JP2008018127A - Rotary drum type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary drum type game machine capable of giving a sense of rhythmical play to a player without the lack of game balls in a sprocket-like rotary body in a game ball loading device. <P>SOLUTION: The game ball loading device 50 includes a sprocket-like game ball conveyor and a game ball detection sensor for detecting game balls conveyed by the game ball conveyor. The game ball conveyor can receive only one game ball in the outer periphery, and has a plurality of groove-like recesses formed along the rotation axis at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. Game balls are conveyed by rotating the game ball conveyor, and are loaded by detecting the game balls by the game ball detection sensor. A control means of the game ball loading device rotates the rotary body of the game ball conveyor at a first rotation speed (S238) when the rotation is started, and shifts the speed to a second rotation speed (S234) faster than the first rotation speed thereafter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a swivel type gaming machine that can be installed on a pachinko machine island and performs a slot machine game using a game ball.

  For gaming machines that use gaming balls to perform slot machine games, a game ball take-in device that takes in game balls in accordance with the player's multiplier setting operation is indispensable. A gaming machine and a slot machine are synonymous. Regarding the game ball take-in device, the game ball that flows from the game ball storage dish as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of Patent Document 1 through the gentle slope is dropped by its own weight into the recess of the sprocket-like rotating body at the receiving position. It is known that a game ball is conveyed by the rotation of a rotating body, and the game balls that fall from a concave portion of the rotating body are counted and taken in at a discharge position.

JP 2002-272908 A

  Similarly, there is a payout device that transports game balls one by one with a sprocket-like rotator and counts the game balls dropped from the sprocket-like rotator. However, the payout device and the game ball take-in device have different problems because the conditions such as the place where the payout device is installed and the owner of the game ball to be handled are different.

  In the payout device, a game ball is supplied from a ball tank at the top of the game machine to a sprocket-like rotating body through a substantial drop. For this reason, a considerable weight (ball pressure) is applied to the top game ball from the row of game balls connected to the top game ball. Furthermore, since the game ball is a game ball owned by the game hall, it is supplied without excess or deficiency from the replenishment device of Pachinko Machine Island.

  On the other hand, in the game ball take-in device, the game ball is supplied to the sprocket-like rotator through a gentle slope from a storage tray at a relatively lower part on the front surface of the game machine. For this reason, the first game ball receives only a force (ball pressure) of a component force in the direction of a gentle slope of the mass of the game ball from the row of game balls connected upstream. Furthermore, since the game ball is a game ball received by a player as a rented ball, especially in the early stage of the game, the player often replenishes the ball after observing the shortage of the game sphere. There are few.

  For this reason, mainly with regard to the dispensing device, in order to perform the dispensing operation normally, the technology for starting the dispensing motor against the ball pressure, the technology for reducing the ball pressure, and the technology for durability are regarded as important. Is done. On the other hand, in the game ball take-in device, since the ball pressure is insufficient, there is a problem of how to smoothly move the game ball.

  Specifically, when a conventional game ball take-in device is activated, the game ball has no initial speed and the ball pressure is low, and therefore, the sprocket-like rotating body is missing, which causes a predetermined number of balls to be taken in. There was a delay. As a result, there was a problem that the slot machine game did not advance at a good tempo and gave the player a frustrating feeling.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a spinning ball type gaming machine capable of giving a player a good sense of gaming without causing a loss of a gaming ball in a sprocket-like rotating body in a gaming ball take-in device with a small ball pressure. For the purpose of provision.

  The swivel-type gaming machine according to claim 1 can be installed in a pachinko machine island facility that uses a game ball as a game medium, and by operating a multiplier setting unit, a multiplier obtained by operating a game ball owned by the player is obtained. A game ball take-in device for taking in a predetermined number, a storage tray for storing the game balls owned by the player, and a game ball passage with a gentle slope for guiding the game balls from the storage plate to the game ball take-in device; In order to solve the above-described problem, the game ball take-in device detects a game ball transport body having a sprocket shape and a game ball transported by the game ball transport body. A game ball detection sensor, wherein the game ball carrier can receive only one game ball on its outer periphery, and a plurality of groove-like recesses formed along the rotation axis are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. And each of the recesses is defined between the recesses. A plurality of convex portions are formed, and the game ball take-in device carries out the take-in by carrying the game ball by rotating the game ball carrier and detecting it by the game ball detection sensor. And the control means of the game ball take-in device rotates the rotating body speed of the game ball transport body at the first rotation speed at the start of rotation, and then switches to the second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed. It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spinning-reel game machine according to the first aspect, wherein the game ball take-in device introduces a game ball from the game ball passage on the gentle slope to the game ball carrier. A ball presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a game ball at a predetermined position of the inflow passage, and the control means receives the game ball carrier by a detection result by the ball presence / absence detection means. Determining the magnitude of the ball pressure applied to the game ball immediately before being played, and when the ball pressure is determined to be low, the game ball transport body is rotated at a rotation speed equal to or lower than the first rotation speed. is there.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spinning-reel game machine according to the first or second aspect, wherein the game ball detection sensor is a terminal of the game ball transport body at the end of transport by the game ball transport body. Provided at a position for detecting a game ball dropped from the recess, and provided with a game ball drop position detecting means for detecting that the recess of the game ball transport body is at a discharge position for dropping the game ball, and the control When taking in the predetermined number of game balls, the means counts the number of game balls taken every time the game ball detection sensor detects a game ball, and detects the game ball fall position detection means. The game ball carrier is rotated until the predetermined number of signals are detected, and when the predetermined number of detection signals of the game ball falling position detecting means are detected, the game device waits for a predetermined waiting time, and the waiting time has elapsed. Before When it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of game balls have been taken in, and when the predetermined number of game balls have been taken in, the take-in operation is terminated, while the predetermined number of game balls are not taken in. Performs a retry operation by rotating the game ball transport body at a third rotational speed that is slower than the first rotational speed until detection signals of the insufficient number of game ball fall position detecting means are detected. If the predetermined number of game balls are not taken in even if the operation is repeated a specified number of times, the retry operation is stopped and a notification that the apparatus is waiting for a retry is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spinning-reel type gaming machine according to the third aspect, wherein when the retry operation is stopped, the multiplication setting unit is operated to wait for the retry. The notification to that effect is terminated, and after a predetermined number of game balls is taken into a new predetermined number for taking in a shortage, a series of taking-in operations are performed again.

  According to the swivel type gaming machine according to claim 1, since the game ball owned by the player is supplied from the game ball passage on the gentle slope, the sprocket shape can be smoothly obtained even in a configuration in which the ball pressure is small and acceleration is not expected. The game ball is transferred to the game ball transport body, and the rotation speed of the game ball transport body is increased so as to match the acceleration of the game ball. As a result, it is possible to give the player a sense of gaming with a good tempo.

  According to the swivel type gaming machine according to claim 2, the magnitude of the ball pressure applied to the game ball immediately before being received by the game ball transport body is determined by the number of game balls aligned in front of the game ball transport body. When the ball pressure is too low and the game ball accelerates slowly, the game ball can be reliably rotated by rotating at a rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed without increasing the rotation speed of the game ball carrier. Can be captured. Note that the ball presence / absence detecting means may be in a game ball path on a gentle slope. In this case, the magnitude of the ball pressure can be determined by the number of more game balls. It is also effective when it is difficult to provide a ball presence detecting means in the game ball take-in device by downsizing the game ball take-in device.

  According to the swirl type gaming machine according to the third aspect, the game ball carrier is rotated in anticipation until a predetermined number of detection signals from the game ball drop position detecting means are detected, so that there is no omission in the recess of the game ball carrier. If it is assumed that a ball is placed, it is the fastest means of taking in, and even if a recess occurs in the recess of the game ball transport body, a predetermined waiting time (here, the recess of the game ball transport body A third rotation speed that is slower than the first rotation speed by detecting a shortage after a drop position from the dropping position to which the game ball is detected by the game ball detection sensor and adding a slight allowance to the fall time. Since this is performed by rotating the game ball carrier, the game ball can be taken in reliably.

  In addition, if there are not enough game balls, the retry operation is stopped and a notification is made that the player is waiting for a retry, so that the player is encouraged to add game balls, which is reasonable.

  According to the spinning machine according to claim 4, when the retry operation is stopped, the notification state is canceled only by operating the multiplier setting unit, and the original operation is performed assuming that the game ball is replenished. Therefore, no extra operation is required from the player.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gaming machine that performs a spinning-type game using a game ball as a game medium will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the gaming machine is referred to as a “slot machine”.

