JP2007319484A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Pachinko machine

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine to which fraud countermeasures are taken.

  Conventionally, a prize ball discharging device (dispensing device) has been provided on the back side of a pachinko machine as a gaming machine, and a prize ball tank (ball tank) is controlled by controlling the rotation direction of a stepping motor accommodated in the dispensing device. ) Or the like for discharging prize balls (game balls) stored in a discharge passage or a ball removal passage (for example, Patent Document 1). In this gaming machine, when an operation pin is inserted and pressed into the ball removal operation hole, the ball removal operation lever swings and the operating member rotates. The ball-out operation detector is turned on by the rotation of the actuating member, and the detection signal is input to the dispensing device as a ball-out signal. The dispensing device controls the rotation direction of the stepping motor to rotate in the reverse direction to the ball tank or the like. A ball removal operation (ball removal operation) for discharging all stored game balls out of the gaming machine is performed.

The above-described payout device in the gaming machine is such that when a game ball is paid out as a prize ball to a player, an operation handle is operated, a hitting ball launching device (launching device) is operating, a game board When the ball removal signal is invalid, such as when there is a game ball launched from the launcher, even if a ball removal signal is input by the ball removal operation detector, this ball removal signal is invalidated and the ball removal operation is performed. Not performed.
Japanese Patent No. 2908832

  However, since the ball removal signal by the ball removal operation detector is valid except when the ball removal signal is invalid, there is a risk that fraudulent acts using the ball removal operation may be performed. As this fraudulent act, for example, it is changed to a state in which the discharge passage and the ball passage are communicated, and the operation of the operation handle is temporarily stopped in the middle of the game, and a ball removal operation lever that can be operated only by a regular hall employee, etc. After illegally operating the ball and starting the ball removal operation, the operation handle is operated again, and the game ball falling along the operation ball extraction passage is guided to the discharge passage. There is actually an act of illegally acquiring without being lost.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The place made into the objective is to provide the pachinko machine which can prevent the fraudulent act which abused the ball extraction operation | movement.

  Effective solutions for achieving the above-described object will be described below. In addition, the effect | action etc. are demonstrated as needed. In addition, for easy understanding, a corresponding configuration in the embodiment of the invention is also shown as appropriate, but is not limited at all.

(Solution 1)
A game is played using a game ball, and a game ball is paid out as a prize ball based on the fact that a predetermined payout condition is established. A pachinko machine equipped with a payout device for performing a game and an effect device for performing an effect based on the establishment of a predetermined performance condition, the pachinko machine having a main control board for controlling the progress of a game, A sub-integrated board for controlling the effect by the effect device based on a command related to the effect transmitted from the main control board; and a game ball payout by the payout device based on a command related to payout transmitted from the main control board A payout control board for controlling the operation, wherein the main control board is a game that pays out as a prize ball from the payout device when the predetermined payout condition is satisfied. Prize ball command transmission control means for transmitting a prize ball command for designating the number of balls to the payout control board as a command relating to the payout, and status command reception control means for receiving a status command transmitted from the payout control board; Effect command transmission control means for transmitting the status command received by the status command reception control means to the sub-integrated board as a command relating to the effect, wherein the payout control board is a ball of a game ball by the payout device A ball removal switch for starting a ball removal operation, a ball removal switch operation determination control means for determining whether or not the power is turned on while operating the ball removal switch, and the ball removal switch operation determination control means When it is determined that the power has been turned on while operating the switch, the ball removal effective flag is set to ON. On the other hand, when it is determined that the power has not been turned on while operating the ball removal switch, the ball removal effective flag set control means which does not set the ball removal effective flag on, and the ball removal effective flag set control means Payout control side main control means for performing various controls relating to the payout device at predetermined time intervals after the ball removal valid flag is set, and the payout control side main control means transmits the prize ball command transmission A prize ball command reception control means for receiving the prize ball command transmitted by the control means, and a total number of game balls to be paid out from the payout device based on the prize ball command received by the prize ball command reception control means. Prize ball stock number storage control means for storing as a prize ball stock number, and reading the prize ball stock number from the prize ball stock number storage control means Prize ball stock number readout control means, prize ball stock number judgment control means for judging whether or not the prize ball stock number read by the prize ball stock number readout control means is larger than a judgment value 0, A payout execution control for executing a game ball payout operation by the payout device based on the prize ball stock number when the prize ball stock number judgment unit determines that the prize ball stock number is greater than the judgment value 0. And a ball for determining whether or not the ball removal valid flag is set to ON when it is determined by the means and the prize ball stock number judgment control means that the prize ball stock number is not larger than the judgment value 0. When the ball removal effective flag determination control means and the ball removal effective flag determination control means determine that the ball removal effective flag is set to ON, the game ball by the payout device A ball removal execution control means for executing a ball removal operation, and a state command transmission for generating the state command based on the ball removal effective flag set by the ball removal effective flag set control means and transmitting it to the main control board The sub-integrated board includes an effect command reception control means for receiving a command related to the effect transmitted by the effect command transmission control means, and a command related to the effect received by the effect command reception control means. When the ball removal effective flag is set on based on the command related to the effect analyzed by the effect command analysis control means and the effect command analysis control means to analyze, the ball removal of the game ball by the payout device Ball removal notification control means for controlling the effect device to notify that it is operating. , Pachinko machines, characterized in that it comprises a.

  The pachinko machine includes a payout device, a rendering device, a main control board, a sub-integrated board, and a payout control board. The main control board controls the progress of the game, and the sub-integrated board is transmitted from the main control board. An effect by the effect device is controlled based on the command related to the effect, and the payout control board controls the payout operation of the game ball by the payout device based on the command related to payout transmitted from the main control board.

  The payout device pays out a game ball as a winning ball when a predetermined payout condition is established, and performs a ball removal operation of the game ball when a predetermined ball removal condition is satisfied.

  The main control board includes a prize ball command transmission control means, a state command reception control means, and an effect command transmission control means, and the prize ball command transmission control means determines whether a predetermined payout condition is satisfied from the payout device. A prize ball command specifying the number of game balls to be paid out as a prize ball is transmitted to the payout control board as a command relating to payout, and the status command reception control means receives the status command transmitted from the payout control board and transmits an effect command. The control means transmits the status command received by the status command reception controller to the sub-integrated board as a command related to the effect.

  The payout control board includes a ball removal switch, a ball removal switch operation determination control means, a ball removal effective flag set control means, and a payout control side main control means. The ball removal switch is used to start the ball removal operation of the game ball by the payout device, and can only be operated by an employee in a normal hall. The ball removal switch operation determination control means determines whether or not the pachinko machine is turned on while operating the ball removal switch. The ball removal effective flag set control means sets the ball removal effective flag to ON when the ball removal switch operation determination control means determines that the power has been turned on while operating the ball removal switch. When it is determined that the power has not been turned on while operating, the ball removal effective flag is not set on.

  The payout control board performs payout control side main control means after the ball removal effective flag set control means. This payout control side main control means repeatedly performs various controls relating to the payout device at predetermined time intervals. Thereby, the above-mentioned ball removal effective flag is set only during the period from when the pachinko machine is turned on until when the payout control side main control means is performed.

  The payout control side main control means includes a prize ball command reception control means, a prize ball stock number storage control means, a prize ball stock number read control means, a prize ball stock number determination control means, a payout execution control means, a ball removal valid flag determination control. Means, ball removal execution control means, and status command transmission control means.

  The prize ball command reception control means receives the prize ball command transmitted by the prize ball command transmission control means, and the prize ball stock number storage control means receives from the payout device based on the prize ball command received by the prize ball command reception control means. The total number of game balls to be paid out is stored as a prize ball stock number, the prize ball stock number reading control means reads the prize ball stock number from the prize ball stock number storage control means, and the prize ball stock number judgment control means It is determined whether or not the prize ball stock number read by the prize ball stock number readout control means is larger than a judgment value 0.

  The payout execution control means executes a game ball payout operation by the payout device based on the prize ball stock number when the prize ball stock number judgment control means determines that the prize ball stock number is larger than the judgment value 0. Thereby, a game ball is paid out to the player as a prize ball.

  The ball removal effective flag determination control means determines whether or not the above-mentioned ball removal effective flag is set to ON when the prize ball stock number determination control means determines that the prize ball stock number is not greater than the determination value 0. To do. That is, the ball removal effective flag determination control means in the payout control side main control means determines whether or not the pachinko machine is powered on while operating the ball removal switch.

  The ball removal execution control means executes a ball removal operation of the game ball by the payout device when it is determined by the ball removal effective flag determination control means that the ball removal effective flag is set on. Thereby, the game balls stored in the pachinko machine are discharged out of the pachinko machine.

  The status command transmission control means creates a status command based on the ball removal effective flag set by the above-mentioned ball removal effective flag set control means and transmits it to the main control board.

  The sub-integrated board includes effect command reception control means, effect command analysis control means, and ball removal notification control means. The effect command reception control means transmits the effect command transmission control means provided on the main control board described above. The command command analysis control means analyzes the command related to the effect received by the effect command reception control means, and the ball removal notification control means is based on the command related to the effect analyzed by the effect command analysis control means. When the above-described ball removal effective flag is set to ON, an effect that indicates that the game ball is being removed by the payout device is notified by controlling the effect device. As described above, since the operation of the ball removal switch is effective only when the power is turned on, even if the ball removal switch is operated while the payout control side main control unit is being operated, it becomes invalid. Thereby, for example, before the opening of the hall, the player who performs the fraudulent action changes the state in which the passage through which the game ball passes in the payout operation and the passage through which the game ball passes in the ball removal operation, and after the opening of the hall, Even if the ball removal switch that can be operated only by employees in the normal hall is illegally operated during the game, the ball removal operation cannot be started and the game ball cannot be obtained illegally. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that abuse the ball removal operation.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when one game ball enters the big winning opening 140 shown in FIG. 9 and 15 balls are paid out as a winning ball, this corresponds to a predetermined payout condition, and the payout shown in FIG. The device 40 corresponds to a payout device, and it is determined in advance whether or not the detection signal from the upper start port switch 136 or the lower start port switch 137 shown in FIG. 9 is input to the input terminal from the input information. The side decoration device 27, bass speaker 14, middle / high tone speaker 36, prize ball lamp 38, liquid crystal display 57, stage lamps 123 and 157 and gradation lamp 124 in FIG. The chin movable body 174, the lower chin movable body 175, and the like correspond to the rendering device, the pachinko machine 1 in FIG. 1 corresponds to the pachinko machine, the main control board 65 in FIG. 11 corresponds to the main control board, and the sub-panel in FIG. Integrated board 63 is sub-class 11, the payout control board 75 in FIG. 11 corresponds to the payout control board, the prize ball command in FIG. 25 corresponds to the prize ball command, and the prize ball control in step S80 in the main control timer interruption process in FIG. The process corresponds to a prize ball command transmission control means, the status command in FIG. 26 corresponds to a status command, the command reception process in step S84 in the main control timer interruption process in FIG. 14 corresponds to a status command reception control means, The shaping state command in FIG. 27 corresponds to the state command as the command related to the effect, and the sub-integrated board command transmission process in step S92 in the main control side timer interrupt process in FIG. 14 corresponds to the effect command transmission control means. The ball removal switch 79 in FIG. 11 corresponds to the ball removal switch, and in the payout control side power-on processing of FIG. The determination in step S112 corresponds to the ball removal switch operation determination control means, the ball removal flag RMV-FLG corresponds to the ball removal effective flag, and the processing in step S114 and step S116 in the payout control side power-on processing in FIG. It corresponds to the ball removal effective flag set control means, 1.75 ms corresponds to a predetermined time, the payout control side main process in FIG. 17 corresponds to the payout control side main control means, and the payout control side power on in FIG. The command reception process of step S160 in the time process (payout control side main process) corresponds to the prize ball command reception control means, the prize ball stock number PBS corresponds to the prize ball stock number, and is incorporated in the payout control MPU 75a of FIG. The RAM (payout built-in RAM) corresponds to the award ball stock number storage control means, and it is determined in the payout ball removal determination setting process of FIG. The processing in step S242 corresponds to the prize ball stock number reading control means, and the determination in step S244 in the payout ball removal determination setting process in FIG. 22 corresponds to the prize ball stock number determination control means, and the payout ball removal determination setting in FIG. The payout setting process in step S248 in the process corresponds to the payout execution control means, the determination in step S250 in the payout ball removal determination setting process in FIG. 22 corresponds to the ball removal valid flag determination control means, and the payout ball removal determination in FIG. The ball removal setting process in step S252 in the setting process corresponds to the ball removal execution control means, and the command transmission process in step S168 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) in FIG. 17 is the state command transmission control means. The command reception interrupt process in FIG. 30 and the command reception end interrupt process in FIG. 28 corresponds to the command reception control means, and various commands are analyzed from the transmission information transmitted from the main control board 65 in the 16 ms steady process of step S408 in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. 28, and performed based on the analyzed commands. Corresponds to an effect command analysis control process, corresponds to an effect that the process of step S472 in the ball removal notification process of FIG. 33 indicates that the ball removal operation is being performed, and the ball removal notification process of FIG. Corresponds to means.

(Solution 2)
The pachinko machine according to Solution 1, wherein the effect device includes at least a plurality of light emission means whose light emission modes change in accordance with the predetermined effect conditions, and the game ball is being extracted by the payout device. A pachinko machine characterized in that an effect to convey a certain effect is performed by changing a light emission mode of a specific light emitting means among the plurality of light emitting means. In this way, it is possible to inform that the game ball is being extracted by the payout device by changing the light emission mode of the specific light emitting means among the plurality of light emitting means.

In the present embodiment, for example, the side decoration device 27, the prize ball lamp 38, the effect lamps 123 and 157, the gradation lamp 124, and the like in FIG. 11 correspond to a plurality of light emitting means, and the prize ball lamp 38 in FIG. It corresponds to the light emitting means.

(Solution 3)
The pachinko machine according to Solution 1 or 2, wherein the state command has a storage capacity of 1 byte, the command related to the production has a storage capacity of 1 byte, and a status indicating a type of the command, The main control board further sets predetermined additional information in the status, and the state command reception control means includes a mode having a storage capacity of 1 byte and indicating a variation of the production. State command shaping control means for shaping the received state command into the mode by shaping the state command into a shaped state command, and the effect command transmission control means is configured to perform the shaping performed by the state command shaping control means. A state command is transmitted to the sub-integrated board as a command related to the effect. Co-machine.

Since the command related to the production has a storage capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits) composed of status and mode, the main control board sets the additional information as status and sets the status command as mode. The status command can be transmitted to the sub-integrated board as a command related to performance.

In the present embodiment, for example, the additional information “10000001B (= 81H)” corresponds to the additional information, the shaping state command in FIG. 27 corresponds to the state command, and the additional information “10000001B (= 81H)”. Setting the status and setting the received state command to the mode and shaping it into a shaping state command having a storage capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits) corresponds to the state command shaping control means.

In claim 1 of the present invention, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that misuse the ball removal operation. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to convey that the game ball is being removed by the payout device by changing the light emission mode of the specific light emitting means among the plurality of light emitting means. In claim 3 of the present invention, since the command related to the performance has a storage capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits) composed of status and mode, the main control board sets the additional information to status, The shaping state command that sets the state command to the mode can be transmitted to the sub-integrated board as a command related to the effect.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the pachinko machine will be described, and then the back configuration of the pachinko machine will be described. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine with the main body frame and the front frame opened, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the main body frame and the game board are separated. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine.
[1. Configuration of pachinko machine]

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 1 includes an outer frame 2, a main body frame 3, a game board 4, a front frame 5, and the like. The outer frame 2 is formed in a vertically rectangular frame shape by upper, lower, left and right frame members, and has a lower plate 6 that receives the lower surface of the main body frame 3 at the front lower portion of the outer frame 2. A main body frame 3 is attached to one front side of the outer frame 2 by a hinge mechanism 7 so as to be opened and closed forward. The main body frame 3 is configured by integrally molding the front frame body 8, the game board mounting frame 9, and the mechanism mounting frame 10 with a synthetic resin material. The front frame 8 formed on the front side of the main body frame 3 is formed in a rectangular frame shape having a size corresponding to the outer shape excluding the support plate 6 on the front side of the outer frame 2.

  A game board 4 is attached to the game board mounting frame 9 integrally formed at the rear part of the front frame body 8 so as to be detachable and replaceable from the front. A guide rail 11 having an outer rail and an inner rail is provided on the board surface (front surface) of the game board 4, and a game area 12 is defined inside the guide rail 11.

  The game area 12 is provided with various units having various winning holes, and a center accessory device is provided at the center of the game area 12 (toward the center upper side). As will be described later in detail, the center accessory device has various devices for enhancing the effect of production, and includes a liquid crystal display, an effect lamp, a gradation lamp, a movable body, and the like. Yes. The effect lamp is turned on, and the gradation lamp is lit in gradation with its brightness changing smoothly. The movable body moves according to the effect (image) unfolded on the liquid crystal display.

  A low-frequency speaker 14 is mounted via a speaker mounting plate 13 near one side of the front lower portion of the front frame body 8 positioned below the game board mounting frame 9. In addition, a launch rail 15 that guides the game ball toward the launch path of the game board 4 is attached to the upper portion in the lower region of the front surface of the front frame 8 in an inclined manner. On the other hand, a lower front member 16 is attached to a lower portion in the lower region of the front surface of the front frame body 8. A lower pan 17 is provided substantially at the center of the front surface of the lower front member 16, and an operation handle 18 is provided closer to one side. The lower plate 17 is provided with a lower plate ball discharge button 17a. When the lower plate ball discharge button 17a is operated, the game balls stored in the lower plate 17 are not shown in a receiving box (dollar box). Can be discharged.

