit is formed along the upper surface in the vicinity of the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223 (metal plate 410).
The filter serves as a waste collection means for collecting so-called garbage such as the above-mentioned dust blown by the blower of the blower fan 420. To prevent it from being discharged into the island facility.

  In addition, a fan opening communicating with the blower fan is formed at a position overlapping the blower fan 420 of the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130 serving as a base frame to which the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is attached. In addition, a launch operation unit 150 including a touch panel display unit 151 is provided on the front side of the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130.

The fan opening of the mounting board 131 communicates with a space on the back side of the touch panel display unit 151 inside the launch operation unit 150, and a touch panel display unit 151 (backlight, driver circuit board, etc.) as a display device. The blower fan 420 sucks the heat released into the firing operation unit 150 from the heat generating structure).
The enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the rear side of the launch unit 60 on the back surface side of the mounting board 131, but the blower fan 420 attached to the front side of the front wall member 310 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is Arranged below the raised portion of the launch unit 60 that is disposed obliquely, the blower fan 420 and the launch unit 60 overlap not vertically but vertically so that space efficiency is enhanced.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, the game ball B launched into the game area 1a is collected as described below, and the game ball B is circulated and used.
The game ball B supplied to the launching device 61 of the launching unit 60 passes through the space between the two guide rails 2 inside and outside from the lower side of the game region 1a on the front side of the game board 1 by the launching device 61, and in the game region 1a. Fired. Then, the game balls B fired in the game area 1a flow down in the game area 1a, and some of the fired game balls B are the normal variation winning device 9, the special variation winning device 5, the general winning port 8, and the like. It flows into the winning opening of the game board and wins, is led to the back side of the game board 1 to become a safe ball, and flows down to the lower side of the game board 1 through the discharge path of the safe ball on the back side of the game board 1.

On the other hand, the game ball B reaching the lower end of the game area 1a without winning even if it flows down in the game area 1a is provided with a guide rail 2 at the lower end on the front side of the game board 1 as an out ball. It flows down to the lower side of the game board 1 from the center part which is not. That is, the out ball flows down from the front side of the game board 1 to the lower side of the game board 1.
Then, the out ball and the safe ball that have flowed down to the lower side of the game board 1 flow into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 from the collection port 211 of the collection member 210 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, respectively. Then, the collected game balls B (out balls, safe balls) reach the collection ball sensor 212 immediately from the game ball introduction port 219 through the collection ball channel 280, and pass through the collection ball sensor 212 to collect the collection balls. It is detected by the sensor 212.

Then, the game ball B that has passed through the collection ball sensor 212 passes next to the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262 and becomes the lower end portion of the foul ball passage 252 and the upper end portion of the standby passage 221. It flows down on the junction 254.
On the other hand, the game ball B as a foul ball returned to the game area 1a without flowing down the game area 1a despite being launched by the launching device 61 is collected by the foul ball collection unit 257 of the foul ball collection means 250 and is fouled. After passing through the ball collection port 251, it passes through the foul ball sensor 253, is detected by the foul ball sensor 253, and flows down the foul ball flow path 252. Then, the game ball B as a foul ball flowing down the foul ball channel 252 flows down to the junction 254 as the lower end of the foul ball channel 252, and joins the game ball B as the above-mentioned recovery ball.

Then, the game ball B flows down the standby channel 221 at the junction 254. The game ball B flowing down on the standby flow path 221 reaches the grounded metal plate 410 of the deposit removing means 400 provided in the standby flow path 221 to remove static electricity. Also, the front wall member 310 and the rear wall, which are overlapped with the metal plate 410 in the front and rear directions, and the artificial wind directed from the front to the rear from the blower fan 420 disposed on the front side of the metal plate 410 become the front and rear side walls of the metal plate 410. The game ball B in a state where static electricity is removed on the metal plate 410 through the vent 318 and the vent 328 formed in the member 320 is sprayed.
Then, the artificial wind is blown onto the game ball B in which the adherence of dust, particularly dry dust, is reduced by removing static electricity, so that the deposits attached to the game ball B are efficiently removed.

  The game balls B that have flowed down the standby flow path 221 reach the ball feeding device 240 one by one and are sent to the supply flow path 245 by the ball feeding device 240. Then, the game ball B flowing down the supply flow path 245 passes through the supply ball sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) and is detected by the supply ball sensor 246, and then from the ball supply port 247 to the outside of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. To the game ball launch position of the launching device 61 of the launch unit 60. Then, the game ball B that has flowed down the game area 1a and collected in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is again fired from the launch device 61 to the game area 1a and is used in a circulating manner.

Next, the control system of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG.
The control system of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 includes a game control device 21 (main control device) that controls the progress of the above-described game, and an effect control device that controls various effects under the control of the game control device 21. 51 (sub-control device) and the control of the game control device 21, the number of balls held (number of game balls) and the display control of the touch panel display unit 151 are performed, and the game is controlled under the control of the effect control device 51. A frame control device 83 that controls lighting of a lamp or the like as an effect, and a launch control device 63a that controls the launch device 61 under the control of the frame control device 83 are provided. Note that a power supply device 72 for supplying power to these control system devices and other devices is provided, and the power supply device 72 is at least volatile when the supply of power from the outside is stopped during a power failure or the like. A backup power source 73 is provided to prevent the loss of data stored in the memory.

  Of these, the game control device 21 is composed of a game microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., an input / output I / F, a clock (oscillator), and the like, and is well known in pachinko gaming machines. Various random numbers related to the variable display game shown in the figure are also generated. Various random values include random numbers for jackpot determination for special figure fluctuation display games, random numbers for hit judgment for general figure fluctuation display games, etc. The result is determined.

Also, the game control device 21 is connected to each prize opening sensor 8a, gate sensor 6a, start opening sensor 9b, count sensor 5b, and V prize sensor 5c via the input / output I / F. The B detection signal is input. A winning ball is generated based on input from various winning ports such as the winning port sensor 8a, the starting port sensor 9b, the count sensor 5b, and sensors provided in the winning device. In a pachinko machine other than the encapsulated ball type, instead of the discharge control device for controlling the payout of the game ball as a prize ball, information relating to the prize ball is output to the frame control device 83. In the control device 83, calculation processing for adding the number of prize balls to the number of balls held is performed based on information on the prize balls. Further, in the game control device 21, the progress of the special display and the usual variable display game is controlled based on signals input from the gate sensor 6a, the start port sensor 9b, and the V winning sensor 5c.
Further, the game control device 21 is connected to and controlled by a general-purpose solenoid 9a and a special prize opening solenoid 5a via an input / output I / F. On the basis of the above, the opening and closing of the special variation winning device 5 and the normal variation winning device 9 are controlled.

Based on the production command from the game control device 21, the production control device 51 causes the variation display device 4 to perform various types of production display including a special figure variation display game based on the identification information, and other various information displays. I do.
The effect control device 51 includes an effect microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and various ICs for video control. Based on the progress control of the special display variable display game in the game control device 21, the effect display is performed. The device 4 controls the display of the special figure variable display game and the accompanying effect display.
In addition, the effect control device 51 is based on the command from the game control device 21 as described above, and the speakers 13 and 13 (the speaker 155 is driven and controlled by the frame control device 83 under the control of the effect control device 51). And the like, and the lighting and extinguishing of the decorative lamp 15 including the decorative LEDs provided on the front surface of the game board 1 (including the various objects) are controlled (such as the side lamp 12). The frame decoration indicator 17 is controlled by the frame control device 83 under the control of the effect control device 51).