[Installation environment of the slot machine of the present invention]
The slot machine of the present invention uses a game ball as a game medium. Since medals and game balls have different values, a prescribed number (for example, 5) of game balls is used as one unit, and one medal is associated with them. In addition, it is installed in Pachinko Machine Island in order to use game balls as game media. The highest installation height of pachinko machine islands is about 60cm. On the other hand, a revolving type gaming machine that uses medals as a widely used gaming medium is installed in an island facility called a slot machine island. The installation height of the gaming machine on the slot machine island is most often about 50 cm. In other words, pachinko machine island is about 10 cm higher than slot machine island.

[Outline of slot machine games]
In the slot machine of the present invention, the game balls are stored in the game ball tray, and the game ball take-in device is operated by pressing the bet button, and the game balls are taken into the slot machine in a prescribed number unit. When the game ball is taken in, the effective line is determined and the start lever can be operated. When the start lever is operated by the player's operation, the drive motors for the three symbol reels are activated and a lottery is performed. Depending on the lottery result, the bonus can be obtained, a small role, a replay, or a loss. When the rotation of the symbol reel reaches a constant rotation (for example, 80 rpm), the stop button can be operated.

  When the player presses the stop button, the corresponding symbol reel stops. At this time, if any combination is won, the slot machine is equivalent to the winning combination even if the stop button is pressed a little earlier If you try to stop the symbol by drawing it to the active line, the symbol that has not been won will be pushed out of the effective line even if you press the stop button.

  When all of the symbol reels are stopped, it is determined whether or not a prize has been won. For example, when winning a small role, the game ball payout device is driven and a specified number of game balls are paid out. The The above is a series of game flows.

[Configuration of slot machine]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the entire slot machine S. FIG. The slot machine S includes an outer frame 1 that can be installed in an island facility of a pachinko machine, an intermediate frame 2, and a door body 3. When the door body 3 is divided into approximately three parts, an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage, a liquid crystal display device 5 is arranged behind the upper transparent liquid crystal window 4 and is individually separated by a stepping motor behind the middle graphic display transparent window 6. Three sets of symbol reels 7a, 7b, 7c driven by Hereinafter, the symbol reels 7a, 7b, and 7c are collectively referred to as a symbol display device 7.

  As described above, the slot machine S according to the present invention is installed on a pachinko machine island whose installation position is about 10 cm higher than a swivel game machine using medals as a game medium. For example, if a swivel type gaming machine using medals as a game medium is installed at a position 10 cm higher, the position of the symbol display device will be the position where the player looks up. Unlike a pachinko machine, the spinning-type game machine is provided with a stop button for each of the symbol reels in the symbol display device, and pushes the symbol to stop the symbol at the position aimed by the player.

  At this time, if the position of the symbol display device is a position where the player looks up from the player, it is very difficult to push the eyes. In order to deal with this, the slot machine S of the present invention installs the symbol display device 7 at a lower position than the spinning-drill type game machine using medals, so that each symbol reel 7a, 7b, 7c is removed from the player. You can look down. Specifically, the central axes of the symbol reels 7a, 7b, and 7c are set at positions lower than the positions of the eyes of the standard physique player. Note that the height of the standard pachinko machine and the swivel-type game machine using medals as game media is approximately the same 80 cm.

  An operation unit 8 is disposed at the top of the substantially divided lower stage. The operation unit 8 includes a max bet button 9, a start lever 10, and stop buttons corresponding to the respective symbol reels 7a, 7b, and 7c. 11a, 11b, 11c and a 1 bet button 12 are provided. On the left side of the operation unit 8 when viewed from the player, a ball receiving member 13 that receives a game ball falling from a nozzle of a cash sand (ball lending machine) used in a pachinko machine and a ball receiving member that once guides the received game ball to the rear There is a communication hole 13a. The maximum bet button 9 and the 1 bet button 12 are “multiplier setting units”.

  Below the above-described ball receiving member 13 is a storage tray 14 for storing game balls owned by the player. Below the operation unit 8 is a gentle slope for allowing the game ball take-in device 50 described later to flow down the game balls. The game ball passage 15 is provided with an interval such that a hand can be inserted between the game ball passage 15 and the operation unit 8. In addition, a ball dropping hole 16 is provided at a substantially central portion of the storage tray 14, and in a normal state, the ball dropping valve 17 is biased in a closing direction so that the game ball cannot be removed. If it is desired to remove the game ball from the storage tray 14, a ball drop button 18 is pushed to operate a link (not shown) to open the ball drop valve 17, and the game ball falls from the lower part of the door body 3. And returned to the player.

  The front member 19 of the game ball passage 15 is made of a transparent resin, and can be seen through a game ball take-in device 50 described later. The slit-shaped hole is a woofer sound emitting hole 20 of a woofer (not shown) that is a speaker that handles the bass sound behind it. The two push buttons at the bottom are a ball lending button 21 and a return button 22. Since these two buttons are the same as those of a known pachinko machine CR system, description thereof will be omitted.

  The rectangular hole to the right of the woofer sound emission hole 20 is a slide hole 23 for sliding a ball removal knob 24 connected to a ball removal valve 55 of a game ball take-in device 50 described later. When the cylinder lock 25 on the right side of the operation unit 8 is turned counterclockwise, the lock of the door body 3 is released, and when it is turned clockwise, the lock of the middle frame 2 is released.

  The left and right slit-shaped holes of the liquid crystal transparent window 4 are the sound emitting holes 26R and 26L of the speaker at the rear thereof. In addition, 27R and 27L are upper right and left upper illuminations, and 28 is an upper central illumination and are used for effects during the game.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the slot machine S in an exploded manner. As can be understood from FIG. 2, the slot machine S can be installed in an island facility of a conventional pachinko machine, and has an outer frame 1 that holds the whole and an outer frame 1 that can be opened and closed via a hinge mechanism. It consists of a door body 3 that can be opened and closed via a hinge mechanism provided on the frame 2 and the middle frame 2.

  The game balls for payout are supplied from the island facility to the ball tank 29 and are paid out through a payout device 30 (not shown) provided in the middle frame 2. The game balls paid out from the payout device 30 enter a game ball receiving port 31 a provided in the in-flight tank 31. When the door 3 is closed with respect to the middle frame 2, the in-machine tank 31 is stored in the space 32 below the dispensing device 30. The game ball take-in device 50 unique to the slot machine S using game balls is attached from the inside of the door body 3 and cannot be removed from the outside of the door body 3. This is an effective measure against fraud in which the game ball take-in device 50 is replaced.

  In addition, LEDs and lamps corresponding to the speakers 33R and 33L, the upper right side illumination 27R, the upper left upper illumination 27L, and the upper central illumination 28 are incorporated inside the door body 3 (not shown).

  A game unit case 34 is detachably provided in the middle frame 2. The game unit case 34 includes a liquid crystal display device 5, a symbol display device 7, a main control board 35 (shown in FIG. 7), and an effect. A control board 36 (shown in FIG. 7) and the like are incorporated. The main control board 35 controls the whole, drives the game ball take-in device 50 based on the operation of various operation buttons and levers on the operation unit 8, performs lottery, and controls the rotation / stop of the symbol display device 7. And sends a command to a payout control board 37 (shown in FIG. 7) that controls the payout device 30 as necessary. The effect control board 36 emits sound effects from the speakers 33R and 33L based on commands from the main control board 35, and transmits serial commands to the lamp drive board 40, thereby lighting the various lights 27R, 27L, 28, etc. To control. Various decorative designs and animations are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 5 using the built-in VDP. In the groove-shaped passage located at a position below the middle frame 2 and corresponding to the game ball take-in device 50 of the door 3, the game balls that have been taken in by the game ball take-in device 50 are returned to the pachinko machine island. This is a return passage 38.

  FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door body 3. In addition, the figure which expanded the game ball taking-in apparatus 50 is shown together. The game ball take-in device 50 is detachable only from the back surface of the door body 3. In addition, a lamp driving board 40 is disposed above the game ball take-in device 50, and drives electric decorations (LEDs) such as the upper right electric decoration 27R, the upper left electric decoration 27L, and the upper central electric decoration 28. Note that the lamp driving substrate 40 can be controlled in gradation. In addition, a return inclination passage 39 having a plurality of grooves is provided immediately below the game ball take-in device 50, and the return inclination passage 39 is a return passage of the middle frame 2 when the door body 3 is closed to the middle frame 2. Communicate with 38.