  A function of locking the main body frame 3 with respect to the outer frame 2 is provided on the rear surface of the main body frame 3 (front frame body 8) opposite to the side where the hinge mechanism 7 is provided. A locking device 19 having a function of locking the front frame 5 is mounted. The locking device 19 includes a plurality of upper and lower body frame locking hooks 21 that are detachably engaged with a closing tool 20 provided on the outer frame 2 to lock the main body frame 3 in a closed state, and an open side of the front frame 5. It includes a plurality of upper and lower door locking hooks 23 that detachably engage with a closing tool 22 provided on the rear surface to lock the front frame 5 in a closed state. Then, a key is inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 24 and rotated in one direction, whereby the engagement between the main body frame locking hook 21 and the closing tool 20 of the outer frame 2 is released, and the main body frame 3 is unlocked. When the key is rotated in the opposite direction, the engagement between the door locking hook 23 and the closing tool 22 of the front frame 5 is released, and the front frame 5 is unlocked. . The front end of the cylinder lock 24 is exposed to the front surface of the lower front member 16 through the front frame 8 and the lower front member 16 so that the key can be inserted from the front of the pachinko machine 1 and unlocked. Are arranged.

  A front frame 5 is attached to one side of the front surface of the main body frame 3 by a hinge mechanism 25 so as to be opened and closed forward. The front frame 5 includes a door main body frame 26, a side decoration device 27, an upper plate 28, and an acoustic illumination device 29. The door main body frame 26 is formed of a pressed metal frame member, and is formed in a size that covers a portion extending from the upper end of the front frame body 8 to the upper edge of the lower front member 16. A substantially circular opening window 30 through which the game area 12 of the game board 4 can be seen through from the front is formed at substantially the center of the door body frame 26. A window frame 31 having a rectangular frame shape larger than the opening window 30 is provided on the rear side of the door main body frame 26, and a transparent plate 32 is attached to the window frame 31.

  On the front side of the door main body frame 26, around the opening window 30, side decoration devices 27 are mounted on the left and right sides, an upper plate 28 is mounted on the lower portion, and an acoustic decoration device 29 is mounted on the upper portion. The side decoration device 27 is mainly configured by a side decoration body 33 in which a lamp substrate is disposed and formed of a synthetic resin material. A plurality of slit-like opening holes that are long in the horizontal direction are arranged in the side decoration body 33 in the vertical direction, and a lens 34 corresponding to a light source disposed on the lamp substrate is incorporated in the opening hole. The acoustic decoration device 29 includes a transparent cover body 35, a middle / high tone speaker 36, a speaker cover 37, a prize ball lamp 38, a reflector body (not shown), and the like, and these constituent members are assembled together to form a unit. . The details of the prize ball lamp 38 will be described later. For example, when the player continues to play with the game ball full in the lower plate 17 and a predetermined condition is satisfied, Lights to indicate that stock (unpaid portion) has occurred.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a ball tank 39 is mounted on the mechanism mounting frame 10 of the main body frame 3 and a dispensing device 40 is mounted on the left side thereof. The ball tank 39 stores game balls supplied from a pachinko island facility (not shown). The stored game balls roll along a tank rail, which will be described later, and are taken in by the payout device 40. The payout device 40 includes a payout motor 41.

  Below the payout device 40, a ball guiding component 42 is provided in the mechanism mounting frame 10. The ball guiding component 42 is formed therein with an upper dish ball guiding passage 43 and a ball removing ball guiding passage 44. In addition, a ball discharge component 46 for ball removal is attached to the ball guiding component 42. The ball discharge communication discharge member 46 has a ball discharge communication ball discharge passage 47 formed therein, and a ball discharge ball discharge passage 48 provided below the game board mounting frame 9. Connected with.

  The game ball taken in by the payout device 40 is cut out by the payout motor 41 into either the upper dish ball guide passage 43 or the ball removal ball guide passage 44. The game ball cut out in the upper plate ball guide passage 43 falls into the upper plate ball storage section 45 and is guided to the upper plate 28 shown in FIG. On the other hand, the game ball cut out to the ball guide passage 44 for ball removal falls along the ball discharge passage 47 and the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal, and is discharged to the pachinko island facility as a ball removal. .

  A ball guide cover 49 is mounted on the mechanism mounting frame 10 below the ball guide component 42. The ball guide cover 49 has a ball guide passage 50 for the lower dish formed therein, and when the upper plate 28 and the upper plate ball storage unit 45 are filled with game balls, the upper plate ball guide is provided. The game ball cut out in the passage 43 overflows from the upper plate ball storage section 45 and falls into the lower plate ball guide passage 50, rolls along the lower plate ball guide passage 50, and moves to the lower plate ball. It falls to the storage part 51 and is guided to the lower pan 17 shown in FIG.

  A safe ball discharge passage 52 and an out ball discharge passage 53 are provided below the game board mounting frame 9 of the main body frame 3. The safe ball discharge passage 52 discharges the game balls that have entered the various winning openings provided in the game area 12 of the game board 4 to the pachinko island facility as safe balls. On the other hand, the ball discharge passage 53 for the out ball discharges game balls that have not entered the various winning holes to the pachinko island facility as out balls. A detailed description of the game ball cut-out operation of the payout device 40 (the payout motor 41), the various ball guide paths, and the various ball discharge paths will be described later.

  Next, the back configuration of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the ball tank 39 and the dispensing device 40 described above are mounted on the mechanism mounting frame 10 on the back surface of the pachinko machine 1. Below the ball tank 39, a tank rail 55 is mounted in a state where the game ball is inclined so that the game ball rolls from the ball tank 39 toward the payout device 40 (with a downward slope in FIG. 3). It is provided on the frame 10.

  Below the tank rail 55, the game board 4 mounted on the game board mounting frame 9 is disposed. A center accessory device is disposed at the upper center of the game board 4, and a liquid crystal module 56 is attached to the rearmost part of the center accessory device. The liquid crystal module 56 includes a liquid crystal display 57, a liquid crystal control board box 59 in which a liquid crystal control board 58 is accommodated, and the like. The liquid crystal control board 58 performs control to display various images on the liquid crystal display 57.

  On the left side of the back side of the game board 4, a lamp driving board box 61 in which the lamp driving board 60 is accommodated is disposed. The lamp driving board 60 performs control to output a lighting signal to the effect lamp provided in the center accessory device and a gradation signal to the gradation lamp, while driving to a driving source of a movable body such as a stepping motor and a solenoid. Control to output signals is also performed.

  A box mounting base 62 is disposed below the back side of the game board 4. The box mounting base 62 is mounted with a sub-integrated board box 64 that houses a sub-integrated board 63 and a main control board box 66 that houses a main control board 65. Specifically, the main control board box 66 is mounted while being superposed on the sub integrated board box 64. The box mounting base 62 is arranged so that the sub integrated board box 64 and the main control board box 66 do not protrude outside the outer surface of the game board 4 even when the sub integrated board box 64 and the main control board box 66 are mounted. ing. The sub-integrated board 63 performs various controls such as sound, effect lamps, gradation lamps, and movable body drive sources, and the main control board 65 performs various controls of the progress of the game. Details of these will be described later.

  Thus, below the tank rail 55, the liquid crystal module 56 (a center accessory device described later), the main control board box 66, and the like protrude. For this reason, the rear cover 67 is provided so that damage or an electrical short circuit caused by the game ball dropped from the ball tank 39 does not occur. The rear cover 67 is formed in a rectangular shape so as to cover the upper side of the liquid crystal module 56 (center accessory device) and the main control board box 66, and the mechanism is mounted so that it can be opened and closed by a cover hinge mechanism (not shown). It is attached to the frame 10. Note that the rear cover 67 is formed of a translucent synthetic resin material, so that even when the rear cover 67 is in a closed state, for example, the operator can visually observe the liquid crystal module 56, the lamp driving board box 61, and the like. Yes.

  The main control board box 66 is covered by the rear cover 67 only on the upper side thereof, and the part other than the upper side is exposed. The main control board 65 is provided with an inspection connector 68, a RAM clear switch 69, and the like on the lower side, and the inspection connector 68 and the RAM clear switch 69 are exposed from the main control board box 66. For this reason, even when the rear cover 67 is in the closed state, a connector of a board inspection device (not shown) can be inserted into the inspection connector 68, and the main control board 65 can be inspected. In addition, the RAM clear switch 69 can be operated to erase (clear) various information related to the game from the main control board 65.

  A launching device 70 is disposed on the left side of the lower part of the game board mounting frame 9 and in the rear lower region of the front frame body 8 (hereinafter simply referred to as “lower region”). The launching device 70 includes a firing motor 71, a firing hammer 72, and the like. The launch motor 71 operates the launch hammer 72 to launch a game ball toward the game area 12 shown in FIG. A launch control board box 74 in which a launch control board 73 is accommodated is disposed above the launch apparatus 70, and the launch control board 73 performs various controls of the launch apparatus 70.

  In the center of the lower region, a payout control board box 76 in which the payout control board 75 is accommodated is disposed. The payout control board 75 performs various controls relating to the payout of the payout device 40, as will be described in detail later. The payout control board 75 is provided with an error LED display 77 and an error release switch 78 on the lower side, and a ball removal switch 79 on the upper side. The error LED display 77 displays operation error states such as a broken ball, a broken ball, a prize ball stock (there is an unpaid portion), a connection abnormality, and the like. When the error release switch 78 is operated, voice guidance is transmitted from the bass speaker 14 and the middle / high tone speaker 36 shown in FIG. The ball removal switch 79 is a switch that starts discharging the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55.

  On the right side of the lower region, the above-described ball guide cover 49 is disposed, and an interface board box 81 in which the interface board 80 is accommodated is mounted. The interface board 80 electrically connects a prepaid card unit (not shown) installed adjacent to the pachinko machine 1 and the payout control board 75, and transmits / receives signals relating to ball rental.

An external terminal plate 82 is provided on the mechanism frame mounting frame 10 above the payout device 40, and various information (game information) relating to the game of the main control board 65 and various information (payout) relating to the payout of the payout control board 75. Information) is output to a hall computer (not shown) installed in the hall via the external terminal board 82. The hall computer monitors the player's game based on the game information and the payout information.
[2. Circulation of game balls of pachinko machines and pachinko island equipment]

Next, circulation of the game balls of the pachinko machine 10 and the pachinko island facility will be described. First, the configuration of the payout device 40 will be described, and subsequently, various ball guiding passages, game ball cut-out operations, full tank switch operations, and various ball discharge passages will be described. FIG. 5 is a view showing various ball guide paths for guiding the game ball into the pachinko machine, FIG. 6 is a view showing the cutting operation of the game ball, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the full switch. 8 is a view showing various ball discharge passages for discharging game balls out of the pachinko machine.
[2-1. Dispensing device]

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ball tank 39 stores game balls supplied from a pachinko island facility (not shown). The stored game balls roll along the tank rail 55, are aligned by the ball straightening member 90 so as not to overlap vertically, and are taken in by the payout device 40. The payout device 40 includes a ball passage 91, a winning ball / rental ball passage 92, and a ball removal ball passage 93, and stores the taken game balls in the ball passage 91. Disposed on the downstream side of the ball passage 91 is a payout motor 41 equipped with a ball cutout member 94 for cutting out a game ball into either the winning ball and ball rental ball passage 92 or the ball removal ball passage 93. . The spherical cutout member 94 is provided with pockets 95 on the circumference thereof in three equal parts (that is, every 120 °). The ball cutout member 94 cuts out a game ball by rotating the payout motor 41 by storing the game ball in the pocket 95.

A turntable 96 is attached to the output shaft of the payout motor 41 integrally with the ball cutting member 94. The rotary disk 96 is provided with slits 97 at positions corresponding to the pockets 95. The slit 97 is detected by the rotation angle switch 99 of the payout relay board 98 accommodated in the payout device 40. Specifically, when the ball cutout member 94 cuts out the game ball by the rotation of the payout motor 41, the turntable 96 blocks the optical axis of the rotation angle switch 99. Then, when the payout motor 41 continues to rotate, and the rotation position of the ball cutout member 94 reaches a rotation position where the game ball from the ball passage 91 is stored in the pocket 95, the blocked optical axis passes through the slit 97 of the turntable 96. By passing, the passing signal is output as a detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99 to the payout control board 75 shown in FIG. The payout control board 75 confirms the rotation angle of the payout motor 41, that is, the ball cutout member 94, by this detection signal. In the payout device 40, guides 100 for guiding the game ball from the ball passage 91 to the ball cutout member 94 are provided on the left and right, respectively. In addition, a counting switch 101 is provided in the award and rental ball passage 92 to detect a game ball that has passed through the award and rental ball passage 92. This detection signal is output to the payout control board 75 via the payout relay board 98. Based on this detection signal, the payout control board 75 knows the number of game balls actually paid out by the payout device 40 (the number of game balls actually cut out by the ball cutout member 94).
[2-2. Various ball guide passages]

  The game ball cut out by the ball cutout member 94 into either the prize ball and the ball rental ball passage 92 or the ball removal ball passage 93 is a ball guiding structure provided in the mechanism mounting frame 10 of the main body frame 3 described above. It flows down to the part 42. As described above, the ball guide component member 42 is formed with the ball guide passage 43 for the upper dish and the ball guide passage 44 for removing the ball.

  The game balls cut out to the winning ball and the lending ball passage 92 fall along the upper plate ball guiding passage 43. And it falls to the top plate ball storage part 45 and is guided to the top plate 28. The upper dish storage section 45 is provided with a partition wall 102 so that game balls can be stored. When the upper plate 28 and the upper plate ball storage section 45 are filled with game balls, the game balls cut out to the winning ball and rental ball passage 92 overflow from the partition wall 102 of the upper plate ball storage section 45. Then, it falls into the ball guide passage 50 for the lower dish formed inside the ball guide cover 49. Then, it rolls along the lower dish ball guiding passage 50, falls on the lower dish ball storage section 51, and is guided to the lower dish 17.

On the other hand, the game ball cut out in the ball removal ball guiding passage 44 is formed in the ball removal communication ball discharge passage 47 formed in the ball removal communication ball discharge component 46 shown in FIG. The ball falls along a ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal provided in the illustrated game board mounting frame 9 and is discharged to a pachinko island facility (not shown).
[2-3. Game ball cutout operation]

Next, a game ball cut-out operation will be described. When the payout motor 41 of the payout device 40 is stopped (when stopped), as shown in FIG. 6A, the game ball from the ball passage 91 does not fit in the pocket 95 of the ball cutout member 94. It is in a state. At the time of winning or renting a ball (payout operation), as shown in FIG. 6B, the output shaft of the payout motor 41 rotates counterclockwise in the figure to enter the pocket 95 of the ball cutout member 94 from the ball passage 91. The game balls are accommodated, and the game balls are cut out into the award and rental ball paths 92 as the game balls rotate. The game balls cut out to the winning ball and rental ball passage 92 pass through the counting switch 101 provided in the winning ball and rental ball passage 92, and are formed inside the ball guiding component 42. It flows down to the sphere guide passage 43 for dishes. On the other hand, at the time of ball removal (ball removal operation), as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the output shaft of the payout motor 41 rotates clockwise in the figure, so that the pocket 95 of the ball cutout member 94 enters the pocket 95 from the ball passage 91. The game ball is accommodated, and the game ball is cut out to the ball passage 93 for ball removal as the game ball rotates. The game sphere cut out in the ball removal ball passage 93 flows down to the ball removal ball guide passage 44 formed inside the ball guide component 42.
[2-4. Operation of full tank switch]

  Next, the operation of the full tank switch will be described. As described above, the game ball cut out in the winning ball and rental ball passage 92 shown in FIG. 7 falls along the upper plate ball guiding passage 43 formed inside the ball guiding component 42. . And it falls to the top plate ball storage part 45 and is guided to the top plate 28. When the upper plate 28 and the upper plate ball storage unit 45 are filled with game balls, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the game balls that have fallen along the upper plate ball guide passage 43 are used for the upper plate. Overflowing from the partition wall 102 of the sphere storage part 45, it falls to the lower dish sphere guide passage 50 formed inside the sphere guide cover 49. Then, it rolls along the lower dish ball guiding passage 50, falls on the lower dish ball storage section 51, and is guided to the lower dish 17. Thereby, the game balls are stored in the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball storage unit 51.

  In the state where the game balls are stored in the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball storage section 51, the game is continued along the upper plate ball guide passage 43 without operating the lower plate ball discharge button 17a shown in FIG. When the game ball falls, the game ball that has fallen overlaps with the game ball stored in the lower plate ball storage section 51 and is stored in the lower plate ball guide passage 50. In this state, when the game ball further falls along the upper plate ball guide passage 43, the game ball moves toward the upstream side, that is, toward the upper plate storage section 45, and then the lower plate ball guide passage 50. It is stored one after another.

  Inside the ball guide cover 49, a ball cut-out stop mechanism 105 is provided on the upstream side of the lower plate ball guide passage 50 in order to stop the cut-out operation by the payout motor 41 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the ball cut-out stop mechanism 105 includes a full tank operating member 106 and a full tank switch 107. The full operation member 106 has a fan-like shape, and a weight 108, a detected portion 109, and a stopper portion 110 are provided on the outer periphery thereof. The full tank actuating member 106 has a cantilever pin 111 inserted therethrough, and rotates around the cantilever pin 111 as a rotation center. The full tank actuating member 106 is configured to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 7A around the cantilever pin 111 by the weight of the weight 108 by providing the weight 108 on the fan-shaped outer periphery. This rotation is stopped when the stopper portion 110 of the full tank operating member 106 interferes with the rotation restricting portion 112 provided on the inner wall of the ball guide cover 49. In this interfered state, the opening 113 provided in the ball guide cover 49 is sealed by the full operation member 106. The detected portion 109 of the full tank operating member 106 is in a state where the optical axis of the full switch 107 is blocked.

