JP2008132137A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of reducing the annoyance of monitoring of the quantity of game media stored in a tray and of discharging operation of these game media. <P>SOLUTION: In the pachinko game machine 10, a put-out control circuit 100 monitors the quantity of game balls stored in a lower tray 27, in place of a player, based on detection signals from a full-tray detection switch 50, and automatically opens an outlet 43A using a solenoid 61 to discharge game balls from the lower tray 27. Accordingly, the annoyance of monitoring the quantity of stored game balls and of discharging operation of these game balls can be reduced for the player, and the player can concentrate the attention on the play. Furthermore, the player can select whether the automatic opening/closing of the outlet 43A in the lower tray 27 should be effective or canceled as the player likes, and can manually open the outlet 43A if the automatic opening/closing is canceled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that includes a tray that can store game media and that can open and close a discharge hole of the tray by an opening and closing member.

Conventionally, as this type of gaming machine, when a release switch is operated with one touch, a solenoid drives an opening / closing member to open a discharge hole of a tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-14903 A ([0003], [0040])

  However, in the conventional gaming machine described above, since the player monitors whether or not the tray is full and the draining hole of the tray is opened, the discharging operation using the switch is indispensable. I felt annoying. For example, during the execution of a special game in which the payout amount of game media is larger than normal, the troublesomeness of the monitoring and discharging operation increases, and it may not be possible to concentrate on the game.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of monitoring the amount of game media stored in a tray and reducing the troublesomeness of the operation of discharging the game media.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the invention of claim 1 includes a tray that can store game media, a payout device that pays out game media to a tray when a predetermined payout condition is satisfied, and a tray. And is movable between a discharge position for discharging the game medium stored in the tray, a closed position for closing the discharge hole, and an open position for opening the discharge medium, and is normally disposed in the closed position. In a gaming machine having an opening / closing member, a storage amount detecting means for outputting a detection signal when a game medium stored in the tray exceeds a preset reference storage amount, and driving the opening / closing member, In response to a detection signal from the opening / closing drive unit and the storage amount detection means, the opening / closing member is driven by the opening / closing drive unit, and the discharge hole is opened for a predetermined opening time and then closed. Automatic opening / closing control Characterized in place and a stage.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the game control can be executed by switching between a normal game with a relatively small payout amount of game media and a special game with a relatively large payout amount of game media. The automatic opening / closing control means has a necessary condition that the detection signal is output from the storage amount detecting means and that the special game is being executed, and the opening / closing member is provided only when the necessary conditions are satisfied. It is characterized in that is driven to the open side.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, the storage amount detecting means is a reference when the game medium is stored up to a predetermined position in the payout route connecting the tray and the payout device. It is characterized in that it is configured to output a detection signal as exceeding the storage amount.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the invalid state in which the control of the opening / closing drive unit by the automatic opening / closing control means is prohibited, and the control of the opening / closing drive unit by the automatic opening / closing control means. It is characterized in that it is provided with a switching means that allows switching to a permitted state.

  The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a manual opening / closing operation part for manually opening / closing the opening / closing member is provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the open / close member is normally held in the closed position and the open / close member is opened in a state where the receiving box is disposed below the tray. The game medium stored in the tray can be discharged to the receiving box by moving to the receiving box, and is provided with receiving box detecting means for detecting whether or not the receiving box is arranged below the discharge hole. Is provided with an automatic confirmation means for prohibiting the driving of the opening / closing member by the opening / closing drive unit when is not disposed below the discharge hole.

  A gaming machine according to the invention of claim 7 includes a game control means capable of switching and executing a normal game with a relatively small amount of payout of game media and a special game with a relatively large amount of payout of game media, and a game medium. A tray that can be stored, a payout device that pays out game media to the tray when a predetermined payout condition is satisfied, a discharge hole that is provided in the tray and for discharging the game medium stored in the tray, and a discharge hole An opening / closing member movable between a closing position for closing and an opening position for opening. Normally, the opening / closing member is held in the closed position, and the opening / closing member is opened in a state where the receiving box is disposed below the tray. In the gaming machine that can discharge the game medium stored in the tray to the receiving box, the opening / closing drive unit for driving the opening / closing member to open / close the discharge hole, and opening / closing during the execution of the special game Open by drive Driving the member, characterized in was a special game automatic opening means for opening the discharge hole.

[Invention of Claim 1]
In the gaming machine according to the first aspect, since the discharge hole of the tray is normally closed by the opening / closing member, the game medium is stored in the tray. When the game medium stored in the tray reaches the reference storage amount, the storage amount detection means outputs a detection signal. Then, in response to the detection signal, the automatic opening / closing control means drives the opening / closing member by the opening / closing drive unit, and opens and closes the discharge hole for a predetermined opening time. Thereby, the game medium is discharged from the tray, and the game medium stored in the tray is suppressed to a certain amount or less. As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, instead of the player, the automatic opening / closing control means monitors the storage amount of the game medium in the tray based on the detection signal from the storage amount detection means, and the opening / closing drive section. Since the player automatically opens the discharge hole and discharges the game media from the tray, the trouble of monitoring the amount of storage of the game media and the operation of discharging the game media for the player is reduced, and the player can concentrate on the game. it can.

[Invention of claim 2]
In the configuration of claim 2, a special game in which the payout amount of the game medium is larger than that in the normal game is being executed, and the game medium stored in the tray reaches the reference storage amount and the detection signal from the storage amount detection means The automatic open / close control means drives the open / close member to the open side only when both the necessary conditions for the output of are satisfied. That is, according to the present invention, on behalf of the player, the automatic opening / closing control means monitors whether or not the special game is being executed, and automatically opens the discharge hole during the execution of the special game to play the game from the tray. Since the medium is discharged, the trouble of monitoring the storage amount of the game medium and the operation of discharging the game medium for the player is reduced, and the player can concentrate on the game.