  3 shows the inner side of the ball receiving member 13 and the communication hole 13a of the ball receiving member covered by the in-machine tank 31 in FIG. 2, and the communication hole 14a between the inner side of the storage tray 14 and the storage tray. Yes. The communication hole 13 a of the ball receiving member and the communication hole 14 a of the storage tray share the in-machine tank 31, and the game ball put in the ball receiving member 13 flows out of the storage tray via the in-machine tank 31. The in-flight tank 31 functions as a second storage tray when the payout balls in the privileged game state (for example, during a bonus game) are continuous, and when the storage balls 14 cannot store the game balls.

  In the slot machine S of the present invention, as described above, the upper plate widely used in pachinko machines is used to set the central axis of each of the symbol reels 7a, 7b, 7c at a position lower than the position of the player's eyes. The configuration of the lower pan is abolished, and the game balls are stored in the storage tray 14. However, since the storage capacity is reduced, the in-machine tank 31 is used to function as a second storage tray. Since the in-machine tank 31 is provided at substantially the same height as the storage tray 14, the symbol reels 7a, 7b, 7c can be provided at a low position.

[Game Ball Intake Device]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the game ball take-in device 50 in an exploded view from the back side of the game machine. In the game ball take-in device 50, the back ball passage member 52, the front ball passage member 53 and the game ball take-in device substrate 67 are fixed to the base 51, and the game ball transport body 54 and the angle detection plate 63 are motorized therein. The shaft 62 is fixed on the same axis and can rotate. The motor body is not shown.

  Since the components attached to the back sphere passage member 52 and the front sphere passage member 53 are substantially the same, the parts attached to the front sphere passage member 53 will be described here.

  The game ball flowing into the front ball passage member 53 rolls in the front inflow passage 53a, and when the ball removal valve 55 is in the forward position (normally, the ball is biased to the forward position by the coil spring 61). The front game ball transport body rotation space 53b is reached. In the front game ball transport body rotating space 53b, the game ball transport body 54 provided with sprocket-like teeth on the rotating disk comes into contact.

  The concave portion of the sprocket-like tooth of the game ball transport body 54 is configured so that only one game ball is placed, and the game ball is taken in by rotating the game ball transport body 54 counterclockwise in FIG. Is finally moved away from the game ball carrier 54, detected by the front take-in count switch 58, and then returned to the pachinko machine island through the previous game ball discharge port 53e through the return passage 38 described above. (See FIG. 2). The front take-in count switch 58 and the back take-in count switch 57 are “game ball detection sensors”.

  When the game ball flows over the ball removal valve 55 and flows into the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b, the game ball is bitten between the sprocket-like tooth convex portion of the game ball transport body 54 and the front ball biting prevention piece 69. There is a possibility that. In this embodiment, the front ball biting prevention piece 69 is moved by elasticity to prevent the game ball from biting and stopping the operation. Details will be described later.

  Normally, the ball removal valve 55 is biased by the coil spring 61 so as to reach the forward movement position, and the game ball rolls on the ball removal valve 55. The ball removal valve 55 is connected to the ball removal knob 24 by elastic deformation of the claw, and can slide in the ball removal valve sliding portion 53f. In the normal state, the coil spring 61 is biased to the forward position, so that the ball removal valve 55 is closed. However, when the player operates the ball removal knob 24, 55 becomes an open state, and the game ball falls downward and is returned to the player through the previous game ball drop path 53c.

  A front proximity switch 60 is provided below the path of the game ball near the entrance of the front inflow passage 53a, and is turned on when the game ball is filled up to the position of the proximity switch to ensure a constant ball pressure. It is detected that The front proximity switch 60 and the back proximity switch 59 are “sphere presence / absence detection means”.

  Further, the ball removal valve 55 is provided with a ball removal valve light-shielding portion 55a, and the ball removal valve detector 56 detects the advance / retreat of the ball removal valve 55. Specifically, the player operates the ball removal knob 24 to detect that the ball has been removed and that the ball removal valve 55 has moved forward by releasing the hand.

  When it is detected that the ball release valve 55 has moved forward again after the ball is released, the game ball carrier 54 rotates clockwise in FIG. 4 and rests on the game ball carrier 54. The game ball being returned is returned to the player through the front ball removal path 53d.

  A game ball take-in device board 67 is screwed to the base 51, and an angle detection photo switch 64 is disposed on the game ball take-in apparatus substrate 67, and is fixed to the motor shaft 62 together with the game ball transport body 54. By detecting a slit 63a provided in the angle detection plate 63, the discharge position where the game ball falls from the game ball transport body 54 is detected. The combination of the angle detection photo switch 64, the angle detection plate 63, and the slit 63a provided in the angle detection plate 63 constitutes a “game ball drop position detection means”.

  Further, the light shielding member 65 is fastened together with the game ball take-in device substrate 67, and together with the light shielding wall 51 b of the base 51, the ambient light is prevented from entering the angle detection photoswitch 64 and the angle detection photoswitch 64. It prevents malfunction.

  The ball release valve detector 56 is attached to the ball release valve detector mounting hole 51a of the base 51 by a ball release valve detector fixing claw 56c. A motor body (not shown) is fastened to the base 51 together with the heat sink 70.

[Shape of game ball carrier]
5A is a view showing the game ball transport body 54 from the front direction (from the player), and FIG. 5B is a side view showing the game ball transport body 54 from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. FIG. 5C is a view showing the game ball transport body 54 from the back. An arrow Y1 in FIG. 5A and an arrow Y2 in FIG. 5C indicate the direction in which the game ball is taken. As shown in FIG. 5B, the game ball carrier 54 includes a front ball receiving portion 54A corresponding to the front inflow passage 53a, a back ball receiving portion 54B corresponding to the back inflow passage 52a, and a front ball receiving portion 54A. And the back ball receiving portion 54B, and the front ball receiving portion 54A, the back ball receiving portion 54B, and the disc portion 54C are integrally formed on the same rotation axis. ing.

  Each of the ball receiving portions 54A and 54B has a sprocket shape, and can accept only one game ball on the outer periphery thereof, and groove-shaped concave portions 54d formed along the rotation axis are equally spaced in the circumferential direction. A plurality of protrusions 54e are provided between the respective recesses 54d, and a plurality of protrusions 54e are formed between the respective recesses 54d (in this embodiment, each ball receiving portion has a recess 54d on which one game ball is placed. And six convex portions 54e for forming the concave portions 54d are provided).

  The concave portion 54d includes a base end portion 54d1 formed in a direction substantially along the motor shaft (rotation shaft) and a center direction of the rotation shaft from the inner side toward the tip end in the direction along the rotation axis (as the distance from the disk portion 54C). An inclined portion 54d2 (first inclined portion) is provided. Similarly, the convex portion 54e also has a base end portion 54e1 formed in a direction substantially flat with the motor shaft, and is inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the inside toward the tip in the direction along the rotation axis (as the distance from the disk portion 54C). An inclined portion 54e2 (second inclined portion) is provided (inclined in the central direction of the motor shaft). In this embodiment, since the game ball transport body 54 is resin-molded, the base end portion 54d1 and the base end portion 54e1 have a gradient of a draft angle.

  As the game ball transport body 54 rotates, each concave portion 54d receives a game ball that flows in from the radial direction at the receiving position, and transports the game ball by dropping the game ball at the discharge position. The arrow Y3 in FIG. 5A is the direction in which the game ball enters, and the arrow Y5 indicates the direction in which the game ball is discharged away from the game ball carrier 54. The approach direction Y3 and the discharge direction Y5 are defined by the shape of the front ball passage member 53 and the convex portion 54e. Similarly, the arrow Y4 in FIG. 5B is the direction in which the game ball enters, and the arrow Y6 indicates the direction in which the game ball is discharged away from the game ball carrier 54. The approach direction Y4 and the discharge direction Y6 are defined by the shape of the back sphere passage member 52 and the convex portion 54e. In this embodiment, the discharge direction Y5 and the discharge direction Y6 have an angle difference of 30 °, and the front ball receiving portion 54A and the back ball receiving portion 54B have the same phase with respect to the motor shaft, but the concave portion 54d (the convex portion 54e) is discharged at an angle difference of 30 °, which is a half pitch, while the pitch of 60e) is 60 °, so that the game balls are played by the front ball receiving portion 54A and the back ball receiving portion 54B while the game ball carrier 54 is rotating. Will be discharged alternately.

[Details of ball release valve]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the ball removal valve 55 and the ball removal valve detector 56 that detects whether the ball removal valve 55 is moving forward or backward. FIG. 6A shows a state where the ball removal valve 55 is moving forward, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the ball removal valve 55 is moved backward.

