JP2008289736A - Reel type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the freedom degree of an installation position of an introduction device 30 for introducing balls inside the game machine for a game and a ball tray 20 where a player can freely take in/out balls, in a game machine by providing a conveyance part 25 having a function of conveying the balls, facilitate the handling of the balls by the player and smoothly introduce balls by the conveyance part 25. <P>SOLUTION: The introduction device 30 introduces a prescribed number of balls for a game each time according to an operation/input by the player. The ball tray 20 is constituted so that the player can freely take in/out the balls. The conveyance part 25 conveys the balls from the ball tray part side to the introduction device side. A storage part 27 stores the balls so as to feed them out despite of the situation of the conveyance part 25. When a storage sensor 28 detects that the number of stored balls are not stored and a ball tray sensor 23 detects the presence of balls to be introduced, a control part, which is not shown, outputs a conveyance part actuation signal to the conveyance part 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes an outer frame standing upright on Pachinko Island, a gaming machine frame fixed to the outer frame so as to be opened and closed, and a front door fixed to be opened and closed so as to cover the front surface of the gaming machine frame. The present invention relates to a revolving type game machine that uses a game ball as a game medium, and in particular, a transfer unit having a function of transferring a game ball is provided, and the game ball is taken into the game machine for a game. The device and the receiving part where the player can freely insert and remove the ball can improve the degree of freedom of the installation position in the gaming machine, and the player can easily handle the game ball and the game unit can take in the game ball. The present invention relates to a swivel-type gaming machine that can make the game smooth.

  In recent years, as a new gaming machine installed on a gaming island of pachinko machines, a spinning machine using a gaming ball for a pachinko machine as a game medium has been released and installed in a game arcade. This spinning machine is commonly referred to as a pachilot or a parrot. Hereinafter, it is called a pachinko slot.

  17 and 18 are front views of conventional pachinko slots, respectively.

  Each of these conventional examples includes an upper dish storage unit 95 and a lower dish storage unit 96. In the conventional example of FIG. 17, a ball take-in device 97 is provided in the upper dish storage unit 95, and in the conventional example in FIG. 18, a ball take-in device 97 is provided in the lower dish storage unit 96.

  In these conventional examples, game balls are taken into the game machine by the ball take-in device 97 by the number corresponding to the number of times the player has pressed the bet button 14. For example, each time you press the button, you can capture 5 units each time you press it, 5 units if you press once, 10 units if you press twice, 15 units if you press 3 times, and so on. 3, up to 15 captures).

  When the start lever 16 is operated, the reels 12a, 12b, and 12c on which several patterns are written respectively rotate, and the patterns are switched. When the stop switches 18a, 18b, 18c provided corresponding to the reels 12a, 12b, 12c are pressed, the rotation of the corresponding reels 12a, 12b, 12c is stopped, and the change of the picture is stopped. . When all the reels 12a, 12b, and 12c are stopped, a prize ball is paid out according to the combination of the patterns of the reels 12a, 12b, and 12c and others.

  Here, in Patent Literature 1, a take-in port is formed in the lower storage area of the lower plate member, and a game ball is taken in from the lower storage area by the ball take-in device. Along with this, a communication passage that communicates the upper storage area and the lower storage area of the upper plate member is provided, and the game ball paid out from the payout device that pays out a prize ball when the winning pattern is aligned is passed through the communication path. And let it flow down from the upper storage area to the lower storage area. Thus, it has been proposed that the game balls in the upper storage area can be replenished in a timely manner in the lower storage area, and the work of refilling the game balls by the player is saved.

  In addition, as for a swivel type game machine using a game medal (hereinafter referred to as a pachislot), generally called a pachislot, in Patent Document 2, a medal paid out due to establishment of a “combination” is stored. An auxiliary medal slot is provided in the vicinity of the tray installed at the bottom. Also, by providing a rising mechanism for lifting the game medal inserted from the auxiliary medal slot and a transfer means for transferring the game medal raised by the lifting mechanism to the front of the medal selector, Similar to the above, proposals have been made to save labor for game medal insertion by players.

  Furthermore, in the recently published Patent Document 3, the game media having the application contents of Patent Document 2 described above are replaced with game balls, and a proposal for the same labor saving is made.

JP 2006-6475 A JP 2005-261911 A JP 2006-271617 A

  Now, as a first problem with respect to the prior art, it is as follows.

  Pachinko, pachislot, and pachinko slots installed in halls (game halls) are arranged side by side on a space called “island” or “amusement island” or “island equipment”. Installed side by side. Also, due to the difference in game media, pachinko and pachinko slots that use game balls are installed on an installation space called “pachinko island”. Alternatively, pachislots using game medals are installed on “Pachislot Island”.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 19, the height of the installation surface for installing the gaming machine on the game island is generally about 150 mm higher on the pachinko island than on the pachislot island. In other words, it is known that Pachislo Island is about 150 mm lower than Pachinko Island. In FIG. 19, pachinko 90 is from Pachinko Island, and pachislot 80 is from Pachislot Island. In FIG. 19, the height difference is indicated by a symbol H.