[Invention of claim 3]
According to the configuration of claim 3, the storage amount detection means is provided in the payout path that connects the tray and the payout device, so that only when the player puts a foreign object other than the game medium in the tray, the storage amount Since the detection means is difficult to detect, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of malfunction.

[Invention of claim 4]
According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the player can play the game by appropriately selecting the control of the opening / closing drive unit, that is, the state in which the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole is valid and the prohibition.

[Invention of claim 5]
According to the configuration of claim 5, the player can manually discharge the game medium even when the reference storage amount of the game medium is not stored in the tray or when automatic discharge is disabled.

[Invention of claim 6]
According to the structure of Claim 6, when the receiving box is not arrange | positioned under the saucer, the drive of the opening / closing member by the opening / closing drive part is prohibited. Thereby, it is prevented that the discharge hole of the tray is automatically opened in a state where the receiving box is not provided.

[Invention of Claim 7]
In the gaming machine according to the seventh aspect, the discharge hole of the tray is normally closed by the opening / closing member. Then, when a special game in which a relatively large amount of game media is paid out is executed, the special game automatic opening means drives the opening / closing member by the opening / closing drive unit to open the discharge hole during the execution of the special game. Thereby, the game medium is discharged from the tray, and the game medium stored in the tray is suppressed to a certain amount or less. As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, on behalf of the player, the special game automatic opening means monitors whether or not the special game is being executed and automatically sets the discharge hole during the special game. Since the game medium is discharged from the tray and released, the troublesomeness of the game medium storage amount monitoring and the game medium discharge operation is reduced, and the player can concentrate on the game.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine 10 to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially circular game area R <b> 1 surrounded by guide rails 12 is formed on the game board 11 of the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment. A display device 30 is provided at the center of the game area R1, and a start winning port 14, a grand prize port 15, and a off ball receiving port 16 are spaced apart from the display device 30 in the game region R1 in order from the top. Opened side by side. In addition, a ramp windmill 17, a start gate 18, a windmill 19, and general winning ports 20 and 21 are provided on both sides of the display device 30 in the game area R <b> 1. Lamps 22 and 22 are provided. A plurality of obstacle nails (not shown) are erected over the entire game area R1.

  The required parts of the game board 11 will be described in detail. The general winning ports 20, 21 have a so-called pocket structure with an opening on the upper surface of a member protruding from the game board 11, and only one game ball (corresponding to "game medium" according to the present invention) enters. It opens upwards with a possible size. When entering the general winning opening 20, 21, the game ball is taken into the back side of the game board 11, and, for example, four game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 described later.

  The start gate 18 has a gate-like structure through which game balls can dive, and the passed game balls are detected by a normal symbol start switch (not shown) built in the start gate 18. Based on this detection signal, symbols are variably displayed on the normal symbol display section 18H provided at one corner of the liquid crystal display screen 30B. Specifically, after a numerical symbol composed of numbers from “0” to “9” is variably displayed over a predetermined period, the predetermined numerical symbol is stopped and displayed.

  The start winning opening 14 also has a pocket structure like the general winning openings 20 and 21. Movable wing pieces 14A and 14A are provided on the left and right sides of the opening of the start winning opening 14, respectively. Both the movable wing pieces 14A, 14A are always in an upright state. At this time, the opening width of the start winning port 14 sandwiched between the two movable wing pieces 14A, 14A is such that only one game ball can enter. It has become. When the number symbol stopped and displayed on the normal symbol display unit 18H becomes an odd number, a solenoid (not shown) provided on the back of the game board 11 is driven to move the movable wing pieces 14A and 14A for a predetermined period (for example, 0.4 For a second). Then, the game balls flowing down on both sides of the start winning opening 14 are received by the movable wing piece 14A and guided to the starting winning opening 14 so that it becomes easy to win the starting winning opening 14.

  The game ball that has entered the start winning opening 14 passes through a through hole (not shown) provided in the game board 11 and is collected on the back side of the game board 11 and is also provided in the start winning opening 14 that is not shown. It is detected by the mouth sensor. Based on the detection signal, for example, four game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 described later, and the symbols are variably displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 30B. Specifically, usually three special symbols 31A, 31B, and 31C are displayed side by side on the liquid crystal display screen 30B. Each of these special symbols 31A, 31B, 31C is provided with, for example, a plurality of types representing numbers “0” to “11”, and normally, any type of special symbols 31A, 31B, 31C is stopped. It is displayed. Then, when a game ball wins at the start winning opening 14, these three special symbols 31A, 31B, 31C are scrolled up and down, and after a predetermined time, for example, in the order of left, right, and middle The symbols 31A, 31C, 31B are stopped and displayed. Further, when all the special symbols 31A, 31B, and 31C are the same symbol, that is, when they are all in a rough state, the game becomes a “hit state”. The “hit state” corresponds to the “special game” state of the present invention, and the other game states correspond to the “normal game” state of the present invention. In addition, such game state switching control corresponds to the “game control means” of the present invention.

  When the special symbol 31A, 31B, 31C wins the start winning slot 14 during the variable display or “big hit state” on the liquid crystal display screen 30B, up to four winning balls are reserved and stored. When 31A, 31B, and 31C stop display or the “big hit state” ends, the special symbols 31A, 31B, and 31C are variably displayed again based on the reserved storage.

  The special winning opening 15 is formed in a horizontally long rectangle and is opened forward, and is always closed by the movable door 15T. When the pachinko gaming machine 10 is in the “hit state”, a solenoid (not shown) provided on the back of the game board 11 is driven, and the movable door 15T falls to the front side for a predetermined period. Thereby, the grand prize opening 15 is opened, and a large number of game balls can be awarded to the big prize opening 15 by using the movable door 15T as a guide. Here, when the movable door 15T is opened and closed, it is referred to as “round”. In one round, the opening time of the movable door 15T has reached 30 seconds, or The process ends when any of the ten game balls is won first. Further, the “big hit state” is continued up to, for example, 15 rounds.

