JP2006204788A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine capable of effectively preventing or eliminating the plugging of a reservoir tray with game balls without increasing the number of parts. <P>SOLUTION: A speaker 50a of the pachinko game machine 10 is mounted inside the pachinko game machine 10, and disposed so that the sound can be outputted to the outside of the pachinko game machine 10 through a through hole 300e. The through hole is formed so that the sound from the speaker 50a can be directly transmitted to game balls retained in a ball passage 300c. Accordingly, plugging of the reservoir tray with game balls can be effectively prevented or eliminated without increasing the number of parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball game machine including an upper plate.

  In general, this type of ball game machine includes a tray for receiving a game medium to be paid out when winning. For example, in a pachinko machine that uses a game ball as a game medium, two upper and lower trays are provided in the lower front portion of the game machine to receive a game ball to be paid out when winning. Here, the upper tray is referred to as an upper plate (storage tray), and the lower tray is referred to as a lower plate.

  The storage tray receives a game ball paid out by winning a prize and stores it in the storage tray portion, and also serves as a guide path (ball path) for guiding the game ball to a launching device that launches the game ball. In addition, a payout opening for paying out a prize ball from the inside of the pachinko machine body is opened on one upper side (upstream side) of the storage dish, and one game ball is placed on the lower side (downstream side) of the storage dish to the launching device. The entrance to introduce one by one is opened as the final point of the ball passage. Further, the ball passage is configured to gradually narrow from the upstream side to the downstream side and to be narrowed toward the intake port. On the other hand, the lower tray is also provided for storing game balls overflowing from the storage tray.

  In such a conventional gaming machine, the ball passage has a structure that becomes narrower as it approaches the intake port that guides the game balls one by one to the launching device, so that they are pressed against each other and do not flow down. There was a problem that was likely to occur.

Here, in order to prevent clogging of the ball, an electric vibrator is separately attached to the storage tray, a method of preventing or eliminating the clogging by vibration of the electric vibrator, or a speaker (sound output device) is directly attached to the storage tray, There has been proposed a method for preventing ball clogging (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-126377 A

  However, the method of separately attaching the electric vibrator increases the number of parts such as the electric vibrator and the control circuit for controlling the electric vibrator, which increases the cost. In addition, the method of attaching the sound output device to the storage tray can be realized by rearranging the sound output device that was used only for the production, but the vibration caused by the sound output from the sound output device is applied to the game ball. Since it does not act directly, clogging of balls could not be effectively eliminated or prevented.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine that can effectively prevent or eliminate clogging of a storage tray without increasing the number of parts.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following.

  (1) A storage tray in which a ball passage for storing game balls to be paid out in accordance with a predetermined winning and supplying the game balls to a launching device for launching the game balls is formed; and a sound output device for outputting sound according to the game state; A through-hole is formed in the storage tray, and the sound output device is provided inside the gaming machine and arranged to output sound from the through-hole to the outside of the gaming machine. A gaming machine characterized by

  According to the invention of (1), the sound output device for outputting sound is provided, the storage tray is formed with a through hole, the sound output device is provided inside the gaming machine, and the sound is output from the through hole to the outside of the gaming machine. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent or eliminate the clogging of the storage dish without increasing the number of parts.

  (2) The ball passage is formed so as to become narrower as it approaches the launching device, and the through-hole is sounded to the game ball stored at a position where the width of the ball passage is larger than the diameter of one game ball. The gaming machine according to (1), wherein the game machine is configured to directly transmit sound from the output device.

  Since the ball passage is formed so as to become narrower as it approaches the launching device, the ball passage is located at a position where the width of the ball passage is larger than the diameter of one game ball, for example, at the same width as the diameter of two game balls. Clogging is likely to occur. According to the invention of (2), since the through hole is formed so that the sound from the sound output device is directly transmitted to the game ball stored at the position of the ball passage as described above, The ball clogging can be prevented or eliminated more effectively.