The frame control device 83 includes a microcomputer 84 having a CPU 84a, a RAM 84b, a ROM 84c, an input / output I / F 85, a clock (oscillator) 86, and the like. Note that the frame control device 83 is actually a control device configured with the first frame control substrate 81 and a second frame control substrate that performs control under the control of the control device configured with the first frame control substrate 81. In this embodiment, one frame control device 83 is composed of the first frame control board 81 and the second frame control board 82 for the sake of simplicity. Will be described.
Among these, the CPU 84a includes a control unit and a calculation unit, and performs various types of calculation / control. From the game control device 21, information related to the launch of a game ball input from the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor). Based on information about the prize balls of the input game balls, etc., the number-of-balls information, which is data of the number of game balls that the player can use for the game, is calculated, or based on information from various sensors of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 Error determination is performed, and control based on error determination is performed.
The RAM 84b has, for example, storage areas for various flags, various timers, various counters and the like used for the control related to the error described above, and also includes a work area for the CPU 84a.
The ROM 84c is used in a program for performing control related to the above-mentioned game ball launch such as the number of possessed balls, a program for performing various controls when the game ball is circulated, and the like. Data (for example, data such as time set in various timers) and the like are stored.

In addition, the input / output I / F 85 includes a game control device 21, an effect control device 51, a touch panel display unit 151 (touch panel), a supply ball sensor 246 (ball feed sensor), a foul through a low-pass filter and a buffer gate (not shown). A sphere sensor 253, a collected sphere sensor 212, a sphere shortage detection sensor 264, a storage sphere detection sensor 262a, a glass frame open detection sensor 142, and the like are connected, and various signals are input from these. These various signals are relayed by the input / output I / F 85 and output to the CPU 84a.
Furthermore, various control signals output from the CPU 84a are input to the input / output I / F 85, and these control signals are relayed by the input / output I / F 85 and transmitted via an output port and a driver (not shown). It is output to the control device 63a, the touch panel display unit 151 (LCD), the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (ball quantity display), the frame decoration display 17 such as the side lamp 12, and the speaker 155.

  Further, the microcomputer 84 of the frame control device 83 is connected to a communication device (not shown) via an input / output I / F 85 and is connected to a management device 90 which is a computer system of a game store, and the communication device of the conventional game control device 21 is connected. The frame control device 83 outputs various signals that have been performed via the external terminals, and information from the management device 90 can be input. That is, information such as a big hit with probability fluctuation, a big hit with a probability change after a big hit, a big win, a ball entered, a outgoing ball, etc. transmitted from the frame control device 83 to the management device 90 is output. Information, information on other gaming machines, and the like can be input from the management device 90 to the frame control device 83.

  The frame control device 83 as described above includes information on award balls, information on the launch of game balls based on signals from the ball supply sensor 246, information on foul balls based on signals from the foul ball sensors 253, and information on the recovery ball sensor 212. Information on the number of various game balls, such as the number of balls, is calculated based on the information on the balls based on the signal, and the launch of the game balls is controlled via the launch control device 63a based on the number of balls. Further, the frame control device 83 controls display on the touch panel display unit 151, the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (ball quantity display), and the like based on the calculated information on the number of game balls. In the display control of the touch panel display unit 151, information on the above-described variable display game, information input from the management device 90, and the like are also displayed.

Further, the frame control device 83 permits the launch of a game ball when the number of held balls is greater than 0, based on the information on the number of held balls, and when the number of held balls is 0, via the launch control device 63a. The launch of game balls is prohibited.
Further, the frame control device 83 performs error control processing to be described later based on signals from the ball supply sensor 246, foul ball sensor 253, recovery ball sensor 212, ball shortage detection sensor 264, and stored ball detection sensor 262a.

  The frame control device 83 functions as a replenishment control unit that controls replenishment of the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 based on the detection state of the game ball B of the ball shortage detection sensor 264. In addition, the frame control device 83 joins the ball when the ball clogging occurs in the merging portion 254 where the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow channel 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow channel 280 merge. It functions as a flow path forming surface operation control means for moving the ball storage plate 261 constituting the flow path forming surface which becomes a part of the inner surface of the portion 254 and the flow path in the vicinity thereof by the replenishing solenoid 263 to eliminate clogging of the balls. Further, even if the frame control device 83 performs control to replenish the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 that should detect the replenished game ball B is used as the game ball B. When not detected, it functions as a replenishment conversion operation control means for operating the ball replenishing device 260 again a plurality of times.

  The firing control device 63a includes a microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. (not shown), and a handle touch detection unit 152 (touch sensor) and a firing slide of the firing operation unit 150 via an input / output I / F (not shown). The volume 153 is connected, and the ball feed solenoid 244, the blower fan 420, and the launching device 61 (the motor driver) are connected.

The launch control device 63a controls the launch force of the game ball B in the launch device 61 based on the signal level based on the operation of the operation lever 156 of the launch slide volume 153, and the handle touch detection unit 152 detects the player's hand. In addition, when the above-mentioned number of balls is larger than 0, the launching device 61 is controlled to sequentially launch the game balls B at predetermined time intervals. In addition, the launch control device 63a controls the supply of the game ball B from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 to the launch device 61 by operating the ball feed solenoid 244 in accordance with the timing of launch of the game ball B by the launch device 61. Do.
The launch control device 63a also controls the blower fan 420 of the deposit removing means 400. For example, when the launch of the game ball B by the launch device 61 is stopped, the blower fan 420 is turned off. When the game ball B is fired every predetermined time by the launching device 61, the blower fan 420 is activated. As a result, the blower fan 420 has applied artificial wind to the game ball B that has been stopped at the position of the deposit removing means 400 in the standby flow path 221 because the launch of the game ball B has stopped. In this case, the service life of the blower fan 420 is extended and the power consumption is reduced.

Next, error control processing by the frame control device 83 will be described. As shown in the main flow of the error control process of the frame control device 83 shown in FIG. 14, in the frame control device 83, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1), the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2), and the stored ball monitoring process (Step S3), a replenishment abnormality monitoring process (Step S4) is performed.
The ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) is performed when the number of game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 decreases as described above, and it becomes difficult to fire the game balls every predetermined time as it is. This process is performed to replenish the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishment device 260 to the circulation path 220.

Hereinafter, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 and the timing chart of FIG.
In addition, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1), the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2), the storage ball monitoring process (step S3), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4) are performed at short time intervals (for example, set timers). It is executed at almost every minimum unit time).
In the state where the ball shortage detection sensor 264 sequentially fires the game balls, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the game balls B collected from the game area 1a flow down the standby flow path 221. become. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the 16th to 17th game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221.

  The number of game balls that are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and used for circulation, excluding the game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262, is 25, for example, and are launched from the launch device 61 and enclosed. If the number of floating spheres that are the game balls B until they are collected by the ball circulation unit 200 is less than 8-9, the game balls B are basically always waiting in the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264. As the waiting game ball B moves each time the game ball B is launched, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 outputs a detection signal (for example, a HIGH signal) of the game ball B corresponding to the launch timing of the game ball. Output. If there are more floating balls, the game balls B launched at predetermined intervals are collected from the game area 1a and flow down near the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is detected. Is somewhat irregular, but outputs a signal indicating detection of the game ball B every time the game ball B flows down the vicinity. Here, for example, a ball stop occurs in the game area 1a, and a plurality of the released game balls B are not collected due to the ball stop, and as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The game ball is not detected over a period of several times longer than the firing interval.

Therefore, in the ball shortage monitoring process, when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected the game ball B for a predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds) or more, it is determined that a ball shortage state has occurred due to ball stoppage or the like. ing. When the game ball B stays in the standby flow path 221 up to the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 at the stage where the game ball B has been previously detected in the ball shortage detection sensor 264, for example, the standby flow path There are about 16 game balls B in 221.
Then, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is not detected for 6 seconds, which is a predetermined time, assuming that 100 gaming balls are fired per minute, 10 gaming balls B are fired, Sixty game balls remain in 221, and then, when about 3 seconds or more have passed, the game ball B to be fired disappears from the standby flow path.

  In the ball shortage monitoring process, first, it is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set (step S10). Here, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is used when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect the game ball B for a predetermined time or more in this ball shortage monitoring process (that is, when the shortage state of the game ball B is detected). It is a flag to be set, and it is determined that a shortage of balls has occurred and indicates that the game ball B has been replenished or has been confirmed to be performed.

