JP2009297333A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Game machine

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a swivel type gaming machine or a ball game machine.

Game machine for driving the flow down regulating member for regulating a stream of game media to a predetermined region on the basis of the driving of the solenoid is known. Specifically, a bullet that discharges a game ball by driving a flicker (a type of flow-down regulating member) that regulates the flow of a game ball (a type of game medium) to a payout passage (a type of predetermined area) by a solenoid. A ball game machine, a revolving game machine (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) that pays out a game ball in the same manner, and a flicker that regulates the flow of the game ball to a throw-in passage (a kind of predetermined area) is driven by a solenoid. performing insertion of a game ball Te reel-type gaming machine, the variable winning devices, variable starting device, shutter or vanes (falling regulations for regulating the stream of game balls into the interior of the variable ball entrance won game (a kind of a predetermined area) A ball ball game machine that uses a solenoid (a type of member), a transfer member (a type of flow-down regulating member) that regulates the transfer of a game ball (a type of flow down ) to the inside of the launching device (a type of predetermined area) Drive and play Pinball game machine or the like for the launch of the sphere is known.

  A solenoid is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy via magnetic energy. For example, the solenoid has a configuration including an excitation coil, a plunger made of a magnetic material that moves by excitation control of the excitation coil, and an urging member that returns the relative position of the excitation coil and the plunger to a predetermined reference position. The plunger is moved to the reference position at the time of a predetermined operation by the change of magnetic energy according to the application and interruption of the current to the excitation coil, and the plunger is not operated according to the interruption of the current to the excitation coil. Return to the current reference position. In such a typical solenoid, the reference position at the time of operation or non-operation is attached at the reference position so that it does not change due to the time-dependent change of the sliding friction of the plunger or the time-dependent change of the urging force of the urging member. A state in which the urging force from the urging member is sufficiently received, for example, if the urging member is a coil spring, the state that is shorter than the natural length of the coil spring and longer than the most contracted length of the coil spring is maintained. The reference position is determined by a movement restricting member fixedly provided inside or outside the solenoid.

JP 2007-307020 A

In the conventional typical gaming machine, when the flow-down restricting member is driven using a solenoid, in the movement of the plunger between the reference position during operation and the reference position during non-operation, the reference position during operation or A reversal movement from one reference position to the other reference position occurs due to vibration near the reference position during non-operation or collision between the plunger and the movement restricting member. In particular, in the movement from the reference position at the time of operation with a large urging force to the reference position at the time of non-operation with a small urging force, the moving distance of the reverse movement becomes longer than in the case of reverse movement. As the moving distance of such reverse movement increases, the instability of the game medium against the flow-down regulation increases.

For example, when the plunger is at the non-operating reference position, the game medium is allowed to flow down , and when the plunger is at the operating reference position, the game medium is allowed to flow down , and the plunger is When moving from the reference position to the non-operating reference position, if the moving distance of the reverse movement is large, the game medium that has reached the flow-down regulating member in a state where the moving distance is large forcibly moves the flow-down regulating member. As a result, it may flow down to a predetermined area, and conversely, it may be interrupted by the flow-down regulating member and not flow down to the predetermined area. In particular, when the flow regulation is executed at high speed, the influence becomes large. If such an erroneous flow or breakage of game balls occurs, the operation of the gaming machine becomes unstable, or a state that is disadvantageous to the player or the manager of the gaming machine may occur. In particular, when the payout and introduction of excessive game ball occurs in strictly regulated insertion of a game ball payout or game balls that need to flow down a predetermined number in the short term, respectively, disadvantageous to the player and manager This will surely occur, and the smoothness of the game will be hindered. In general, a gaming machine may have a gaming ball that is out of a predetermined period in order to prevent illegal acts such as illegally paying out a gaming ball or making it sense as if it has been inserted. When it flows down to a predetermined area, it is determined that an error state has occurred, and the game progress is stopped.

  In the above description, the case where the game medium is a sphere has been described as an example, but the same applies to game machines using medals, coins, coins, and the like as game media. In the above description, the solenoid having a specific structure has been described. However, the same applies to solenoids having other structures.

Therefore, the gaming machine according to the present invention improves the stability of the game medium against the flow restriction.

In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to the present invention is:
A flow restriction mechanism that takes a first restriction state that prohibits the flow of game media to a predetermined area and a second restriction state that permits the flow of game media to the predetermined area;
A restriction changing device for changing a restriction state of the flow restriction mechanism;
Restriction control means for controlling the drive of the restriction changing device;
A gaming machine including
The restriction changing device is a solenoid including an excitation coil and a plunger that takes a predetermined first reference position and a predetermined second reference position in accordance with control of the excitation coil by the restriction control means,
The flow- down restricting mechanism shifts to the second restricting state according to the movement of the plunger to the second reference position, and shifts to the first restricting state according to the movement of the plunger to the first reference position. And
The state of the excitation coil when the plunger is at the first reference position is a first control state, and the state of the excitation coil when the plunger is at the second reference position is a second control state.
When the plunger is moved from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means shifts the excitation coil from the second control state to the first control state, and thereby performs the first control. It is characterized in that after the state is shifted to the second control state, the state is shifted again to the first excitation state.

With the gaming machine of the present invention, the stability of the game medium against the flow-down regulation is improved.

  The best mode of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described. In addition, after demonstrating various conceptual structures of the gaming machine according to the present invention, specific various structures will be described.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention includes a first restriction state that restricts the inflow of game media to a predetermined area and a second restriction state that restricts the inflow of game media to the predetermined area more slowly than the first restriction state. An inflow restricting mechanism that allows state transition between the two, a restriction changing device that changes the inflow restricting mechanism between the first restricted state and the second restricted state to change the inflow restriction of the game medium, and driving the restricted change device Regulation control means for controlling. Here, the “first restriction state” means a predetermined state in which inflow of game media into a predetermined area is prohibited or a predetermined one state in which inflow of game media into a predetermined area is allowed. On the other hand, the “second restricted state” means a predetermined state in which the inflow of game media to a predetermined area is allowed. However, when the first restricted state is a state in which inflow of game media is permitted, it means that the inflow of game media to a predetermined area is easier than in the first restricted state. In the intermediate process of the state transition between the first restricted state and the second restricted state, another state in which inflow of game media is prohibited or another state in which inflow of game media is allowed is taken. It will be.

  The restriction changing device includes an excitation coil and a plunger that moves between a predetermined first reference position and a predetermined second reference position different from the first reference position in accordance with control of the excitation state of the excitation coil by the restriction control means. It is a solenoid containing. Examples of the solenoid include a pull solenoid, a push solenoid, and a push / pull solenoid. The configuration of the solenoid may be the same as any known configuration.

  The inflow restricting mechanism shifts to the second restricted state substantially in conjunction with the movement of the plunger to the second reference position, and substantially enters the first restricted state in conjunction with the movement of the plunger to the first reference position. Transition. Here, “substantially interlocking” means that the inflow restricting mechanism is moved from the first restricting state by the mechanical action accompanying the movement of the plunger from the first reference position to the second reference position and vice versa. It means shifting to the second restricted state and vice versa. The substantial interlocking is not limited to the case where the position of the plunger and the state of the inflow restricting mechanism completely match. For example, in the case of movement of the plunger to the first reference position and movement to the second reference position. When the correlation is not completely the same, or when the correlation is not completely the same due to a predetermined external factor, such as a frictional force when the game medium is waiting on the upstream side of the inflow regulating mechanism, or the plunger moves This implies the case where the state of the inflow regulating mechanism does not change during a certain period. Examples of the inflow restriction mechanism include a configuration including only flicker, and a configuration including a coupling mechanism that mechanically couples the flicker and the plunger together with the flicker. The configuration of the inflow regulating mechanism may be the same as any known configuration.

  When the plunger is moved from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means temporarily moves the excitation coil from the second excitation state to the first excitation state, and the plunger is moved by the transition to the first excitation state. After the movement toward the first reference position, the state is shifted to the second excitation state before reaching the first reference position, and again after the transition to the second excitation state until the first reference position is reached. 1 Move to the excitation state. When the plunger is moved from the second reference position to the first reference position, it does not return to the first reference position in the process. Here, the “first excitation state” means the state of the excitation coil when it is maintained at the first reference position. If the excitation coil is shifted to the first excitation state when the plunger is maintained at the second reference position, the plunger moves to the first reference position and is finally maintained at the first reference position. On the other hand, the “second excitation state” means the state of the excitation coil when it is maintained at the second reference position. If the excitation coil is shifted to the second excitation state when the plunger is maintained at the first reference position, the plunger moves to the second reference position and is finally maintained at the second reference position. The first excitation state and the second excitation state are, for example, a state identified by whether or not excitation is performed, a state identified by the magnitude of the magnetic field by excitation, and a state identified by the direction of the magnetic field generated by excitation. , Meaning a state identified by the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field by excitation. In the non-excited state, an induction magnetic field accompanying the movement of the plunger may be generated, or an induction magnetic field may not be generated.

  The excitation pattern by the regulation control means is not limited to changing from (first excitation state → second excitation state → first excitation state), but (first excitation state → second excitation state → first excitation state → second excitation state). (Excitation state → first excitation state) or the like, the alternate transition from the first excitation state to the second excitation state may be performed a plurality of times before the final first excitation state.

  As a specific operation of the plunger until the first reference position is reached first when moving from the second reference position to the first reference position, for example, a configuration in which the plunger moves in one direction toward the first reference position side. A configuration in which after moving toward the first reference position side, moving toward the second reference position side and moving again toward the first reference position side can be mentioned. Note that the movement toward the first reference position and the movement toward the second reference position may be repeated a plurality of times. In the following, the gaming machine according to the present invention is also referred to as “gaming machine A”.

  In the case of the above gaming machine, when the restriction control means moves the solenoid plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the first reference position is reached for the first time by exciting the excitation coil with a predetermined excitation pattern. The speed at the time of performing is reduced compared to the case of simply shifting to the first excitation state. Thus, after the plunger reaches the first reference position, the maximum moving distance associated with the reverse movement of the plunger from the first reference position to the second reference position can be reduced, and the inflow restriction of the game medium by the inflow restriction mechanism can be stabilized. Improves.

In the above gaming machine A,
In the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means is configured to move the plunger in one direction from the second reference position to the first reference position. Is preferred. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine B”.

  With the above-described configuration, the plunger does not move to the second reference position before first reaching the first reference position. Therefore, it is necessary for the plunger to move from the second reference position to the first reference position. This is because the travel time is reduced.

In the above gaming machine B,
In the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control unit temporarily shifts from the second excitation state to the first excitation state, and shifts to the first excitation state. The plunger is moved to the second excitation state before reaching the first reference position for the first time after the plunger starts moving toward the first reference position, and after the plunger is moved to the second excitation state, the plunger It is preferable that the first excitation state be changed again before the temporary stop. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine C”.

This is because, with the above configuration, the movement time required for the plunger to move from the second reference position to the first reference position is further reduced.

In the above gaming machine B,
In the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means temporarily shifts the plunger from the second excitation state to the first excitation state, so that the first excitation state Before the first reference position is reached for the first time after the plunger starts moving toward the first reference position by shifting to the second excitation state, and the plunger is moved in the second excitation state. Preferably, the first reference position is temporarily stopped, and the first excitation state is shifted to the first excitation state substantially simultaneously with the temporary stop at the first reference position in the second excitation state. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine D”.

  With the above configuration, since the speed when first reaching the first reference position is substantially “0”, the reverse movement from the first reference position to the second reference position can be substantially prevented. .

In the above gaming machines A to D,
The solenoid further includes a biasing body that biases the plunger from the second reference position side toward the first reference position side;
The game machine is a movement restricting body that substantially restricts the movement of the plunger according to the urging force by the urging body to the first reference position;
The first reference position of the plunger is separated from the excitation coil from the second reference position;
The first excitation state of the excitation coil is a non-excitation state in which excitation is not performed based on driving by the restriction control means;
It is preferable that the second excitation state of the excitation coil is an excitation state in which excitation is performed based on driving by the restriction control unit. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine E”.

  With this configuration, the urging force at the second reference position is large at the first reference position, and the urging force at the first reference position is large so that the reverse movement from the first reference position to the second reference position side is likely to occur. Since the excitation with the predetermined excitation pattern is performed, the effect of reducing the maximum movement distance of the reversal movement is greater than when applied to the movement to the second reference position. In addition, with this configuration, a general pull-type solenoid can be used, and the configuration of the control processing and the control circuit can be simplified because it is only necessary to switch between the non-excitation state and the excitation state. Further, the inflow restriction mechanism normally stays at the first reference position corresponding to the first restriction state of the inflow restriction mechanism because the period of staying in the first restriction state is longer than the period of staying in the second restriction state. In this case, it is possible to reduce power consumption by setting the exciting coil in a non-excited state, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in durability of the solenoid based on heat generation of the exciting coil in the excited state.

In the above gaming machine E,
The biasing body is a coil spring;
It is preferable that the coil spring has a configuration shorter than a natural length in both cases where the plunger is at the first reference position and the second reference position. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine F”.

  With the above configuration, a solenoid with a simple configuration can be used, and even if a change with time of the biasing force of the coil spring or a change with time of the sliding friction of the plunger occurs, the plunger is moved to the first reference position or the second reference position. It can be arranged with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to strictly control the inflow of game media over a long period of time. Note that this also improves the durability of the gaming machine itself.

In the above gaming machines A to E,
The inflow restriction mechanism includes flicker,
The predetermined area is a medium passage that regulates the flow direction of the game medium,
The first restriction state of the inflow restriction mechanism is an inflow prohibition state in which at least a part of the flicker is disposed at a position where the medium passage is constricted, and the flow of the game medium is prohibited from flowing down,
The second restricted state of the inflow restricting mechanism is preferably an inflow permitting state in which the entire flicker is disposed outside the medium passage and allowed to flow down due to its own weight. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine F”.

  With the above configuration, the inflow of the game medium into the medium path can be regulated easily and at high speed by projecting or retracting at least a part of the flicker into the medium path. In addition, since the inflow of the game medium to the medium path is performed by the action of the game medium's own weight, the inflow of the game medium to the medium path can be performed easily and at high speed.

In the gaming machine F, the inflow restricting mechanism includes a connecting mechanism that connects the flicker and the plunger,
The coupling mechanism transmits the force accompanying the movement of the plunger to the flicker;
It is preferable that the connection mechanism does not transmit an external force to the flicker in the inflow prohibition state to the plunger. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine G”.

  With the above configuration, even if an external force is applied to the flicker, for example, an external force is applied to shift the flicker from the game medium to the flicker or the flicker by the unauthorized player from the inflow prohibition state to the inflow permission state. It is possible to suppress the flicker from shifting from the inflow prohibition state to the inflow permission state. Specifically, for example, there is a configuration in which a part of the flicker is engaged with a part of the coupling mechanism in accordance with an external force applied to the flicker, and the movement of the flicker is mechanically limited.

In the above gaming machine F or G,
A storage mechanism for storing game media upstream of the medium passage;
Medium acquisition detection means for detecting the establishment of a game medium acquisition condition as the game progresses;
Medium detecting means for detecting game media flowing into the predetermined area;
Based on detection of the game medium by the medium detection means, inflow completion detection means for detecting the inflow of the number of game media according to the acquisition condition to the predetermined area;
Non-monitoring time measuring means for measuring a predetermined non-monitoring time in response to detection of inflow of the number of game media according to the acquisition condition by the inflow number detecting means;
Unlike a payout period that starts in response to detection of establishment of the acquisition condition by the medium acquisition detection means and ends in response to detection of inflow of a number of game media according to the acquisition condition by the inflow completion detection means, and Based on the detection of the game medium by the medium detection means in a period different from a non-monitoring period that starts in response to detection of the inflow of a number of game media according to the acquisition condition and ends in response to the elapse of the predetermined non-monitoring time And an out-of-period payout error detecting means for detecting an out-of-period payout error,
A game stored in the storage mechanism by the restriction control means moving the plunger from the first reference position to the second reference position in response to detection of establishment of the acquisition condition by the medium acquisition detection means. A game is started by starting to pay out the medium and moving the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position in response to detection of inflow of the number of game media according to the acquisition condition by the inflow completion detecting means. It is preferable that the medium is dispensed. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine H”.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to reliably detect the payout of game media due to fraud by detecting an out-of-period payout error. In addition, by providing a non-monitoring period, when the flicker is shifted from the inflow permitting state to the inflow prohibiting state, the game medium is originally dropped by chattering or flicker generated by the interference between the flicker and the game medium and then dropped. It is possible to prevent the progress of the game from being determined as an error by paying out the game medium in an accidental situation where it is not necessary to recognize the error. Further, as described above, excessive payout of game media is suppressed by the basic effect of the present invention, and therefore, when an out-of-period payout error occurs, there is a high possibility that fraud has been performed. Thus, the detection accuracy of fraud is improved.

In the above gaming machine H,
The predetermined area constitutes a plurality of different divided passages,
At least in part, the storage mechanism stores game media in a plurality of storage passages that are respectively associated with the plurality of division passages,
The inflow restricting mechanism includes a plurality of flickers for restricting the inflow of game media into the plurality of divided passages for each divided passage;
The restriction changing means includes a plurality of solenoids that drive the plurality of flickers,
In response to detection of the acquisition condition established by the medium acquisition detection means, the number of game media to be distributed to each of the plurality of divided passages is distributed to the plurality of divided passages according to the acquisition condition. Further comprising an individual payout number determination means for determining
The medium detection means detects the game media flowing into the plurality of divided passages for each divided passage,
The inflow completion detection means detects the inflow of the individual payout number of game media into the plurality of divided paths based on the detection of the game medium for each divided path by the medium detection means;
The non-monitoring time measuring means measures a predetermined non-monitoring time for each divided passage in response to detection of the inflow of the individual payout number of game media for each divided passage by the inflow completion detecting means,
The out-of-period payout error detecting means is started in response to the determination of the individual payout number by the individual payout number determining means for each of the plurality of divided passages, and the individual payout number game by the inflow completion detecting means Unlike the payout period for each divided passage that ends in response to the detection of the inflow of the medium, the start is started in response to the detection of the inflow of the individual payout number of game media and ends in response to the elapse of the predetermined non-monitoring time. Detecting the out-of-period payout error based on the detection of the game medium by the medium detection means in a period different from the non-monitoring period for each divided passage;
The restriction control means drives the plurality of solenoids for each payout path according to the determination of the individual payout number by the medium acquisition detection means, and the plunger is divided from the first reference position to the second reference position. The solenoid is moved separately to start paying out the game media stored in the storage mechanism for each divided passage, and the solenoid according to the detection of the inflow of the individual payout number of game media for each divided passage by the inflow completion detecting means It is preferable that each of the divided passages is driven to move the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, thereby completing the payout of the game medium for each divided passage. Hereinafter, the gaming machine having this configuration is also referred to as “gaming machine I”.

  If it is said structure, since the payment can be performed in cooperation with a some division | segmentation channel | path, the time which payout can be shortened.

In the above gaming machine H or I,
The out-of-period withdrawal error detecting means is
Count signal output control for controlling the output of a count signal having a predetermined pulse waveform based on detection of a game medium corresponding to the same divided path by the medium detection means in a period different from the non-monitoring period in each of the plurality of divided paths Means,
Controlling the output of a paying-out signal indicating a paying-out period from the detection of the establishment of the predetermined acquisition condition by the medium acquisition detection means to the output of the count signal having the same number of pulses as the number corresponding to the acquisition condition. A payout identification signal output control means;
An out-of-period payout error determination means for determining an out-of-period payout error in response to an input of the count signal of the pulse waveform when the payout signal is output;
It is preferable that it is the structure containing these.

  With the above configuration, an out-of-period payout error is not determined for each divided passage, but an out-of-period payout error is determined collectively in the final stage of the payout control based on the two signals of the count signal and the payout signal. This is because the payout control for the divided passage where the payout is normally executed is not interrupted. Further, as in a plurality of control boards different in control related to payout, for example, a general gaming machine, the acquisition condition determination and out-of-period payout error are performed on the main control board, and other control is performed on the payout control board In the main control board, since the out-of-period payout error is detected by the two signals of the count signal and the paying-in signal, the number of signals to be output from the payout control board to the main control board depends on the division path. This can be reduced as compared with the case where an error is detected, whereby the configuration of the gaming machine can be simplified and the control process can be simplified.

  A specific form of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a case where the gaming machine is a revolving game machine using a game ball as a game medium (hereinafter referred to as a “ball-type revolving game machine”) will be described, but a game using a game ball, a coin, or the like as a game medium. Applicable to general machines. Moreover, even if it is a rotating type game machine, it is not limited to the specific form demonstrated below, You may change the design suitably, unless it deviates from the main point of this invention.

  The configuration of the ball-type spinning machine of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a ball-type spinning game machine, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the ball-type spinning game machine opened in units of blocks.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the ball-type spinning machine 1010 is supported by an outer frame 1011 that forms an outer shell of the ball-type spinning machine 1010 and one side of the outer frame 1011 so that it can be opened and closed. Door block 1012. The door block 1012 is attached to the outer frame 1011 so as to be openable and closable by hinges 1013 and 1013, and an opening / closing axis thereof is set to extend vertically on the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-spinning game machine 1010. The door block 1012 can be sufficiently opened to the front side with the opening / closing axis as the axis. As shown in FIG. 2, the door block 1012 includes a front block 1020 that constitutes the front surface of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 1010, a payout block 1030 that is attached to the front block 1020 so as to be openable and closable rearward, The game block 1040 is attached to the front block 1020 so as to be openable and closable rearward and is encapsulated by the front block 1020 and the payout block 1030.

(Configuration of front block)
As shown in FIG. 2, the front block 1020 includes a front panel 1100, a front block frame 1200, a rotating display panel 1022, a display panel presser frame 1024, an upper plate unit 1300 (see FIG. 1), and a selector (game). A ball throwing device) 1400.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 1100 has a window hole 1102 for exposing a game area provided on the front surface of the game block 1040 (see FIG. 2). An LED cover portion 1104, upper speaker portions 1106 and 1106, a right middle effect LED cover portion 1108, a left middle effect LED cover portion 1110, a central panel portion 1112, an operation panel portion 1122 and the like are disposed.

  The top effect LED cover portion 1104, the right middle effect LED cover portion 1108, and the left middle effect LED cover portion 1110 of the front panel 1100 are each a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED) (not shown) attached from the back side of the front panel 1100. Covering. This light-emitting device is turned on or blinked as the game progresses, thereby providing a visual effect of the game. The upper speaker units 1106 and 1106 play various sound effects as the game progresses, and inform the player of the game state to produce an auditory effect of the game.

  The center panel portion 1112 of the front panel 1100 is made of colorless and transparent glass, and describes the predetermined winning conditions, the number of game balls to be paid out (the number of winning balls), the game method, and the like. This is a window through which an information posting panel not shown can be seen. In order to make it easy to see the display content of the information posting panel, a fluorescent lamp 1041k (see FIG. 16) is installed on the back side of the central panel portion 1112. A 1-bet button switch 1114 is disposed on the left side of the central panel portion 1112. General-purpose buttons 1116 and 1118 are disposed on the right side of the central panel portion 1112. The general-purpose buttons 1116 and 1118 are buttons whose usage can be appropriately set for each type of gaming machine, such as switching of gaming modes and switching of display modes on a liquid crystal screen. A key cylinder insertion hole 1120 that exposes the front surface (key hole) of the door key cylinder 1202 for opening and closing the front block is provided on the right side of the general-purpose button 1116 and the like of the central panel portion 1112. An operation panel portion 1122 that protrudes forward is disposed below the central panel portion 1112.

  On the operation panel section 1122 of the front panel 1100, a start lever switch 1124 for starting rotation of later-described rotating cylinders L, M, and R (see FIG. 17) and a left rotating cylinder L from the left side of FIG. Left-turn cylinder stop button switch 1126L for stopping rotation, middle-turn cylinder stop button switch 1126M for stopping rotation of middle cylinder M, and right-turn cylinder stop for stopping rotation of right cylinder R A button switch 1126R and a small window hole 1130 for exposing an upper tray ball return lever 1386 for performing the operation of flowing a game ball from the upper tray 1302 to the lower tray 1128 are provided. The start lever switch 1124 is a lever that is pressed and operated by the player when starting the game, and automatically returns to the original position after the hand is released. When the start lever switch 1124 is operated while a predetermined number of game balls are betted, the cylinders L, M, and R start to rotate at the same time. Above the base end of the start lever switch 1124, the rotation cylinders L, M, and R are ready for rotation, that is, a predetermined number of game balls are taken in by the selector 1400 (see FIG. 2). A start lever switch LED (not shown) for notifying the state in which the operation can be accepted is embedded. Further, around each of the spinning cylinder stop button switches 1126L, 1126M, and 1126R, the spinning cylinder stop buttons LEDL, 134M, and 134R for informing the state in which the operation can be accepted are embedded. Each spinning cylinder stop button LED 1134L, 1134M, 1134R is turned on when the corresponding spinning cylinder L, M, R is rotating at a constant speed, and is extinguished when the rotation of the corresponding spinning cylinder L, M, R is stopped. A lower tray 1128 for storing game balls is disposed below the operation panel unit 1122.

  On the inner surface of the lower plate 1128, there is a lower speaker cover unit 1136 that covers the lower speaker unit 1204 (see FIG. 2) provided on the front block frame 1200, and an outlet for game balls flowing from the upper plate 1302 to the lower plate 1128. In addition, there is provided a lower tray payout outlet 1138 in which game balls may be directly paid out from a payout device 1033 (see FIG. 9) described later. In addition, a lower plate ball removal lever 1140 for performing an operation of dropping a game ball from a lower plate 1128 to a game ball housing case (a so-called dollar box) (not shown) disposed below the lower plate 1128 is provided at the lower front portion of the lower plate 1128. Is provided. The game ball can be dropped from the lower plate 1128 by sliding the closing plate 1144 with the lower plate ball removing lever 1140 to open the opening 1142. An ashtray 1146 is provided on the left side of the lower plate 1128. A left lower effect LED cover portion 1148 and a lower right effect LED cover portion 1150 are provided on both sides of the operation panel portion 1122 and the lower plate 1128, respectively. The lower left effect LED cover portion 1148 and the lower right effect LED cover portion 1150 cover a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (not shown) attached from the back side of the front panel 1100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front block frame 1200 is a rectangular frame that is slightly smaller than the front panel 1100, and is screwed to the back side of the front panel 1100. A lower speaker unit 1204 for auditory performance is attached to the lower part of the front block frame 1200. By providing the speaker unit 1106 (see FIG. 1) and the speaker unit 1204 above and below, an auditory effect full of realism can be performed. The front block frame 1200 is provided with a door opening / closing mechanism 1208. When a key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 1202 (see FIG. 1) constituting the door opening / closing mechanism 1208 and rotated to the right side, the locking claws 1210 and 1210 that are locked to the outer frame 1011 rotate downward. Then, the locking to the outer frame 1011 is released. Conversely, when a key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 1202 and rotated to the left, the locking claws 1212 and 1212 that are locked to the dispensing block 1030 rotate downward, and the locking to the dispensing block 1030 is locked. Canceled. In addition, the front block frame 1200 is provided with a guide passage 1214 that continues to the lower tray discharge outlet 1138.

  The rotating display panel 1022 is a colorless and transparent glass plate and has a substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the window hole 1102 of the front panel 1100. The display panel presser frame 1024 is screwed to the front block frame 1200 with a rotating display panel 1022 interposed between the display panel presser frame 1024 and the front panel 1100. The display panel presser frame 1024 has a substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the rotary display panel 1022 and is formed with a predetermined depth. That is, the window hole 1102 of the front panel 1100 protrudes forward from the central panel portion 1112 and is formed with a depth corresponding to the protruding length.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper plate unit 1300 is a member having an upper plate 1302 for storing game balls, and the operation panel unit is configured to close the opening between the central panel unit 1112 and the operation panel unit 1122. It is attached to the back side of 1122. The upper plate unit 1300 includes an upper plate unit main body 1320, a CR operation unit 1350, an upper plate ball stopper 1360 (see FIG. 5), and an upper plate ball removal operation unit 1380.

  The upper plate unit main body 1320 is a member having the upper plate 1302 as described above, and is formed with a desired depth and an inclination from the left side to the right side in the drawing. A game ball guide path 1322 (see FIG. 5) branched into a plurality (for example, three) is provided in a downstream portion of the upper plate 1302 (below the CR operation unit 350). The game ball guide path 1322 aligns the game balls and sequentially guides them to the selector 1400 (see FIG. 5).

  The CR operation unit 1350 includes a frequency display unit 1352, a ball lending button 1306, a ball lending button LED (not shown), a ball lending switch (not shown), a card return button 1308, and a card return switch (not shown). . The frequency display unit 1352 displays a frequency corresponding to the remaining amount of the card by inserting the card into a CR unit (not shown) arranged adjacent to the ball-type spinning game machine 1010. A ball lending button 1306 is a button for performing a game ball lending operation. The ball lending switch 1356 is a switch that detects a lending operation by the ball lending button 1306. The ball lending button LED 1354 notifies the player by lighting that the game ball can be lent, and when the game ball is lent, the ball lending button LED 1354 blinks to lend the game ball. To inform you that you are in the middle of When the ball lending button 1306 is operated while the ball lending button LED 1354 is lit, a predetermined number of game balls are lended to the upper plate 1302. Note that the operation of the ball lending button 1306 is not accepted when the ball lending button LED 1354 is blinking. The card return button 1308 is a button for performing a return operation of the card inserted in the CR unit. The card return switch is a switch that detects a return operation by the card return button 1308. When the card return button 1308 is operated, the card is returned from the CR unit.

  The upper dish ball removal operation unit 1380 includes a ball removal lever 1386 (see FIG. 6) exposed on the front side of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 and a lever operation provided on the inner side of the ball-type spinning machine 1010. A transmission mechanism. In response to the operation of the ball removal lever 1386, the lever operation transmission mechanism moves the return shutter 1420 (see FIG. 6) of the selector 1400. As a result, the game balls stored in the upper plate 1302 are paid back to the lower plate 1128.

  The upper plate ball stopper 1360 is attached to the lower side of the game ball guide path 1322 and opens and closes the entrance from the game ball guide path 1322 to the selector 1400. Specifically, the upper tray ball stopper 1360 prevents the gaming ball from falling from the upper tray 1302 even if the selector 1400 is removed when the selector 1400 needs to be replaced due to a failure or the like.

  The selector 1400 stores a predetermined number of game balls stored on the upper plate 1302 and the upper surface of the selector 1400 in accordance with the operation of the 1-bet button switch 1114 (see FIG. 1) and the mac-bet button switch 1304 (see FIG. 1). It is taken into the inside of the ball-type rotating game machine 1010 or paid back to the lower plate 1128 (see FIG. 1) in accordance with the operation of the upper plate ball removal operation unit 1380. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the selector, and FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of the selector. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the selector 1400 includes a plurality of game ball insertion units 1410 a corresponding to the plurality of game ball guide paths 1322 (see FIG. 5) of the upper plate 1302 one by one. , 1410b, 1410c, a return shutter 1420 for restricting the flow of game balls from the upper tray 1302 to the lower tray 1128, and a return switch board provided with a return switch 1441 for detecting translational movement of the return shutter 1420 from the reference position 1440, a substrate cover 1450 including the hollow protrusion 1408 and one end of the return shutter 1420 and the return switch substrate 1440, and a coil spring (not shown) disposed inside the hollow protrusion 1480 to return the return shutter 1420 to the reference position Between the main control board 1045a and the plurality of game ball throwing portions 1410a, 1410b, 1410c And a selector relay apparatus 1460 including a relay terminal plate cover 1464 which covers the selector relay terminal plate 1462 and the selector relay terminal plate 1462 relays transmission of electrical signals. The selector 1400 disperses a predetermined number of game balls according to a bet operation into a plurality of game ball insertion units 1410a, 1410b, and 1410c and simultaneously inputs them, so that only a single game ball insertion unit is provided. This makes it possible to quickly perform a throw-in operation (bet operation).

