JP2007275333A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compatibly attain both of the reduction of a sense of incongruity and avoidance of erroneous operation due to the dispensing of game balls. <P>SOLUTION: A shooting handle 126 is provided with a first pressure sensor 127 and a second pressure sensor 128 near the outer periphery of the handle. The pressure sensors output a sensor signal according to gripping force by the thumb FO and that by the pointing finger when a player grips the shooting handle 126. When the player performs gripping operation of the shooting handle 126 twice within a prescribed period, the player having performed the operation is considered to desire dispensing of the game balls, and the game balls are dispensed. That is, the handle gripping operation in the case of dispensing the game balls is regulated discriminated from handle gripping operation in the case of shooting the game balls. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a gaming ball lending operation for a gaming machine.

  When playing with a gaming machine, the player uses a game ball that has been lent. In recent years, it has become a mainstream to use a prepaid card in order to simplify the handling of money as well as to save the trouble of lending the ball during the game. In order to receive a ball lending using a prepaid card, the prepaid card is first inserted into a card insertion device, and the lending button is operated before or during the game. Then, the game ball is discharged to the game ball tray, and the game can be started with the game ball.

  Generally, the player tries to align the trajectory of the ball launched by the launching device, so-called ball muscles, in order to increase the winnings and thus to win the jackpot. For this reason, in order to keep the operating feeling and operating position of the launching handle as small as possible, while holding the launching handle with the right hand, the gaming posture is taken so that the upper body does not shake by pushing the left hand toward the saucer or its surroundings. Even if such a game posture is maintained, the number of fired balls is reduced and it is sometimes necessary to replenish the lending ball. However, there is a demand for the player not to change his posture greatly even when this lending ball is replenished. Various proposals have been made to meet such demands (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-355422 A

  In this patent document, an operation button for a rental ball is provided on the front side of a game ball tray that stores the rented game ball before reaching the launching device, and the operation with the thumb of the left hand that protrudes around the tray and its periphery Button operation is possible.

  However, when the thumb is moved for button operation, the palm portion of the base of the thumb also follows and moves, so that the feel of the palm of the left hand protruding toward the saucer and its periphery also changes. Therefore, it is feared that the player trying to maintain the above-described gaming posture makes the player feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, if only the first joint of the thumb is bent, the feel of the palm of the left hand protruding toward the saucer and its surroundings is hardly changed, and the player's discomfort is reduced. In order to be able to operate the button by bending the first joint of the thumb, it is necessary to dispose the operation button so as to be positioned on the abdomen of the thumb. Then, in a situation where the player is addicted to the game and is tense, the player may bend without holding the thumb and the operation button may be erroneously operated, and the rental balls may be inadvertently made. Yeah.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in renting game balls during gaming on a gaming machine, and aims to achieve both a reduction in discomfort associated with renting game balls and avoiding erroneous operations. .

  In order to solve at least a part of such problems, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the launching handle that is gripped and rotated by the player is used for both the output of the firing command signal and the output of the gaming ball lending command. Used for. In other words, when the player handles the player with, for example, the right hand and rotates, the player can output a game ball launch command signal to the launcher. As a result, the launching device launches a game ball. In addition, the launching handle is provided with a gripping operation conversion unit that detects a handle gripping state by the player, and the handle gripping state by the hand holding the launching handle by the player is detected. Then, when the state of gripping the handle by the hand holding the launching handle for launching the game ball matches the situation according to a predetermined lending rule, a lending command is issued.