The replenishment abnormality monitoring flag indicates that the game ball B is replenished as described above, and a replenishment abnormality monitoring process for determining whether or not the game ball B has been replenished normally is started. It is a flag that determines whether or not.
Here, if the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, it is already determined that the ball has been deficient by the ball shortage monitoring process and the game ball B has been replenished, so the process proceeds to step S12. A predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds, numerically, a positive integer obtained by dividing 6 seconds by the minimum unit time) is set in the above-described ball shortage monitoring timer for measuring the predetermined time.

  If the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is not set, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S11). When the game ball B is detected, the game ball B is not detected, and even if the ball shortage monitoring timer is activated and the elapsed time is measured, the game ball is detected before the predetermined time elapses. Is detected (if the predetermined time has elapsed, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set), the predetermined time is set in the ball shortage monitoring timer (step S12), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated. .

On the other hand, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected a game ball, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage monitoring timer has expired (step S13). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the shortage monitoring timer (step S14), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated.
On the other hand, if the numerical value of the ball shortage monitoring timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the ball shortage monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the ball shortage monitoring timer times out in step S13. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a replenishment operation command for operating the replenishment solenoid 263 to refill the ball storage plate 261 is set (step S15).

Next, a replenishment abnormality monitoring flag for starting a replenishment abnormality monitoring process for determining whether or not the game ball has been reliably replenished based on the replenishment operation command is set (step S16), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring is performed. A predetermined time in the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is set in the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer used in the process (step S17), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated.
As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 16, when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 determines that the game ball B is not detected for a predetermined time and the ball shortage state has occurred by the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, The frame controller 83 executes a refill operation command, and the refill solenoid 263 moves the plunger 263b down as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, while the plunger 263b moves up as shown in FIG. 7, that is, the refill solenoid. 263 is activated. As a result, the storage state in which the ball storage plate 261 is inclined upward toward the communication port 266 between the ball storage unit 262 and the circulation path 220 is changed to the replenishment state in which the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the communication port 266.

Then, the game ball B stored on the ball storage plate 261 flows down from the communication port 266 to the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 as shown in FIG. When this happens, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from being left in the standby flow path 221 and to keep the game ball B launched at predetermined intervals.
Then, when the game ball B is replenished to the standby flow path 221 from the ball storage unit 262, the replenished game ball B passes through the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the timing of FIG. As shown in the chart, a plurality of game balls B are sequentially detected, and a signal indicating the detection of the game balls is output a plurality of times, thereby making it possible to confirm that the game balls B have been replenished. .

  With the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, when the number of game balls B that are used in circulation decreases due to ball stoppage or the like in the game area 1a, the game balls B are replenished and are waiting to be guided to the launch position Due to the shortage of balls, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being released every predetermined time.

Next, the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 17 and the timing chart of FIG.
As described above, when a ball clogging occurs at a portion where the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 merge, the recovered ball sensor 212 and the foul are removed from the ball clogged portion. The game balls continue to the ball sensor 253, and the state in which the game balls are detected by the collection ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 are continuous as shown in FIG. 18A (FIG. 18A shows the collection ball sensor). 212 shows a case where a game ball B is detected).

  Therefore, in the ball clogging monitoring process, when the recovered ball sensor 212 or the foul ball sensor 253 remains in a state where a game ball is detected continuously for a predetermined time or more, the foul ball flow path 252 of the circulation path as described above. By actuating the replenishing solenoid 263 and moving the ball storage plate 261 that forms the flow path formation surface in the vicinity of the merging portion 254 where the game ball that has flowed down and the game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball flow path 280, The game ball B that has become jammed is moved to release the ball jam.

  In the ball clogging monitoring process, first, it is determined whether or not the releasing flag is set (step S21). Here, the releasing flag is a flag that is set when the collection ball sensor 212 or the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B continuously for a predetermined time or more in this ball clogging monitoring process. It is determined that the ball clogging has occurred, and the ball storage plate 261 is moved as described above to indicate that the ball clogging has been released.

  Here, when the releasing flag is set, it is already determined that the ball is clogged by the ball clogging monitoring process and the ball clogging is being released. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S211 and subsequent steps to monitor the release of the ball clogging. Hereinafter, this processing will be described after the processing for monitoring the clogging of the balls after step S22 and after step S23.

  If the releasing flag is not set, it is next determined whether or not the collected ball sensor 212 detects the game ball B (step S22). When the game ball B is not detected, the ball clogging as described above has not occurred on the downstream side of the recovery ball sensor 212, so that the recovery ball timer is in a detection state for a predetermined time (continuously in the detection state of the game ball). In this case, a value determined by dividing the predetermined time by the minimum unit time) is set (step S221), and the process proceeds to step S23 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if the collected ball sensor 212 detects a game ball, it is next determined whether or not the collected ball timer has timed up (step S222). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the measured time (step S223).
Also, in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, if the value of the recovered ball timer is subtracted to 0, the recovered ball timer is timed up in step S222. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a ball clogging release operation command for operating the replenishing solenoid 263 and moving the ball storage plate 261 is set (step S224). Here, the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated to move the ball storage plate 261 from the reserving state to the replenishing state and to re-storing it a plurality of times. For example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 18A, when the collection ball sensor 212 (collection ball detection sensor) continuously detects a game ball and a predetermined time has elapsed, the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated. Operates multiple times. When the ball clogging is eliminated by the movement of the ball storage plate 261, the game ball B flows down from the recovery ball sensor 212 that has been in a state of continuously detecting the game ball B, and the recovery ball sensor 212 is played by the game ball. After the state where B is not detected, the game balls B that are sequentially collected are detected, and the signal indicating that the game ball B is detected and the signal indicating that the game ball B is not detected are repeatedly output from the recovery ball sensor 212. It becomes a state.

Next, in the processing after step S211 for confirming whether or not the ball clogging has been resolved based on the ball clogging release operation command, the recovered ball sensor 212 even if a predetermined set time has passed since the ball clogging was released. It is determined whether or not the game ball B is still detected, but the predetermined set time is set in the releasing timer (step S225). In addition, after the ball clogging release operation, a release flag indicating that the ball clogging release confirmation process after step S211 is performed is set (step S226).
In step S22, if the collection ball sensor 212 has not detected a game ball, it is determined whether or not the foul ball sensor 253 has detected the game ball B after setting the collection ball timer as described above. (Step S23). When the game ball B is not detected, the ball clogging as described above has not occurred on the downstream side of the foul ball sensor 253, so that the foul ball timer is in a detection state for a predetermined time (continuously in the detection state of the game ball). In this case, a value determined by dividing the predetermined time by the minimum unit time) is set (step S231), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the foul ball timer has timed up (step S232). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the timer (step S233).
If the value of the foul ball timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the foul ball timer is timed up in step S232. Determination is made and the above-described ball clogging release operation command is set (step S234). As a result, the ball storage plate 261 moves as described above.

Next, a predetermined time is set in the releasing timer as in step S225 (step S235), a releasing flag is set as in step S226 (step S236), and the ball clogging monitoring process ends.
When the ball clogging monitoring process is started in the state where the releasing timer is set in step S225 or step S235 as described above and the releasing flag is set in step S226 or step S236, it is released in step S21. It is determined that the middle flag is set, and then it is determined whether or not the collection ball sensor 212 detects the game ball B (step S211). If the game ball B is not detected, the foul is determined. It is determined whether or not the ball sensor 253 detects a game ball (step S212).
If any one of the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the cancellation timer has expired (step S213). If the time is not up, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the releasing timer (step S214), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.
Also, in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, if the value of the releasing timer is subtracted to 0, it is determined in step S213 that the releasing timer has expired. Determined.