  Here, the upper plate ball removal operation unit 1380, the upper plate ball stopper 1360, and the selector 1400 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the selector 1400 and the upper bowl stopper 1360 as seen from the rear side. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of the selector 1400 and the upper dish ball removal operation unit 1380. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the selector 1400 and the upper bowl stopper 1360 as seen from the rear side. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of the selector 1400 and the upper dish ball removal operation unit 1380. 5 and 6 show a case where the input flicker is in the input prohibition state and the return shutter is in the return prohibition state, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the input flicker is in the input prohibition state and return. A case where the shutter is in a return permission state is shown. In the following, the game ball throwing units 1410b and 1410c have substantially the same configuration as the game ball throwing unit 410a, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. An operating handle (not shown) provided at the end and an opening / closing member 1363 that can move according to the rotation of the shaft member 1362 are provided. The shaft member 1362 includes pressing portions 1375a and 1375b formed at a tip opposite to the operation handle at intervals of about 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. Each pressing portion 1375a, 1375b is formed in a tongue-like shape, and protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft member 1362, respectively. The opening / closing member 1363 includes a plurality of closed portions 1376 for closing each of the plurality of storage passages 1402 and pressed portions 1378a and 1378b that receive stress that moves the opening / closing member.

  The state shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is a state in which the pressing portion 1375a presses the pressed portion 1378a and the opening / closing member 1363 is moved to the right side. Inflow of game balls to is allowed. When the shaft member 1362 is rotated clockwise as viewed from above in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 by operating the operation handle from the state shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. The pressed portion 1378b of the member 1363 is pressed. As a result, the opening / closing member 1363 moves to the left, and the size of the inlet of the storage passage 1402 of the closing portion 1376 is narrowed. In this state, the inflow of game balls into each of the plurality of storage passages 1402 is prohibited. In this state, even if the selector 1400 is removed in a state where the game balls are stored in the upper plate 1302 and the game ball guide path 1322, those game balls will not be dropped. Conversely, when the shaft member 1362 is rotated counterclockwise by the operation of the operation handle from this state, the inflow of game balls into each of the plurality of storage passages 1402 is permitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the upper plate ball removing unit 1380 is a base attached to the lower side of the upper plate unit main body 1320 (see FIG. 1) via the CR operation display unit 1350 (see FIG. 1). A portion 1381, a rotating piece 1384 and a pressing piece 1385 that rotate about support shafts 1382 and 1383 erected on the base portion 1381, and an upper dish ball return lever 1386 that slides along the front surface of the base portion 1381. Have. A connecting portion 1384 b that is pivotally attached to the upper dish ball return lever 1386 is provided on the base portion 1384 a of the rotating piece 1384. In addition, the base portion 1384 a of the rotating piece 1384 is connected to the base portion 1381 via a coil spring 1387. A bifurcated grip 1384 c is provided at the tip of the rotating piece 1384. The grip portion 1384c is a portion that slidably grips the convex portion 1385b provided on the base portion 1385a of the pressing piece 1385. A pressing portion 1385 c that presses the return shutter 1420 of the selector 1400 is provided at the tip of the pressing piece 1385. The hollow protrusion 1408 of the selector 1400 stores a coil spring that presses the return shutter 1420 toward the pressing piece 1385 side.

  The state shown in FIG. 6 is a state in which the upper dish ball return lever 1386 is not operated. That is, the rotating piece 1384 is pulled counterclockwise by the coil spring 1387, and the pressing piece 1385 is pulled clockwise by the rotating piece 1384, so that the pressing portion 1385c is separated from one end of the return shutter 1420. State. In this state, the return shutter 1420 is at the reference position by the urging force of the coil spring 1430 disposed inside the hollow protrusion 1408. If the upper tray ball return lever 1386 is picked from this state and moved downward in the figure (actually, from the right side to the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-type spinning machine 1010), as shown in FIG. The rotating piece 1384 rotates clockwise in association with the ball return lever 1386, and the pressing piece 1385 is rotated counterclockwise by the rotating piece 1384, and the pressing portion 1385c presses the return shutter 1420. As a result, the return shutter 1420 moves. When the hand is released from the upper tray ball return lever 1386 in this state, the return shutter 1420 is pressed forward by the urging force of the coil spring disposed in the hollow protrusion 1408, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is restored.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the selector 1400 includes a plurality of game ball insertion units 1410 a, 1410 b, 1410 c, a return shutter 1420, a return switch board 1440, a board cover 1450, and a return A coil spring (not shown) for returning the shutter 1420 to the reference position and a selector relay device 1460 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the game ball insertion portion 1410 a of the selector 1400 includes a resin casing including a casing 1411 and a cover 1412. The outer surface of the casing 1411 is an attachment surface for the cover 1412 of the adjacent game ball insertion portion 1410b, and the outer surface of the cover 1412 of the game ball insertion portion 1410a is an attachment surface for the substrate cover 1450. When the casing 1411 and the cover 1412 are assembled together, a bowl-shaped portion 1417 constituting the storage passage 1402 is formed. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the game ball throwing unit 1410 a has a throwing flicker 1413 a (a kind of throwing restriction means), a throwing solenoid 1414 a (a kind of throwing restriction means), and A passage sensor 1415a and a count sensor 1416a are provided. In addition, a guide passage 1404 extending obliquely downward and a discharge passage 1406 extending substantially vertically downward are formed in the game ball throwing portion 1410a on the downstream side of the storage passage 1402.

  The input flicker 1413 a regulates the inflow of game balls from the storage passage 1402 to the discharge passage 1406. The insertion flicker 1413a has a proximal end portion 1413a1 and a distal end portion 1413a2 that are rotatably connected by a support shaft 1413a3. The proximal end side portion 1413a1 and the distal end side portion 1413a2 of the charging flicker 1413a are rotatably supported by the support shafts 1411a1 and 1411a2 of the casing 1411a, respectively. A gripping portion 1413a4 for gripping the tongue piece 1414a1 of the closing solenoid 1414a is provided at the proximal end portion of the closing flicker 1413a. In addition, an opening / closing portion 1413a5 for opening / closing the discharge passage 1406a is provided at the tip of the charging flicker 1413a.

  The closing solenoid 1414a is energized by the operation of the bet button switches 1114 and 1304 and operates to contract the plunger (plunger) 1414a2 upward. A knob 1414a3 is attached to the tip of the plunger 1414a2. The knob portion 1414a3 has the tongue piece 1414a1 extending in the radial direction of the plunger 1414a2. The plunger 1414a2 is provided with a coil spring 1414a4. The coil spring 1414a4 biases the main body portion 1414a5 of the closing solenoid 1414a and the knob portion 1414a3 in the direction of separating them. That is, when the energization to the closing solenoid 1414a is cut off, the plunger 1414a2 extends downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 1414a4.

  When the bet button switch 1114 or 1304 is pressed, the closing solenoid 1414a is energized, and the plunger 1414a2 contracts to rotate the proximal end portion 1413a1 of the closing flicker 1413a counterclockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip side portion 1413a2 of the insertion flicker 1413a rotates clockwise in the drawing to open the discharge passage 1406a, and the game ball waiting in the storage passage 1402a is in a state where it can naturally fall (injection permission state). On the contrary, when the energization of the closing solenoid 1414a is turned off, the plunger 141a2 is extended by the urging force of the coil spring 1414a4, and the proximal end side portion 1413a1 of the closing flicker 1413a is rotated clockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip end side portion 1413a2 of the throwing flicker 1413a rotates counterclockwise in the drawing and closes the discharge passage 1406a by the opening / closing portion 1413a5, so that the game ball is in a state where it cannot fall naturally (a throwing-in prohibited state).

  The passage sensor 1415a is disposed in the discharge passage 1406a and immediately downstream of the opening / closing part 1413a5 of the input flicker 1413a, and detects whether or not the game ball has been normally taken in. The passage sensor 1415a has a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to surround the tip end portion 1413a2 of the input flicker 1413a, and a light emitting element is provided on either the front side or the back side of the input flicker 1413a, and on the other side. The light receiving element is provided. In addition, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided as a pair in the upper and lower directions and at an interval shorter than the diameter of one game ball. After the game ball is detected by the upper element 1415a1, the game balls are simultaneously detected by the upper and lower elements 1415a1 and 1415a2, and then only the lower element 1415a2 is detected within a predetermined time. When it is determined that the game ball has been properly taken in. Conversely, when the lower element 1415a2 does not detect a game ball even after a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting the game ball with the upper element 1415a1, or after the game element is detected with the lower element 1415a2, the upper side and When the lower balls 1415a1 and 1415a2 detect a game ball at the same time, and then only the upper ball 1415a1 detects a game ball, it is determined that the game ball has been inserted by unauthorized means, 1010 informs that an error has occurred and prohibits the game. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent an illegal act such as using a fraudulent tool as if a game ball is taken in. The upper element 1415a1 is in a state where the number of game balls detected by the passage sensor 1415a is one less than the number of game balls to be inserted by the game ball insertion unit 1410a (for example, 4, 9, or 14). When the last game ball is detected, the charging solenoid 1414a is de-energized, the opening / closing part 1413a5 of the charging flicker 1413a protrudes into the discharge passage 1406, and the game ball is configured from the storage passage 1402 to the discharge passage 1406. Yes.

  The count sensor 1416a counts the game balls thrown in by the game ball throwing unit 1410a separately from the passage sensor 1415a. The count sensor 1416a detects the passage of the game ball by an action different from that of the passage sensor 1415a. If the number of game balls counted by the count sensor 1416a is less than the number of game balls determined to have passed normally by the passage sensor 1415a, a bet error occurs. This further prevents fraud. Specifically, the passage sensor 1415a is an optical sensor, but the count sensor 1416a is a magnetic sensor. When a magnetic sensor is used as the count sensor 1416a, it can be determined whether or not the material that has passed is an iron material. Thereby, an illegal act of playing a game can be prevented even better by inserting an inexpensive resin game ball or the like that is different from a normal game ball.

  The return shutter 1420 has a plurality of window holes 1422, one corresponding to each of the plurality of game ball guide paths 1322, and the storage passages 1402 and the guide passages 1404 a, 1404 b, and 1404 c are formed on the sides of the window holes 1422. Blocking walls 1424a, 1424b and 1424c for blocking are provided. In addition, tongue pieces 1426a, 1426b, and 1426c extending to the storage passages 1402a, 1402b, and 1402c are provided below the respective window holes 1422a, 1422b, and 1422c. Each tongue piece 1426a, 1426b, 1426c is a part for guiding a game ball from the storage passages 1402a, 1402b, 1402c to the respective window holes 1422a, 1422b, 1422c. When the upper dish ball return lever 1386 is not operated, the return shutter 1420 is at the reference position, and the game balls from each of the plurality of storage passages 1402 to the plurality of guide passages 1404 at the blocking wall 1424 of the return shutter 1420. Inflow is prohibited. On the other hand, when the upper tray ball return lever 1386 is operated and the pressing portion 1385c of the return shutter 1420 is pressed, the return shutter 1420 moves from the reference position and passes through the window holes 1422a, 1422b, and 1422c of the return shutter 1420. Inflow of game balls from the storage passage 1402 to the guide passage 1404 is permitted. As a result, the game ball flows from the upper plate 1302 to the lower plate 1128 through the guide passages 1404a, 1404b, and 1404c. At this time, the movement of the return shutter 1420 from the reference position is detected by the return switch 1441 (see FIG. 4) of the return switch board 1440. Based on the detection result, the one-bet button switch 1114 and the maximum bet button switch 1304 are operated. A condition that disables acceptance occurs.

  The selector relay terminal plate 1462 transmits the detection results of the passage sensor 1415a and the count sensor 1416a to the main controller 1045 described later.

(Composition of withdrawal block)
As shown in FIG. 2, the payout block 1030 is attached to the front block 1020 so that it can be opened and closed. The opening / closing axis of the payout block 1030 is set so as to extend up and down on the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 1010, and the payout block 1030 can be sufficiently opened rearward with the opening / closing axis as an axis. It has become. The payout block 1030 is locked to the front block 1020 by a door opening / closing mechanism 1208. Specifically, the locking claws 1212 and 1212 of the door opening / closing mechanism 1208 are locked to the engaging portions 1031a and 1031a of the payout block 1030. The door key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 1202 and rotated to the left to lock. The latches 1212 and 1212 are unlocked. The payout block 1030 has a one-touch type stopper 1031b, and is connected to the front block 1020 by this stopper 1031b.

  FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of the payout block 1030, and FIG. 10 is a rear view showing an example of a passing path of game balls in the payout block. As shown in FIG. 9, the payout block 1030 includes, in the payout block main body 1031, a game ball tank 1032 for storing game balls for renting and winning balls, a payout device 1033 for paying out game balls, A tank rail 1034 and a case rail 1035 for guiding the game ball from the game ball tank 1032 to the payout device 1033, a payout relay terminal plate 1036, a payout control device 1037 for controlling the payout operation of the game ball, and a power supply of the game ball A power supply control device 1038 to be controlled and a CR unit connection terminal plate 1039 for connecting the ball-type spinning gaming machine 1010 to the CR unit are attached.

  The payout block main body 1031 protrudes rearward in the center to cover a game block 1040 (see FIG. 2), and a game ball tank 1032 and a tank rail 1034 so as to surround the protective cover portion 1031c. A case rail 1035, a payout device 1033, a payout relay terminal plate 1036, a CR unit connection terminal plate 1039, a payout control device 1037, and a power supply control device 1038 are mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the payout block main body 1031 has an upper plate guide passage 1031d for guiding game balls from the payout device 1033 to the upper plate 1302, and guides game balls from the payout device 1033 to the lower plate 1128. And a discharge passage 1031f for discharging the game ball from the payout device 1033 to the outside of the ball-type rotary gaming machine 1010. In the lower dish guide passage 1031e, when the upper dish guide passage 1031d overflows with game balls, the game balls are introduced from the payout device 1033. The upper plate guide passage 1031d and the lower plate guide passage 1031e communicate with an upper plate discharge outlet (not shown) and a lower plate discharge outlet 1138 (see FIG. 1), respectively.

  The payout block main body 1031 is provided with a pair of upper and lower rotating shaft portions 1031g. In each rotating shaft portion 1031g, a bracket 1031h extends from the payout block main body 1031 in a substantially horizontal direction, and protrudes downward from the bracket 1031h. The front block 1020 is provided with an annular bearing portion (not shown) into which the rotating shaft portion 1031g is dropped, so that the front block 1020 and the dispensing block 1030 can be easily attached and detached.

  The game ball tank 1032 is a horizontally long box-shaped container that opens upward, and game balls supplied from the game ball circulation facility in the game machine installation island are sequentially replenished. The bottom of the game ball tank 1032 is gently inclined. The downstream end of the bottom of the game ball tank 1032 is opened to send the game ball to the tank rail 1034.

  A tank rail 1034 is attached below the game ball tank 1032. FIGS. 11A and 11B are a top view and a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a tank rail, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B), the tank rail 1034 has four rows (four strips) of bowl-shaped passages ([array storage section]) partitioned by partition pieces 1034d and 1034e. Part: [part of [storage passage]]. Each bowl-shaped passage is gently inclined toward the downstream side. Four pendulums 1034a and 1034b are attached to the tank rail 1034 in two rows and two columns to rectify the game balls so that the game balls do not stack and flow. A ball stop lever 1034c for preventing the game ball from flowing from the tank rail 1034 to the case rail 1035 is attached to the downstream side of the pendulums 1034a and 1034b.

  The case rail 1035 is arranged vertically on the downstream side of the tank rail 1034. The case rail 1035 has a ball path (part of [alignment storage part]: part of [storage path]) 1035a curved in the front-rear and left-right directions with wavy undulations so that game balls do not flow vigorously. The ball break detection switch 1035b is assembled on the upstream side. The ball breakage detection switch 1035b indicates that there is not enough game balls inside the case rail 1035, that is, ball clogging occurs upstream of the case rail 1035, and the game balls are not sufficiently supplied to the case rail 1035. Is detected. 12 (A) and 12 (B) are longitudinal sectional views showing an example of the vicinity of the ball-out detection switch. FIG. 12 (A) shows a state with a sphere, and FIG. 12 (B) shows no sphere. Represents a state. Based on the detection result of the ball-out detection switch 1035b, a ball-out error is notified when there is no ball as shown in FIG. Note that a plurality of case rails 1035 (for example, four) are connected in the front-rear direction corresponding to the number of bowl-shaped passages of the tank rail 1034.

  The payout device 1033 pays out a game ball by satisfying a predetermined winning condition or pressing a ball lending button 1306 (see FIG. 1) with a card inserted in a CR unit (not shown). In the present embodiment, the maximum number of acquired balls of a general ball game machine is 15 balls, whereas the maximum number of acquired balls of the ball-type revolving game machine 1010 is 75 balls. Compared to the above, from the viewpoint that the maximum number of balls acquired by the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 is larger, more payout devices 1033 are provided than the ball game machines so that the award balls can be quickly paid out. In other words, if the ball game machine has two payout devices 1033, the game can proceed quickly, but in the case of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010, the number of acquired balls is large and all prize balls must be paid out. Since there is a restriction that the next game (unit game) cannot be started, in this embodiment, four payout devices 1033 are provided in the front-rear direction to speed up the payout of prize balls, and the game can proceed without delay. It is like that.

  The mounting bases 1036a and 1036b are divided into two parts, and have ball passages 1036a1 and 1036b1 connected to the upper plate guide passage 1031d and the lower plate guide passage 1031e, and ball passages 1036a2 and 1036b2 connected to the discharge passage 1031f on the right side. Have. The upper parts of one of the ball paths 1036a1 and 1036b1 are slightly inclined toward the upper dish guide path 1031d, respectively, so that it is easier to guide the game ball to the upper dish guide path 1031d than the lower dish guide path 1031e. Further, the lower part of one of the ball passages 1036a1 and 1036b1 has a tapered shape so as to straddle the upper plate guide passage 1031d and the lower plate guide passage 1031e. The other spherical passages 1036a2 and 1036b2 are configured such that the spherical passage 1036a2 on the back side merges with the spherical passage 1036b2 on the front side and continues to the discharge passage 1031f on the front side.

  13A to 13C are longitudinal sectional views showing an example of the configuration of the dispensing device. When FIG. 13A is not paying out, when FIG. 13B is paying out game balls to the upper plate, FIG. 13C shows when game balls are being discharged to the outside of the gaming machine. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the payout device 1033 has a resin casing made up of a casing 1033a and a cover (not shown), and a payout flicker (of an inflow restricting mechanism) is placed inside the casing. (Part) 1033b, a payout solenoid (a kind of [regulation changing device]) 1033c, and a switching piece 1033g. Inside the casing 1033a are a standby passage (a part of the “medium passage”) 1033d, a discharge passage 1033e (a part of the “medium passage”) extending substantially vertically downward on the downstream side of the standby passage 1033d, and a discharge passage 1033e. A discharge passage 1033f is formed that branches off from the middle and extends obliquely downward. The switching piece 1033g is disposed at a branch portion from the payout passage 1033e to the discharge passage 1033f. Usually, since the switching piece 1033g is maintained substantially vertically upward, the game ball does not flow into the discharge passage 1033f.

The payout flicker 1033b is a member that regulates the inflow of game balls from the standby passage 1033d to the payout passage 1033e. Payout flicker 1033b includes a proximal portion 1033b1 and a distal portion 1033B2, movable connection shaft 1033b3 formed in the proximal portion 1033b1 is inserted into the bearing hole 1033b6 formed on the tip portion 1033B2 (see FIG. 3) As a result, the proximal end portion 1033b1 and the distal end portion 1033b2 are connected. The proximal end portion 1033b1 and the distal end portion 1033b2 of the payout flicker 1033b are rotatably supported by the spindles 1033a1 and 1033a2 of the casing 1033a, respectively. A gripping portion 1033b4 for gripping the tongue piece 1033c1 of the payout solenoid 1033c is provided at the base end portion 1033b1 of the payout flicker 1033b. In addition, an opening / closing portion 1033b5 that can project at a boundary portion between the standby passage 1033d and the payout passage 1033e is provided at the tip portion 1033b2 of the discharge flicker 1033b.

  The payout solenoid 1033c is energized by pressing a ball lending button 1306 when a predetermined winning condition is satisfied or a card is inserted into a CR unit (not shown), and contracts the plunger 1033c2 upward. . A knob portion 1033c3 having the tongue piece 1033c1 extending in the radial direction of the plunger 1033c2 is attached to the tip of the plunger 1033c2. In addition, a coil spring 1033c4 is sheathed on the periphery of the plunger 1033c2. The coil spring 1033c4 urges the main body portion 1033c5 including the exciting coil (not shown) of the payout solenoid 1033c and the knob portion 1033c3 to be separated from each other. That is, when the energization to the dispensing solenoid 1033c is cut off, the plunger 1033c2 moves downward by the urging force of the coil spring 1033c4.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the opening / closing portion 1033b5 of the payout flicker 1033b protrudes at the boundary between the standby passage 1033d and the payout passage 1033e, and the inflow of game balls from the standby passage 1033d to the payout passage 1033e is prohibited. The ball lending button 1306 is pressed in a state where a predetermined winning condition is satisfied or there is a remaining number in the frequency display portion 1352 in the prohibited passage state (a kind of [first restricted state] and [inflow prohibited state]). In such a case, the dispensing solenoid 1033c is energized. In response to the energization, as shown in FIG. 13B, the plunger 1033c2 is attracted to the main body portion 1033c5 and the base end portion 1033b1 of the payout flicker 1033b rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, and the payout flicker is interlocked with this. The tip portion 1033b2 of the 1033b rotates clockwise in the drawing. As a result, the opening / closing portion 1033b5 of the distal end portion 1033b2 moves from the boundary portion between the standby passage 1033d and the payout passage 1033e to the outside of those passages, and the passage permission in which game balls are allowed to flow into the payout passage 1033e from the standby passage 1033d Transition to a state (a kind of [second restricted state] and [inflow allowed state]). When the passage is permitted, the game ball naturally falls due to its own weight. On the other hand, in the state where the discharge flicker is permitted to pass as shown in FIG. 13B, when the energization of the discharge solenoid 1033c is interrupted, the plunger 1033c2 is separated by the urging force of the coil spring 1033c4, and the base end side of the discharge flicker 1033b. The portion 1033b1 rotates clockwise in the drawing, and in conjunction with this, the tip end portion 1033b2 of the payout flicker 1033b rotates counterclockwise in the drawing. As a result, the opening / closing portion 1033b5 of the distal end portion 1033b2 moves into the passage at the boundary between the standby passage 1033d and the payout passage 1033e, and returns to the passage prohibition state shown in FIG.

  A substantially L-shaped pressing piece 1033i for moving the knob portion 1033c3 up and down is provided below the payout solenoid 1033c. The pressing piece 1033i is rotatably attached to the support shaft 1033a3 of the casing 1033a, and presses the knob portion 1033c3 upward at the distal end portion 1033i1. A substantially fan-shaped operation lever 1033j (see FIG. 9) is disposed outside the casing 1033a. The operation lever 1033j can rotate around the rotation shaft 1033a4. The operating lever 1033j is connected to a protruding portion 1033g1 provided at an intermediate portion of the switching piece 1033g and a protruding portion 1033i2 provided at the proximal end portion of the pressing piece 1033i. That is, when the operation lever 1033j is operated, the switching piece 1033g and the pressing piece 1033i are rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the operation lever 1033j.

  When the operation lever 1033j is operated counterclockwise in the drawing from the state shown in FIG. 13A, the switching piece 1033g is interlocked with the operation as shown in FIG. The discharge passage 1033e is blocked, the discharge passage 1033f is opened, and the knob 1033c3 of the discharge solenoid 1033c is pushed up by the pressing piece 1033i in conjunction with the operation, so that the discharge flicker 1033b is in the passage-permitted state. Become. Thereby, the inflow of game balls from the middle of the payout passage 1033e to the discharge passage 1033f is permitted, and the inflow of game balls from the standby passage 1033d to the payout passage 1033e is permitted. If the operation lever 1033j is operated as described above while preventing the game ball from flowing with the ball stop lever 1034c provided on the tank rail 1034, all the game balls stored downstream from the ball stop lever 1034c are removed. When the payout device 1033 and the case rail 1035 that can be discharged to the outside of the ball-type spinning machine 1010 break down, the payout device 1033 and the case rail 1035 (see FIG. 9) can be easily replaced.

  The payout device 1033 is provided with a payout count switch ([medium detection device]) 1033h having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The payout count switch 1033h is arranged immediately downstream of the opening / closing portion 1033b5 of the payout flicker 1033b, and detects a game ball falling in the payout passage 1033e. The number of game balls paid out based on the detection of game balls by the payout count switch 1033h is counted.

  A ball overflow detection switch 1031j is provided in the lower dish guide passage 1031e. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the vicinity of the ball overflow detection switch. FIG. 14A shows a normal state, and FIG. 14B shows a ball overflow state. As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the ball overflow detection switch 1031j includes an operation unit 1031j1 and an operation detection unit 1031j2. When the number of game balls stored in the lower plate 1128 increases from the normal state shown in FIG. 14A, the game balls are stored in the lower plate guide passage 1031e, and the operation unit 1031j1 is connected to the operation detection unit 1031j2. Pressed in the direction. When the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, the ball overflow detection switch 1031j is turned on as shown in FIG. 14B, and the ball overflow state is detected.

  The payout control device 1037 controls the payout of prize balls and rented balls. As is well known, the CPU 1037a1 that is the center of control, the ROM 1037a2 that stores fixed data referred to in the control program and the control program, and the execution of the control program A payout control board 1037a (see FIG. 19) including a RAM 1037a3 for storing reference variable data and the like, various input / output ports 1037a4 for controlling input / output of the payout control device, and the like are provided.

  The power supply control device 1038 supplies power of a predetermined power supply voltage required by various control devices based on external power. The power control device 1038 includes a power control board 1038 ', a power switch 1038a, a reset switch 1038b, a stop change switch 1038c, and a setting change switch (not shown). When the power switch 1038a is turned on, it supplies power to each unit including the CPU. When the reset switch 1038b is pressed and the power switch 1038a is simultaneously turned on, the contents of the RAM are reset. When the reset switch 1038b is pressed while the power switch 1038a is turned on, the error state is reset. The stop switch 1038c is for switching whether or not to temporarily stop the game at the end of the big bonus. The setting change key cylinder 1038d constitutes a setting change device. In the setting change device, the ball turnout rate of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 is determined in advance in a plurality of steps (for example, 6 steps), and the ball turnout rate is set in any step. The procedure for changing the setting is as follows. First, with the power switch 1038a turned off, a setting change key (not shown) is inserted into the key cylinder of the setting change switch and rotated 90 degrees clockwise. When the power switch 1038a is turned on in this state, the current probability setting is displayed as one of the numerical values “1” to “6” on the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g (see FIG. 16) on the front of the gaming block 1040 described later. Is done. Next, when the reset switch 1038b is pushed, the number displayed on the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g changes and increases by 1 (however, in the case of “6”, it returns to “1”). When the start lever 1124 (see FIG. 1) is pressed in a state where any one of “1” to “6” is displayed on the 7-segment LED display portion 1041g, the probability setting is confirmed.

  The CR unit connection terminal board 1039 is electrically connected to the ball lending button 1306 (see FIG. 1) on the front surface of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 and a CR unit (not shown), and detects the ball lending operation by the player to detect the CR lending operation. A signal is output to the unit, or a signal is transmitted from the CR unit corresponding to the output to the dispensing control device 1037. Note that the CR unit connection terminal plate 1039 is unnecessary in a cash machine in which game balls are lent directly to the upper plate 1302 (see FIG. 1) from an external ball lending device or the like without using a CR unit.

  The payout control device 1037 and the power supply control device 1038 are configured such that the payout control device 1037a and the power supply control device 1038 'are accommodated in a substrate case made of a transparent resin material or the like, respectively.

(Game block configuration)
As shown in FIG. 2, the game block 1040 is attached to the front block 1020 so as to be freely opened and closed. The opening / closing axis of the game block 1040 is the same as the opening / closing axis of the payout block 1030, and, like the payout block 1030, the game block 1040 is attached to be openable and detachable by a drop structure. The game block 1040 has a one-touch type stopper 1040a, and is connected and fixed to the payout block 1030 by the stopper 1040a. A stopper 1031i for hooking the stopper 1040a is fixed to the payout block 1030 side. In other words, the game block 1040 is integrated with the payout block 1030 and is opened and closed with respect to the front block 1020, and after being disconnected from the payout block 1030, the game block 1040 is configured to rotate forward with respect to the payout block 1030. The The game block 1040 is a main block that forms the core of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010, and the game block 1040 can be replaced by making such a game block 1040 easy to attach and detach as described above. By replacing the gaming block 1040, it is possible to change to a gaming machine having completely different gaming characteristics, and to reduce the cost of replacing a new gaming machine.

  FIG. 15 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of the game block. As shown in FIG. 15, the game block 1040 has a game panel 1041 that is visually recognized through a window hole 1102 (see FIG. 1) of the front panel 1100. The gaming panel 1041 includes a pair of upper and lower window holes 1041a and 1041b. A liquid crystal display device 1042 is attached to the back side of the game panel 1041 corresponding to the upper window hole 1041a, and the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 1042 can be viewed through the upper window hole 1041a. In addition, the spinning unit 1043 is attached to the back side of the game panel 1041 corresponding to the lower window hole 1041b, and the symbol display by the spinning unit 1043 can be visually recognized through the lower window hole 1041b. Further, on the back side of the game panel 1041, a main control device 1045 is attached to one side of the spinning unit 1043 via a main mounting base 1044, and a sub-control is provided behind the liquid crystal display device 1042 via a sub mounting base 1046. A device 1047 is attached. The main controller 1045 is arranged in a vertically long shape so as to be orthogonal to the game panel 1041.

  FIG. 16 is a front view of the game block 1040. FIG. 16 shows a state where a plurality of (for example, 21) symbols in a row are removed from the rotating drum unit 1043 for convenience and strip-shaped symbol seals 1043L, 1043M, and 1043R (see FIG. 17) are removed.

  From the lower window hole 1041b of the gaming panel 1041, three of the symbols of the symbol seals 1043L, 1043M, and 1043R attached to each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R are exposed from the lower window hole 1041b. In FIG. 16, a pair of left and right nine pairs of LEDs 1043L1, 1043M1, and 1043R1 are exposed in three rows and three columns.

  An effective line display portion 1041c is provided on the left side of the lower window hole 1041b of the game panel 1041. The active line display unit 1041c includes a 1-bet display unit 1041c1, 2-bet display units 1041c2 and 1041c2 arranged above and below, and 3-bet display units 1041c3 and 1041c3 arranged at the uppermost and lowermost levels. The predetermined bet display portions 1041c1 to 1041c3 are lit according to the number of bets on the game balls.