As described above, in the state where the game balls are stored in the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball storage section 51, the game is continued along the upper plate ball guide passage 43 without operating the lower plate ball discharge button 17a. When the game ball falls, the game ball that has fallen overlaps with the game ball stored in the lower plate ball storage section 51 and is stored in the lower plate ball guide passage 50. In this state, when the game balls roll along the upper plate ball guide passage 43, the game balls are successively stored in the lower plate ball guide passage 50 toward the upper plate storage portion 45. . At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the stored game balls are pressed against each other by their own weight and enter the gap. This movement is also performed near the ball cut-out stop mechanism 105. Then, the full tank operating member 106 is pushed by the movement of the game ball to enter and rotates clockwise in FIG. 7B with the cantilever pin 111 as the rotation center. Then, when the weight 108 of the full operation member 106 interferes with the inner wall of the ball guide cover 49, the rotation stops. By this rotation, the detected portion 109 of the full tank operating member 106 releases the state where the optical axis of the full switch 107 is cut off, and the release signal is detected as a detection signal from the full tank switch 107 via the payout relay board 98. It is output to the payout control board 75 shown in FIG. The payout control board 75 stops the cutout of the game ball by the payout motor 41, that is, the ball cutout member 94 shown in FIG.
[2-5. Various ball discharge passages]

  Next, various ball discharge passages will be described. At the time of ball removal shown in FIG. 6 (c), a game ball is cut out by a ball cutout member 94 into a ball guide passage 44 for ball removal formed inside the ball guide component 42, and the cut game ball is cut out. As shown in FIG. 8, the ball drops along a ball discharge connecting ball discharge passage 47 and a ball discharge ball discharge passage 48 formed inside the ball discharge connecting ball discharge component 46 as a ball drop, It is discharged to a pachinko island facility (not shown). In addition, game balls that have entered the various winning openings provided in the game area 12 of the game board 4 shown in FIG. 3 fall along the safe ball discharge passage 52 as safe balls and are discharged to the pachinko island facility. Is done. On the other hand, game balls that have not entered the various winning holes fall as out balls along the out ball discharge passage 53 and are discharged to the pachinko island facility. The punched ball, safe ball and out ball discharged to the pachinko island facility are supplied again to the ball tank 39 shown in FIG. 3, and the game ball circulates in the pachinko machine 1 and the pachinko island facility. Yes. The circulating game balls rub against each other and become charged, and electrostatic discharge generates noise.

  In this manner, on the back surface of the payout control board box 76, as shown in FIG. 8, the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal, the ball discharge passage 52 for safe balls, the ball discharge passage 53 for out balls, and the ball guide cover 49 are provided. The lower dish ball guide passage 50 formed inside is disposed, and the payout control board 75 accommodated in the payout control board box 71 is in an environment that is extremely susceptible to noise due to electrostatic discharge of the game ball. It is in.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal and the ball guide passage 50 for the lower dish formed inside the ball guide cover 49 are arranged close to each other. For this reason, the player who performs the fraudulent act changes the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal and the ball guide passage 50 for lower dish to communicate with each other before opening the hall (specifically, for ball removal) A game ball that passes through the ball discharge passage 48 and the ball guide passage 50 for the lower dish, closes the ball discharge passage 48 with a shielding member or the like, and falls along the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal. 1), after the opening of the hall, the operation handle 18 shown in FIG. 1 is temporarily stopped during the game, and only normal hall employees or the like can operate. 4 is illegally operated (for example, a board on which the ball removal switch 79 can be electrically operated before opening the hall is provided separately from the payout control board 75 and the remote control is operated after opening the hall) By turning the ball removal switch 79 After the ball removal operation is started, the operation handle 18 is operated again to guide the game ball falling along the ball removal ball discharge passage 48 to the lower dish ball guide passage 50. Attempts to gain fraud without being fooled by hall employees.
[3. Game board configuration]

Next, the structure of the game board 4 mentioned above is demonstrated. First, various components provided in the game area 12 of the game board 4 will be described, and subsequently, various components of the game board 4 will be described. FIG. 9 is a front view of the game board, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the game board. Note that, when a game ball driven into the game area 12 falls, a plurality of obstacle nails that play the game ball and complicate the traveling direction of the game ball are not shown for the sake of easy viewing.
[3-1. Various components in the game area]

In the game area 12 of the game board 4, as shown in FIG. 9, a center accessory device 120, a prize opening unit 121 and a decoration unit 122 are provided. The center accessory device 120 is arranged at the upper center of the game area 12, and a prize opening unit 121 is arranged therebelow. The decoration unit 122 is disposed at the lower left of the center accessory device 120 (to the left of the winning a prize unit 121).
[3-1-1. Center equipment]

  The center accessory device 120 is provided with an effect lamp 123 that is lit on the upper side and a gradation lamp 124 that is lit in gradation with brightness changing smoothly on the right side. A stage 125 on which the game ball swings to the left and right is provided on the lower side, and a ball guide hole 126 and a ball guide path 127 for guiding the game ball to the winning hole unit 121 are provided. And a gate 129 through which a game ball can pass. The game ball that has entered the gate 129 is detected by the gate switch 130 and returns to the game area 12 again. A warp hole 128 is disposed below the gate 129. The game ball that has entered the warp hole 128 is guided by the stage 125 and swings, or enters the ball guide hole 126 and passes through the ball guide path 127 to return to the game area 12 again. ing.

  A partition plate 131 is provided in the center accessory device 120 so that the game balls that have entered the center accessory device 120 do not enter the pachinko machine 1 from the center accessory device 120. The sphere guide hole 126 described above is provided in the partition plate 131 and is connected to the sphere guide path 127. Thereby, the game ball that has entered the ball guide hole 126 passes through the ball guide path 127 and returns to the game area 12 again. The partition plate 131 prevents the game ball from colliding with the display area 132 of the liquid crystal display 57 described above.

In addition, the movable body is each arrange | positioned at the upper side and the lower side of the center accessory apparatus 120, and it waits in the position (original position) which cannot be visually recognized. These movable bodies are movable between the partition plate 131 and the display area 132. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, each of the movable bodies appears from the original position to the front side of the display area 132 and again returns to the original position. To come back.
[3-1-2. Winning prize unit]

  The winning opening unit 121 includes an upper starting winning port 133, a lower starting winning port 134, and a large winning port device 135. An upper start winning port 133 is disposed above the winning port unit 121, and a lower start winning port 134 is disposed below the upper start winning port 133. A game ball that has entered the upper start winning opening 133 is detected by the upper start opening switch 136, and a game ball that has entered the lower start winning opening 134 is detected by the lower start opening switch 137. The lower start winning opening 134 is provided with an opening / closing blade 138, and the opening / closing blade 138 is opened when a drive signal is output to the opening / closing blade solenoid 139. On the other hand, when no drive signal is output, the opening / closing blade 138 is closed. When the opening / closing wing 138 is opened, an open state is reached in which a game ball can easily enter the lower start winning opening 134. On the other hand, when the open / close wing 138 is closed, a closed state in which a game ball cannot enter the lower start winning opening 134 is entered.

  Here, although the detailed description will be described later, when a drive signal is output to the opening / closing blade solenoid 139 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the opening / closing blade 138 is opened and the lower start winning opening 134 is opened from the closed state. It becomes a state. At this time, it becomes easier for the game ball to enter the lower start winning opening 134. On the other hand, when the drive signal is not output to the opening / closing blade solenoid 139, the opening / closing blade 138 is closed and the lower start winning port 134 is changed from the open state to the closed state. At this time, the game balls entering from the left or right side of the lower start winning opening 134 are blocked by the opening / closing wings 138. Note that an upper start winning port 133 is disposed above the lower start winning port 134. For this reason, the game balls entering from above are blocked by the upper start winning opening 133. When the lower start winning port 134 is changed from the closed state to the open state, in addition to the game balls entering from the left or right side, the game balls that have not entered the upper start winning port 133, that is, the lower start winning port A game ball entering from above 134 can get an opportunity to enter the lower start winning opening 134.

  Below the lower start winning port 134, a large winning port device 135 is arranged. The special prize opening device 135 includes a special prize opening 140, an opening / closing plate 141, an opening / closing plate solenoid 142, and a count switch 143. The special winning opening 140 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and the opening / closing plate 141 is opened when a drive signal is output to the opening / closing plate solenoid 142. On the other hand, when the drive signal is not output, the open / close plate 141 is closed. When the opening / closing plate 141 is opened, the game ball is in an open state in which a game ball can easily enter the winning prize opening 140. On the other hand, when the opening / closing plate 141 is closed, a closed state in which a game ball cannot enter the special winning opening 140 is entered.

  Here, although the detailed description will be described later, when a drive signal is output to the opening / closing plate solenoid 142 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the opening / closing plate 141 is opened and the special winning opening 140 is opened from the closed state. It becomes. At this time, it becomes easy for the game ball to enter the grand prize winning opening 140, and the game ball that has entered is detected by the count switch 143. On the other hand, when the drive signal is not output to the open / close plate solenoid 142, the open / close plate 141 is closed and the special winning opening 140 is changed from the open state to the closed state. At this time, the game ball cannot enter the grand prize winning opening 140.

The winning opening unit 121 is provided with a left ordinary winning opening 144 on the left side of the big winning opening unit 135 and a right ordinary winning opening 145 on the right side. A game ball that has entered the left normal winning port 144 is detected by the left winning port switch 146, while a game ball that has entered the right normal winning port 145 is detected by the right winning port switch 147.
[3-1-3. Decoration unit]

  The decoration unit 122 includes an upper special symbol display 148, a lower special symbol display 149, an upper special symbol storage lamp 150, a lower special symbol storage lamp 151, a normal symbol display 152, a normal symbol storage lamp 153, and a game state display lamp 154. The small hit display lamp 155, the round display lamp 156, and the effect lamp 157 are provided.

  An upper special symbol display 148 is arranged on the upper side of the decoration unit 122. A lower special symbol display 149 is disposed below the upper special symbol display 148. When the game ball enters the upper start winning opening 133, the upper special symbol display unit 148 displays the predetermined special symbol in a variable manner. On the other hand, when a game ball enters the lower start winning opening 134, the lower special symbol display 149 variably displays a predetermined special symbol in the same manner as the upper special symbol display 148. When the game balls that have entered the upper start winning opening 133 and the lower start winning opening 134 are not used in the special symbol change display, the upper special symbol storage lamp 150 and The information is displayed on the lower special symbol storage lamp 151, respectively.

  A normal symbol display 152 is arranged below the upper special symbol storage lamp 150 and the lower special symbol storage lamp 151, and a normal symbol storage lamp 153 is arranged on the right side of the normal symbol display 152. When the game ball passes through the gate 129, the normal symbol display 152 variably displays a predetermined normal symbol. When the game ball that has passed through the gate 129 is not used in the normal symbol variation display, the number of game balls that have passed through is displayed on the normal symbol storage lamp 153 as the number of reserves.

  A gaming state display lamp 154 is disposed below the normal symbol display 152, and a small hit display lamp 155 is disposed on the left side of the gaming state display lamp 154, and on the left side of the small hit display lamp 155. A round display lamp 156 is arranged. The gaming state display lamp 154 is lit in red when the probability variation occurs as the gaming state, and the lamp is turned off when the probability variation does not occur. The small hit display lamp 155 is turned on when a small hit occurs in the gaming state. The round display lamp 156 is lit in a color corresponding to the number of times that the special winning opening 140 is changed from the closed state to the open state (referred to as “round”). For example, it lights in red during the 2nd round, and lights in green during the 15th round.

In addition, the decoration unit side normal winning holes 158 and 159 are provided below the decoration unit 122, and when a game ball enters these decorative unit side normal winning holes 158 and 159, the left winning hole described above is provided. Detected by switch 146. An effect lamp 157 that is lit is provided below the decoration unit side normal winning openings 158 and 159. When the game ball launched into the game area 12 does not enter any of the various winning ports provided in the winning unit 121 and the decoration unit 122, the game ball is collected at the out port 160.
[3-2. Various components of the game board]

  Next, various components of the game board 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the game board 4 includes a front component 165 and a game board main body 166. The front component 165 has a substantially circular opening 167, and the above-described guide rail 11 that guides the game ball into the opening 167 is mounted on the front side of the game board main body 166. Thereby, the game area 12 is partitioned and formed inside the guide rail 11. Further, the above-described out port 160 is provided below the front component 165. The game board main body 166 has a plurality of appropriately shaped through holes 168, and the center accessory device 120, the prize opening unit 121 and the decoration unit 122 are mounted so as to cover these through holes 168.

  A safe ball collection member 169 is attached to the lower side of the back surface of the game board main body 166. This safe ball collection member 169 collects the game balls that have entered the various winning ports of the winning unit 121 and the decoration unit 122 as safe balls. The above-described box mounting base 62 is mounted so as to cover the safe ball ball collecting member 169. The box mounting base 62 is provided with a safe ball ball guiding groove 170, and the safe ball collected by the safe ball ball collecting member 169 falls into the safe ball ball guiding groove 170. ing. The fallen safe ball rolls along the safe ball ball guiding groove 170 and is guided to the safe ball ball discharge passage 50 shown in FIG. 3 (FIG. 8) so as to be discharged to a pachinko island facility (not shown). It has become. Note that, as described above, the sub-integrated substrate box 64 in which the sub-integrated substrate 63 is accommodated is mounted on the box mounting base 62, and the main control substrate 65 is superposed on the rear portion of the sub-integrated substrate box 64. Is mounted.

  Further, a ball guiding groove 171 for out ball is provided on the lower back side of the game board main body 166. The out-ball ball guiding groove 171 is provided at a position corresponding to the out-port 160 so that the game balls collected at the out-port 160 flow into the out-ball ball guiding groove 171 through the through hole 168. It has become. The inflowing game ball falls as an out ball along the out ball guide groove 171 and is guided to the out ball discharge passage 51 shown in FIG. 3 (FIG. 8) so as to be discharged to the pachinko island facility. It has become.

  The center accessory device 120 includes a front decorative body 172, a rear decorative body 173, and the liquid crystal module 56 described above. The front decorative body 172 is mounted on the front side of the game board main body 166 so as to cover the through hole 168, the rear decorative body 173 is mounted on the back surface of the game board main body 166 corresponding to the front decorative body 172, and the liquid crystal module 56 is A rear decoration body 173 is attached to the rear side. That is, the liquid crystal module 56 is attached to the rearmost part of the center accessory device 120.

The front decorative body 172 includes the above-described effect lamp 123, gradation lamp 124, stage 125, warp hole 128, gate 129, partition plate 131, and the like. On the other hand, the rear decoration body 173 includes an upper jaw movable body 174 on the upper side and a lower jaw movable body 175 on the lower side. The upper jaw movable device 176 and the lower jaw movable body 175 that move the upper jaw movable body 174 are provided. A movable lower jaw movable device 177 is also provided.
[4. Main board and peripheral board]

Next, a control board that performs various controls of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the main board and the peripheral board. As shown in FIG. 11, the control configuration of the pachinko machine 1 is composed of a group of main boards 180 and a group of peripheral boards 181, and various controls are shared by these two groups. First, the group of main substrates 180 will be described, and then the group of peripheral substrates 181 will be described.
[4-1. Main board group]

As shown in FIG. 11, the group of main boards 180 includes the main control board 65 and the payout control board 75 described above.
[4-1-1. Main control board]

  As shown in FIG. 11, the main control board 65 includes a main control MPU 65a as a microprocessor, a main control I / O port 65b as an input / output device (I / O device), the above-described inspection connector 68 and And a RAM clear switch 69. The main control MPU 65a incorporates a ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, and a RAM for temporarily storing data, a watchdog timer for monitoring its operation (system), and preventing fraud. It also has built-in functions.

  The main control MPU 65a receives the detection signals from the gate switch 130, the left winning port switch 146, the right winning port switch 147, the upper starting port switch 136, the lower starting port switch 137 and the count switch 143 described above. 65b. Based on these detection signals, the detailed description thereof will be described later. As described above, the opening / closing blade solenoid 139, the opening / closing plate solenoid 142, the upper special symbol indicator 148, and the lower special symbol. Driving signals to the display 149, the upper special symbol memory lamp 150, the lower special symbol memory lamp 151, the normal symbol indicator 152, the normal symbol memory lamp 153, the game state display lamp 154, the small hit display lamp 155, and the round display lamp 156 Is output via the main control I / O port 65b.

  The main control MPU 65a outputs various information (game information) related to the game to the above-described external terminal board 82 via the main control I / O port 65b. As described above, the external terminal board 82 is connected to a hall computer installed in a hall (not shown). This hall computer monitors a player's game by grasping game information of the pachinko machine 1. Further, the main control MPU 65a transmits various commands related to payout to the payout control board 75 via the main control I / O port 65b, and sends various commands related to the state of the pachinko machine 1 from the payout control board 75 to the main control I. / O port 65b. Furthermore, the main control MPU 65a transmits various commands related to the control of game effects and various commands related to the state of the pachinko machine 1 to the sub-integrated board 63 of the peripheral board 181 described later via the main control I / O port 65b. . Although the detailed description will be given later, the main control MPU 65a, when receiving various commands relating to the state of the pachinko machine 1 from the payout control board 75, shapes these various commands and transmits them to the sub-integrated board 63.

The main control board 65 is supplied with power from a power supply board (not shown). The power supply board includes an electric double layer capacitor (hereinafter simply referred to as “capacitor”) as a backup power supply that supplies power to the main control board 65 for a predetermined time even when the power is shut off. The main control MPU 65a can store various kinds of information in its built-in RAM in the power-off process even when the power is shut off, as will be described in detail later, by the power supplied by the capacitor. The stored information is erased (cleared) from the built-in RAM when the RAM clear switch 69 of the main control board 65 is operated when the power is turned on.
[4-1-2. Dispensing control board]

  As shown in FIG. 11, the payout control board 75 includes a payout control MPU 75a as a microprocessor, a payout control I / O port 75b as an I / O device, the error LED display 77, and the error release switch 78 described above. And a ball removal switch 79. The payout control MPU 75a includes a ROM that stores various processing programs and various commands, and a RAM that temporarily stores data, and also includes functions and the like to prevent fraud.

  The payout control MPU 75a receives various commands related to payout from the main control board 65 via the payout control I / O port, and the operation signal of the RAM clear switch 69 from the main control board 65 will be described in detail later. (Detection signal) is input via the payout control I / O port, and the detection signal from the full switch 107 described above is input via the payout control I / O port, and from the rotation angle switch 99 and the count switch 101 A detection signal is input via the dispensing relay board 98 and the dispensing control I / O port 75b.