In this case, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 18B, for example, after the collection ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) has detected the game ball B continuously for a predetermined time or more, Even when the ball storage plate 261 that becomes the flow path forming surface is moved by the operation of the replenishing solenoid 263, the recovery ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) remains in the state of detecting the game ball B continuously. This indicates that the ball clogging has not been resolved.
Then, after the predetermined time set in the first recovery ball timer (foul ball timer) has elapsed, the recovery ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) is played even if the predetermined time set in the releasing timer elapses. When B is continuously detected, a ball clogging error notification flag is set (step S215), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.

  When the ball clogging error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 uses, for example, any one or more of the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, and the like. Control is performed to notify that a ball clogging error has occurred. When the error notification flag is set, the game ball flows down from the portion where the game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel 280 and the game ball flowing down the foul ball channel 252 merge into the standby channel 221 ahead. In this case, there is a shortage of game balls B. However, even if the ball storage plate 261 of the ball storage unit 262 is refilled by operating the replenishment solenoid 263, the game balls will not be cleared unless the ball clogging is eliminated. B cannot be replenished. In other words, the game ball B that is replenished from the ball reservoir 262 passes through the junction 254, a ball clogging occurs at the junction 254, and the supplement solenoid 263 (ball reservoir 261) is activated. If the ball clogging is not resolved even after the game ball B is replenished, the game ball B cannot be replenished.

Therefore, at the stage where the ball clogging error is left unattended, for example, the launch control device 63a under the control of the frame control device 83 may prohibit the launch of the game ball. In this case, the game control device 21 may stop the progress of the game when the game ball B is prohibited from being launched and stopped.
According to the ball clogging monitoring process as described above, the game ball B is clogged at the junction 254 where the game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel 280 and the game ball flowing down the foul ball channel 252 merge. In this case, the ball clogging plate 261 serving as a flow path forming surface which is a part of the inner surface of the flow path in the vicinity of the merging portion 254 can be moved by the operation of the replenishing solenoid 263 to eliminate the clogging. In addition, when the clogging cannot be eliminated, the clogging can be notified to prompt the staff to deal with the clogging.

Next, the storage ball monitoring process (step S3) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 19 and the timing chart of FIG.
The stored ball monitoring process is determined to be a shortage of balls in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, and the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is replenished to the circulation path 220 (standby flow path 221) as shown in FIG. In this case, even if the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 becomes 0 and the player stops the release of the game ball B, the game ball of the ball storage unit 262 is 0 or a preset number This is a process for notifying that there are not enough supplementary game balls when the number of game balls B is insufficient (when the number of game balls B is insufficient). As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 20, when the refill solenoid 263 is activated and the game ball B is replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 disappears. The storage ball detection sensor 262a that detects the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is in a state where it is not detected from the state where the game ball B is detected.

  If the cause of the ball shortage is, for example, a ball stop in the game area 1a, and the ball stop is resolved before the player quits the game ball B, the ball is used for recirculation. The number of game balls B to be added is increased by the number of supplemented game balls B. Here, when the launching of the game balls is stopped, all of the game balls B that are circulated are collected in the circulation path 220, but a predetermined number of circulation is used in the standby flow path 221. Only the game balls can be accommodated, and the amount of game balls replenished from the ball storage unit 262 overflows from the communication port 266, flows down to the ball storage unit 262 side, and is stored again in the ball storage unit 262. It will be in the state.

  Accordingly, when the game ball B falls out of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and the ball is insufficient, or the game ball B stops outside the standby channel 221, and the game ball B Except for the case where the stopping of the ball is not eliminated even if the launch is stopped, if the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball B returns to the ball storage unit 262, and the game ball is detected by the stored ball detection sensor 262a. Will be. In addition, even if a sufficient predetermined time has elapsed since the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball B does not return to the ball storage unit 262, and the stored ball detection sensor 262a is operated as shown in the timing chart of FIG. When the game ball B cannot be detected, it is necessary to replenish the dropped game ball B by an attendant or to eliminate the ball stop that cannot be resolved.

Therefore, in the storage ball monitoring process, even after a predetermined time, which is sufficient time for the game ball B to return to the ball storage unit 262 as described above, has elapsed after the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the stored ball detection is performed. When the sensor 262a does not detect the game ball B, the absence of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 (shortage of game balls) is notified.
In the stored ball monitoring process for performing notification as described above, first, it is determined whether or not the stored ball detection sensor 262a detects the game ball B (step S30).
Then, when the storage ball detection sensor 262a detects that there is a (predetermined number) of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262, there is no abnormality in the storage balls, and is set when there is a shortage of storage balls. The stored ball error notification flag is cleared (step S31), and a predetermined time as a time sufficient for the game ball to return as described above after the stop of the launch (the time for determining the stop of the launch of the game ball is a predetermined time). The numerical value divided by the minimum unit time) is set in the ball feed off timer (step S32), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated. The stored ball error notification flag is a flag for notifying the player under the control of the frame control device 83 when the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 is insufficient as described above. When there is a game ball in the part 262, it is in a cleared state.

  On the other hand, if the storage ball detection sensor 262a does not detect the game ball B in step S30, it is next determined whether or not the ball supply sensor 246 detects the game ball B (step S33). When the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) detects the game ball B, the above-mentioned predetermined time is set in the ball feed off timer (step S32), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated. Here, in the state where the game ball B is being fired, the state where the game ball B is detected and the state where the game ball B is not detected are repeated in response to the launch of the game ball B every predetermined time. It is. Accordingly, in the repeated storage ball monitoring process, the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) is turned on corresponding to the launch timing, and a predetermined time is set in the ball feed off timer, and the game balls B are sequentially fired. In this state, the ball feed offset timer does not time up.

In step S33, when the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) has not detected the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the ball feed off timer has expired (step S34), and the ball feed off timer has timed out. If not, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the ball feed off timer (step S35), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated.
If the ball feed off timer has timed out, a stored ball error notification flag is set (step S36), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated.
When the storage ball error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 uses the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, and the like to run out of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262. Notify that you are doing.

  As a result, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 in which the notification has been made, the clerk who noticed the notification has a shortage of game balls in the ball storage section 262, and the gaming machine main body is caused by dropping of the gaming balls B from the gaming machine main body. To check whether the game ball B enclosed in the ball has decreased, whether the game ball B has stopped at a portion other than the standby flow path 221, or whether the ball clogged state cannot be resolved. B is replenished from outside the gaming machine main body, and the work of releasing the ball stop or ball clogging is performed.

  Thereby, after the game ball B is supplied from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the game ball B becomes insufficient in the ball storage unit 262, and even if the ball shortage occurs in the standby flow path 221, the game ball B Can be prevented from being replenished.

Next, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 21 and the timing chart of FIG.
In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, a shortage of balls in the standby flow path 221 is detected, and the ball replenishing device 260 activates the replenishment solenoid 263 so that the ball storage plate 261 of the ball storage unit 262 is used. When the game ball B is replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 in the replenishment state, it is performed to determine whether or not the replenishment has been normally performed. That is, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 22, based on the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, the first predetermined time (measured by the ball shortage monitoring timer) after the game ball B is no longer detected by the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is detected. When time elapses, the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated to replenish the game ball B. After this, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is started, and even if the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated, the game ball B is not detected by the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and it is not possible to confirm that the game ball B has been replenished. After a predetermined time (a time measured by a replenishment abnormality solution monitoring timer described later, which can be set to a time different from the ball shortage monitoring timer) has elapsed, the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated a plurality of times.

  This is performed for the purpose of eliminating the malfunction by operating the replenishment solenoid 263 and the ball storage plate 261 driven by the replenishment solenoid 263 multiple times when there is malfunction due to adhesion of dust or the like. At the same time, it is assumed that the game ball B is clogged in the ball storage section 262 and the standby flow path 221 in the vicinity of the downstream side of the ball storage unit 262, so that the above-mentioned foul ball is abnormal. By actuating the ball storage plate 261 that becomes a flow path forming surface that is a part of the flow path inner surface of the merge portion 254 where the game ball flowing down the flow path 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 merge. This is for the purpose of resolving the clogging of the game balls B and canceling the replenishment abnormality of the game balls B. The communication port 266 from the sphere storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 serves as an introduction port to the standby channel 221 connected to the collection sphere channel 280 and the foul sphere channel 252, and the circulation path from the sphere storage unit 262 The replenishment flow path of 220 game balls B merges at a position where the recovery ball flow path 280 and the standby flow path 221 communicate with each other and immediately before the portion where the foul ball flow path 252 merges.