  (3) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), further comprising a ball clogging detection unit that detects clogging of a game ball.

  According to the invention of (3), since the ball clogging detecting means is provided, it becomes possible to easily detect the occurrence of the ball clogging, and even if the ball clogging occurs, the ball clogging can be eliminated in a short time. Is possible. In particular, since ball clogging can be detected at the initial stage of ball clogging, large-scale ball clogging can be prevented.

  (4) The gaming machine according to (3), wherein the sound output device outputs a sound that vibrates the storage tray on the condition that ball clogging is detected by the detection means.

  According to the invention of (4), only when the clogging occurs, a sound for eliminating the clogging, for example, a sound having a frequency for resonating the storage dish is output, so the clogging is effectively eliminated. can do.

  According to the present invention, a sound output device for outputting sound is provided, a through hole is formed in the storage tray, and the sound output device is provided inside the gaming machine, and can output sound from the through hole to the outside of the gaming machine. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent or eliminate the clogging of the storage tray without increasing the number of parts.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a ball game machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a pachinko machine will be described as an example of a representative ball game machine.

[Configuration of the ball game machine]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 10 includes a glass door 11, a wooden frame 12 for fixing to an island, a middle frame 13, a game board 14, a dish unit 21, a launching device 130 for firing a game ball, and the like. It is composed of

  The glass door 11 is pivotally attached to the middle frame 13 so as to be openable and closable.

  Further, a game board 14 is attached to the front side of the pachinko machine 10 and inside the glass door 11, and the game board 14 is attached to the front side thereof, and a pair of guide rails 16 is attached to the surface of the game board 14. An enclosed game area 17 is provided. Further, in the game area 17, an obstacle member (not shown) such as an obstacle nail or a windmill, a shutter 24 provided at a prize winning opening 18 for receiving a game ball, a start opening 26, General winning ports 28a to 28d, ball passage detectors 34a and 34b through which game balls pass, and an out port 36 for discharging game balls that have not been received by the winning port from the game area 17 are provided. Note that the start opening 26 is provided with a blade member 38, and the probability of a game ball to win the start opening 26 varies depending on the opening and closing of the blade member 38.

  Above the game board 14, bass reflex type (bass reflex type) speakers 46L and 46R that generate sound effects, performance sounds and the like according to the game state, and the ball of the game ball in the upper plate 300 described later. A trouble LED 92 is provided to notify that clogging has occurred.

  A dish unit 21 is pivotally attached to the middle frame 13 below the game board 14, that is, below the glass door 11. The dish unit 21 is provided with an upper dish 300 for storing game balls for use in games and receiving game balls to be paid out as prizes, and below the upper dish 300 from the upper dish 300. A lower tray 400 is provided for receiving an overflowing game ball. The upper plate 300 stores a game ball to be paid out in accordance with a predetermined prize and stores a ball passage 302c (see FIG. 3) that is supplied to a launching device 130 (see FIG. 7) that launches the game ball. It is an example of a dish. The upper plate 300 and the lower plate 400 are formed with outlets 74a and 76a for renting out game balls and paying out game balls (prize balls). If predetermined payout conditions are met, Game balls stored in a payout unit (not shown) will be discharged. Also. On the right side of the lower plate 400, a launching handle 78 for performing a launching operation of the game ball is attached.

  In the upper plate 300, a bass-reflex speaker 50a (corresponding to an example of a sound output device) is provided in the vicinity of the base plate 290 (see FIG. 3) of the upper plate 300. The speaker 50 a is provided on the base member 290 so that the output sound is directly transmitted to the game balls stored in the upper plate 300.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a card unit 150 for lending game balls based on the insertion of a prepaid card is provided on the left side of the pachinko machine 10.