  As in the case of existing gaming machines, a player who plays a game machine according to the present invention configured as described above holds the launching handle with the right hand and the left hand sticks to the game ball tray and its surroundings so that the upper body does not shake. Take a gaming attitude like this. When a player rents a game ball while playing the game in this way, in the gaming machine according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the rent for renting a game ball can be performed only by changing the handle gripping state by the hand holding the launching handle. Since the command can be issued, it is not necessary to involve the left hand in the game ball lending. As a result, the position and sensation of the left hand that has struck the game ball tray and the periphery thereof can be made almost unchanged when renting the game ball, so that it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling associated with renting the game ball during the game. In addition, when a player is enthusiastic about the game, he or she grasps the launch handle unintentionally, but since such a handle grasping operation is usually an operation to grab the handle with more force than before, By making the handle gripping state according to the lending rules different from such gripping operations, the effectiveness of avoiding erroneous operations is also enhanced. In addition, the launch handle does not affect the design of the gaming machine main body in manufacturing the gaming machine, and is manufactured separately from the gaming machine main body. No design changes are required. Therefore, it is easy to deal with device manufacturing.

  The gaming machine of the present invention may be configured as follows. For example, the lending command can be issued when the gripping force of the handle gripping by the player is increased or decreased a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time. If this is done, it is possible to distinguish the operation of gripping the firing handle with the player involuntarily putting the force into the game as described above and the handle gripping operation for lending the game ball, which is preferable.

  Further, when detecting the grasping operation of the launching handle, the pressure sensor installed on the launching handle is used, and the handle gripping condition matches the situation according to the lending rule based on the output transition of the pressure sensor. As mentioned above, the lending instruction can be issued. In this way, a new game ball lending method can be provided by a simple method of installing a pressure sensor on the launch handle and processing the signal.

  Furthermore, a game ball lending unit that lends a game ball upon receipt of the lending instruction is provided, and the game ball lending unit reads the storage information of the storage unit that stores information related to the game ball lending, and lends the game ball. The storage information of the storage unit is updated along with the game ball lending unit, and when the game ball lending unit receives the lending command, the game ball lending unit is lent based on the read storage information. It can also be done. In this way, the game ball can be lent by the grasping operation of the launching handle, and it is possible to prepare for the next and subsequent game ball rental through the update of the memory content accompanying the actual game ball rental.

  In providing the storage unit in this way, the storage unit can be connected to the game ball lending unit via a communication line capable of bidirectional data transmission, for example, a dedicated line or a network. This makes it difficult to falsify the information stored in the storage unit as compared to falsification of the storage information in the storage medium when the storage medium storing the information relating to the rental of the game ball is attached to the game ball lending unit.

  Further, the storage unit may be a storage medium that can read and write data, and may be attached to the gaming ball rental unit or the gaming machine. In addition, when the handle gripping state matches a state according to a rule different from the lending rule, a return command for the storage medium can be issued. In this way, the gaming machine that lends game balls using a storage medium such as a prepaid card, a credit card, or an IC card can achieve the effects described above, and the launching handle gripping operation for gaming ball lending The game ball lending and the storage medium return can be performed with the firing handle gripping operation while distinguishing the firing handle gripping operation for returning the storage medium. In this case, the game ball lending unit (rental device) that lends a game ball in response to the lending command can be configured to be incorporated between the gaming machine tables in addition to the configuration incorporated in the gaming machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine 100 in the embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a wooden outer frame 112 and a prepaid card unit 115 set on the outer side surface of the outer frame 112. The prepaid card unit 115 is a device that supplies a predetermined number of game balls to the game ball tray 124 by inserting a prepaid card in which information on the number of rented balls is recorded into the card insertion hole 116. Lending of such game balls is performed based on a lending command issued in accordance with a gripping operation of the launch handle 126 described later.

  The pachinko gaming machine 100 includes an inner frame 114 that is pivotally attached to a wooden outer frame 112 via an inner frame hinge 113 so as to be opened and closed. The inner frame 114 covers the surface of the game board and allows the game area of the game board to be visually recognized by the glass 117. The pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a game ball tray 124 that stores a game ball as a rental ball or a prize ball before reaching the launching device 152 (see FIG. 3) below the glass 117. 124 is formed by a saucer forming portion 120 protruding forward from the front surface of the game board, specifically, from the front surface of the inner frame 114.

