JP2011110124A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent fraudulence (fraudulence by using electric waves) intending to extract more game balls than a prescribed number by making a pay-out counting switch inside a ball pay-out device malfunction with electric waves and canceling the operation of the switch thereby. <P>SOLUTION: Stop of the pay-out motion is determined during the pay-out motion (S7). Accordingly, the pay-out motion can be stopped more quickly than before when the fraudulence is performed by always comparing the number of times of detection of game balls by a put-out counting sensor with the number of fed balls by a sprocket and confirming the difference (error) based on the comparison. As a result, the number of game balls to be fraudulently paid out can be reduced as much as possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a ball payout device thereof.

  A ball ball game machine (a so-called pachinko machine) installed in a game machine installation store (hall) or the like uses a game ball (also called a game medium) to play a game. The borrowed game balls are launched to the board surface provided on the game board of the ball game machine, and a predetermined number of game balls are paid out each time the game balls enter a predetermined winning opening. The game balls to be paid out are called prize balls.

  For this reason, when a game ball wins a winning opening within the game area of the game board, a ball payout device that pays out a winning ball corresponding to the winning opening and the number of winning balls toward the player's ball receiving tray. Is provided.

  In the ball dispensing device, a ball supplied via a ball supply passage is once accommodated in a groove of a sprocket having a plurality of grooves formed on the peripheral surface, and the sprocket is rotated to drive a prize ball on a ball tray. Pay out. The ball supply passage is a passage from a game ball storage tank on the back of the gaming board back to a ball dispensing device located below the ball supply passage, and a plurality of balls are stacked in the ball supply passage. The dead weight is added to the ball dispensing device.

JP, 2003-205147, A It stops each time one sprocket is paid out. Rotate to a rotation angle that drops by one shot and stop. When one shot is detected by the sensor, the next payout is resumed. JP, 05-329264, A In a process of paying out one shot with a sprocket, detecting one shot with a sensor, and completing the delivery of one shot, for example, when paying out three shots, it is constant with a timer when there are less than three shots (idle) with a sensor Time is measured and error processing is performed after the time has elapsed. JP, 07-313699, A It is detected whether there is a storage ball in a tank before the start of rotation of a sprocket, and if not, error processing will be performed before the start of rotation of a sprocket. JP, 06-312055, A When the time between leaving the sprocket and detecting the sensor is short, the sprocket is rotated at a high speed, and if it is long, the sprocket is rotated at a low speed, and stable dispensing control is performed according to the amount of balls supplied. .

  By causing the payout counting switch (sensor) in the ball payout device to malfunction by radio wave, the sensor will not detect the ball even though the payout operation is being performed (switch invalidation), and as a result the specified number There is a fraudulent act (radio wave) that makes it impossible to detect that the ball has been paid out and causes the game ball to be paid out more than usual.

  A conventional gaming machine rotates N sprockets regardless of the state of the payout counting switch when N payout numbers (the maximum value of N is 25), and then normally receives a prize based on the output of the payout counting switch. Determine if the ball has been played. As a result of cheating, if it is determined that no winning ball has been made, the sprocket will be rotated many times, and a large amount of game balls will be given to the cheating agent.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the number of game balls given to a fraudster as much as possible even when the above fraud (radio wave) is performed.

The gaming machine according to the present invention is a ball game machine that launches a game ball to a game board provided with a winning opening, and receives a payout of the prize ball by the prize.
A control unit that controls the payout of a predetermined number of game balls in accordance with the winning of game balls to the winning opening, a game ball payout device that is controlled by the control unit, and a payout count that counts the number of game balls that have been paid out With a sensor,
The controller is
A first step of setting the number of game balls to be paid out;
A second step of driving the game ball payout device to pay out the game ball;
A third step of determining the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device;
A fourth step of determining the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A fifth step of obtaining an error between the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device and the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A sixth step of comparing the error with a predetermined threshold;
When the error is less than or equal to the threshold, it is determined whether the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step, and the game ball payout A seventh step of proceeding to the next eighth step when the number of game balls paid out by the device has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step;
An eighth step of stopping driving of the game ball payout device and stopping payout of the game ball;
A ninth step of determining the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A payout operation process comprising: a tenth step for determining whether the number of game balls obtained in the ninth step has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step;
In the sixth step of the payout operation process, when the error exceeds the threshold value, the eighth step to the tenth step are executed,
In the seventh step of the payout operation process, when the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor does not reach the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step, the second step To repeat the sixth step,
In the tenth step of the payout operation process, a predetermined time is set when the number of game balls obtained in the ninth step does not reach the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step. A retry process including a step of performing a wait process for the first waiting time TW2 and a step of performing a payout operation process again thereafter is executed.