  In addition, the front side of the pachinko machine 10 is lit on condition that a game ball has won the liquid crystal display device 32 (see FIG. 7) that performs variable display of symbols, the start port 26, and the ball passage detectors 34a and 34b. An effect LED (not shown) is provided to enhance the effect. In the liquid crystal display device 32, the game ball passes through the ball passage detectors 34a and 34b, so that variable display of normal symbols is performed. What is performed by variable display of this normal symbol is called a normal symbol game. Further, when a game ball wins at the start opening 26, a special symbol variable display is performed. What is performed with this special symbol is called a special symbol game, which is a game that displays whether or not it is a big hit. When the special symbol game is a big hit, the big hit gaming state, which is an advantageous state for the player, is given, and a profit is given to the player.

[Description of the upper plate]
The above-described upper plate 300 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the upper plate 300 in the plate unit 21. FIG. 4 is a partially broken front view of the reservoir 300a broken along the one-dot chain line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the upper plate 300 and the acoustic unit 50.

  The upper plate 300 is made of resin, and is configured such that the outer side of the storage portion 300 a that temporarily stores the game ball P is surrounded by the base body 300 b and the base member 290. The storage unit 300a is provided with an inclination to collect the stored game balls P in the ball passage 300c. In the ball passage 300c, one end side on the intake port 304 side for supplying the game ball P to the launching device 130 (see FIG. 1) is a downstream portion 302a, and the other end on the opposite side is an upstream portion 302b. An intermediate portion between 302a and the upstream portion 302b is a midstream portion 302c. The spherical passage 300c is integrally formed in a shape in which the bottom surface side gradually narrows toward the intake port 304 as the passage width gradually decreases from the upstream portion 302b to the downstream portion 302a. Therefore, the ball of the game ball is likely to be clogged at the narrowing opening 302d where the width of the ball passage 300c is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. A through hole 300e is formed in the base member 290 of the upper plate 300 in the vicinity of the narrowing opening 302d. As will be described later, when the speaker 50a, which is a sound output device, outputs sound toward the through hole 300e, it is possible to effectively prevent or eliminate the clogging of the game sphere generated in the ball passage 300c.

  A detection switch 350 and a detection switch 360 are provided in the downstream portion 302a and the midstream portion 302c of the spherical passage 300c, respectively. The detection switches 350 and 360 are each composed of a detection plate and a micro switch (both not shown), and can be finely moved in the vertical direction by the weight of the game ball. The micro switch of the detection switch 350 (360) is turned on when the game ball comes into contact and the detection plate is moved by the weight of the game ball, and turned off when the game ball is separated from the detection plate. Here, when the micro switch of the detection switch 350 is off and the micro switch of the detection switch 360 is also off, it indicates that the ball passage 300c is out of ball. When the micro switch of the detection switch 350 is on and the micro switch of the detection switch 360 is also on, it indicates that a game ball remains in the ball passage 300c. On the other hand, when the micro switch of the detection switch 350 is off and the micro switch of the detection switch 360 is on, it indicates that the game ball is clogged in the ball passage 300c. Accordingly, the detection switches 350 and 360 have a function as ball clogging detection means (detection means) capable of detecting (detecting) ball clogging in the ball passage 300c.

[Explanation about speaker and plate]
Next, the upper plate 300 and the speaker 50a will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the state in which the acoustic unit 50 is mounted on the base member 290 of the dish unit 21 as viewed from the upper right direction of the dish unit 21.

  The acoustic unit 50 includes a speaker 50a that is a sound output device that outputs sound according to a gaming state, and a substantially box-shaped speaker case 50b that houses the speaker 50a. The speaker 50a has a disk shape and is screwed to the speaker case 50b. The acoustic unit 50 is screwed to the base member 290 so that the speaker 50a is mounted in the vicinity of the narrowing opening 302d of the upper plate 300 with the front side facing the front side. As described above, the through hole 300e is formed in the base member 290 of the upper plate 300 in the vicinity of the narrowing opening 302d. In other words, the upper plate 300 has a through hole 300e formed on the surface (base member 290) facing the speaker 50a. In other words, the base member 290 has a through hole 300e extending from the speaker 50a to the upper plate 300. And when the speaker 50a which is a sound output device outputs a sound toward the through hole 300e, it is possible to effectively prevent or eliminate the clogging of the game balls generated in the ball passage 300c.