  The pachinko gaming machine 100 includes, on the surface of the inner frame 114 below the game ball tray 124, a lower plate 125 that stores game balls that have been paid out beyond the capacity of the game ball tray 124, and a launch handle 126. A launch device (not shown) is provided inside the inner frame 114 on the root side of the launch handle 126. The game ball is supplied from the game ball tray 124 to the launch position (ball hitting position) of the launching device, and the pachinko gaming machine 100 launches the game ball toward the game area by the launching device that is driven through the rotation operation of the launching handle 126. . In addition, the game area of the game board lights in various forms according to the winning status of the winning opening, as well as various kinds of actors such as windmills, winning holes, symbol display devices, jackpot winning holes according to the game taste. In addition, a blinking display lamp and various sensors are mounted, but these are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of the firing handle 126. As shown in FIG. 2, the firing handle 126 has protrusions 126a to 126c that function as finger stoppers on the outer periphery thereof. The player presses the belly of the thumb FO on the outer periphery of the handle near the projection 126a, presses the belly of the index finger FH on the outer periphery of the handle between the projection 126a and the projection 126b, and for the other fingers, the projection 126b to the projection 126c. In general, the firing handle 126 is gripped by pressing the belly against the outer periphery of the handle. When the game ball is launched, the handle is rotated while holding the launch handle as described above, and the operation amount is adjusted to adjust the force for launching the game ball.

  The firing handle 126 includes a first pressure sensor 127 and a second pressure sensor 128 built in near the outer periphery of the handle. These pressure sensors constantly detect the gripping force by the thumb FO and the gripping force by the index finger when the player grips the firing handle 126 as described above, and output a sensor signal corresponding to the detected gripping force. In this case, even when the player is holding the firing handle 126 for launching the game ball (that is, firing and gripping operation), each of the pressure sensors described above senses gripping force, but the control device 150 receives the sensor input. Filter the sensor output corresponding to the sensor output that appears at the time of the firing gripping operation, and the sensor output equal to or higher than the sensor output determined by the filter is used for the gripping operation of the launching handle for lending a game ball or returning a card It is supposed to accept as. That is, the control device 150 receives sensor inputs from both of the above sensors through so-called high-pass filter processing. The filter value in the high-pass filter processing is determined every predetermined time or through a statistical process such as sampling and averaging of sensor output values of the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 when the game ball is launched, or a pachinko gaming machine It can also be configured to calculate each time the player who plays at 100 changes.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100. As shown in the figure, the pachinko gaming machine 100 is configured around a control device 150. The control device 150 is configured as a microcomputer and includes a CPU that is a logical operation circuit, a RAM that stores temporary data, a ROM that stores data associated with a program to be described later, and the like. In addition to the unit 115, the firing handle 126, the display device 154, the card reading device 156 in the prepaid card unit 115, the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 in the firing handle 126, various sensor groups and accessory driving in the game board A device 158 is connected. The control device 150 controls various controls of the pachinko gaming machine 100.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 100 configured as described above, the game content is executed by the control device 150 as follows. After a prepaid card is inserted into the prepaid card unit 115, if a predetermined lending operation described later is performed with the firing handle 126, a lending command is issued to the control device 150, and the control device 150 reads the card read by the reading device 156. Based on the information on the number of rented balls, a predetermined number of game balls as rented balls are discharged to the game ball tray 124 on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 100. In this case, the process associated with the game ball lending can be performed independently of the control device 150 on the prepaid card unit 115 side.

  Thereafter, when the rotation operation of the launching handle 126 is performed, the control device 150 drives the launching motor and the hitting ball of the launching device 152 according to the state of the handle turning operation, and is paid out to the game ball tray 124. The game ball is fired toward the game area. The launched game ball is guided to a game area inside the glass 117.

  Next, a game ball lending / card return process associated with the grasping operation by the player of the firing handle 126 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of the game ball lending / card return process.