  The payout control MPU 75a, which will be described in detail later, outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 41 based on the received various payout commands or operates the ball removal switch 79. Based on the detection signal), a driving signal is output to the payout motor 41 to discharge (or remove) the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 as shown in FIG. When a ball rental request signal from the card unit is input via the interface board 80 described above, a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is output based on the ball rental request signal. Further, the payout control MPU 75a will send various commands relating to the state of the pachinko machine 1 to the main control board 65 via the payout control I / O port 75b, or from the full switch 107. When the detection signal is input, the output of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is stopped based on the detection signal, or when the detection signal from the counting switch 101 is input, the payout is actually performed based on the detection signal. The number of game balls that have been played is output to the above-described external terminal board 82 via the payout control I / O port 75b. As described above, the external terminal board 82 is connected to a hall computer installed in a hall (not shown). This hall computer grasps the number of game balls paid out by the pachinko machine 1.

  When the prepaid card unit is connected to the interface board 80, the game ball launch permission signal from the prepaid card is input to the above-described launch control board 73 via the interface board 80 and the payout control board 75. ing. When the launch permission signal is input, the launch control board 73 becomes ready for the game ball to be launched by the launch device 70 described above. The handle 18 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a touch sensor (not shown). When the handle 18 is operated, a detection signal from the touch sensor is input to the launch control board 73, and a game ball is launched by the launch device 70. The In this way, when the prepaid card unit is connected to the interface board 80, a firing permission signal is input to the firing control board 73, so even if a detection signal from the full switch 107 is input to the payout control MPU 65a, the payout control MPU 65a. Although the output of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is stopped, when the handle 18 is operated in this state, the game ball is fired by the launching device 70.

As with the main control board 65, power is supplied to the payout control board 75 from a power supply board (not shown). The power supply board includes a capacitor that supplies power to the payout control board 75 for a predetermined time even when the power is shut off. With the power supplied by the capacitor, the payout control MPU 58a can store various payout information related to payout in its built-in RAM even when the power is shut off. The stored payout information is erased (cleared) from the built-in RAM when the RAM clear switch 69 of the main control board 65 is operated when the power is turned on.
[4-2. Peripheral board group]

As shown in FIG. 11, the peripheral substrate 181 includes the sub-integrated substrate 63 and the liquid crystal control substrate 58 described above.
[4-2-1. Sub-integrated board]

  As shown in FIG. 11, the sub-integrated board 63 includes a sub-integrated MPU 63a as a microprocessor, a sub-integrated ROM 63b that stores various processing programs and various commands, a sound source IC 63c that performs a high-quality performance, and the sound source IC 63c. And a sound ROM 63d in which sound information such as music to be referred to and sound effects are stored.

  The sub-integrated MPU 63a has various input / output ports such as a parallel input / output port and a serial input / output port. When various commands are received from the main control board 65, the side decoration device 27 is turned on based on the various commands. A signal is output, a lighting signal is output to the prize ball lamp 38, a lighting signal is output to the effect lamps 123 and 157, a gradation lighting signal is output to the gradation lamp 124, and the upper jaw movable device 176 and the lower jaw movable device 177. In addition, the drive signal is output via the lamp drive board 46, or an effect command related to the effect is created. This effect command is output to the sound source IC 63c and the liquid crystal control board 58. The sub-integrated MPU 63a receives the original position detection signals of the upper jaw movable body 174 and the lower jaw movable body 175 shown in FIG. 10 from the upper jaw movable body device 176 and the lower jaw movable body device 177 via the lamp drive board 46. A signal (operation signal) indicating that the liquid crystal control board 58 is operating normally is input from the liquid crystal control board 58.

The sound source IC 63c reads sound information from the sound ROM 63d on the basis of the effect command output from the sub-integrated MPU 63a, and controls so that music, sound effects, and the like according to various effects flow from the low-frequency speaker 14 and the mid-high sound speaker 36. I do.
[4-2-2. LCD control board]

  As shown in FIG. 11, the liquid crystal control board 58 includes a liquid crystal control MPU 58a as a microprocessor, a liquid crystal control ROM 58b for storing various processing programs and various commands, and a VDP (Video Display Processor) for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display 57. (Omitted) 58 c and an image ROM 58 d for storing various images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 57.

When the liquid crystal control MPU 58a receives the effect command described above from the sub-integrated board 63, the liquid crystal control MPU 58a controls the VDP 58c based on the effect command. The VDP 58c reads an image from the image ROM 58d and performs display control of the liquid crystal display 57. As described above, when the liquid crystal control MPU 58a is operating normally, the liquid crystal control MPU 58a outputs an operation signal to that effect to the sub-integrated board 63.
[5. Various control processes of main control board]

Next, various control processes performed by the main control board 65 in accordance with the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. First, various random numbers used for game control will be described, main control side power-on processing, and then main control side timer interrupt processing will be described. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of main control-side power-on processing, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing continuation of main-control-side power-on processing in FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is an example of main control-side timer interrupt processing. It is a flowchart which shows.
[5-1. Various random numbers]

As a variety of random numbers used for game control, a big hit determination random number used to determine whether or not to generate a big hit gaming state, and a big hit determination initial value determination random number used to determine the initial value of the big hit determination random number Are displayed on the upper special symbol display 148 and the lower special symbol display 149 shown in FIG. 9, and the reach determination random number used to determine whether or not to generate reach when the big hit gaming state is not generated. Used to determine the combination of the random number for the variable display pattern used to determine the variable display pattern and the special symbol displayed on the upper special symbol display 148 and the lower special symbol display 149 when the big hit gaming state is generated. A jackpot symbol random number and a jackpot symbol initial value determining random number used for determining an initial value of the jackpot symbol random number are prepared. In addition to these random numbers, the normal symbol per-determination random number used for determining whether or not to open / close the opening / closing blade 138 of the lower start winning port 134 shown in FIG. A random number for determining an initial value for determining a normal symbol used for determining an initial value and a random number for a normal symbol variation display pattern used for determining a variation display pattern to be displayed on the ordinary symbol display 152 shown in FIG. 9 are prepared. Has been.
[5-2. Main control side power-on processing]

  When power is turned on to the pachinko machine 1, the main control MPU 65a of the main control board 65 performs main control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. When the main control side power-on processing is started, the main control MPU 65a sets an interrupt mode (step S10). This interrupt mode sets the priority order of interrupts of the main control MPU 65a. In this embodiment, a main control timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority, and when an interrupt of this main control timer interrupt process occurs, that process is preferentially performed. Subsequent to step S10, input / output setting (I / O input / output setting) is performed (step S12). In this I / O input / output setting, input / output setting of the I / O port of the main control MPU 65a is performed. Following step S12, the watchdog timer built in the main control MPU 65a is set to be valid (step S14). This watchdog timer is for monitoring the operation (system) of the main control MPU 65a, and when it is not cleared for a certain period of time, the main control MPU 65a is reset (whether the system of the main control MPU 65a has runaway). Diagnose regularly).

  Following step S14, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S16). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, when there is a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped), the voltage drops, and when the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, a power failure signal is input as a power failure warning. A power failure signal is input when the voltage is equal to or lower than the power failure notice voltage from when the power is turned on to when the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage. Therefore, in the wait timer process 1, after the power is turned on, the process waits until the voltage becomes higher than the power failure notice voltage. In this embodiment, 200 milliseconds (ms) is set as the waiting time (wait timer). Following step S16, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear switch 69 shown in FIG. 11 has been operated (step S18). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 69 of the main control board 65 is operated and an operation signal (detection signal) is input to the main control MPU 65a. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 69 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 69 is not operated.

  When the RAM clear switch 69 is operated in step S18, a value 1 is set to the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG (step S20). On the other hand, when the RAM clear switch 69 is not operated in step S18, the RAM clear is cleared. A value 0 is set in the notification flag RCL-FLG (step S22). This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “main built-in RAM”) incorporated in the main control MPU 65a, and game information relating to games such as probability fluctuations, unpaid prize balls, etc. Is a flag indicating whether or not to be erased, and is set to a value of 1 when erasing game information and a value of 0 when not erasing game information. The RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in step S20 and step S22 is stored in the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU 65a.

  Following step S20 or step S22, wait timer processing 2 is performed (step S24). In this wait timer processing 2, the system waits until the system for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display 57 by the liquid crystal control board 58 shown in FIG. For example, various control programs compressed from the liquid crystal control ROM 58b shown in FIG. 11 are read out and stored in a RAM built in the liquid crystal control MPU 58a shown in FIG. In this embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as a time until booting (boot timer). Subsequent to step S24, a setting for permitting access to the main internal RAM is performed (step S26). With this setting, the main built-in RAM can be accessed, and for example, game information can be written (stored) or read. Subsequent to step S26, the stack pointer is set (step S28). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address accumulated on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the memory element (register) in use, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after completing the subroutine. It indicates the address that is stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S28, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

  Following step S28, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0 (step S30). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value 1 when erasing game information and a value 0 when not erasing game information. When the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0 in step S30, that is, when the game information is not deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S32). This checksum is calculated by considering the game information stored in the main built-in RAM as a numerical value. Subsequent to step S32, it is determined whether or not the calculated checksum value matches a checksum value stored in a main control side power-off process (power-off) described later (step S34). . If they match, it is determined whether or not the backup flag BK-FLG is 1 (step S36). This backup flag BK-FLG indicates whether backup information such as game information, a checksum value, and a backup flag BK-FLG value is stored in the main built-in RAM in the main control side power-off process described later. It is a flag, and is set to a value of 1 when the main control side power-off process is normally terminated, and a value of 0 when the main control-side power-off process is not terminated normally.

  When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S36, that is, when the main control side power-off process has been completed normally, the work area of the main internal RAM is set as the time of power recovery (step S38). In this setting, the backup flag BK-FLG is set to the value 0, and the power recovery time information is read from the ROM (hereinafter referred to as “main internal ROM”) built in the main control MPU 65a. Information is set in the work area of the main internal RAM. Here, “at the time of power recovery” includes not only a state in which the power is turned off but also a state in which the power is turned on, and a state in which power is restored after a power failure or a momentary power failure. Subsequent to step S38, power-on command creation processing is performed (step S40). In the power-on command creation process, the game information is read from the backup information, and various commands corresponding to the game information are stored in a predetermined storage area of the main internal RAM. Note that various commands will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not 0 (value 1) in step S30, that is, when the game information is erased, or when the checksum values do not match in step S34, or step S36. When the backup flag BK-FLG is not 1 (ie, 0), that is, when the main control side power-off process has not ended normally, the entire area of the main internal RAM is cleared (step S42). As a setting, the work area of the main internal RAM is set (step S44). In this setting, the initial information is read from the main internal ROM and the initial information is set in the work area of the main internal RAM. Subsequent to step S44, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing is performed (step S46). In this RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a RAM clear notification command for notifying the sub-integrated board 63 shown in FIG. Test commands for performing the various tests are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main internal RAM. When the sub-integrated board 63 receives the RAM clear notification command, the RAM clear notification command is transmitted to the liquid crystal control board 58. On the other hand, when the test command is received, the sound source IC 63c, the liquid crystal control board 58, and the like shown in FIG. A test command for performing various inspections of the lamp driving substrate 46 is transmitted.

  Subsequent to step S40 or step S46, interrupt initialization is performed (step S48). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when a main control timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 4 ms. Subsequent to step S48, interrupt permission is set. (Step S50). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process is repeated every interrupt cycle set in step S48, that is, every 4 ms.

  Subsequent to step S50, a value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S52). The watchdog timer is cleared by setting value A, value B and value C in this order in this watchdog timer clear register WCL. Following step S52, it is determined whether a power failure signal is input (step S54). As described above, when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is shut off, or when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, a power failure signal is input as a power failure warning voltage when the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage. The determination in step S54 is made based on this power failure signal. When no power failure signal is input in step S54, non-winning random number update processing is performed (step S56).

  In this non-winning random number update process, the big hit determination initial value determination random number, the reach determination random number, the variation display pattern random number, the big hit symbol initial value determination random number, and the like are updated. For example, the counter that updates the big hit determination random number increases (counts up) the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value of the big hit determination random number by 1 every time a main control timer interruption process described later is performed. This counter counts up from the big hit determination initial value determination random number to the upper limit value when the big hit determination initial value determination random number is set (updated) by non-winning random number update processing, and then continues from the lower limit value to the big hit value. Counts up to a random number for determining the initial value for determination. Then, the big hit determination initial value determination random number is updated again by the non-winning random number update process. In this way, in the non-winning random number update process, random numbers that are not involved in the winning determination (big hit determination) are updated. It should be noted that the above-described random numbers for normal symbol determination, random numbers for initial value determination for normal symbol determination, random numbers for normal symbol variation display pattern, and the like described above are also updated by this non-winning random number update process. The random number for determining normal symbols is the same as the method for updating the random number for determining big hits, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Subsequent to step S56, the process returns to step S52 again, the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, and it is determined whether or not there is a power failure signal in step S54. The non-winning random number update process is performed, and Steps S52 to S56 are repeated. The processes in steps S52 to S56 are referred to as “main control side main process”.

  On the other hand, when a power failure signal is input in step S54, interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S58). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt processing described later is not performed, writing to the main internal RAM is prevented, and rewriting of game information is protected. Subsequent to step S58, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S60). This checksum is calculated by regarding the game information in the work area of the main built-in RAM as a numerical value, excluding the storage area for the checksum value and the backup flag BK-FLG value described above. Subsequent to step S60, the value 1 is set to the backup flag BK-FLG. (Step S62) This completes the storage of the backup information. Subsequent to step S62, prohibition of access to the main internal RAM is set (step S64). With this setting, access to the main internal RAM is prohibited, and writing and reading cannot be performed, and the backup information stored in the main internal RAM is protected. Subsequent to step S64, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S66). As described above, the clear setting is performed by sequentially setting the value A, the value B, and the value C in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. Following step S66, an infinite loop is entered. In this infinite loop, the value A, the value B, and the value C are not sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, so that the watchdog timer is not cleared. Therefore, the main control MPU 65a is reset, and then the main control MPU 65a performs the main control side power-on process again. Note that the processing of step S58 to step S66 and the infinite loop are referred to as “main control side power-off processing”.

  The pachinko machine 1 (main control MPU 65a) is reset when a power failure occurs or when an instantaneous power failure occurs, and the main control side power-on process is performed by power recovery thereafter.

In step S34, it is checked whether the backup information stored in the main built-in RAM is normal, and in step S36, it is checked whether the main control side power-off process has been normally completed. is doing. In this way, by checking the backup information stored in the main built-in RAM twice, it is inspected whether the backup information is stored by fraud.
[5-3. Main control timer interrupt processing]

  Next, the main control timer interrupt process will be described. This main control side timer interruption process is repeated at every interruption period (4 ms in this embodiment) set in the main control side power-on process shown in FIGS.

  When the main control side timer interrupt process is started, the main control MPU 65a of the main control board 65 sets the timer interrupt to be prohibited and switches (saves) the register as shown in FIG. 14 (step S70). Here, the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) used in the main process on the main control side is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the timer interrupt processing on the main control side, the value of the general register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main process on the main control side from being destroyed.

  Subsequent to step S70, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S72). At this time, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value A set in step S52 of the main control side power-on process (main control side main process).

  Subsequent to step S72, switch input processing is performed (step S74). In this switch input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the main control I / O port 65b are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the main built-in RAM. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the detection signal from the left winning port switch 146 that detects a game ball that has entered the left normal winning port 144 and the decoration unit side normal winning port 158, 159, the right normal winning port 145 entered A detection signal from the right winning opening switch 147 that detects a game ball, a detection signal from a count switch 143 that detects a gaming ball that has entered the big winning opening 140, and a gaming ball that has entered the upper start winning opening 133 are detected. Detection signal from the upper start opening switch 136, detection signal from the lower start opening switch 137 that detects the game ball that has entered the lower start winning prize opening 134, detection from the gate switch 130 that detects the game ball that has passed through the gate 129 A from the payout control board 75 that indicates that the payout control board 75 shown in FIG. Reading K signal, respectively, stored in the input information storage area.

  Subsequent to step S74, timer subtraction processing is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction process, for example, a time is set so that the upper special symbol display unit 148 and the lower special symbol display unit 149 shown in FIG. 9 are turned on in accordance with a variation display pattern determined in a special symbol and special electric accessory control process described later. On the other hand, the time management is performed so that the normal symbol display 152 shown in FIG. 9 is turned on in accordance with the normal symbol variation display pattern determined in the normal symbol and normal electric accessory control process described later. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, the timer interruption period is set to 4 ms. When the subtraction result is 0, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is accurately measured.

  Subsequent to step S76, a winning random number update process is performed (step S78). In the winning random number update process, the big hit determination random number and the big hit symbol random number described above are updated. In addition to these random numbers, the big hit determination initial value determination random number updated in the non-winning random number update process in step S56 in the main control side power-on process (main control side main process) shown in FIG. The random number for determining the initial value for the jackpot symbol is also updated. These random numbers for determining the initial value for jackpot determination and the initial value determining random number for the jackpot symbol are updated in the main control side main process and the main control side timer interrupt process, respectively, thereby improving the randomness. On the other hand, since the big hit determination random number and the big hit symbol random number are random numbers related to the winning determination (big hit determination), each time the winning random number update process is performed, each counter is incremented. For example, the counter for updating the big hit determination random number counts up the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value of the big hit determination random number every time the main control timer interrupt processing is performed. This counter counts up from the big hit determination initial value determining random number to the upper limit value, and then counts up from the lower limit value to the initial value. When the counter finishes counting the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value of the jackpot determination random number, the initial value determination random number for jackpot determination is updated by this winning random number update process (this initial value determination random number for jackpot determination) Is also updated by the above-mentioned non-winning random number update process). It should be noted that the above-described random number for normal symbol determination and random number for determining initial value for normal symbol determination are also updated by this winning random number update process. The random number for determining normal symbols is the same as the method for updating the random number for determining big hits, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Subsequent to step S78, prize ball control processing is performed (step S80). In this prize ball control process, input information is read from the above-described input state storage area, and a prize ball command for paying out a game ball is created based on this input information. Then, the created prize ball command is transmitted to the payout control board 75. For example, when one game ball enters the big prize opening 140 shown in FIG. 9, a prize ball command for paying out 15 balls as a prize ball is created and the prize ball command is transmitted to the payout control board 75. Subsequent to step S80, a prize ball check process is performed (step S82). In this prize ball check process, an abnormal state related to the prize ball is confirmed. For example, when a game ball enters the big winning opening 140 when not in the big hit game state, a prize ball abnormality notification command is created as an abnormal state and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above. (This abnormal state is confirmed based on the input information read from the input information storage area). Following step S82, command reception processing is performed (step S84). The payout control board 75 transmits a status command such as a state in which the payout device 40 shown in FIG. In the command reception process of step S84, when this status command is normally received, information that informs the payout control board 75 to that effect is stored as output information in the output information storage area of the main internal RAM. Although the detailed description thereof will be described later, the normally received status command is shaped and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S84, a special symbol and special electric accessory control process is performed (step S86). In the special symbol and special electric accessory control process, the input information is read from the input information storage area described above, and the start winning process is performed based on the input information. In this start winning process, it is determined from the input information whether the detection signal from the upper start port switch 136 or the lower start port switch 137 shown in FIG. 9 is input to the input terminal. Based on the determination result, when the detection signal is input to the input terminal, the values of various counters that update the big hit determination disturbance and the big hit symbol random number are extracted and used as start information in the main built-in RAM. Store in the start information storage area.