  That is, the speaker 50a is provided inside the pachinko machine 10, and is arranged so that sound can be output from the through hole 300e to the outside of the pachinko machine 10, so that the sound from the speaker 50a is stored in the ball passage 300c. A through hole is formed so as to be directly transmitted to the game ball. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent or eliminate the clogging of the storage tray without increasing the number of parts.

  In particular, since the ball passage 300c is formed so as to become narrower as it approaches the launching device 130, clogging is particularly likely to occur at a position where the width of the ball passage 300c is larger than the diameter of the game ball, for example, the narrowing opening 302d. It has become. Therefore, since the through hole 300e is formed so that the sound from the speaker 50a is directly transmitted to the game ball stored in the narrowing hole 302d as described above, the game ball of the upper plate 300 is blocked. Can be more effectively prevented or eliminated.

  The size of the speaker 50a can be appropriately determined according to the structure of the upper plate 300 and the flow of the game ball, and a larger speaker or a smaller speaker may be employed.

[Electric configuration of gaming machine]
Based on FIG. 7, the control circuit of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. A block diagram showing a control circuit of the pachinko machine 10 in this embodiment is shown in FIG. The pachinko machine 10 described above detects a winning ball that has won a winning opening 26, ball passage detectors 34a, 34b, etc., controls a game operation such as performing a predetermined effect, and outputs a ball clogging output command to be described later. In response to this, a control circuit for controlling the speaker 50a is provided.

  The main control circuit 60 controls overall gaming operations in the pachinko machine 10 and performs overall control over the control in the sub control circuit 200.

  The main control circuit 60 includes a main CPU 66, a main ROM (read only memory) 68, and a main RAM (read / write readable memory) 70 as control means. The main control circuit 60 controls the progress of the game. The main control circuit 60 corresponds to an example of game control means.

  The main CPU 66 is connected to a main ROM 68, a main RAM 70, and the like, and has a function of executing various processes in accordance with programs stored in the main ROM 68. As described above, the main CPU 66 functions as various means described later.

  The main ROM 68 stores a program for controlling the operation of the pachinko machine 10 by the main CPU 66 and various tables.

  The main RAM 70 has a function of storing various flags and variable values as a temporary storage area of the main CPU 66. Specific examples of data stored in the main RAM 70 include a start opening prize ball counter, a general winning opening prize ball counter, a large winning opening prize ball counter, a remaining winning ball counter, and the like.

  Here, the starting opening prize ball counter indicates the number of game balls that have passed a starting winning ball switch 160 described later. The general winning opening prize ball counter indicates the number of game balls that have passed a general winning ball switch 170 described later. The special winning opening prize ball counter indicates the number of game balls that have passed through the V count switch 180 or the counting switch 190 provided in the special winning opening 18. The remaining winning ball counter indicates the remaining number of game balls to be paid out as winning balls.

  The main control circuit 60 also has a command for a reset clock pulse generating circuit 62 that generates a clock pulse of a predetermined frequency, an initial reset circuit 64 that generates a reset signal when the power is turned on, and a sub-control circuit 200 described later. A command output port 72 for supplying a signal and an I / O port 73 for transmitting / receiving a signal to / from various devices. The reset clock pulse generation circuit 62, the initial reset circuit 64, the command output port 72, and the I / O port 73 are connected to the main CPU 66.

  The main control circuit 60 is connected to game ball detection switches provided at each winning opening via the I / O port 73 described above, and a predetermined detection signal is output from these detection switches. In this case, this detection signal is transmitted to the main control circuit 60. The game ball detection switch includes a start winning ball switch 160 provided in the starting port 26, a general winning ball switch 170 provided in the general winning ports 28a to 28d, and a V count switch provided in the big winning port 18. 180 and the count switch 190, and the gate switch 195 provided in the ball | bowl passage detectors 34a and 34b which are normal symbol starting openings.