  The game ball lending / card return process shown in the figure is repeatedly executed by the control device 150 every predetermined time. First, the sensor outputs from the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 of the firing handle 126 are scanned. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a sensor input for lending a game ball or returning a card (step S200). In this case, as described above, the sensor output in the shooting and gripping operation in which the player grips the shooting handle 126 for launching the game ball is excluded from the sensor output in step S200 by the high-pass filter processing as described above. . If it is determined in step S200 that there is no sensor input for renting a game ball or returning a card, this routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S200 that there is a sensor input for lending a game ball or returning a card, the control device 150 analyzes the sensor input (step S210). In the present embodiment, the launching and gripping operation at the time of launching the game ball and the gripping operation for lending the game ball and returning the card are distinguished by the behavior of the player holding the launching handle. Hereinafter, this situation will be described.

  During a game in which a player launches a game ball or pays attention to the winning situation of the game ball, the player usually has a thumb FO or the like with almost the same gripping force (hereinafter, this gripping force is referred to as a gripping force at launch). To hold the firing handle 126. Even if the shooting handle 126 is gripped strongly by being crazy about the game, the handle gripping force at that time usually increases only once, and then returns to the above-mentioned gripping force at launching. Alternatively, when the hand is released from the handle after the handle is firmly held, the gripping force becomes zero. Based on such knowledge, in the present embodiment, a gripping operation for lending game balls (hereinafter referred to as a lending gripping operation) is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) during a predetermined time (for example, about 2 seconds). ), The operation of gripping the firing handle 126 with a gripping force greater than the gripping force during firing. In addition, a gripping operation for returning a card (hereinafter referred to as a return gripping operation) is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) different from the lending gripping operation during a predetermined time (for example, about 2 seconds), and the firing handle 126. Was defined as the action of gripping with a gripping force greater than the gripping force at launch. Further, when the firing handle 126 is strongly gripped unintentionally in the game, the gripping force is increased only for a short time, so that the firing handle 126 has a gripping force equal to or higher than the gripping force at the time of firing. This operation is also defined as a lending / gripping operation with respect to the operation of continuously grasping at the same time.

  That is, the sensor input analysis in step S210 is performed to distinguish whether the sensor input state is a sensor input corresponding to the above-described lending gripping operation or a sensor input corresponding to the return gripping operation. . Then, following the sensor input analysis in step S210, based on the result of the sensor input analysis, it is determined whether the current gripping operation is a lending gripping operation (step S220). Then, the control device 150 outputs a game ball lending command signal to the prepaid card unit 115 and lends the game ball (step S230). When the game ball is lent, the number information of the prepayment card read by the card reading device 156 is referred to. At this time, the information on the number of rented balls of the prepaid card is subtracted and updated and stored together with the gaming ball lending, and the deducted amount corresponds to one gaming ball lending amount (for example, 500 yen). This one-time game ball lending amount can be set by the player. In this case, the prepaid card unit 115 may be provided with a loan amount setting button or the like.

  The negative determination in step S220 is that the current gripping operation is a return gripping operation. Therefore, the control device 150 outputs a prepaid card return command signal to the prepaid card unit 115 and inserts the card into the prepaid card unit 115. The prepaid card is returned from the hole 116 (step S240).

  As described above, in the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment, when the player performs the pachinko game, the player holds the launching handle 126 with the right hand and holds the left hand with the game ball tray 124 and its surroundings as in the existing gaming machine. Take a gaming posture so that your upper body does not shake. When the player lends a game ball while playing the game in this way, in the pachinko gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment, the firing handle 126 is held within a predetermined time while holding the handle with the hand holding the firing handle 126. A lending command for lending game balls can be issued simply by performing the gripping operation twice. Therefore, since it is not necessary for the gaming ball receiving tray 124 and the left hand that has struck in the vicinity thereof to be involved in the gaming ball lending, the position and feeling of the left hand that has struck the gaming ball receiving tray 124 and its periphery are hardly changed when renting the gaming ball. As a result, it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling associated with lending game balls during the game. Further, since the lending and holding operation for lending the game ball is distinct from the shooting and holding operation in which the player holds the shooting handle 126 for launching the game ball, the player who is enthusiastic about the game uses the shooting handle 126. Even if the player holds the ball with force, the lending of the game ball can be prevented, and the effectiveness of avoiding an erroneous operation is increased.