  FIG. 6A shows details of each part of the ball removal valve 55 and the ball removal valve detector 56. The ball removal valve 55 serves as a part of a ball removal valve and a part of the path of the game ball. When the valve is closed (at the time of forward movement), the back ball passage valve 55b becomes a surface substantially continuous with the back inflow passage 52a. The game ball is guided to the game ball transport body rotation space 52b. At the same time, the front ball passage valve 55c becomes a surface substantially continuous with the front inflow passage 53a and guides the game ball to the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b.

  The ball removal knob attaching claw portion 55d is a claw for engaging with the ball removal knob 24 (see FIG. 4). The coil spring attachment portion 55e is a protrusion for attaching the coil spring 61 shown in FIG. 6B by external fitting.

  The ball removal valve light-shielding portion 55a blocks between the ball removal valve detector light-emitting portion 56a and the ball removal valve detector light-receiving portion 56b of the ball removal valve detector 56, which is a transmission type photosensor, when retreating. Reference numeral 56c denotes a ball release valve detector fixing claw for attaching the ball release valve detector 56 to the ball release valve detector mounting hole 51a (see FIG. 4) of the base 51.

  In a normal state, the ball release valve 55 is pressed to the forward movement position by the bias of the coil spring 61 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the ball removal valve light-shielding portion 55a does not block the ball removal valve detector 56, it is not detected. Here, when the player operates the ball removal knob 24 (see FIG. 1) to move the ball removal valve 55 to the retracted position, the ball removal valve light-shielding portion 55a and the ball removal valve detector light emitting portion 56a and the ball removal valve are moved. Since the space between the detector light-receiving portions 56b is blocked, it is detected that the ball removal valve 55 has moved backward. Further, since the back ball passage valve 55b and the front ball passage valve 55c retreat, the game ball falls from the back inflow passage 52a to the back game ball fall path 52c and from the front inflow passage 53a to the front game ball fall path 53c. Fall into

〔Block Diagram〕
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship in the spinning cylinder game machine (slot machine S) of the embodiment. The slot machine S is configured with a main control board 35 as a center, and the devices directly controlled by the main control board 35 are a game ball take-in device 50 and a symbol display device 7. The game ball take-in device 50 is controlled based on the operation of the 1 bet button 12 or the max bet button 9 by the player, and the symbol display device 7 is based on the operation of the start lever 10 and the stop buttons 11a, 11b, 11c by the player. Controlled.

  Other devices perform control via other substrates. The effect control board 36 receives an unidirectional command from the main control board 35 and produces an effect on the liquid crystal display device 5 using the built-in VDP, and receives sound effects from the left and right speakers 33R and 33L and a woofer (not shown). appear. Further, a command is transmitted as a serial signal to the lamp driving board 40, and the lamp driving board 40 controls the electric decorations such as various electric decorations 27R, 27L, and 28.

  As a result of the game being played by the player, when a winning combination is achieved, a payout command is transmitted to the payout control board 37 to pay out the game ball from the payout device 30 to the player as a prize ball. In addition to the above, a game ball may be paid out. This is a case where a game cancel operation is performed by operating the ball removal knob 24 in a state where there is a game ball that has been taken in. Also in this case, the main control board 35 transmits a payout command to the payout control board 37 and returns the game ball to the player.

  In addition, when the player operates the ball lending button 21 on the CR frequency display board, the payout control board 37 generates a ball lending command from a known CR sand, and the lending ball is issued from the payout device 30 based on this command. Pay to the player.

[Operation of game ball take-in device]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the taking-in operation state of the game ball taking-in device 50 from the back side. Since the behavior of the game ball in the back ball passage member 52 and the behavior of the game ball in the front ball passage member 53 are the same, the behavior of the game ball in the front ball passage member 53 is illustrated in this example.

  In FIG. 8, the game ball rolling in the front inflow passage 53a passes over the front ball passage valve 55c and flows into the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b. The game balls are placed one by one in the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54 rotating in the counterclockwise direction, and finally fall from the game ball transport body 54 and are detected by the front take-in count switch 58. It is discharged from the ball discharge port 53e. The game ball counted and discharged as a take-in ball by the game ball take-in device 50 is provided in the middle frame 2 (see FIG. 2) through a return inclination passage 39 (see FIG. 3) provided in the door body 3. Then, it rolls through the return passage 38 and is discharged to the back of the slot machine S (that is, the pachinko machine island).

  FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where the ball removal valve 55 is moved to the retracted position by the player's operation and the ball is being removed. Since the behavior of the game ball in the back ball passage member 52 and the behavior of the game ball in the front ball passage member 53 are the same, this example illustrates the behavior of the game ball in the back ball passage member 52.

  When the ball removal valve 55 is moved to the retracted position by the player's operation, the ball removal valve light shielding portion 55a is interposed between the ball removal valve detector light emitting portion 56a and the ball removal valve detector light receiving portion 56b of the ball removal valve detector 56. In order to block, it is detected that the player is performing a ball removal operation. If it is detected that the ball removal operation is being performed, the motor that rotates the motor shaft 62 is stopped even if the game ball transport body 54 is rotating during the take-in operation.

  When the ball removal valve 55 is retreated, the back ball passage valve 55b is retreated, and the subsequent ball falls from the back ball removal route 52d without newly entering the back game ball transport body rotation space 52b from the back inflow passage 52a. It is discharged without being counted by the back take-in count switch 57. In this case, the game ball is returned to the front side of the slot machine S (that is, the player). By this operation, the game balls arranged in the back inflow passage 52a can be returned. However, the game balls labeled B1 to B5 shown in FIG. 9 remain.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing a state where the game ball carrier 54 is reversely rotated (clockwise) to discharge the remaining game balls B1 to B5. Since this is an event that occurs continuously from FIG. 9, the behavior of the game ball in the back ball passage member 52 will be exemplified.

  When the operation of the ball removal valve 55 is stopped, the ball removal valve 55 is again moved to the forward movement position by the elasticity of the compressed coil spring 61 [see FIG. 6B]. As a result, the ball removal valve light shielding portion 55a does not block between the ball removal valve detector light emitting portion 56a and the ball removal valve detector light receiving portion 56b of the ball removal valve detector 56, so that the operation of the ball removal valve 55 has been stopped. Detected.

  When it is detected that the operation of the ball removal valve 55 is stopped, the game ball transport body 54 starts reverse rotation (rotation in the clockwise direction). As a result, the remaining game balls labeled B1 to B5 are transported in the opposite direction to the time of take-in, fall from the back game ball drop path 52c, and are counted by the back-take-in count switch 57. It is discharged without. Also in this case, the game ball is returned to the front side of the slot machine S (that is, the player). Also, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the game balls placed in the recesses 54d of the game ball transport body 54 are returned first, and then the game balls (B4, After B5) is placed in the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54, it is transported, dropped and returned.

[If a missing game ball is taken in]
Next, based on FIG. 11, a case where a loss occurs in the game ball that should be continuously taken in during the taking operation will be described. There are mainly two reasons why the game ball carrier 54 rotates without the game ball being placed in the recess 54d of the game ball carrier 54.

  First, as a first cause, the speed of the game ball in the front inflow passage 53a or the back inflow passage 52a (hereinafter referred to as the inflow passage) is slower than the rotational speed of the game ball transport body 54. That is, before the game ball transport body 54 starts to rotate, the game ball in the inflow passage is stationary at an initial speed of zero. On the other hand, when the game ball transport body 54 starts to rotate, the beginning of the game balls arranged in the inflow passage starts to fall into the recess 54d, thereby starting the movement.

  In the case of a payout device for a pachinko machine, the row of game balls up to the part corresponding to the game ball carrier 54 has a large number of game balls arranged almost vertically, so that the movement can be started immediately by gravity acceleration. . However, since the slot machine S of the present invention is installed in a pachinko machine island that is about 10 cm higher than a spinning machine using medals, the symbol display device 7 is positioned lower than the spinning machine using medals. Is provided so that each of the symbol reels 7a, 7b and 7c can be looked down from the player. As one of the methods for realizing the configuration in which the symbol display device 7 is installed at the low position described above, the game ball take-in device 50 does not provide a height difference as much as possible, in other words, a gentle slope is used for the inflow passage. Yes.

  Since a gentle slope is used in this way, the gravitational acceleration that advances the game ball is a component force in the slope direction, so the conditions are different from the case of the pachinko machine dispensing device, and the degree of acceleration is the same even if the initial speed is the same zero Will be significantly reduced. For this reason, when the game ball transport body 54 starts rotating, the game ball transport body 54 may rotate in a state where the game ball does not fall into the recess 54d that should receive the game ball first (that is, missing). is there. This is the first cause of the rotation of the game ball transport body 54 without the game ball being placed in the recess 54d.