When the retry process is to be executed more than a predetermined number of times, instead of the retry process,
An error process including a step of performing a predetermined error notification, a step of performing a wait process for a second standby time TW3 longer than the first standby time TW2, and a step of performing a payout operation process again thereafter is executed. You may do it.

  The predetermined threshold value is determined based on, for example, the number of game balls that can stay from the game ball delivery mechanism included in the game ball payout device to the payout counting sensor.

  The predetermined threshold is determined based on, for example, the time required for the game ball to flow down from the game ball delivery mechanism included in the game ball delivery device to the payout counting sensor.

  According to the present invention, the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor is constantly compared with the number of sprockets sent out, and the difference (error) is checked to quickly pay out when an illegal act is performed. Can be stopped. Thereby, even when cheating (radio wave) is performed, it is possible to reduce the number of game balls given to the cheating person as much as possible.

It is a perspective view which shows the surface structure of a game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game machine. It is a figure (front view) which shows the mode of the board body seen from the player. It is a functional block diagram of a gaming machine. It is a block diagram which shows the payout system of the game ball of a game machine. The front view of the state which took the outer side cover of the ball dispensing apparatus of the gaming machine is shown. In the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a control flowchart of the game ball payout device performed by the control unit. In the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is the control flowchart of the game ball payout device which the control section performs (continuation). In the control which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a reference figure for demonstrating the meaning of an error (= (the number of the spheres sent out with the sprocket)-(the number detected with the sensor)).

  An outline of the structure of the ball ball game machine (pachinko machine) will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the external structure of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The outer frame 50 is a wooden frame member having a vertical rectangular shape for fixing to an installation location (island facilities or the like) provided in a gaming machine installation sales shop.
The main body member 51 is a member that is provided inside the outer frame 50 and serves as a longitudinal rectangular gaming machine base body that is rotatably attached to the outer frame via a hinge portion 51a. The main body member 51 is formed in a frame shape and has a space portion inside thereof.
The opening frame door 52 is mounted on the front surface of the main body member 51 on the front side of the gaming machine so as to be openable and closable, and is configured in a frame shape so that the inside is an opening. It is a door member.
A transparent plate member made of glass or resin is provided at the opening of the opening frame door 52, and an electrical decoration 52a, a speaker 52b, and the like are attached in the vicinity of the opening.
A game board (not shown in FIG. 1), which will be described later, is detachably attached to the main body member 51 using a predetermined fixing member so as to face the space of the main body member 51. After the game board is mounted on the main body member 51, the game area can be observed from the opening.

The door 53 with a ball tray is a door member that has at least a ball tray for storing a game ball that is attached to the lower side of the main body member 51 on the front side of the gaming machine so as to be locked and openable. In addition, the following members are attached to the door with a ball tray in the present embodiment.
(1) A ball tray in which a plurality of game balls can be stored and a passage for guiding the game balls to the firing drive device 48 is provided.
(2) A rotary operation handle 48b for performing an operation of launching the stored game ball guided to the launch drive device 48 to a game area provided on the board surface 11 of the game board 10. In general, the “board surface” means the surface of the game board 10 in which a game area is formed, but in the embodiment of the present invention, it is made of a member constituting the game board 10 (for example, acrylic or the like). It also means a transparent plate that includes an electrical decoration substrate 102 to be described later. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, it will be described as “board surface”, and when referring to the entire member rather than the surface of the game board 10, it will be described as “board surface”.
(3) A ball lending-related operation unit provided with buttons for instructing a read-in related to reading a paid card and a lending process related to a borrowed game ball.
(4) A storage ball discharge operation button for a ball tray for releasing the game ball stored in the ball tray into a game ball collecting container (common name, dollar box).

  A game ball storage tank 33 for storing prize balls and rental balls is provided at the upper part of the back surface.

Next, an internal configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit that is provided via the main body member 51 or the game board 11 or a support member attached thereto, and performs electrical game control processing to generate main processing information.
40b is provided through the main body member 51 or the game board 11 or a support member provided to the main body member 51, or a sub member that performs control to perform predetermined output mode processing by obtaining processing information generated by the control unit 40. It is a control device.
A payout control unit 42 performs payout control of prize balls.
43 is a game ball payout device for paying out game balls.
Reference numeral 44 denotes a lamp control unit that controls a lamp and an electric decoration 52a (not shown) (a combination device control unit 55 described later).
An acoustic control unit 46 generates sound by controlling and driving the speaker 52b.
49 is a control device for controlling the firing drive device 48, which is a launch device for controlling the launching of a game ball to a game area provided on the board surface (the surface of the game board) via a rotary operation handle 48b. It is a control device.