  In addition, as described above, the main control circuit 60 detects that a game ball remains in the upper plate 300 and detects a clogged game ball in the upper plate 300. 360 are connected. When it is detected from these detection switches that a game ball remains in the upper plate 300, a predetermined detection signal is output and this detection signal is transmitted to the main control circuit 60.

  Here, when the main CPU 66 of the main control circuit 60 receives a detection signal from the detection switch 350 and the main CPU 66 receives a detection signal from the detection switch 360 within a predetermined period, the main CPU 66 Although the game ball remains in the dish 300, it is determined that the game ball is not clogged. If the main CPU 66 does not receive the detection signal from the detection switch 350 and the main CPU 66 does not receive the detection signal from the detection switch 360 within a predetermined period, the main CPU 66 places the game ball in the upper plate 300. Is determined not to have an afterimage.

  On the other hand, when the main CPU 66 does not receive the detection signal from the detection switch 350 and the main CPU 66 receives the detection signal from the detection switch 360 within a predetermined period, the main CPU 66 causes the game ball to move inside the upper plate 300. And the game ball is determined to be clogged. In this case, the main CPU 66 transmits a ball clogging command to the sub control circuit 200 through the command output port 72 at a predetermined timing. When the sub control circuit 200 receives this ball clogging command, a sound that vibrates the upper plate 300 is output from the speaker 50a, as will be described later.

  As described above, since the detection switches 350 and 360 are provided, it is possible to easily detect the occurrence of the ball clogging, and it is possible to eliminate the ball clogging in a short time even if the ball clogging occurs. . In particular, since ball clogging can be detected at the initial stage of ball clogging, large-scale ball clogging can be prevented.

  When the sub-control circuit 200 receives a ball clogging command, the trouble LED 92 is lit to notify that a game ball has clogged in the upper plate 300.

  The main control circuit 60 is connected with a large winning opening solenoid 205 for opening and closing the shutter 24 of the large winning opening 18 and a normal electric accessory solenoid 220 for operating the blade member 38. In response, a drive control signal is transmitted.

  Furthermore, the backup clear switch 124 is built in the pachinko machine 10 and has a function of clearing backup data in the event of a power failure or the like in accordance with the operation of the game hall manager.

  The main control circuit 60 is connected to a payout / launch control circuit 126. Connected to the payout / launch control circuit 126 are a payout device 128 that pays out game balls, a launch device 130 that fires game balls, and a card unit 150. Specifically, the payout / launch control circuit 126 has a CPU (not shown) for controlling the payout / launch control circuit 126 and a ROM (a program for causing the CPU to execute processing). And a RAM (not shown) which is a work area of the CPU.

  The payout / firing control circuit 126 receives a prize ball control command supplied from the main control circuit 60 and a lending ball control signal supplied from the card unit 150 in response to an operation of a ball lending operation panel (not shown). By sending a predetermined signal to the payout device 128, the payout device 128 pays out the game ball. Further, the payout / launch control circuit 126 performs a control of launching a game ball by supplying a launch signal to the launch device 130.

  In addition, the launching device 130 is provided with a device for launching a game ball such as the launching motor and the touch sensor described above. When the firing handle 78 (see FIG. 2) is gripped by the player and is turned clockwise, power is supplied to the firing motor according to the turning angle, and the upper plate 300 is taken in. Game balls supplied from the mouth 304 (see FIG. 3) are sequentially launched into the game area by a launch motor.

  Further, the sub-control circuit 200 is connected to the command output port 72 via the command input port 240. The sub control circuit 200 controls the image display in the liquid crystal display device 32 and the sound output from the speakers 46 (46L and 46R in FIG. 1) and 50a in accordance with various commands supplied from the main control circuit 60. The lamp 132 including the production LED 270, the trouble LED 92, a decorative lamp (not shown), and the like are controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the command is supplied from the main control circuit 60 to the sub control circuit 200 and the signal cannot be supplied from the sub control circuit 200 to the main control circuit 60. The present invention is not limited to this, and there is no problem even if it is configured such that a signal can be transmitted from the sub control circuit 200 to the main control circuit 60.