  After the era when the pachinko game was played indoors and outdoors after the war, pachinko game machines were set up on the island facilities inside the store, and they were sitting on chairs and playing games. On the other hand, for pachislot machines that came out later, game machines were originally developed based on slot machines, and the setting of game machines in the store is also like that. With regard to pachislot, there is a background that, due to differences in game media such as game balls or coins, each size of the pachislot island is determined as a pachislot dedicated to pachislot, apart from each size of the pachinko island. In this way, the gaming facility equipment related to the gaming machine has an old standard in the history of the gaming machine that leads to implicit standardization, and there is a difference in the height of the installation surface as described above. . The pachinko and pachislot machines are installed on pachinko islands or pachislot islands suitable for use with the respective gaming machines, so that a comfortable game can be performed.

  However, as the name of the spinning-type game machine using game balls, the base game is pachislot, but the game medium is a game ball, so it is installed on Pachinko Island. The basic structure of the pachinko slot may follow the basic unit of a pachinko gaming machine and the arrangement of the unit. In this case, the player's operation may become inconvenient.

  For example, a prize ball device that pays out when a “combination” is established, an upper plate that stores paid-out game balls, an overflow ball that is secondarily stored when the upper plate is full, and becomes full In addition to a lower plate with a ball removal mechanism for storing and transporting game balls to a portable storage container (commonly known as a dollar box), and in addition to these common pachinko units, in addition to pachislot medal insertion (bet) In order for a corresponding player to play a game, any game ball take-in device, which is a unit unique to a pachinko slot for taking a game ball into a game machine, uses the fall or downstream of the game ball. These are connected to each other by such a spherical flow passage. Therefore, the pachislot machine installed on Pachinko Island is inevitably subject to various restrictions such as the arrangement of each device.

  Furthermore, the player operates the picture reel device, which is an important unit of the pachinko slot, the bet button switch necessary for the game, the start lever switch, and the triple push button for stopping each of the three reels. As for the arrangement of the objects to be performed, the pachislots to be installed on Pachinko Island are subject to various restrictions.

  In addition to the difference in the installation height of the island as described above, this may involve the interference and interference with the upper and lower dishes, so when considering the pachinko slot as a slot machine, or the appearance of a new pachinko slot When considered, there was a problem that there was no design redundancy in the height direction of the reel and especially the operation unit, and the gameability was impaired.

  Specifically, there are the following problems.

        A) When the operation unit is provided on the front surface of the upper plate, since the game ball is stored in the upper plate, the hand on the ball of the upper plate is moved in accordance with the operation of the start lever or the triple push button switch. Touch operability is impaired.

  As a method for solving these problems, a method of not providing an operation unit on the front surface of the upper plate is also conceivable, but in this case, there are also the following problems.

        B) When the upper plate is placed above the operation unit, the height of the upper plate in the pachinko can not be placed in the upper direction in order to avoid buffering with the ball exit from the ball rental facility on Pachinko Island. That is, the operation unit is arranged above the lower plate or arranged on the front surface of the lower plate. At this time, if it is arranged above the lower plate, the operation unit will be arranged between the upper plate and the lower plate of the current pachinko machine, and care is taken when taking out the balls stored in the lower plate. Problems occur. Regarding this, an attempt has been made to improve the careability by arranging the upper plate on the left side of the gaming machine and the lower plate on the right side, but this further reduces the amount of game balls stored in each plate, The game ball replenishment work including the dollar box becomes more complicated. Further, when the operation unit is arranged on the front surface of the lower plate, the same operability problem as that of the upper plate occurs.

        C) Next, in the case of a pachinko slot, in a model that consumes 15 balls equivalent to a maximum of 3 pachislot medals for one game, the amount of balls consumed per unit time when playing a continuous game Because the amount of consumption exceeds that of pachinko, if an operation unit is provided on the front part of the pachislot upper plate, the amount of storage of the upper plate is limited by space, and as a result, the player plays the game from the lower plate to the upper plate. Ball replenishment work becomes complicated. At this time, the pachinko is in a state where the gaming posture is gripping the handle, and in this state, it is not difficult to refill the ball from the lower plate to the upper plate, but in the pachinko slot, betting and starting each game Since a series of operations such as a triple switch is continuously repeated, if a ball is replenished during this time, there is a problem that both hands move simultaneously to cross each other, and the gameability is impaired because the player cannot concentrate on the game.

        D) As another problem, in Patent Document 1, a take-in port is formed in the lower storage area of the lower plate member, and a game ball is taken in from the lower storage area by the ball take-in device. When the game ball taken in by the take-in device is discharged onto the collection path of the island facility, the height of the entrance of the collection path is above the lower plate in the pachinko machine, that is, between the upper plate and the lower plate, When taking in by using a head with an inclined path from the storage area of the lower plate, there is a problem that depending on the island recovery equipment, it cannot be led to the recovery path as it is.