  A game ball storage tank 33 for storing a winning ball and a rental ball is provided on the upper surface of the back surface, and the game ball flowing out from the left side of the storage tank 33 is arranged below the game ball storage tank 33 so as to align the back surface. A game ball alignment tank 34 for flowing game balls toward a ball payout device 43 provided at the right end is provided.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the game board of the gaming machine.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a board surface (board body) of the game board 10.
The board surface 11 changes the direction of the guide rail 12, the discharge port (out port) 13 that guides the game ball that has fallen through the substantially circular game area defined by the guide rail 12, and the direction of the game ball that moves in the game area. It is a rectangular board surface provided with a plurality of obstacles such as the nailing 14 and the windmill 14a.

  The game area of the board surface 11 described above is partitioned and formed into a substantially circular shape by the guide rail 12 (including a sliding part for sliding the game ball and a regulation part for regulating the game ball), and the movement of the game ball that has been launched It is an area that regulates the range. A restricting portion is provided to follow the sliding portion. The sliding portion is arranged on the board surface 11 in a spiral as a whole.

  The discharge port (out port) 13 is a collection opening provided at a position where the game balls thrown into the game area converge.

  The game nails as the obstacles 14 are a plurality of rod-shaped members that are driven into appropriate positions on the board surface 11 in order to make the movement direction irregular by contacting with the game ball or to restrict the movement direction.

Reference numeral 30a denotes a variable display device (center accessory) that is provided at the center or slightly above the game area and has one or more variable display sections such as an effect display lamp and an LCD (liquid crystal display device).
30b is a through chucker (winning chucker) as a winning part.
30c is a normal winning device having a normal winning opening.
30d is a start chucker (start winning device) having a start winning opening.
30e is an attacker having a big prize opening.
In the following description, 30b to 30e may be collectively referred to as a winning opening 30 or the like.
31 is an electrical decoration apparatus which consists of light emitting elements, such as LED. The illumination device 31 is provided alone on the board surface 11, and is also provided along with the normal winning device 30 c and the outlet 13. The electrical decoration device 31 is a subordinate concept of the accessory device 56 described later.
Although not shown, the ball passage detectors 20b, 20c, 20d, and 20e are provided inside the 30b, 30c, 30d, and 30e (the symbols in parentheses in the figure mean that). ).

The start winning device of the start chucker 30d is also called a specific winning device, and the big winning device of the attacker 30e is also called a special winning device.
The start chucker (start winning device) 30d is provided with movable pieces on both sides for expanding and contracting the opening range of the winning opening, making a variable display by winning a game ball and winning a prize for a player. Device. When a game ball passes through the through chucker 30b, a lottery is made, and when it becomes a win, the movable piece of the start chucker 30d is opened and the winning opening is expanded. .
The attacker (large winning device) 30e is driven and controlled by a movable door that exposes the winning port and closes the winning port, and is compared with other winning devices by winning game balls. This is a winning device that allows more prize balls to be obtained. When a game ball enters the start chucker 30d, a lottery is made, and when it is a win, the movable door of the attacker 30e is in an open state in order to make it easier to win.
The variable display device 30 a, the start chucker 30 d, and the attacker 30 e are movable accessories that can move on the board surface 11. The movable accessory is a subordinate concept of the accessory device 56 described later. It should be noted that the movable combination includes a movable directing combination such as a figure that moves back and forth, and rotates.
In the following description, the electrical decoration device 31 and the movable accessory 30a, 30d, 30e are collectively referred to as the accessory device 56. When it is necessary to distinguish between the illumination device 31 and the movable accessory 30a, the fact is described.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the display of the sub-control unit is omitted.
Reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit that performs electrical game control processing and generates main processing information. The control unit 40 moves (flows down) the game area and receives signals from the ball passage detectors 20b to 20e that detect the game balls that have passed through the winning ports 30b to 30e, respectively, and passes the gaming balls through the winning ports 30b to 30e. A winning determination unit 40a for performing a lottery / determination in accordance with the selection. The winning determination unit 40a generates a lottery random number according to a predetermined procedure, and wins based on the generated random number (specifically, a random number extracted at a predetermined timing such as the passing timing of a game ball). Judgment is made whether or not.