  If the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect a game ball even if the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated to eliminate the ball clogging, a third predetermined time (time measured by a replenishment abnormality canceling timer described later) Thus, after the elapse of a time different from the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer), an error notification indicating that there is an abnormality (error) in replenishment of the game ball B is performed.

  In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, first, it is determined in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) that the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are insufficient, and the ball storage unit 262 determines the game balls B It is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set (step S40). That is, the process is to monitor whether there is an abnormality in the replenishment of the game ball B by the ball replenishment device 260. Therefore, if the replenishment operation of the game ball B is not performed and the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is not set, the process ends. .

If the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, it is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is set (step S41). As described above, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag indicates that the replenishment solenoid 263 is released from the clogging when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect the game ball even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment operation of the game ball by the replenishment solenoid 263. This indicates that the third predetermined time is being monitored and is being monitored.
Here, when the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is not set, it indicates that the game ball B is replenished and the second predetermined time has not elapsed. If the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is not set, it is determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S401), and when the game ball B is detected. Means that the game ball B has been replenished, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (step S402), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated.

If the game ball B is not detected in step S401, the replenishment operation command is set and the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated in the ball shortage monitoring process. It is determined whether or not the abnormality monitoring timer has expired. The replenishment abnormality monitoring timer is necessary for the refilled game ball B to pass the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221 after the replenishment operation is performed in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process. Sufficient time is set.
If the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer has not expired, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer (step S404).
On the other hand, if the value of the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the replenishment abnormality monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer times out in step S403. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a ball clogging release operation command for operating the replenishing solenoid 263 to move the ball storage plate 261 serving as a flow path forming surface is set (step S405).
Next, on the basis of the ball clogging release operation command, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag indicating that the ball clogging is being released (replenishment abnormality canceling operation) (including the operation of the replenishment abnormality canceling timer after the operation) is set. (Step S406).
Under the control of the frame control device 83, the third predetermined time is set in the replenishment abnormality canceling timer for counting the third predetermined time after the replenishment solenoid 263 performs the operation of releasing the ball clogging (step S407). Then, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. In the third predetermined time, when the ball clogging is released by the ball clogging releasing operation, the game ball B passes the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221 after the ball clogging is released. It is considered necessary and sufficient time.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S41 that the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is set by the above-described processing, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S41). S42) When the game ball B is detected, the game ball B has been replenished by the ball clogging release operation of the replenishment solenoid 263, and the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (step S43). ) The replenishment abnormality canceling flag is cleared (step S44), and a replenishment error notification flag set as described later is cleared (step S45).
In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, if the game ball B is not replenished even after the third predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment solenoid 263 performs the ball clogging release operation (the game ball B is detected by the ball shortage detection sensor). When the replenishment error notification flag is not detected, the replenishment error notification flag is set as will be described later. If the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B before the flag is reset), the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag, and the replenishment error notification flag are automatically cleared even after the error notification. To do.

In step S42, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected the game ball B, whether the replenishment abnormality canceling timer has expired, that is, whether the third predetermined time has elapsed. Is determined (step S46), and if the time is not up, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the replenishment abnormality canceling timer (step S47), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. To do.
If the replenishment abnormality canceling timer has timed out, a replenishment error notification flag is set (step S48), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. When the replenishment error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83, for example, when the ball clogging error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 includes, for example, a touch panel display unit 151, error indicators 14 and 14, and management. Control for notifying that a replenishment error has occurred is performed using any one or more of the monitors of the device 90 or the like. In this case, the game ball B may be stopped and the game may be stopped as in the case of the ball clogging error notification.

  In the above-described ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) and replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4), the shortage detection sensor 264 is provided in the standby flow path 221 to detect the shortage of the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221. Although it was assumed, the floating spheres are counted between the time when the game balls are launched and collected in the standby flow path 221 that waits for the game balls to be launched, and using the counted number of floating balls, Without using the ball shortage detection sensor 264, it is possible to perform the ball shortage monitoring process and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process.

  Note that the floating ball is counted by a frame control device 83 that detects a game ball B that is launched by a ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) that detects the game ball B supplied to the launch position of the launch device 61. Used as a ball sensor, the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 are used as sensors for detecting a game ball collected after being launched, and while the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is operating, a ball supply sensor 246 ( The difference between the number of game balls (the number of game balls to be launched) detected by the ball feed sensor) and the number of game balls (the number of collected game balls) detected by the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 is always calculated. It can be obtained by calculating.

  It is also possible to determine the number of waiting balls that are game balls waiting in the circulation path 220 (standby flow path 221) in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. That is, when the initial value of the number of waiting balls is used as the number of game balls to be circulated (excluding the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 out of the number of enclosed game balls) and there is a ball feed In addition, the number of waiting balls is obtained by subtracting 1 from the current number of waiting balls as the number of waiting balls, and when there is a collected ball or foul ball, the number of waiting balls is obtained by adding 1 to the current number of waiting balls. What is necessary is just to process. In this case, the above-mentioned device constituting the floating ball counting means can be used as the waiting ball number counting means. If the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 is not taken into consideration, the number of game balls used in circulation−the number of floating balls = the number of waiting balls becomes equal to the number of waiting balls. Can be processed in substantially the same manner.

Further, a process for winning a service ball in a winning opening when an error such as a ball stop occurs as described above and an attendant resolves the error will be described by taking the ball stop as an example.
When the ball stops, the clerk discovers this, or the clerk is called by the enclosed ball game machine by notifying the clerk by operating the call button installed on the island facility. Become.
Then, the clerk unlocks the locked glass frame 140 by inserting the key into the keyhole 143 in a state where the player has stopped firing the game ball, and opens the glass frame 140. At this time, a part of the game ball stopped at the ball may fall to the front side of the game area 1a due to the opening of the glass frame 140, and the ball stop may be eliminated. The ball stop which does not disappear even when the glass frame 140 is opened is that the game ball is dropped by touching the game ball stopped by the clerk by hand, thereby eliminating the ball stop.

The game ball B that has fallen after the ball has stopped is basically flowed down to the recovery port 211 (out ball recovery port 215) of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 below the game area 1a, and the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 (circulation path). 220). It should be noted that the game ball B that has flowed out of the game area 1a to the front outside when it falls, basically flows down to the spilled ball collection unit 139 and enters the enclosed ball circulation unit 251 through the foul ball collection port 251. 200 (circulation path 220).
In addition, when the game ball B stopped on the ball falls, it may not be collected by the spilled ball collection unit 139 and may fall on the floor or the like. In this case, the game ball B dropped on the floor or the like may be dropped. When the clerk finds out, the clerk collects the game ball B and puts it into the collection port 211 or the spilled ball collection unit 139. If an attendant cannot be found, the dropped game ball B is left for the time being.

  In such a case, since the player has stopped launching the game ball in a state where the ball has stopped, within the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, as shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined number (for example, 25 Pieces of game balls B are arranged in the standby flow path 221 from the front of the launch position (the ball receiving portion 242) to the communication port 266 of the ball storage portion 262 (the end of the standby flow path 221 on the recovery ball flow path 280 side). In addition, the number of game balls is reduced from the state in which the required number (for example, five, the maximum number of storage) of game balls B is stored on the ball storage unit 262.