  On the both sides of the upper window hole 1041a of the game panel 1041, there are provided the electric actors 1041d and 1041e. In addition, on the right side of the lower window hole 1041b, an electric accessory 1041f, a 7-segment LED display unit 1041g, and an LED display unit 1041h are arranged in this order from the top. These electric actors 1041d, 1041e, and 1041f are used for game effects, big bonus or regular bonus confirmation notifications, and the like. The 7-segment LED display unit 1041g is a part for displaying the number of game balls bet and the number of payouts, an error code, the total number of payouts in the bonus, and six levels of settings when the settings are changed. The LED display unit 1041h is provided with four LEDs. Among them, the upper three LEDs constitute a bet number display portion 1041h1. The bet number display section 1041h1 displays the bet number within a range of 1 to 3 by turning on the number of LEDs corresponding to the number of game balls inserted into the selector 1400. The remaining one LED is a re-game display unit 1041h2. The replay display section 1041h2 is lit when the replay symbols (the symbols displayed as “Re” in a substantially fan-shaped frame) of the symbols on the symbol stickers 1043L, 1043M, and 1043R shown in FIG. 18 are aligned on the active line. This notifies that the next unit game can be played without a betting of a game ball. When the start lever 1124 is pressed after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replay symbols are aligned on the active line, the replay display portion 1041h2 is turned off as the rotating cylinders L, M, and R rotate.

  Further, an information posting panel (not shown) exposed from the center panel portion 1112 is attached below the lower window hole 1041b. A certificate 1041i and a model name sticker 1041j are affixed to one end of the information posting panel. Further, as shown by a broken line, a fluorescent lamp 1041k for illuminating the information posting panel from the rear side is disposed inside the information posting panel.

  The liquid crystal display device 1042 provides a notification effect for winning a small role during a normal game, a suggestion effect for suggesting that the game state transitions from a normal game state to a bonus state, an effect during a big bonus or a regular bonus, Display of the number of small-games and the number of JAC games, the effect of notifying that a specific gaming state (for example, an RT state in which replay is easy to win), the timing and order of pressing of the rotation stop buttons 1126L, 1126M, 1126R An effect to notify the user is performed.

  FIG. 17 is a partial exploded perspective view of an example of the rotating drum unit 1043. As shown in FIG. 17, the rotating drum unit 1043 has three rotating drums (so-called reels) L, M, and R, and each of the rotating drums L, M, and R is stored in the rotating drum unit frame 1043a. is there. Since each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R has substantially the same configuration, the right spinning cylinder R will be described as an example.

  The right drum R is obtained by winding a symbol seal 1043R in which 21 symbols (identification elements) are drawn at equal intervals around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical skeleton member 1043R2 forming a cylindrical cage, and the cylindrical skeleton member 1043R2 Is attached to the rotating shaft 1043R5 of the stepping motor 1043R4 for the right turn cylinder via the disk-shaped reinforcing plate 1043R3.

  The stepping motor 1043R4 for the right swirl is screwed to a motor plate 1043R6 that is suspended from the swivel unit frame 1043a. The motor plate 1043R6 has a pair of light emitting elements and light receiving elements. A position detection sensor 1043R7 is installed. A pair of photosensor elements (not shown) that constitute the rotation position detection sensor 1043R7 are arranged in the sensor housing while maintaining a predetermined interval.

  A sensor cut van 1043R9 extending in the axial direction is attached to one of the five vehicle radii 1043R8 of the cylindrical skeleton member 1043R2. The sensor cut bang 1043R9 is aligned so that it can pass through the gap between both elements of the rotation position detection sensor 1043R7. Then, every time the right cylinder R makes one rotation, the cylinder position detection sensor 1043R7 detects the passage of the tip of the sensor cut bang 1043R9, and outputs a detection signal to the main controller 1045 each time it is detected. Based on this detection signal, main controller 1045 can check and correct the angular position of right cylinder R every rotation.

  The stepping motor 1043R4 is set so that the right cylinder R makes one round by a drive signal of 504 pulses (also referred to as an excitation signal or an excitation pulse; the same applies hereinafter), and the rotational position is controlled by this excitation pulse. That is, when the right turn R makes one round, 21 symbols are sequentially exposed from the lower window hole 1041b of the gaming panel 1041, so 24 pulses (= 504 pulses / 21 symbols) are required to switch from one symbol to the next. ). Then, based on the number of pulses from when the detection signal of the rotating drum position detection sensor 1043R7 is output, it is recognized which symbol is exposed from the window hole 1041b, or an arbitrary symbol is exposed from the window hole 1041b. Control can be performed. In this embodiment, a hybrid (HB) type two-phase stepping motor employing a 1-2 phase excitation method is used as the stepping motor 1043R4. The stepping motor 1043R4 is not limited to a hybrid type or two-phase, and various stepping motors such as a three-phase stepping motor and a five-phase stepping motor can be used. A drive signal (drive signal data) for the stepping motor 1043R4 is given to the motor driver 1070 (see FIG. 19) as excitation data.

  The main control device 1045 is responsible for the main control of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010. Specifically, the main control device 1045 receives a signal from the start lever 1124 and receives a winning combination (big bonus, regular bonus, small combination, replay). And a command signal is issued to the sub-control device 1047 and the payout control device 1037 based on the lottery result. As shown in FIG. 19, the main controller 1045 has a configuration in which a CPU 1045a1 that controls the main control, a ROM 1045a2 that stores a game program, a RAM 1045a3 that stores necessary data according to the progress of the game, and various devices are connected. A main control board 1045a including an output port 1045a4, a random number generation circuit 1045a5 used for various lotteries, a clock circuit 1045a6 used for time counting and synchronization, and a transparent resin that accommodates the main control board 1045a A substrate case 1045b (1045b1, 1045b2) (see FIG. 15) made of a material or the like is used.

  The sub control device 1047 is lit and blinking various LED units such as the LED unit 1104 (see FIG. 1) and the upper and lower speakers 1106 and 1204 (see FIG. 1) based on a command signal (command) issued from the main control device 1045. Control is performed on the sound effect emitted, the display mode displayed on the liquid crystal display device 1042, and the like. The configuration of the sub-control device 1047 is the same as that of the main control device 1045. The sub-control including the CPU for controlling the various LEDs, the upper and lower speakers 1106, 1204, and the liquid crystal display device 1042, and other ROM, RAM, input / output ports, and the like. A substrate 1047a and a substrate case 1047b (1047b1, 1047b2) made of a transparent resin material or the like for accommodating the sub-control substrate 1047a.

(Control system for ball-type spinning machine)
A control system of the ball-type spinning machine 1010 will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of a ball-type spinning machine.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the main control board 1045a functions as a control unit configured as a microcomputer centering on the CPU 1045a1, which is an arithmetic processing unit, and is a ROM (or flash memory) 1045a2 for storing a processing program. A working RAM 1045a3, an input / output port 1045a4, and the like for storing data are connected to the CPU 1045a1 via an internal bus.

  The input / output port 1045a4 of the main control board 1045a has a reset signal from the reset switch 1038b, a setting signal from the setting key switch 1038d1, a 1-bet signal from the bet button switch 1114, a maximum bet signal from the maximum bet button switch 1304, Auxiliary passage detection signals from count sensors 1416a1, 1416b1, 1416c1 for detecting game balls taken into selector 1400, and upper elements 1415a1, 1415b1 in passage sensors 1415a, 1415b, 1415c for detecting game balls taken into selector 1400 , 1415c1 upstream passage detection signal and downstream sensor passage sensors 1415a2, 1415b, 1415c, lower element passage sensors 1415a2, 1415b2, 1415c2 Detection signal, change start signal from start lever switch 1124, stop signal from each rotation stop button switch 1126L, 1126M, 1126R, detection signal from rotation position detection sensor 1043L7, 1043M7, 1043R7, game paid out from payout device 1033 A count signal based on a count switch signal from a count sensor 1033h that detects a ball, a game ball detection signal from a ball break detection device 1035b that detects a game ball in the case rail 1035, a paying-out signal that represents the payout period, and the like are input. Is done.

  Also, from the input / output port 1045a4 of the main control board 1045a, the input signals based on the drive signals of the input solenoids 1414a, 1414b, 1414c based on the bet signals from the bet button switches 1114, 1304 and the input based on the count values of the passage sensors 1415a, 1415b, 1415c. Driving of the stepping motors 1043L4, 1043M4, 1043R4 for the rotating cylinder based on the driving stop signal of the solenoids 1414a, 1414b, 1414c, the fluctuation start signal from the start lever switch 1124, and the stop command signal from the rotating cylinder stop button switches 1126L, 1126M, 1126R A signal is output. Control signals for controlling the contents of effects displayed on the liquid crystal display device 1042, sound effects emitted from the speakers 1106 and 1204, lighting and blinking of various light emitting devices (LEDs) covered with the upper LED cover 1104, etc. Is output to the sub-control board 1047a.

  The above-described CPU 1045a1 includes a ROM 1045a2 that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 1045a1 and fixed value data, and a work area that temporarily stores various data when executing the control program stored in the ROM 1045a2. In addition to the working RAM 1045a3 for securing the above, various processing circuits necessary for the ball-type spinning machine 1010 such as a timer circuit and a data transmission / reception circuit such as an interrupt circuit as well known are incorporated, although not shown. ing.

  The ROM 1045a2 and the RAM 1045a3 constitute a main memory, and a processing program (including an output control information generation processing program) for executing various processes is stored in the ROM 1045a2 described above as a part of the processing program. In the RAM 1045a3, a plurality of work areas are secured functionally. As is well known, in addition to a stack memory (stack memory area) for storing the value of the program counter provided in the CPU 1045a1, in this example, a power failure flag memory for storing a power failure flag and a stack for storing a stack pointer Pointer storage memory, checksum correction value memory for storing correction values related to the checksum of data stored in the RAM 45a3, and memory such as a power recovery command buffer and power recovery command counter used during power recovery Area is secured.

  In addition to I / O devices such as the sub-control board 1047a, the input / output port 1045a4 is an external device capable of transmitting information to a gaming machine management device (not shown) such as a computer for a hall manager, an external information display device, etc. The centralized terminal board, the power failure monitoring circuit 1038f provided on the power supply control board 1038 ′, the closing solenoids 1414a, 1414b, 1414c, the payout control board 1037a, and the like are electrically connected.

  The power supply control board 1038 ′ is equipped with a power supply unit 1038 e that supplies driving power to each electronic device of the ball-type spinning machine 1010 including the main control board 1045 a, the power failure monitoring circuit 1038 f described above, and the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 1038f monitors the power-off state, and generates a power failure signal not only at the time of power failure but also at the time of power-off by the power switch 1038a. For this reason, the power failure monitoring circuit 1038f monitors the stabilized drive voltage of 24 VDC output from the power supply unit 1038e, and determines that the power has been disconnected when the drive voltage drops below, for example, 22 volts. A signal is output. The power failure signal is supplied to each of the CPU 1045a1 and the input / output port 1045a4, and the CPU 1045a1 recognizes this power failure signal to execute the power failure process. The power supply unit 1038e is configured to output a stabilized voltage of 5 volts used as a drive voltage in a control system such as the main control board 1045a even when the output voltage is reduced to less than 22 volts. As a time during which the stabilization voltage is output, a sufficient time is secured to execute the power failure process by the main control board 1045a.

  Further, when the reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 1038b at the same time when the stabilization drive voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 1038e, the main control board 1045a erases the information written in the RAM 1045a3 and stabilizes from the power supply unit 1038e. When a reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 1038b in a state where the drive voltage is supplied, the error state is reset.

  Furthermore, when the power is turned on after the setting key switch 1038d1 is turned on when the power is turned off, that is, when the power is turned on after the setting key is inserted into the setting change key cylinder 1038d and rotated. A state in which the exit rate of the trunk game machine 10 can be changed occurs. In this state, when a reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 1038b, the bonus probability and the small role probability of the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 are changed, and the change result is represented by the numbers “1” to “6”. The data is output to the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g (see FIG. 16). Then, when a setting confirmation signal is received from the start lever switch 1124 in a state where any number from “1” to “6” is displayed on the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g, the ball-turning game machine 1010 exits. Confirm the rate (setting).

  The payout control board 1037a has substantially the same configuration as the main control board 1045a, and includes a CPU 1037a1, a ROM (or flash memory) 1037a2 for storing processing programs, and a working (working) RAM 1037a3 for temporarily storing data. The input / output port 1037a4 and the like are connected to the CPU 1037a1 via an internal bus.

  A control process executed on the main control board 1045a will be described. The control processing of the main control board 1045a is roughly divided into main processing that is activated in response to power recovery by external power supply restart or power switch 1038a being turned on, and interrupt processing that interrupts the main processing. The For convenience of explanation, after describing the interrupt process, the main process will be described. As interrupt processing, there are power failure interrupt processing for interrupting in response to reception of a power failure signal at the NMI terminal, and timer interrupt processing for periodically interrupting by measuring time with a timer.

  First, the power failure interrupt process will be described. When a power failure occurs, a power failure signal is generated by the power failure monitoring circuit 1038f of the power control board 1038 'and output to the main control board 1045a. In main control board 1045a, the NMI terminal of CPU 1045a1 receives a power failure signal, and an interrupt process (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as “power failure interrupt process”) is executed in which a power failure flag is set in response to the reception of the power failure signal. In the power failure interrupt process, first, the register data currently used is saved in a backup area in the RAM 1045a3 ("register save process"). After the register saving process, the power failure flag is set (“power failure flag setting process”). The power failure flag is information indicating the occurrence of a power failure state held in a specific area in the RAM 1045a3. After the power failure flag setting process, the CPU 1045a1 is notified of the end of the process in its own interrupt ("interrupt end declaration process"). After the interrupt end declaration process, the register data saved in the backup area of the RAM 1045a3 in the register saving process is restored to the register of the CPU 1045a1 ("register restoration process"). After the register restoration process, a new interrupt is permitted (“interrupt permission process”). The power failure interrupt process ends when the interrupt permission process is completed. If the power failure flag setting process can be performed without destroying the data in the register in use, the register saving process and the register restoring process can be omitted.

  Next, timer interrupt processing will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of timer interrupt processing in the main control board 1045a. In the main control board 1045a, timer interrupt processing is periodically performed. In this embodiment, the timer interrupt process is substantially performed at a period of 1.49 ms [milliseconds].

  In the timer interrupt process, first, information on all registers used in the normal process in the main process described later is stored in the backup area of the RAM 1045a3 ("interrupt start process" S1101). After the interrupt start process S1101, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure flag is set (S1102). When the power failure flag is set, the backup process S1103 is executed.

  In the backup process S1103, first, it is determined whether or not the transmission of various commands stored in the ring buffer has been completed. If the transmission of these commands has not ended, the backup process S1103 is temporarily ended and control returns to the timer interrupt process. This is control for completing the transmission of the command before starting the backup process S1103. On the other hand, when the transmission of these commands is completed, the value of the stack pointer of the CPU 1045a1 is saved in the backup area in the RAM 1045a3 ("stack pointer saving process"). After the stack pointer saving process, a RAM determination value, which will be described later, is cleared and the output state of the output port in the input / output port 1045a4 is cleared, and all actuators (not shown) are turned off ("stop process"). After the stop process, a new RAM determination value is calculated and stored in the backup area (“RAM determination value storage process”). The RAM determination value is a 2's complement of the checksum value in the work area of the RAM 1045a3. Here, the 2's complement of the tick sum value is a value generated when each digit (bit) of the check sum value is inverted in binary representation. In this case, the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR (“FFFF”) of the checksum value of the RAM 1045a3 and the RAM determination value is “0”. In this embodiment, the complement of the checksum value is used as the RAM determination value. However, in the present invention, the checksum value itself may be used as the RAM determination value. After the RAM determination value storage process, access to the RAM 1045a3 is prohibited ("RAM access prohibition process"). Thereafter, an infinite loop is entered in preparation for the case where the processing cannot be executed due to complete interruption of the internal power. Note that, for example, when the power failure flag is erroneously set due to noise or the like, although not shown, it is confirmed whether the power failure signal is still input before entering the infinite loop. If the power failure signal is not output, the internal power supply is restored, so that writing to the RAM 1045a3 is permitted, the power failure flag is released, and the process returns to the timer interrupt process. On the other hand, if the power failure signal is continuously input, an infinite loop is entered (not shown).

  As described above, it is determined whether or not the command transmission has been completed at the initial stage of the backup processing S1103, and when those transmissions are incomplete, the transmission processing is prioritized. By adopting a configuration in which the backup process S1103 is executed after the command transmission process is completed, it is not necessary to construct a power failure processing program considering that the backup process is executed during the command transmission. As a result, it is possible to simplify the program related to the processing at the time of power failure and to reduce the capacity of the ROM 1045a2. The power supply unit 1038e of the power supply control board 1038 ′ outputs backup power used as drive power for the control system for a sufficient time to complete the power failure interrupt process and the backup process even after a power failure occurs. . With this backup power, backup processing of power failure interrupt processing and timer interrupt processing is performed. In this embodiment, backup power is continuously output for 30 ms [milliseconds] after the occurrence of a power failure.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1102 that the power failure flag is not set, a watchdog timer for monitoring the occurrence of malfunction is initialized, and an interrupt permission is issued to the CPU 1045a1 itself ("interrupt end declaration"). Process "S1104).

  After the interrupt termination declaration process S1104, the left turning stepping motor 1043L4 for rotating the left turning cylinder L, the middle turning stepping motor 1043M4 for rotating the middle turning cylinder M, and the right turning cylinder R are rotated. Of the right-handed stepping motor 1043R4 is controlled ("left-turning motor control process" S1105, "middle-turning motor control process" S1106, "right-turning motor control process" S1107).

  After various spinning motor control processes S1105 to S1107, the states of various switches and sensors connected to the input / output port 1045a4 are monitored ("switch reading process" S1108). The RAM 1045a3 includes information on the on / off state detected by the current timer interrupt, information on the on / off state detected by the previous timer interrupt, and information on the on / off state detected by the previous timer interrupt. Information on state changes (rising and falling) based on on / off states detected by previous and current timer interrupts, and state changes based on on / off states detected by current and previous and previous timer interrupts Such information is also held, and in the switch read process S1108, the information is updated for each timer interrupt.

  After the switch reading process S1108, the state of the sensors in various devices connected to the input / output port 1045a4 is monitored ("sensor monitoring process" S1109). In the sensor monitoring process S1109, the number of game balls passing through the count sensor is measured. In the sensor monitoring process S1109, the occurrence of an error is detected according to the state of various sensors and other related information. Note that specific error control and error notification control are performed during a variation waiting process of a normal game process (to be described later, for example, an insertion error process and a payout error process). In the sensor monitoring process S1109, not only the sensors connected to the main control board 1045a are monitored, but also information based on some sensors connected via the payout control board 1037a (for example, based on the payout count sensor). The payout count signal and the payout signal indicating the payout period) are also substantially monitored.

  Here, the sensor monitoring process S1109 will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the sensor monitoring process. In the sensor monitoring process S1109, as shown in FIG. 21, it is first determined whether or not a payout operation is in progress (S801), and whether or not the receipt of a payout count signal from the payout control board 1037a is detected. It is determined whether or not (S802). Specifically, whether or not the payout operation is being performed is determined as a payout operation when reception of a payout signal from the payout control board 1037a is detected, and a payout operation when it is not detected. Judge that it is not in. When the payout count signal is received even though the payout operation is not in progress, it is determined that the game ball has not passed normally due to payout, and an out-of-period payout error flag is set (“out-of-period payout error” Flag setting process "S803). When the out-of-period payout error flag is set, an error process is executed and an error is notified in a payout error process described later.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a closing operation is being performed (S804), and it is determined whether or not a passing sensor signal is detected (S805). Specifically, whether or not the closing operation is in progress is determined as a closing operation when the closing operation period flag is set, and is not in the closing operation when the closing operation period flag is not set. Is determined. If the upstream passage detection signal or the downstream passage detection signal from the passage sensors 1415a to 1415c is received even though the throwing operation is not being performed, it is determined that the game ball does not pass due to normal throwing, and the time is out The input error flag is set ("out-of-period input error flag setting process" S808). When the out-of-period input error flag is set, error processing is executed and a number error occurrence is notified in input error processing (see S1403 in FIG. 25) described later. Next, when the signal states from various sensors have changed, the sensor detection information is updated ("sensor detection information update process" S809).

  After the sensor detection information update process S809, the number of game balls that normally pass through the count sensors 1416a to 1416c (auxiliary throwing number) is counted ("auxiliary throwing number counting process" S810). Here, the auxiliary input number counting process S810 will be described in detail. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the auxiliary input number counting process. In the auxiliary throwing number counting process S810, first, if the falling of the auxiliary passage detection signal from any of the strips is detected, the value of the auxiliary thrown number is added by the number of strips in which the falling is detected. ("Auxiliary input number addition process" S901). After the auxiliary addition number adding process S901, it is determined whether or not the number comparison timer for determining the timing for comparing the value of the input number and the value of the auxiliary input number is set (S902). Specifically, when the value of the number comparison timer is larger than “0”, it is determined that the number comparison timer is set, and when it is “0”, the number comparison timer is released. Determined. The number comparison timer is a software timer set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “203” corresponding to about 300 ms) in accordance with the operation of the start lever switch 1124 by the player. If the number comparison timer is not set, the auxiliary insertion number counting process S810 ends. On the other hand, if the number comparison timer is not set, the value of the number comparison timer is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“number comparison timer update process” S903). After the number comparison timer update process S903, it is determined whether or not the number comparison timer has been released (S904). When the number comparison timer is released, the auxiliary insertion number counting process S810 ends. On the other hand, if the number comparison timer has not been released, it is determined whether or not the game is in a re-game state (S905), and if it is in the re-game state, the auxiliary insertion number counting process S810 ends. If it is determined in the determination process S905 that the game is not in the replaying state, it is determined whether or not the auxiliary inserted number is equal to or greater than the inserted number (number error determination process: S906). If the number of auxiliary inputs is equal to or greater than the number of inputs, the auxiliary input number counting process S810 ends. If the number of auxiliary inputs is less than the input number, a number error flag is set ("number error flag setting process" S907) Thereafter, the auxiliary input number counting process S810 ends. As described above, the auxiliary input number counting process S810 includes the auxiliary input number adding process S901 to the number error flag setting process S907.

  After the auxiliary input number counting process S810, as shown in FIG. 21, it is determined whether the state to be notified has occurred or changed (S811), and if there is no change in the state to be notified, the sensor The monitoring process S1109 ends. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, a sensor detection command corresponding to the state to be notified is set (“sensor detection command setting process” S812), and the sensor monitoring process S1109 ends. The set sensor detection command is output in a command output process (S1112 in FIG. 20) described later. As described above, the sensor monitoring process S1109 includes the determination process S801 to the sensor detection command setting process S812.

  After the sensor monitoring process S1109, various counter values and various timer values are subtracted ("timer subtraction process" S1110). After the timer subtraction process S1110, the bet number and the acquired number of balls are output to an external concentration terminal board (not shown) in order to count the number of difference balls (difference between the total number of bets and the total number of bets) Count process "S1111). After the difference ball counting process S1111, various commands accumulated in the ring buffer are transmitted to the sub control board 1047a (“command output process” S1112). After the command output process S1112, segment data displayed on the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g and the like is set ("segment data setting process" S1113). The segment data set in the segment data setting process S1113 is transmitted to a predetermined segment data display device in the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g or the like (“segment data display process” S1114). Accordingly, the 7-segment LED display unit 1041g and the like display numbers, characters, symbols, and the like corresponding to the received segment data. Data is output from the input / output port 1045a4 to the I / O device ("port output processing" S1115). After the port output process S1115, the data of each register saved in the backup area in the interrupt start process S1101 is restored to a predetermined register in the CPU 1045a1, and the next timer interrupt is permitted ("interrupt end process" S1116). . A series of timer interrupt processing is completed through the above processing.

  The main process in the main control board 1045a will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing main processing of the main control board 1045a. The main process of the main control board 1045a is executed when returning from the power failure state.

  In the main processing of the main control board 1045a, first, an initial value of the stack pointer is set, an interrupt mode that permits interrupt processing is set, and various settings for the register group and I / O device in the CPU 1045a1 are performed. ("Start-up process" S1201). After the register setting process S1201, a setting key is inserted into the setting key switch 1038d1, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined operation (right rotation operation or the like) is performed (on state or off state) (S1202). If it is determined that the setting key switch 1038d1 has been operated, 1 is selected from a predetermined plurality of types of probability settings (in this embodiment, six-stage settings from “Setting 1” to “Setting 6”). Data in all areas of the RAM 1045a3 excluding a predetermined area that holds the set values of the two probability settings is forcibly cleared ("forced RAM clear processing" S1203). After the forced RAM clear process S1203, the current setting value can be reset (setting re-setting) ("probability setting selection process" S1204). In changing the set value, the operation of the reset switch 1038b and the operation of the start lever switch 1124 are used. After the probability setting selection process S1204, the process proceeds to the normal game process.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1202 that the setting key switch 1038d1 is not operated, whether or not the set value of the selected probability setting is a value within a predetermined range (“1” to “6”). Is determined (S1205). It should be noted that the set value takes only a value within a predetermined range unless an abnormal situation such as mechanical or electrical destruction of the RAM 1045a3 occurs between the occurrence of the power failure state and the return from the power failure state. Absent. If the set value is within a predetermined range, it is determined whether or not a power failure flag is set (S1206). When the power failure flag is set, the checksum value of the work area of the RAM 1045a3 is newly calculated, and it is determined whether or not the new checksum value is normal (S1207). The new checksum value is normal means that the new checksum value and the checksum value before the occurrence of the power failure state are the same, that is, the new checksum value and the RAM determination held in the backup area of the RAM 1045a3. It means that the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR with the value is “0”. This value is “0” when the new checksum value and the checksum value before the occurrence of the power failure are the same, and other than “0” when they are different. This value is not other than “0” unless an abnormal situation such as mechanical or electrical destruction of the RAM 1045a3 occurs between the occurrence of the power failure state and the return from the power failure state. If it is determined in the determination process S1205 that the set value of the probability setting is not a value within the predetermined range, if it is determined in the determination process S1206 that the power failure flag is not set, or a new checksum is determined in the determination process S1207. If it is determined that the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR of the value and the RAM determination value is other than “0”, the interrupt is prohibited, all the output ports of the input / output port 1045a4 are cleared, All the actuators connected to the input / output port 1045a4 are turned off, and error processing and error notification processing for notifying the occurrence of the error are performed ("recovery error processing" S1208). The error state and the error notification state are continued until the reset switch 1038b is operated.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1207 that the new checksum value is normal, the value of the stack pointer stored in the backup area is written to the stack pointer of the CPU 1045a1, and the value of the stack pointer is before the occurrence of the power failure state. ("Program return process" S1209). As a result, after returning from the power failure state, it is possible to resume from the process interrupted by the occurrence of the power failure state. After the program recovery process S1208, a power recovery command indicating recovery from the power failure state is set ("power recovery command setting process" S1210). As a result, the power recovery command is transmitted to the payout control board 1037a and the sub control board 1047a. After the power recovery command setting process S1210, the state of the stop changeover switch 1038c is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1045a3 (“game form setting process” S1211). After the game form setting process S1212, the sensor states of various devices are initialized ("sensor initialization process" S1212). After the sensor initialization process S1212, the power failure flag is canceled ("power failure flag cancellation process" S1213). After the power failure flag release process S1213, when there is a game ball to be paid out as in the case where a power failure occurs during payout, a payout command is set to resume payout that has been completed halfway (“ Midway payout completion processing ”S1214). After the midway payout completion processing S1214, the processing is resumed from the processing at the address before the occurrence of the power failure indicated by the stack pointer. Specifically, an interrupt end declaration process S1104 (see FIG. 20) after the backup process S1103 (see FIG. 20) in the timer interrupt process described above is executed.

  A normal process for performing main control related to the game at normal time will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a normal game process executed on the main control board 1045a. The normal game process of the main control board 1045a is executed after the end of the probability setting process S1204 (see FIG. 23) in the main process. In addition, after the completion of the midway payout completion process S1214 (see FIG. 23), the normal game process is executed halfway.

  In the normal game process, as shown in FIG. 24, first, interrupt permission is set ("interrupt permission setting process" S1301). After the interrupt permission setting process S1301, the state of the stop changeover switch 1038c for determining the game form is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1045a3 (“game form setting process” S1302). The game form setting process S1302 is the same process as the game form setting process S1211 (see FIG. 23) in the main process. After the game form setting process S1302, the process proceeds to the loop process described below. In the following, a case where a continuous game is in progress will be described.

  In the loop processing, first, data in an area holding information that changes for each game in the RAM 1045a3 is cleared (“game information clear processing” S1303). Specifically, information related to the previous game is cleared. The information to be cleared includes, for example, information related to random numbers, information related to control of the reels L, M, and R, information related to winning, and information related to errors. Information related to winning includes information such as winning symbols, winning lines, and number of game balls to be won.

  After the game information clear process S1303, it waits while performing a predetermined process until a change start signal is input ("change wait process" S1304). Here, the variable standby process S1304 will be described in detail. FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the variation standby process.

  In the variation waiting process S1304, first, a game monitoring timer is set (“game monitoring timer setting process” S1401). Here, the setting of the game monitoring timer means that the value of the timer is reset and a new time measurement by the timer is started. The game monitoring timer is a software timer for measuring a game interval, and when a predetermined time has elapsed without being played by the player, the image of the liquid crystal display device 1042 is transferred to a predetermined image (demonstration image). Used to make

  After the game monitoring timer setting process S1401, it is determined whether or not a re-game player has won in the previous unit game. If the re-game player has won a game, the bet number of the previous unit game is automatically set. To the same number of bets ("automatic betting process" S1402).

  After the automatic betting process S1402, it is confirmed whether an error has occurred in the selector 1400. If an error has occurred, the error process is executed and the speakers 1106, 1204, light emitting devices 1132, 1134L1. A throw error command for notifying the LED covered with various LED cover portions, the liquid crystal display device 1042, etc. of the error is stored in the ring buffer (“fill error processing” S1403). For example, a case where an upstream passage detection signal or a downstream passage detection signal is received from the passage sensors 1415a, 1415b, 1415c outside the game ball insertion period can be given. Specifically, these detections are performed in the sensor monitoring process S1109 (see FIG. 20) in the timer interrupt process, and various processes are executed based on the detection. The input error command stored in the ring buffer is output to the sub control board 1047a in the command output process S1112 of the timer interrupt process executed after the storage. Also, in the following, various commands stored in the ring buffer are the same as in the case of the input error command, in the command output process S1112 of the timer interrupt process executed after the storage of these commands, the payout control board 1037a and the sub control board 1047a. Is output.

  After the insertion error process S1403, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the payout device 1033. If an error has occurred in the payout device 1033, error processing is executed and the speakers 1106 and 1204 emit light. A payout error command for notifying the liquid crystal display device 42 and the like such as the devices 1132 and 1134L1 is stored in the ring buffer (“payout error processing” S1404). For example, it is determined whether or not a paying-in signal from the payout board 1037a is in an on state and whether or not it is in an on state. Although the payout signal is not in the on state (during the payout period), the count signal from the payout substrate 1037a based on the count switch signals from the various count sensors 1033h is in the on state. Note that the same payout error process is executed in a state waiting for some input from the player even during other processes, for example, in a waiting state for a rotation stop during rotation of the rotation.

  After the payout error processing S1404, it is determined whether or not the upper tray ball return lever 1386 has been operated. If it is being returned, input by the operation of other buttons or the like is prohibited, and a game ball that has already been thrown in. If there is a game ball, the same number of game balls that have been inserted (the number of games that have been inserted) are returned after completion of the operation of the upper tray ball return lever 1386 ("return processing" S1405).