Reference numeral 56 denotes an accessory device including the electrical decoration device 31 and movable accessories 30a, 30d, and 30e. Some of the accessory devices include a light emitting element (such as an LED) and some include a movable part (such as a solenoid).
Reference numeral 55 denotes an accessory device controller that causes the accessory device 56 to perform a light emission operation and / or a variable operation. The light emitting operation is to blink a light emitting element (LED or the like) built in the accessory device 56, and the variable operation is to move a movable device (solenoid or the like) (a pair of movable pieces of a so-called electric tulip). To open the winning opening, to open the open door of the attacker 30e, etc.). That is, the accessory device control unit 55 turns on the effect display lamp of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a based on the control signal from the control unit 40, or the image related to the effect on the LCD (liquid crystal display device). Is displayed, the movable piece of the start chuck 30d is opened, and the movable door of the attacker 30e is opened.
In other words, the accessory device control unit 56 performs an electronic pass / fail lottery based on establishment of a predetermined condition in the winning determination unit 40a provided in the control unit 40 (for example, winning of a game ball to the start winning device 30d). It is also a display control device that performs stop display after variably displaying the identification display information (displayed on the LCD of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a) according to the result. Further, the accessory device control unit 56 performs the identification lighting according to the result of the electronic winning / losing lottery based on the establishment of a predetermined condition in the winning determination unit 40a (for example, the passage of a game ball to a predetermined passing port). It is also a display control device that performs stop display after variably displaying information (lighted and displayed on the effect display lamp of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a).

  The LCD (not shown) of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to the big hit state and also displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. When it is detected that the game ball has passed through the start chucker (start winning device) 30d, the displayed symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time, and the lottery is drawn when the game ball start chucker (start winning device) 30d passes. The stop symbol determined by the random number for lottery is displayed on the LCD and stopped. The attacker 30e includes an opening / closing plate that can be opened forward. When the symbol after the LCD fluctuation stops is a winning symbol such as “777”, a special game called “big hit” is started, and the opening / closing plate of the attacker 30e is opened a predetermined number of times. After the opening / closing plate of the attacker 30e is opened, the opening / closing plate is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number of game balls are won.

42 is a payout control unit that receives the signal of the winning determination unit 40a and controls the game ball payout device 43 according to the game balls passing through the winning holes 30b to 30e and / or according to the lottery / determination result. .
43 is a game equipped with a drive source for paying out a predetermined number of game balls according to the passing of game balls of the winning openings 30b to 30e and / or the results of lottery / determination as a result of achieving the winning conditions. A ball dispensing device.
An acoustic control unit 46 generates sound effects / sounds through a speaker 52b provided in the gaming board 10 or the gaming machine casing.

  The winning devices 30b to 30e in which game balls are provided in the game area are provided with ball passage detectors (for example, switches) 20b to 20e, respectively, so that the passage of the game ball can be detected. When the position of any of the winning devices 30b to 30e passes, the ball passage detectors 20b to 20e detect this, and the winning determination unit 40a performs a predetermined lottery / determination process. For example, when the ball passage detector 20b detects a game ball that has passed through the through chucker (winning chucker) 30b, a predetermined lottery is performed, and when winning, the start chucker (starting winning device) 30d is released for a predetermined time. That is, a pair of movable pieces provided opposite to each other on both the left and right sides of the start chucker (start winning device) 30d are opened outward. At the same time, the effect of winning is displayed on the variable display device (center accessory) 30a. Then, when it is detected that the game ball has passed the start chucker (starting winning device) 30d, a predetermined lottery is performed, and when winning, the big winning device of the attacker 30e is released.

  The control unit 40 controls the payout control unit 42, the sound control unit 46, and the accessory device control unit 55. The control unit 40 includes a CPU, a read only memory (ROM), a read / write memory (RWM), and an input / output unit (I / O). The CPU performs predetermined processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM. Actually, the winning determination unit 40a is realized by the CPU executing a program.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a game ball payout system.
Reference numeral 33 denotes a game ball storage tank that stores prize balls and rental balls.
Reference numeral 34 denotes a game ball alignment tank that aligns the game balls received from the game ball storage tank 33 and flows the game balls toward the ball dispensing device 43.
Reference numeral 36 denotes a game ball cage for guiding game balls from the game ball alignment tank 34 to the sprocket 37.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a sprocket (game ball delivery mechanism) that inserts a game ball into a formed groove and sends out the game ball by being driven to rotate.
Reference numeral 41 denotes a ball passage for guiding the game ball sent out by the sprocket 37 to the ball receiving tray 53.
M is a motor that rotationally drives the sprocket 37.
SEN is a payout counting sensor (switch) that detects a game ball in the ball passage 41. The payout counting sensor SEN is, for example, an interrupter that detects a sphere when a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are paired and a sphere passes between them to block light. As the payout counting sensor SEN, various proximity switches such as a light reflection type sensor or an electrostatic induction type can be used.