  In addition, the launch handle 126 does not affect the design of the inner frame 114 as well as the outer frame 112 of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and can be manufactured separately from these members. There is no need to change the design of the machine itself. Therefore, it is easy to deal with device manufacturing.

  Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment, when detecting the grasping operation of the firing handle 126 by the player, the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 are disposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the firing handle 126. The output state of the pressure sensor was used for the distinction of the handle gripping operation for lending game balls based on the gripping operation of the launch handle 126 by the player. Therefore, a new game ball lending method can be provided by a simple method of installing the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 on the firing handle 126 and signal processing thereof.

  In addition, a prepaid card unit 115 is added to the pachinko gaming machine 100, the number of rented balls of the prepaid card is read by the unit, and the gaming balls are lent based on the number of rented balls. A card return command is issued simply by holding the firing handle 126 and holding the firing handle 126 three times within a predetermined time while holding the handle. Therefore, even in the pachinko gaming machine 100 that lends a game ball using a prepaid card, it is not necessary for the left hand that has struck the game ball tray 124 or the periphery thereof to be involved in the card return. The position and sensation of the left hand can be kept almost unchanged when renting a game ball. In addition, gaming balls can be lent and cards can be returned simply by changing the gripping operation of the launch handle 126.

  In this embodiment, when sensor inputs are obtained from the first pressure sensor 127 and the second pressure sensor 128 of the firing handle 126, the sensor input is subjected to high-pass filter processing, and the filter value is subjected to statistical processing. It is calculated every predetermined time or every player. Therefore, the reliability of the distinction between the launching / gripping operation of the launching handle 126 and the grasping operation of the launching handle 126 for lending or returning a game ball based on the sensor outputs of the two pressure sensors is increased. Therefore, the game ball can be fired, the game ball can be lent and the card can be returned according to the gripping operation of the firing handle 126 without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to above-described embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it is possible to implement in various aspects. For example, although the prepaid card unit 115 is separated from the pachinko gaming machine 100 in the above embodiment, a prepaid card receiving / reading mechanism may be incorporated in the pachinko gaming machine 100 itself.

  In addition, in existing pachinko machines, lending buttons and return buttons are often installed around the game ball tray 124. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion of the player, it may be modified to be used in combination with these buttons. it can. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a modified pachinko gaming machine 100.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the modified example forms the game ball tray 124 on the front surface of the gaming machine by the tray forming portion 120, the tray forming portion 120 is moved forward from the inner frame 114 which is the front surface of the game board. In this saucer forming portion 120, a board surface side extended edge 121 extending from the upper edge of the game ball tray 124 to the game board surface side with the game ball tray 124 interposed therebetween, and an opening A player side extended edge portion 122 extending from the upper edge to the player side is provided. The pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a lending button 130 and a return button 132 on the upper surface of the board surface side extended edge portion 121, and these buttons can be operated from the upper surface side of the board surface side extended edge portion 121. . The lending button 130 is operated by the player when the player desires to lend the game ball, and issues a lending command to the control device 150 when receiving the operation. The return button 132 is operated by the player when the game is ended or interrupted. When the player receives the operation, the return button 132 issues a return command for returning the prepaid card inserted into the card insertion hole 116 to the control device 150.

  The pachinko gaming machine 100 according to this modified example receives signals from the lending button 130 and the return button 132 in the electrical configuration of the above-described embodiment, and game ball lending / card returning processing depending on whether or not these buttons are operated. I do. That is, when the control device 150 receives an operation signal for the lending button 130 or the return button 132, the control device 150 performs the gaming ball lending process described in step S230 if the lending button 130 operation is triggered by the signal, and the return button If the operation is 132, the card return process described in step S240 is executed.