Here, since the number of game balls circulating due to the ball stopping decreases, when the above-described ball replenishment process is performed, the number of game balls in the ball storage unit 262 decreases corresponding to the number of game balls stopped. Will be. In addition, when the number of game balls stopped at the ball is larger than the required number that can be stored in the ball storage unit 262, the number of game balls in the standby flow path 221 is also decreased from the predetermined number.
If the replenishment process has not yet been performed, the required number of game balls are stored in the ball storage unit 262, and the number of game balls in the standby flow path 221 is reduced from a predetermined number.

  In this state, when the clerk cancels the ball stop and the game ball B is returned to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 as described above, the ball stop is released from the recovery ball channel 280 to the standby channel 221 and is collected. For example, when the game balls B are replenished as described above and the number of game balls in the ball storage unit 262 is less than the required number, as shown in FIG. In addition, the game ball is guided to the game channel connected to the standby channel 221 up to the communication port and flows into the ball storage unit 262.

  When the number of game balls in the standby flow path 221 is less than a predetermined number, the game balls flow into the standby flow path 221 from the collection ball flow path 280. Note that game balls that have flowed into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 from the spilled ball collection unit 139 via the foul ball collection port 251 can flow into the standby flow path 221, but cannot flow into the ball storage unit 262. When releasing the ball stop, it is preferable to allow the game ball to flow into the collection port 211 instead of the spilled ball collection unit 139 as much as possible. In addition, the game ball B collected by the spilled ball collection unit 139 may flow into the collection ball channel 280 instead of the foul ball collection port 251.

  From the above, by eliminating the ball stop, the game ball is surely stored in the ball storage unit 262 (except when many game balls B have fallen to the floor or the like). . In this state, the clerk detects that the player has interrupted the game and that the game ball B that has stopped and hardly participated in the game is recovered from the recovery port 211 and is detected by the recovery ball sensor 212. As compensation for the decrease in the number of balls held, service balls are awarded to the winning opening.

  In this case, since the glass frame 140 is opened in order to eliminate the ball stop at present, the operation unit 34 of the ball take-out device 30 disposed inside the glass frame 140 can be operated. Then, the clerk opens the opening / closing member 33 of the ball discharge port 32 provided in the ball storage unit 262 by pulling the operation unit 34 upward. At this time, since the sphere storage plate 261 of the sphere storage unit 262 is in the storage state, the end on the side of the sphere discharge port 32 is lower than the end of the communication port 266 and is stored on the sphere storage plate 261. The game ball B is in a state where the ball pressure is applied to the ball discharge port 32 side. Further, at the end of the ball storage plate 261 on the side of the ball discharge port 32, the portion of the ball restraining member 265 that holds down the flow of the game ball B is in contact with the game ball B as described above. Since the slope is such as to lead to the discharge port 32 side, when the opening / closing member 33 of the ball discharge port 32 is opened, the game balls B stored on the ball storage plate 261 sequentially form a passage from the ball discharge port 32. It is discharged to the outlet passage 36 in the member 37. Then, when the open / close member 33 is opened for a time sufficient for all of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 to be discharged, all of the game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 are discharged and the ball The storage unit 262 is in a state where there is no game ball B.

  Then, the game ball B introduced into the lead-out passage 36 in the passage-forming member 37 flows into the service ball pick-up tray 31 disposed in the lower part on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 through the lead-out passage 36. To do. At this time, when all of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 are discharged as described above with the ball discharge port 32 in an open state for a sufficiently long time, the ball is placed on the service ball picking tray 31. The number of game balls B that have been stored is the number of game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262. At this time, as described above, when all of the game balls B that have been stopped are passed through the collection ball channel 280 and flow into the standby channel 221 side, a predetermined number of game balls enter the standby channel 221. In a state where B is accumulated, the game ball B is further accumulated in the ball storage unit 262. Therefore, if the game ball B comes out of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the ball storage unit 262 is stored. The number of game balls stored in is less than the required number.

  Therefore, when the number of game balls B derived on the service ball pick-up plate 31 is counted as described above, the number of game balls on the service ball pick-up plate 31 is smaller than the required number stored in the ball storage unit 262. In this case, the game ball B has gone out of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 by a small amount, and the amount of game balls to be enclosed has decreased by a small amount. That is, by deriving all of the game balls B in the ball storage unit 262 to the service ball acquisition dish 31, it can be easily confirmed whether or not the enclosed game balls B are insufficient. The confirmation as described above can be performed, for example, by operating the operation unit 34 by opening the glass frame 140 in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 in which the player is not playing.

  After confirming the number of game balls on the service ball picking tray 31, the clerk causes the game ball B on the service ball picking plate 31 to win a prize opening as a service ball. The game ball B won from the winning opening again passes through the collection ball channel 280 to the standby channel 221 side. In this state, the game ball B continues to the communication channel 266 to the standby channel 221. Therefore, the game ball B guided by the game ball in the vicinity of the communication port 266 and flowing in from the collection ball channel 280 flows into the empty ball storage unit 262, and the game ball B returns to the ball storage unit 262. If the game balls B are not insufficient, the required number of game balls B is stored in the ball storage unit 262. Even if the service ball is returned to the collection port 211, the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262 in the same manner.

  As a result, the service ball is stored in the ball storage unit 262 by picking up the service ball from the ball storage unit 262 and then winning the winning ball or putting it in the collection port 211. Note that if service balls are inserted into the spilled ball collection unit 139, the number of game balls in the ball storage unit 262 may temporarily decrease, but after the game balls B are fired and played, the game balls B are fired. By stopping the game ball B, the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262 again.

  If the number of game balls on the service ball pick-up plate 31 is smaller than the required number of game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262, in addition to the game balls B as service balls when winning the service balls If the insufficient game balls B are returned to the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, the shortage of the enclosed game balls B can be compensated on the spot. Further, when it is found from the number of game balls on the service ball picking plate 31 that the number of game balls is insufficient, the front frame 120 is opened, and the number of game balls in the transparent encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is counted. While confirming whether or not B is insufficient, the game ball B may be supplied from the supply port 267.

  The pachinko gaming machine as described above is used to play a game ball B encapsulated in a predetermined number in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area 1a, while collecting the game balls B that have finished the game and The game ball B is circulated and used to guide the collected game ball B to flow down, and the game before being sent to the launch position located downstream of the collection ball channel 280 A sealed ball game machine 100 in which a circulation path 220 is configured by communicating with a standby flow path 221 that waits for a predetermined number of balls B, and is connected to the circulation path 220 that is established in the middle of the circulation path 220. A ball storage portion 262 having a mouth 266 and capable of storing a required number of game balls B, a storage state in which the game balls B are stored in the ball storage portion 262, and a game from the ball storage portion 262 to the circulation path 220 A replenishment state in which a ball flows out and is replenished Replenishment conversion means (ball storage plate 261 and replenishment solenoid 263) that can be converted to the above, and when the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are insufficient, the replenishment conversion means is converted to the replenishment state. In addition, the standby flow path 221 is provided with a ball replenishing device 260 for replenishing the game balls B, and the game balls B provided in the ball storage section 262 and stored in the ball storage section 262 are connected to the circulation path 220 (enclosed). Ball circulation unit 200) A ball discharge port 32 for discharging outside, a state in which the ball discharge port 32 is opened and closed to store the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262, and a game ball of the ball storage unit 262 is discharged An opening / closing member 33 for converting the state into a state and an operation unit 34 for operating the opening / closing member 33. By operating the operation unit 34, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is serviced as a service ball. When And a ball pickup device 30 takes out Te.

  Therefore, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the game ball B launched into the game area 1a is collected and reaches the standby channel 221 via the recovery ball channel 280, and is guided to the launch position by the standby channel 221. The game ball B waiting in the standby flow path 221 is sent to the launch position and again launched into the game area 1a.

  Then, the number of game balls collected in the circulation path 220 decreases due to the ball stop in the game area 1a of the game ball B, the drop of the game ball B from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, and the like. When the number of game balls waiting in 221 is reduced, the replenishment conversion means of the ball storage unit 262 changes from the storage state in which the game balls B are stored to the replenishment state in which the game balls are replenished, and the ball storage unit 262 The game balls B stored in the tank are replenished to the standby flow path 221 side through the communication port 266 communicating with the circulation path 220, and the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 is increased, resulting in a shortage of game balls B This prevents troubles in launching the game ball B.