  FIG. 6 shows a front view of the ball dispensing device 43 with the outer cover removed. In the figure, B is a game ball. Other reference numerals are the same as those shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the game ball cage 36 is displayed as a straight line for convenience, but actually, the game ball cage 36 includes a curved portion as shown in FIG.

  The sprocket 37 is provided with four grooves 37a around it (the number of grooves of 4 is an example, and it is needless to say that the number may be 3, 5, etc.). The motor M that rotationally drives the sprocket 37 is driven by the payout control unit 42. The payout control unit 42 is controlled by the control unit 40. That is, the rotation / stop of the sprocket 37 and its rotation angle are controlled by the control unit 40. The motor M can accurately control the rotation angle such as a stepping motor, or can accurately control the rotation speed such as a servo motor. Therefore, the control unit 40 can accurately control the rotation angle (or rotation direction and rotation speed) of the sprocket 37. In the example of FIG. 6, the sprocket 37 has four grooves 37 a, and one game ball is held and sent out in each groove, so that four game balls can be sent out by rotating the sprocket 37 once. In other words, one game ball can be sent out by making a quarter turn (90 degrees). When the groove 37 a faces the ball passage 41, the game ball held by the groove 37 a leaves the groove 37 a by its own weight and inertia, enters the ball passage 41, and rolls toward the ball receiving tray 53.

  7 and 8 are control flowcharts of the game ball payout device 43 performed by the control unit 40 in the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 40 executes the processes shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 when paying out the winning ball.

S1: The number N of payouts per time is set.
Usually, the maximum value of N is 25.

S2: The motor M is driven to rotate the sprocket 37.
Thereby, a game ball is sent out. The game ball flowing down the ball passage 41 is detected by the payout counting sensor SEN, but there is a certain distance from the sprocket 37 to the payout counting sensor SEN. Therefore, an error described later occurs even in a normal operating state (see FIG. 9 and the description thereof). In addition, since the control part 40 can grasp | ascertain the rotation angle of the motor M, it can grasp | ascertain how many game balls were sent out.

S3: The number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 is obtained.
The said number can be calculated | required based on the rotation speed (= rotation angle) of the sprocket 37. FIG. If the motor M is a stepping motor, the rotation angle can be obtained based on the number of drive pulses, and the number sent from this can be calculated. If the motor M is a servo motor, the number of feeds can be calculated by multiplying the rotational angular velocity (constant) by the drive time.

S4: The number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN is obtained.
One output pulse of the payout counting sensor SEN means one game ball. Therefore, the number of game balls can be obtained from the number of output pulses.

S5: Error = (number sent by sprocket 37 determined in S3) − (number detected by sensor SEN determined in S4).
The significance of the error will be described later (see FIG. 9 and its description).

S6: It is determined whether the error exceeds a threshold value.
The threshold value is a standard for determining whether the error is within a normal range or whether the error has occurred. The threshold value will be described later (see FIG. 9 and its description).

  When the opening (error) between the number of sprockets 37 and the number detected by the payout counting sensor SEN exceeds a threshold (for example, 4) (for example, 5 or more), it is determined YES in S6, In S8, the sprocket 37 is stopped, and a retry process or error process (error stop state) described later is performed. If the predetermined value is not exceeded, NO is determined in S6, and the process proceeds to S7.

S7: It is determined whether N rotations set in S1 have been completed.
As described above, the number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 can be grasped. When it becomes N (YES), the process proceeds to S8. When N has not been reached (NO), the process returns to S2 and the above process is repeated.

S8: The driving of the motor M is stopped and the rotation of the sprocket 37 is stopped.
Since the necessary N game balls are sent out by the sprocket 37, the operation is stopped and the sending is stopped.

S9: Wait processing is performed.
The wait process is waiting for a predetermined time while a certain process (S8) ends and proceeds to the next process (S10). With the wait process, a time interval can be provided between the end of a process and the execution of the next process. In other words, the execution of the next process can be delayed. The delay time can be adjusted by the predetermined time.