  According to the above-described modified example, it is possible to perform gaming ball lending and card return based on the grasping operation of the launch handle 126, and also by operating the lending button 130 and the return button 132 provided around the gaming ball tray 124. Since gaming balls can be rented and returned, card players can be prevented from being confused when renting or returning cards, and the discomfort associated with renting gaming balls can be reduced.

  Further, it can be modified as follows. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of the firing handle 126 in another modified example. In this modification, the firing handle 126 is provided with a push switch 129 exposed on the outer periphery of the handle, instead of incorporating the pressure sensor described above. The pressing switch 129 outputs a pressing signal to the control device 150 when pressed by the player, and continuously outputs the pressing signal when the pressing of the switch is continued. The distinction between the above-described launching and gripping operation when using the press switch 129 and the gripping operation for lending game balls and returning cards is as follows.

  When the player is holding the firing handle 126 for launching the game ball, the player continues the handle gripping operation. Therefore, during the firing and gripping operation, the pressing switch 129 is kept pressed with, for example, the index finger FH, and the pressing switch 129 continuously outputs the pressing signal. An operation of pressing the pressing switch 129 for a predetermined number of times (for example, about 2 to 2 seconds) for a predetermined time (for example, about 1 to 2 seconds) is defined as a lending gripping operation, and for a predetermined time (for example, about 2 seconds). An operation of pressing a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) different from the lending / gripping operation between the front and back) is defined as a return gripping operation. In this way, the output state of the pressing signal from the pressing switch 129 can be distinguished from the firing gripping operation and the gaming ball lending or card returning gripping operation. Can play. Even if the launch handle 126 is gripped strongly unintentionally in the game, the gripping operation only presses the pressing switch 129 that has already been pressed. Unlike the return gripping operation, the pressing operation is not performed a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time. Further, even if the firing handle 126 that has been gripped so far is once released and gripped, the gripping operation is only that the push switch 129 is once turned off and then turned on. Thus, the pressing operation is not performed a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time.

  The following modifications are also possible. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a pachinko gaming machine 100 according to another modification. This modification is characterized in that information on rental of game balls is stored in a storage unit at a location remote from the pachinko gaming machine 100, and game balls are lent while performing data communication with the storage unit.

  As shown in the figure, a pachinko gaming machine 100 according to a modified example is connected to a network N and performs data communication between the control device 150 and the game ball lending information storage unit 200. The game ball lending information storage unit 200 includes storage unit identification code information for specifying the storage unit, information sufficient for identifying an individual who performs a game, for example, personal recognition information such as a fingerprint or a vein pattern, and a game ball The amount that can be spent on lending (game ball lending amount), etc. is stored. The game ball lending information storage unit 200 is provided in one-to-one correspondence with the individual player, and stores a game ball lending amount paid by the player by a method such as prepaid. The processing for storing the gaming ball lending amount in the gaming ball lending information storage unit 200 is performed via the control device 150 as will be described later, or via the network N by a dedicated payment accepting device installed in the gaming hall. You can