  The second problem with the prior art is as follows.

  A swivel-type gaming machine that uses a game ball as a game medium can be opened and closed so as to cover the outer frame that stands upright on Pachinko Island, the gaming machine frame that can be opened and closed to the outer frame, and the front of the gaming machine frame It is comprised from the front door fixed to. There are two methods for replacing a gaming machine that has already been installed in a hall with a new model for reasons such as the departure of customers or the arrival of equipment upgrades.

  One is a method of replacing the entire gaming machine with a new gaming machine. The other is not the entire game machine, but the front panel, which is a component of the front door, as a unit / part related to the design surface, game, or production, and the production control of production equipment, liquid crystal units, speakers, etc. As a method including the liquid crystal display and the sound data, there is a so-called disk surface changing method in which a main (control board) and a production (control) board, a reel on which a picture of a rotating drum is printed, and the like are replaced.

  If the halls are regularly replaced, several or tens of the halls are exchanged at a time. Therefore, if the entire former gaming machine is replaced, a large capital investment is required. In addition, a manufacturer needs a large development cost to develop the entire gaming machine. On the other hand, in the latter case, only the portion corresponding to the panel change is invested, which leads to a reduction in the facility investment of the hall and the development cost of the manufacturer, but it was not possible to change the appearance image of the front door. This is because the unit for the upper plate, the lower plate, etc., that is, the ball control (take-in and prize ball) is also arranged on the front door side. There was a problem that there was no redundancy.

  Furthermore, as a third problem with respect to the prior art, it is as follows.

  Although the spinning-type gaming machine using game balls is installed on Pachinko Island, its gaming nature belongs to the category of spinning-type gaming machines, so the cycle time when playing games It is necessary to realize the same level as a swing-type game machine using medals. Considering the cycle time, the maximum number of throwing machines that use medals to play games is 3 (at the time of MAX BET), but for spinning machines that use game balls, Since one medal corresponds to 15 game balls, the maximum number of medals for playing a game (at the time of MAX BET) is 15. Therefore, in the proposal for the labor-saving of the insertion of the game ball in the pachinko slot, the game ball take-in operation → start lever operation → (rotating cylinder start) → (stop button input acceptance permission) → three stop button operation → In each operation process of a series of games (stop spinning) → triple stop button operation → (cylinder stop) → triple stop button operation → (cylinder stop) → (prize ball movement by winning) There is a problem that the time required for taking in the game ball in the inside becomes longer compared with the introduction of the revolving game machine using medals as a game medium, and the comfortable game performance is deteriorated.

  In addition, even when winning a prize, not every game, in the case of winning a ball, when 75 prize balls corresponding to 15 of the maximum payout number of a revolving game machine using medals as a game medium are to be played. Similarly, the required time is a problem.

  Furthermore, the fourth problem with respect to the conventional technique is as follows.

  In recent years, in the gaming machine industry, illegal gambling, so-called “goto”, has occurred frequently due to public gambling, and there are various ways of crime, and “goto” acts also in pachinko or pachislot machines Security measures for crime prevention are demanded. Under such circumstances, in the conventional technology of pachinko slots using game balls from those tricks, the “goto” action on the winning ball device from the example of pachinko gaming machines and the “goto” related to the take-in device similar to the selector of pachislot When an act is assumed and a take-in device is installed on the front door side closer to the player or on the front of the gaming machine frame, there is a problem that “goto” is performed.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, provided with a transport unit having a function of transporting a game ball, a take-in device for taking the game ball into the game machine for gaming, Improves the degree of freedom of the installation position of the tray in which the player can freely insert and remove the ball, facilitates the player's handling of the game ball, and facilitates the taking-in of the game ball by the transport unit It is an object of the present invention to provide a swivel-type gaming machine that can be used.

  The present invention includes an outer frame standing upright on Pachinko Island, a gaming machine frame fixed to the outer frame so as to be opened and closed, and a front door fixed to be opened and closed so as to cover the front surface of the gaming machine frame. A revolving-type gaming machine having a gaming ball as a gaming medium, and a saucer disposed on a front surface below the gaming machine having an alignment function for storing the gaming balls and aligning the stored balls in a row, and the gaming balls A lifter mechanism for continuously lifting the ball upward, a lifter path for continuously guiding the game ball from the downstream portion of the tray to the lifter mechanism, and the lifter mechanism for lifting the game ball. Necessary for taking in the game ball for reaching the upper position and placing the lifter take-in game ball discharged from the exit of the lifter mechanism part to the take-in mechanism device, and placing it on the lifter take-in part for serving the game Capture route to detect presence or absence of special game balls The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a game ball sensor and a take-in mechanism device that appropriately takes in the game balls on the ball path in accordance with the player's button switch operation. It is a thing.

  Further, in the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type gaming machine, the tray is disposed at the lower front portion of the gaming machine frame, the lifter path connected to the tray is disposed so as to penetrate the gaming machine frame, and the lifter mechanism The part, the lifter taking-in part, and the taking-in mechanism device are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame, thereby solving the problem.