  The second cause is that when the game ball contacts the concave portion 54d or the convex portion 54e of the game ball transport body 54, it rebounds, and as a result, it collides with the subsequent game ball and the concave portion 54d of the game ball or the subsequent game ball. It is conceivable that the fall to the hindrance will be hindered.

  Due to the two causes as described above, a state in which a game ball is missing between the game balls B2 and B3 as shown in FIG. In this figure, the game balls B1 and B2 are placed in the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54 by the previous take-in operation.

[Timing chart when playing ball]
The timing chart in FIG. 12A is a timing chart in a normal capture state as shown in FIG. Moreover, the timing chart of FIG.12 (b) is a timing chart when a missing | missing has arisen at the time of taking in like FIG. 8 and 11 exemplarily show the behavior of the game ball in the front ball passage member 53, but FIG. 12 shows the behavior of the game balls of both the front ball passage member 53 and the back ball passage member 52. Is shown in the timing chart.

  Each signal shown in the timing charts of FIGS. 12A and 12B will be described. (See Fig. 4 for various hardware shown below.) Proximity switch output indicates the output of the back proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60, and both FIG. 12 (a) and FIG. 12 (b) detect a game ball. It shows that you are doing. That is, it is detected that a certain or higher ball pressure is secured. In the angle detection photo switch 64, detection is performed by the slit 63a of the angle detection plate 63. The count switch output is a signal output that combines both detection signals from the back-in count switch 57 and the front-in count switch 58.

  12A and 12B, as an example, it is assumed that the max bet button 9 is pushed and 15 game balls are taken in. First, when the max bet button 9 is pressed, the proximity switch output is confirmed. When it is confirmed that a certain or higher ball pressure is secured, the drive motor is rotated at a high speed in the direction of taking in (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) by an angle necessary for taking in 15 game balls. . Here, the angle required for taking in 15 game balls is 1 rotation + 1/4 rotation, but for the sake of accuracy, the slit 63a of the angle detection plate 63 is 15 in the angle detection photo switch 64. It is fed back by being detected once. Of course, the position where the angle detection photoswitch 64 detects the slit 63a of the angle detection plate 63 is just the discharge position where the game ball leaves the game ball carrier 54 and starts dropping.

  Since there is a slight drop between the discharge position at which the game ball starts to drop, the back take-in count switch 57, and the front take-in count switch 58, a certain amount of time is required until detection. This is the reason why there is a time difference between the angle detection photoswitch output and the count switch output in FIG. Then, when the game ball carrier 54 is rotated by a necessary angle, the count switch output is monitored for a predetermined wait time (predetermined waiting time), and 15 game balls have been confirmed by the count switch output so far. In this case, the import is completed.

  In contrast to FIG. 12 (a), FIG. 12 (b) shows that the game ball transport body 54 rotates without the game ball being placed in the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54, and the game ball is missing. Shows the case. Basically, the operation of the game ball take-in device 50 is the same until the game ball carrier 54 is rotated at a high speed by a necessary angle. However, in FIG. 12B, an example in which the game ball transport body 54 rotates without the top game ball in the back inflow passage 52a or the front inflow passage 53a being placed on the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54. Show. The timing at which the count switch output starts is the same as in FIG. 12A, but this is because the game ball already placed in the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54 has fallen by the previous take-in operation. Yes, if the recess 54d is missing at the start of rotation of the game ball transport body 54, the sixth count switch output is often missing in this embodiment. As a result, after the game ball carrier 54 is rotated, 14 game balls are detected by the predetermined wait time, and one is insufficient.

  If the required number of game balls is not detected even after the predetermined wait time has elapsed, a retry operation is performed. In the present embodiment, the retry operation is performed by rotating the game ball carrier 54 at a low speed by an angle corresponding to the shortage. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 12B, since the shortage is one, it is rotated by 1/12 rotation (that is, until the slit 63a of the next angle detection plate 63 is detected). Thereafter, also in this case, the count switch output is observed until a predetermined wait time. In this example, since one insufficient game ball is output as the count switch output, the capture is completed at this point. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the time required to rotate the game ball carrier 54 at a low speed just by the occurrence of one omission and one extra wait time are required. It becomes.

[Flowchart for playing game balls]
Below, control of the game ball taking-in apparatus 50 is demonstrated using a flowchart. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process activated every 1.5 msec, FIGS. 14 to 16 are flowcharts of the game ball capturing process, and FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the settlement process.

The variables will be explained in advance to help understanding.
1-step time counter: A variable that determines the pulse width of the stepping motor excitation. The initial value is assigned as the number of interrupt cycles, and is decremented at each timer interrupt.
Number of acquisition commands: Commanded number of acquisitions.
Target number of captures: The initial value is the number of capture commands, and is decremented each time a captured game ball is detected.
Index detection flag: Turned on when the angle detection photo switch 64 detects the slit 63a.
Index count number: The initial value is the number of fetch commands, and is decremented each time the index detection flag is turned ON.
There are three types of capture operation modes: A, B, and C. When it is determined that there is a ball pressure above a certain level, mode A, when it is determined that there is no ball pressure above a certain level, mode B, retry operation When necessary, the mode is switched to mode C.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process. In this embodiment, the process is started every 1.5 msec. The main processing in the timer interrupt processing includes reading of sensors, and processing for outputting an excitation (drive) pulse of a stepping motor that is a drive motor of the game ball capturing device 50.

  When the timer interrupt process S100 is started, first, in S102, the interrupt process is performed, so the one-step time counter is decremented. At this time, the value of the original one-step time counter does not matter. Next, in S104, it is determined whether or not a count switch is detected. This count switch shows both the back take-in count switch 57 and the front take-in count switch 58 (see FIG. 4). If the count switch is detected in S104, the target number of captures is decremented in the next S106. If no count switch is detected in S104, the process of S106 is skipped and the process proceeds to S108.

  In S108, it is determined whether or not an index is detected. Here, the detection of the index means that the angle detection photo switch 64 detects the slit 63 a of the angle detection plate 63. When the index is detected, the game ball carrier 54 is at a discharge position where the game ball is dropped. If the detection of the index is confirmed in S108, the index detection flag is turned ON in the next S110. If the detection of the index cannot be confirmed in S108, the process of S110 is skipped.

  Next, excitation processing is performed in S112. This is a process of outputting / stopping pulses for forward / reverse / stop of the stepping motor that is the drive source of the game ball take-in device 50. Since details of this process may be performed using a known technique, description thereof is omitted. When the process of S112 is completed, the normal process is restored from the interrupt process.

  14 to 16 are flowcharts of the game ball take-in process S200. The game ball take-in process S200 is called in the flow of game control. First, in S201, it is confirmed whether or not the ball removal operation is turned on. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the ball removal valve detector 56 has detected the movement of the ball removal valve 55. When the player operates the ball removal knob 24, the ball removal valve 55 moves and the ball removal valve detector 56 is turned on. If it is ON (Yes in S201), the process proceeds to the settlement process S300 (described later). When the settlement process S300 ends, the process returns to S201 again.

  If the ball removal operation is not turned on in S201 (No in S201), it is determined whether or not the bet button is turned on in S202. In the case of No in S202, the process loops until the bet button is turned on or the ball removal operation is turned on. When the bet button is turned on, that is, when the answer is Yes, the process proceeds to S203, and the retry waiting notification (described later) is terminated. Next, the process proceeds to S204, and the number of acquisition commands determined by the bet button is substituted for the target number of acquisitions. Similarly, in the next S206, the fetch command number is substituted for the index count number.

  In step S208, the retry count is cleared. Here, the number of retries is the number of times that a retry operation has been performed when there is a missing game ball take-in, and when this number of retries exceeds a predetermined upper limit, there are insufficient game balls. It is determined that the bet button is operated again (details will be described later). Next, in S210, it is confirmed whether the ball pressure detection switch is ON. Here, the ball pressure detection switch means the back proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60 in FIG. 4 and is turned on when the game ball is filled up to both the back proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60. The In the present embodiment, if the game ball is filled up to the position of the rear proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60, it is determined that a certain or higher ball pressure is secured. If Yes in S210, the process proceeds to S212.