  Here, the return process S1405 will be described in detail. FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the return process. In the return process S1404, it is first determined whether or not it is in a return state (S101). Specifically, the determination is based on information indicating whether or not the return switch 1441 that detects the movement of the return shutter 1420 from the reference position by the operation of the return lever 1386 is in the ON state. Note that the actual detection of whether or not the return switch is in the ON state is executed in the switch reading process S1108 of the timer interrupt process. If it is not in the return state, the return process S1404 ends without performing any substantial process. On the other hand, when it is in the return state, it is determined whether or not the downstream catching of the suspended ball has occurred (S102). A suspension ball related notification stop command for stopping the suspension ball related notification to be notified is stored in the ring buffer (“suspended ball related notification stop process” S103), and whether or not occurrence of downstream capture of the suspension ball is detected is detected. The downstream capture detection information that is represented is released ("suspended ball detection information release process" S104). Specifically, the downstream capture detection information includes, for example, a downstream capture flag that is “1” when the occurrence of the downstream capture of the hanging ball is detected and “0” when it is not detected. It is done.

  After the processing S102 to S104 related to the hanging ball, it is detected that the vehicle has escaped from the return state and waits until a predetermined time (for example, about 370 ms corresponding to 248 interrupts) has elapsed since the end of the return state (“top plate” “Storage ball return completion waiting process” S105).

  After the upper-plate storage ball return completion waiting process S105, it is determined whether or not the game is in the re-playing state. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a replay flag (a kind of internal state flag) is set (S106). The re-game flag is set in the re-game process S1312 (see FIG. 22) of the normal game process described later when the re-game player is won in the previous unit game, and in the game information clear process S 1303 in the current unit game. Is not released.

  If it is determined in the determination process S106 that the game is not in the re-gaming state, there is a case where a game ball has already been thrown in, so it is judged whether or not there is a thrown game ball (S107). When there is a game ball that has been played, a switch lighting flag indicating whether or not the maximum bet button switch 1304, the start lever switch 1124, etc. can be operated is initialized ("switch lighting flag initialization process" S108), and the inserted game ball Is executed to cause the same number of game balls to be paid out from the payout device 1033 ("injected ball payout process" S109), and the number of passes (auxiliary input number) counted by the count sensor 1033h is set to the initial value "0". Once set ("auxiliary input number initialization process" S110), the return process S1405 is completed. On the other hand, when there is no inserted game ball, the switch lighting flag initialization process S108 and the inserted ball payout process S109 are skipped, the auxiliary throw number initializing process S110 is executed, and the main return process S1405 is completed.

  If it is determined in the determination process S106 that the game is in the re-gaming state, it is not necessary to return the thrown ball because it is not possible to throw the game ball by the player's operation in the current unit game. And the determination process S107 to the auxiliary input number initialization process S110 associated therewith are skipped, and the return process S1405 ends. As described above, the return process S1405 includes the determination process S101 to the auxiliary input number initialization process S110.

  After the return process S1405, a process for betting a game ball and a process associated with the bet are executed in accordance with the operation of the 1-bet button switch 1114 or the maximum bet button switch 1304 ("game ball bet process" S1406).

  Here, the game ball betting process S1406 will be described in detail. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the game ball betting process. In the game ball betting process S1406, first, the light emission of a light emitting device (not shown) for notifying whether or not the maximum bet button switch 1304 can be operated and the light emitting device 1132 for notifying whether or not the start lever switch 1124 can be operated are controlled (“switch LED”). Light emission control process "S201). Specifically, light emission is controlled according to the setting of the switch lighting flag.

  After the switch LED light emission control process S201, it is determined whether or not the input operation is permitted (S202). Specifically, it is determined whether or not a light-emitting device lighting flag indicating whether or not the maximum bet button switch 1304 can be operated is set. If it is not in the insertion operation permission state (the insertion operation prohibited state), the game ball betting process S1406 ends. On the other hand, if it is in the making operation permission state, it is determined whether or not making operation is started (S203). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the 1 bet signal or the maximum bet signal according to the operation of the 1 bet button switch 1114 or the maximum bet button switch 1304 is in the rising state (transition from the off state to the on state). . The actual on / off state of the 1-bet signal or the maximum bet signal is monitored in the switch reading process S1108 (FIG. 20) of the timer interrupt process. In the determination process S203, the on-off state is acquired in the switch reading process S1108. Referencing information. If the 1-bet signal or the maximum bet signal is not in the rising state, the game ball betting process S1406 is ended.

  If the 1-bet signal or the maximum bet signal is in the rising state, it is determined whether or not downstream catching of the suspended ball has occurred (S204). If the suspended ball has occurred, the suspended ball is released. In order to start the suspension ball related notification for informing the method on the liquid crystal display device 1042, a suspension ball related notification start command is stored in the ring buffer ("suspended ball related notification start process" S205), while the suspended ball When the downstream catching has not occurred, the hanging ball related notification start process S205 is skipped because it is not necessary to execute the hanging ball related notification.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the betting has been completed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not 1 bet (5 balls has been inserted) has been completed in the case of the JAC game state in the special game state, and 3 bets (15 balls in the other game state). Is determined) (S206). If the bet has not been completed, the number of game balls to be inserted (the planned number of inputs) is determined (S207). Specifically, with reference to the number of game balls that have already been inserted (the number of inserted balls), the type of bet signal, and the type of gaming state (whether or not it is a JAC game state), the number of balls to be inserted Is determined. For example, if the inserted number is “0” and the rising edge of the maximum bet signal is detected, the estimated number of insertions is set to “5” in the JAC game state, and the insertion is scheduled in other than the JAC game state. The number is set to “15”. Also, when 5 balls are thrown by operating the 1 bet button switch 1114, or when only 5 balls can be thrown in the previous throwing operation due to running out of balls, etc. despite the fact that the maximum bet button switch 1304 is operated. When the rise of the maximum bet signal is detected, “10”, which is obtained by subtracting the number of inserted “5” from “15”, is set as the planned number of inputs. After the planned number-of-insertions determination process S207, a process for substantially managing the input of game balls is executed ("input monitoring process" S208).

  Here, the input monitoring process S208 will be described in detail. FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the input monitoring process. In the input monitoring process S208, first, the planned number of inputs is set as the remaining input number ("input remaining number determination process" S301), and the first game ball input unit 1410a (hereinafter abbreviated as "1st item"). , The throwing operation in all of the second game ball throwing section 1410b (hereinafter abbreviated as "second article") and the third game ball throwing section 1410c (hereinafter abbreviated as "third article"). The permission setting is performed ("all-item insertion permission setting process" S302). Specifically, in the making operation permission setting, the making operation permission flag for each item is set. When the throwing operation permission flag of each item is “1”, the throwing permission state in which the throwing is permitted is indicated, and when “0”, the throwing prohibition state is indicated.

  After the all-items input permission setting process S302, the input monitoring information is initialized ("input monitoring information initialization process" S303). Specifically, each of the number of scheduled inputs ([number of permitted inputs]) is set to “0”, each of the passage restriction flags (input restriction information) is canceled, and the passage permission is permitted. All the values of the passage-permitted remaining time information corresponding to the remaining time of each period are set to “0”, and the first passage phase is selected as each of the passage-specific reference passage phases.

  The reference pass phase is a pass phase selected from a normal pass phase pattern ([normal pass phase transition]). Here, a normal passing phase pattern will be described. FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a normal passing phase pattern. As shown in FIG. 29, the normal pass phase pattern is a sequence of the first pass phase, the second pass phase, the third pass phase, and the fourth pass phase in this order. Each passage phase is a combination of the detection state (on state or off state) of the upstream passage detection signal and the detection state (on state or off state) of the downstream passage detection signal in the same line. The first passing phase is [OFF state, OFF state] and the second passing phase is [ON state, OFF state], if expressed by the detection state of the upstream passage detection signal, the detection state of the downstream passage detection signal] The third pass phase is [ON state, ON state], and the fourth pass phase is [OFF state, ON state]. In addition, although the same regular passing phase pattern is referred to for all the strips, the reference passing phase of each strip changes individually.

  After the input monitoring information initialization process S303, a loop process (S304 to S322) that is executed at the time of the first input operation that is the first input operation and also executed at the time of the re-input operation that is performed following the initial input operation as necessary. Migrate to

  In the loop process, first, whether or not the throwing operation (initial throwing operation or re-throwing operation) is to be finished, whether or not the number of game balls to be thrown in has been thrown is completed (S304), Determining whether or not there is a line in which the number of game balls allocated according to the line by the throwing-in operation or re-throwing operation (the number of distribution throws) is normally terminated and further re-throwing is permitted (S305) ) And judge. If the number of game balls to be thrown in has not been thrown in and there is an article that is allowed to be thrown in, the process proceeds to the next process. On the other hand, in other cases, that is, it is not necessary to perform the re-loading operation if the planned number of inputs has been input, and the input operation itself cannot be continued if there is no article permitted to be input. Finally, the input monitoring process S208 ends.

  After the determination process S305, it is determined whether or not it is an initial input operation (S306). If it is the first input operation, the process proceeds to the input number distribution process S310. On the other hand, when the operation is not the first input operation (when the operation is a re-input operation), it waits for a predetermined waiting time (in this embodiment, the number of timer interruptions “54” corresponding to about 80 ms) (“re-input start standby processing”). "S307). After the re-insertion start waiting process S307, it is determined whether or not the downstream catching of the suspended ball has occurred (S308). If downstream catching of the suspended ball has occurred, the downstream catching flag is set (“downstream catching spot information setting process” S311), and the input monitoring process S208 ends. On the other hand, when the downstream capture of the hanging ball has not occurred, it is determined whether or not the upstream capture of the hanging ball has occurred (S309). If the downstream catch of the hanging ball has not occurred, the process proceeds to the scheduled number distribution process S311.

  In the planned number distribution process S311, the number of game balls that should be thrown in each of the throwing permission items (sorting) is divided substantially evenly so that the number of throwing is not different by 2 or more in each of the throwing permission terms. The planned number of inputs) is determined, and each of the other input monitoring information is set as predetermined initial information for starting input. In determining the planned number of allocations, the game balls that have flowed into the upper plate 1302 are structurally most likely to flow into the third game ball insertion unit 1410a and most into the first game ball insertion unit 1410a. The number of game balls allocated to Article 3 is greater than or equal to the number of game balls allocated to Article 1 and Article 2, and the number of game balls allocated to Article 2 because it is difficult to flow in. Are assigned with a priority so that the number of game balls can be more than the number of game balls assigned to the first article. In addition, the passage restriction flag is set for all the items whose estimated number of distributions is “1” or more, “203” is set in the passage permission remaining time information, and the reference passage phase becomes the first passage phase. Is set. Since the passage permission remaining time information is decremented by “1” for every 1.49 ms interval timer interruption, about 300 ms is set as the passage permission remaining time. In this embodiment, in each article, the passage from the storage passages 1402a to 1402c to the discharge passages 1406a to 1406c is opened by opening the input flickers 1413a to 1413c, and the first game ball that flows down to the discharge passages 1406a to 1406c is normal. The average time to reach the upper elements ([upstream medium detecting means]) 1415a1, 1415b1, 1415c1 of the passage sensors ([pair of medium detecting means]) 1415a to 1415c is about 10 ms. Since the average time from the start of the passage of 1415a1, 1415b1, 1415c1 to the completion of the passage of the lower elements ([downstream medium detecting means]) 1415a2, 1415b2, 1415c2 is about 40 ms, About 300 ms is allowed for passage with sufficient time. It is set as.

  If it is determined in the determination process S308 that upstream catching of a suspended ball has occurred, an upstream capture flag (upstream capture detection information) is set ("upstream capture detection information setting process" S312). After the hanging ball detection information setting process S312, each of the throwing monitoring information is set as initial information for starting the throwing of the hanging ball ("loading monitoring information setting process" S313). Specifically, a passage restriction flag is set for the strip where the suspended ball is trapped by distillation. The control related to the hanging ball is a main feature of the present invention and will be described separately in detail.

  After the scheduled number allocation process S311 and the input monitoring information setting process S313, the process waits until a timer interrupt is executed ("timer interrupt waiting process" S313), and a return operation is started upon completion of the timer interrupt. It is determined whether or not (S315). When it is determined that the return operation is started, a process for canceling the input is executed ("input cancel process" S316). Specifically, the return switch signal from the return switch 1441 based on the player's operation of the upper tray ball return lever 1386 is determined to be the start of the return operation in accordance with the transition to the ON state.

  When it is determined in the determination process S313 that the return operation is not started, the loading operation flag (in-loading information) indicating that any of the articles is in the passage-permitted period is canceled (“in-loading information”). Initialization process "S315). The throwing-in-operation flag is set when the passage permission period of each article has not ended in the first article throwing control process S318, the second article throwing control process S319, and the third article throwing control process S320 described later. . After the throwing operation information initialization process S315, the throwing control process for the first article, the throwing control process for the second article, and the throwing control process for the third article are executed ("first article throwing control process" S318, " Article 2 input control process "S319," Article 3 input control process "S320). The in-loading information initialization process S315 and the first to third input control processes S318 to S320 are executed once within the timer interrupt interval. The details of the first input control process S318, the second input control process S319, and the third input control process S320 will be described after the overall description of the input monitoring process S208.

  After the third feed control process S320, the drive of all the feed solenoids 1414a to 1414c is controlled with reference to the passage restriction flag of each strip ("all feed solenoid drive process" S321). Specifically, the closing solenoids 1414a to 1414c of the line in which the passage restriction flag is newly set are changed to the on state (the closing permission state), and the closing solenoids 1414a to 1414c whose passage restriction flag is already set are in the on state. , The entry solenoids 1414a to 1414c of the strips whose passage restriction flag is newly released are changed to the off state (release prohibited state), and the entry solenoids 1414a to 1414c of the strips whose passage restriction flag has already been released are turned off. Maintain state. The passage restriction flag of each item may be changed from cancellation to setting in the estimated number distribution processing S310, and the first item insertion control processing S318, the second item insertion control processing S319, and the third item insertion control processing S320. May be changed from setting to releasing.

  After the all-throw-in solenoid driving process S321, it is determined whether or not all-throw-in operation has been completed (S322). Specifically, when the throwing operation flag is not set, it is determined that all the throwing operations have been completed. This is synonymous with the fact that the passage permission period of virtually all articles has expired.

  Here, the first article throwing control process S318, the second article throwing control process S319, and the third article throwing control process S320 will be described in detail. In addition, since the 2nd article throwing control process S319 and the 3rd article throwing control process S320 are substantially the same as the 1st article throwing control process S318, in the explanation of the 1st article throwing control process S318, The term "" is read as "Article 2" in the second article input control process S319 and "Article 3" in the third article input control process S320, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the first article insertion control process.

  In the first article insertion control process S318, it is first determined whether or not it is during the first article passage permission period. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the passage permission remaining time information of the first article is “0” (S401). If the passage permission remaining time information of Article 1 is “0”, it means outside the passage permission period of Article 1, and if the passage permission remaining time of Article 1 is greater than “0”, Article 1 Means within the passage permission period. After the determination process S401, it is determined whether the first passage phase has changed (S402). Specifically, the first passage phase read in the immediately preceding timer interrupt processing switch read processing S1108 is the currently selected first passage phase (hereinafter referred to as the first passage phase) of the normal passage phase patterns. It is determined whether it is the same as the reference passage phase of the strip).

  When it is determined in the determination process S402 that there is no change in the first passage phase, it is determined whether or not the first passage permission period expires in the current first insertion control process S318 ( S403). Specifically, the determination is made based on whether the value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value of the passage permission remaining time information in Article 1 is “0”. Here, the passage permission remaining time information in Article 1 is not updated. When it is determined that the first passage permission period ends, the first passage permission remaining time information is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” (“passage permission time update process” S404). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first passage permission period does not end, it is determined whether or not the first insertion flicker 1413a is in a prohibited state (S405). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the first article passage restriction flag is set.

  In addition, when the passage restriction flag of Article 1 is set, it means whether the throwing flicker 1413a of Article 1 has already prohibited the flow of the game ball or is moving to prohibit it. If the first passage restriction flag is not set, it means that the first insertion flicker 1413a permits the flow of the game ball or is moving to allow it. As a case where an affirmative determination is made in the determination process S403, for example, (1) the first game ball to be inserted is first within the first passage permission period set in the estimated number distribution process S311. When the passage of the strip passage sensor 1415a is not started (when the ball is out of ball), or (2) the first passage permission set in the planned number-of-loads distribution processing S311 is set for the first game ball When the passage of the first article is not started within the period (when the ball is clogged), or when the first throwing sensor 1415a of the first thrown game ball (hereinafter also referred to as the preceding ball) starts to pass A game ball (hereinafter also referred to as a succeeding ball) that is to be thrown into the preceding ball within the first passing permission period (passing permission period extending process S420 described later) does not start passing the first passing sensor 1415a. (The place where the ball runs out ) And (4) When the succeeding sphere does not complete the passage of the first passage sensor 1415a within the first passage permission period (passage permission period extension processing S420 described later) extended at the start of passage of the preceding sphere. (In the case of ball clogging).

  If it is determined in the determination process S405 that the first article is not in the throwing-in prohibition state, the throwing operation permission flag in the first article is canceled in order to prohibit the first article from being thrown in again ("re-insertion prohibition setting process"). "S406). In addition, when the passage permission period of Article 1 is scheduled to expire, but is in the insertion permission state, at least the last game ball that should have been inserted in Article 1 has not started. The re-input operation as a whole will be executed, but the re-input operation according to Article 1 will not be performed.

  After the reintroduction prohibition setting process S406, it is determined whether or not the game ball is passing the first passage sensor 1415a (S407). When the game ball is passing through the first passage sensor 1415a, the first game ball is within the passage permission period of the first due to a clogged ball or an illegal act using an unauthorized insertion device (not shown). Since the passage of the strip passage sensor 1415a has not been completed, the passage time error command is a ring to stop the progress of the game of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 1010 and notify the occurrence of an error (passage time error). It is stored in the buffer ("passing time error processing" S408). The passing time error process S408 is an infinite loop and continues until the ball-type spinning gaming machine 1010 is reset according to the operation of the reset switch 1038b. On the other hand, if the game ball is not passing, the Article 1 passage restriction flag is canceled without causing an error because the passing permission period of the Article 1 due to running out of the ball in the Article 1 is scheduled to expire (" “Pass Control Information Change Process” S409), and by setting “140” in the passage permission remaining time information of the first article, the passage permission period of the first article is extended by a time substantially corresponding to about 200 ms (“pass”). Permit period extension process "S410).

  After the passage permission time update process S404 of the first article and the passage permission period extension process S410, it is determined whether or not the passage permission period of the first article has ended (S411). Specifically, when the passage permission remaining time information in Article 1 is “0”, it is determined that the passage permission period in Article 1 has ended (outside the passage permission period), and it is “0”. If not, it is determined that the passage permission period of Article 1 has not ended (within the passage permission period). When the passage permission period of the first article has ended, the first article insertion control process S313 ends, and when the passage permission period of the first article has not ended, the flag during the insertion operation is set. ("In-operation information setting process" S412), and then the first article insertion control process S313 ends.

  When it is determined in the determination process S402 that there is a change in the first passage phase, it is determined whether the phase change is normal (S413). Specifically, the first passage phase detected in the switch read processing S1108 of the immediately preceding timer interrupt processing is the same as the passage phase ordered next to the first passage reference passage phase in the normal passage phase pattern. If it is, it is determined that the phase change is normal, and if they are different, it is determined that the phase change is not normal. When it is determined in the determination process S413 that the passage phase change of the first article is not normal, the game progress of the ball-type spinning gaming machine 1010 is stopped and an error (passing order error) is notified. A passing order error command (a kind of error command) is stored in the ring buffer ("passing order error processing" S414). The passing order error process S414 is an infinite loop and continues until the ball-turning game machine 1010 is reset according to the operation of the reset switch 1038b. As a result, once an error occurs due to some fraud, it is possible to prevent the fraud from continuing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the phase change of the first article is normal, the reference passing phase of the first article is changed from the currently selected passing phase according to the order in the normal passing phase pattern to the next passing phase. It is updated cyclically ("reference passing phase update process" S415). For example, the reference passage phase in Article 1 is updated to the second passage phase when the currently selected passage phase is the first passage phase, and the currently selected passage phase is the fourth passage phase. In this case, the first passing phase is updated.

  After the reference passing phase update process S415, it is determined whether or not the passing of the game ball is completed and whether or not the passing of the game ball is started (passing completion determining process S416, passing start determining process S417). Specifically, in the determination process S415, it is determined that the passage is complete when the first passage phase is the first passage phase, and the passage is completed when the first passage phase is the first passage phase. It is determined that it is not. In the determination process S416, it is determined that the passage is started when the first passage phase is the second passage phase, and the passage is started when the first passage phase is not the second passage phase. Is done.

  When it is determined in the determination process S417 that the game ball has started to pass, it is determined whether or not the game ball that has started to pass through the first passage sensor S1415a is the first ball of the first ball ( S418). Specifically, if the value obtained by subtracting the number of remaining inputs in Article 1 by “1” is “0”, it is determined that the game ball that has started passing is the final ball of Article 1, and the value If is not “0”, it is determined that the game ball that has started to pass is not the final ball of the first article. At this time, the value of the number of remaining inputs in Article 1 is not updated. When it is the start of the passage of the final ball of the first article, the passage restriction flag of the first article is canceled in order to prohibit the inflow by the flicker 1413a of the first article ("passing regulation information changing process" S419), “203” is set in the passage permission remaining time information of the first article, and the passage permission period of the first article is extended (“passage permission period extension process” S420). In addition, the driving of the state transition from the inflow permission state to the inflow prohibition state of the first flicker 1413a is performed in the all-throw solenoid driving process S318 (see FIG. 29) executed after the release of the first passage restriction flag. Done. On the other hand, if it is not the start of the passage of the first ball of the first article, the passage restriction information changing process S419 is skipped and the passage permission period extending process S420 is executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to determination process S411.

  If it is determined in the determination process S417 that the first passage of the game ball is not started, it is determined whether or not the suspended ball generation flag is set and whether or not the passing phase is the third passing phase. (S427, S428). If the suspended ball generation flag is set and the first passage phase is the third passage phase, the first passage restriction flag is canceled ("pass restriction information changing process" S429). In other cases, the passage restriction information changing process S429 is skipped. Thereafter, similarly to the case where it is determined in the determination process S402 that there is no change in the passage phase of the first article, the passage determination process S403 to the in-operation information setting process S412 are executed.

  If it is determined in the determination process S416 that the first pass of the game ball has been completed, the total remaining number is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“all remaining number updating process”). S421), the total number of inserted coins is updated to a value obtained by adding “1” to the current value (“all inserted coins updating process” S422), and the display of bet information such as the number of coins inserted and the number of bets is updated as necessary. ("Bet information update process" S423), the number of remaining inputs in the first article is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current value ("article-specific input number update process" S424). After the number-by-section insertion number update process S424, it is determined whether or not the game ball that has passed through the first section passage sensor S1415a is the first section final ball (S425). Specifically, when the number of remaining throws in the first article is “0”, it is determined that the game ball that has passed is the final ball of the first article, and the remaining number of throws in the first article is “0”. Otherwise, it is determined that the game ball that has passed is not the final ball of the first article. If it is determined in the determination process 425 that the passage of the first sphere is completed, “0” is set in the passage permission remaining time information of the first lane. Thereby, the passage permission period of Article 1 ends. On the other hand, if the passage of the last ball of the first article is not completed, it is not the start of the passage of the first article of the game ball in the judgment process S402 or when it is determined that there is no change in the passage phase of the first article As in the case where it is determined, the passage determination process S403 to the in-operation information setting process S412 are executed.

  Whether or not the passage permission period of Article 1 has ended after the processing related to the passage permission period of Article 1 (passage permission time update processing S404, passage permission period extension processing S412, S420, and passage permission period end processing S426) Is determined. Specifically, when the passage permission remaining time information in Article 1 is “0”, it is determined that the passage permission period in Article 1 has ended (outside the passage permission period), and it is “0”. If not, it is determined that the passage permission period of Article 1 has not ended (within the passage permission period). When the passage permission period of the first article has ended, the first article insertion control process S313 ends, and when the passage permission period of the first article has not ended, the flag during the insertion operation is set. ("In-operation information setting process" S428), then, the first article insertion control process S313 ends. As described above, the first entry control process S316 includes the determination process S401 to the passage restriction information change process S429.

  After the insertion monitoring process S208, as shown in FIG. 27, when it becomes necessary to change the settings of the bet button switch LED and the start lever switch LED according to the control in the above-described insertion monitoring process S208. In order to change these displays, the settings of various LEDs are updated ("switch lighting flag update process" S209). After the switch lighting flag update process S211, it is determined whether or not it is in the on-state return state (S <b> 210). Specifically, when the return switch signal from the return switch 1441 based on the player's operation of the upper bowl return lever 1386 is in the on state, the return switch signal is determined to be in the on-loading state, and the return switch signal is in the on state. In this case, it is determined that the return state is not simply a throwing-in state. If it is in the return state while being thrown in, it waits until the return switch signal shifts to the OFF state, and also waits for a predetermined time after shifting to the OFF state ("top tray storage ball return completion waiting process"). "S211). When the waiting is completed, if game balls have already been thrown in, specifically, if the number of thrown balls is not “0”, the same number of game balls are thrown out. The thrown ball payout command is set in the “filled ball return process” S212. The throwing ball return process S212 is the same process as the return process S1405. The thrown ball payout command is transmitted to the payout control board 1037a, and the payout control board 1037a pays out the same number of game balls as the number of thrown balls from the payout device 1033 in response to receiving the thrown ball payout command.

  After that, even when various bet button switches 1114 and 1304 are operated, an insertion prohibition timer for determining a period during which processing corresponding to the operation is not executed is set (“insertion prohibition timer setting process” S213). As a result, the operations of various bet button switches are invalidated until a predetermined time elapses. After the insertion prohibition timer setting process S213, an auxiliary passage permission period is set ("auxiliary passage permission period setting process" S214). Specifically, “203” (corresponding to about 300 ms) is set in the auxiliary passage permission remaining time information. Note that the auxiliary passage permission remaining time information is a value obtained by subtracting “1” every time the timer interruption process is executed when the auxiliary passage permission time information exceeds “0” in the sensor monitoring process in the timer interruption process. Updated to The auxiliary passage permission period is a period in which the passage of the game ball is permitted as a normal passage and the number of passages (the number of auxiliary throws) is counted. During the throwing operation, the game ball is allowed to pass normally and the number of passes is counted. After the auxiliary passage permission period setting process S214, when the throwing is being performed or the throwing period is being returned, the throwing flag and the returning flag during the throwing period are canceled, and the throwing period is completely terminated ("ball processing" State update process "S215). As described above, the game ball bet process S1406 includes the switch LED light emission control process S201 to the ball process state update process S215.

  After the game ball betting process S1406 ends, as shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether or not the bet number is less than the minimum prescribed number (S1407). If the bet number is less than the minimum prescribed number, the insertion error process S1403 to the determination process S1407 are repeated. On the other hand, if the bet number is not less than the minimum prescribed number, it is determined whether or not a variation start signal corresponding to the operation of the start lever switch 1124 has been received (S1408). If the variation start signal has not been received, the process from the insertion error process S1403 to the determination process S1408 is repeated. On the other hand, when the fluctuation start signal is received, the fluctuation waiting process S1304. As described above, through the processing steps (S1401 to S1408), the fluctuation waiting process S1304 is completed.

  Here, the throwing-in operation according to the flowchart of the above-described game ball betting process S1406 will be described with reference to a substantially chronological order. A case where the throwing operation is completed without performing the refilling operation and a case where the refilling operation due to the occurrence of the ball break is performed will be described. In addition, since it is a characteristic part of this invention, the case where re-injection operation | movement is performed by generation | occurrence | production of a suspended ball state is demonstrated in detail separately. FIG. 31 is a timing chart showing an example of a closing operation in which the charging is completed without performing the recharging operation. FIG. 32 is a timing chart illustrating an example of a throwing operation in which refilling due to a ball break is performed.

  In response to the detection (ta) of the rising of the maximum bet operation signal (a kind of “bet instruction”) based on the operation of the maximum bet button switch 1304 by the player in the insertion operation permission state (S203: Y) (S203: Y) First, in the case of the normal gaming state, the value obtained by subtracting the number of inserted games from “15”, while in the case of the JAC game in the special gaming state, the value obtained by subtracting the number of inserted games from “5” is scheduled to be entered. It is set as a number (S207). Note that if the insertion of the planned number of insertions is completed in the previous insertion control, no substantial processing is performed even if the maximum bet operation signal is detected. The planned number of inputs is allocated to the items that can be input (hereinafter referred to as “input permission items”) among Articles 1, 2 and 3, and the remaining number of inputs by item (scheduled inputs by item) The value is determined. In addition, since the downstream catch of the suspended ball does not occur (S204: N), the suspended ball related notification is not started (S205 is skipped).

  After completing the allocation of the planned number of inputs, the update of the passage permission remaining time information in Article 1 is substantially started (tb). Specifically, a value corresponding to a predetermined permission time (in this embodiment, “203” corresponding to about 300 ms in this embodiment) is set as the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article. Note that the value of the passage permission remaining time information is subtracted by “1” for each timer interruption, that is, substantially every 1.49 ms when the value is “0” or more (S404). Further, in response to the setting of the first passage restriction flag, energization of the first insertion solenoid 1414a is started and the first insertion flicker 1413a is activated (S320), and the game in the storage passage 1402a is performed. The passage of the ball is permitted and the insertion of the game ball in the first article is actually started. The energization of the first entry solenoid 1414a is maintained until the first article passage restriction flag is released. Similarly, the first throwing-in operation of the game balls in Article 2 and Article 3 is actually started (S416). In the following, as shown in FIG. 31, a case will be described in which the values of the number of remaining inputs in Article 1, Article 2 and Article 3 are “5”.

  When the passage of the game ball is permitted, the game ball starts to flow from the storage passage 1402a to the discharge passage 1406a. Note that the output states of the upstream passage detection signal and the downstream passage detection signal of the first article are regularly monitored (S1108), and for each timer interrupt, the detection phase of the first article and the previous first article are detected. The previous detection phase of the first article and the current detection phase of the first article are updated.

  When the game ball starts to flow down, the first article insertion control process (S318) is executed at each timer interrupt interval until the detection condition of the first article changes (S402: Y), and the passage permission is made each time. The value of the remaining time information is subtracted by “1” (S404). In addition, since the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is not “0” (S427), a making operation flag (in making operation information) is set. The throwing operation flag is not information unique to Article 1, but is information common to Articles 2 and 3. If the throwing operation flag is “0” at the time of determination (S322), all items are set. This means that the value of the passage permission remaining time information at “0” is “0”. In addition, the in-operation flag is initialized to “0” in accordance with one cycle of the input control processing S318 to S320 for all items. In the first to third embodiments, this flag is not used. After the closing operation flag is set, the state of the first closing solenoid 1414a does not change because the passage restriction flag is not released in the current first charging control process (S318) (S321). In addition, since the throwing operation flag is set, it is not determined that the passage permission period in all the sections has ended (S322: N), and the next first article throwing control process is waited for the execution of the timer interrupt process. (S318) is executed.

  In addition, unlike FIG. 31, when the detection phase of 1st article does not change (S402: N) and the passage permission period of 1st article ends (when the value of the passage permission remaining time information is “1”) ) (S403), since the throwing flicker 1413a of the first article is not in the throwing prohibition state, it is determined that there is no gaming ball to be thrown in the first article storage passage 1402a, and a process when a ball breaks will be described later. Is executed. Details of the processing when the ball is cut will be described later. In addition, when the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is “0” (S411: Y), the making operation flag is not set (S412 skip). When the first passage restriction flag is released (S409), the first insertion solenoid 1414a shifts to the input prohibited state (S321). If the throwing operation flag is not set, it is determined that the passage permission period in all the sections has ended (S322: Y), and the initial charging operation period ends. When the predetermined condition is satisfied (S304: Y, S305: N), the operation is shifted to the re-input operation, and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the input operation is terminated.