  It takes some time for the game ball sent out by the sprocket 37 to reach the payout counting sensor SEN (see Td in FIG. 9B). Therefore, in order to accurately count the game balls sent out by the payout counting sensor SEN, the processing waits for a certain time TW1 (for example, 200 ms). Note that TW1> Td.

S10: The number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN is obtained.
For example, it is obtained in the same manner as S4.

S11: It is determined whether or not the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN matches the number of N sent out.
Since the wait process of S9 is performed, all of the game balls that have been sent out should have been detected by the payout counting sensor SEN. Therefore, the number of game balls obtained in S10 should be N. If it is N (YES), the game ball has been normally paid out, and the payout operation in FIG. If it is less than N (NO), for some reason, for example, there is a possibility that the game ball temporarily disappeared in the storage tank 33, and the sprocket 37 was idled, so that the necessary number could not be delivered (sprocket 37 does not have a technique for judging whether or not it is carrying out idle feeding), and executes the process when the number of payouts is insufficient in FIG. As long as the process of S7 is performed normally, the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN does not exceed N.

  With reference to FIG. 8, a description will be given of the processing when the number of payouts is insufficient.

S20: Count the number of retry processes.
When the number of payouts is insufficient, a retry process described later is performed in order to pay out the shortage. However, the number of retry processes is managed so that the retry process is not repeated many times. In S20, for example, a counter indicating the number of retries is prepared, and the counter is incremented by 1 in S20 (eg, before S20, for example, NO in S11 of FIG. 7, and the counter is reset before the processing of S20 (= 0). Suppose it is).

S21: It is determined whether the number of retries exceeds a threshold value.
By causing the payout counting sensor SEN to malfunction by radio waves as described above, the sensor does not detect the ball even though the payout operation is performed, and as a result, it can be detected that the specified number of balls has been paid out. There is a fraudulent act that tries to pay out more game balls than usual. It is considered that the number of retries is repeated in the fraud. Therefore, an upper limit (threshold value) is provided for the number of retries, and when this number is exceeded (YES), it is determined as an illegal act and error processing described later is performed. When it does not exceed (NO), retry processing is executed. Since the retry process is a process that is not frequently performed, the threshold value may be set to a small natural number of about a few.

S30: Wait processing is performed.
Since there is a possibility that the result of the sprocket 37 being idle is NO in S11 of FIG. 7, it waits for the game ball to reach the position of the sprocket 37 through the game ball cage 36. That is, the process waits for a predetermined time TW2 (for example, 6000 ms) in S30. Then, a payout process is performed. For example, the number of payouts is set to the shortage (N = shortage in S1 of FIG. 7), and the processing of S2, S7, S8 to S11 of FIG. 7 is executed (S3 to S6 may also be executed) You don't have to do this). As a result, if the answer is YES in S11, the prescribed number of payouts has been made, and the processing is terminated. If NO in S11, since the number of payouts is still insufficient, the above-described process for insufficient payout is repeated.

  If it is a fraudulent act, the above-mentioned payout shortage process is repeated many times and eventually exceeds the threshold (YES in S21). Then, error processing is executed.

S40: Perform error notification.
Sound the buzzer and flash the lights. Further, an error signal is transmitted to a hall computer (not shown).

S41: Wait processing is performed.
The process waits for a certain time TW3 (for example, 20000 ms). By not performing the processing for a long time, it is not easy to give a profit by fraud and also penalizes the player. Then, a payout process is performed. Therefore, if the specified number of payouts is completed, the process ends and the game is ready. If there is still a shortage, the above process is repeated.

  By the above processing, even if the payout counting sensor SEN is erroneously operated by radio waves, error processing is performed when the number of retries exceeds the specified number in S21 of FIG. 8, and an illegal act is detected. Since an upper limit is set for the number of retries, a large amount of game balls are not given to the fraudster. Furthermore, since long wait processing is performed in retry processing and error processing, it takes time to complete the payout, which can reduce the motivation of fraudsters and easily give profits from fraudulent acts. Disappear.

  FIG. 9 is a reference diagram for explaining the significance of the error (= (number of spheres sent out by sprocket) − (number detected by sensor)) obtained in S5 of FIG.

  FIG. 9 (a) shows that there is no other game ball between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN (reference numeral x in FIG. 6, and x means the distance in the following description), and the sprocket. 37 shows a timing chart when the first game ball sent out at 37 does not flow down due to its own weight in the ball passage 41 (when it is sequentially moved by the game ball sent out by the sprocket 37). This figure shows a case in which the above error is maximized when fraud is not performed.