  In this embodiment, if the ball pressure detection switch is ON at the start of the acquisition operation, the acquisition operation mode is set to A, and if the ball pressure detection switch is OFF, the acquisition operation mode is set to B. When the game ball is lost in the capture operation and the retry operation is performed, the capture operation mode is set to C and the operation is performed. In the capture operation mode A, the drive motor is rotated at an initial medium speed (corresponding to the first rotational speed described in claim 1), and then the rotational speed is switched to provide a high speed (the first rotational speed described in claim 1). The take-in operation is performed by rotating the drive motor at a rotational speed of 2). In the capture operation mode B, the capture operation is performed by rotating the drive motor at a medium speed from the beginning to the end (one embodiment of the rotation speed equal to or lower than the first rotation speed according to claim 2). The capture operation mode C is for retry operation, and performs the capture operation by rotating the drive motor at a low speed (corresponding to the third rotational speed described in claim 3). In the take-in operation mode A, since the take-in operation is performed by first rotating the drive motor at a medium speed and then rotating the drive motor at a high speed, the initial speed of the game ball is insufficient at the start of the take-in operation. In addition, there is an advantage that the taking-in operation can be sufficiently performed and that the taking-in operation can be performed at a high speed in accordance with the acceleration of the game ball, so that the total taking-in speed can be secured. In other words, both the prevention of missing game balls and the high-speed taking-in operation are achieved.

  If it is confirmed in S210 that the ball pressure detection switch is ON (Yes in S210), A is set as the take-in operation mode. Thereafter, 0 is set in the one-step time counter in S214. Here, 0 is set in order to change the one-step time counter, that is, the rotation speed in accordance with the step number time switching counter after S228 described later. In step S216, the step number time switching counter is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S224.

  On the other hand, if the ball pressure detection switch is not ON in S210 (No in S210), B is set as the take-in operation mode (S218). Thereafter, medium speed is set in the one-step time counter in S220. Specifically, the value of how many interrupts the pulse width of one step of the stepping motor is assigned to the one-step time counter (for example, high speed = 3, medium speed = 6, low speed = 9) Then, to help understanding, the words high speed, medium speed, and low speed are used. Next, in step S222, the step number time switching counter is initialized to 0, and the process proceeds to step S224 (in this embodiment, since the step number time switching counter is referred only when the capture operation mode is A, S222 is not necessary. No problem).

  In S224, it is checked whether or not the target number of captures is zero. Here, if the target number of captures is 0, capture is complete (S224 is Yes), and the capture process is terminated. The fetch target number is decremented every time a count switch is detected in S106 of the timer interrupt process S100 of FIG. In S224, if the target number of captures is not 0 (S224 is No), the process proceeds to the next S226.

  In S226, it is confirmed whether or not the one-step time counter is 0 or less. The fact that the one-step time counter is 0 means that the interruption for the pulse width of one step of the stepping motor has been completed. While the one-step time counter is a positive value, a loop is performed between S224 and S226. That is, it waits for the time for one step to elapse. If the one-step time counter is set to 0 in S214 described above, the loop does not loop between S224 and S226, and control is transferred to the next S228.

  If it is determined in S226 that the one-step time counter is 0 or less, the control moves to S228, and the capture operation mode is determined. In S228, it is determined whether the capture operation mode is A or not. When the capture operation mode is A (Yes in S228), the process proceeds to S230. When the capture operation mode is not A (No in S228), the process proceeds to S236, and it is determined whether or not the capture operation mode is B. When the capture operation mode is B (Yes in S236), the process proceeds to S238. When the capture operation mode is not B (No in S236), the process proceeds to S240. Here, the process proceeds to S240 only when the capture operation mode is C.

  In S240, the one-step time counter is set to a low speed, and the process proceeds to S242. In S238, which is processed when the capture operation mode is B, the one-step time counter is set to medium speed, and the process proceeds to S242.

  If it is determined in S228 that the capture operation mode is A (Yes in S228), the control moves to S230, and the step number time switching counter is incremented. Next, in S232, it is determined whether or not the value of the step number time switching counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined count. If the specified count has not been reached (No in S232), the process proceeds to S238, the one-step time counter is set to medium speed, and the process proceeds to S242. If it is determined in S232 that the value of the step number time switching counter is equal to or greater than the specified count (Yes in S232), the one-step time counter is set at high speed, and the process proceeds to S242. That is, in this portion, when the step number time switching counter is less than the regulation count, the one step time counter is set to a medium speed, and as a result, the drive motor rotates at a medium speed. When the step number time switching counter is equal to or greater than the regulation count, the one step time counter is set at high speed, and as a result, the drive motor rotates at high speed.

  In step S242, it is determined whether the index detection flag is turned on as a result of the index detection performed in the interrupt process of FIG. If the index detection flag has not been turned on (No in S242), it means that an index has not been detected in one step of this stepping motor, and the index non-detection counter is incremented in S244. Next, in S246, it is determined whether or not the index non-detection counter has reached a specified value. Here, the specified value is selected to have a margin (several steps) than the number of steps between indexes (that is, the number of steps of one rotation of the stepping motor divided by the number of indexes per rotation). If the index non-detection counter has reached the specified value in S246 (Yes in S246), there is a possibility that a ball smear has occurred, so a ball smear process is performed in S248. The ball biting process is a known technique, and is performed by operating the stepping motor in steps of normal rotation → reverse rotation → normal rotation. When the ball scratch process S248 ends, the process proceeds to S264. If the index non-detection counter does not reach the specified value in S246 (No in S246), the process proceeds to S264.

  On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the index detection flag is turned on in S242 (Yes in S242), first the index detection flag is cleared in preparation for the next detection in S250, and the index non-detection counter is also cleared in S252. In S254, the index count is decremented.

  In step S256, it is confirmed whether the ball removal operation is ON. Specifically, it is checked whether or not the ball removal valve detector 56 has detected the movement of the ball removal valve 55. When the player operates the ball removal knob 24, the ball removal valve 55 moves and the ball removal valve detector 56 is turned on. If it is ON (Yes in S256), the process proceeds to the settlement process S300 (described later). When it is not ON (No in S256), the process proceeds to the next S258.

  In S258, it is determined whether or not the index count number is zero. If the index count number is 0, the number of indexes corresponding to the number of take-in commands has been detected. Therefore, if the index count is normal, game balls should have been taken in as many times as the number of take-in commands. Therefore, if the index count number is 0 (Yes in S258), the process proceeds to S260, and a sphere detection time wait is performed. This wait time is a little extra time added to the time that the game ball will be detected by falling to the back take-in count switch 57 and the front take-in count switch 58 (see FIG. 4).

  When weighting of the ball detection time is performed in S260, it is determined whether or not the target number of captures is 0 in S262. If the target number of captures is 0, the current capture operation is completed, and the process returns to exit the game ball capture process S200 (Yes in S262). If the target number of captures is not 0 (No in S262), it means that there is a missing game ball, and the process moves to the retry operation after S266.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S258 that the index count is not 0 (No in S258), since the capture operation is in progress, an excitation pulse for the next step of the stepping motor is output in S264. To update the excitation pattern. The same applies to the case of No in S246 immediately after the processing of S248 is completed. The excitation pattern updated here is referred to in the excitation output process in S112 of the timer interrupt process in FIG. After the excitation pattern is updated in S264, the process proceeds to the next step. Therefore, the process moves to S224 again and waits for one step. The following is the same as described above.

  In the case of No in S262, game balls are missing because the number of game balls for the number of fetch commands is not detected despite the detection of the number of indexes for the number of fetch commands. It means that it was. After S266, retry processing is performed when a loss occurs.

  In S266, the number of retries is incremented. The retry count is cleared and initialized in S208 as an initial setting of the game ball capturing process S200. Next, since the current target number of captures is an insufficient number of game balls, the target number of captures is substituted as a new index count number (S268). Next, since a retry operation is performed, the one-step time counter is slowed down in S270. Then, the capture operation mode is set to C (S272).

  In S274, it is determined whether the number of retries has reached a specified value. The specified number of retries is the upper limit number of retries. If the number of retries has not reached the specified value (No in S274), the process returns to S224 to resume the capture operation at a low speed, and waits for one step. The following is the same as described above.

  If the number of retries has reached the specified value (Yes in S274), the waiting for retry is notified by turning on a waiting lamp (not shown) (S276). Then, the process proceeds to next S278. In S278, since the current target number of acquisition is the shortage of game balls, the target number of acquisition is substituted as a new acquisition command number, and the process proceeds to S201, which is the first process of the game ball acquisition process S200. To wait for the ball removal operation or bet button operation. The player can select whether to finish the game by performing a ball removal operation here, or to replenish the game ball and press the bet button again to continue the game.