  In this start information storage area, start information storage blocks 0 to 7 (eight start information storage blocks) are provided, start information storage block 0, start information storage block 1, start information storage block 2,... The start information is stored in the order of the start information storage block 7. For example, when the start information is stored in the start information storage blocks 0 to 6, the start information is stored in the start information storage block 7 when the detection signal from the upper start port switch 136 is input to the input terminal. At this time, identification information indicating that it has been detected by the upper start port switch 136 is also stored. As a result, in the start information storage blocks 0 to 7, it is stored in chronological order which one of the upper start port switch 136 and the lower start port switch 137 has been detected (that is, the game ball is detected). , Stored so that the history can be seen).

  The starting information stored in the starting information storage block 0 is read out. When this starting information is read, the starting information in the starting information storage block 1 is stored in the starting information storage block 0, the starting information in the starting information storage block 2 is stored in the starting information storage block 1,... The start information is shifted to the start information storage block 6 to make the start information storage block 7 an empty area. For example, when the start information is stored in the start storage information blocks 0 to 2, the start information in the start information storage block 1 is stored in the start information storage block 0, and the start information in the start information storage block 2 is stored in the start information storage block. The start information storage blocks 2 to 7 become free areas. Here, if the start information is stored in the start information storage blocks 0 to 7, the upper special symbol storage lamp 150 and the lower special symbol storage lamp shown in FIG. Based on the identification information described above, the output of the lighting signal of the upper special symbol storage lamp 150 and the lower special symbol storage lamp 151 is set so as to turn on 151, and stored as output information in the output information storage area described above. In the present embodiment, the maximum number of game balls detected by the upper start port switch 136 and the lower start port switch 137 can be stored in the start information storage block as start memories.

  Following the start winning process, the start information is read from the start information storage block 0, and the game process is performed based on the start information. In this game process, for example, the value of the random number for determining the big hit is extracted from the read start information, and it is determined whether or not it matches the big hit determination value stored in advance in the main built-in ROM (determining whether or not it is a big hit Or the value of the jackpot symbol random number is taken out to determine whether or not it matches the probability variation determination value stored in advance in the main built-in ROM (determination of whether or not to generate a probability variation). Here, “probability fluctuation” means that the probability of jackpot changes to a high probability (high probability change) set higher than in normal times (low probability). On the other hand, it is read out from the normal time determination table, while it is read out from the probability change time determination table with high probability.

  The gaming state to be generated is determined by these determination results. In the determined gaming state, a variation display pattern is determined based on the above-described random number for variation display pattern, and a game effect command is created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above. Further, according to the game state to be generated, for example, when the big hit game state is set, the output of the drive signal to the opening / closing plate solenoid 142 shown in FIG. Store in the output information storage area.

  Subsequent to step S86, normal symbol and normal electric accessory control processing is performed (step S88). In the normal symbol and normal electric accessory control process, the input information is read from the above-described input information storage area, and the electric start winning a prize opening process is performed based on the input information. In this electric start winning opening process, it is determined from the input information whether or not the detection signal from the gate switch 130 shown in FIG. 9 has been input to the input terminal. Based on the determination result, when a detection signal is input to the input terminal, the counter value or the like for updating the normal symbol determination random number described above is extracted, and the extracted value is stored in advance in the main built-in ROM. It is determined whether or not the stored determination value per ordinary symbol matches. When they match, the output of the drive signal to the opening / closing blade solenoid 139 shown in FIG. 9 to open / close the opening / closing blade 138 is set and stored as output information in the output information storage area described above. In addition, the normal symbol variation display pattern is determined based on the above-described normal symbol variation display pattern random number, and the output of the lighting signal to the normal symbol display unit 152 is set so that the normal symbol display unit 152 shown in FIG. And stored as output information in the output information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In this port output process, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 65b, and various signals are output based on this output information. For example, an ACK signal is output to the payout control board 75 when the state command from the payout control board 75 is normally received from the output terminal based on the output information, or when the big hit gaming state is shown in FIG. A drive signal is output to the open / close plate solenoid 142 for opening / closing the open / close plate 141 of the winning opening 140, or a big hit signal indicating that the big hit game state is output to the external terminal plate 82 shown in FIG.

  Subsequent to step S90, sub-integrated board command transmission processing is performed (step S92). In this sub-integrated board command transmission process, the transmission information is read from the transmission information storage area described above, and this transmission information is transmitted to the sub-integrated board 63 shown in FIG. As described above, the transmission information includes a game effect command, a RAM clear notification command, a test command, a prize ball abnormality notification command, a status command, and the like.

Subsequent to step S92, a value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S94). At this time, the value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value B set in step S72. As a result, the value A, the value B, and the value C are sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, and the watchdog timer is cleared. Subsequent to step S94, the register is switched (returned) (step S96). This return is performed by reading the contents saved on the stack in step S70 and writing them in the register. Subsequent to step S96, interrupt permission is set (step S98), and this routine is terminated.
[6. Various control processing of payout control board]

Next, various control processes performed by the payout control board 75 will be described. First, the payout control side power-on process will be described, and then the payout control side timer interruption process, various prize ball stock addition processes, prize ball stock monitoring process, payout ball removal determination setting process, payout setting process, ball removal setting Processing will be described. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout control side power-on process, FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the payout control side power-on process of FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 is a payout control side following FIG. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a payout control timer interrupt process, and FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a prize ball stock number addition process. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the winning ball stock number addition process, FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the stock monitoring process, and FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout ball removal determination setting process. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout setting process, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the ball removal setting process. The award ball stock number adding process, the lending prize ball stock number adding process, the stock monitoring process, and the payout ball removal determination setting process are the main operation setting process of step S164 in the payout control side power-on process described later. The priority order is set in the order of a prize ball stock number addition process for a prize ball, a prize ball stock number addition process for a rented ball, a stock monitoring process, and a payout ball removal determination setting process.
[6-1. Discharge control side power-on processing]

  When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 performs payout control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. When the payout control side power-on process is started, the payout control MPU 75a sets an interrupt mode (step S100). This interrupt mode is for setting the priority order of interrupts of the payout control MPU 75a. In this embodiment, a payout control side timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority, and when an interruption of this payout control side timer interrupt process occurs, that process is preferentially performed. Subsequent to step S100, input / output setting (I / O input / output setting) is performed (step S102). In this I / O input / output setting, input / output setting of the I / O port of the payout control MPU 75a is performed. Following step S102, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S104). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, when there is a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped), the voltage drops, and when the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, a power failure signal is input as a power failure warning. A power failure signal is input when the voltage is equal to or lower than the power failure notice voltage from when the power is turned on to when the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage. Therefore, in the wait timer process 1, after the power is turned on, the process waits until the voltage becomes higher than the power failure notice voltage. In this embodiment, 200 milliseconds (ms) is set as the waiting time (wait timer). Subsequent to step S104, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear switch 69 shown in FIG. 11 is operated (step S106). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 69 of the main control board 65 is operated and the operation signal (detection signal) is input to the payout control MPU 75a. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 69 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 69 is not operated.

  When the RAM clear switch 69 is operated in step S106, the payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is set to a value 1 (step S108), while when the RAM clear switch 69 is not operated in step S106, the payout A value 0 is set to the RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG (step S110). The payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “payout built-in RAM”) incorporated in the payout control MPU 75a, for example, award ball stock number, real ball count, drive command, etc. This is a flag indicating whether or not to delete payout information (details will be described later) relating to payout, such as the number and various flags (and various information stored in various information storage areas). A value of 1 is set when deleting, and a value of 0 is set when not paying out information. The payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG set in step S108 and step S110 is stored in a general purpose storage element (general purpose register) of the payout control MPU 75a.

  Following step S108 or step S110, it is determined whether or not the ball removal switch 79 shown in FIG. 11 is operated (step S112). This determination is made based on whether or not the ball removal switch 79 of the payout control board 75 is operated and an operation signal (detection signal) is input to the payout control MPU 75a. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the ball removal switch 79 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the ball removal switch 79 is not operated.

  When the ball removal switch 79 is operated in step S112, a value 1 is set in the ball removal flag RMV-FLG (step S114). On the other hand, when the ball removal switch 79 is not operated in step S112, the ball removal flag 79 is set. A value 0 is set in RMV-FLG (step S116). The ball removal flag RMV-FLG is a flag indicating whether or not to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 shown in FIG. A value of 0 is set when the game ball is not discharged. Note that the ball removal flag RMV-FLG set in step S114 and step S116 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the payout control MPU 75a.

  Subsequent to step S114 or step S116, a setting for permitting access to the payout internal RAM is performed (step S120). With this setting, the payout internal RAM can be accessed, and for example, payout information can be written (stored) or read out. Subsequent to step S120, the stack pointer is set (step S122). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address accumulated on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the memory element (register) in use, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after completing the subroutine. It indicates the address that is stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S122, an initial address is set to the stack pointer, and from this initial address, the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are loaded onto the stack. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

  Following step S122, it is determined whether or not the payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is 0 (step S124). As described above, the payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is set to a value of 1 when the payout information is erased and to a value of 0 when the payout information is not erased. When the payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is 0 in step S124, that is, when the payout information is not deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S126). This checksum calculates the sum by regarding the payout information stored in the payout internal RAM as a numerical value. Subsequent to step S126, it is determined whether or not the calculated checksum value matches the checksum value stored in the payout control side power-off process (power-off) described later (step S128). . If they match, it is determined whether or not the payout backup flag HBK-FLG is 1 (step S130). This payout backup flag HBK-FLG stores or holds payout backup information such as payout information, a checksum value, and a value of the payout backup flag HBK-FLG in the payout internal RAM in the payout control side power-off process described later. This flag is set to a value of 1 when the payout control side power-off process is normally terminated, and a value of 0 when the payout control side power-off process is not normally terminated.

  When the payout backup flag HBK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S130, that is, when the payout control side power-off process has been completed normally, the work area of the payout internal RAM is set as power recovery (step S132). In this setting, in addition to setting the payout backup flag HBK-FLG to a value of 0, the power recovery time information is read from the ROM built in the payout control MPU 75a (hereinafter referred to as “payout built-in ROM”). Time information is set in the work area of the payout internal RAM. Here, “when power is restored” includes, in addition to the state where the power is turned on from the state where the power is cut off, as well as the state where the power is restored after the power failure or the instantaneous power failure as described above.

  On the other hand, when the payout RAM clear notification flag HRCL-FLG is not 0 (value 1) in step S124, that is, when the payout information is erased, or when the checksum values do not match in step S128, or step If the payout backup flag HBK-FLG is not a value 1 (value 0) in S130, that is, if the payout control side power-off process has not been terminated normally, the entire area of the payout internal RAM is cleared (step S134). The work area of the payout internal RAM is set as an initial setting (step S136). In this setting, the initial information is read from the payout built-in ROM, and this initial information is set in the work area of the payout internal RAM.

  Subsequent to step S132 or step S136, interrupt initialization is performed (step S138). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when payout control side timer interrupt processing described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 1.75 ms. Subsequent to step S138, interrupt permission is set. (Step S140). With this setting, the payout control side timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every interrupt cycle set in step S138, that is, every 1.75 ms.

  Following step S140, it is determined whether a power failure signal is input (step S142). As described above, when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is shut off, or when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, a power failure signal is input as a power failure warning voltage when the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage. The determination in step S142 is performed based on this power failure signal. When no power failure signal is input in step S142, it is determined whether or not the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 (step S144). This 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that counts 1.75 ms in a payout control side timer interrupt process processed every 1.75 ms, which will be described later. The value is set to 0 when 75 ms has not elapsed. When the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 0 in step S144, that is, when 1.75 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S142 to determine whether or not a power failure signal is input. On the other hand, when the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 in step S144, that is, when 1.75 ms has elapsed, the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to 0 (step S146), and FIG. A clear signal is turned ON to the indicated external watchdog timer (external WDT) 75c (step S148). The external WDT 75c is for monitoring the operation (system) of the payout control MPU 75a. When the external WDT 75c is not cleared within a certain period, the payout control MPU 75a is reset (whether the system of the payout control MPU 75a is not running out of control periodically). Diagnosed).

  Subsequent to step S148, port output processing is performed (step S150). In this port output process, various information is read from the output information storage area of the payout built-in RAM from the output terminal of the payout control I / O port 75b, and various signals are output based on the various information. In the output information storage area, for example, ACK information indicating that various commands relating to payout from the main control board 65 have been normally received, drive information for performing drive control to the payout motor 41, and the payout motor 41 are actually game balls. Information indicating the number of balls that have been paid out, LED display information displayed on the error LED display 77 shown in FIG. 11, and reception completion information indicating that a loan request signal from a prepaid card unit (not shown) has been normally received. Are stored, and when various commands relating to payout from the main control board 65 are normally received from the output terminal based on this output information, an ACK signal is output to the main control board 65 or a payout motor 11 is output as a prize ball number signal by outputting a drive signal to 41 or the number of balls that the payout motor 41 has actually paid out game balls. An error LED indicator 77 is output to the board 82 (in this embodiment, every time the payout motor 41 actually pays out 10 game balls, it outputs a prize ball number signal to the external terminal board 82). Or a display completion signal is output to the prepaid card unit when the lending request signal from the prepaid card unit is normally received.

  Subsequent to step S150, port input processing is performed (step S152). In this port input processing, various signals input to the input terminal of the payout control I / O port 75b are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the operation signal of the error release switch 78, the detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99, the detection signal from the counting switch 101, the detection signal from the full switch 107, and a rental ball from a prepaid card unit (not shown) A request signal, a connection signal, and an ACK signal from the main control board 65 that informs that the main control board 65 has normally received various commands transmitted in the command transmission process described later are read and stored in the input information storage area as input information. Remember.

  Subsequent to step S152, timer update processing is performed (step S154). In this timer update process, the detailed description thereof will be described later, but when the determination is made as to whether or not the payout motor 41 has caused the stagnation of the ball, the stagnation determination time set as a determination condition thereof, FIG. , The ball removal determination time set when discharging the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55, the lower plate 17 shown in FIG. 1 (the lower plate ball shown in FIG. 5). When determining whether or not the guide passage 50) is full, the full tank determination time set as the determination condition, from a ball break switch (not shown) provided in the payout device 40 shown in FIG. When determining whether or not the number of game balls taken into the payout device 40 by the detection signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, time management such as a ball breakage determination time set as the determination condition is performed. For example, when the sphere collision determination time is set to 5005 ms, the timer interruption period is set to 1.75 ms. Therefore, every time this timer update process is performed, the sphere collision determination time is subtracted by 1.75 ms. Since the subtraction result is a value of 0, the sphere collision determination time is accurately measured.

  In this embodiment, the ball removal determination time is set to 60060 ms, the full tank determination time is set to 504 ms, and the ball breakage determination time is set to 119 ms. Each time this timer update process is performed, the ball removal determination time and the full tank determination time are set. By subtracting 1.75 ms at a time and the subtraction result becomes 0, the ball removal determination time and the full tank determination time are accurately measured. These various determination times are stored in the time management information storage area of the payout internal RAM as time management information.

  Following step S154, CR communication processing is performed (step S156). In this CR communication processing, input information is read from the above-described input information storage area, and based on this input information, it is determined whether or not a lending request signal from a prepaid card unit (not shown) is input, or a prepaid card It is determined whether a connection signal from the unit is input. When a lending request signal is input and this lending request signal is normally received, the reception completion information to that effect is stored in the output information storage area, and the lending request signal is paid out as lending information. Store in the rented ball information storage area of the internal RAM. On the other hand, when the ball rental request signal cannot be normally received, the ball rental request error information to that effect is stored in the state information storage area of the payout built-in RAM.

  When a connection signal is input, CR connection information that indicates that the connection with the prepaid card unit is normal is stored in the state information storage area. When no connection signal is input, CR connection information that indicates that the connection with the prepaid card unit is abnormal is stored in the state information storage area.

  Subsequent to step S156, a full tank and out-of-ball check process is performed (step S158). In this full tank and out-of-ball check process, input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area, and based on this input information, the lower pan 17 (lower pan ball guiding passage 50) is detected by a detection signal from the full tank switch 107. It is determined whether or not the game balls are full, or the number of game balls taken into the payout device 40 by a detection signal from a ball break switch provided in the payout device 40 becomes a predetermined number or more. It is determined whether or not. For example, whether or not the lower plate 17 is full of game balls is determined by using a timer interruption period of 1.75 ms, and a detection signal from the full tank switch 107 in the current full tank and out of ball check processing. Is ON, and when the detection signal from the full tank switch 107 is turned OFF in the previous full (1.75 ms before) full ball and out of ball check process, that is, the detection signal from the full tank switch 107 is changed from OFF to ON. In some cases, timing of the full tank determination time (504 ms) described above is started in the timer update process in step S154. When the full tank determination time becomes 0 in the timer update process, that is, when the full tank determination time is reached, whether or not the detection signal from the full tank switch 107 is ON in this full tank and out-of-ball check process. Determine whether. In this determination, when the detection signal from the full tank switch 107 is ON, the full tank information indicating that the lower tray 17 is full of game balls is stored in the above-described state information storage area. On the other hand, when the detection signal from the full tank switch 107 is OFF, it is stored in the state information storage area that the lower plate 17 is filled with the game ball and the fact that it is not full is informed.