  In FIG. 9A, the thin straight line indicates the “sprocket rotation angle” when the motor M rotates at a constant angular velocity. The step-like line overlapping the straight line indicates the number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 (see scale on the vertical axis). The step-like line below the step-like line indicates the number of game balls (see the scale on the vertical axis) detected by the payout counting sensor SEN (all the graphs in FIG. 9 are conceptual for convenience of explanation). ). As can be seen from this figure, as time elapses, that is, the sprocket rotation angle increases, the number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 and the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN both increase monotonously. Go.

  When the number of the grooves 37 a of the sprocket 37 is four, the number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 is accurately increased by one every 90 degrees of rotation of the sprocket 37. However, there is a case where the difference between the number of game balls sent out by the sprocket 37 and the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor SEN at a specific timing, that is, the error is not zero.

  For example, in the case of paying out a large number of game balls, if the sprocket 37 continues to rotate, for some reason (game balls accumulate in the ball tray 53 and the game balls do not fall naturally through the ball passage 41, or The game ball may be filled between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN (symbol x in FIG. 6) due to an increase in the resistance of the ball passage 41 due to dirt or the like so that the game ball does not fall naturally). In the example of FIG. 9, a maximum of four game balls can stay). In this case, each time the sprocket 37 sends out one game ball, the payout counting sensor SEN detects one game ball (because the accumulated game balls are pushed out sequentially). In this case, the error is zero or at most one and is minimal.

  On the other hand, there is no other game ball between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN (symbol x in FIG. 6), and the resistance of the ball passage 41 increases due to dirt and the game ball naturally falls. When the first game ball sent out by the sprocket 37 does not flow down due to its own weight due to the loss of the ball or the like, the sprocket 37 detects a certain number (see FIG. 9) until the first game ball is detected by the payout counting sensor SEN. In the case of (a), 4) game balls must be sent out. FIG. 9A corresponds to this case.

  FIG. 9A shows a case where the above error is maximum when no fraud is performed, and the maximum value of the error = the maximum number of game balls that can stay between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN. This is a number (specifically, a quotient obtained by dividing the length of the symbol x in FIG. 6 by the diameter of the game ball). In the case of FIG. 9A, the maximum error value = 4. The maximum value of the error indicates a maximum value when no illegal act is performed. Normally, the error does not exceed the maximum value. Therefore, when the maximum value of the error is exceeded, it may be immediately determined that the act is fraudulent. The process of FIG. 7 is based on this. In the example of FIG. 9A, the threshold value of S6 in FIG.

  A description will be added to FIG. The rotation of the sprocket 37 starts at time t0, and game balls are sent out one by one at regular intervals of T1, 2,. T1, T2,... Are the time required for the sprocket 37 to make a quarter turn. Four game balls are sent out by T1 to T4, and the space between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN is filled with four game balls (assuming that the sent game balls do not fall naturally). When the fifth game ball is sent out at T5, the payout counting sensor SEN detects the game ball sent out first. The error at this time = 5-1 = 4 is maintained. As described above, this error does not increase even if it decreases. Therefore, the processing in FIG. 7 is performed with the maximum error TH1 = 4 in FIG.

  FIG. 9B shows that there is no other game ball between the sprocket 37 and the payout counting sensor SEN (symbol x in FIG. 6), and the first game ball sent out by the sprocket 37 has its own weight passing through the ball passage 41. The timing chart in the case of flowing down is shown. This figure shows a case where the above error becomes maximum when the game ball flows down through the ball passage 41 with its own weight (not a fraudulent act).

  In the case where the ball passage 41 is not dirty and the game ball naturally falls, unlike the case of FIG. 9A, the game ball sent out by the sprocket 37 is detected by the payout counting sensor SEN, without being pushed out. . However, it takes time Td for the game ball to reach the payout counting sensor SEN from the sprocket 37. Specifically, the time Td is the time required for the game ball to pass the length of the symbol x in FIG. 6 (length of x ÷ flow velocity of the game ball).

  Therefore, if the payout counting sensor SEN detects that the time Td has elapsed since the start of the rotation of the sprocket 37, it is normal. it can. In order to convert the delay of the time Td into the error of FIG. 7, it is only necessary to consider how many game balls the sprocket 37 can send out at the time Td. If the time required for the sprocket 37 to send out one game ball is Tα, the number of game balls that the sprocket 37 can send out at time Td is time Td ÷ Tα. In the example of FIG. 9B, since the time Td ÷ Tα = 2.5, the threshold value TH2 may be set to 2 or 3.