  FIG. 17 shows the settlement process S300. The settlement process S300 is performed when the player performs a ball removal operation in the game ball taking-in process. In the settlement process S300, first, the excitation stop is instructed (S302), and the drive motor of the game ball take-in device is stopped. Thereafter, in S304, it is confirmed whether or not the ball removal operation is turned off. Specifically, it is checked whether the ball removal valve detector 56 has detected the return of the ball removal valve 55 that has been moved. When the player releases his hand from the ball removal knob 24, the ball removal valve 55 moves forward by the force that the coil spring 61 tries to return to the original state, and the ball removal valve detector 56 is turned off (see FIG. 4). As long as S304 is No, S304 is looped and the end of the player's ball removal operation is awaited.

  If YES in step S304, it is checked in step S306 if the ball pressure detection switch is ON. Here, the ball pressure detection switch means the back proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60 in FIG. 4, and is turned on when the game ball is filled up to both the back proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60. Judge that In the present embodiment, if the game ball is filled up to the position of the rear proximity switch 59 and the front proximity switch 60, it is determined that a certain or higher ball pressure is secured. Here, the fact that the ball pressure detection switch is ON means that there is a corresponding residual ball in the take-in device. That is, in this case, it is determined that the player has an intention to continue the game, and the player simply wants to reduce the game balls in the storage tray 14 (Yes in S306), and the settlement process is exited as it is.

  If the ball pressure detection switch is not ON in S306 (No in S306), it is next determined in S308 whether there is a game ball already taken in. The captured game ball is a game ball detected by the count switch (the back capture count switch 57 or the front capture count switch 58). If there is a captured game ball, There are game balls that have already been taken in by the number obtained by subtracting the target number from the number of commands to be loaded. If there is a game ball that has already been taken in (Yes in S308), a payout command is output in S310 to pay out the number of game balls that have been taken in from the payout device 30. If there is no game ball already taken in (No in S308), then in S314, 0.5 seconds is set as the specified time. If a payout command for paying out the number of game balls that have been taken in is output in S310, 6 seconds is set as the specified time in S312.

  In step S316, the process waits for the specified time set in the previous step. This waiting time is a necessary time until the game ball paid out when the game ball is paid out from the payout device 30 rolls in the game ball passage 15 from the storage tray 14 to the game ball take-in device 50. As described above, when the game ball is returned through the payout device 30, the game ball take-in device 50 operates in consideration of the rolling time of the game ball, so that there is no omission of return to the player.

  Next, in S318, the excitation pattern is changed to the reverse direction (that is, the return direction). As a result, the excitation output process S112 in the timer interrupt process S100 reverses the drive motor. If reverse rotation is instructed in S318, it is confirmed in S320 whether the specified number of revolutions has been rotated. Here, the number of revolutions of the regulation can only be returned by adding the game balls remaining in the game ball take-in device 50 and the number of game balls that have already been taken in from the pay-out device and returned. Good. However, in the case of this embodiment, the game ball take-in device 50 handles two rows of game balls, but there is a possibility that the game balls to be returned are shifted to one row. Therefore, it is desirable to set the number of regulations twice the above calculation.

  While the determination in S320 is No, the process returns to S318, and when the determination in S320 turns to Yes, the checkout process is terminated and the process returns.

  In any case, when the settlement process S300 is completed, the process proceeds to S201, which is the first process in the game ball take-in process S200, and waits for a ball removal operation or a bet button operation. The player can now choose to continue the game by refilling the game balls and pressing the bet button again.

  FIG. 18 shows a timing chart of the game ball taking-in operation according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 to 17 in this embodiment. The meaning of each signal is the same as in the timing chart of FIG. 12, but the timing of the angle detection photoswitch output and the count switch output is different from that in FIG. For example, the first and first intervals from the start of the output of the angle detection photoswitch are slightly wide because they are at medium speed rotation. Correspondingly, the interval between the first output from the start and the output from the first to the second is slightly wider. After that, since it switches to high speed rotation, it becomes equal intervals. In the case of FIG. 18, since the game ball falls into the recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54 at a medium speed rotation during the angle at which the first two game balls should be taken in, the initial speed of the game ball is zero. There is no loss at the beginning of the capture. As a result, the retry operation and the wait operation that are required when a loss occurs do not occur (see FIG. 12B). Therefore, if a plurality of capture operations are averaged, the capture operation becomes faster.

[Relationship between game ball carrier and game ball]
FIG. 19 is a view showing the behavior when the game ball carrier 54 and the game ball collide inside the game ball take-in device 50. First, a case where the game ball carrier 54 collides with the recess 54d will be described. When the game ball flows into the back game ball transport body rotation space 52b or the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b (see FIG. 4) and comes into contact with the recess 54d, the slanted portion 54d2 always tilts toward the center of the motor shaft. It collides with the point P1 (the reason will be described later). At this time, since P1 is in the inclined portion 54d2, the drop impact force F1 is divided into a component force F1V perpendicular to the inclined portion 54d2 and a component force F1H parallel to the inclined direction of the inclined portion 54d2. On the other hand, the game ball side receives F1Vb as a reaction force from the point P1 (contact point), and receives a force of F1G as a resultant force F1H of inertia (impact force). As a result, even if the game ball bounces back as a result of the collision between the concave portion 54d of the game ball transport body 54 and the game ball, it bounces back to a position deviating from the advancing direction of the subsequent game ball, so the subsequent game ball bounces straight back. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a subsequent game ball does not enter the next recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54.

  Next, the case where a game ball collides with the convex part 54e of the game ball transport body 54 will be described. When the game ball flows into the back game ball transport body rotation space 52b or the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b (see FIG. 4) and comes into contact with the convex portion 54e, the tilt portion 54e2 is always tilted toward the center of the motor shaft. Collide with the point P2 (the reason will be described later). At this time, the falling impact force F2 is divided into a component force F2V perpendicular to the inclined portion 54e2 and a component force F2H parallel to the inclined direction of the inclined portion 54e2. On the other hand, the game ball side receives F2Vb as a reaction force from the point P2 (contact point), and receives F2G force as a resultant force F2H of inertia (impact force) that it has. As a result, even if the projecting part 54e of the game ball carrier 54 and the game ball bounce back as a result of the collision, the game ball bounces back to a position deviating from the advancing direction of the subsequent game ball. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a subsequent game ball does not enter the next recess 54d of the game ball transport body 54.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a dimensional relationship between the game ball transport body 54 and the game ball inside the game ball take-in device 50. The passage width of the game ball is set to W wider by G than the diameter D of the game ball. As shown in FIG. 5, the concave portion 54d includes a base end portion 54d1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft and an inclined portion 54d2 inclined toward the center of the motor shaft. The length in the direction along the axial direction of the base end portion 54d1 is B1, which is made smaller than 2 / D, that is, the radius of the game ball. For this reason, the contact point at which the game ball and the recess 54d contact each other is a point P1 on the inclined portion 54d2 that is always inclined in the central direction. Further, the inclination angle α is much larger than the draft angle (which is a resin product) given to the base end portion 54d1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft. In the present embodiment, the recess 54d is composed of the base end 54d1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft and the inclined portion 54d2 inclined in the center direction of the motor shaft. However, the recess 54d is formed at the center of the motor shaft. You may comprise only the inclination part 54d2 inclined in a direction.

  Similarly, the convex portion 54e includes a base end portion 54e1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft and an inclined portion 54e2 inclined toward the center of the motor shaft. The length in the direction along the axial direction of the base end portion 54e1 is B2, which is made smaller than 2 / D, that is, the radius of the game ball. For this reason, the contact point at which the game ball contacts the convex portion 54e is always a point P2 on the inclined portion 54e2 that is inclined in the center direction. Further, the inclination angle β is much larger than the draft angle (which is a resin product) given to the base end portion 54e1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft. Further, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 54e is composed of the base end portion 54e1 formed substantially parallel to the motor shaft and the inclined portion 54e2 inclined toward the center of the motor shaft. You may comprise only the inclination part 54e2 inclined in the center direction.

  FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the front ball biting prevention piece 69 in the front ball passage member 53. Note that the operation of the back ball biting prevention piece 68 in the back ball passage member 52 is the same and is omitted. The front ball biting prevention piece 69 is a member that is integrally shaped with resin, but mainly comprises three types of structures. Reference numeral 69a denotes a ball biting prevention piece inner wall portion that also serves as the inner wall of the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b. As such, it is a portion that is ribbed and relatively difficult to deform. Reference numeral 69b denotes an elastic part that is curved and thin. Reference numeral 69c denotes a bearing portion which is fitted into a shaft provided in the front ball passage member 53 and makes the front ball biting prevention piece 69 movable. Due to the action of the bearing portion 69c and the elastic portion 69b, the force from the inner side to the outer side of the front game ball transport body rotation space 53b is regulated with appropriate elasticity.