  Whether or not the number of game balls taken into the payout device 40 is greater than or equal to a predetermined number is also determined by using the timer interruption period 1.75 ms, When the detection signal from the ball break switch is turned off in the previous full (1.75 ms before) full ball and ball break check processing, that is, the detection signal from the ball break switch changes from OFF to ON. When the transition is made, the counting of the ball breakage determination time (119 ms) described above is started in the timer update process in step S154. When the ball break determination time becomes 0 in the timer update process, that is, when the ball break determination time is reached, whether or not the detection signal from the ball break switch is ON in the full tank and ball break check processing. Determine. In this determination, when the detection signal from the ball break switch is ON, the ball break information indicating that the number of game balls taken into the payout device 40 is not less than a predetermined number is stored in the state information storage area. On the other hand, when the detection signal from the ball break switch is OFF, the ball break information indicating that the number of game balls taken into the payout device 40 is not greater than a predetermined number is stored in the state information storage area.

  Following step S158, command reception processing is performed (step S160). In this command reception process, various commands relating to payout from the main control board 65 are received. When the various commands are normally received, ACK information indicating that is stored in the output information storage area. On the other hand, when various commands cannot be received normally, connection abnormality information that indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the main control board 65 and the payout control board 75 is stored in the state information storage area described above. . A detailed description of various commands related to payout from the main control board 65 will be given later.

  Following step S160, command analysis processing is performed (step S162). In this command analysis processing, the command received in step S160 is analyzed, and the analyzed command is stored as received command information in the received command information storage area of the payout built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S162, main operation setting processing is performed (step S164). In this main operation setting process, operation settings such as winning balls, lending balls, ball removal and ball scoring are performed, and the number of unpaid balls (prize ball stock number) is monitored. A detailed description of these operation settings and monitoring will be described later.

  Following step S164, LED display data creation processing is performed (step S166). In this LED display data creation processing, various types of information are read from the state information storage area described above, and display data to be displayed on the error LED display 77 of the payout control board 75 shown in FIG. Stored in the output information storage area. For example, the above-described ball break information is read from the state information storage area, display data corresponding to the ball break information (display value 1 in this embodiment) is created, and the LED display information is stored in the output information storage area.

  Following step S166, command transmission processing is performed (step S168). In this command transmission process, various information is read out from the state information storage area described above, a command is created based on the various information, and is transmitted to the main control board 65. A detailed description of these commands will be described later.

  Subsequent to step S168, the clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 75c is turned OFF (step S170). As a result, the external WDT 75c is cleared, the payout control MPU 65a is not reset, and the time measurement of the WDT is started again.

  Following step S170, the process returns to step S142 again to determine whether or not a power failure signal is input. If this power failure signal is not input, the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 in step S144. When the 1.75 ms elapse flag HT-FLG is a value 1, that is, when 1.75 ms elapses, the value 1. is set to the 1.75 ms elapse flag HT-FLG in step S146, and the step In step S148, a clear signal is output to the external WDT 75c, port output processing is performed in step S150, port input processing is performed in step S152, timer update processing is performed in step S154, CR communication processing is performed in step S156, and step S158 is performed. Performs full tank and out of ball check processing, and receives a command reception process in step S160. In step S162, command analysis processing is performed. In step S164, main operation setting processing is performed. In step S166, LED display data generation processing is performed. In step S168, command transmission processing is performed. In step S170, a clear signal is transmitted to the external WDT 75c. Is output, and Steps S142 to S170 are repeated. The processing from step S142 to step S170 is referred to as “payout control side main processing”.

  Depending on the progress of the game on the main control board 65, the processing content of the payout control side main process varies. For this reason, the time required for processing of the payout control MPU 75a varies. Accordingly, the payout control MPU 75a preferentially outputs to the main control board 65 an ACK signal notifying that various commands relating to payout from the main control board 65 have been normally received in the port output processing of step S150. As a result, the payout control MPU 75a ensures the processing time so that other fluctuating processes can be sufficiently performed.

  On the other hand, when a power failure signal is input in step S142, interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S172). With this setting, payout control side timer interrupt processing, which will be described later, is not performed, writing to the payout internal RAM is prevented, and rewriting of the payout information described above is protected. Subsequent to step S172, the output of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is stopped (step S174). Thereby, payout of the game ball is stopped. Subsequent to step S174, the clear signal is turned ON / OFF to the external WDT 75c (step S176). This clears the external WDT 75c. Subsequent to step S176, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S178). The checksum is calculated by regarding the payout information in the work area of the payout built-in RAM as a numerical value excluding the storage area for the checksum value calculated in step S126 and the payout backup flag HBK-FLG. Subsequent to step S178, a value 1 is set to the payout backup flag HBK-FLG. (Step S180) This completes the storage of the payout backup information. Subsequent to step S180, prohibition of access to the payout built-in RAM is set (step S182). With this setting, access to the payout internal RAM is prohibited, and writing and reading cannot be performed, and the payout backup information stored in the internal payout RAM is protected. Following step S182, an infinite loop is entered. In this infinite loop, the clear signal is not turned ON / OFF to the external WDT 75c. For this reason, the payout control MPU 75a is reset, and then the payout control MPU 75a performs the payout control side power-on process again. The processing from step S172 to step S182 and the infinite loop are referred to as “payout control side power-off processing”.

  The pachinko machine 1 (payout control MPU 75a) is reset when a power failure occurs or when an instantaneous power failure occurs, and performs a payout control side power-on process when power is restored thereafter.

In step S128, it is checked whether or not the payout backup information stored in the payout built-in RAM is normal. In step S130, it is checked whether or not the payout control side power-off process has been normally completed. I am inspecting. In this way, by checking the payout backup information stored in the payout built-in RAM twice, it is inspected whether the payout backup information is stored by fraud.
[6-2. Discharge control side timer interrupt processing]

  Next, payout control side timer interrupt processing will be described. This payout control side timer interrupt process is repeated every interrupt cycle (1.75 ms in the present embodiment) set in the payout control side power-on process shown in FIGS.

  When the payout control side timer interrupt process is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 sets the timer interrupt to be prohibited and switches (saves) the register as shown in FIG. 18 (step S190). Here, the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) used in the above-described payout control-side main process is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the payout control side timer interrupt process, the value of the general-purpose register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the payout control side main process from being destroyed.

Subsequent to step S190, a value 1 is set to the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S192). The 1.75 progress flag HT-FLG is a flag that counts 1.75 ms every time the payout control side timer interrupt process is performed, that is, every 1.75 ms. Each value is set to 0 when .75 ms has not elapsed. Subsequent to step S192, the register is switched (returned) (step S194). This restoration is performed by reading the contents saved on the stack in step S190 and writing them to the register. Subsequent to step S194, interrupt permission is set (step S196), and this routine is terminated.
[6-3. Various prize ball stock addition processing]

Next, various prize ball stock number addition processing will be described. The prize ball stock number addition process includes a prize ball prize ball number addition process and a rental ball prize ball number addition process. The prize ball stock number addition process is performed from the main control board 65. This is a process of adding the number of balls to be paid out based on a prize ball command, which will be described later, and the prize ball stock number adding process for lending adds the number of balls to be paid out based on a lending request signal from a prepaid card unit (not shown). It is processing. First, the award ball stock number addition process for prize balls will be described, and then the award ball stock number addition process for rental balls will be described. In this embodiment, the prize ball stock number addition process for prize balls is set to be performed preferentially, and according to the number of prize balls stock added in this prize ball stock number addition process. After the game ball is paid out by the payout device 40 shown in FIG. 11, a setting is made so that the number of winning ball stock for lending is added.
[6-3-1. Prize ball stock number addition process for prize balls]

  When the award ball stock number addition process for a prize ball is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 determines whether or not there is a prize ball command as shown in FIG. 19 (step S200). This determination is made based on the command analyzed in the command analysis process of step S162 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the analyzed command is stored as received command information in the received command information storage area of the payout internal RAM. In step S200, the received command information is read from the received command information storage area to determine whether the command is a prize ball command.

  If the received command information is a prize ball command in step S200, the prize ball number PBV corresponding to the prize ball command is read from the prize ball number information table (step S202). The prize ball number information table, which will be described in detail later, is an information table stored in advance in the payout control ROM 75b shown in FIG. 11 in association with the prize ball command and the prize ball number PBV. Subsequent to step S202, the prize ball stock number PBS is read from the payout built-in RAM (step S204). The award ball stock number PBS represents the number of game balls that have not yet been paid out by the payout device 40, that is, the number of unpaid balls, and in this embodiment, has a storage capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits). Yes. As a result, the award ball stock number PBS can store the number of unpaid balls from 0 to 65535. The prize ball number PBV read in step S202 is added to the prize ball stock PBS read in step S204 (step S206), and this routine is terminated. After the addition in step S206, the prize ball command read in step S200 is erased from the received command information storage area.

On the other hand, if the received command information is not a prize ball command in step S200, this routine is terminated as it is.
[6-3-2. Addition of prize ball stock for rental balls]

  Next, the processing for adding the number of winning ball stocks will be described. When the processing for adding the number of prize balls for renting is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 determines whether or not there is a lending request signal as shown in FIG. 20 (step S210). This determination is made based on the lending request signal from the prepaid card unit in the port input process of step S152 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the lending request signal is stored as input information in the input information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. In step S210, input information is read from this input information storage area, and it is determined whether or not there is a lending request signal.

  When there is a lending request signal in step S210, the winning ball stock number PBS is read from the payout built-in RAM (step S212), the lending number RBV is added to this award ball stock number PBS (step S214), and this routine is terminated. To do. The number of rented balls RBV is a fixed value and is stored in advance in the payout control ROM 75b. In the present embodiment, the value 25 is set as the number of rented balls RBV. In addition, after adding in step S214, the ball rental request signal read in step S210 is deleted from the input information storage area. In the present embodiment, priority is given to prize balls (the prize balls and the rental balls are managed separately). For this reason, even when there is a ball rental request signal, the ball rental request signal is held, and when the prize ball is paid out, the ball is paid out. Accordingly, the rented ball is paid out after the prize ball stock PBS becomes zero.

On the other hand, when there is no lending request signal in step S210, this routine is ended as it is.
[6-4. Stock monitoring process]

  Next, the stock monitoring process will be described. In this stock monitoring process, a game is played in a state where the game ball is filled (stocked) in the lower plate 17 shown in FIG. 1 (the lower plate ball guide passage 50 shown in FIG. 5) during the game. This is a process for monitoring whether or not the operation is continued.

  When the stock monitoring process is started, as shown in FIG. 21, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 reads the prize ball stock number PBS from the payout built-in RAM (step S220). It is determined whether or not the threshold value is equal to or greater than a careful threshold value TH1 (step S222). The alert threshold TH1 is set to a value of 50 in this embodiment. If the prize ball stock PBS is greater than or equal to the attention threshold TH1 in step S222, the attention flag CA-FLG is set to 1 (step S224). This caution flag CA-FLG indicates that the player has started to stock game balls in the lower plate 17, and that the number of game balls that have not been paid out (the number of prize ball stocks described above) has reached or exceeded the caution threshold TH1. Is set to a value of 1 when the threshold value exceeds the caution threshold value TH1, and is set to a value of 0 when the threshold value does not exceed the threshold value TH1.

  Subsequent to step S224, it is determined whether or not the prize ball stock PBS read out in step S220 is equal to or greater than a warning threshold TH2 (step S226). The warning threshold value TH2 is set to a value 300 in this embodiment. When the prize ball stock PBS is greater than or equal to the warning threshold value TH2 in step S226, the warning flag WA-FLG is set to 1 (step S228), and this routine is terminated. This warning flag WA-FLG indicates that the player has started to stock game balls on the lower plate 17, and that the number of game balls that have not been paid out (the number of prize ball stocks described above) has reached or exceeded the warning threshold value TH2. Is set to a value of 1 when the warning threshold value TH2 or more is reached, and a value of 0 when the warning threshold value TH2 or more is not reached.

  On the other hand, when the winning ball stock number PBS is less than the caution threshold TH1 in step S222, the caution flag CA-FLG is set to 0 (step S230), and this routine is terminated. On the other hand, when the prize ball stock PBS is less than the warning threshold value TH2 in step S226, the warning flag WA-FLG is set to 0 (step S232), and this routine is terminated.

  The game state becomes a big hit, and the player relaxes and sees the effect unfolded by the liquid crystal display 57 shown in FIG. 11, or the effect by the movement of the upper jaw movable body 174 and the lower jaw movable body 175 shown in FIG. If the player sees it, the player inadvertently moves the game ball paid out as a prize ball for one round into the lower plate 17 shown in FIG. 1 (the lower plate ball guide shown in FIG. 5). In some cases, the lower plate ball discharge button 17a may not be operated and removed from the passage 50). If the game is continued in this state, as described above, the value of the prize ball stock PBS increases to become a warning threshold value TH1 and a warning threshold value TH2, which will be described in detail later. As a warning effect, for example, guidance voice flows from the low-frequency speaker 14 and the mid-high frequency speaker 36 shown in FIG. Then, if the player inadvertently removes the game ball from the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guide passage 50) even though the game state is in a relaxed state where the game state is a big hit, the warning effect is given. It will happen and it can be annoying.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such discomfort as much as possible, in this embodiment, as described above, the value 300 is set to the warning threshold value TH2. This warning threshold TH2 is set to the number of game balls to be paid out as award balls for two rounds. For example, when one game ball enters the big winning opening 140 shown in FIG. 9, when 15 payouts are paid out, one round (in this embodiment, the big winning opening 140 is released from the closed state). When it becomes the state, the prize winning opening 140 returns from the open state to the closed state again after 30 seconds have passed since the 15 game balls entered or opened. The number of game balls to be paid out is 150 (= 15 × 10) when 10 game balls enter the grand prize winning opening 140, and 300 (150 × 2) for two rounds. If the storage capacity of the prize ball stock PBS is 1 byte (8 bits), only 0 to 255 unpaid balls can be stored. Then, by setting the storage capacity of the prize ball stock PBS to 2 bytes (16 bits), it is possible to store 256 or more unpaid balls.

  On the other hand, the alert threshold value TH1 is set to a value of 50, which is a stage before the prize ball stock PBS reaches the alert threshold value TH2, and will be described in detail later. By turning on the prize ball lamp 38 shown in FIG. 1 as an effect, for example, the hall clerk can be informed of the player's attention to the player's game, and the hall clerk can tell the player the lower plate 17 (lower It is possible to tell that the game ball is to be pulled out from the dish ball guide passage 50). Thereby, the player can prevent the game from continuing further in a state where the game ball is filled in the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guiding passage 50). Even if the player can be in a relaxed state where the game state is a big hit, even if the player does not inadvertently pull out the game ball from the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guiding passage 50), the player can play At the notification stage, the store clerk in the hall can tell that the game ball is to be pulled out from the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guide passage 50), so that an annoying situation can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the alert threshold value TH1 is set to a value 50 corresponding to about one fifth of the upper limit value 255 that can be represented by 1 byte (8 bits). It is set to 1/6 of the value 300 of TH2. As a result, it is possible to inform the hall clerk that the player should be alerted to the game as early as possible.
[6-5. Dispensing ball removal judgment setting process]

  Next, the payout ball removal determination setting process will be described. In the payout ball removal determination setting process, the payout motor 41 shown in FIG. 11 is used to pay the game balls to the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guide passage shown in FIG. 5) shown in FIG. 4. The process of setting to either whether or not to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 from the pachinko machine 1 or not to perform such payout or discharge shown in FIG. It is.

  When the payout ball removal determination setting process is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 determines whether or not the ball ball flag PBE-FLG is 1 as shown in FIG. S240). As will be described in detail later, this ball-in-battering flag PBE-FLG is set to a value of 1 when the payout motor 41 is performing a ball-bending operation, and a value of 0 when the ball-bending operation is not being carried out. Has been.

  When it is determined in step S240 that the ball pitch flag PEB-FLG is not 1 (value 0), that is, when the ball stroke operation is not performed, the prize ball stock number PBS is read from the payout internal RAM (step S242), It is determined whether or not the read prize ball stock PBS is greater than 0 (step S244). In this determination, it is determined whether or not there is a number of unpaid balls in the payout of game balls by the payout motor 41.

  When the prize ball stock number PBS is larger than 0 in step S244, that is, when there is an unpaid ball number, it is determined whether or not the lower dish 17 and the lower dish ball guiding path 50 are full of game balls ( Step S246). This determination is made based on the full tank information stored in step S158 and the full ball check process in step S158 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the full tank information is stored in the state information storage area of the payout internal RAM. In step S246, the full tank information is read from the state information storage area, and it is determined whether or not the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball guiding passage 50 are full of game balls.

  When the lower pan 17 and the lower pan ball guiding passage 50 are not filled with game balls in step S246, a payout setting process described later is performed (step S248), and this routine is ended. Thereby, the game balls are paid out to the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 17 (the lower plate ball guiding passage 50). On the other hand, when the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball guiding passage 50 are full of game balls in step S246, this routine is ended as it is. In the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, the payout motor 41 is forcibly stopped when the lower plate 17 and the lower plate ball guiding passage 50 are filled with game balls. When a prize ball is generated while the payout motor 41 is forcibly stopped, the number of unpaid balls by the payout motor 41 increases, and the prize ball stock number PBS is added by the prize ball prize ball number calculation process shown in FIG. Will increase.