  Inside the big winning opening 15, a counting winning opening (not shown) is provided. A count sensor is provided in the counting prize winning opening, and when a winning of a game ball is detected, the number of winning balls is counted, and it is checked whether or not a total of ten winning balls have been reached as described above. In addition, when a game ball wins the grand prize opening 15, for example, 15 game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 for each win. The above is the description of each part of the game board 11.

  The front side of the pachinko gaming machine 10 described above is entirely covered with the front frame 83 except for a portion near the lower end, and a portion near the lower end is covered with the mounting plate 46 and the corner cover 46C. . The gaming area R1 is visible through a glass window 85W formed in the front frame 83. On the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10, there is provided a decorative lamp 35 bulging forward so as to surround the upper side and the side of the glass window 85W, and speakers 23, 23 are provided at both upper corners.

  A first bulging portion 26B is provided below the glass window 85W on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10, and a second bulging portion 27B is provided below the first bulging portion 27B. An upper plate 26 opened upward is formed in the first bulging portion 26B, and a first ball removal button 26A is provided on the side of the upper plate 26. In addition, the second bulge portion 27B is formed with a lower plate 27 (corresponding to the “receiving tray” of the present invention) that opens upward, and an image operation button 41 is provided on the left side of the lower plate 27. A second ball removal button 47, a ball lending status display monitor 27D, and a ball lending button 27E are provided on the right side. Further, the first and second bulging portions 26B and 27B are both bent at the right end toward the upper side, and the lower right corner of the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10 located below the curved portions. Is provided with an operation knob 28. Further, the game hall in which the pachinko gaming machine 10 is installed is provided with a receiving box mounting portion 49S shown in FIG. 2 below the lower plate 27, and a receiving box 49 whose upper surface is opened is mounted here. Can be placed.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where a plurality of parts assembled to the mounting plate 46 are disassembled. The attachment plate 46 has a substantially horizontally long rectangular shape, and a lower plate component member 43 is attached to the center of the attachment plate 46 in the left-right direction. The lower plate constituting member 43 stands upward from the outer edge portion 43B of the bottom wall 43C, and has a structure in which the upper surface and the side surface on the mounting plate 46 side are opened. And the above-mentioned lower plate 27 is comprised by obstruct | occluding the open part of the side in the lower plate component 43 with the attachment plate 46. As shown in FIG.

  A lower tray discharge outlet 56 </ b> B is formed through a portion of the mounting plate 46 that faces the inner side of the lower plate constituting member 43 at the lower end near the right end. Then, the game ball is paid out to the lower plate 27 through the lower plate discharge outlet 56B. In addition, a circular discharge hole 43A is formed through the bottom wall 43C of the lower plate constituting member 43 at a position in front of the lower plate discharge outlet 56B, and the entire bottom wall 43C is inclined so as to be gently lowered toward the discharge hole 43A. is doing.

  A lower surface facing wall 46Z is fixed below the lower plate constituting member 43 in the front surface of the mounting plate 46. The lower surface facing wall 46Z has a cantilever shape protruding from the front surface of the mounting plate 46, and is opposed in the vertical direction to the vicinity of the portion of the bottom wall 43C of the lower plate constituting member 43 where the discharge hole 43A is formed. Yes. A discharge hole 46B having substantially the same shape is formed through the lower surface facing wall 46Z so as to be coaxial with the discharge hole 43A. Further, the upper surface of the lower surface facing wall 46Z has a stepped front edge and one side edge opposite to the mounting plate 46, and the opening edge of the discharge hole 46B and the rear side of the opening edge are stepped. The shape is low. Thus, a flat space 46H (see FIG. 6) is formed between the stepped lower portion on the upper surface of the lower surface facing wall 46Z and the lower surface of the lower plate constituting member 43. In addition, a horizontally long slit 46S (see FIG. 3) penetratingly formed below the lower dish discharge outlet 56B in the mounting plate 46 communicates with the flat space 46H.

  An opening / closing unit 60 is assembled on the right side of the lower plate constituting member 43 in the front surface of the mounting plate 46. The opening / closing unit 60 is formed by assembling an opening / closing member 64 and a solenoid 61 (corresponding to an “opening / closing drive unit” according to the present invention) on a base portion 60A fixed to the front surface of the mounting plate 46. On the front surface of the base portion 60A that is parallel to the front surface of the mounting plate 46, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.

  The opening / closing member 64 has a horizontal blade 64F inserted from the side into the flat space 46H between the lower plate constituting member 43 and the lower surface facing wall 46Z. The front end of the horizontal blade 64F has a size capable of closing the discharge hole 43A, and the vertical arm 64E stands upward from the base end of the horizontal blade 64F. Further, the upper end portion of the vertical arm 64E is bent to the side opposite to the horizontal blade 64F, and a rotating sleeve 64A is provided at the end thereof.

  A support shaft 62A is inserted into the rotation sleeve 64A, and both ends of the support shaft 62A are held by the opposed projecting pieces 62B and 62B of the base portion 60A, so that the opening / closing member 64 can be rotated in the horizontal direction. Yes. When the opening / closing member 64 is disposed at the closed position on one end side of the rotatable range (see FIG. 6A), the discharge hole 43A (see FIG. 3) is closed by the horizontal blade 64F and can be rotated. When arranged at the open position on the other end side of the range (see FIG. 6B), the horizontal blade 64F moves away from the discharge hole 43A to the position where it enters the slit 46S of the mounting plate 46, and the discharge hole 43A is opened. . Further, when the horizontal blade 64F is disposed at the closed position, the horizontal blade 64F is positioned in contact with the front wall portion of the lower surface facing wall 46Z.