  The control device 150 reads code information for specifying the game ball lending information storage unit 200 from a card attached to the card reading device 156, and personal identification information obtained from the scanner 160 (a fingerprint scanner in this embodiment). Read (fingerprint). The control device 150 configures the personal identification unit 162 and the lending information processing unit 164 by cooperating the constituent devices such as CPU, ROM, and RAM. The personal identification unit 162 identifies the gaming ball lending information storage unit 200 via the network N based on the storage unit identification code information read from the card, and also identifies the gaming ball identified as the personal identification information (fingerprint) obtained from the scanner 160. The personal information of the lending information storage unit 200 is collated to identify the individual player who has performed card mounting and fingerprint scanning, and the gaming ball lending information storage unit 200 of the player is specified. The lending information processing unit 164 performs data communication via the network N with the gaming ball lending information storage unit 200 specified by the personal identification unit 162, and the firing handle 126 described by the player who has performed card mounting and fingerprint scanning is described above. Each time a lending / gripping operation is performed, the game ball lending amount is read from the game ball lending information storage unit 200 and the game ball lending amount associated with the game ball lending is updated. The update process of the game ball lending amount is the same as the update of the number of balls to be rented in the prepaid card and the content thereof, and the game ball lending amount is subtracted and updated with the game ball lending. Note that if there is a shortage in the amount of game ball lending read from the game ball lending information storage unit 200, it is possible to notify the player of that fact or to inform that the subsequent game ball lending is impossible. Further, the prepaid card unit 115 is connected to the game ball lending information storage unit 200 via the network N, and the prepaid card unit 115 reads the card code information from the card reading device 156 and the fingerprint from the scanner 160, The personal identification unit 162 and the lending information processing unit 164 may be configured by the prepaid card unit 115.

  According to this modification, the game ball lending amount data associated with the game ball lending is updated with respect to the game ball lending information storage unit 200 connected via the network N. Data alteration becomes difficult. Therefore, the effectiveness of avoiding an unexpected situation in which a gaming ball is lent accidentally based on the altered gaming sphere lending amount is enhanced. In addition, the configuration in which the game ball lending amount data update associated with the game ball lending is performed via the network N can also be applied to an existing pachinko gaming machine that does not lend a game ball with the launch handle.

It is a schematic perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine 100 in the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the launching handle 126 typically. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of game ball rental and a card return process. It is a schematic perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine 100 of a modified example. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the launching handle 126 in another modification. It is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a pachinko gaming machine 100 according to another modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Pachinko machine 112 ... Outer frame 113 ... Inner frame hinge 114 ... Inner frame 115 ... Prepaid card unit 116 ... Card insertion hole 117 ... Glass 120 ... Dish formation part 121 ... Board surface side extended edge 122 ... Player side Extending edge portion 124 ... Game ball tray 125 ... Lower tray 126 ... Launch handle 126a to 126c ... Projection 127 ... First pressure sensor 128 ... Second pressure sensor 129 ... Press switch 130 ... Lending button 132 ... Return button 150 ... Control device 152 ... Launching device 154 ... Display device 156 ... Card reading device 158 ... Accessories driving device 160 ... Scanner 162 ... Personal identification unit 164 ... Lending information processing unit 200 ... Game ball lending information storage unit FH ... Index finger FO ... Thumb N ... Network

Claims (6)

A gaming machine that rents and discharges gaming balls upon receiving a gaming ball lending instruction,
A launching handle that is gripped by the player and rotated, and that outputs a launch command signal of a game ball to the launching device via the turning operation,
A gaming machine that is installed on the launching handle, detects a handle gripping situation by a player, and issues a lending command when the handle gripping condition matches a situation according to a predetermined lending rule . The gaming machine according to claim 1,
The gripping motion converter is
A gaming machine that issues the lending command when the gripping force of the handle gripping by the player increases or decreases a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time. A gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The gripping motion converter is
A pressure sensor installed on the firing handle;
A gaming machine that issues the lending command based on the output transition of the pressure sensor, assuming that the state of gripping the handle matches the condition according to the lending rule. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A game ball lending unit that lends game balls upon receiving the lending instruction, and reads storage information in a storage unit that stores information relating to game ball lending, and updates storage information in the storage unit associated with lending game balls And a gaming machine lending unit that lends gaming balls based on the read stored information when receiving the lending instruction. A gaming machine according to claim 4,
The storage unit is connected to the game ball lending unit via a communication line capable of bidirectional data transmission. A gaming machine according to claim 4,
The storage unit is a storage medium capable of reading and writing data, and is attached to the game ball lending unit or game machine,
The gripping motion converter is
A gaming machine that issues a return command for the storage medium when the handle gripping condition matches a condition according to a rule different from the lending rule.

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