  The sub control circuit 200 as the effect control means includes a sub CPU 206, a program ROM 208 as a storage means, a work RAM 210, an image control circuit 250 for performing display control in the liquid crystal display device 32, and speakers 46L and 46R (denoted as 46 in the figure). ), 50a, a sound control circuit 230 for controlling the sound (sound) to be output, and a lamp control circuit 235 for controlling the lamp 132. The sub-control circuit 200 executes an effect according to the progress of the game in accordance with a command from the main control circuit 60.

  A program ROM 208, a work RAM 210, and the like are connected to the sub CPU 206. The sub CPU 206 has a function of executing various processes according to the program stored in the program ROM 208. In particular, the sub CPU 206 controls the sub control circuit 200 in accordance with various commands supplied from the main control circuit 60. The sub CPU 206 functions as various means described later.

  The program ROM 208 stores a program for controlling the game effect of the pachinko machine 10 by the sub CPU 206, and also stores various tables such as a table for making a decision regarding the effect. A specific program will be described later.

  The work RAM 210 has a function of storing various flags and variable values as a temporary storage area of the sub CPU 206. For example, various variables such as an effect display selection random number counter for selecting an effect pattern are positioned.

  The image control circuit 250 includes an image data processor (not shown), an image data ROM (not shown) for storing various image data, and the like. In response to an image display command supplied from the sub CPU 206, the image control circuit 250 receives identification information image data indicating identification information, background image data, effect image data, and normal symbol image data indicating a normal symbol from the image data ROM. Various image data are read out and image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 32 is generated. Then, the image control circuit 250 converts the generated image data as an image signal, and supplies the image signal to the liquid crystal display device 32 at a predetermined timing, thereby causing the liquid crystal display device 32 to display an image.

  The audio control circuit 230 includes a sound source IC (not shown) that performs control related to audio, an audio data ROM (not shown) that stores various types of audio data, and the like. The voice control circuit 230 selects one voice data from a plurality of voice data stored in the voice data ROM in accordance with a voice generation command supplied from the sub CPU 206. The audio control circuit 230 reads the selected audio data from the audio data ROM, converts the audio data into a predetermined audio signal, amplifies the audio signal, and generates audio from the speakers 46L, 46R, and 50a.

  Specifically, when the jackpot gaming state is set in the near future or the current jackpot gaming state, the voice control circuit 230 selects one voice data from the plurality of voice data for the jackpot gaming state, Based on this, sound is output from the speakers 46L, 46R, 50a. As a result, it is possible to make the player foresee that a big hit will come in the near future, or to be sure that the player is currently in the big hit gaming state. On the other hand, when the current or near future gaming state is not the big hit gaming state, that is, when it is the normal gaming state, the voice control circuit 230 selects one voice data from the plurality of voice data for the normal gaming state, Based on this data, sound is output from the speakers 46L, 46R, 50a. As a result, it is possible for the player to grasp that the big hit gaming state will not occur not only in the present but also in the near future. Thus, the speakers 46L, 46R, and 50a output sounds according to the gaming state under the control of the voice control circuit 230.

  Further, the voice control circuit 230 may receive a ball clogging sound generation command from the sub CPU 206 based on the ball clogging command transmitted from the main control circuit 60 to the sub control circuit 200. When receiving the clogging voice generation command, the voice control circuit 230 selects the clogging voice data stored in the voice data ROM. The audio control circuit 230 reads the selected audio data from the audio data ROM, converts the audio data into a predetermined audio signal, amplifies the audio signal, and outputs audio (sound) from the speaker 50a. Since the sound output at this time is a sound for eliminating the clogging of the ball, for example, a sound having a frequency that causes the upper plate 300 to resonate, the clogging of the ball can be effectively eliminated.