  As shown in FIG. 6, one end portion of the tension coil spring 65 is attached to an intermediate portion of the vertical arm 64 </ b> E (see FIG. 4) in the opening / closing member 64, and the other end portion of the tension coil spring 65 extends from the lower plate constituting member 43. It is attached to the protruding spring locking projection 43E (see FIG. 3). The opening / closing member 64 is always held in the closed position by the elastic force of the tension coil spring 65.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the solenoid 61 is fixed to a position on the opposite side of the lower plate constituting member 43 with the opposed projecting pieces 62 </ b> B and 62 </ b> B sandwiched between the front surfaces of the base portion 60 </ b> A. As shown in FIG. 4, the solenoid 61 has its axial direction turned up and down, and a pressing member 63 is fixed to the upper end of a plunger 61 </ b> A inserted in the center of the solenoid 61. A compression coil spring 61B is inserted outside the plunger 61A, and the compression coil spring 61B is sandwiched between the pressing member 63 and the solenoid 61. In a state where the solenoid 61 is demagnetized, the plunger 61A is held at the upper end position within the range in which the plunger 61A can move up and down by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 61B, and when the solenoid 61 is excited, it resists the elastic force of the compression coil spring 61B. The plunger 61A moves to the lower end position in the range in which the plunger 61A can move up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing member 63 has a rear end surface extending from the plunger 61 </ b> A to the rotating sleeve 64 </ b> A side of the opening / closing member 64 and parallel to the front surface of the base portion 60 </ b> A. The pressing member 63 moves up and down together with the plunger 61A in a state where the rear end surface is adjacent to the front surface of the base portion 60A and the rotation around the plunger 61A is restricted. Further, on the lower surface of the pressing member 63, a sliding contact slope 63A that is inclined downward toward the base portion 60A side is formed. Corresponding to the pressing member 63, a pilot lever 64C projects from the rotating sleeve 64A of the opening / closing member 64 toward the solenoid 61 side. When the opening / closing member 64 is disposed at the closed position and the pressing member 63 is disposed at the upper end position within the vertically movable range, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the pressing member 63 with respect to the pilot lever 64C. Is in a state of facing from above. In this state, when the solenoid 61 is energized to lower the pressing member 63 together with the plunger 61A, the sliding contact slope 63A of the pressing member 63 slides on the rotating sleeve 64A and the rotating sleeve 64A moves forward. Then, before reaching the lower end position of the range in which the pressing member 63 can move up and down, the pilot lever 64C disengages from the lower side of the pressing member 63 to the front side, and the opening / closing member 64 reaches the closed position. When the pressing member 63 is further lowered and reaches the lower end position of the range in which the pressing member 63 can move up and down, the rotating sleeve 64A comes into contact with the front side of the pressing member 63 and moves as shown in FIG. Be regulated. Thereby, the elastic force from the tension coil spring 65 applied to the pressing member 63 via the rotating sleeve 64A is received by the base portion 60A, and the burden on the solenoid 61 is reduced.

  The side surface of the lower plate constituting member 43 and the opening / closing unit 60 are covered with decorative covers 44A and 44B (see FIG. 3) attached to the front surface of the attachment plate 46. Further, the image operation button 41 is fixed to one decorative cover 44A, and the second ball extraction button 47 is fixed to the other decorative cover 44B. And the wiring extended from the image operation button 41, the 2nd ball extraction button 47, and the solenoid 61 is mentioned later of the rear surface side of the pachinko gaming machine 10 through the electric wire insertion hole 46P (see FIG. 3) penetratingly formed in the mounting plate 46. It is connected to a payout control circuit 100 (corresponding to “automatic opening / closing control means” according to the present invention).

  Although not shown, the upper plate 26 includes an upper plate constituting member corresponding to the lower plate constituting member 43 and a part of the front frame 83, and the front and sides of the upper plate constituting member are covered with a decorative cover. It has been broken. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper plate 26 is longer in the left-right direction than the lower plate 27, and a lower plate discharge outlet 56 </ b> B for paying out game balls to the lower plate 27 is provided in the lower plate 27. The upper tray discharge outlet 56 </ b> A for paying out the game ball to the upper tray 26 is disposed at the left end of the inner surface of the upper tray 26, whereas it is disposed at the right end of the side surface. The bottom surface of the upper plate 26 is inclined so as to descend toward the right end, and the right end portion of the upper plate 26 and a launching device 106A (not shown) are connected by a game ball guide path. Accordingly, the game balls stored in the upper plate 26 are fed to the launching device 106A, and when the operation knob 28 is operated, the launching device 106A is driven, and the game balls fed from the upper plate 26 are sequentially , It is played to the game area R1.

  Further, the middle part of the game ball guide path and the lower tray payout outlet 56B are communicated by an open / close communication path (not shown), and the open / close communication path is normally closed. Then, by operating the first ball removal button 26A, the open / close communication path is opened, and the game balls in the upper plate 26 are discharged to the lower plate 27 through the lower plate discharge outlet 56B.

  The game balls stored in the lower plate 27 can be discharged by operating the second ball removal button 47. That is, when the second ball removal button 47 is operated, the solenoid 61 is excited, whereby the opening / closing member 64 moves from the closed position to the open position, and the game ball in the lower plate 27 is received in the receiving box below the lower plate 27. It is discharged to 49. The image operation button 41 on the opposite side of the second ball removal button 47 across the lower plate 27 is used when selecting an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 30B. It is also used when setting operating conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 7, on the rear side of the pachinko gaming machine 10, a payout device 110 and a ball lending device 110C are provided above the upper dish discharge outlet 56A, and the payout device 110 and the ball lending device 110C are communicated with each other. A payout path 55 communicates with the upper tray discharge outlet 56A and the lower tray discharge outlet 56B. Specifically, the payout path 55 extends downward from the payout device 110, passes through the ball lending device 110C, and is bent in the horizontal lateral direction at the first corner portion 55A directly below the ball lending device 110C. Further, the payout path 55 extends from the first corner portion 55A so as to be slightly lowered with respect to the horizontal direction, and is bent right below at the second corner portion 55B obliquely above the lower tray discharge outlet 56B. It extends, slightly bends and inclines from the middle, and further, the tip end portion thereof communicates with the lower tray discharge outlet 56B. Further, the upper tray discharge outlet 56 </ b> A communicates in the middle of the portion extending downward from the ball lending device 110 </ b> C at the upper end portion of the payout path 55.