  Within the first passage permission period (S401: Y), the first upstream passage detection signal shifts from the OFF state to the ON state (t11), and this phase change is a normal phase change (S413: Y). ), The reference passage phase of the first article is updated from the first passage phase to the second passage phase (S415). In addition, since it is not the final ball (S418: N) and the first ball has started to pass (S417: Y), the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is set to a value corresponding to the predetermined time Ta (about 300 ms). It is reset (S420). The period until the value of the passage permission remaining time information becomes “0” after the start of passage of the first ball is the passage permission period of the first article. This period also serves as the maximum allowable period from the start of passage of the first sphere in the first article to the start of passage of the second sphere passage sensor 1415a in the first article. Since the value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article is not “0” (S411: N), the making operation flag is set (S412).

  In contrast to FIG. 31, when it is not determined that there is a normal phase change despite a phase change in the detected phase (S411: N), a passing order error process is executed (S413).

  Thereafter, within the first passage permission period (S401: Y), the first downstream passage detection signal shifts from the off state to the on state (t12), and this phase change is a normal phase change (S413). : Y), the reference passage phase of the first article is updated from the second passage phase to the third passage phase (S414). In addition, since the passage sensor 415a does not start or finish passing (S416: N, S417: N) and does not end the passage permission period (S403: N), the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is Only “1” is subtracted (S404). In addition, since the value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article after the subtraction is not “0” (S411), the in-operation flag is set (S412).

  Thereafter, within the first passage permission period (S401: Y), the first upstream detection signal shifts from the on state to the off state (t13), and this phase change is a normal phase change (S411). : Y), the reference passage phase of the first article is updated from the third passage phase to the fourth passage phase (S414). Further, since the passage sensor 1415a does not start to pass or complete (S416: N, S417: N) and does not end the passage permission period (S403: N), the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is Only “1” is subtracted (S404). Further, since the value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article after the subtraction is not “0” (S429), the in-operation flag is set (S430).

  In contrast to FIG. 31, when it is determined that the phase change is not normal (S413: N), a passing order error process is executed (S414). If it is determined that the passage permission period is over (S403: Y), the insertion operation permission flag is canceled because the first article is not used as the insertion permission article (S409), and the first passage sensor is detected. 1415a is being passed (S407: Y), so the transit time error process is executed (S408).

  Thereafter, within the first passage permission period (S401: Y), the first downstream passage detection signal shifts from the on state to the off state (t14), and this phase change is a normal phase change (S411). : Y), the reference passage phase of the first article is updated from the fourth passage phase to the first passage phase (S414). At this time, the second sphere has not yet reached the first element upper element 1415a1, and the first element upstream passage detection signal is maintained in the OFF state. In addition, since the completion of the passage of the first ball passage sensor 1415a is detected (S416: Y), the number of remaining inputs common to all items is subtracted by "1" (S421), and the number of inputs already common to all items is obtained. Only “1” is added (S422), and the value of the number of remaining inputs in the first article is subtracted by “1” (S424). Further, the bet number and the bet number display are updated as necessary (S423). Thereafter, since the first ball is not the final ball (S425: N) and is not the end of the first passage permission period (S403: N), the value of the remaining passage permission time information of the first article is “ 1 "is subtracted (S404). Further, since the value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article after the subtraction is not “0” (S411), the in-operation flag is set (S411).

  Unlike FIG. 31, even when it is determined that the passage permission period of the first article is over (S403: Y), the first article flicker 1413a is already in the introduction prohibited state. The value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article is subtracted by “1” without executing the passage time error process (S408). In addition, when the first sphere is the final sphere in the first article (S425: Y), the value of the passage permission remaining time information in the first article is forcibly set to “0”. The insertion permission period ends (S426). As a result, the first throwing operation (the throwing operation) in Article 1 is completed.

  The first sphere that has passed through the first passage sensor 1415a further flows down the discharge passage 1406a toward the first count sensor 1416a. When the passage of the count sensor 1416a of the first article is started, the count sensor signal shifts from the off state to the on state (t15). When the completion of passage of the first count sensor 1416a is detected by the transition of the count sensor signal from the on state to the off state (t16), the auxiliary input number is incremented by "1" (S901). In the present embodiment, the number of game balls passing through the count sensors 1416a to 1416c is not measured according to the item, but only the total number of game balls passing through the count sensors 1416a to 1416c is measured.

  For Article 2 and Article 3, the introduction of the first ball to Article 2 and Article 3 is completed through substantially the same process as in Article 1 (t14 ', t14 "). The second ball to the fourth ball with respect to the first, second and third balls are completed by performing the same process as the first ball of the first ball (t24 to t44, t14 'to t44). ', T14 "to t44") In the following, only the processing that is different from the case where the fifth sphere, which is the final sphere, is inserted will be described in detail.

  Within the first passage permission period (S401: Y), the first upstream passage detection signal shifts from the OFF state to the ON state (t51), and this phase change is a normal phase change (S413: Y). ), The reference passage phase of the first article is updated from the first passage phase to the second passage phase (S415). In addition, since the first ball passing start (S417: Y) is the final ball (S418: Y), after the passage restriction flag of the first article is released (S419), the remaining passage permission time of the first article The value of the information is reset to a value corresponding to the predetermined time Ta (S420), and the in-operation flag is set (S412).

  Thereafter, as in the case of the first ball, the first-pass downstream detection signal shifts from the OFF state to the ON state (t52) within the first-pass passage permission period (S401: Y). Within the passage permission period (S401: Y), the first passage upstream detection signal shifts from the on state to the off state (t53), and then within the passage permission period of the first section (S401: Y). The downstream passage detection signal of the first article shifts from the on state to the off state (t54). Similar to the case of the first ball, the update of the remaining number of common items for all items (S421) and the number of charged items common to all items according to the detection of the completion of the passage of the fifth ball passing sensor 1415a (S416: Y) Update (S422), update of the bet number and bet number display (S423) and update of the remaining number of insertions in the first article (S424) as necessary. Further, since the fifth ball is the final ball (S425: Y), the value of the passage permission remaining time information of the first article is forcibly set to “0” (S426), and the throwing operation flag is released. This state is maintained (S412).

  At the time when the first throwing operation in Article 1 is completed, as shown in FIG. 31, the first throwing operation in Article 2 and Article 3 has already been completed. In S319 and the third article throwing control processing S320, since the throwing operation flag is not set, it is determined that the passage permission period for all the articles has ended (S322: Y). As a result, the initial input operation period ends, and at the same time, the input operation period flag is canceled and the input operation period ends (tc; S215). Prior to the end of the throwing-in period, a throwing-in prohibition period in which processing corresponding to the operation of the maximum bet button switch 1304 is not performed is provided (S213), and the number of game balls passing through the count sensor 1416a of the first article In order to extend the period for counting the time by a predetermined time Tb, an auxiliary passage permission period is set (S214). Since the fifth ball of the first ball has passed through the first count sensor 1416a after the closing operation period has ended (t56) is within the auxiliary passage permission period (S806: Y), the period The outsourcing error flag is never set (S808 skip).

  A number comparison timer is set in accordance with the operation (te) of the start lever switch 1124 after the predetermined number of game balls are inserted, and a predetermined time Tc is determined from the operation (te) of the start lever switch 1124. When the time has elapsed (tf), it is determined whether the number of inputs and the number of auxiliary inputs satisfy a predetermined condition (the number of inputs ≦ the number of auxiliary inputs) (S906), and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied Then, it is determined that the number error has occurred, and a number error flag is set (S907). When the number error flag is set, the progress of the game is forcibly stopped and the number error is notified after the end of the current unit game (S1403).

  Here, the difference between the case where the re-throwing operation is not performed and the case where the re-throwing operation is performed due to the occurrence of a ball break will be described. FIG. 32 is a timing chart showing an example of a throwing operation when a refilling operation is performed due to the occurrence of a ballless state. In FIG. 32, in the second article, a case where a ball break occurs due to the insertion of the second ball is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the second ball of the second sphere does not start passing through the second passage sensor 1415a within the second passage permission period (corresponding to S401: Y). When the time from the start of passage of the strip passage sensor 1415a reaches a predetermined time Ta (t27 ′; equivalent to S403: Y), the second row throwing operation permission flag is set so that the second row is not regarded as a throwing permission clause. Is released (S406). After the release operation permission flag of the second article is released, the third ball is not passing the passage sensor 1415b in the second article (S407: equivalent to N), so that the second insertion flicker 1413b is returned to the introduction prohibited state. Therefore, the passage restriction flag in Article 2 is released. After the release restriction flag in Article 2 is released, the passage permission remaining time information in Article 2 is reset to a value ("75") corresponding to a predetermined ball-out waiting time Td (in this embodiment, about 200 ms). . As a result, the passage permission period in Article 1 is extended by the ball waiting time. Since the passage permission period in Article 2 ends after a predetermined ball-out waiting time Td (corresponding to S403: Y), and the passage restriction flag in Article 2 has already been released (S405: Y), Of the 5 balls allocated to Article 2, only 2 balls have been thrown in, and since Articles 1 and 3 are throwing permission clauses, it is determined that the throwing operation has not been completed ( S304: N, S305: Y). In addition, since the hanging ball generation flag is not set (S307: N) and the second article is not the entry permission article (S307: Y), after waiting for a predetermined time Te (S5508), the re-insertion operation is performed. It will start (th).

  The number of game balls that should have been thrown in Article 2 during the initial throwing operation period but were not thrown ("3" in FIG. 32) is distributed only to Article 1 and Article 3 which are throwing permission articles ( S5509). Specifically, in consideration of the priority of each item in the distribution, two balls are assigned to the third item, and one ball is assigned to the first item. In this case, the second ball in Article 3 and the first ball in Article 1 are final balls. When the re-insertion operation is started (th), two game balls are inserted in the third article and one game ball in the first article in the same manner as in the first insertion operation. In the re-insertion operation, when the passage permission period of the first article ends (t64) and the passage permission period of the third article ends (t74 "), the re-insertion operation period ends. Since the insertion of the planned number of game balls has been completed (S5504: Y), the insertion operation period flag is canceled substantially simultaneously and the insertion operation is completed (tc; S213).

  After the fluctuation waiting process S1304, as shown in FIG. 24, the value of the random number counter latched by hardware when the start lever switch 1124 is operated is read and stored in the RAM 1045a3 (“random number”). Creation process "S1305). When the start lever switch 1124 is operated, the random number counter is latched in hardware, so that the operation of the start lever switch 1124 and the acquisition of the random number value are synchronized in time. Although the value of the random number counter can be read out by software, in this case, the time from the operation of the start lever switch 1124 to the acquisition of the random number value becomes more uneven than in the case of latching in hardware.

  After the random number generation process S1305, the winning combination corresponding to the random value acquired in the random number generation process S1305 is determined with reference to the random number table corresponding to the probability setting, the number of bets, and the gaming state, and according to the type of the winning combination Winning flags (for example, Big Bonus Winning Flag, Regular Bonus Winning Flag, Cherry Winning Flag, Bell Winning Flag, Watermelon Winning Flag, Replay Winning Flag) are set. A set value command representing a value is set ("internal lottery process" S1306). Winning roles include, for example, a big bonus role (hereinafter also referred to as “BB”), a regular bonus role (hereinafter also referred to as “RB”), and various small roles (in this embodiment, a cherry role, a bell role, and a watermelon role) , A re-playing role and a loser role. A plurality of types of winning combinations may be selected in the unit game.

  After the internal lottery processing S1306, based on the winning combination, the number of bets and the gaming state, one manual stop control table used for controlling each of the cylinders L, M, R from the manual stop control table group held in the ROM 1045a2 is reference-controlled. The table is selected as a table, and the table number of the reference control table is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1045a3 ("rotation initialization process" S1307). When the winning combination is other than losing, slip control is performed in accordance with this reference control table to rotate the rotating cylinder extra within a predetermined range (5 symbols) in order to win the winning combination as much as possible. When the winning combination is lost, the same slip control is performed in order to prevent other winning combinations from winning. This reference control table is reselected from the manual stop control table group as necessary. Details will be described in a rotation control process S1309 described later.

  After the rotation initialization process S1307, a symbol variation standby process S1308 is executed. In the symbol variation standby process S1308, first, it is determined whether or not the measurement time by the symbol variation monitoring timer is equal to or longer than a predetermined specified time (for example, 4.1 seconds). Here, the “symbol fluctuation monitoring timer” is a timer that measures the elapsed time from the time of the last symbol display fluctuation start. If the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is less than a predetermined specified time, a symbol fluctuation waiting command (internal state) indicating that the specified time has elapsed (hereinafter referred to as “symbol fluctuation waiting state”). A kind of command) is stored in the ring buffer. Note that the player is informed of the symbol variation standby state by a variation standby state display device (not shown). After that, until the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer reaches a predetermined specified time or more, whether or not the measurement time by the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is not less than a predetermined specified time while the symbol fluctuation standby state is being notified. The determination is repeated. On the other hand, when the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is equal to or longer than the predetermined specified time, the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is reset and started, the notification of the standby state for the specified time is stopped, and the predetermined specified time has elapsed. A specified time lapse command (a kind of internal state command) indicating this and a bet number command for outputting to the external concentration terminal board are stored in the ring buffer. Thereafter, information related to drive control of each of the stepping motors 1043L4, 1043M4, and 1043R4 of the rotating drum unit 1043 in a predetermined area of the RAM 1045a3 is initialized for starting rotation. For example, the value of the wait timer is set to “0”, and the value of the acceleration counter is set to “26”. Note that the actual driving of each of the stepping motors 1043L4, 1043M4, and 1043R4 is controlled by various rotary motor control processes S1105 to S1107 (see FIG. 20) of the timer interrupt process.

  After the symbol variation standby process S1308, a rotation control process S1309 for controlling the rotation of each of the spinning cylinders L, M, R in the spinning cylinder unit 1043 is executed. Here, the rotation control process S1309 will be described in detail. FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the rotation control process.

  In the rotation control process S1309, information on the rotation of each of the spinning cylinders L, M, R in a predetermined area of the RAM 1045a3 is initialized, and an all-rotating cylinder rotation command indicating that all the spinning cylinders L, M, R are rotating. (A type of spinning rotation information command) and a symbol variation state command (a type of internal state command) indicating the symbol display variation state in the spinning unit 1043 are stored in the ring buffer ("rotation start process" S1601). ). After the rotation start process S1601, the process waits until a predetermined stop standby time elapses ("design stop standby process" S1602). The “predetermined stop standby time” in the symbol stop standby process S1602 is substantially the same as the average time required from the start of rotation of each of the cylinders L, M, and R to the steady rotation at a constant speed. After the symbol stop standby process S1602, it is determined whether or not the rotations of all the spinning cylinders L, M, and R are steady rotations (S1603). Specifically, whether or not these rotations are steady rotations is determined by whether or not a detection signal is received from the rotating cylinder position detection sensor 1043R7 corresponding to the rotating cylinder that has started rotating last. If the detection signal is received, it is determined that the rotations are steady rotations. If the detection signal is not received, it is determined that the rotation of any of the rotating cylinders is not steady rotations. . If these rotations are not steady rotations, the determination process S1603 is repeatedly executed. In this embodiment, all the spinning cylinders L, M, R start to rotate simultaneously.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1603 that the rotations of all the cylinders are steady rotations, an automatic stop timer for measuring the fluctuation time of the symbol display until the automatic stop is set ("automatic stop timer setting process" S1604). ). After the automatic stop timer setting process S1604, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the automatic stop timer exceeds the specified rotation time (S1605). If the measurement time by the automatic stop timer does not exceed the specified rotation time, the following process for manually stopping the symbol display fluctuation is executed.

  It is determined whether or not a left stop signal corresponding to the operation of the left cylinder stop button switch 1126L is received (S1606). If the left stop signal has not been received, it is determined whether or not a middle stop signal corresponding to the operation of the middle cylinder stop button switch 1126M has been received (S1607). If the middle stop signal is not received, it is determined whether a right stop signal corresponding to the operation of the right-turn cylinder stop button switch is received (S1608). When the right stop signal is not received, that is, when none of the left stop signal, the right stop signal, and the right stop signal is received, the determination process S1606 is executed.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1606 that a left stop signal has been received, it is determined whether a left stop flag is set (S1609). The “left stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the left cylinder L is rotating or stopped, and is canceled in the rotation initialization process S1307. When the left stop flag is set, it indicates that the left cylinder L has already stopped, and when the left stop flag is released, it indicates that the left cylinder L is rotating. When the left stop flag is set, the determination process S1606 is executed. On the other hand, when the left stop flag is canceled, the left turn cylinder stop process S1610 is executed. In the left turning cylinder stop processing S1610, first, the left turning stepping motor 1043L4 that rotates the left turning cylinder L is stopped with reference to the reference control table. After the left-turning stepping motor 1043L4 is stopped, a left-stop flag is set, the number of stop-turning cylinders is incremented, and a left-turning cylinder stop command (rotational rotation information command 1 type) and a left turn symbol command (a kind of stop design command) representing a stop symbol of the left turn cylinder L are stored in the ring buffer. The “number of stopped spinning cylinders” represents the number of stopped spinning cylinders, and is reset to “0” in the rotation start process S1601.

  Here, the left cylinder stop process S1610 will be described in detail. In the left-turn cylinder stop process S1610, first, with reference to the current symbol number held in the RAM 1045a3, the stop reference symbol number is set to a value obtained by adding 1 to the current symbol number. After the stop reference symbol number is set, if the left cylinder L is the second cylinder that has been stopped, the currently selected reference control table is changed to another control table as necessary. . If the left turn cylinder L is not the second stop, the control table is not changed. Thereafter, referring to the reference control table, a slip amount corresponding to the stop reference symbol number is extracted, and a value obtained by adding the slip amount to the stop symbol number is set as the stop symbol number. When the stop symbol number exceeds 20 (maximum symbol number), the stop symbol number is changed to a value obtained by subtracting 21 from the current value. After the stop symbol number is set, the stop interval timer is set. The stop interval timer is a timer that measures a period during which a stop instruction for the next spinning cylinder is not accepted. Note that the value of the stop interval timer is set to a predetermined time exceeding the maximum time in consideration of the time required for the rotation corresponding to the slip amount and the subsequent stop of the spinning cylinder. Thereafter, when the measurement time of the stop interval timer exceeds a predetermined time, a left stop flag is set, and the left cylinder stop process S1610 is ended.

  After the left turning cylinder stop processing S1610, it is determined whether or not the number of stopping cylinders is 3 (S1611). If the number of stop cylinders is not 3, that is, if at least one of the cylinders is rotating, it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed (S1612). When it is necessary to change the reference control table when stopping the unstopped cylinder, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process"). S1613). In the control table change process S1613, the stop position of the already-rotated cylinder of the middle and right cylinders M and R is referenced together with the stop position of the left cylinder L. As a case where it is necessary to change the reference control table, for example, there is a case where a combination other than the winning combination wins.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1607 that an intermediate stop signal has been received, it is determined whether or not an intermediate stop flag is set (S1614). As in the case of the left stop flag, the “intermediate stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the middle cylinder M is rotating or stopped, and is canceled in the rotation start process S1601. If the middle stop flag is set, determination processing S1606 is executed. On the other hand, when the middle stop flag is released, it is determined whether or not the number of stop rotations is 0 (S1615). When the number of stop cylinders is not 0, the middle cylinder stop process S1617 is executed. On the other hand, when the number of stop rotations is 0, a predetermined manual stop control table in the manual stop control table group is reset as a reference control table (“control table resetting process” S1616), and the control table is reset. After the process S1616, the middle cylinder stop process S1617 is executed. Note that the middle cylinder stop process S1617 is the same process as the case of the left cylinder stop process S1610. In the middle cylinder stopping process S1617, first, the middle cylinder stepping motor 1043M4 that rotates the middle cylinder M is stopped with reference to the reference control table. The control for stopping the stepping motor for the middle cylinder is substantially the same as the control for stopping the stepping motor 43L4 for the left cylinder. After stopping the middle cylinder stepping motor 1043M4, an intermediate stop flag is set, the number of stop cylinders is incremented, and an intermediate cylinder stop command (rotation rotation information indicating that the intermediate cylinder M is stopped). A kind of command) and a medium-torso drum design command (a kind of stop symbol command) representing a stop symbol of the middle drum M are stored in the ring buffer.

  After the middle cylinder stop process S1617, it is determined whether or not the number of stop cylinders is 3 (S1618). If the number of stop cylinders is not 3, it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed when stopping the unrotated cylinder (S1619). When the reference control table needs to be changed, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process" S1620). In the control table changing process S1620, the stop symbol numbers of all the rotating cylinders that have already stopped among the left rotating cylinder L and the right rotating cylinder R are referred to together with the stopping position of the intermediate rotating cylinder M.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1608 that a right stop signal has been received, it is determined whether a right stop flag is set (S1621). The “right stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the right cylinder R is rotating or stopped, as in the case of the left stop flag and the middle stop flag, and is canceled in the rotation start process S1601. If the right stop flag is set, determination processing S1606 is executed. On the other hand, when the right stop flag is released, it is determined whether or not the number of stop rotations is 0 (S1622). When the number of stop rotations is not 0, the right rotation stop process S1624 is executed. On the other hand, when the number of stop rotations is 0, a predetermined manual stop control table in the manual stop control table group is reset as the reference control table (“control table resetting process” S1623), and the control table is reset. After the process S1623, a right cylinder stop process S1624 is executed. Note that the right crotch stop processing S1617 is the same processing as the left crotch stop processing S1610. In the right turn cylinder stop processing S1617, first, the right turn stepping motor 1043R4 for rotating the right turn cylinder R is stopped with reference to the reference stop control table. The control for stopping the stepping motor for the right turn cylinder is substantially the same as the control for stopping the stepping motor for the left turn cylinder 1043L4. After the stepping motor 1043R4 for the right turn is stopped, a right stop flag is set, the number of stop turns is incremented, and a right turn stop command (rotation rotation information indicating that the right turn R is stopped) A kind of command) and a right turn design command (a kind of stop design command) representing a stop design of the right turn case are stored in the ring buffer.

  After the right turn stopping process S1624, it is determined whether or not the number of stop turnings is 3 (S1625). If the number of stop rotations is not 3, it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed when stopping the unrotated rotation (S1626). When the reference control table needs to be changed, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process" S1627). In the control table changing process S1627, the stop symbol numbers of all the rotating cylinders that have already stopped among the left rotating cylinder L and the middle rotating cylinder M are referred to together with the stop position of the right rotating cylinder R.

  In the determination process S1605, when the time measured by the automatic stop timer exceeds the specified rotation time, the rotation of all the cylinders L, M, R currently rotating is stopped (“automatic stop process” S1628). After the automatic stop process S1628 and when it is determined in the determination process S1611, the determination process S1618, and the determination process S1625 that the number of stop rotations is “3”, the automatic stop timer is canceled.

  Here, the automatic stop process S1628 will be described in detail. In the automatic stop process S1628, first, one table is set as a reference control table from the automatic stop control table group held in the ROM 1045a2 by referring to the stop symbol number (stop position) of the rotating cylinder that has already stopped. . Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the left stop flag is set. If the left stop flag is not set, the rotation of the left cylinder L is stopped. Next, it is determined whether or not the intermediate stop flag is set. If the intermediate stop flag is not set, the rotation of the intermediate drum M is stopped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the right stop flag is set. If the middle stop flag is not set, the rotation of the middle cylinder R is stopped.

  After the rotation control process S1309, a winning confirmation process S1310 is executed as shown in FIG. In the winning confirmation process S1310, first, the pattern pattern for each activated line is confirmed, and if any winning combination other than the winning combination has been won, an error process for notifying the occurrence of a winning error is executed. The On the other hand, if only the winning combination is winning, a winning flag corresponding to all winning winning combinations (for example, big bonus winning flag, regular bonus winning flag, cherry winning flag, bell winning flag, watermelon winning flag, A replay winning flag) is set. Further, the number of acquired game balls corresponding to each winning combination won is added within a range not exceeding the maximum number of acquired game balls, so that the number of acquired game balls is finally determined. Further, in the winning confirmation processing S1310, a winning combination command including information on the type of winning combination, a winning line command including information on the type of winning line, and a winning combination error command including information on winning errors are stored in the ring buffer. .

  After winning confirmation processing S1310, processing for paying out the acquired ball is executed ("acquired ball payout processing" S1311). Here, the acquired ball payout process will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the acquired ball payout process.

  In the acquired ball payout process S1311, as shown in FIG. 34, first, it is determined whether or not the acquired ball number determined in the winning confirmation process is “0” (S1701). In the case of “0”, the actual acquired ball payout process S1311 is terminated without performing substantially any process, and when the acquired number of balls is not “0”, the payout remaining number is the same as the acquired number of balls. Is set to a value ("paid-out remaining number setting process" S1702), and an acquired ball number command including information on the number of acquired balls output to the sub-control board 1047a is set ("acquired ball number command setting process" S1703). An acquired ball payout command to be output to the control board 1047a is set (“acquired ball number command setting process” S1704), and a prize ball command ([bonus payout information] including information on the number of acquired balls to be output to the payout control board 1037a is set. ) Is set "Winning balls command setting process" S1705). After the prize ball command setting process S1705, the control data defining the control until the paying-in detection state based on the paying-in signal indicating the start of payout control in the payout control device 1037a is turned on is a predetermined initial value. ("Payout waiting information setting process" S1706). After the payout waiting information setting process S1706, the process waits until a timer interrupt is executed ("interrupt waiting process" S1707).

  After the interruption waiting process S1707, it is determined whether or not the in-payout detection state is in the on state (S1708), and if it is in the on state, the control data is updated ("dispensing information setting process" S1709). A paying flag is set in the paying information setting process S1709. On the other hand, if it is in the off state, it is determined whether or not a payout monitoring timer for measuring the time from the transmission of the prize ball command to the detection of the on state of the payout signal is set (S1710). Is not set, that is, when the time measured by the payout monitoring timer has reached the predetermined time, it is determined that the payout shortage error has occurred, and the game progress is stopped until the reset switch is operated ( “Discharge insufficient error processing” S1721). When the reset switch is operated, the process returns to the prize ball command setting process S1705, and a prize ball command including information on the remaining payout number is set.

  After the paying-out information setting process S1709 and when the determination process S1710 is affirmative, it is determined whether or not a paying-out flag is set (S1711). The process returns to S1707 and waits for the payout detection state to shift to the on state. On the other hand, when the paying flag is set, it is determined whether or not the passage start detection state based on the payout count signal is an on state (S1712). In this determination, when the payout count signal shifts from the off state to the on state, it is determined that the passage start detection state is the on state, and in other cases, the passage start detection state is determined to be the off state. . If it is determined in the determination process S1712 that the passage start detection state is the off state, the process returns to the interrupt waiting process S1707 and waits for the passage start detection state to shift to the on state. On the other hand, when it is determined that the passage start detection state is the on state, it means that one game ball has been paid out, and therefore, the payout remaining number is a value smaller by “1” than the current value. ("Payout remaining number update process" S1713), the number of payouts is updated to a value larger by "1" than the current value in order to transmit the number of game balls that have been paid out to an external device of the gaming machine ( “Payout amount notification process” S1714), output data corresponding to the number of payouts is set to display the number of payouts on the light emitting device 1041g (“payout number display update process” S1715). After the payout amount display update process S1715, in the case of a special game state with a big bonus or a regular bonus, the total acquisition number is updated to a value smaller by “1” than the current value (“total acquisition number update process” S1716). ). After the total acquisition number update process S1716, it is determined whether or not the payout remaining number is “0”, that is, whether or not the payout is completed (S1717). If the payout remaining number is not “0”, The process returns to the interrupt waiting process S1707 and waits for the next game ball to be paid out. If it is determined in the determination process S1717 that the remaining payout number is “0”, the process waits for a predetermined time (for example, four timer interruption times) (“payout end standby process” S1718). After the payout end standby process, a payout end command (payout type command) indicating the end of payout is set (“payout end command setting process” S1719). After that, when the total number of acquisitions is 0 or less, it is updated to “0” (“total acquisition number update process” S1720).

  After the acquired ball payout process S1311, a re-game process S1312 is performed. In the re-game process S1312, when the re-game winning flag is set in the winning confirmation process S1310, various processes such as setting the internal state to re-game are performed. Further, a re-game command (a kind of internal state command) indicating that the next game is a re-game is stored in the ring buffer.

  After the re-game process S1312, an accessory operating process S1313 is performed. In the process of operating a bonus item S1313, a process during actives such as a big bonus (BB) combination and a regular bonus (RB) combination is performed. When the internal state is the big bonus game state, control during the small role game, transition control from the small role game to the JAC game, control during the JAC game, transition control from the JAC game to the small role game, and the big bonus Game state end control and the like are performed. The end determination of the big bonus game state is determined by whether or not the total number of game balls acquired during that state is greater than or equal to a predetermined number. When the total number of acquisitions is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of acquisitions, a big bonus end process is performed. On the other hand, when the total number of acquisitions is less than the predetermined number of acquisitions, the big bonus end process is skipped. On the other hand, when the internal state is a regular bonus, control during the JAC game, end control of the regular bonus game state, and the like are performed. The termination condition for the regular bonus is also determined by whether or not the total number of acquisitions is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of acquisitions.

  After the accessory operating process S1313, an accessory operating determination process S1314 is performed. In the bonus operation determining process S1314, a winning flag for the big bonus combination indicating that the big bonus combination is won is set, and a winning flag for the big bonus combination indicating that the big bonus combination is won is set. If so, a process for starting the big bonus is executed ("BB start process"). In addition, when the regular bonus combination winning flag indicating that the regular bonus combination is won is set and the regular bonus winning flag indicating that the regular bonus combination is won is set, the regular bonus combination is set. Is executed ("RB start process").

  A game progress display process S1315 is executed after the accessory operation determination process S1314. In the game progress display processing S1315, when the internal state is a big bonus game state or a regular bonus game state, data for displaying the number of remaining JAC games, the total number of acquired game balls in one big bonus, and the like. Is set. In addition, after the end of the big bonus or regular bonus, the internal state is changed to the specific game state when the winning probability of replay is shifted to a specific game state such as a replay time (“RT”) higher than the normal game state. The specific game state command (a kind of internal state command) indicating the specific game state is set and stored in the ring buffer.

  After the game progress display process S1315, it is determined whether or not the number error flag is set (S1316). If the number error flag is set, the game progress is stopped (“number error process” S1316). ). The number error state is maintained until the reset switch 1038b (see FIGS. 9 and 19) is operated. When the reset switch 1038b is operated, the process returns to the game information clear process S1303, and the game progress is resumed. On the other hand, if the number error flag is not set, the number error process S1316 is skipped and the process returns to the game information clear process S1303.

  Next, control processing executed by the payout control board 1037a will be described. The control process of the payout control board 1037a includes a main process activated by power recovery by restarting the supply of external power or turning on the power switch 1038a, and a signal from outside the payout control board 1037a with respect to the main process. In accordance with the external interrupt processing that interrupts according to the main processing and the internal interrupt processing that interrupts the main processing. As the external interrupt process, a power failure interrupt process for interrupting in response to reception of a power failure signal from the power failure monitoring circuit unit 1038 of the power supply control board 1038 ′, and interrupting in response to reception of various commands from the main control board 1045a. And command interrupt processing. On the other hand, the internal interrupt process includes a timer interrupt process that is periodically and repeatedly executed.