Further, when the opening / closing member 33 provided in the ball discharge port 32 of the ball storage unit 262 is operated by the operation unit 34 to change the opening / closing member 33 from the closed state to the open state, the game ball B is routed from the ball discharge port 32 to the circulation path 220 ( The game ball B is discharged to the outside of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200) and can be taken out, and the game ball B taken out can be used as a service ball.
Therefore, when there is a shortage of game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 during the game, by replenishing the standby flow path 221 (circulation path 220) with the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262, It is possible to prevent delays in the launch of game balls and prevent a situation such as puncture during a big hit, and the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 can be taken out by the ball take-out device 30 and used as service balls. .

  As described above, when a shortage of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 occurs in the circulation path 220, the game balls B that are replenished so as to compensate for the shortage can be used for the service balls. The game ball B for supplementation and the game ball B for service ball can be used together without storing separately. Therefore, the limited space inside the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 can be used effectively. In addition, by using the game ball B as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed in the enclosed ball game machine 100.

  Further, while playing a game by firing a predetermined number of game balls B enclosed in the main body of the game machine from the launch position to the game area 1a, the game balls B that have finished the game are collected and guided to the launch position. A collection ball channel 280 that is used in circulation and guides the collected game balls B to flow down, and a predetermined number of game balls B that are located downstream of the collection ball channels 280 and are sent to the launch position are on standby In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 in which the circulation path 220 is configured with the standby flow path 221 in communication, the communication path 266 is provided in the middle of the circulation path 220 and communicates with the circulation path 220. A ball storage portion 262 capable of storing a plurality of game balls, and the game balls B provided in the ball storage portion 262 and stored in the ball storage portion 262 are discharged to the outside of the circulation path 220 (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200). A ball outlet 32 for An opening / closing member 33 that converts the state in which the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is stored by opening and closing the ball discharge port 32 and a state in which the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is discharged, and the opening / closing member 33 A ball take-out device 30 for taking out the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 as a service ball by operating the operation unit 34, and the communication port 266 A game ball B formed at a position facing the standby flow path 221 and waiting in the standby flow path 221 is connected, and when the game ball B reaches the communication port 266 of the ball storage section 262, the game ball flowing down from the recovery ball flow path 280 B is guided by the game ball B that has reached the communication port 266 and flows into the ball storage unit 262 for storage.

Therefore, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is taken out of the ball storage unit 262 by operating the operation unit 34 to open the opening / closing member 33 of the ball discharge port 32 of the ball storage unit 262. Can be used as a service ball.
In addition, the ball storage unit 262 has a communication port 266 that communicates with the circulation path 220, and when the game ball B that stands by in the standby flow channel 221 continues and reaches the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262, the recovery ball flow channel The game ball B flowing down from 280 is guided by the game ball reaching the communication port 266 and flows into the ball storage unit 262 and stored therein. Therefore, for example, by stopping the launch of the game ball B, the game ball B in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 returns from the game area 1a to the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 and waits in the standby flow path 221. When the ball B is in a continuous state, the connected game ball B reaches the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262, and further flows into the standby flow channel 221 from the recovery ball flow channel 280. The game ball B flows into the ball storage unit 262 from the communication port 266.

  Accordingly, if the game balls B run short and the game balls B connected in the standby flow path 221 do not reach the communication port 266 even if the launch of the game balls B is stopped, the game balls B are moved from the recovery ball flow path 280 to the standby flow paths. Even if it flows into 221, it does not guide the inflowing game ball B to flow into the communication port 266. Therefore, when the game balls B are taken out from the ball storage unit 262 for service balls, if the game balls B in the circulation path 220 are insufficient, the ball storage unit 262 is not replenished with the game balls B, and the ball storage unit The number of game balls B of 262 is smaller than the required number of game balls B that can be stored in the ball storage unit 262. That is, when the number of game balls B is insufficient, even if the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 decreases, the game balls B are replenished from the game balls B circulated and used in the ball storage unit 262. Of course, although the game balls B being used in circulation are decreasing, the game balls B being used in circulation are stored in the ball storage unit 262 so that the game balls B that are used in circulation are further reduced. There is nothing.

In addition, in a state where the game ball B is actually fired and the game ball B is circulated, a part of the game ball B flows down in the game area 1 a and enters the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220. In the state where the game balls B are sequentially fired without the game balls B waiting on the waiting passage 221 being connected to the communication port 266 in the standby flow path 221, the game balls B flow into the ball storage unit 262. In other words, the game balls B that are used in circulation are not reduced by replenishing the game balls B to the ball storage unit 262 during the game. Therefore, when the game ball B discharged from the ball storage unit 262 is awarded as a service ball to the winning opening, it flows into the collecting ball flow path 280 from the winning opening, enters the circulation path 220, and enters the circulation path 220. When B increases and the game balls B are insufficient, the game balls B do not return to the ball storage unit 262, so that the shortage of game balls B that are used in circulation is compensated.
In addition, if the game balls B discharged from the ball storage unit 262 are awarded as service balls to the winning award in a state where the game balls B used in circulation are not decreasing, the game balls B flow into the collection ball flow path 280 from the winning award. The game ball B in the circulation path 220 increases and enters the circulation path 220. However, when the game ball B is stopped, the game ball B is connected to the communication port in the standby channel 221 as described above. The game balls B that continue to 266 and beyond will flow into the ball reservoir 262 until the ball reservoir 262 becomes full.

  In other words, the game ball B that has flowed into the circulation path 220 from the winning opening as a service ball basically returns to the ball storage unit 262. In some cases (for example, when the player starts firing a game ball before the service ball reaches the standby flow path), another game ball B in the circulation path 220 is not the service ball but the ball storage unit. There is also a possibility that it will be stored. In addition, for example, when a plurality of game balls B are discharged from the ball storage unit 262, some game balls B are won from a winning opening, and the remaining game balls B are inserted from a portion serving as an out opening. Even when the game ball B has flowed into the ball 100, the game ball B that has flowed from the out port flows into the collection ball channel 280, enters the circulation path 220, and enters the ball storage unit 262 in the same manner as when winning in the winning port. Will return. Basically, when the service ball is returned to the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 from the winning opening or the outlet, if the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the returned service ball is the game ball B The game ball B connected to the communication port 266 in the standby channel 221 is returned to the ball storage unit 262 by stopping the firing.

  Further, when the number of all game balls enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 including the game balls B used in circulation and the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 decreases, basically the ball storage unit 262 is not replenished, and after the game balls B once stored in the ball storage unit 262 are taken out, the game balls B are not returned to the ball storage unit 262 by the reduced amount of all the game balls B It becomes. In this state, if all of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 are taken out, the required number of game balls B are not stored in the ball storage unit 262, so that the enclosed game balls B are insufficient. Thus, by obtaining the number of game balls B that are insufficient from the required number, the number of game balls B that are lacking can also be found.

  Further, a supply port 267 for supplying the game ball B from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the middle of the circulation path 220 is provided in the ball storage unit 262, and the circulation path 220 is supplied from the supply port 267 through the ball storage unit 262. When the game ball B is replenished, a replenishment conversion operation means (actuating link member 273) for converting the replenishment conversion means (the ball storage plate 261 and the replenishment solenoid 263) into the replenishment state is provided.

  Therefore, when the game balls B are insufficient and the game balls B are replenished to the circulation path 220 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the replenishment conversion means of the ball storage unit 262 is put into a replenishment state by the refill conversion operation means. In addition, since the game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220 from the replenishment port 267 via the ball storage unit 262, when the game ball B is replenished, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is also recirculation path 220. Will flow into. In this case, basically, the game ball B previously stored in the ball storage unit 262 flows into the circulation path 220, and the refilled game ball B circulates with the standby flow path of the circulation path 220 being full. The ball 220 cannot flow into the path 220 and remains in the ball reservoir 262.