  Then, when a game ball wins at any of the winning openings 14, 15, 20, and 21, the payout device 110 is activated, and the prize ball is passed from the payout device 110 to the upper plate 26 through the upper plate payout outlet 56A. Will be paid out. The upper plate 26 is filled with game balls, the upper plate discharge outlet 56A is blocked by the game balls, the game ball passes through the upper plate discharge port 56A, and moves down the discharge path 55 to the lower end portion. A game ball is paid out to the lower plate 27 from the exit 56B. The same applies when the ball lending device 110C is operated.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a portion of the side wall constituting the payout path 55 is cut off between the second corner portion 55B and the end portion of the payout path 55, so that the full detection switch 50 ("storage" Corresponding to “quantity detecting means”. Specifically, the end of the payout path 55 reaches the bottom surface of the lower plate 27, and a lower plate discharge outlet 56B is opened on the inner surface on the front side of the second corner portion 55B. As shown in FIG. 9 (A), the opening edge on the left side of the lower tray discharge outlet 56B is shifted to the right side from the middle part in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the lower tray discharge outlet 56B becomes narrower. Yes. A sensor is obtained by cutting the side wall of the discharge path 55 from the boundary portion where the lower tray discharge outlet 56B becomes narrower to a gaming ball further than the opening edge on the upper side of the lower tray discharge outlet 56B by one half upward. An installation opening 55C is formed. And the sensor room 50D provided in the side of the 2nd corner part 55B and the 2nd corner part 55B is connecting via the sensor installation opening 55C.

  The position of the upper end portion of the sensor installation opening 55C is also a position in the middle of the portion of the side wall of the second corner portion 55B that extends vertically downward from the end of the curved portion in the second corner portion 55B. Further, the lower end portion of the sensor installation opening 55C is horizontally separated from the second corner portion 55B, and is located obliquely below the upper end portion of the sensor installation opening 55C.

  The full detection switch 50 includes a movable lever 50A and an electrical contact 50B. The movable lever 50A is pivotally supported at the lower end of the sensor installation opening 55C, and extends obliquely upward from the sensor installation opening 55C. Is blocking. The electrical contact 50B is disposed in the sensor room 50D, and a part of the electrical contact 50B and the upper end of the movable lever 50A are opposed to each other. When the movable lever 50A is positioned at one end of the rotation range, as shown in FIG. 9A, the upper end of the movable lever 50A is separated from the electrical contact 50B, the electrical contact 50B is turned off, and the movable lever 50A is turned off. Is positioned in contact with the opening edge of the sensor installation opening 55C. On the other hand, when the movable lever 50A is positioned on the other end side of the rotation range, the upper end of the movable lever 50A comes into contact with the electric contact 50B as shown in FIG. The 50A reinforcing rib 50H is positioned in contact with the stopper wall 50E in the sensor chamber 50D. An on / off signal (detection signal) for the electrical contact 50B is taken into the payout control circuit 100.

  The movable lever 50A is normally located on one end side of the rotation range due to its own weight. When the game balls stored in the lower tray 27 are full and the game balls in the payout path 55 reach the upper opening edge of the lower tray discharge outlet 56B, the pressure of the game balls is applied to the movable lever 50A. The movable lever 50A moves to the other end side of the rotation range, and the electrical contact 50B is turned on. Further, when the game ball in the payout path 55 exceeds the upper opening edge of the lower tray payout outlet 56B, the pressure of the game ball against the movable lever 50A increases, and the electric contact 50B is reliably turned on. That is, in the present embodiment, the storage amount of the game balls in the lower tray 27 when the game balls in the payout path 55 reaches the upper opening edge of the lower tray discharge outlet 56B is the “reference storage amount” according to the present invention. It corresponds to.

  In a state where the lower plate 27 is not full, a game ball traveling downward from the second corner portion 55B of the payout path 55 passes through the lower plate discharge outlet 56B to the lower plate 27 without contacting the movable lever 50A. Will be paid out. Further, since the full detection switch 50 is provided not in the lower plate 27 but in the payout path 55, the full detection switch only when the player puts foreign matter other than the game ball such as a mobile phone or cigarette into the lower plate 27. Since there is a distance up to 50 and the full detection switch 50 is difficult to detect, it is possible to reduce malfunctions.

  FIG. 10 shows an electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The pachinko gaming machine 10 includes a plurality of control circuits such as a main control circuit 101, a display control circuit 102, a lamp control circuit 104, an audio control circuit 103, and a payout control circuit 100. The main control circuit 101 controls the entire pachinko gaming machine 10 in an integrated manner. Further, based on the control signal from the main control circuit 101, the display control circuit 102 controls driving of the liquid crystal display screen 30B, the sound control circuit 103 controls sound from the speaker 23, and the lamp control circuit 104 controls various lamps 22. , 35 and the like are controlled to produce a game.

  Here, the payout control circuit 100 operates the payout device 110 on the basis of a signal from the main control circuit 101 based on the winning of the game balls to the winning holes 14, 15, 20, and 21, and the pachinko gaming machine 10 The ball lending device 110C is operated based on a signal from a prepaid card unit 150 (see FIG. 1) provided on the side of the ball. Thereby, the game ball is paid out to the upper plate 26 or the lower plate 27 through the payout route 55.