  The main process in the payout control board 1037a will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of the main process of the payout control board. In the main process, first, as shown in FIG. 35, various settings are made for a register group around the CPU, an I / O device, and the like ("initial setting process" S3001). After the initial setting process S3001, access to the RAM 1037a3 is permitted ("RAM access permission process" S3002), and interrupt vectors that define the priority of various external interrupts are set ("external interrupt vector setting process" S3003). . Note that a power failure interrupt takes priority over a command interrupt. The power interruption interrupt and the command interruption process have priority over the timer interruption process. After the external interrupt vector setting process S3003, all areas of the RAM 1037a3 are once cleared to “0” (S3004), initial values are set in the RAM 1037a3 (“RAM initial setting process” S3005), and other peripheral devices of the CPU 1037a1. Are initialized ("CPU peripheral device initial setting process" S3006). After CPU peripheral device initial setting processing S3006, interrupt permission is set ("interrupt permission setting processing" S3007).

  After the interrupt permission setting process S3007, the process waits until the timer interrupt is executed three times ("timer interrupt wait process" S3008). As will be described later, since the passage detection state is determined by the output state of the payout count switch signal read by the three timer interrupts, in the timer interrupt waiting process s3008, until three timer interrupts are executed. Waiting. After the timer interrupt standby process S3008, it is determined whether or not the first passage detection state or the second passage detection state is off (S3009), and the first or second passage detection state is determined. In the ON state, the first payout error flag (a type of payout abnormality information at start-up) is set because the payout count switch 1033h in Article 1 or 2 detects a game ball. ("First payout error information setting process" S3010), and when the passage detection state of the first or second article is an off state, it is a normal state, and therefore the startup passage error information setting process S3010 is performed. Skipped. Similarly, it is determined whether or not the passage detection state of Article 3 or the passage detection state of Article 4 is an off state (S3011), and the passage detection state of Article 3 or Article 4 is on. In some cases, a second payout error flag (a kind of start-up payout abnormality information) is set ("first payout error setting process" S3012), and the passage detection state of Article 1 or Article 2 is off. Since there is a normal state in some cases, the first disconnection information setting process S3012 is skipped. When the first or second payout error flag is set, the control of the payout control board 1037a is retained at the next timer interruption, and the occurrence of a payout error at the time of start-up is notified to the main control board 1045a. As a result, the control of the main control board 1045a is also retained. Further, the occurrence of a payout error at the time of start-up is notified to the player or the manager by the liquid crystal display device 1042, the effect LED units 1104, 1108, 1110, 1148, 1150 and the upper speaker unit 1106.

  Thereafter, the interrupt permission setting process S3013 is repeatedly executed, and after the execution of various interrupt processes, the execution of the next interrupt process is permitted. Note that processing relating to substantial payout is executed by timer interrupt processing described later.

  Next, the power failure interrupt process will be described. When the on state of the power failure signal from the power supply control board 1038 ′ is detected, the execution address of the current program is saved, and all the dispensing solenoids 1033c in the on state are shifted to the off state, and the dispensing to the main control board 1037a is performed. The count signal is shifted to the off state. Thereafter, the process shifts to an infinite loop and waits until a power failure signal OFF state is detected. When the power failure signal shifts to the off state, the power failure has been resolved. Therefore, the execution address of the saved program is restored, and the processing at the time of the power failure is resumed.

  Next, command interrupt processing will be described. The command interruption process is executed when the payout control board 1037a receives a command from the main control board 1045a. The command is 2-byte data, and each byte data is subsequently transmitted to the strobe signal. When the strobe signal is received, the command interrupt process is started, and the byte data transmitted after the strobe signal is a predetermined area of the ring buffer (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) indicated by the value of the write pointer (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3). Stored in After the transmitted data is stored, the value of the write pointer is updated, and the command interrupt process ends.

  Next, timer interrupt processing will be described. In the normal interruption state, the timer interruption process pays out the game balls of the acquired number of balls based on the types of payout commands in response to the reception of various payout commands from the main control board 1045a, and the ball lending button of the ball lending device 1350. Substantial processing for paying out the game ball is executed in response to the detection of the lending request signal from the CR unit based on the operation of 1306. This timer interrupt process is executed about every 2 ms. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of timer interruption processing of the payout control board.

  In the timer interrupt process, as shown in FIG. 36, first, an interrupt having a higher interrupt priority than the timer interrupt process is permitted (“interrupt permission process” S3101). Specifically, a power failure interrupt and a command interrupt are permitted. By giving priority to the command interrupt processing over the timer interrupt processing, it is possible to reduce the processing load required for command transmission in the main control board 1045a and to suppress the stagnation of control progress due to command transmission. The priorities of various external interrupts are set in the external interrupt vector setting process 3003 of the main process.

  After the interrupt permission process S3101, payout solenoid control information (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is output to the input / output port 1037a4 ("payout solenoid drive process" S3102). The payout solenoid control information is information for identifying driving states of various payout solenoids 1033c. As a result, a payout control signal is output from the input / output port 1037a4 to various payout solenoids 1033c, and the driving state of the payout solenoid 1033c is updated to an on / off state based on the payout control signal. When the dispensing solenoid 1033c shifts to the ON state, the corresponding dispensing flicker 1033b shifts to the passage permission state.

  After the payout solenoid driving process S3102, various control signals are output to the main control board 1045a and various devices connected to the payout control board based on the data stored in the output buffer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) ( “Control information output process” S3103).

  After the control information output process S3103, various commands transmitted following the strobe signal from the main control board 1045a are stored in the ring buffer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3), and are electrically connected to the payout control board 1037a. The output states of signals from various switches and the like are read, and various detection states are set ("control information input process" S3104).

  Here, setting of various detection states based on the output states of signals from various switches in the control information input process S3104 will be described. As signals from other than the main control board 1045a input to the payout control board, for example, the first to fourth payout count switch signals from the first to fourth payout count switches 1033h, the first and the fourth First and second ball breakage detection switch signals from the second ball breakage detection switch 1035b (see FIGS. 19 and 12), and a ball overflow detection switch signal from the ball overflow detection switch 1031j (see FIGS. 19 and 14) , A reset switch signal from the reset switch 1038c (see FIGS. 19 and 9), a power failure signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 1038f (FIG. 19) of the power supply board 1038 ′, and a lending instruction signal from the CR unit (FIG. 19). . In the control information input process S3104, the 1st to 4th payout count switch signals indicate that the 1st to 4th payout count switch 1033h detects the passage of the game ball (passing state). Is an L level potential, and a state where no passage is detected (non-passing state) is an H level potential. Based on the output state (L level or H level) in three consecutive timer interruptions, the passage detection states of Article 1 to Article 4 are set. Specifically, when the L level output is detected twice consecutively when the passage detection state is OFF in each strip, the passage detection state is changed to ON, and conversely, the passage detection is performed in each strip. If the H level output is detected twice consecutively when the state is the on state, the passage detection state is changed to the off state. This prevents malfunction due to noise or the like. Further, a passage flag indicating the passage start detection state is set based on the passage detection state (on state or off state) in three consecutive timer interruptions. Specifically, when the passage detection state is the off state, the passage flag is set when the on state of the passage detection state is detected twice consecutively. The first and second ball break detection switch signals are L level potentials when the first and second ball break detection switches 1035b detect the ball presence state, respectively, If it is detected, the potential is at the H level, and the first and second ball breakage detection states are set based on the signal output state (L level or H level) in three consecutive timer interruptions. The ball overflow detection switch signal is an L level potential when the ball overflow detection switch 1031j detects a ball overflow state, and is an H level potential when a ball removal state is detected. The ball overflow detection state is set based on the output state (L level or H level) in the three timer interruptions. For other input signals, various detection states are set based on output states (L level or H level) in three consecutive timer interruptions.

  After the control information input process S3104, the type of command stored in the ring buffer is determined, and the process according to the type of command is executed ("command determination process" S3105). Here, the command determination processing S3105 will be described in detail. FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of command determination processing.

  In the command determination processing S3105, as shown in FIG. 37, first, after waiting for reception of byte data for a predetermined time from detection of the strobe signal ON state, whether or not unread byte data is stored in the ring buffer. Is determined (S101). Specifically, a write pointer (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) indicating a write position (address) to the ring buffer and a read pointer (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) indicating a read position (address) of the ring buffer; If they point to the same position, it is determined that the byte data constituting the command is not stored, and if they point to different positions, it is determined that the byte data is stored. If it is determined that the command is not stored, the command determination process S3105 ends.

  If byte data is stored, it is determined whether or not the stored byte data is header information (upper byte) of the winning ball payout command (S102). When the stored byte data is header information, the header information is stored in a command header buffer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) (“command header storage process” S103). After the header information is stored, the value of the read pointer of the ring buffer is updated in order to read the remaining byte data (trailer information; lower byte) constituting the prize ball payout command (“read area update process” S104). Thereafter, the process returns to the determination process S101 to determine whether trailer information is received. The header information and trailer information constituting one prize ball payout command may be read by the same timer interrupt process or the next timer interrupt process of the timer interrupt process from which the header information is read. is there.

  If it is determined in the determination process S102 that the byte data read from the ring buffer is not header information, it is determined whether or not the winning ball payout command is normal (S105). Specifically, since the prize ball payout command is configured such that the header information represents the number of acquired balls and the trailer information represents the one's complement of the acquired number of balls, the header information and the trailer information are added. It is determined whether or not the value is “FFH”. When it is “FFH”, it is determined as normal, and when it is “FFH”, it is determined as abnormal. If it is abnormal, it is determined that the read command is invalid, the read pointer of the ring buffer is updated (S104), and the process returns to the determination process S101.

  If it is determined in the determination process S105 that the winning ball payout command is normal, it is determined whether or not the number of acquired balls in the header information is a value within a predetermined specified range (S106). In this embodiment, the specified range is an integer value range that is greater than “1” and less than “76”. In the case of an affirmative determination, since the number of acquired balls is normal, the number of winning ball payouts (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set to the same value as the number of acquired balls ("Prize ball paying number setting process" S107). ) And the reading of the prize ball payout command is completed, the command header buffer is cleared (“command clear process” S108). On the other hand, in the case of negative determination, since the number of acquired balls is abnormal, the winning ball payout number setting processing S104 and the command clear processing S105 are skipped, and the winning ball payout number is not set.

  After the command determination process S3105, as shown in FIG. 36, the reset detection state of the reset switch 1038b (see FIGS. 19 and 9) of the power supply control board 1038 ′ (see FIG. 19) is confirmed, and the reset detection state Whether or not to cancel the payout error is determined based on the above, and if a predetermined condition is satisfied, the payout error (the payout error at the time of start-up and the payout error within the payout period) is canceled ("Release error cancellation" Process "S3106).

  Here, the payout error cancellation processing S3106 will be described in detail. FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a payout error canceling process. In the payout error canceling process S3106, as shown in FIG. 38, it is first determined whether or not it is in a reset canceling standby state (S201). Specifically, a reset release standby flag (a type of reset release standby information) (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is confirmed, and when the reset release standby flag is set, it is determined that the device is in the reset release standby state. When the reset release waiting flag is released, it is determined that the device is not in the reset release waiting state. The release determination condition will be described later. If it is not in the reset release waiting state after canceling the payout error, that is, if it is in the payout error state and the reset detection state is on for a predetermined time or if it is not in the payout error state, the reset detection state is on. It is determined whether or not. When the reset detection state is an off state, a release determination timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set to a predetermined value (for example, “10”: equivalent to about 20 ms) (“release determination timer setting process”) S203). This ensures that the ON state of the reset detection state is not an erroneous ON state due to noise or the like.

  If the reset detection state is the on state in the determination process S202, the release determination timer is updated ("release determination timer update process" S204). Specifically, when the release determination timer is set ("1" or more), the value of the release determination timer is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current value, and the release determination timer is released. If present ("0"), the current value is maintained. After the release determination timer update process S204, it is determined whether or not the release determination timer is released (S205). When the release determination timer is not released, that is, when the time during which the reset detection state is in the on state has not reached a predetermined time (20 ms in this embodiment), to wait until the predetermined time elapses Finally, the payout error canceling process S3106 ends. On the other hand, when the release determination timer is released, that is, when the reset detection state remains on for a predetermined time, a reset release standby flag is set ("reset release standby start process" S206).

  After the reset release standby start process S206, it is determined whether or not a payout error state is present (S207). Specifically, the first payout error flag (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) indicating the occurrence of a payout error in Article 1 or 2 or the second payout error indicating the occurrence of a payout error in Article 2 or Article 3 When the flag (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set, it is determined as a payout error state. When both the first payout error flag and the second payout error flag are not set, the payout error state is not set. It is determined. When it is a passage error state, it is determined whether or not the passage detection state of all the strips is an off state (S208). When all the passage detection states are OFF, the first payout error flag and the second payout error flag are canceled (“payout error canceling process” S209), and the number of re-payout attempts is a predetermined value ([prescribed Re-payment trial number]; “1” in this embodiment) (“re-payment trial number setting process” S210). Here, the number of re-payout trials represents the maximum number of re-payout operations when the payout is not completed by the initial payout operation after resetting.

  If it is determined in the determination process S201 that the reset release standby state is set, it is determined whether the reset detection state is an on state (S211). If the reset detection state is an on state, a reset detection is performed. In order to wait for the state to shift to the off state, the payout error canceling process S3106 ends, and when the reset detection state is the off state, the reset cancel waiting flag is canceled ("reset cancel waiting end process" S212). ), The release determination timer is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “10” corresponding to about 20 ms) in preparation for the next transition of the reset detection state to the on state (“release determination timer setting process”). S213).

  A payout error canceling operation realized by repeatedly executing the payout error canceling process S3106 will be described in chronological order. 39 (A) and 39 (B) are timing charts conceptually showing an example of the payout error canceling operation. FIG. 39 (A) shows a case where the reset is returned from the payout error state, and FIG. ) Represents a case where the reset does not return from the payout error state. 39A and 39B show a case where only one of the first payout error flag and the second payout error flag is set. The case where both the second payout error flag and the first payout error flag are set is substantially the same, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted below. In the following, description will be given with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 39A, the payout error state is the on state of the first payout error flag, not the reset release standby state (S201: N), and the reset detection state is the off state ( S202: N) In the reset input standby state (for example, tx0), the on state (payout error state) of the first payout error flag is maintained until the reset detection state shifts from the off state to the on state (S209 skip). . Note that a predetermined value (a value corresponding to the reset confirmation time Tx) is set in the release determination timer.

  When the reset detection state shifts from the off state to the on state (tx1), subtraction of the value of the release determination timer is started, and the value of the release determination timer is “0” because the on state of the reset detection state continues. Until the actual payout error canceling process S3106 is executed (every timer interruption), “1” is subtracted (S204). In the reset input confirmation state until the on state of the reset detection state continues for the reset confirmation time Tx (S205: N), the on state of the first payout error flag is maintained (S209 skip).

  When the OFF state of the reset detection state continues for the reset confirmation time Tx (tx2), the reset release waiting flag shifts from the OFF state to the ON state. Further, since it is a payout error state (S207: Y), the passage detection state of Articles 1 to 4 (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is confirmed, and the passage detection state of all the strips is turned off (non-passage state). (S208: Y), the first payout error flag is canceled and the payout error state ends (S209). With the cancellation of the first payout error flag, the number of re-payout trials is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “1”) in order to pay out incompletely paid game balls. After that, in the reset release standby state (S201: Y, S211: Y), it waits for the reset detection state to shift to the off state.

  When the reset detection state shifts to the off state (tx3) (S211: N), the reset release standby flag is shifted from the on state to the off state, and the reset release standby state ends (S212). In addition, a predetermined value (a value corresponding to the reset confirmation time Tx) is set in the release determination timer in preparation for the next transition from the reset detection state to the on state.

  Since the reset switch 1038b is also operated to reset errors other than various payout errors, unlike the case shown in FIG. 39A, the reset detection state is kept off for the reset confirmation time Tx. Even if there is no payout error state (S207: N), the payout error flag is not canceled and the number of re-payout attempts is not set (S209 and S210 are skipped).

  Moreover, when the passage detection state of Article 1 to Article 4 is confirmed (S208), as shown in FIG. 39B, the passage detection state of Article 1 is in the on state (passage state). In some cases (S208: N), the first payout error flag is not cleared (S205: Y), and the number of repaid trials is not set. Note that FIG. 39B illustrates the case where the first payout detection state is on, but the same applies when at least one of the first through fourth passage detection states is on. It is. When it is determined in the determination process S208 that the passage detection state is the on state, the game ball is placed in the waiting passage 1033d (see FIG. 13) and the payout passage 1033e when the payout flicker 1033b shifts to the passage prohibited state in the previous payout operation. This is a state where it is captured and maintained by the payout flicker 1033b in the vicinity of the boundary (see FIG. 13). When the game ball is captured in this way, even if the re-payout operation is executed after the operation of the reset switch 1038b, the payout cannot be normally continued. Therefore, the operation of the reset switch 1038b can cancel the payout error state. Not. The captured game ball can be removed by operating the operation lever 1033j (see FIG. 13) of the payout device 1033. When the game ball is captured, the payout error state is indicated after the operation lever 1033j is operated. The reset switch 1038b is released by operating again. Although FIG. 38, FIG. 39 (A) and FIG. 39 (B) show an example, when the game ball is captured, the payout error state is not canceled by the operation of the reset switch 1038b. Any configuration may be used. Further, in the present invention, even when the game ball is captured, if the normal payout can be executed in the re-payout operation, the payout error state is canceled by operating the reset switch 1038b. It may be a configuration.

  Also, unlike the case shown in FIG. 39A, in the reset input confirmation state, when the ON state of the reset switch 1038b does not continue for the reset confirmation time Tx (S202: N), there is substantially nothing. The state before the operation of the reset switch 1038b is maintained. In preparation for the next operation of the reset switch 1038b, a predetermined value (a value corresponding to the reset confirmation time Tx) is reset in the release determination timer (S203).

  As shown in FIG. 36, after the payout error canceling process S3106, when the state to be displayed is changed, it is updated to the state display corresponding to the latest state ("state display update process"). S3107). Specifically, a payout error state when a game ball payout is stagnant based on the passage detection state, a ball overflow error state based on a ball overflow detection state described later, a ball break error state based on a ball break detection state described later, etc. In this case, a 7-segment LED (not shown) provided on the payout control board 1037a based on various error flags (predetermined areas of the RAM 1037a3) and error notification flags (predetermined areas of the RAM 1037a3), a speaker This is notified to the player by outputting sound from 1106, 1204, displaying an image on the liquid crystal display device 1042, or the like. For notifications other than the 7-segment LED, control signals from the payout control board 1037a corresponding to various error flags and error notification flags are output to the main control board 1045a, and from the main control board 1045a based on the output control signals. The sub-control board 1047a controls in accordance with the ball information command.

  After the status display update process S3107, the ball breakage detection state (RAM 1037a3) of the first ball breakage detection switch (a kind of [storage detection means]) 1035b and the second ball breakage detection switch (a kind of [storage detection means]) 1035b. Are stored in a predetermined area), and a ball break error flag (predetermined area in the RAM 1037a3) is set or released in accordance with the detected state of the broken ball ("reserved ball confirmation process" S3108). The first ball break detection switch 1035b is configured to determine whether or not a predetermined number (predetermined number) of game balls are stored in the standby passage 1033d and the ball passage 1035a of at least one of the first and second items. The second ball break detection switch 1035b detects whether or not a predetermined number or more of game balls are stored in the standby passage 1033d and the ball passage 1035a of at least one of the third and fourth items. To detect.

  Here, the stored ball confirmation processing S3108 will be described in detail. In the stored ball confirmation process S3108, first, it is determined whether or not both the first ball-out detection state and the second ball-out detection state are in an off state (no ball state). If any one of the ball break detection states is in the on state (the ball is present), it is determined whether or not the first ball break detection state is in the on state. When the first ball-out detection state is an off state, a predetermined value is set in the first ball-out determination timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) in preparation for the next occurrence of the first and second no-ball states. (In this embodiment, “1500” corresponding to about 3000 ms) is set (“first ball breakage determination timer setting process”). Similarly, it is determined whether or not the second ball-out detection state corresponding to the second ball-out detection switch 1035b is on. If the second ball-out detection state is off, the next time A predetermined value (in this embodiment, “1500” corresponding to about 3000 ms) is set in the second ball breakage determination timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) in preparation for the occurrence of the no-ball state in Article 3 and Article 4. ("Second ball breakage determination timer setting process"). Regardless of the first ball break detection state and the second ball break detection state, in preparation for the next occurrence of the first or second ball presence state and the third or fourth ball presence state Then, a predetermined value (“50” corresponding to about 100 ms in this embodiment) is set in the determination timer with a ball (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) (“ball presence determination timer setting process”). After the sphere presence determination timer setting process, the values of the first sphere break determination timer and the second sphere break determination timer are updated ("first sphere break determination timer update process" S3207, "second sphere break determination timer update process"). "). Specifically, the value of each ball breakage determination timer is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value if the current value is not “0”, and the current value “0” if the current value is “0”. ”. It is determined whether or not it is during the payout control period after the first ball break determination timer update process and the second ball break determination timer update process. Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not the payout control period flag (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set. If the payout control period flag is set (“1”), it is determined that the payout control period is in progress. If it is determined and the payout control period flag is not set (“0”), it is determined that the payout control period is out. If it is during the payout control period, the stored ball confirmation process S3108 ends. On the other hand, when it is during the payout control period, it is determined whether or not the first ball-out determination timer and the second ball-out determination timer are canceled, and any of the ball-out determination timers is released. If there is, the ball break error flag is set ("ball break error setting process" S3212), and the ball break notification flag (predetermined area in the RAM 1037a3) is set ("ball break notification process" S3213).

  When it is determined that both the first ball-out detection state and the second ball-out detection state are in the off state and it is determined that all the ball-out detection states are in the off state (the state with a ball), Similar to the first ball breakage determination timer setting process, a predetermined value is set in the first ball breakage determination timer (“first ball breakage determination timer setting process”). Similarly, a predetermined value is set in the second ball breakage determination timer (“second ball breakage determination timer setting process”). After the first ball breakage determination timer setting process and the second ball breakage determination timer setting process, the value of the ball presence determination timer is updated (“ball presence determination timer update process”). Specifically, if the current value is not “0”, the value of the sphere presence determination timer is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value. If the current value is “0”, the current value “0” is changed. To maintain.

  After the storage ball confirmation processing S3108, the ball overflow detection state based on the ball overflow detection signal from the ball overflow detection switch (ball overflow detection means) 1031j is confirmed, and the ball overflow error flag (ball overflow) is determined based on the ball overflow detection state. Error state) is set or canceled ("lower dish ball confirmation process" S3109).

  Here, the lower dish ball confirmation process S3109 will be described in detail. In the lower dish ball confirmation process S3109, first, it is determined whether or not the ball overflow detection state is the off state (ball removal state). When the ball overflow detection state is the on state (ball overflow state), the ball overflow elimination determination timer (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is predetermined in preparation for the next occurrence of the first and second ball removal states. (For example, “500” corresponding to about 1000 ms) is set (“ball overflow elimination determination timer setting process”). After the ball overflow elimination determination timer setting process, the value of the ball overflow occurrence determination timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is updated ("ball overflow occurrence determination timer update process"). Specifically, the value of the bulb overflow occurrence determination timer is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value if the current value is not “0”, and the current value “0” if the current value is “0”. ”. After the ball overflow occurrence determination timer update process S3303, it is determined whether or not it is during the payout control period. If it is during the payout control period, the lower dish check process S3109 ends. On the other hand, if it is during the payout control period, it is determined whether or not the ball overflow occurrence determination timer is released. If the ball overflow occurrence determination timer is released, the ball overflow error flag is set. ("Ball overflow error setting process"), a ball overflow notification flag (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set ("ball overflow notification setting process").

  In the determination of whether or not the ball overflow detection state is the off state, if the ball overflow detection state is the off state (ball removal state), a predetermined value is set in the ball overflow occurrence determination timer (“ball overflow detection state”). Occurrence determination timer setting process ”). After the ball overflow occurrence determination timer setting process, the value of the ball overflow elimination determination timer is updated ("ball overflow elimination determination timer update process"). Specifically, if the current value is not “0”, the value of the ball overflow elimination determination timer is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value. If the current value is “0”, the current value “0” is changed. ”.

  After the lower tray ball confirmation processing S3109, the passing start detection state of each payout count switch 1033h is confirmed, and the payout remaining number common to all items ([total passing number]) and the payout remaining of each item are determined based on the passing start detection state. The number ([individual passage number]) and the like are updated (“payout number counting process” S3110). Here, the payout counting process S3110 will be described in detail. FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the payout number counting process.

  In the payout number counting process S3110, as shown in FIG. 40, first, the first non-monitoring timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is updated ("first article non-monitoring timer update process" S301). When the current value is a positive value other than “0”, the unmonitored timer in Article 1 is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value, and the current value is a positive value other than “0”. To keep the current value. The non-monitoring timer of Article 1 is a timer used for determining a period during which the input of the payout count switch signal is not monitored. Specifically, a predetermined count non-monitoring time after the first article payout flicker 1033b shifts to the passage prohibition state is measured.

  After the first article non-monitoring timer update process S301, it is determined whether or not the first article passage flag (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set (S302). The first passage flag is substantially set when the first passage detection state is changed from the OFF state to the ON state (when the falling of the payout count switch signal is substantially detected). Is done. When the first article passage flag is set, the first article passage flag is canceled ("first article passage flag releasing process" S303). As a result, it is recognized that one game ball has been paid out.

  After the first passage flag canceling process S303, the total payout remaining amount (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is changed to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current value ("total payout remaining number subtracting process" S304). . When the total payout remaining number is “0”, “0” is maintained. After the total payout remaining number subtraction process S304, it is determined whether or not the rental payout number common to all articles (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is “0” (S305). The rental ball payout number is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“rental ball payout number update process” S306), and this process ends. In addition, when the number of lending balls is “0”, it is maintained at “0”. On the other hand, when the number of rented balls is “0”, it is not a rented-out amount of spheres, and therefore, a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value of the number of spheres paid out common to all articles (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3). ("Prize ball payout number update process" S307). After the winning ball payout number updating process S207, it is determined whether or not the first article unmonitoring timer is set (S308). If the first article unmonitored timer is not set, the main control board is determined. The count signal output standby number used for output control of the payout count signal transmitted to 1045a is changed to a value obtained by adding “1” to the current value (“count signal output standby number update process” S309). Note that, in the case of paying out a prize ball, the number of pulse signals corresponding to the number of payouts is output as a payout count signal. However, in the case of paying out a ball, no payout count signal is output.

  Thereafter, the first payout remaining number (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“first payout remaining number update process” S310). In addition, when the number of remaining payouts in Article 1 is “0”, it is maintained at “0”. After the first payout remaining number update process S310, the presence / absence of the first payout remaining number is determined (S311). If there is no remaining payout in the first article in the determination process S311 (“0”), the passing of the game ball to be paid out last in the first article (hereinafter also referred to as “final ball”) is started. It means a case where an unscheduled game ball starts to pass. In the determination process S305, when there is the first payout remaining number, a predetermined value (“150” corresponding to about 300 ms in this embodiment) is set in the first control timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) (“ On the other hand, if there is no payout remaining amount in the first article, the first control timer is forcibly released ("first article control timer release process" S313). ). The control timer of the first article is a timer used for monitoring a payout interval ([passing time interval]) between two game balls that are successively paid out. The value of the Article 1 control timer is subtracted by “1” for each timer interrupt when it is a positive number, while “0” is maintained when it is “0”. After the Article 1 control timer release process S313, the Article 1 unmonitored timer is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “50” corresponding to about 100 ms) (“Article 1 unmonitored timer setting process”). In addition, the first deceleration waiting timer (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “4” corresponding to about 8 ms) (“1st deceleration waiting”). Timer setting process "S315).

  Next, in the same manner as the series of first article payout number counting processes including the first article unmonitored timer update process S301 to the first article unmonitored timer setting process S315, the second to fourth article payout number count processes. ("Second article payout number counting process" S316, "Second article payout number counting process" S317, "Second article payout number counting process" S318) is executed, and this process ends. Each of the second article payout number counting process S315 to the fourth article payout number counting process S317 is substantially the same as the first article unmonitored timer update process S301 to the first article unmonitored timer setting process S314. In addition, for the Article 2 payout number counting process S315, the Article 3 payout count process S316, and the Article 4 payout number counting process S317, the prefix “Article 1” in the explanation for the Article 1 is used, respectively. It shall be read as “Article 2”, “Article 3” and “Article 4”, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  After the payout number counting process S3110, as shown in FIG. 36, a process for controlling the payout solenoid 1033c is executed ("payout solenoid control process" S3111). Here, the dispensing solenoid control process 3111 will be described in detail. FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a dispensing solenoid control process.

  In the payout solenoid control process S3111, as shown in FIG. 41, it is determined whether any of the payout error flag, the ball shortage error flag, or the ball overflow error flag is set (S401). ). If it is not in an error state, it is determined whether or not a ball rental operation is in progress (S402). Specifically, it is determined whether or not it is a standby state for accepting a lending operation in which a value of a lending operation state to be described later is “0”. If the ball lending operation is in progress, it is further determined whether or not the number of lending balls is “0” (S403). If the number of lending balls is not “0”, the game ball to be paid out Therefore, the total payout remaining common to all articles is set to the same value as the rental payout (“payout remaining number setting process” S404). Although details will be described later, the payout of the ball is executed in units of the number of the unit ball payout in a plurality of times, and is executed in a divided manner. In some cases, the number of payouts is “0”. Note that in the case of normal rental ball payout, the unit ball payout amount is set as the remaining payout amount. On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process S402 that the ball lending operation is not in progress, the winning ball is paid out, and therefore the total payout remaining number is set to the same value as the winning ball payout number ("payout remaining number setting process"). S405). The prize ball payout number is set in the prize ball payout number setting process S107 (see FIG. 37) in the command determination process S3105 according to the reception of the prize ball payout command from the main control board 1037a. If it is determined in the determination process S401 that there is an error state, the determination process S402 to the number-of-payout setting process S405 are skipped because the payout cannot be continued or a problem occurs if the payout is continued.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the total payout remaining number is “0” (S406). If the payout remaining amount is “0”, the predetermined number of payouts in the current payout control has been completed, and therefore processing for terminating payout is executed (“payout stop setting process” S407). ), This payout solenoid control processing S3111 ends. On the other hand, when the total payout remaining number is not “0”, it is determined whether or not the control timer for all items (predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is released (“payout interruption determination process” S408; Determination means]). Specifically, it is determined whether or not all the control timers are “0”. When the control timer of any of the items is not released, a re-payout control timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) for determining a waiting time until the re-payout operation is started is set ("re-payout control timer"). Setting process "S409), and the payout solenoid control process S3111 ends.

  If it is determined in the determination process S408 that the all-item payout control timer has been released, it is determined whether or not the total payout remaining number is “0” (S410). When the payout remaining number in all items is “0”, the initial payout operation is started, and therefore, the repaid trial number (“1” in this embodiment) (held in a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set. The The number of re-payout trials represents the maximum number of times of re-payout operation when a predetermined number of payouts are not completed by the initial payout operation ("Re-payout trial number setting process" S411). In this embodiment, since the number of re-payout attempts is set to “1”, the re-payout operation is executed only once. In this case, in order to set the re-payout trial number to “0” or “1”, a re-payout trial flag may be used instead of the re-payout trial number. After the re-payout number setting process S411, the total payout remaining amount is allocated to the first to fourth articles, and the number of game balls to be paid out in each of the first to fourth articles (remaining payout number) is determined. ("Payout number distribution process" S412).