  Furthermore, in the above-mentioned spinning-type game machine, the tray placed on the front of the gaming machine frame below the gaming machine that stores the gaming balls is stored with the function of storing the gaming balls paid out from the prize ball device. A function for aligning the game balls in the lower part of the tray and leading them to a path leading to the take-in device, and a ball removal function for transferring the game balls stored in the tray to a portable storage container outside the game machine by the player's operation And solving the above-mentioned problems.

  Further, in the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type gaming machine, the lifter path portion connected from the saucer to the game ball raising mechanism is configured to continuously lift the game balls by the game ball raising mechanism. The above-mentioned problem is solved by having a length capable of temporarily storing a quantity sufficient to squeeze and an inclination angle.

  Further, in the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type gaming machine, the lifter mechanism section solves the above-mentioned problem by causing a game ball to be lifted by rotating a helical screw member with a motor.

  Furthermore, in the above-mentioned spinning-type game machine, the path leading from the outlet at the top of the lifter mechanism to the entrance of the take-in mechanism device has at least a maximum number of game balls required for one game. The problem is solved by having a length that can be temporarily stored before the take-in mechanism device operates and an inclination angle.

  Further, in the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type gaming machine, the take-in mechanism device has a function of guiding an island wheel to a collection path by rotating an impeller by a motor, and flows into the take-in mechanism device from the lifter mechanism. A function of guiding a ball to be moved to a ball removal path for transferring the ball in the take-in mechanism device to a tray or a portable storage container outside the game machine by electromagnetically switching the path in the player by operating a ball removal button. By solving this problem, the above-mentioned problems are solved.

  Next, in the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type gaming machine, a game ball take-in device constituted by the lifter path portion, the lifter mechanism portion, the lifter take-in portion, and the take-in mechanism device connected from the tray is a player. The problem is solved by being arranged on the back surface of the tray, which is in the depth direction of the gaming machine.

  According to the present invention, by providing the lifter path part 22 and the lifter take-in part 27, which are the game ball supply paths before and after the lifter mechanism part 25, the lifter mechanism part 25 is effectively utilized, and the game ball 3 is Can be lifted. Therefore, the freedom degree of installation places, such as a saucer 20, can be expanded and the freedom degree of the installation place of various operation switches can be expanded in connection with this. Accordingly, in a gaming machine, a transporting unit having a function of transporting a game ball is provided, and a take-in device for taking a game ball into the game machine for a game or a tray part in which a player can freely put in and out the ball. The degree of freedom of the installation position can be improved, the player can easily handle the game ball, and the game unit can be smoothly taken in by the transport unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the front door 41 that is opened in front of the gaming machine 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the front door 41, the game frame 42, and the outer frame 43 in the gaming machine 1.

  First, in FIG. 1, the tray 20 is configured such that a player can freely put in and out game balls. The game balls put in the tray 20 are taken into the game machine 1 by the ball transport device by the number corresponding to the number of times the player has pressed the bet button 14. For example, if you press once, you get 5n, if you press twice, 10 if you press twice, 15 if you press 3 times, and 15n if you press n times.

  When the start lever 16 is operated, the reels 12a, 12b, and 12c on which several patterns are written respectively rotate, and the patterns are switched. When the stop switches 18a, 18b, 18c provided corresponding to the reels 12a, 12b, 12c are pressed, the rotation of the corresponding reels 12a, 12b, 12c is stopped, and the change of the picture is stopped. . When all the reels 12a, 12b, 12c are stopped, a prize game ball is paid out to the tray 20 in accordance with the combination of the patterns of the reels 12a, 12b, 12c and others.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper ball tank 33 is supplied with a game ball 3 from an island facility. The prize ball device 35 pays out the game balls 3 stored in the ball tank 33 to the tray 20 as prize balls via the prize ball path 34.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the game frame 42 and the front door 41 are provided with a hinge on the left side of the outer frame 43, and the front frame door is sandwiched between the game frame 42 and the outer frame 43. 41 is closed. Thereby, these front door 41, the game frame 42, and the outer frame 43 are united.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a side view of the game frame 42 including a partial cross-sectional view. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the game frame 42 at the center in the width direction.

  4 and 5 are both viewed from the front right side of the gaming machine 1. Also, as shown in these drawings, the tray 20 is on the front side (player side) of the game frame 42, and the lifter mechanism 25 is on the back side of the game frame 42 (on the inside of the gaming machine 1, or on the reel). The device 40 is provided so as to cut out the game frame 42. The reel device 40 includes the reels 12a, 12b, and 12c described above.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the game frame 42 to which each device is attached in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the game ball transport mechanism of the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the game ball transport mechanism with the tray 20 removed.

  The game ball transport mechanism of the present embodiment includes a lifter path portion 22, a lifter mechanism portion 25, a lifter take-in portion 27, and a take-in mechanism device 30. Further, in the lifter path portion 22, an entrance game ball sensor 23 is provided on the lifter mechanism portion 25 side. In the lifter take-in portion 27, a take-in route game ball sensor 28 is provided on the lifter mechanism portion 25 side.