  Now, the payout control circuit 100 according to the present embodiment takes out the payout main program PG shown in FIG. Specifically, when the payout control circuit 100 runs the payout main program PG, it is first determined whether or not the power is turned on (S1). When it is determined that the power is turned on (yes in S1), initial setting (S3) is executed. In the initial setting (S3), for example, stack setting, constant setting, CPU setting, various flags and counter values are reset. When the initial setting (S3) is completed, the process proceeds to the next process (S10).

  The initial setting (S3) is executed only when the payout main program PG is run for the first time after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter.

  In the winning ball control process (S10), the payout device 110 is set so as to pay out a predetermined number of game balls based on signals transmitted from the main control circuit 101 after winning the winning holes 14, 15, 20, and 21. To drive.

  Subsequent to the prize ball control process (S10), an automatic / manual switching process (S20) of the lower pan ball removal corresponding to the “switching means” of the present invention is executed. When the process (S20) is executed, as shown in FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not the manual / automatic switch is on ("automatic") (S21). The manual / automatic switch is a software setting switch, and the image operation button 41 and the manual / automatic switch constitute a “switching unit” according to the present invention.

  The manual / automatic switch can be turned on / off by operating the image operation button 41. More specifically, when the image operation button 41 is pressed, a group of setting switches including a manual / automatic switch is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 30B. By manually rotating the image operation button 41 up and down or left and right, The manual / automatic switch can be switched on and off by pressing the image operation button 41 after selecting the automatic switch. If the manual / automatic switch is not turned on (automatic) (no in S21), the process immediately exits (S20).

  If the manual / automatic switch is on (automatic) (Yes in S21), it is next determined whether or not the automatic setting state is set (S22). If it is in the automatic setting state (yes in S22), it is switched to manual setting (S23), and if it is in the manual setting state (no in S22), it is switched to automatic setting (S24). When switching to manual setting or automatic setting, the process exits (S22). The manual / automatic switch is off (manual) in the initial state.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lower dish full tank process (S30) is executed after the lower dish ball removal automatic / manual switching process (S20). In this process (S30), as shown in FIG. 13, it is first determined whether or not the full detection switch 50 is on (S31). When the full detection switch 50 is not turned on (no in S31), that is, when the game ball does not overflow in the payout path 55, the processing (S30) is immediately terminated.

  When the full detection switch 50 is turned on (yes in S31), that is, when game balls overflow in the payout route 55, it is determined whether or not the ball discharge setting is in the automatic setting state (S34). If it is not in the automatic setting state (no in S34), the process immediately exits (S30). Here, when the player presses the second ball removal button 47 and a sensor (not shown) is turned on, the solenoid 61 is excited and the opening / closing member 64 is rotated to open the discharge hole 43A.

  On the other hand, if it is in the automatic setting state (yes in S34), it is determined whether or not the lower plate ball removal time (corresponding to the “predetermined opening time” according to the present invention) is set (S35). If so (Yes in S35), the process exits (S30). If the lower plate ball removal time is not set (no in S35), the lower plate ball removal time is set to 60 seconds, for example (S36), and this process (S30) is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lower dish ball removing process (S40) is executed after the lower dish full tank process (S30). When this process (S40) is executed, as shown in FIG. 14, first, it is confirmed whether or not the lower plate ball removal time is "0" (S41). If the lower plate ball removal time is not "0" (no in S41), the lower plate ball removal time is subtracted (timer is decremented by 1) (S43), the solenoid 61 is excited to open the discharge hole 43A. (S44), this process (S40) is exited.

  If the lower plate ball removal time is “0” (yes in S41), it is confirmed whether or not the full detection switch 50 is on (S42). When the full detection switch 50 is on (Yes in S42), that is, even if the discharge hole 43A is opened and the game ball is discharged from the lower plate 27 during the lower plate ball removal time, the full detection switch 50 is turned on. If this is the case, a notification signal is transmitted to the voice control circuit 103 or / and the lamp control circuit 104 to notify an error, and notification is sent from the speaker 23 or / and the various lamps 22 and 35 (S45). Exit S40).

  When the full detection switch 50 is not turned on (no in S42), that is, between when the discharge hole 43A is opened and when the lower plate ball removal time elapses, the full state of the lower plate 27 is canceled, and the full detection switch When the error notification (S45) is performed, the transmission of the notification signal is stopped (S47), and when the error notification (S45) is not performed, the notification signal is stopped. The maintained state is maintained (S47). Then, the solenoid 61 is demagnetized, the opening / closing member 64 is moved to the closed position, the discharge hole 43A is closed, and this process (S40) is exited.

  In this way, in the lower plate full tank process (S30) and the lower plate ball removal process (S40), when the lower plate 27 is filled with game balls, the discharge hole 43A of the lower plate 27 is automatically opened, and thereafter The discharge hole 43A is automatically closed after the lower tray ball removal time has elapsed.

  When the ball discharge setting is in the manual setting state, if the second ball extraction button 47 is pressed, the solenoid 61 is turned on regardless of whether the full detection switch 50 detects that the lower plate 27 is full. Excitation is performed to open the discharge hole 43A. Thus, by allowing the discharge hole 43A of the lower tray 27 to be opened and closed manually, the player can discharge the game ball even if the game ball is not full of the lower plate 27.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a ball lending button monitoring process (S50) is executed after the lower dish ball removing process (S40). In this process (S50), when the player presses the ball lending button 27E on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10, the payout device 110 is driven to pay out the game ball.

  In the next ball lending amount selection process (S60), a process for changing the number of game balls to be paid out in the ball lending button monitoring process (S50) is performed. For example, normally, 125 balls are paid out when the ball lending button 27E is pressed, but 250 can be paid out when the player changes.

  In the other process (S70), a process not related to the present invention is executed, and the process returns to the prize ball control process (S10) again. The above is the description of the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  This is the end of the description of the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment. Next, functions and effects of the pachinko gaming machine 10 will be described.