  In the determination process S410, if the remaining payout amount of any item is not “0”, there is an item in which the number of game balls allocated in the previous payout operation has not been completed, and the previous payout operation Is the first payout operation and the transition is made to the re-payout operation, or the previous payout operation is the re-payout operation and the payout trial number is “ It is determined whether it is “0” (“payout stop determination process” S414). If the number of re-payout attempts is not “0”, it means that the maximum number of re-payout operations has not been reached, and if the number of re-payout attempts is “0”, the maximum number of re-payout operations is repeated. It means when it has reached.

  When it is determined in the determination process S414 that the number of payout trials is not “0” (“1” in this embodiment), the re-payout standby timer is updated (“re-payout standby timer update process” S415). Specifically, when the re-payout standby timer is set (“1” or more), the value of the re-payout standby timer is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value. When it is released (“0”), the current value is maintained. The re-payout waiting timer is a timer used for measuring a predetermined waiting time from the completion of the initial payout operation to the start of the re-payout operation. After the re-payout standby timer update process S415, it is determined whether or not the re-payout standby timer is set (S416). If the re-payout standby timer is set, the predetermined standby time is elapsed. In order to wait, the payout solenoid control process S3111 is temporarily ended. On the other hand, when the re-payout waiting timer is released, the re-payout trial number is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“re-payment trial number update process” S417).

  After the payout trial number update process S417, it is determined whether or not the payout remaining number is less than a predetermined value (specified remaining number: “10” in this embodiment) (“redistribution determination process” S418). When the number is equal to or greater than the specified remaining number, the payout remaining number is reset in the payout number distribution process S412. On the other hand, when the payout remaining number is less than the specified remaining number, the payout number distribution process S412 is performed. skip. Thereafter, the payout start setting process S413 is executed, and various settings are made to start the re-payout operation in the same manner as in the case of the initial payout operation.

  If it is determined in the determination process S414 that the number of re-payments is “0”, the re-payout waiting timer is forcibly canceled because the payout operation has already been executed for the maximum number of repetitions ( “Re-payout standby timer release process” S419). After the re-payout waiting timer canceling process S419, it is determined whether or not the first or second article has been dispensed (S420). If it has not been completed, the first withdrawal error flag is set ( “Payout error setting process” S421), and then this payout solenoid control process S3111 ends. Further, it is determined whether or not the payout of Article 3 or Article 4 is incomplete (S422), and if it is incomplete, a second payout error flag is set ("payout error setting process" S423). Then, the main payout solenoid control process S3111 ends.

  After the payout solenoid control process S3111, information for specifically controlling the payout solenoid 1033c is set ("payout solenoid setting process" S3112). Here, the dispensing solenoid setting process S3112 will be described in detail. FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a dispensing solenoid setting process. In the payout solenoid setting process S3112, as shown in FIG. 42, the payout solenoid control information is first initialized (“solenoid control information initialization process” S3401). The payout solenoid control information includes information specifying the on / off state of each payout solenoid 1033c, and the solenoid control information itself is information common to all items. Specifically, “0” is set in each of the 0th bit 1st payout solenoid operation flag to 4th bit 4th payout solenoid operation flag in the payout solenoid control information. After the solenoid control information initialization process S3401, it is determined whether or not a payout error has occurred (S3402). If no payout error has occurred, the control timer of the first article is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value. It is determined whether or not the first control timer is “0”, and whether or not the first payout remaining number is “0” (S3404, S3405). If neither the first control timer nor the first payout remaining number is “0”, the payout solenoid control information is updated. As a result, the dispensing solenoid 1033c of the first article shifts to the on state or maintains the on state.

  Similar to the first article control timer update process S3403 to the solenoid control information update process S3406 for the first article, the processes for the second to fourth articles (S3407 to S3418) are executed. In addition, since each process with respect to Article 2 to Article 4 is substantially the same as the corresponding process in Article 1, in the description of the Article 1 control timer update process S3403 to the solenoid control information update process S3406. The suffix “Article 1” will be read as “Article 2”, “Article 3” or “Article 4” as appropriate, and the detailed explanation will be omitted.

  Thereafter, in order to change the operating state of each item of the dispensing solenoid 1033c as necessary, excitation information based on the dispensing solenoid control information is stored in the output buffer ("solenoid excitation information output setting process" S3419). The payout solenoid excitation information stored in the output buffer is output in the payout solenoid drive process S3102 (see FIG. 36). Here, the solenoid excitation information output setting process S3419 will be described in detail. FIG. 43 is a flowchart illustrating an example of solenoid excitation information output setting processing.

  In the solenoid excitation information output setting process S3419, excitation information (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is set based on the dispense solenoid control information. Specifically, the values from the 0th bit to the 4th bit of the excitation information are set to the same values as the values of the 0th bit to the 4th bit of the delivery solenoid control information (“excitation information setting process” S501). After the excitation information setting process S501, it is determined whether or not the first deceleration waiting timer is scheduled to be canceled in the current timer interrupt process (S502). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value of the deceleration waiting timer in the first article is “0”. When the first deceleration deceleration timer is scheduled to be released, the first deceleration timer is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “2” corresponding to about 4 ms) (“deceleration timer setting process”). "S503). On the other hand, if the first article deceleration timer is not scheduled to be released, the first article deceleration timer setting process S503 is skipped, and the first article deceleration timer is not set and maintains "0". Thereafter, the value of the deceleration waiting timer in the first article is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“deceleration waiting timer update process” S504). When the current value is “0”, the current value is maintained.

  After the first deceleration deceleration standby timer update process S504, it is determined whether or not a deceleration timer is set. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the deceleration timer is not “0”. When the deceleration timer is set, the first item excitation flag (the 0th bit of excitation information) is forcibly set ("first item excitation flag changing process" S506). On the other hand, when the deceleration timer is not set, the first item excitation flag changing process S506 is skipped, and the first item excitation flag maintains the same value as the first item discharge solenoid operation flag. Thereafter, the value of the first deceleration deceleration timer is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“first deceleration deceleration timer update process” S507). When the current value is “0”, the current value is maintained.

  Subsequent to the deceleration timer update process S507, the second, third, and fourth processes are substantially the same as the first excitation information resetting process configured by the determination process S502 to the first deceleration timer update process S507. It is also executed for the strips ("Section 2 excitation information resetting process" S508, "Section 3 excitation information resetting process" S509, "Section 4 excitation information resetting process" S510). Note that the second item excitation information resetting process S508, the third item excitation information resetting process S509, and the fourth item excitation information resetting process S510 are described in the description of the determination process S502 to the first item deceleration timer update process S507. The detailed description will be omitted by replacing "Article 1" with "Article 2", "Article 3", and "Article 4", respectively.

Here, the payout control will be described in chronological order. Figure 4 4 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of successfully completing dispensing controlled payout without passing through the re-dispensing operation, Fig. 4 5, successfully complete dispensing controlled dispensing through the re-payout operation of a timing chart conceptually showing an example, FIG. 4 6 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of a complete dispensing controlled dispensing through the re-payout operation based on release of the dispensing error. 4 4 to 4 6 will be described paying out 25 game balls. In the following description of the payout control, FIG. 40 and FIG. 41 are also referred to.

Figure 4 As shown in 4, in a situation where the dispensing operation is not being performed (e.g., ta0), the payout control board 1037a receives the prize balls paid out command from the main control board 1045a, prize balls paid out number of reception Is set to a value corresponding to the prize ball payout command (prize ball payout number setting process S107: FIG. 37). When the winning ball payout number “25” is set (S3701: Y), the payout-in-progress signal is set to the on state (ta1) (S3702). The output control of the payout signal will be described later separately. In addition, since an error such as a payout error has not occurred (S401: N) and the prize ball payout operation is in progress (S402: N), the total payout remaining value is the same value “25” as the number of prize balls paid out. Is set. After that, the total number of payouts is “25” (S406: N), the control timer for all items is canceled (S408: Y), and the number of items left for payout is not determined. Since the payout remaining number is “0” (S410: N), a predetermined value “1” is set as the number of repaid trials (S411), and the payout remaining numbers in Articles 1 to 4 are set ( S412), a predetermined value (“150” corresponding to T1 (about 300 ms)) is set in each of the first to fourth control timers, and a payout operation period flag is set (S413). Although FIG. 4 4, Article 1 payout remaining number, Article 2 payout remaining number, the payout number of remaining Article 3 the number of payout residue and Article 4, respectively, "7", "6" , “6”, “6” are set. By setting each of the first to fourth control timers, the first to fourth payout solenoid operation flags (a type of solenoid control information) are set (S3406, S3410, S3414, S3418). ). By setting the dispensing solenoid operation flag of Article 1 to Article 4, the dispensing solenoid 1033c of Article 1 to Article 4 is collectively switched from the off state to the on state (ta2) (S3102: FIG. 36). As a result, the payout flicker 1033b shifts from the passage prohibition state to the passage permission state. The game ball starts to pass through the payout count switch 1033h of the first to fourth articles. Thereafter, while the first control timer is decremented by “1” for each timer interruption (S3403, S3407, S3411, S3415), the first ball of the first article starts passing through the payout count switch 1033h of each article. (S201, S202: N). The same applies to Articles 2 to 4.

  When the first ball of the first article starts to pass through the payout count switch 1033h of the first article (t11), the first article passing flag is set (S3104; see FIG. 36), and the first article passing flag is set. As a result (S302: Y), the total payout remaining number, the prize ball payout number and the payout remaining number of the first article are reduced by "1" (S304, S307, S310). The first passage flag is canceled in the same interrupt process (S303). In addition, since the unmonitored timer in Article 1 has been canceled (S308: N), the number of payout count signal outputs is increased by “1”. As a result, a payout count signal is output to the main control board 1037a. The output control of the payout count signal will be described later separately. In addition, since the number of payouts in the first article after subtraction is a value “5” other than “0” (S311: N), the control timer in the first article corresponds to a predetermined value (T2 (about 300 ms). "150") is set (S312).

  When the first ball of Article 2, Article 3 and Article 4 starts to pass through the payout count switch 1033h (t21, t31, t41), in the same manner as the first ball of Article 1, The number of prize balls paid out and the number of payouts remaining in Articles 2 to 4 are reduced by "1" (S315, S316, S317), and the unmonitored timers in Articles 2 to 4 are canceled. The payout count signal output standby number increases (S315, S316, S317). Further, in the same manner as in the case of the first ball of each item, the items from the second item to the sixth item in the first item and the items from the second item to the fifth item in the second to fourth items are paid out.

  When the first ball of the first ball (seventh ball) starts to pass through the count switch 1033h of the first ball (t17), the total number of payouts is the same as each of the preceding balls that have been paid before the last ball. The winning ball payout number and the remaining payout number of the first article are reduced by “1” (S304, S307, S310), and the payout count signal output standby number is increased by “1”. Unlike the case of each preceding ball, since the number of payouts in the first article after subtraction is “0” (S311: Y), the control timer in the first article is forcibly canceled (S313). Then, a predetermined value (“50” corresponding to T3 (about 100 ms)) is set in the unmonitored timer of the first article (S314). In addition, when the remaining number of payouts in the first article becomes “0” (S3404) and the control timer is canceled (S3405: N), the payout solenoid operation flag in the first article is not set (in S3406). (Skip), the first item dispensing solenoid 1033c shifts from the on state to the off state (S3419, S3104). The final ball (sixth ball) of Article 2 to Article 4 is the same as that of Article 1.

  Here, the operation in the non-monitoring period of each line between time T3 (about 100 ms) after the non-monitoring timer of each line is set will be described. In each article, when the flicker 1033b shifts from the passage permission state to the passage prohibition state, the flicker 1033b may interfere with the final sphere being passed, and the smooth flow of the final sphere may be hindered. In some cases, the final sphere may be detected twice by the count switch 1033h. This is because the final ball is subjected to rolling vibrations, the final ball is trying to flow down at a higher speed than usual, and it interferes with the preceding game ball, or the final ball falls after being once sandwiched by the flicker 1033b. It is thought that it occurs by. However, even if the passage detection state in the first article shifts to the ON state during the non-monitoring period, the payout count signal output standby number is not updated (S309 skip in FIG. 29), and the payout count signal is output to the main control board 1045a. By not being performed, it is possible to prevent the payout count signal from being output excessively beyond the predetermined payout number. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a payout error state which is not necessary from occurring without neglecting measures against fraudulent acts on the payout device 33.

  When the total number of payouts in Article 1 to Article 4 becomes “0” (ta3: t17), the payout control operation ends, and the payout signal shifts from the on state to the off state (ta4).

4 differs from the case shown in 4, as shown in FIG. 4. 5, when the game ball is not completely dispensed in Article 1, T1 elapsed waiting control Article 1 (about 300 ms) When the timer becomes “0”, the first dispensing solenoid 1033c shifts from the on state to the off state (tb4). In addition, even if only a part of the game ball is paid out in Article 4, when the Article 4 control timer becomes “0” after T2 (about 300 ms) has elapsed, the Article 4 payout solenoid 1033c is turned on. The state shifts to the off state (tb5). When the control timer for all items reaches “0”, the initial payout operation ends (tb5). When the value of the re-payout control timer becomes “0” after the elapse of T4 (1500 ms) from the end of the initial payout operation, the re-payout operation is started (tb6). Since the number of game balls that have not been paid out in the initial payout operation (total payout remaining number) is “11” (S418: N), redistribution is performed (S412). Incidentally, in FIG. 4. 5, by redistribution, Article 1 payout remaining number, Article 2 payout remaining number, the payout number of remaining Article 3 the number of payout residue and Article 4, respectively, "2 ”,“ 3 ”,“ 3 ”,“ 3 ”are set. After the redistribution, game balls are paid out in the same manner as in the first payout operation.

Unlike that shown in FIG. 4 5, as shown in FIG. 4 6, in the re-dispensing operation, when the game ball in Article 1 is not at all paid out, after waiting for the T1 (about 300 ms) When the first control timer becomes “0”, the first discharge solenoid 1033c shifts from the on state to the off state (tb4). Further, since the payout of the game ball in the first article is incomplete (S420), the first payout error flag is set (tc7) (S421). Thereafter, when the first payout error flag is canceled (tc8), the initial payout operation after the error return is started (tc9). Since the number of game balls not paid out in the re-payout operation (total payout remaining number) is “2” (S418: Y), redistribution is not performed (S412 skip). Thereafter, the game ball is paid out in the same manner as in the initial initial payout operation, and the first payout solenoid 1033c shifts from the on state to the off state in response to the start of passage of the first ball of the first ball ( tc10) Thereafter, the paying-in signal shifts from the on state to the off state (tc11). If the payout of the game ball is not completed in the initial payout operation after returning from the error, a re-payout operation is further executed. In addition, if the payout of the game ball is not completed in the re-payout operation, a payout error occurs during the payout period as in the case of the initial re-payout operation.

  As shown in FIG. 36, after the payout solenoid setting process S3112, a process for controlling the payout of the rental ball through the CR unit is executed in accordance with the ball lending operation from the ball lending device 1350 ( "Ball lending / dispensing control process" S3113). In the ball lending / dispensing control process, the lending ball payout number is set according to the ball lending operation. Specifically, when the ball lending button 1306 of the ball lending device 1350 is operated, a lending switch signal is output to the dispensing relay terminal plate 1036, and from the dispensing relay terminal plate 1036 to the CR unit without going through the dispensing control board 1037a. Entered. Based on the reception of the lending switch signal, the CR unit outputs a lending request signal and a lending instruction signal to the dispensing control board 1037a. The lending request signal is output from the start to the end of lending. The lending instruction signal is a signal for instructing payout of game balls of the number of unit lending payout divided into a plurality of times during a period in which the lending request signal is output. In a normal time, the lending instruction signal is output 10 times in response to the reception of one lending switch signal. As a result, the payout control board 1037a pays out the total number of game balls divided into 10 times.

  In the main control board 1045a, a payout count signal and a payout signal for detecting occurrence of an error in the payout device 1033 or the like and an illegal act on the payout device 1033 or the like are stored in the output buffer ("payout count signal setting process"). S3114, “Payout signal setting process” S3115). Note that the payout count signal and the payout signal are output in the control information output process S3103. As for the payout count signal, the same number of pulse signals are output in a predetermined waveform based on the number of output signals received from the payout count switch 1033h (corresponding to the number of game balls that have been paid out). When the payout operation is being performed on the payout control board 1037a, the on state (L level output) is set.

Here, output control of the payout count signal and the payout signal will be described. 4 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a payout count signal setting processing, FIG. 4 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a payout in the signal setting processing. Further, FIG. 4 9 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of an output control of the payout count signal and the payout in the signal.

In payout count signal setting processing S3114, as shown in FIG. 4. 7, first, a payout count signal output timer is updated ( "payout count signal output timer update process" S3501). Specifically, the value of the payout count signal output timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) is changed to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value unless the current value is “0”, and the current value is “0”. If so, the current value “0” is maintained. The payout count signal output timer is a timer used for shaping the signal waveform of the payout count signal.

  After the payout count signal output timer update process S3114, it is determined whether or not the payout count signal output timer is set (S3502). Specifically, when the payout count signal output timer is a value other than “0”, it is determined to be set, and when it is “0”, it is determined to be released. When the payout count signal output timer is set, that is, when the output of the payout count signal is being controlled, the payout count signal output standby number is “0” in order to determine whether or not the payout count signal should be output. Is determined (S3503), and when the payout count signal output standby number is not “0”, the payout count signal output standby number is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value. ("Payout count signal output standby number update process" S3504), the payout count signal output timer is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, "6" corresponding to about 12 ms). On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process S3502 that the payout count signal output timer is not set, the determination process S3503 to the payout count signal output timer setting process S3505 is skipped.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not it is an output period of the payout count signal (S3506). Specifically, when the value of the payout count signal output timer is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that it is an output period, and when it is equal to or longer than a predetermined value (in this embodiment, “4”), output standby It is determined that it is a period. In the case of the output standby period, a value indicating the output of the payout count signal in the off state (H level output) is stored in the output buffer (“payout count signal off state setting process” S3507), and in the case of the output period. In this case, a value indicating the output of the payout count signal in the on state (L level output) is stored in the output buffer (“payout count signal on state setting process” S3508), and the payout count signal setting process S3114 ends.

In payout in the signal setting processing S3115, as shown in FIG. 4. 8, first, whether prize balls paid out number is set is determined (S3601). Specifically, when the prize ball payout number is a value other than “0”, it is determined to be set, and when it is “0”, it is determined to be released. If it is determined in the determination process S3601 that the number of prize balls to be paid is set, a value indicating the off-state output (L level output) of the paying-out signal is output in order to shift the paying-out signal to the off state. After being stored in the buffer (“paying signal ON state setting process” S3602), the paying-out signal setting process S3115 ends. On the other hand, when the number of winning ball payouts is not set, it is determined whether or not the payout count signal output standby number is “0” (S3603), and whether or not the payout count signal output timer is set. Is determined (S3604). When the payout count signal output standby number is “0” and the payout count signal output timer is released (S3603: N, S3604: N), the same number of payout count output signals as the number of winning ball payouts. Since the output has been completed, in order to shift the paying-out signal to the off state, a value representing the off-state output (L level output) of the paying-out signal is stored in the output buffer (“paying signal off state Setting process "S3605). Thereafter, the payout signal setting process S3115 ends.

Here, the output control of the payout count signal and the payout signal will be described in chronological order. In the order of Article 1, Article 4, Article 2 and Article 3, the first ball for each article starts passing, and the final ball in Article 1 is finally paid out to all the articles. A case of a game ball to be played will be described. In the following, as appropriate to refer to FIG. 4 7 and 4 8 in conjunction with FIG. 4 9.

As shown in FIG. 4 9, in a state in which the dispensing control is not performed (e.g., td0), a payout in the signal and the payout count signal maintains the off state. When the payout control board 1037a receives the prize ball payout command from the main control board 1045a, the prize ball payout number is set to a value corresponding to the received prize ball payout command (prize ball payout number setting process S107: FIG. 37). . When the winning ball payout number is set (S3701: Y), the paying-in signal is set to the on state (td1) (S3702). Thereafter, the payout flicker 1033b shifts to the passage permission state, and the game balls pass through the payout count switches 1033h of the first to fourth articles sequentially.

  In response to the on-state transition of the first passage detection state to the first ball of the first row, since the unmonitored timer of the first row is not set, the payout count signal output standby number is changed to “1”. (S209; see FIG. 40). Since the payout count signal output timer is “0” (S3501, S3502: Y) and the payout count signal output standby number is “1” (S3503: N), the payout count signal standby number is reduced to “0”. The payout count signal output timer is set to a value corresponding to the predetermined output control time Td (td2) (S3505). However, since the payout count signal output timer does not elapse for the predetermined time Td1 and is in the output standby period (S3506: N), the payout count signal is maintained in the off state (S3507). When the output standby time Td1 has elapsed, it is within the output control period for the first ball of the first article (S3502: Y), and the payout count signal output timer is subtracted by a value corresponding to the output standby time Td1 (S3501). Since it has shifted to the output period, the payout count signal shifts to the ON state (td3) (S3508). At this time, the payout count signal output standby number is changed to “3” in accordance with the transition of the passage detection state to the first ball of each of the second to third articles. Further, when the output time Td2 elapses and the output control time Td for the first sphere 1 elapses (td4), the output control period for the first sphere 1 ends (S3502: N).

  When the output control time Td for the first ball of the first article has elapsed (td4), the payout count signal output standby number is “3” (S3503: N), so the payout count signal output standby number is “2”. The payout count signal output timer is set to a value corresponding to the output control time Td in order to control the output of the payout count signal corresponding to the first ball of the fourth article (S3505). Thereafter, the output of the payout count signal corresponding to the first sphere of the fourth article is controlled in the same manner as the first sphere of the first article (td4 to td5).

  Similarly to the first ball of Article 4, the output of the payout count signal corresponding to the first ball of Article 2 is controlled (td5 to td6), and the payout count corresponding to the first ball of Article 3 is controlled. The output of the signal is controlled (td6 to td7). When the output control time Td for the first sphere of the third article has elapsed (td7), the output control period for the first sphere of the first article has ended (S3502: N), and the payout count signal output standby Since the number is “0” (S3503: Y) and it is not an output period of the payout count signal (S3506: N), the payout count signal is shifted to an off state (S3507: Y). After that, the OFF state of the payout count signal is maintained until the passage detection state of any one of Articles 1 to 4 shifts to the ON state.

  Further, the output of the payout count signal is similarly controlled for other game balls to be paid out. In addition, when the payout count signal for the final ball of the 1st article to be paid out in total is changed from the ON state to the OFF state, the prize ball payout number becomes “0” (S3601), and the payout count signal output standby number Becomes “0” (S3603), and the payout count signal output timer is canceled (S3604), so that the payout signal is shifted to the off state (td8).

  If a payout error has occurred at the start-up or within the payout period after the payout signal setting process S3115, a value indicating the output state of the payout error signal is stored in the output buffer (“Set payout error signal”). Process "S3116). The payout error signal is output in the control information output process S3103.

  After the payout error signal setting process S3116, it is monitored whether or not the ball-turning gaming machine 1010 is electrically connected to the CR unit (“CR unit connection monitoring process” S3117).

  Next, control processing executed by the sub control board 1047a will be described. The control process of the sub control board 1047a is roughly divided into a main process that is activated when the external power is restored from a power failure or power is restored by turning on the power, and an interrupt process that interrupts the main process. For convenience of explanation, after describing the interrupt process, the main process will be described. As interrupt processing, there are timer interrupt processing that is internal interrupt processing that periodically interrupts, and command interrupt processing that is external interrupt processing based on command transmission from the main control board 1045a.

  The timer interrupt process is executed with a period of about 1 ms. In the timer interrupt processing, first, an interrupt flag is read, and if it is a timer interrupt among various interrupts, the value of the timer interrupt timer counter is updated to a value obtained by adding “1” to the current value (“ Interrupt timer counter update processing ").

  The command interrupt process is executed in response to reception of a strobe signal related to command transmission from the main control board 1045a. Since the command transmission in the main control board 1045a is performed with a period of approximately 1.49 ms, this processing is performed with a period of approximately 1.49 ms. In the command interrupt process, various commands transmitted following the strobe signal are received (“command reception process”).

The main process executed by the sub control board 1047a will be described in detail. FIG. 50 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the main process of the sub control board.

  In the main processing, first, in response to the supply of internal power from the power supply control board 1038 ′, initialization of the sub control board 1047a itself and initialization of peripheral devices such as the liquid crystal display device 1042 connected to the sub control board 1047a are performed. Is performed ("initialization process" S4101). After the initialization process S4201, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S4102). Here, the system state includes a voltage drop state indicating that the supply voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, and an initialization indicating that the sub-control board 1047a and the peripheral device connected to the sub-control board 1047a are being initialized. It implies a state and a normal state indicating that the supply voltage is a predetermined voltage and normal game can be performed. Note that the initialization state is selected during the execution of the initialization process S4101.

  If the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is determined whether or not the value of the interrupt timer counter has changed (S4103). When there is a change in the value of the interrupt timer counter, the value of the interrupt timer counter is updated to a value obtained by subtracting “1” from the current value (“interrupt timer counter update processing” S4104). After the interrupt timer counter update process S4104, a periodic timer process S4105 described later is performed. After the cycle timer process S4105, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S4106). If the system state is not a voltage drop state, any command from the main control board 1045a is received in the command interrupt process. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (S4107). If a command has been received, the base value of the random number that determines the details of the effect is updated after receiving command confirmation processing S4108 described later ("random number base value update processing" S4109), while the command is received. If not, the received command confirmation process S4108 is skipped and the random number base value update process S4109 is executed. After the random number base value update process S4109, the process returns to the determination process S4102.

  If it is determined in the determination processing S4102 and the determination processing S4106 that the system state is a voltage drop state, register data and stack data are stored in the external RAM ("backup processing" S4110). After the backup process S4110, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S4111). If the system state is a voltage drop state, the determination process S4111 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is not in the voltage drop state, it waits for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 30 ms) to confirm that the cancellation of the voltage drop state is not a malfunction due to noise or the like ("wait process" S4112). After the wait process S4112, it is determined again whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S4113). If the system state is a voltage drop state, the process returns to the determination process S4111. On the other hand, if the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is determined that the supply of internal power has been resumed normally, and a process for starting the main process is performed ("start process" S4114). After the startup process S4114, the process returns to the initialization process S4101 and the main process is resumed.

Here, the received command confirmation processing S4108 will be described in detail. 5 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a reception command confirmation process. In the received command confirmation process S4108, first, the type of the received command is determined (S4201). Specifically, the command identification information included in the upper byte (8 bits) is extracted from the command stored in the reception buffer, and the process proceeds to processing according to the extracted command identification information. When a plurality of commands are stored in the reception buffer, the commands are sequentially processed according to the reception order. In the following, processing according to each command identification information will be described.

  When it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a stop symbol command, the lower byte information of the stop symbol command is extracted and the stop symbol of each reel is determined based on the information. Based on the combination pattern based on the stop symbol, the type of effect by the various peripheral devices connected to the sub-control board 1047a is selected ("stop symbol command processing" S4202). For example, when two turning cylinders of the left turning cylinder L, the middle turning cylinder M, and the right turning cylinder R are stopped and a predetermined symbol pattern is stopped on at least one effective line, various sound effects are produced. From the predetermined sound effects and various light emission effects, a predetermined light emission effect is selected. As the predetermined symbol pattern, for example, two sets of “7” symbol and “youth” symbol of the same type and “BAR” symbol are listed.

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is an error command such as a payout error command such as an out-of-period payout error command, a ball-out error command, a ball overflow error command, or a shortage payout command, or an input error command, an error Information of the lower byte of the command is extracted, and the type of error notification by various peripheral devices is determined based on the information (“error command processing” S4203).

  When it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is an initialization command such as a power recovery command and a reset command, information on the lower byte of the initialization command is extracted, and based on the value of the extracted lower byte The sub-control board 1047a itself and various peripheral devices connected to the sub-control board 1047a are initialized ("initialization command processing" S4204).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is an internal state command such as a replay command, a big bonus command, or a regular bonus command, information in the lower byte (internal state type) of the internal state command is extracted. Based on the information, the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined ("Internal state command processing" S4205).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a lottery result command such as a big bonus combination winning command, a regular bonus combination winning command, a re-playing player winning command, or a winning command for various small roles, a lottery result command The lower byte information (type of winning combination) is extracted, and the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined based on the lottery result based on the information and random numbers ("lottery result command processing" S4206).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a winning symbol command such as a re-game winning command, a big bonus winning command, a regular bonus winning command, or a winning command for various small roles, the lower byte of the winning symbol command Information (winning symbol type) is extracted, and based on the information, the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined ("winning symbol command processing" S4207).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the command is a setting change command, the type of notification by various peripheral devices is determined ("probability setting value process" S4208).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a winning line command corresponding to the active line on which the winning symbol pattern is displayed, the information on the lower byte of the winning line command (the type of the winning line) is extracted, Based on the information, the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined ("winning line command processing" S4209).

  When it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a rotation rotation information command such as a stop command for various rotation cylinders L, M, and R, information in the lower byte of the rotation rotation information command (stop rotation cylinder) Type) is extracted, and based on the information, the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined ("rotating cylinder rotation information command process" S4210).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is an acquired ball number command, information (acquired ball number) of the lower byte of the acquired ball number command is extracted, and effects by various peripheral devices based on the information are extracted. Are determined ("acquired ball number command processing" S4211).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a bet command such as a maximum bet command, information (the number of bets) of the lower byte of the bet command is extracted, and effects by various peripheral devices based on the information are extracted. Is determined ("bet command process" S4212).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a JAC maximum game number command, information in the lower byte (JAC maximum game number) of the JAC maximum game number command is extracted, and various peripherals are based on the information. The type of effect produced by the device is determined ("JAC maximum game number command process" S4213).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a JAC round number command, information of the lower byte (JAC round number) of the JAC round number command is extracted and notified by various peripheral devices based on the information. Is determined ("JAC round number command processing" S4214).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a set value command, lower byte information (established set value) of the set value command is extracted, and the types of notification by various peripheral devices based on the information Is determined ("probability setting value information processing" S4215).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a ball release command such as an acquired ball payout start command or an award ball acquisition ball payout end command set at the start of payout of the winning ball, the lower order of the ball release command Byte information (numerical value indicating start or end) is extracted, and based on the information, the type of notification and the notification period by various peripheral devices are determined ("ball release command processing" S4216).

  When it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is an effect information command related to the effect determined by the main control board 1045a, information in the lower byte (effect information type) of the effect information command is extracted. Based on the lottery results using the information and random numbers, the types of effects by various peripheral devices are determined (“effect information command processing” S4217).

  If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the received command is a ball information command such as a bet number command, the lower byte information (final bet number) of the ball information command is extracted, and various peripherals are based on the information. The type of effect produced by the device is determined ("ball information command processing" S4218).

Here, the periodic timer process S4105 in the main process of the sub control board 1047a will be described in detail. 5 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a cycle timer process. By executing the timer interrupt process substantially every 1 ms, the periodic timer process S4105 is also executed substantially every 1 ms.

In the cycle timer process 4105, first, it is confirmed whether any command is received from the main control board 1045a within 2 seconds after the execution of the start process S4114 (see FIG. 50 ), and any command is received from the main control board 1045a. Is not received, it is determined that the main control board 1045a has not been normally activated, and a process of notifying the occurrence of an error is performed ("activation command confirmation process" S4301).

After startup command confirmation process S4301, in response to various commands received is confirmed in the received command confirmation process S4108 (see Fig. 5 1), a liquid crystal display device 1042, a speaker 1106,1204, various effects LED unit 1104, Actual drive control of 1108, 1110, 1148, and 1150 is performed ("device control process" S4302).