In addition, if the game ball B enters the circulation path 220 up to the replenished game ball B, when the game ball B is sequentially fired and stopped, the game ball B is connected to the standby flow path 221 and the communication port 266 as described above. The game ball B flows into the ball storage unit 262 from the player.
Therefore, if the game ball B is replenished, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 enters the circulation path 220, but the game ball B newly stored in the ball storage unit 262 is stored before. The game ball B is likely to be different from the game ball B, and the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is replaced with the game ball B that has been replenished or the game ball B that has been circulated. Can do. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the unused game ball B from being stored in the ball storage unit 262 for a long time and rusting. Even when a ball stop or the like occurs in the game area 1a, when the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is replenished into the circulation path 220 and the ball stop is eliminated, The possibility of returning to the ball storage unit 262 as described above is high, and the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is replaced. Therefore, there is a higher possibility that the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is replaced before it rusts.

The game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 32 flows down the lead-out passage 36 and is guided to the service ball pick-up tray 31 disposed on the front side of the enclosed ball type game machine 100.
Accordingly, the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 32 of the ball storage unit 262 is guided to the service ball pick-up tray 31 disposed on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 through the lead-out passage 36. After taking out the game ball B from the part 262, the staff can easily take the game ball B. That is, in order to take the game ball B, for example, it is not necessary to open the lower front panel on the game area 1a, and the service ball can be taken very easily.

  Also, a main body frame (front frame main body 130) to which the game board 1 in which the game area 1a is formed is attached, and an opening 145 that is attached to the main body frame so as to be openable and closable so that the game area 1a of the game board 1 can be visually recognized. And a transparent member holding frame (glass frame 140) that holds the transparent member (glass plate 141) in a state of closing the opening 145, and the operation unit 34 opens the transparent member holding frame. It becomes possible to operate.

  When an error such as a ball stop occurs, an attendant unlocks the glass frame 140 (transparent member holding frame) and opens the glass frame 140 to eliminate the error such as a ball stop in the game area 1a. The ball is to be won in the winning opening of the game area 1a. However, by opening the transparent member holding frame, the operation unit 34 for taking out the service ball can be operated. The service ball can be taken out by the operation of the operation unit 34 thereafter, the service ball can be inserted into the winning opening, and the glass frame 140 can be closed efficiently. Therefore, the workability of error processing by the staff is improved. Furthermore, if the glass frame 140 is not opened, the service ball take-out operation (opening of the opening / closing member) by the ball take-out device 30 cannot be performed, so that it is possible to prevent mischief and fraud such as extracting the game ball B.

Further, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention is not limited to the pachinko gaming machine as shown in the above-described embodiment as a gaming machine. For example, other pachinko gaming machines, arrange ball gaming machines, sparrows, etc. The present invention is applicable to all gaming machines that use the gaming ball B such as a ball gaming machine.
Furthermore, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the enclosure ball-type game machine of the state which open | released the glass frame illustrated as an enclosure ball-type game machine of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the enclosure ball type game machine of the state which closed the glass frame. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a rear view which shows the back side of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the enclosed ball circulation unit of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a front view which shows an enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a perspective view which shows the firing operation unit provided with the channel | path formation member which forms a derivation | leading_out channel | path inside an enclosed ball type game machine. It is sectional drawing which shows the ball taking-out apparatus part of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is sectional drawing which shows the ball taking-out apparatus part of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a flowchart of the error control process performed with the frame control apparatus of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a flowchart of the ball shortage monitoring process performed by the frame control device. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor of an enclosure ball circulation unit, and the operation of a supplementary solenoid. It is a flowchart of the ball clogging monitoring process performed by the frame control device. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of a foul ball detection sensor and a recovery ball sensor, and the operation of a replenishment solenoid. It is a flowchart of the storage ball monitoring process performed with a frame control apparatus. It is a timing chart which shows operation of an output signal of a storage ball detection sensor, a supplementary solenoid, and a launching device. It is a flowchart of the replenishment abnormality monitoring process performed with a frame control apparatus. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of a ball shortage detection sensor, and the operation of a supplement solenoid.

Explanation of symbols

B game ball 1 game board 1a game area 30 ball take-out device 31 service ball picking tray 32 ball discharge port 33 opening / closing member 34 operation part 35 lead-out path 83 frame control device 100 encapsulated ball type game machine 130 front frame main body (main body frame)
140 Glass frame (transparent member holding frame)
141 Glass plate (transparent member)
200 Enclosed ball circulation unit 220 Circulation path 221 Standby flow path 260 Ball replenishment device (replenishment conversion means)
261 Ball storage plate (replenishment conversion means)
262 Ball reservoir 263 Replenishment solenoid (replenishment conversion means)
266 Communication port 267 Supply port 273 Operation link member (replenishment conversion operation means)
280 Collection ball flow path

Claims (5)

While playing a game by enclosing a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the main body of the game machine from the launch position to the game area, the game balls that have been played are collected and guided to the launch position, and the game balls are circulated and used.
A collecting ball channel that guides the collected game balls to flow down and a standby channel that is located downstream of the collecting ball channel and waits for a predetermined number of game balls before being sent to the launch position In the enclosed ball type gaming machine that configured the circulation path as
A ball storage portion that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
Replenishment conversion means capable of converting into a storage state in which the game ball is stored in the ball storage unit and a replenishment state in which the game ball flows out from the ball storage unit to the circulation path and is replenished;
And having a ball replenishment device that converts the replenishment conversion means to the replenishment state and replenishes the standby flow path with game balls when there is a shortage of game balls waiting in the standby flow path,
A ball outlet provided in the ball reservoir, and for discharging game balls stored in the ball reservoir to the outside of the circulation path;
An opening / closing member that converts the state of opening and closing the ball discharge port to store the game ball of the ball storage unit and the state of discharging the game ball of the ball storage unit;
An operation unit for operating the opening and closing member;
And a ball take-out device for taking out a game ball stored in the ball storage unit as a service ball by operating the operation unit. While playing a game by enclosing a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the main body of the game machine from the launch position to the game area, the game balls that have been played are collected and guided to the launch position, and the game balls are circulated and used.
A collecting ball channel that guides the collected game balls to flow down and a standby channel that is located downstream of the collecting ball channel and waits for a predetermined number of game balls before being sent to the launch position In the enclosed ball type gaming machine that configured the circulation path as
A ball storage portion that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
A ball outlet provided in the ball reservoir, and for discharging game balls stored in the ball reservoir to the outside of the circulation path;
An opening / closing member that converts the state of opening and closing the ball discharge port to store the game ball of the ball storage unit and the state of discharging the game ball of the ball storage unit;
An operation unit for operating the opening and closing member;
A ball take-out device that takes out the game ball stored in the ball storage unit as a service ball by operating the operation unit,
The communication port is formed at a position facing the standby channel, and the game balls waiting in the standby channel are connected, and when reaching the communication port of the ball storage unit, the game balls flowing down from the recovery ball channel are An encapsulated ball game machine that is guided by a game ball that has reached the communication port, flows into a ball storage section, and is stored. When replacing the game balls enclosed in the gaming machine main body in the ball storage unit, a supply port for supplying the predetermined number of gaming balls from the outside of the gaming machine main body is provided,
The replenishment conversion operation means for converting the replenishment conversion means to the replenishment state when a game ball is replenished to the circulation path from the replenishment port via the ball storage section. Enclosed ball game machine. A lead-out passage for guiding the game ball discharged from the ball discharge port down,
4. The service ball pick-up dish which is provided on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine to which the game ball flowing down the lead-out passage is guided, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The enclosed ball type game machine described. A main body frame to which a game board in which the game area is formed is attached, and an opening that can be opened and closed attached to the main body frame so that the game area of the game board can be visually recognized, and is transparent in a state of closing the opening. A transparent member holding frame for holding the member,
The enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation unit can be operated by opening the transparent member holding frame.

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