  Before playing the game on the pachinko gaming machine 10, the player operates the image operation button 41 and selects whether to enable or disable the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole 43 </ b> A in the lower plate 27. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiving box 49 is placed on the receiving box mounting portion 49S, and the operation knob 28 is operated. Then, the game ball is blown out to the game area R1, and flows down the game area R1 at random. At this time, when several game balls are awarded to the general winning ports 20 and 21, the start winning port 14, and the big winning port 15, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26.

  By the way, when a game ball wins at the start winning opening 14, a determination is made whether or not the game is successful, and if the result of the determination is a big win, the amount of game balls paid out to the upper plate 26 increases rapidly. When the upper plate 26 is filled with game balls, the game balls are paid out to the lower plate 27 instead of the upper plate 26, and the amount of game balls stored in the lower plate 27 also increases rapidly.

  Here, when the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole 43A in the lower plate 27 is disabled, the second ball extraction button 47 may be manually operated. Then, the solenoid 61 moves the opening / closing member 64 to the open position only while operating the second ball removal button 47, and the game ball is discharged from the lower plate 27 to the receiving box 49. For this reason, when the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole 43A is disabled, the player continues to operate the second ball removal button 47 or monitors the amount of storage in the lower plate 27 as appropriate. It is necessary to operate the ball removal button 47.

  On the other hand, when the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole 43 </ b> A in the lower plate 27 is enabled, it is not necessary to monitor the storage amount of the lower plate 27 and it is not necessary to operate the second ball extraction button 47. In other words, even when the amount of game balls stored in the lower tray 27 suddenly increases due to the big hit state, the player only needs to operate the operation knob 28.

  Then, the lower plate 27 eventually becomes full of game balls, and the game balls accumulate in the payout path 55 between the lower plate 27 and the payout device 110, and the fullness detection switch 50 in the middle of the payout path 55 is turned on. become. The payout control circuit 100 (automatic open / close control means) energizes the solenoid 61 (open / close drive unit) and moves the open / close member 64 to the open position under the condition that the full detection switch 50 is turned on. The solenoid 61 is demagnetized after being held in the open position for the dish ball removal time (for example, 60 seconds). As a result, the discharge hole 43A of the lower tray 27 is opened and closed for the lower tray ball removal time, the game balls are discharged from the lower tray 27 to the receiving box 49, and the game balls stored in the lower tray 27 are constant. Less than the amount. Further, when the discharge hole 43A of the lower tray 27 is automatically closed, the storage amount of the receiving box 49 is checked, and the receiving box 49 may be replaced as appropriate.

  Thus, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the payout control circuit 100 monitors the amount of game balls stored in the lower plate 27 based on the detection signal from the full detection switch 50 on behalf of the player. Since the discharge hole 43A is automatically opened using the solenoid 61 and the game balls are discharged from the lower plate 27, the trouble of monitoring the storage amount of the game balls and the discharge operation of these game balls for the player is reduced. , Can concentrate on the game.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to select whether to enable or disable the automatic opening / closing of the discharge hole 43A in the lower plate 27 according to the player's preference, and to disable the automatic opening / closing. Even in this case, the discharge hole 43A can be appropriately opened manually.

[Second Embodiment]
This embodiment is shown in FIG. 15, and the lower dish ball removal automatic / manual switching process in the payout main program PG is different from that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted, and only configurations different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the lower dish ball removal automatic / manual switching process (S20) of this embodiment, it is first determined whether or not the special game state (big hit state) is in effect (S26). If not (No in S26), the manual setting is set (S28), and this process (S20) is immediately exited. On the other hand, if it is in the special game state (yes in S27), it is determined whether or not it is in the automatic setting state (S27), and if it is in the automatic setting state (yes in S27), the process immediately exits (S20), If so (no in S27), switch to automatic setting (S29). The payout control circuit 100 that executes the payout main program PG in the present embodiment corresponds to the “special game automatic opening means” of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the lower plate 27 is only in a special gaming state (big hit state) and when the full detection switch 50 detects that the game ball is full of the lower ball 27 with the game ball. The discharge hole 43A is opened for a predetermined lower dish ball removal time. Thus, in the normal game state, the player presses the second ball removal button 47 and manually opens the discharge hole 43A. However, when the player enters the special game state where the payout amount is relatively large, the player automatically The game balls are discharged from the lower plate 27.

  Thus, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, on behalf of the player, the payout control circuit 100 (special game automatic opening means) monitors whether or not the special game is being executed, and the special game. During the execution, the discharge hole 43A is automatically opened and the game balls are discharged from the lower plate 27, so that the trouble of monitoring the storage amount of the game balls and the discharge operation of these game balls for the player is reduced. You can concentrate.

[Third Embodiment]
This embodiment is shown in FIG. 16, and the lower pan full tank process (S30) in the payout main program PG is different from the first and second embodiments. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted, and only configurations different from those of the above embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the lower plate full tank processing (S30) of this embodiment, if the lower plate ball removal time is set (yes in S35), the lower plate ball removal time is set and set in advance. It is determined whether or not an error determination time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed (S37). If it has not elapsed (no in S37), this process (S30) is skipped. It is determined whether the full detection switch 50 is on (S38). If the full detection switch 50 is not turned on (no in S38), this process (S30) is immediately terminated. If the full detection switch 50 is turned on (yes in S38), the driving of the firing motor 106B is stopped. (S39), the process (S30) is terminated. On the other hand, when the lower plate ball removal time is not set (no in S35), the lower plate ball removal time is set to 60 seconds, for example (S36), and this process (S30) is ended.

  As a result, in the lower-plate full processing (S30) of the present embodiment, the full-detection switch 50 is set between the time when the full-detection switch 50 is initially turned on and the time when the error determination time elapses. If it is not in the OFF state, that is, if the full state of the lower plate 27 is not eliminated, it is determined that an error such as a ball clogging has occurred in the discharge hole 43A or the discharge path 55, and the driving of the firing motor 106B is performed. To stop.