  On the other hand, in step S240, when the ball-pushing flag PBE-FLG has a value of 1, that is, when a ball-pushing operation is being performed, or in step S244, the prize ball stock number PBS is not greater than the value 0 (value 0). That is, when there is no unpaid ball number, it is determined whether or not the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is 1 (step S250). As described above, the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is a flag indicating whether or not to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 shown in FIG. A value of 1 is set when the game ball is played, and a value of 0 is set when the game ball is not discharged. The determination in step S250 is made based on the determination result in step S114 in the payout control side power-on process shown in FIG. That is, when the operation signal from the ball removal switch 79 shown in FIG. 11 is input, the value 1 is set to the ball removal flag RMV-FLG in step S116 in the payout control side power-on process, while the operation signal is If not input, the value 0 is set to the ball removal flag RMV-FLG in step S118 in the payout control side power-on process.

  When the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is the value 1 in step S250, that is, when the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 are discharged, a ball removal setting process described later is performed (step S252). End the routine. Thereby, the game balls stored in the tank 39 and the tank rail 55 are discharged.

  Here, when the power is turned off and the power is turned on while the ball removal switch 79 is pressed, the ball removal setting process is performed in step S252 of the payout ball removal determination setting process and is stored in the tank 39 and the tank rail 55. The game ball that is being able to be discharged. When this discharge is completed, a value 0 is set in the ball removal flag RMV-FLG.

On the other hand, when the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is 0 in step S250, that is, when the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 are not discharged, this routine is finished as it is. As a result, game balls are not paid out or discharged.
[6-5-1. Withdrawal setting process]

  Next, the payout setting process will be described. This payout setting process is a process for setting the payout of the game ball by driving the payout motor 41 shown in FIG.

  When the payout setting process is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 reads the drive command number DRV from the payout internal RAM as shown in FIG. 23 (step S260). This drive command number DRV commands the number of game balls to be paid out by the payout motor 41, and is equivalent to the prize ball stock number PBS. Subsequent to step S260, it is determined whether or not the drive command number DRV is 0 (step S262). This determination is based on the drive command number DRV as to whether or not the number of game balls to be paid out by the payout motor 41 remains. When the drive command number DRV is 0 in step S262, that is, when the number of game balls paid out by the payout motor 41 is zero, the output stop (stop) of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set (stop). Step S264). In this setting, drive information for stopping the drive signal is set in the payout motor 41 and stored in the output setting storage area of the payout built-in RAM described above. Subsequent to step S264, the winning ball stock number PBS is read from the payout built-in RAM (step S266), and the real ball count PB is read (step S268). The actual ball count PB is a count of the number of game balls actually paid out by the payout motor 41. This count will be described in detail later, but in the port input process of step S152 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. This is performed based on the detection signal.

  Subsequent to step S268, the value obtained by subtracting the actual ball count PB read in step S268 from the prize ball stock number PBS read in step S266 is set in the prize ball stock number PBS and the drive command number DRV (step S270). The actual ball count PB is set to 0 (step S272), and this routine is terminated. When the drive command number DRV and the real ball count PB are 0, in step S272, the value of the prize ball stock number PBS read in step S266 is set as it is to the drive command number DRV.

  On the other hand, when the drive command number DRV is not 0 in step S262, that is, when there is a number of game balls to be paid out by the payout motor 41, an output of a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set. (Step S274). In this setting, drive information for outputting a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set and stored in the output setting storage area. Following step S274, it is determined whether there is a detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99 shown in FIG. 11 (step S276). This determination is made based on the detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99 in the port input process of step S152 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the detection signal is stored as input information in the input information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. In step S276, input information is read from this input information storage area, and it is determined whether or not there is a detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99.

  When there is a detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99 in step S276, the drive command number DRV is decremented by 1 (decremented, step S278), and it is determined whether there is a detection signal from the counting switch 101 (step S280). ). This determination is made based on the detection signal from the count switch 101 in the port input process of step S152 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the detection signal is stored as input information in the input information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. In step S280, the input information is read from the input information storage area, and it is determined whether or not there is a detection signal from the counting switch 101.

  If there is a detection signal from the counting switch 101 in step S280, the actual ball count PB is incremented by 1 (incremented, step S282), and this routine is terminated. In step S282, the real ball count PB is incremented by incrementing the real ball count PB. On the other hand, when there is no detection signal from the counting switch 101 in step S280, this routine is ended as it is.

  On the other hand, when there is no detection signal from the rotation angle switch 99 in step 276, it is determined whether or not the ball collision determination time has elapsed (step S284). This determination is made based on the ball collision determination time updated in the timer update process in step S154 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the ball collision determination time is stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. In step S284, the time management information is read from the time management information storage area to determine whether or not the ball stagnation determination time has elapsed. In addition, the payout motor 41 performs a sphere collision operation during the sphere collision determination time. This ball collapsing operation is a state where the game ball taken into the ball passage 91 of the payout device 40 shown in FIG. 5 is clogged, and between the ball cutout member 94 and the guide 100 shown in FIG. This is done in order to eliminate the state of meshing.

If it is determined in step S284 that the ball collision determination time has not elapsed, an output of a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set so as to perform the ball collision operation (step S286). In this setting, drive information for outputting a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set and stored in the output setting storage area of the payout built-in RAM. Subsequent to step S286, a value of 1 is set in the sphere ball flag PBE-FLG (step S288), and this routine is terminated. The in-between-sphere flag PBE-FLG is set to a value of 1 when a ball-bending operation by the payout motor 41 is performed, and a value of 0 when a ball-bending operation is not performed. On the other hand, when the ball collision determination time has elapsed in step S284, stop of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set so as to end the ball collision operation (step S290). In this setting, drive information for stopping the drive signal is set in the payout motor 41 and stored in the output setting storage area. Subsequent to step S290, a value of 0 is set in the spherical ball flag PBE-FLG (step S292), and this routine is terminated.
[6-5-2. Ball removal setting process]

  Next, the ball removal setting process will be described. In this ball removal setting process, the payout motor 41 shown in FIG. 11 is driven to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55 shown in FIG.

  When the ball removal setting process is started, the payout control MPU 75a of the payout control board 75 determines whether or not the ball removal determination time has elapsed as shown in FIG. 24 (step S300). This determination is made based on the ball removal determination time updated in the timer update process in step S154 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) shown in FIG. Specifically, the ball removal determination time is stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the payout built-in RAM. In step S300, the time management information is read from the time management information storage area to determine whether or not the ball removal determination time has elapsed. The payout motor 41 performs a ball removal operation during the ball removal determination time. This ball removing operation is performed to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55.

If the ball removal determination time has not elapsed in step S300, the output of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set to perform the ball removal operation (step S302). In this setting, drive information for outputting a drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set and stored in the output setting storage area of the payout built-in RAM. Subsequent to step S302, a value 1 is set to the ball removal flag RMV-FLG (step S304), and this routine is terminated. As described above, the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is a flag indicating whether or not to discharge the game balls stored in the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55. When the game balls are discharged, a value of 1 The value is set to 0 when the ball is not discharged. On the other hand, when the ball removal determination time has elapsed in step S300, stop of the drive signal to the payout motor 41 is set so as to end the ball removal operation (step S306), and this routine is finished. In this setting, drive information for stopping the drive signal is set in the payout motor 41 and stored in the output setting storage area.
[7. Various commands related to payout]

Next, various commands related to payout will be described. First, a payout command (prize ball command) transmitted from the main control board 65 to the payout control board 75 shown in FIG. 11 will be described, and then the pachinko machine 1 to be sent from the payout control board 75 to the main control board 65 will be described. A state command and a shaped state command obtained by shaping the state command will be described. FIG. 25 is a prize ball number information table showing an example of a payout command, FIG. 26 is a table showing an example of a status command, and FIG. 27 is a table showing an example of a shaping status command obtained by shaping the status command.
[7-1. Prize ball command]

  The prize ball command is a command having a storage amount area of 1 byte (8 bits), and is a command related to payout transmitted from the main control board 65 to the payout control board 75. As in the present embodiment, a prepaid card unit (not shown) that is not shown in the pachinko machine 1 (game balls supplied to the pachinko machine through communication with the pachinko machine are driven out as rental balls on the upper plate by driving the payout motor of the pachinko machine. When a device (referred to as “CR machine”) is connected, as shown in FIG. 25 (a), command balls 10H to 10H are used as prize ball commands transmitted from the main control board 65 to the payout control board 75. A command 1EH (“H” represents a hexadecimal number) is prepared, one award ball is designated for the command 10H, two award balls are designated for the command 11H,... 15 is specified. The payout control board 75 controls the payout of game balls by driving the payout motor 41 shown in FIG. 11 for the designated number of prize balls.

  In addition, when the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a ball rental machine (not shown) (an apparatus for directly paying out a game ball as a ball rental to the upper plate (referred to as “general machine”)) adjacent to the pachinko machine 1, FIG. ), Command balls 20H to 2EH are prepared as prize ball commands transmitted from the main control board 65 to the general machine. One prize ball is designated by the command 20H, and prize ball 2 is designated by the command 21H. Are designated, and a prize ball 15 is designated in the command 2EH. The general machine performs control for paying out game balls for the designated number of prize balls.

As shown in FIG. 25C, a command 30H is prepared as a command common to the CR machine and the general machine, and the self check is designated in the command 30H. The transmission side transmits a command 30H and checks whether or not the ACK information is output when the ACK information to be output as a command reception confirmation is not output from the reception side for a predetermined period after the command transmission. In the case of a CR machine, the payout control board 75 confirms the connection state with the prepaid card unit.
[7-2. Status command]

  The status command is a command having a storage amount area of 1 byte (8 bits), and is a command transmitted from the payout control board 75 to the main control board 65. As shown in FIG. 26, the status command is divided into a frame status, an error cancellation navigation, and a stock display. Priorities are set in the order of the frame status, error cancellation, and stock display. In the frame state, ball breakage, ball removal, connection abnormality, and CR disconnection are prepared. When the ball breaks, bit 0 (B0, “B” represents a bit) is set to 1 and the ball removal is performed. Among them, the value 1 is set to the bit 2 (B2), the value 1 is set to the bit 3 (B3) when the connection is abnormal, and the value 1 is set to the bit 4 (B4) when the CR is not connected. Of the status commands, bit 5 (B5) to bit 7 (B7) for indicating that the frame is in the state are set to a value of 1 for B5, a value of 0 for B6, and a value of 0 for B7.

  The error canceling navigation requires a ball, a count switch error, and a retry upper limit error. The value 1 is set to bit 2 (B2) in the case of a ball, and the value is set to bit 3 (B3) in the case of a count switch error. 1 is set, and the value 1 is set to bit 4 (B4) in the retry upper limit error. Here, “counting switch error” indicates whether or not the counting switch 101 shown in FIG. 11 has a problem. The “retry upper limit error” indicates that a payout that is not consistent is repeatedly performed. Of the status commands, bit 5 (B5) to bit 7 (B7) for indicating that the error cancellation navigation is performed are set to a value 0 for B5, a value 1 for B6, and a value 0 for B7.

The stock display requires 50 or more stocks and 300 or more stocks. In 50 or more stocks, bit 1 (B0) is set to value 1, and in stocks of 300 or more stocks. The value 1 is set in bit 1 (B1). Of the status commands, bit 5 (B5) to bit 7 (B7) for indicating the stock display are set to a value of 1 for B5, a value of 1 for B6, and a value of 0 for B7.
[7-3. Formatting state command]

The main control MPU 65a of the main control board 65 shown in FIG. 11 transmits various commands to the sub integrated board 63 shown in FIG. These various commands are commands having a storage amount area of 2 bytes (16 bits), have a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), a status indicating the type of the command, and 1 byte (8 bits). It has a storage capacity and is composed of a mode that shows variations of performance. When the main control MPU 65a receives the state command described above from the payout control board 75, as shown in FIG. 27, the main control MPU 65a sets the additional information “10000001B (= 81H)” as the status and sets the received state command to the mode. It is set and shaped into a shaping state command having a storage capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits). This shaping state command is performed as one process of the sub integrated board command transmission process of step S92 in the main control timer interrupt process shown in FIG. Note that the detailed description of the shaping state command is the same as the contents of the state command described above, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.
[8. Various control processing of sub-integrated board]

Next, various processes of the sub integrated board 63 (sub integrated MPU 63a) that receive various commands from the main control board 65 (main control MPU 65a) shown in FIG. 11 will be described. First, the sub integration side reset processing will be described, and then the sub integration side timer interrupt processing, command reception interrupt processing, command reception end interrupt processing, stock notification processing, and ball removal notification processing will be described. 28 is a flowchart showing an example of the sub integration side reset process, FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the sub integration side timer interrupt process, and FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the command reception interrupt process. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of stock notification processing, and FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of ball removal notification processing.
[8-1. Sub integration side reset processing]

First, when the sub integration side reset process is started, as shown in FIG. 28, the sub integration MPU 63a of the sub integration board 63 performs an initial setting process (step S400). This initial setting process includes a process for initializing the sub-integrated MPU 63a, a process for setting a wait timer after reset, and the like. Note that interrupts are prohibited during the initial setting process, and interrupts are permitted after the initial setting process. Subsequent to step S400, it is determined whether or not the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG is 0 (step S402). This 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG is a flag for measuring 16 ms in a 2 ms timer interrupt process processed every 2 ms, which will be described later, and is set to a value of 1 when 16 ms have elapsed and a value of 0 when 16 ms has not elapsed. . When the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG has a value 1 in step S402, that is, when 16 ms has elapsed, a value 0 is set in the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG (step S404), and a value 1 is set in the 16 ms processing flag SP-FLG. Set (step S406). The 16 ms processing flag SP-FLG is set to a value of 1 when starting 16 ms steady processing, which will be described later, and a value of 0 when ending. Subsequent to step S406, 16 ms steady processing is performed (step S408). This 16 ms steady process includes a command analysis process for analyzing various commands from the transmission information transmitted from the main control board 65, and lighting control of the effect lamps 123 and 157 and gradation control of the gradation lamp 124 shown in FIG. In addition to the ramp process for performing the above and the watchdog timer process for monitoring whether the 16 ms steady process is performed, the driving patterns of the upper jaw movable device 176 and the lower jaw movable body device 177 shown in FIG. 11 are set in the scheduler. Perform processing. Subsequent to step S408, the 16 ms processing flag SP-FLG is set to the value 0 (end of 16 ms steady processing) (step S410), and the process returns to step S402 again, and every time the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG becomes 1. That is, step S404 to step S410 are repeated every 16 ms. On the other hand, when the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG is not 1 in step S402 (when the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG is 0), that is, when 16 ms has not elapsed, until the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG becomes 1, ie, Wait until 16 ms elapses.
[8-2. Sub-integration timer interrupt processing]

  Next, sub integration side timer interrupt processing will be described. When the sub integration side timer interrupt processing is started, as shown in FIG. 29, the sub integration MPU 63a of the sub integration substrate 63 performs 2 ms timer interrupt processing (step S420). This 2 ms timer interrupt process is based on, for example, the drive pattern (scheduler) of the upper jaw movable device 176 and the lower jaw movable body device 177 set in the 16 ms steady process of step S408 in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. The upper jaw movable device 176 and the lower jaw movable body device 177 are driven.

Subsequent to step S420, the value 1 is added to the 2 ms update counter C (step S422). The 2 ms update counter C is a counter that counts the number of times that the sub integration side timer interrupt processing has been performed, and a value 1 of the 2 ms update counter C corresponds to a time of 2 ms. Following step S422, it is determined whether or not the 2 ms update counter C has a value of 8, that is, 16 ms (= 2 ms update counter C × 2 ms) (step S424). If 16 ms, the 16 ms elapsed flag ST-FLG is set to a value 1 (step S426), and the 16 ms processing flag SP-FLG is a value 0, that is, the 16 ms steady state of step S408 in the sub integration side reset processing shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not processing is being performed (step S428). When the 16 ms processing flag SP-FLG is 0, that is, when the 16 ms steady processing is not performed, the work area is backed up (step S430), and this routine is terminated. In this work area backup, the information processed in the 16 ms steady process of step S408 in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. 28 is copied to a copy area provided on the work area. On the other hand, if 16 ms has not elapsed in step S424, or if no information is set during the 16 ms steady process in step S428, this routine is terminated as it is.
[8-3. Command reception interrupt processing]

  Next, command reception interrupt processing will be described. When the command reception interrupt process is started, as shown in FIG. 30, the sub integrated MPU 63a of the sub integrated board 63 starts receiving a command from the main control board 65 (hereinafter referred to as “WR signal”). Then, it is determined whether or not a signal for selecting various boards from the main control board 65 (hereinafter referred to as “SEL signal”) is a value 1 (step S440). The main control MPU 65a of the main control board 65 first sets the SEL signal corresponding to the sub integrated board 63 to the value 1 and the WR signal to the value 1 and transmits a command to the sub integrated board 63.

  This command is composed of 4 nibbles per packet. This “nibble” means 4 bits, which is 8 bits (1 byte) in 2 nibbles, that is, 16 bits (2 bytes) in 4 nibbles. In the extraction of 1 nibble data, the WR signal rises from the value 0 to the value 1 (referred to as “up edge”) and is held for a predetermined time (for example, 20 microseconds (μs) to 50 μs). This is performed by falling from the value 1 to the value 0 (referred to as “down edge”), and is performed four times in total for one packet.

  When both the WR signal and the SEL signal are 1 in step S440, that is, when the main control MPU 65a transmits a command to the sub-integrated board 63, command reception processing is performed (step S442), and this routine is terminated. In this command reception process, the received 1 nibble command (one of four divided commands) is stored in a ring buffer of a RAM built in the sub-integrated MPU 63a. This “ring buffer” is a buffer that is used so that the end of the buffer is connected to the beginning, and stores data sequentially from the beginning of the buffer, and returns to the beginning when the end of the buffer is reached.

  After storing in the ring buffer, the buffer write counter is incremented by “1”. This buffer write counter increments by one each time a command reception process is performed. Therefore, when 1 packet (4 nibbles) is stored, the buffer write counter has a value of 4.