  The game balls stored in the saucer 20 flow through the saucer lower alignment part 21 provided at the lower part of the saucer 20 and are aligned in a row, roll in the lifter path part 22, and enter the lower entrance of the lifter mechanism part 25. Led. The tray lower alignment portion 21 has an alignment function of aligning the stored balls in a line by gradually narrowing the width of the passage through which the game balls flow to the diameter of the balls according to the flow.

  In addition, an entrance game ball sensor 23 is provided immediately before the carry-in entrance, and the presence or absence of a game ball to be transported is detected by the lifter mechanism unit 25. The lifter mechanism unit 25, when receiving a transport unit drive signal from a ball control board 120, which will be described later, sequentially fetches and transports game balls from the carry-in port, and transfers the transport ball from the upper carry-out port to the lifter take-in unit 27. Play game balls.

  In FIG. 6, the prize balls paid out from the prize ball device 35 are paid out from the prize ball payout port 45 to the tray 20. Further, the game ball 3 in the tray 20 can be taken out from the ball punching hole 46 and can be taken out into a so-called dollar box.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lifter mechanism unit 25 of the present embodiment.

  When the transport unit drive signal is input as described above, the lifter drive motor 24 rotates in the lifter mechanism unit 25, and the screw member 26 rotates using the rotation as power. Then, the game ball ascends the lifter mechanism 25 with the rotation.

  The game balls drawn out from the lifter mechanism unit 25 roll inside the lifter take-in unit 27 and are fed into the take-in mechanism device 30 and are taken into the game machine 1 by the number 5n corresponding to the number n of operations of the bet button 14. It will be.

  FIG. 10 is a front view of the take-in mechanism device 30 of the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a rear view of the take-in mechanism device 30.

  When the game ball 3 that is fed by rolling the lifter take-in portion 27 is taken into the gaming machine 1 while counting, the impeller drive motor 50 is rotated. With the rotation, the impeller gear 52 and the impeller member 53 rotate, and the game balls 3 are taken in one by one between the rotating impeller members 53, and the impeller member 53 The game ball 3 is taken into the game machine 1 with the rotation. The taken game ball 3 is downstream from the take-in mechanism device 30 to the ball collection path of Pachinko Island, and is discharged out of the gaming machine 1.

  When the game ball 3 on the take-in mechanism device 30 side is paid out to the tray 20 from the lifter mechanism unit 25, the ball removal path switching solenoid 55 is excited. Then, the ball discharge path switching shutter 56 is opened and the impeller member 53 is rotated by the impeller drive motor 50, whereby the payout can be performed.

  Here, immediately before being taken into the gaming machine 1 in this way, the game ball is taken into the take-in mechanism device 30 side from the attachment position of the take-in route game ball sensor 28 in the take-in mechanism device 30 and the lifter take-in portion 27. In this case, a predetermined number of stored balls are stored. The lifter take-in portion 27 is provided to store the game balls as many as the number of stored balls.

  The number of stored balls is at least equal to or greater than the specified number so that the take-in operation in the take-in mechanism device 30 takes in a prescribed number of game balls every time according to the player's operation input. In the present embodiment, as described above, the take-in mechanism device 30 takes in the game balls 1 into the game machine 1 by the number 5n (specified number) corresponding to the number n of operations of the bet buttons 14, so that the number of stored balls May be at least 5 or 10 (n = 2), 15 (n = 3), etc., depending on the number n of operations that can normally occur.

  The game balls stored in this way can be taken into the gaming machine 1 according to the operation of the take-in mechanism device 30 regardless of the state of the lifter mechanism 25. For example, even if the operation of the lifter mechanism unit 25 is stopped or delayed, the stored game balls can be taken into the gaming machine 1 according to the operation of the take-in mechanism device 30.

  In addition, the fact that the number of game balls has been stored as described above is detected by the take-in route game ball sensor 28. When the number of stored balls is stored, the take-in path game ball sensor 28 detects the presence of the game ball at the mounting position, and this is detected as the number of stored balls.

  Here, the operation of the lifter mechanism 25 will be described. The ball control board 120 detects that the take-in path game ball sensor 28 has not stored the number of stored balls, and the entrance game ball sensor 23. However, when the presence of the game ball 3 to be taken in is detected, a transport unit drive signal is output to the lifter mechanism unit 25.

  In the ball control board 120, the detection of the presence of the game ball 3 for a short time such as the simple passage of the game ball 3 by the take-in path game ball sensor 28 is ignored. Thereby, the simple passage of the game ball 3 is prevented from being erroneously detected that the number of the stored balls is stored.