  For example, in FIG. 21, it is assumed that the game ball B6 is delayed in the game ball transport body 54 due to a lack of sufficient game balls in the game ball take-in device 50. At this time, if the diameter of the game ball is sandwiched between the end point of the convex portion 54e of the game ball carrier 54 and the end point 69a0 of the inner wall portion 69a of the ball biting prevention piece 69 at the initial position of the front ball biting prevention piece 69, If the end point 69a0 of the inner wall portion 69a of the ball biting prevention piece 69a at the initial position of the front ball biting prevention piece 69 does not move (two-dot chain line portion), the game ball is fixed at just two points of the diameter, and ball biting occurs. End up.

  However, in this embodiment, the front ball biting prevention piece 69 is retracted with appropriate elasticity by the action of the bearing portion 69c and the elastic portion 69b (solid line portion), and as a result. According to the rotation of the game ball transport body 54, the game ball B6 is stored in the recess 54d. In this way, the front ball biting prevention piece 69 and the back ball biting prevention piece 68 prevent the ball biting.

1 is a perspective view of a rotating type gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a rotating type game machine. It is a rear view of a door body. It is a perspective view which disassembles a game ball taking-in device and shows it from a game machine back direction. (A) Front view of game ball transport body, (b) Side view of game ball transport body, (c) Rear view of game ball transport body. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the ball removal valve and the ball removal valve detector which detects whether the ball removal valve is moving forward or backward. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection relationship in the spinning cylinder type game machine (slot machine) of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the taking-in operation state of a game ball taking-in apparatus from a back direction. It is a figure which shows the state which the ball removal valve moves to a retreat position by operation of a player, and is performing ball removal. It is a figure which shows the state in which the game ball | bowl conveyance body is reverse | reversed in order to discharge | release the game balls B1-B5 which remain in the game ball taking-in apparatus (clockwise rotation). It is a figure which shows the case where a missing | missing has occurred in the game ball which should be taken in continuously during taking-in operation in the game ball taking-in apparatus. It is a timing chart at the time of the normal taking-in state of each switch of a game ball taking-in apparatus. It is a flowchart of the timer interruption process which the control means of a game ball taking-in apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows a part of game ball taking-in process which a control means same as the above performs. It is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. It is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart of the adjustment process which a control means same as the above performs. 18 is a timing chart of a game ball taking-in operation according to the flowcharts of FIGS. It is the figure shown about the behavior at the time of a game ball carrier and a game ball colliding inside a game ball taking-in apparatus. It is the figure which showed the dimensional relationship of the game ball | bowl conveyance body and the game ball | bowl inside a game ball taking-in apparatus. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the front ball biting prevention piece in a front ball path member.

Explanation of symbols

S slot machine (revolving game machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame 2 Middle frame 3 Door 4 Liquid crystal transparent window 5 Liquid crystal display device 6 Symbol display transparent window 7 Symbol display device 7a Symbol reel 7b Symbol reel 7c Symbol reel 8 Operation part 9 Max bed button 10 Start lever 11a Stop button 11b Stop button 11c Stop button 12 1 bet button 13 Ball receiving member 13a Communication hole 14 Storage tray 14a Communication hole 15 Game ball passage 16 Ball drop hole 17 Ball drop valve 18 Ball drop button 19 Front member 20 Sound release hole for woofer 21 Ball rental Button 22 Return button 23 Slide hole 24 Ball release knob 25 Cylinder lock 26R Sound release hole 26L Sound release hole 27R Upper right illumination 27L Upper left illumination 28 Upper central illumination 29 Ball tank 30 Dispensing device 31 In-machine tank 31a Game ball acceptance Mouth 32 Space 33R Speaker 33L Speaker 3 4 gaming unit case 35 main control board 36 presentation control board 37 payout control board 38 return passage 39 return inclination passage 40 lamp drive board 50 game ball take-in device 51 base 51a ball removal valve detector mounting hole 51b light shielding wall 52 back ball passage Member 52a Back inflow passage 52b Back game ball transporter rotation space 52c Back game ball drop path 52d Back ball removal path 52e Back game ball outlet 53 Front ball path member 53a Front inflow passage 53b Front game ball transport rotation space 53c Front game Ball drop path 53d Front ball release path 53e Front game ball discharge port 53f Ball release valve sliding part 54 Game ball carrier 54A Front ball receiving part 54B Back ball receiving part 54C Disk part 54d Recessed part 54d1 Base end part 54d2 Inclined part 1 inclined part)
54e Convex portion 54e1 Base end portion 54e2 Inclined portion (second inclined portion)
55 Ball release valve 55a Ball release valve shading portion 55b Back ball passage valve 55c Front ball passage valve 55d Ball release knob mounting claw portion 55e Coil spring attachment portion 56 Ball release valve detector 56a Ball release valve detector light emitting portion 56b Ball release Valve detector light receiving part 56c Ball extraction valve detector fixed claw part 57 Back take-in count switch 58 Front take-in count switch 59 Back close switch 60 Front close switch 61 Coil spring 62 Motor shaft 63 Angle detection plate 63a Slit 64 For angle detection Photoswitch 65 Light shielding member 67 Game ball take-in device board 68 Back ball biting prevention piece 69 Front ball biting prevention piece 69a Ball biting prevention piece inner wall part 69b Ball biting prevention piece elastic part 69c Ball biting prevention piece bearing part 70 Heat sink

Claims (4)

A game ball capturing device that can be installed in a pachinko machine island facility that uses a game ball as a game medium, and that takes in a predetermined number according to the multiplier operated by the player by operating the multiplier setting unit; In the rotary type gaming machine having a storage tray for storing the game balls owned by the player, and a game ball passage having a gentle slope for guiding the game balls from the storage tray to the game ball take-in device,
The game ball take-in device includes a sprocket-shaped game ball transport body, and a game ball detection sensor for detecting a game ball transported by the game ball transport body, the game ball transport body, Only one game ball can be received on the outer periphery, and a plurality of groove-like recesses formed along the rotation axis are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the recesses are defined between the recesses. A plurality of convex portions for forming,
The game ball take-in device is to take in the game ball by detecting the game ball detection sensor by conveying the game ball by rotating the game ball carrier,
The control means of the game ball take-in device rotates the rotating body speed of the game ball transport body at a first rotation speed at the start of rotation, and then switches to a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed. This is a spinning machine.   The game ball take-in device includes an inflow passage for introducing a game ball from the game ball passage on the gentle slope to the game ball transport body, and whether or not a ball is detected at a predetermined position of the inflow passage Detection means is provided, and the control means determines the magnitude of the ball pressure applied to the game ball immediately before being received by the game ball carrier based on the detection result by the ball presence / absence detection means, and the ball pressure is determined to be small. 2. The revolving game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game ball transport body is rotated at a rotation speed that is sometimes less than or equal to the first rotation speed. The game ball detection sensor is disposed at a position for detecting a game ball dropped from the recess of the game ball transport body at the end of transport by the game ball transport body,
Game ball drop position detecting means for detecting that the concave portion of the game ball transport body is at a discharge position for dropping the game ball;
When the predetermined number of game balls are taken in, the control means counts the number of game balls taken every time the game ball detection sensor detects a game ball, and the game ball fall position detection means. The game ball carrier is rotated until the predetermined number of detection signals are detected,
When the predetermined number of detection signals from the game ball drop position detecting means are detected, the game ball waits for a predetermined waiting time, and determines whether or not the predetermined number of gaming balls have been taken in when the waiting time has elapsed. When the predetermined number of game balls are taken in, the take-in operation is terminated,
If the predetermined number of game balls have not been taken in, the game ball at a third rotational speed that is slower than the first rotational speed until a detection signal of the insufficient number of game ball drop position detection means is detected. When the carrier is rotated and a retry operation is performed, and the predetermined number of game balls are not taken in even if the retry operation is repeated a predetermined number of times, the retry operation is stopped and a retry is waited. The spinning cylinder type gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the game machine is notified.   4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein when the retry operation is stopped, when the multiplier setting unit is operated, the notification of the waiting for the retry is terminated, and the predetermined number of game balls are received. A revolving type gaming machine characterized by performing a series of taking-in operations again after setting a new predetermined number to take in the shortage.

Images