On the other hand, when both the SEL signal and the WR signal are 0 in step S440, that is, when the main control MPU 65a does not transmit a command to the sub integrated board 63, this routine is ended as it is. At the time of command transmission from the main control board 65 to the sub integrated board 63, as described above, a predetermined time (for example, 20 μs to 50 μs) from the up edge to the down edge of the WR signal, the SEL signal, the WR signal, and the data (4 Bit) is held constant, but the signal may be disturbed due to noise and the command may not be received normally. Therefore, as a countermeasure against this noise, when the sub-integrated MPU 63a receives the SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits) (first time), after a predetermined time elapses (for example, 1 μs), the SEL signal, WR signal, data (4 Bit). Then, it is determined whether or not it matches the SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits) received at the first time. If the SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits) received at the first time match, it is determined whether or not both the WR signal and the SEL signal are 1 in step S440. On the other hand, when it does not match the SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits) received at the first time, the SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits) are received again after a predetermined time has elapsed, and received at the first time. The determination is repeated until it matches the selected SEL signal, WR signal, and data (4 bits).
[8-4. Command reception end interrupt processing]

  Next, command reception end interrupt processing will be described. When the command reception end interrupt process is started, as shown in FIG. 31, the sub-integrated MPU 63a of the sub-integrated board 63 determines whether both the WR signal and the SEL signal are 0 (step S450). . When the main control MPU 65a of the main control board 65 completes the transmission of the command to the sub-integrated board 63, it sets the WR signal to the value 0 and then sets the SEL signal to the value 0 (down edge). When both the WR signal and the SEL signal are 0 in step S450, that is, when the main control MPU 65a completes command transmission to the sub-integrated board 63, command reception end processing is performed (step S452), and this routine is ended. . In this command reception end process, a value 0 is set in the buffer write counter added in the command reception interrupt process shown in FIG. When the command is successfully received, the buffer write counter has a value of 4 because one packet is 4 nibbles. Further, when reception of one packet cannot be performed, that is, when the buffer write counter is less than 4, the received command is discarded.

  On the other hand, when both the WR signal and the SEL signal are not 0 in step S450, that is, when the main control MPU 65a has not completed transmission of the command to the sub-integrated board 63, this routine is finished as it is. As described above, as a noise countermeasure, when the sub-integrated MPU 63a receives the SEL signal (first time), the sub-integrated MPU 63a receives the SEL signal again after a predetermined time (for example, 1 μs), and the first received SEL signal It is determined whether or not they match. If it matches the SEL signal received for the first time, it is determined in step S450 whether both the WR signal and the SEL signal are zero. On the other hand, when it does not coincide with the SEL signal received for the first time, the SEL signal is received again after a predetermined time, and the determination is repeated until it coincides with the SEL signal received for the first time.

In this embodiment, the priority of each process is set in the order of command reception interrupt processing, command reception end interrupt processing, sub integration side timer interrupt processing, and 16 ms steady processing.
[8-5. Stock notice processing]

  Next, the stock notification process will be described. When this stock notification process is started, as shown in FIG. 32, the sub-integrated MPU 63a of the sub-integrated board 63 determines whether or not 50 or more stocks are being stored (step S460). This determination is performed based on the analyzed command by analyzing various commands from the transmission information transmitted from the main control board 65 in the 16 ms steady process of step S408 in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the analyzed command is a status command indicating stock display (status: 81H, mode: B7 = value 0, B6, B5 = value 1), and the status command indicating stock display is used. In some cases, it is determined whether or not a value 1 is set in the mode shown in FIG. 27, that is, bit B0 of the status command indicating the stock display. If 50 or more stocks are not in stock at step S460, that is, if value 1 is not set to bit B0 of the status command indicating stock display (value 0 is set), this routine is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when 50 or more stocks are being stored in step S460, that is, when the value 1 is set in the bit B0 of the status command indicating the stock display, for example, the player's game should be noted with respect to the hall clerk. As shown in FIG. 11, the lighting control of the prize ball lamp 38 shown in FIG. 11 is performed as a notice effect (step S462). This lighting control is performed by outputting an ON signal to the prize ball lamp 38, and the prize ball lamp 38 is lit. When the stock state becomes less than 50, the ON signal to the prize ball lamp 38 is stopped.

Following step S462, it is determined whether or not 300 or more stocks are being stored (step S464). This determination is performed in the mode shown in FIG. 27, that is, whether or not the value 1 is set in the bit B1 of the status command indicating the stock display. If it is determined in step S464 that 300 or more stocks are not in stock, that is, if value 1 is not set in bit B1 of the status command indicating stock display (value 0 is set), this routine is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when more than 300 stocks are being stored in step S464, that is, when the value 1 is set in the bit B1 of the status command indicating stock display, for example, the player's game is further paid attention to the hall clerk. In order to convey the effect, a command is sent to the sound source IC 63c of the sub-integrated board 63 as shown in FIG. 11 so that voice guidance is sent from the low-frequency speaker 14 and the mid-high frequency speaker 36 (step S466). finish. When the sound source IC 63 receives a command for playing voice guidance, the sound source IC 63 reads the corresponding data from the sound ROM 63d and plays voice guidance from the low tone speaker 14 and the middle / high tone speaker 36. Lighting is also performed). Specifically, “There is a payout stock” as voice guidance flows from the low tone speaker 14 and the middle / high tone speaker 36, and the prize ball lamp 38 is lit. When the stock state is less than 300, a command to stop voice guidance is transmitted to the sound source IC 63. When the stock state becomes less than 50, the ON signal to the prize ball lamp 38 is stopped as described above. As described above, when the game state is a big hit, if the player is inadvertently about 50, the player can use the lower plate 17 shown in FIG. 1 (the lower plate ball shown in FIG. 5). The lower pan ball discharge button 17a may not be operated and pulled out from the guide passage 50). If the game balls are not removed, the number of unpaid balls (the above-mentioned prize ball stock PBS) increases. Then, every time the gaming state becomes a big hit, a notice effect is announced, and the player feels frustrated even though he is in a relaxed state of a big hit. For this reason, unlike the warning effect, the warning effect in the present embodiment is not notified by voice guidance, but is simply a notification by turning on the prize ball lamp 38 that prompts the clerk of the hall.
[8-6. Ball removal notification process]

  Next, the ball removal notification process will be described. When the ball removal notification process is started, as shown in FIG. 33, the sub-integrated MPU 63a of the sub-integrated board 63 determines whether or not the ball is being removed (step S470). This determination is performed based on the analyzed command by analyzing various commands from the transmission information transmitted from the main control board 65 in the 16 ms steady process of step S408 in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. Specifically, it is determined whether or not there is a status command in the analyzed command (status: 81H, mode: B7, B6 = value 0, B5 = value 1), and when there is a status command indicating the frame status, It is determined whether or not the value 1 is set in the bit B1 of the mode shown in FIG. If the ball is not being removed in step S470, that is, if the value 1 is not set to the bit B1 of the state command indicating the frame state (the value 0 is set), this routine is ended as it is. On the other hand, when the ball is being removed in step S470, that is, when the value 1 is set in the bit B1 of the state command indicating the frame state, the blinking control of the prize ball lamp 38 shown in FIG. 11 is performed (step S472). This routine is terminated. This blinking control is performed by outputting an ON / OFF signal to the prize ball lamp 38, and the prize ball lamp 38 blinks. When the ball removal is completed, a status command is output from the payout control board 75 to the sub integrated board 63 via the main control board 65. The sub-integrated board 63 stops the output of the ON / OFF signal of the prize ball lamp 38 based on the analyzed state command (determines whether the value 0 is set in the bit B1 of the state command).

  According to the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment described above, the payout device 40, the side decoration device 27, the bass speaker 14, the middle / high tone speaker 36, the prize ball lamp 38, the liquid crystal display 57, the effect lamps 123 and 157, A gradation lamp 124, an effect device such as an upper jaw movable body 174 and a lower jaw movable body 175, a main control board 65, a sub-integrated board 63, and a payout control board 75 are provided. The sub-integrated board 63 controls the effect by the effect device based on the effect command transmitted from the main control board 65, and the payout control substrate 75 is based on the prize ball command transmitted from the main control board 65. The game ball payout operation by 40 is controlled.

  In the award ball control process in step S80 in the main control timer interruption process shown in FIG. 14, the main control board 65 pays out 15 balls as a prize ball when, for example, one game ball enters the big prize opening 140. Steps in the main control timer interruption process of FIG. 14 are sent to the payout control board 75 for sending out a prize ball command specifying the number of game balls to be paid out as prize balls from the payout device 40 based on the fact that the payout conditions to be issued are satisfied. In the command reception process of S84, a status command transmitted from the payout control board 75 is received, and in the sub-integrated board command transmission process of step S92 in the main control side timer interrupt process of FIG. To the sub-integrated board 63.

  The payout control board 75 includes a ball removal switch 79. The ball removal switch 79 starts a ball removal operation of the game ball by the payout device 40 and can be operated only by an employee in a normal hall. It is not possible. In step S112 of the payout control side power-on process in FIG. 15, it is determined whether or not the pachinko machine 1 has been powered on while operating the ball removal switch 79. When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on while operating the ball removal switch 79, the payout control board 75 sets the ball removal flag RMV-FLG to the value 1 (on) while the ball removal switch 79 is turned on. When the pachinko machine 1 is not powered on while operating the, the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is set to 0 (not set to ON) in step S116.

  Thereafter, the payout control board 75 performs the payout control side main process of FIG. Each process of step S146 to step S170 in this payout control side main process is repeated every 1.75 ms. Thereby, the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is set only during the period from when the pachinko machine 1 is turned on until when the payout control side main process is performed.

  The payout control board 75 receives the prize ball command from the main control board 65 in the command reception process of step S160 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) in FIG. 17, and based on the prize ball command. The total number of game balls to be paid out from the payout device 40 is stored in the payout built-in RAM as the prize ball stock PBS, and in step S242 in the payout ball removal determination setting process of FIG. In step S244 in the payout ball removal determination setting process of FIG. 22, it is determined whether or not the read prize ball stock number PBS is greater than the value 0. If it is determined in step S244 that the prize ball stock number PBS is greater than 0, a payout setting process is performed based on the prize ball stock number PBS in step S248 in the payout ball removal determination setting process of FIG. Thereby, a game ball is paid out to the player as a prize ball.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S244 that the prize ball stock number PBS is not greater than 0, whether or not the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is 1 in step S250 in the payout ball removal determination setting process of FIG. Determine whether. That is, in the payout control side main process, it is determined whether or not the pachinko machine 1 is turned on while operating the ball removal switch 79. If the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is 1 in the determination in step S250, the ball removal setting process is performed in step S252 in the payout ball removal determination setting process in FIG. Thereby, the game balls stored in the pachinko machine 1 (the ball tank 39 and the tank rail 55) are discharged.

  The payout control board 75 creates a status command based on the set ball removal flag RMV-FLG in the command transmission process of step S168 in the payout control side power-on process (payout control side main process) of FIG. Transmit to the main control board 65.

The sub integrated board 63 receives the effect command from the main control board 65 in the command reception interrupt process of FIG. 30 and the command reception end interrupt process of FIG. 31, and the steps in the sub integration side reset process shown in FIG. In the 16 ms steady process of S408, the received effect command is analyzed, and based on the analyzed effect command, when the ball removal flag RMV-FLG is set to the value 1 (on), the ball removal notification processing of FIG. In step S472, the control is performed by controlling the blinking of the prize ball lamp 38. As described above, since the operation of the ball removal switch 79 is effective only when the power is turned on, even if the ball removal switch 79 is operated during the above-described payout control side main process, the operation is invalid. Thereby, for example, before the opening of the hall, a player who performs an illegal act passes the game ball in the payout operation (for example, the lower dish ball guide passage 50 shown in FIG. 8) and the game ball is removed in the ball removal operation. The passage passage (for example, the ball discharge passage 48 for ball removal shown in FIG. 8) is changed to a state in which it is communicated, and after the opening of the hall, a ball removal switch 79 that can be normally operated only by employees of the hall is played. Even if it is illegally operated in the middle, the ball removing operation cannot be started, and it becomes impossible to illegally acquire the game ball. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that abuse the ball removal operation.
[9. Another example]

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the pachinko machine 1 has been described as an example, but the gaming machine to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the pachinko machine, and a gaming machine other than the pachinko machine, for example, a slot machine or a pachinko machine The present invention can also be applied to a fusion game machine that fuses with a slot machine (a game that uses a game ball to play a slot game).

It is a front view of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine of the state which open | released the main body frame and the front frame. It is a perspective view which shows the state which isolate | separated the main body frame and the game board. It is a rear view of a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows the various ball | bowl guide paths which guide | invade a game ball in a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows the cut-out operation | movement of a game ball. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a full tank switch. It is a figure which shows the various ball | bowl discharge passages which discharge | release a game ball out of a pachinko machine. It is a front view of a game board. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a game board. It is a block diagram of a main board and a peripheral board. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the main control side power-on process. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a continuation of main-control-side power-on processing in FIG. 12. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the main control side timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process at the time of power-on of the payout control side. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the payout control side power-on process of FIG. 15. FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the payout control side power-on process following FIG. 16. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the payout control side timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the prize ball stock number addition process for prize balls. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the number-of-use prize ball stock number addition process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a stock monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a payout ball removal determination setting process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a payout setting process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a ball removal setting process. It is a prize ball number information table which shows an example of the command regarding payout. It is a table which shows an example of a status command. It is a table which shows an example of the shaping state command which shaped the state command. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a sub integration side reset process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a sub integration side timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a command reception interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a command reception end interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of stock notification processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a ball removal notification process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine (pachinko machine), 12 ... Game area, 17 ... Lower plate, 17a ... Lower plate ball discharge button, 14 ... Bass speaker (production device), 27 ... Side decoration device (production device), 36 ... Middle and high tone speakers (production device), 38 ... Prize ball lamp (production device), 40 ... Dispensing device (dispensing device), 41 ... Dispensing motor, 57 ... Liquid crystal control board (production device), 63 ... Sub-integrated board (Sub (Integrated board), 65 ... main control board (main control board), 75 ... payout control board (payout control board), 79 ... ball removal switch (ball removal switch), 82 ... external terminal board, 99 ... rotation angle switch, 101 ... Count switch, 107 ... Full switch, 123 ... Effect lamp (effect device), 124 ... Gradation lamp (effect device), 157 ... Effect lamp (effect device), 174 ... Upper jaw movable body (effect device), 175 ... Jaw movable body (effect device).

Claims (3)

A game is played using a game ball, and a game ball is paid out as a prize ball based on the fact that a predetermined payout condition is established. A pachinko machine equipped with a payout device that performs and an effect device that performs an effect based on the establishment of a predetermined effect condition,
In the pachinko machine,
A main control board for controlling the progress of the game;
A sub-integrated board for controlling the effect by the effect device based on a command related to the effect transmitted from the main control board;
A payout control board for controlling a payout operation of the game ball by the payout device based on a payout command transmitted from the main control board;
With
The main control board is
A prize ball command transmission for sending a prize ball command for designating the number of game balls to be paid out as prize balls from the payout device to the payout control board based on the establishment of the predetermined payout condition Control means;
Status command reception control means for receiving a status command transmitted from the payout control board;
Effect command transmission control means for transmitting the state command received by the state command reception control means to the sub-integrated board as a command related to the effect;
With
The payout control board is:
A ball removal switch for starting a ball removal operation of the game ball by the payout device;
A ball removal switch operation determination control means for determining whether the power is turned on while operating the ball removal switch;
When it is determined by the ball removal switch operation determination control means that the power is turned on while operating the ball removal switch, the ball removal effective flag is set to ON, while the power is turned on while operating the ball removal switch. A ball removal effective flag set control means that does not set the ball removal effective flag on when it is determined that
A payout control side main control means for performing various controls relating to the payout device at predetermined time intervals after the ball removal effective flag set control means sets the ball removal effective flag;
With
The payout control side main control means includes:
Prize ball command reception control means for receiving the prize ball command transmitted by the prize ball command transmission control means;
Prize ball stock number storage control means for storing the total number of game balls paid out from the payout device based on the prize ball command received by the prize ball command reception control means as a prize ball stock number;
Prize ball stock number reading control means for reading the prize ball stock number from the prize ball stock number storage control means;
Prize ball stock number judgment control means for judging whether or not the prize ball stock number read by the prize ball stock number readout control means is larger than a judgment value 0;
When the prize ball stock number determination control means determines that the prize ball stock number is larger than the judgment value 0, the payout execution is executed to perform the game ball payout operation by the payout device based on the prize ball stock number. Control means;
Ball removal effective flag for determining whether or not the ball removal effective flag is set on when the prize ball stock number determination control means determines that the number of winning ball stocks is not greater than the determination value 0 Determination control means;
A ball removal execution control means for executing a ball removal operation of the game ball by the payout device when it is determined by the ball removal effective flag determination control means that the ball removal effective flag is set on;
State command transmission control means for creating the state command based on the ball removal effective flag set by the ball removal effective flag set control means and transmitting it to the main control board;
Including
The sub-integrated substrate is
Effect command reception control means for receiving a command related to the effect transmitted by the effect command transmission control means;
Effect command analysis control means for analyzing commands related to the effect received by the effect command reception control means;
When the ball removal valid flag is set on based on the command related to the production analyzed by the production command analysis control means, the production tells that the game ball is being removed by the payout device. , Ball removal notification control means for controlling and producing the effect device;
A pachinko machine characterized by comprising: The pachinko machine according to claim 1,
The stage device is at least
A plurality of light-emitting means whose light-emission modes change according to the predetermined performance conditions
With
The pachinko machine characterized in that the effect of informing that the game ball is being removed by the payout device is performed by changing a light emission mode of a specific light emitting means among the plurality of light emitting means. . The pachinko machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The status command has a storage capacity of 1 byte;
The command related to the production is
1 byte storage capacity, status indicating the type of command,
A mode that has a storage capacity of 1 byte and shows variations of production,
Consisting of
The main control board further includes:
State command shaping control means for setting the predetermined additional information in the status and shaping the state command into a shaped state command by setting the state command received by the state command reception control means in the mode.
With
The pachinko machine, wherein the effect command transmission control means transmits the shaping state command shaped by the state command shaping control means to the sub-integrated board as a command related to the effect.