  Thereafter, when the game ball 3 is no longer in the ball tray 20 in accordance with the transport operation of the lifter mechanism unit 25, the entrance game ball sensor 23 detects the absence of the game ball 3 transported by the lifter mechanism unit 25 (H As shown in the figure, at this time, the ball control board 120 continuously outputs a transport unit drive signal (L state) to instruct the transport operation to the lifter mechanism unit 25. In other words, since the game ball 3 is in the process of being transported inside the lifter mechanism 25, the operation of the lifter mechanism 25 is not immediately stopped.

  Then, after the carrying operation is continued for a certain time as shown in the drawing, the ball control board 120 outputs a carrying unit drive signal (H state) instructing the lifter mechanism unit 25 to stop the carrying operation.

  Next, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, even though the transport operation of the game ball 3 is continued in the lifter mechanism unit 25, the storage of the balls having the number of stored balls is detected at the transport destination forever. If not, it is determined that the ball control board 120 is “abnormal”.

  Here, considering the compact design of the take-in device to the gaming machine, if the path between the tray 20 and the lifter mechanism unit 25 and between the lifter mechanism unit 25 and the take-in mechanism device 30 is eliminated, the compactness is achieved. However, the game ball 3 is not stored between the devices. Since the lifter mechanism 25 and the take-in mechanism device 30 are asynchronous with each other and operate independently, smooth operation cannot be performed when the game balls 3 are not stored. For this reason, in this embodiment, the lifter path | route part 22 and the lifter taking-in part 27 are provided as a buffer path | route so that the game ball 3 can be stored.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, a bet button 14, a start lever 16, stop switches 18 a, 18 b and 18 c, and a ball removal switch 19 are connected to the operation button / display board 110. Signals are inputted to and outputted from the ball control board 120 to the entrance game ball sensor 23, the lifter mechanism unit 25, the take-in path game ball sensor 28, the take-in mechanism device 30, and the prize ball device 35. Further, the signal of the reel device 40 is inputted to and outputted from the reel relay substrate 140.

  The main control board 100 is connected to a power supply board 103, an operation button / display board 110, a ball control board 120, a reel relay board 140, and the like. Overall control of the gaming machine 1 is performed by the main control board 100.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing power-on processing in the present embodiment.

  In step S202, power ON reset and initialization processing are performed, data area (fixed value, variable) initialization and input / output port initialization are performed. In step S204, the interface control check of the sphere control board sphere control board 120 and the main control board 100 and other abnormality checks are performed. If there is an abnormality, the process proceeds to step S206, where error output processing for displaying the abnormality content is performed, and then all processing is terminated.

  If there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to step S212, and the lifter operation process of the lifter mechanism unit 25 shown in FIG. 14 is performed.

  In step S214, the signal of the interface port between the ball control board 120 and the CR ball lending device 130 is read, and the presence / absence of a ball lending instruction from the CR ball lending device is determined. If there is an instruction, a ball lending operation process is performed in step S216.

  In step S218, the signals of the interface ports of the sphere control board sphere control board 120 and the main control board 100 are read, and the presence / absence of an instruction for taking in from the main (control) board is determined. If there is an instruction, in step S222, the capture operation process shown in FIG. 15 is performed.

  In step S224, signals are read from the interface ports of the sphere control board sphere control board 120 and the main control board 100, and it is determined whether or not there is a prize ball instruction instruction from the main (control) board. If there is an instruction, in step S226, a prize ball movement process shown in FIG. 16 is performed.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lifter mechanism unit 25 of the present embodiment.

  When the game ball 3 is detected by the entrance game ball sensor 23 in step S242 and the absence of the game ball 3 is detected by the take-in route game ball sensor 28 in step S244, the lifter drive motor 24 of the lifter mechanism unit 25 is driven. Is done.

  When the take-in path game ball sensor 28 detects the presence of the game ball 3 in step S248, the lifter drive motor 24 of the lifter mechanism unit 25 is stopped in step S254. Alternatively, if the operating time of the lifter drive motor 24 is not less than a predetermined value even though the absence of the game ball 3 is detected in step S252, the ball in the lifter mechanism unit 25 is gone, and the lifter mechanism is determined in step S254. The lifter drive motor 24 of the section 25 is stopped.

  Next, FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the capture operation process of the present embodiment.

  In step S312, the state being taken into the main control board 100 is output. In step S314, the number of pulses to be output to the take-in motor driver corresponding to the requested take-in ball number is set. In step S316, the take-in motor is activated and a pulse is output to the take-in motor driver.

  In step S318, the rotation slit sensor signal of the take-in impeller is read. If no slit sensor signal is input, error output processing is performed as an abnormal process in step S320. If there is an input, it is determined in step S324 whether the output of the set number of pulses has been completed. If it is determined that the output has been completed, the take-in motor is stopped in step S326.

  In step S328, the signal of the taken-in ball number count sensor is read. If there is a ball detection, the taken-in ball number counter is incremented in step S330, and in step S332, the current ball number in the taken-in ball number counter is transferred to the main control board 100. Send.