  After the device control process S4302, it is determined whether or not the system state has changed, and an initialization flag indicating the initialization state is set or canceled according to the determination result ("system state change process" S4303). . When the voltage drop flag and the initialization flag are canceled, the system state is regarded as a normal state. After the system state changing process S4303, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the internal power supplied from the power supply board 1038 ′ is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. If the internal voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, a voltage drop flag is set. If the voltage drop flag is set, the voltage drop flag is set. On the other hand, if the internal voltage is not equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, the voltage drop flag is released if the voltage drop flag is set ("voltage monitoring process" S4304). . After the voltage monitoring process S4304, the long cycle timer counter is updated to a value obtained by adding the value of the cycle timer counter to the current value ("long cycle timer counter update process" S4305).

  After the long cycle timer counter update processing S4305, it is determined whether or not the value of the long cycle timer counter is “10” or more (S4306). By the determination process S4305, the following processes (S4307 to S4312) are executed approximately every predetermined number of times (in the present embodiment, 10 times) of the periodic timer counter. In this embodiment, since the periodic timer counter is updated approximately every 1 ms, the following processing (S4307 to S4312) is executed approximately every 10 ms.

  If it is determined in the determination process 2402 that the value of the long-period timer counter is less than the specified thinning number (in this embodiment, “10”), this process ends. On the other hand, when the value of the long cycle timer counter is “10” or more, the value of the long cycle timer counter is updated to a value obtained by subtracting the specified thinning number “10” from the current value (“long cycle timer counter”). Specified thinning-out number subtraction process "S4307). After the specified thinning number subtraction process S4307, during the light emission effect or the light emission notification, the light emission unit data constituting the selected light emission effect pattern or the light emission notification pattern is selected, and the selected light emission unit data is for output. Are stored in the data buffer ("light emission data update process" S4308). Here, each light emission effect pattern includes a plurality of light emission unit data. The light emission unit data constituting each light emission effect pattern is stored in the ROM of the sub control board 1047a and is selected in the reception command confirmation processing S4108. The stored light emission unit data is output to a desired light emitting device in device control processing 4302. By repeatedly executing the light emission notification changing process, the light emission unit data is sequentially changed, and a light emission effect or light emission notification of a predetermined light emission pattern is performed.

  After the light emission data update process S4308, a process for synchronizing the display effect, the light emission effect, and the sound effect is performed ("notification synchronization process" S4309).

  After the light emission / acoustic synchronization process S4309, in a situation where an audio effect is being performed, when the player is left for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds in this embodiment) without any input. The sound volume of the BGM in the sound effects and various special game states is changed to a low sound volume (“acoustic fade-out process” S4310).

  After the acoustic fade-out process S4310, whether or not to shift to demonstration notification (customer waiting effect) is determined for a predetermined time (this embodiment) without any input operation such as a bet operation, a start operation, or a stop operation performed by the player. In this case, the demonstration notification is substantially started when the predetermined time has elapsed ("demonstration notification transition process" S4311). Specifically, in the demonstration notification transition processing S4311, a display notification pattern for performing demonstration notification is selected, and a demonstration flag is set. Here, the demonstration notification pattern is composed of a plurality of light emission notification unit data, similarly to the light emission effect pattern. Demonstration effects are started in a predetermined peripheral device such as the liquid crystal display device 1042.

  After the demonstration notification transition processing S4311, the volume setting of the volume adjustment switch (not shown) in the volume changing operation device (not shown) is confirmed, and the reference volume for the speakers 106 and 204 is updated (“reference volume setting”). Process "S4312).

  In order to control the liquid crystal display device 1042 and the speakers 1106 and 1204 after ending the reference volume setting process S4312 and when it is determined in the determination process S4306 that the value of the long-period timer counter is less than the prescribed thinning-out number. Display notification unit data, display effect unit data, and the like are updated ("sound / display notification change process" S4313).

[Main configuration related to the present invention]
As described with reference to FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the payout device 1033 in the ball-cylinder gaming machine 1010 includes a standby passage 1033d (a part of “medium passage”) and a payout passage. A casing 1033a forming 1033e (a kind of [predetermined area], a part of a kind of [medium passage]), and the passage prohibition state ([first restriction state] and [inflow prohibition] shown in FIG. 13A) State)) and the passage permission state (a kind of [second restricted state] and [inflow allowed state]) shown in FIG. 13B, the transition from the standby passage 1033d to the payout passage 1033e. A payout flicker 1033b for restricting the inflow of game media (part of [inflow restricting mechanism]), and a payout solenoid 1033c for moving the flicker 1033b between the passage prohibition state and the passage permission state ([regulation changing device It has a kind) and.

  Here, the correlation between the operation of the payout solenoid 1033c and the operation of the payout flicker 1033b will be described in detail. FIG. 53 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the payout solenoid and the payout flicker in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 53, the casing 1033a includes a movement restriction wall 1033a3 (a kind of [movement restriction body]) for restricting the movement of the plunger 1033c2, and a distal end portion 1033b2 of the payout flicker 1033b centering on the support shaft 1033a1. A first rotation limiting wall 1033a4 and a second rotation limiting wall 1033a5 are further formed to limit the rotation of the first rotation limiting wall 1033a4.

  The payout solenoid 1033c is a pull-type solenoid, and includes a main body portion 1033c5 including an exciting coil (not shown) and a fixed cylinder (not shown) made of a magnetic material disposed inside the exciting coil, and an inner side of the fixed cylinder. A plunger (movable magnetic core) 1033c2 made of a magnetic material that slides along the tip, a knob portion 1033c3 attached to the tip of the plunger 1033c2, and a coil spring 1033c4 that urges the knob portion 1033c3 away from the main body portion 1033c5. (A kind of [biasing body]).

  When the excitation coil is in a non-excitation state (a kind of [first excitation state]), the knob portion 1033c3 is in contact with the movement limiting wall 1033a3, and the excitation coil is in an excitation state (a kind of [second excitation state]). In some cases, the knob portion 1033c3 contacts the main body portion 1033a5. At the position of the plunger 1033c2 when the knob portion 1033c3 is in contact with the movement limiting wall 1033a3 (hereinafter also referred to as “maximum separation position (a kind of [first reference position]”), the tip portion 1033b2 of the dispensing flicker 1033b A passage prohibition state is maintained in which a part (opening / closing portion 1033b5) protrudes to the medium path portion near the boundary between the standby path 1033d and the payout path 1033e. On the other hand, in the position of the plunger 1033c2 when the knob portion 1033c3 is in contact with the main body portion 1033a5 (hereinafter, also referred to as “minimum separation position (a kind of [second reference position]”)), the opening / closing portion 1033b5 is the standby passage 1033d. And a passage permission state arranged outside the medium passage in the vicinity of the boundary between the payout passage 1033e and the payout passage 1033e. When the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position, the distal end portion 1033b2 of the dispensing flicker 1033b is substantially in contact with the first rotation limiting wall 1033a4, and when the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position, the distal end of the dispensing flicker 1033b. The portion 1033b2 substantially contacts the second rotation limiting wall 1033a5. The first rotation limiting wall 1033a4 and the second rotation limiting wall 1033a5 are configured such that the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 of the base end portion 1033b1 can move within a predetermined range inside the bearing hole 1033b6 formed in the distal end portion 1033b2. Is provided as an auxiliary.

  Here, the interlocking operation in the vicinity of the maximum separation position between the plunger 1033c2 and the payout flicker 1033b will be described in detail. 54 (A) to 54 (C) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the operation of the payout flicker accompanying the movement of the plunger when the waiting ball is filled with game balls. 55 (A) to 55 (C) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the operation of the payout flicker accompanying the movement of the plunger when the waiting ball is not filled with game balls.

  First, a case where a waiting ball 1033d is filled with game balls will be described. As shown in FIG. 54A, when the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position, the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 of the base end portion 1033b1 is in contact with the inner wall of the bearing hole 1033b6 of the front end portion 1033b2. The portion 1033b2 protrudes toward the medium path side. The amount of protrusion at this time is X0. In this state, the tip portion 1033b2 receives a pressing force from the game ball filled in the medium passage, but the shape of the surface S1 in the vicinity of the portion that contacts the game ball of the tip portion 1033b2 is centered on the center of the support shaft 1033a1. This state is maintained because the tip portion 1033b2 is not subjected to rotational force by the pressing force from the game balls. Note that a rotational force is generated at the distal end portion 1033b2 that rotates toward the second rotation limiting wall due to its own weight under the condition that no pressing force is received from the proximal end portion 1033b1.

  When the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 54 (A), the base end portion 1033b1 starts rotating as shown in FIG. 54 (B). The shaft 1033b3 moves through the hollow region without contacting the inner wall of the bearing hole 1033b6. This is because the pressing force from the base end portion 1033b1 is not received, but the frictional force between the tip end portion 1033b2 and the game ball is larger than the rotational force due to its own weight. Therefore, the tip portion 1033b2 does not immediately rotate following the movement of the plunger 1033c2.

  When the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 54B, the base end portion 1033b1 further rotates, and the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 comes into contact with the inner wall of the bearing hole 1033b6. When the plunger 1033c2 further moves to the minimum separation position side, the distal end portion 1033b2 starts rotating by the pressing force from the movable connecting shaft 1033b3. When the plunger 1033c2 further moves to the minimum separation position side and the tip end portion 1033b2 rotates by a predetermined angle and the amount of protrusion to the medium passage side exceeds X1 (<X0), the tip end is further further than the surface S1, which is a predetermined arc. Contact is made on the surface S2 on the side. In this state, the tip portion 1033b2 can receive a rotational force that rotates from the game ball to the passage prohibited state side via the surface S2. When the movement of the plunger 1033c2 is based on the excitation of the excitation coil, the rotation force from the game ball and the rotation force due to the weight of the tip portion 1033b2 are not controlled by the rotation by the pressing force from the movable connecting shaft 1033b3. Does not substantially contribute to rotation.

  When the plunger 1033c2 further moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 54C, the base end portion 1033b1 and the distal end portion 1033c2 rotate in conjunction with the plunger 1033c2, and the state shown in FIG. Reach the state.

  Next, the case where the waiting ball 1033d is not filled with game balls will be described. As shown in FIG. 55A, when the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position, the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 of the base end portion 1033b1 is moved to the distal end portion 1033b2 as in the state shown in FIG. The end portion 1033b2 protrudes toward the medium passage side. The amount of protrusion at this time is X0.

  When the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 55A, the base end portion 1033b1 starts rotating and the distal end portion 1033b1 also rotates as shown in FIG. 55B. To start. In this case, the pressing force from the base end portion 1033b1 is not received, and the rotation preventing force due to the friction between the game ball and the tip end portion 1033b1 is not generated, so the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 and the inner wall of the bearing hole 1033b6 The tip portion 1033b1 rotates by its own weight so as to maintain the contact state. Therefore, the distal end portion 1033b2 immediately rotates following the movement of the plunger 1033c2.

  As shown in FIG. 55B, when the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side by a predetermined distance D1, and the protruding amount of the tip portion 1033b2 becomes X2 (<X1 <X0), the tip portion 1033b2 The lock portion 1033b7 contacts the base end portion 1033b1. The shape of the surface S3 in the vicinity of the portion that comes into contact with the lock portion 1033b7 in the base end portion 1033b1 is an arc, a curve, or a straight line having a larger radius of curvature than an arc centered on the center of the support shaft 1033a2.

  When the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 55 (B), the base end portion 1033b1 further rotates as shown in FIG. 55 (C). On the other hand, according to the rotation of the base end portion 1033b1, the front end portion 1033b2 also rotates by a slight angle while maintaining the contact state between the lock portion 1033b7 of the front end portion 1033b2 and the base end portion 1033b1. At this time, the distal end portion 1033b2 rotates in a direction (reverse direction) to return to the state shown in FIG. Further, the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 moves through the hollow region without contacting the inner wall of the bearing hole 1033b6. Further, as shown in FIG. 55C, the protrusion amount of the distal end portion 1033b2 immediately before the contact state between the lock portion 1033b7 and the base end portion 1033b1 is released becomes X3 (<X1 <X0). Yes.

  Further, when the plunger 1033c2 moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 55C, the base end portion 1033b1 further rotates to release the contact state between the lock portion 1033b7 and the base end portion 1033b1. . When the contact state is released and the plunger moves at a high speed as in the case of excitation based on the excitation coil, the state shown in FIG. 54C is obtained. On the other hand, as will be described later, when the moving speed of the plunger is small, such as when the plunger 1033c2 is reversely moved after moving from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position, the movable connecting shaft 1033b3 is moved to the bearing hole 1033b6. The tip portion 1033b2 is rapidly rotated by its own weight until it comes into contact with the inner wall.

  In the state where the contact state between the lock portion 1033b7 and the base end portion 1033b1 is released, when the game ball flows down, it easily collides with the surface S2 of the distal end portion 1033b2, and the pressing force at the time of collision is the game Since the sphere is larger than when the sphere is stationary, the rotational force in the direction in which the tip portion 1033b2 is rotated to the passage permission state side is increased. Accordingly, when a pressing force having a magnitude greater than a predetermined value is applied, the game ball may flow into the payout passage by rotating the tip portion 1033b2.

  When the plunger 1033c2 further moves to the minimum separation position side from the state shown in FIG. 55C, the base end portion 1033b1 and the distal end portion 1033c2 rotate in conjunction with the plunger 1033c2, and the state shown in FIG. Reach the state.

  Here, a case where an external force is applied that forcibly shifts the tip portion 1033b2 from the passage prohibited state to the passage permitted state by an unauthorized player or the like will be described. When an improper external force different from the rotational force accompanying the movement of the plunger is applied to the distal end portion 1033b2, the state is almost the same as that shown in FIG. Thereafter, in order to shift to the state of FIG. 55 (C), the distal end portion 1033b2 must be rotated in a direction to return to the passage prohibited state, and in this case, an unauthorized external force must be weakened. However, if the improper external force is weakened, the tip portion 1033b2 can be rotated in the desired direction, but the state shown in FIG. 55 (C) is shifted by the urging force of the coil spring 1033c4 (see FIG. 53). I can't. Therefore, it only reciprocates between the state shown in FIG. 55 (A) and the state shown in FIG. 55 (B). This prevents the game ball from being paid out by unauthorized external force.

  An excitation pattern for shifting the payout flicker 1033b from the passage permitted state to the passage prohibited state will be described. FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram showing an excitation pattern. When the excitation coil of the main body portion 1033c5 is in a steady excitation state and the payout flicker 1033b is in a steady passage permission state, the excitation coil is first moved from the excitation state according to the excitation sequence as shown in FIG. The non-excited state is maintained until the four timer interruptions in the payout control board 1037 are completed. Thereafter, the excitation coil is shifted to the excitation state, and the excitation state is maintained until two timer interruptions are completed. Further, the excitation coil is shifted to the non-excitation state, and the non-excitation state is maintained until the next time the dispensing flicker is activated.

  Here, the control operation and the movement operation of the plunger in the case where the payout flicker 1033b is shifted from the passage permission state to the passage prohibition state will be described in chronological order. Since the control of the payout flicker in each item is the same, only the operation of the payout flicker in the first item will be described. FIG. 57 is a graph showing the time transition of the moving speed in the movement of the plunger. In FIG. 57, the horizontal axis represents elapsed time, and the vertical axis represents movement speed. FIG. 58 is a graph showing the time transition of the position in the movement of the plunger. In FIG. 57 and FIG. 58, the case of simply shifting to the non-excitation state is also shown by broken lines for comparison.

  When the exciting coil of the first discharge solenoid 1033c is in a steady excitation state, the first control timer is set, and the first deceleration standby timer and the first deceleration timer are released. ing. In this state, when the remaining payout number in Article 1 becomes “0” (time t0) (S311: N in FIG. 40), timer interrupt processing (referred to as the 0th interrupt processing for convenience) Then, the control timer is released (S413 in FIG. 40), and a predetermined value “4” is set in the first deceleration waiting timer (a predetermined area of the RAM 1037a3) (S315 in FIG. 40). At this time, the deceleration timer of the first article is released. In connection with this, the 1st discharge solenoid operation flag is canceled (S3406 in FIG. 42). It should be noted that the first item dispensing solenoid operation flag remains in the released state until the next dispensing control is executed (see FIGS. 44 to 46). When the release solenoid operation flag of the first article is canceled, the value of the first deceleration waiting timer is “4” (S502 in FIG. 43), so the value of the first deceleration waiting timer is “3”. The first excitation flag that has been updated and is initialized in advance (S501 in FIG. 43) and is in the released state is not set in the first article deceleration timer (S505: N in FIG. 43), The release state will be maintained. During the timer interruption period, the exciting coil of the first solenoid 1033c maintains the excited state.

  In the first timer interrupt, based on the first excitation flag determined in the zeroth timer interrupt, the exciting coil that is currently in the excited state shifts to the non-excited state (S3102 in FIG. 36). In response to this transition, the plunger 1033c2 starts moving toward the maximum separation position (time t1). After that, the release state of the first article dispensing solenoid operation flag is maintained, and the value of the first article deceleration standby timer is “3” (S502). Therefore, the value of the first article deceleration standby timer is “2”. The first article excitation flag that has been initialized and pre-initialized (S501) in the released state is maintained in the released state since the first article deceleration timer is not set (S505: N). It becomes. The third timer interrupt (time t3) and the third timer interrupt (time t3) for the second time are substantially the same as the third timer interrupt for the first time.

  In the fourth timer interruption, the non-excitation state is maintained based on the first excitation flag determined in the third timer interruption. After that, although the first article dispensing solenoid operation flag is in the released state, the value of the first article deceleration standby timer is “1” indicating the scheduled release, so that the first article deceleration timer has a predetermined value “ 2 ”(S503 in FIG. 43), the deceleration standby timer is updated to“ 0 ”and released (S504). Since the Article 1 deceleration timer is "2" (S505: Y), the Article 1 excitation flag is forcibly set even though the Article 1 payout solenoid operation flag is released. (S506). Thereafter, the deceleration timer of the first article is updated to “1”.

  In the fifth timer interrupt, the exciting coil that is currently in the non-excited state shifts to the excited state based on the first excitation flag determined in the fourth timer interrupt (S3102) (time t5). In response to this transition, the plunger 1033c2 receives a pull-back force that moves from the exciting coil toward the minimum separation position. As a result, the moving speed of the plunger accelerated during the four timer interruptions starts to decelerate. Thereafter, the deceleration timer of the first article is updated to “0”.

  In the sixth timer interrupt, the excitation coil that is currently in the non-excitation state shifts to the excitation state based on the first excitation flag determined in the fifth timer interrupt (S3102) (time t6). In response to this transition, the plunger 1033c2 receives a pull-back force that moves from the exciting coil toward the minimum separation position. As a result, the movement speed of the plunger accelerated in the previous four timer interruption periods starts to decelerate. After that, since the first article deceleration timer is “0” (S505: Y), the first article excitation flag is not forcibly set (S506 skip), and the first article excitation flag is The release state is the same as the dispensing solenoid operation flag of the first article. Thereafter, the deceleration timer of the first article maintains the released state.

  In the seventh timer interrupt, based on the first excitation flag determined in the sixth timer interrupt, the exciting coil that is currently in the excited state shifts to the non-excited state (S3102) (time t7). As a result, the pull back force is eliminated, and the urging force moves to the maximum separation position side by the urging force. Note that the plunger continues to move toward the maximum separation position without stopping during the previous two timer interruption periods. Thereafter, since the first deceleration timer is released, the first excitation flag is in the same released state as the first discharge solenoid operation flag. In the eighth and subsequent timer interruptions, the first article decelerating standby timer and the first article decelerating timer maintain the release state, so the first article excitation flag is different from the first article dispensing solenoid operation flag. The plunger 1033c2 completes the movement to the maximum separation position without taking a state.

  In the case of the above-described spinning cylinder type game machine 1010, when the plunger 1033c2 of the payout solenoid 1033c is moved from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position, the excitation coil is not simply shifted to the non-excitation state but is excited with a predetermined excitation pattern. As a result, the speed at which the maximum separation position is reached for the first time is reduced as compared with the case of simply shifting to the non-excitation state, as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 58, the maximum moving distance of the plunger 1033c2 from the maximum separation position to the minimum separation position can be reduced as compared with the case of simply shifting to the non-excitation state. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 56, it is possible to suppress an excessive amount of game balls from pushing the flicker 1033b and flowing into the payout passage with the reverse movement of the plunger 1033c2. This improves the stability of the payout regulation by the flicker 1033b.

  Further, in the case of the above-described ball-type spinning game machine 1010, since the plunger 1033c2 is moved in one direction from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position, it moves to the minimum separation position side before reaching the maximum separation position for the first time. The movement time of the plunger 1033c2 can be prevented from significantly increasing without moving. This improves the stability of the payout restriction and maintains the high speed of the payout restriction.

  Further, in the case of the above-described ball-type spinning game machine 1010, the coil spring 1033c4 is configured to be shorter than the natural length in both cases where the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position and the minimum separation position. Even if a change with time or a change with time of sliding friction of the plunger 1033c2 occurs, the plunger 1033c2 can be placed at the maximum separation position with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to strictly control the game medium payout for a long period of time.

  In the above-described ball-type spinning machine 1010, before the transition to the final non-excitation state (excitation order 3), the transition to the pre-excitation state (excitation order 1) and the pre-excitation state. In the present invention, the transition to the pre-excitation state and the pre-excitation state is performed a plurality of times. You can also.

  In the above-mentioned ball-type spinning game machine 1010, when the plunger 1033c moves from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position, the plunger 1033c moves in one direction toward the maximum separation position without moving to the minimum separation position side. In the present invention, the plunger may be moved to the minimum separation position side (reverse direction) in a part of the movement process. In this case, the start timing of the precursor excitation state is advanced or the excitation period is lengthened. In the case of this configuration, since the movement time until the plunger moves from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position becomes long, the plunger moves to the minimum separation position side as in the above-described ball-type rotating game machine 1010. A configuration that does not move is preferable.

  In the above description, when the plunger 1033c2 moves from the minimum separation position to the maximum separation position, the movement speed is temporarily increased after the movement speed is increased, and then the movement speed is increased again. In the invention, the moving speed may increase monotonously. In this case, the start timing of the precursor excitation state is advanced or the excitation period is lengthened. It should be noted that the configuration in which the movement speed of the plunger once decreases during the movement process as in the above-described ball-type spinning game machine 1010 can further reduce the speed when the plunger reaches the maximum separation position. preferable.

  In the above-mentioned ball-type spinning game machine 1010, when the plunger 1033c2 reaches the maximum separation position for the first time, the structure that collides with the movement limiting wall 1033a3 at a predetermined speed has been described. By optimizing the transition timing, the state maintenance period, and the number of times of the precursor state transition to the precursor non-excitation state and the excitation state that are executed at least once before the transition, the plunger 1033c2 is brought to the maximum separation position. When reaching for the first time, it is also possible to adopt a configuration that abuts against the movement limiting wall 1033a3 in a state where the speed is substantially “0”.

  In the above-described ball-type spinning game machine 1010, the coil spring 1033c4 has been described as being shorter than the natural length in both cases where the plunger 1033c2 is at the maximum separation position and the minimum separation position. The configuration may be the same.

  In the above-mentioned ball-type spinning game machine 1010, a configuration has been described in which the payout solenoid 1033c is a pull-type solenoid and the flicker 1033b is allowed to pass when the plunger 1033c2 is positioned at the maximum separation position. The push-type solenoid may be configured such that flicker is permitted to pass when the plunger is positioned at the minimum separation position. In this case, when the plunger moves from the maximum separation position to the minimum separation position, the transition to the pre-excitation state and the pre-excitation state before the transition to the final non-excitation state. Run the migration at least once. Further, when the dispensing solenoid is a push-pull type solenoid, it passes when the plunger moves from the second reference position corresponding to the flicker passage permitted state to the first reference position corresponding to the flicker passage prohibited state. Before the transition to the final excitation state for shifting to the prohibition state, at least once the transition to the excitation state for causing flicker to transition to the passage prohibition state and the transition to the excitation state for shifting flicker to the passage permission state are performed at least once. It may be configured to execute each one.

  In the above-described ball-type spinning game machine 1010, the configuration in which the solenoid 1033c is driven with a predetermined excitation pattern only when the flicker 1033b is shifted from the passage permission state to the passage prohibition state has been described. The configuration may also be applied when shifting from a state to a passage permission state. In this case, the reverse excitation pattern, specifically, the excitation state and the non-excitation state are executed at least once before the transition to the final excitation state. The same applies to other types of solenoids.

  In the above-mentioned ball-type spinning game machine 1010, the case where the present invention is applied to the payout solenoid 1033c that changes the payout restriction has been described. However, in the present invention, other solenoids such as the input solenoids 1414a to 1414c You may apply. In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to the solenoid included in the ball-type spinning game machine 1010 has been described. However, in the present invention, the present invention may be applied to a solenoid included in various game machines such as a ball game machine. Good. As the solenoid included in the ball game machine, for example, a variable winning device, a variable starter, a shutter or a blade for restricting the inflow of the game ball into the variable winning ball accessory (commonly known as the center bonus) A solenoid to drive is mentioned.

  The present invention is suitable for a gaming machine such as a swing-type game machine and a ball game machine.

The front side perspective view showing an example of a ball-type spinning machine. The perspective view represented in the state which opened an example of the ball-type spinning machine in block unit. The perspective view showing an example of a selector. The partial exploded perspective view showing an example of a selector. The principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of a selector and an upper plate ball stop part in the insertion prohibition state of an insertion flicker, and the return prohibition state of a return shutter. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a selector and an upper dish ball removing operation unit in a charging flicker insertion prohibition state and a return shutter return prohibition state. The principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of a selector and an upper plate ball stop part in the insertion prohibition state of an insertion flicker, and the return permission state of a return shutter. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a selector and an upper dish ball removing operation unit in a charging flicker insertion prohibition state and a return shutter return permission state. The partial exploded perspective view showing an example of a payout block. The rear view showing an example of the passage route of the game ball in a payout block. (A) A figure is a top view showing an example of a tank rail, (B) A sectional view showing an example of a tank rail. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of the vicinity of a sphere break detection switch, (A) A figure represents a sphere presence state, (B) A figure represents a sphere absence state. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of a payout apparatus, (A) The figure represents the state which is not paying out, (B) The figure represents the state which is paying out, (C) The figure is a ball extraction Indicates the state of operation. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of the vicinity of a sphere overflow detection switch, (A) A figure represents a normal state and (B) figure represents a sphere overflow state. The partial exploded perspective view showing an example of a game block. The front view showing an example of a game panel. The partial exploded perspective view showing an example of a rotating drum unit. It is an expanded view showing an example of a symbol seal, (A) A figure represents a left symbol seal, (B) A figure represents a middle symbol seal, (C) A figure represents a right symbol seal. The block diagram showing an example of the electrical structure of a ball-type spinning machine. The flowchart showing an example of the timer interruption process in a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the sensor monitoring process in the timer interruption process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the auxiliary | assistant insertion number count process in the sensor monitoring process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the main process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the normal game process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the fluctuation waiting process in the normal game process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the return process in the fluctuation | variation waiting process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the game ball betting process in the fluctuation waiting process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the insertion monitoring process in the game ball betting process of the main control board. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the phase of the passage sensor in insertion control. The flowchart showing an example of the 1st article throwing-in control processing in the game ball betting processing of the main control board. The timing chart showing an example of the injection | throwing-in operation in which re-input is not performed. The timing chart showing an example of the throwing-in operation | movement in which re-throwing by a ball break is performed. The flowchart showing an example of the rotation control process in the normal game process in the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the acquired ball payout process in the normal game process on the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the main process in the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the timer interruption process in a payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the command determination process in the timer interruption process of a payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the passage error cancellation process in the timer interruption process of a payout control board. 6 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of a passing error canceling operation in a passing error canceling process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the number-of-payout counting process in the timer interruption process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the payout solenoid control process in the timer interruption process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the payout solenoid setting process in the timer interruption process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the solenoid excitation information output setting process in the delivery solenoid setting process of a delivery control board. 6 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of payout control for normally completing payout without going through a re-payout operation. 6 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of payout control for normally completing payout through a re-payout operation. 6 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of payout control for completing payout through a re-payout operation based on cancellation of a passage error. The flowchart showing an example of the payout count signal setting process in the timer interruption process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the during-payout signal setting process in the timer interruption process of the payout control board. 4 is a timing chart conceptually showing an example of output control of a payout signal and a payout count signal. The flowchart showing an example of the main process in a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the reception command confirmation process in the main process of a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the period timer process in the main process of a sub control board. The elements on larger scale which expanded and represented the vicinity of the discharge solenoid and the payout flicker of a payout apparatus. Explanatory drawing showing an example of operation | movement of the payout flicker accompanying the movement of a plunger in case the game ball is filled in the waiting path. Explanatory drawing showing an example of operation | movement of the payout flicker accompanying the movement of a plunger in case the game ball is not filled in the waiting path. Explanatory drawing showing an excitation pattern. The graph showing the time transition of the moving speed in the movement of a plunger. The graph showing the time transition of the position in the movement of a plunger.

1033: Dispensing device 1033a: Casing 1033a3: Movement restriction wall 1033a4: Rotation restriction wall 1033a5: Rotation restriction wall 1033b: Dispensing flicker 1033b1: Base end part 1033b2: Tip part 1033b3: Movable connecting shaft 1033b4: Gripping part 1033b5: Gripping part 1033b3: Bearing hole 1033b7: Lock portion 1033c: Discharge solenoid 1033c1: Tongue piece 1033c2: Plunger 1033c3: Knob portion 1033c4: Coil spring 1033c5: Main body portion 1033d: Standby passage 1033e: Discharge passage

Claims (5)

A flow restriction mechanism that takes a first restriction state that prohibits the flow of game media to a predetermined area and a second restriction state that permits the flow of game media to the predetermined area;
A restriction changing device for changing a restriction state of the flow restriction mechanism;
Restriction control means for controlling the drive of the restriction changing device;
A gaming machine including
The restriction changing device is a solenoid including an excitation coil and a plunger that takes a predetermined first reference position and a predetermined second reference position in accordance with control of the excitation coil by the restriction control means,
The flow- down restricting mechanism shifts to the second restricting state according to the movement of the plunger to the second reference position, and shifts to the first restricting state according to the movement of the plunger to the first reference position. And
The state of the excitation coil when the plunger is at the first reference position is a first control state, and the state of the excitation coil when the plunger is at the second reference position is a second control state.
When the plunger is moved from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means shifts the excitation coil from the second control state to the first control state, and thereby performs the first control. A gaming machine, wherein a transition is made from the state to the second control state, and then the state is shifted again to the first excitation state. The regulation control means, when moving the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, temporarily moves the excitation coil from the second control state to the first control state, When the plunger starts moving toward the first reference position due to the transition to the control state, the plunger shifts to the second control state before reaching the first reference position, and shifts to the second control state. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is shifted to the first control state again after reaching the first reference position. The restriction control means moves the plunger in one direction from the second reference position to the first reference position in the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position. The gaming machine described. In the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control means temporarily shifts from the second control state to the first control state, and shifts to the first control state. After the plunger starts moving toward the first reference position, the plunger shifts to the second control state before reaching the first reference position for the first time, and after the plunger moves to the second control state, The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the game machine is again shifted to the first excitation state before being temporarily stopped. In the movement of the plunger from the second reference position to the first reference position, the restriction control unit temporarily moves the plunger from the second control state to the first control state, and moves the first control state. Before the first reference position is reached for the first time after the plunger has started to move toward the first reference position by shifting to the second control state, and the plunger is moved in the second control state. 4. The game according to claim 3, wherein the game is temporarily stopped at the first reference position, and is transferred again to the first control state substantially simultaneously with the temporary stop at the first reference position in the second control state. Machine.