  A description will be added to FIG. The rotation of the sprocket 37 starts at time t0, and game balls are sent out one by one at regular intervals of T1, 2,. The first game ball sent out at T1 is detected by the payout counting sensor SEN at time t2 delayed by time Td from time t0. The processing of FIG. 7 is performed using the maximum error TH2 = 2 in FIG. 9B as a threshold value.

  Even in the case of FIG. 9B, if the game ball stays in the ball passage 41 for some reason, there is a possibility that it will be as shown in FIG. 9A thereafter. At this time, the threshold value to be determined in FIG. 7 changes from the threshold value TH2 to the threshold value TH1.

  Since the threshold value TH2 is smaller than the threshold value TH1, cheating can be detected quickly (in other words, cheating detection sensitivity is high). However, since the threshold value TH2 may be exceeded for reasons other than fraudulent acts, events other than fraudulent acts may be erroneously determined as fraudulent acts (low reliability). On the other hand, the threshold value TH1 cannot exceed this value except for illegal acts. Therefore, an event other than the illegal acts is not erroneously determined as an illegal act, and the determination is highly reliable. Therefore, it is conceivable to use the threshold value TH1 when high reliability is required, and use the threshold value TH2 when high detection sensitivity is required. Even when the threshold value TH2 is used, it is determined to be an illegal act only when detection by this occurs frequently (for example, when the event occurs a predetermined number of times per unit time) (for example, exceeding the threshold value TH2) High detection sensitivity and high reliability can be achieved at the same time by determining fraudulent behavior when the frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold (such as once per minute).

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the payout operation stop is determined during the payout operation. In other words, by constantly comparing the number of game balls detected by the payout counting sensor and the number of sprockets sent out, and checking the difference (error), when a fraudulent act is performed, the payout operation is faster than before. Can be stopped. It is possible to reduce the number of game balls that are paid out by cheating as much as possible.

  There may be anti-fraud measures such as simply increasing the weight, but by strengthening such anti-corruption measures, it is difficult to determine whether the ball is out of action or fraud. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machine can be divided into retry processing (short-time wait) and error processing (long-time wait). Performance degradation can be prevented.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

33 game ball storage tank 34 game ball alignment tank 36 game ball bowl 37 sprocket (game ball delivery mechanism)
40 control unit 41 ball passage 42 payout control unit 43 game ball payout device 53 ball tray M motor SEN payout counting sensor (switch)

Claims (4)

In a ball game machine that launches a game ball to a game board provided with a prize opening and receives a prize ball by the prize winning,
A control unit that controls the payout of a predetermined number of game balls in accordance with the winning of game balls to the winning opening, a game ball payout device that is controlled by the control unit, and a payout count that counts the number of game balls that have been paid out With a sensor,
The controller is
A first step of setting the number of game balls to be paid out;
A second step of driving the game ball payout device to pay out the game ball;
A third step of determining the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device;
A fourth step of determining the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A fifth step of obtaining an error between the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device and the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A sixth step of comparing the error with a predetermined threshold;
When the error is less than or equal to the threshold, it is determined whether the number of game balls paid out by the game ball payout device has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step, and the game ball payout A seventh step of proceeding to the next eighth step when the number of game balls paid out by the device has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step;
An eighth step of stopping driving of the game ball payout device and stopping payout of the game ball;
A ninth step of determining the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor;
A payout operation process comprising: a tenth step for determining whether the number of game balls obtained in the ninth step has reached the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step;
In the sixth step of the payout operation process, when the error exceeds the threshold value, the eighth step to the tenth step are executed,
In the seventh step of the payout operation process, when the number of game balls counted by the payout counting sensor does not reach the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step, the second step To repeat the sixth step,
In the tenth step of the payout operation process, a predetermined time is set when the number of game balls obtained in the ninth step does not reach the number of game balls to be paid out set in the first step. A gaming machine that executes a retry process including a step of performing a wait process for a first waiting time TW2 and a step of performing a payout operation process again thereafter. When the retry process is to be executed more than a predetermined number of times, instead of the retry process,
An error process including a step of performing a predetermined error notification, a step of performing a wait process for a second standby time TW3 longer than the first standby time TW2, and a step of performing a payout operation process again thereafter is executed. The gaming machine according to claim 1.   The predetermined threshold value is determined based on the number of game balls that can stay from the game ball delivery mechanism included in the game ball delivery device to the payout counting sensor. 2. The gaming machine according to 2.   The predetermined threshold value is determined based on a time required for the game ball to flow down from the game ball delivery mechanism included in the game ball delivery device to the payout counting sensor. The gaming machine according to claim 2.

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