  As described above, only when the clogging occurs, a sound for eliminating the clogging, for example, a sound having a frequency for resonating the upper plate 300 is output, so that the clogging can be effectively eliminated. .

  In order to output a sound having a frequency that causes the upper plate 300 to resonate, the following may be performed. That is, the basic frequency of the frequency at which the substrate 300b is resonated is c / 2L (Hz) when the width of the upper plate is L (cm) and the sound speed is c (cm / s) with reference to FIG. Note that an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency c / 2L is also a resonance frequency, but the degree of resonance is smaller than the fundamental frequency. For example, assuming that the width L is 3 cm, the sound speed is about 34000 cm / s at 20 ° C., so the fundamental frequency of the resonance frequency is approximately 34000 / (2 × 3) = 5667 (Hz). An integral multiple of the fundamental frequency is also the resonance frequency. Therefore, the sound control circuit 230 may be configured to output the sound having the calculated resonance frequency from the speaker 50a.

  The lamp control circuit 235 includes a drive circuit (not shown) for supplying a lamp control signal, a decoration data ROM (not shown) in which a plurality of types of lamp decoration patterns and the like are stored. The lamp control circuit 235 performs light emission control of the lamp 132 such as the trouble LED 92 based on a command supplied from the sub CPU 206.

[Game machine operation]
Hereinafter, a command transmission process at the time of ball clogging executed by the main control circuit 60 of the pachinko machine 10 when the detection switch detects clogging of the upper plate 300 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a command transmission process at the time of ball clogging executed in the pachinko machine 10 of the present invention.

[Command transmission processing at ball clogging]
First, as shown in FIG. 8, the main CPU 66 determines whether or not a detection signal from the detection switch 350 has been received (step S601). In this process, if the main CPU 66 determines that the detection signal from the detection switch 350 has not been received, that is, if the game ball in the upper plate 300 is not out of the ball, the process moves to step S602, where the detection is detected. If it is determined that the detection signal from the switch 350 has been received, this subroutine is terminated.

  In step S602, the main CPU 66 determines whether or not the detection signal from the detection switch 360 has been received within a predetermined time. In this process, the main CPU 66 determines whether or not the detection signal from the detection switch 360 has been received within a predetermined time. If it is determined that the detection signal has been received, the main CPU 66 moves the process to step S603 and determines that it has not been received. If so, this subroutine is terminated.

  Here, when the detection switch 350 does not detect that the game ball in the upper plate 300 is out of ball (the process of step S601 is “NO”), the detection switch 360 detects that the upper plate 300 is within a predetermined time. When it is detected that the game ball in the ball is out of ball (the process in step S602 is “YES”), the game ball is in a ball-packed state in the upper plate 300. Therefore, the main CPU 66 that executes the processes of steps S601 and S602 functions as a ball clogging determination unit that determines whether or not the game balls in the upper plate 300 are clogged.

  In the processing of step S603, the main CPU 66 transmits a ball clogging command to the sub control circuit 200. When the sub control circuit 200 receives this ball clogging command, the sub CPU 206 of the sub control circuit 200 transmits a voice clogging output command to the voice control circuit 230 based on the ball clogging command.

  Next, a sound output process at the time of ball clogging executed by the sub control circuit 200 of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a ball clogging sound output process executed in the pachinko machine 10 of the present invention.

[Sound output processing for ball clogging]
First, as shown in FIG. 9, the voice control circuit 230 determines whether or not a voice output command at the time of clogging is received from the sub CPU 206 of the sub control circuit 200 (step S701). In this process, if the main CPU 66 determines that the voice output command at the time of ball clogging has been received, the main CPU 66 moves to step S702, and if it determines that the voice output command at the time of ball clogging has not been received, Exit the subroutine.