  As described above, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, normally, even when the lower plate 27 is full, the full state is resolved immediately by opening the discharge hole 43A. If the full state of the lower plate 27 is not resolved due to clogging of the game ball, etc., the launch of the game ball should be stopped and dealt with promptly before the ball clogging of the payout path 55 etc. becomes serious. Can do.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the embodiments described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various other than the following can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be changed and implemented.

  (1) In the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine. However, as long as it is a gaming machine, it may be provided in a coin gaming machine, a slot machine, an arrangement ball, or the like.

  (2) Although the solenoid 61 is used as power for opening and closing the discharge hole 43A, other power such as a motor may be used.

  (3) In the first and second embodiments, the upper plate 26 may be omitted and only the lower plate 27 may be configured.

  (4) A plurality of lower dish ball removal times may be provided and appropriately selected according to the gaming state. For example, three types of 60 seconds, 120 seconds, and 180 seconds may be provided, and 180 seconds may be selected during the jackpot game.

  (5) Instead of stopping the driving of the firing motor 106B after detecting fullness, the driving of the payout device 110 may be stopped and the number of game balls to be paid out during that time may be stored in the storage means.

  (6) Even when the ball discharge setting is in the automatic setting state, when the second ball extraction button 47 is pressed, the discharge hole 43A may be opened and closed. Accordingly, even when the discharge hole 43A is opened in a state where the receiving box 49 is disposed, it can be manually forcibly closed.

  (7) A sensor for detecting whether or not the receiving box 49 is disposed in the discharge hole 43A (corresponding to the “receiving box detecting means” of the present invention) is provided, and only when the receiving box 49 is disposed A configuration may be adopted in which the sphere can be discharged and cannot be discharged when the receiving box 49 is not provided (corresponding to the “automatic confirmation means” of the present invention).

  (8) Alternatively, the amount of game balls stored in the receiving box 49 may be detected by a sensor, and the discharge may be stopped when the receiving box 49 is full of game balls. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gaming medium from being accidentally discharged in a state where the receiving box 49 is not provided.

  (9) The manual setting state of the ball discharge setting may be eliminated and only the automatic setting state may be set.

Front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention Front view of lower plate door Perspective view of lower plate door Open / close unit perspective view A perspective view showing the operation of the opening and closing unit A perspective view showing the operation of the opening and closing unit Rear view of pachinko machine Perspective view of payout route Cross section of full switch sensor Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko machine Flow chart of payout control processing Flow chart of automatic / manual switching process for lower pan ball removal Flow chart of bottom plate full tank processing Flow chart of lower plate ball removal processing Flow chart of automatic / manual switching process for lower pan ball removal according to the second embodiment Flow chart of lower plate full tank processing of the third embodiment

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines 26 Upper plate 27 Lower plate (sink)
40 Lower plate door 41 Image operation button 43A Discharge hole 47 Second ball removal button (manual opening / closing operation part)
50 Full detection switch (Storage amount detection means)
55 Dispensing path 60 Opening / closing unit 61 Solenoid (opening / closing drive part)
63A Sliding contact slope 64 Opening / closing member 100 Payout control circuit (automatic opening / closing control means, special game automatic opening means)
110 Dispensing device

Claims (7)

A saucer capable of storing game media;
A payout device for paying out game media to the tray when a predetermined payout condition is satisfied;
A discharge hole provided in the tray and for discharging the game medium stored in the tray;
In a gaming machine comprising an opening / closing member that is movable between a closed position for closing the discharge hole and an open position for opening the discharge hole, and is normally disposed in the closed position.
A storage amount detection means for outputting a detection signal when the game medium stored in the tray exceeds a preset reference storage amount;
An opening / closing drive unit for driving the opening / closing member and opening / closing the discharge hole;
Automatic opening / closing control in which the opening / closing member is driven by the opening / closing drive unit in response to the detection signal from the storage amount detection means, and the discharge hole is opened for a predetermined opening time and then closed. And a game machine. Game control means that can be executed by switching between a normal game with a relatively small amount of payout of game media and a special game with a relatively large amount of payout of game media,
The automatic opening / closing control means requires that the detection signal is output from the storage amount detection means and that the special game is being executed, and the opening / closing control is performed only when the necessary conditions are satisfied. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the member is driven to the open side.   The storage amount detection means outputs the detection signal that the game medium exceeds the reference storage amount when the game medium is stored up to a predetermined position in the middle of a payout path connecting the tray and the payout device. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gaming machine is configured.   A switching unit is provided that can switch between an invalid state in which control of the opening / closing drive unit by the automatic opening / closing control unit is prohibited and a permission state in which control of the opening / closing drive unit by the automatic opening / closing control unit is permitted. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a manual opening / closing operation unit for manually opening and closing the opening / closing member. Usually, the open / close member is held in the closed position, and the open / close member is moved to the open position in a state where a receiving box is disposed below the receiving tray, whereby the game medium stored in the receiving tray is received. It can be discharged into a box,
A receiving box detecting means for detecting whether or not the receiving box is arranged below the discharging hole is provided, and the opening / closing drive by the opening / closing drive unit when the receiving box is not arranged below the discharging hole. 6. A gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising automatic confirmation means for prohibiting driving of the member. A game control means that can be executed by switching between a normal game with a relatively small amount of payout of game media and a special game with a relatively large amount of payout of game media;
A saucer capable of storing game media;
A payout device for paying out game media to the tray when a predetermined payout condition is satisfied;
A discharge hole provided in the tray and for discharging the game medium stored in the tray;
In a gaming machine comprising an opening / closing member movable between a closed position for closing the discharge hole and an open position for opening the discharge hole,
An opening / closing drive unit for driving the opening / closing member to open / close the discharge hole;
A game machine comprising: a special game automatic opening means for driving the opening / closing member by the opening / closing drive unit to open the discharge hole during execution of the special game.