In step S334, it is determined whether the requested number of taken-in balls has been reached. If it is determined that it has been reached, a status of completion of capture is output to the main control board 100 in step S336. Alternatively, if it is determined that the number has not been reached, the number of pulses corresponding to the insufficient number of balls is set in step S338, and the process branches to the front of step S316.

  Next, FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a prize ball operation process of the present embodiment.

  In step S <b> 352, the state of the winning ball is output to the main control board 100. In step S354, the number of pulses to be output to the prize ball motor driver corresponding to the requested number of prize balls is set. In step S356, the prize ball motor is activated and a pulse is output to the prize ball motor driver.

  In step S358, the rotation slit sensor signal of the winning ball impeller is read. If no slit sensor signal is input, error output processing is performed as an abnormal process in step S360. If there is an input, it is determined in step S364 whether the output of the set number of pulses has been completed, and if it is determined to be completed, the prize ball motor is stopped in step S366.

  In step S368, the signal of the winning ball count sensor is read. If there is a ball detection, the winning ball count counter is incremented in step S370, and the current winning ball count counter is main-controlled in step S372. Transmit to the substrate 100.

In step S374, it is determined whether the requested number of prize balls has been reached. If it is determined that the winning ball has been reached, a prize ball completion status is output to the main control board 100 in step S376. Alternatively, if it is determined that the number has not been reached, the number of pulses corresponding to the insufficient number of balls is set in step S378, and the process branches to the front of step S356.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

        A) An upper plate and a lower plate that are based on a pachinko gaming machine are integrated, and a receiving tray is arranged at the lower front of the gaming machine frame, and a lifter path connected from the receiving plate is arranged so as to penetrate the gaming machine frame. The lifter mechanism, the take-in buffer path, and the take-in mechanism are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame to constitute a series of game ball take-in devices and are completely independent from the front door. A series of operation system units such as a BET button switch, start lever switch, and three push buttons to stop each of the three reels necessary for a spinning-type game on the front door of the machine, a spinning unit and liquid crystal, a speaker, It becomes possible to lay out the production units such as electric decorations at optimal positions, respectively, and the operability, visibility, game comfort, etc. are greatly improved.

        B) A game ball take-in device composed of a lifter path, a lifter mechanism, a take-in buffer path, a take-in mechanism, and the like connected from the receiving tray, so that the player directly puts the game ball into contact, and throws the ball into the conventional upper plate. -The complexity of refilling the game balls by the player from the upper plate to the lower plate or from the lower plate to the upper plate due to the lower plate configuration is eliminated, and only the BET switch operation can be turned on without the player touching the game ball at all Full automation that can be performed is possible, and operability and game comfort are greatly improved.

        C) An upper plate and a lower plate that are based on a pachinko machine are integrated, a receiving tray is arranged at the lower front of the gaming machine frame, and a lifter mechanism is provided between the path from the receiving tray and the path leading to the take-in mechanism. This makes it possible to take in and collect regardless of the height of the entrance of the ball collection path to the island facility for each hall, despite the fact that the tray is located at the bottom of the gaming machine. Is greatly improved.

        D) An upper plate and a lower plate that are based on a pachinko gaming machine are integrated, and a receiving tray is arranged at the lower front of the gaming machine frame, and a lifter path connected from the receiving tray is arranged so as to penetrate the gaming machine frame. The lifter mechanism, the take-in buffer path, and the take-in mechanism are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame to constitute a series of game ball take-in devices and are completely independent from the front door, It is possible to change only the front door without making a major change with the whole change of the front door and the gaming machine frame as well as “board change” for the change, design redundancy and model change at the gaming machine manufacturer Contributes to a significant reduction in development costs.

        E) An upper plate and a lower plate that are based on a pachinko gaming machine are integrated, and a tray is arranged in the lower front part of the gaming machine frame, and a lifter path connected from the tray is arranged to penetrate the gaming machine frame. The lifter mechanism, the take-in buffer path and the take-in mechanism are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame to constitute a series of game ball take-in devices and completely independent from the front door, Set a series of units and ball paths that are optimal for the cycle time required for comfortable gameplay without deciding the length of the path between units and between units that are bound by the design of the door. Is possible.

        F) The lifter mechanism, the take-in buffer path, and the take-in mechanism are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame, and the lifter mechanism is provided between the path from the tray and the path leading to the take-in mechanism. This makes it difficult for the player to access the capture device, and the crime prevention performance of crime prevention is greatly improved.

  Of the basic configuration of the game ball take-in device according to the present invention, the order of the lifter mechanism and the take-in mechanism is changed, and the take-in operation is performed by the take-in mechanism through the take-in buffer path from the tray. The ball that has passed through the mechanism enters the lifter mechanism through a temporary buffer path until it is transferred to the lift mechanism, and the same effect can be obtained by moving it up to the height of the entrance of the island's ball collection path. It becomes.

  In this case, for ball removal, a mechanism for switching to the ball removal route is provided in front of the entrance of the collection route after the lifting by the lifter mechanism.