  In the process of step S702, the voice control circuit 230 selects voice data according to a voice output command at the time of ball clogging. In this processing, the voice control circuit 230 outputs voice data that outputs a sound for vibrating the upper plate 300 from a plurality of voice data stored in the voice data ROM in accordance with the supplied voice output command. select. If this process ends, the process moves to a step S703.

  In the process of step S703, an audio output process is executed. In this process, the audio control circuit 230 reads the selected audio data from the audio data ROM, converts the audio data into a predetermined audio signal, amplifies the audio signal, and includes the speaker 50a (including the speakers 46L and 46R). Good). That is, the speaker 50a which is a sound output device outputs a sound which vibrates the inside of the upper plate 300 on condition that the ball clogging is detected by the detection switches 350 and 360 which are ball clogging detection means. In other words, the sound control circuit 230 outputs a sound that vibrates the upper plate 300 to the speaker 50a that is a sound output device on condition that the ball clogging is detected by the detection switches 350 and 360 that are ball clogging detection means. It has a function as a sound control means.

  As described above, since the detection switches 350 and 360 are provided, it is possible to easily detect the occurrence of the ball clogging, and it is possible to eliminate the ball clogging in a short time even if the ball clogging occurs. . In particular, since ball clogging can be detected at the initial stage of ball clogging, large-scale ball clogging can be prevented.

  Further, only when the clogging occurs, a sound for eliminating the clogging, for example, a sound having a frequency for resonating the above-described upper plate 300 is output, so that the clogging can be effectively eliminated.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, the speaker 50a is provided inside the pachinko machine 10, and is provided on the base member 290 of the upper plate 300 so that sound can be output from the through hole 300e to the outside of the pachinko machine 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the speaker 50a may be installed in a place where the ball of the game ball in the upper plate 300 is eliminated. For example, it may be provided on the base 300b of the upper plate 300 or the wall surface 300f (see FIG. 5) of the reservoir 300a. In this case, a through hole is formed in the upper plate 300 from the speaker toward the upper plate 300. Thereby, the vibration of the sound output from the speaker, which is a sound output device, can be directly transmitted to the game ball in the upper plate 300, so that the ball clogging can be effectively prevented or eliminated without increasing the number of parts.

  Moreover, various kinds of speakers can be adopted as the speakers 46L, 46R, and 50a. For example, a piezo speaker or the like may be adopted.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the two detection switches 350 and 360 are adopted. However, if it is possible to detect the clogging of the game balls in the upper plate 300, the number of detection switches is not two but one is three. Two or more may be provided. Furthermore, the detection switch may be of any type, for example, a proximity switch, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, or the like.

1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the pachinko machine concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of an upper plate among the plate units of the pachinko machine concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a partially broken front view of the storage part fractured | ruptured by the dashed-dotted line AA in FIG. It is a longitudinal section showing the upper plate and sound unit of the pachinko machine concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a mode that a sound unit is mounted | worn with the base member of the dish unit of the pachinko machine concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention seen from the diagonally upper right direction of a dish unit. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit of the pachinko machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing performed in the pachinko machine concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing performed in the pachinko machine concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machine 50a Speaker 130 Launcher 300 Top plate 300c Ball passage 300e Through hole 350,360 Detection switch

Claims (4)

A storage tray in which a ball passage for storing a game ball to be paid out in accordance with a predetermined winning and supplying a game ball to the launching device for launching the game ball is formed;
A gaming machine comprising a sound output device for outputting sound according to a gaming state,
A through hole is formed in the storage dish,
The game machine characterized in that the sound output device is provided inside the game machine and is arranged so as to be able to output sound from the through hole to the outside of the game machine. The ball passage is formed to become narrower as it approaches the launcher,
The through hole is formed so that sound from a sound output device is directly transmitted to a game ball stored in a position where the width of the ball passage is larger than the diameter of one game ball. The gaming machine according to claim 1.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a ball clogging detection unit that detects clogging of a game ball.   4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the sound output device outputs a sound for vibrating the upper plate on condition that ball clogging is detected by the detection means.

Images