Front view of gaming machine 1 of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied Rear view of front door 41 opened in front of the gaming machine 1 The perspective view which shows the structure of the front door 41, the game frame 42, and the outer frame 43 in this gaming machine 1. Side view of the game frame 42 including a partial cross-sectional view in the embodiment. Sectional drawing in the center of the width direction of the game frame 42 in the said embodiment. The perspective view of the game frame 42 in which each apparatus is attached in the said embodiment. The perspective view of the game ball conveyance mechanism of the embodiment In the said embodiment, the perspective view of this game ball conveyance mechanism in the state which removed the saucer 20 The perspective view of the lifter mechanism 25 of the embodiment. Front view of the intake mechanism device 30 of the embodiment Rear view of the take-in mechanism device 30 The block diagram which shows the control structure of the said embodiment. The flowchart which shows the power-on process in the said embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the lifter mechanism part 25 of the said embodiment. The flowchart which shows the taking-in operation process of the said embodiment The flowchart which shows the prize ball movement processing of the aforementioned embodiment Front view of the first conventional pachinko slot Front view of the second conventional pachinko slot Front view showing the height of the installation surface on which gaming machines are installed, Pachinko Island has a higher installation height compared to conventional Pachislot Island

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine 3 ... Game ball 12a, 12b, 12c ... Reel 14 ... Bet button 16 ... Start lever 18a, 18b, 18c ... Stop switch 20 ... Sauce plate 21 ... Sauce tray lower part alignment part 22 ... Lifter path | route part 23 ... Entrance game ball Sensor 24 ... Lifter drive motor 25 ... Lifter mechanism 26 ... Screw member 27 ... Lifter take-in part 28 ... Take-in path game ball sensor 30 ... Take-in mechanism device 33 ... Ball tank 34 ... Award ball path 35 ... Award ball device 40 ... Reel device 41 ... Front door 42 ... Game frame 43 ... Outer frame 45 ... Prize ball payout port 46 ... Ball hole 80 ... Pachislot 90 ... Pachinko 95 ... Upper plate storage unit 96 ... Lower plate storage unit 97 ... Ball take-in device

Claims (8)

It is composed of an outer frame that is installed upright on Pachinko Island, a gaming machine frame that is fixed to the outer frame so as to be opened and closed, and a front door that is fixed so as to be opened and closed so as to cover the front surface of the gaming machine frame. In a spinning machine using a game ball as a game medium,
A saucer disposed on the front surface below the gaming machine having an alignment function of storing game balls and aligning the stored balls in a row;
A lifter mechanism for continuously lifting game balls upward;
A lifter path section for continuously guiding game balls from the downstream section of the tray to the lifter mechanism section;
A lifter take-in portion that is lifted by the lifter mechanism portion to reach its upper position and guides a game ball discharged from the exit of the lifter mechanism portion to a take-in mechanism device;
A take-in path game ball sensor which is arranged on the lifter take-in part and detects the presence or absence of a game ball necessary for taking in a game ball for use in a game;
A swivel type gaming machine comprising: a take-in mechanism device that appropriately takes in game balls on the ball path in accordance with a player's button switch operation. The tray is arranged at the lower front part of the gaming machine frame,
The lifter path connected from the tray is arranged to penetrate the gaming machine frame,
2. The revolving type gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifter mechanism part, the lifter taking-in part, and the taking-in mechanism apparatus are arranged on the back as viewed from the player of the gaming machine frame.   The tray that is arranged in front of the gaming machine frame below the gaming machine that stores the gaming balls has a function of storing the gaming balls paid out from the prize ball device, and the stored gaming balls are aligned at the bottom of the tray. A function of guiding a path connected to the storage device and a function of removing the ball stored in the tray to a portable storage container outside the gaming machine by a player's operation Item 4. A spinning cylinder type game machine according to item 1.   The lifter path portion connected from the saucer to the game ball raising mechanism temporarily stores a quantity sufficient for the game ball raising mechanism to continuously lift the game balls aligned on the saucer. The swivel type game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine has a possible length and an inclination angle.   The said lifter mechanism part raises a game ball by rotating a helical screw member with a motor, The revolving type game machine of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The path leading from the outlet at the upper part of the lifter mechanism to the entrance of the take-in mechanism device is that at least the maximum number of game balls required for one game is played before the take-in mechanism device 30 operates. The revolving game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine has a length that can be temporarily stored, and an inclination angle.   The take-in mechanism device has a function of guiding an island facility to a collection path by rotating an impeller by a motor, and a ball flowing from the lifter mechanism unit into the take-in mechanism device. And a function of guiding the route to a ball removal route for transfer to a tray or a portable storage container outside the gaming machine by electromagnetically switching the route by a player's ball removal button operation. The spinning cylinder game machine according to 1.   The game ball take-in device composed of the lifter path portion, the lifter mechanism portion, the lifter take-in portion, and the take-in mechanism device connected from the tray is in the depth direction of the gaming machine as seen from the player. The swivel type gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is disposed on a back surface of the tray.