JP2012081148A - Game machine and game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine and a game device dedicated to a specific rate (a specific game ball value) wherein their installation in a proper place is secured in a game parlor.SOLUTION: This game machine (Pachinko machine 2) repeatedly dispensing a prescribed unit of game balls responding to one operation of a game ball-renting out operation portion [one operation of a game ball-renting out SW (switch) 231] a plurality of times, includes a dispensing control unit (a dispensing controller 200) wherein a number of times of dispensing the prescribed unit of game balls is registered as a set value based on the game ball value per ball, and which compares the set value and a count value of a number of times of dispensing the prescribed unit of game balls actually performed based on a renting out request (a BRQ signal) from a ball renting out control unit (a CR unit 3), and disenables the dispensing when they do not accord.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.

  Conventionally, there is a pachinko machine as a representative example of a gaming machine. In this pachinko machine, a game ball rented from a game store is used to play a game, and in recent years, a game that implements a sales form (multiple rate sales) with a different value per ball for a rented game ball. There is also a store.

JP 2010-57808 A

As described above, the number of amusement stores that conduct multi-rate sales is increasing, and the development of pachinko machines dedicated to each rate has been desired.
However, when a pachinko machine dedicated to a specific rate is installed in an amusement store, it may be accidentally installed in an inappropriate location (for example, a 1-Yen rental machine is installed in a 4-Yen rental corner). If it is improperly installed in an inappropriate place, there is a possibility that the original function of the pachinko machine cannot be exhibited.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine and a gaming apparatus dedicated to a specific rate that guarantees that the gaming machine is installed at an appropriate location.

The gaming machine according to claim 1 pays out game balls based on payout control means for performing payout control for paying out a predetermined number of game balls as rental balls based on a loan request, and payout control by the payout control means. A payout means,
In the gaming machine in which the payout control means causes the payout means to repeatedly pay out a predetermined unit of balls based on a single operation of the ball lending operation unit.
The payout control means includes
A rental value setting means for presetting a value for one rental ball used in the gaming machine;
Unit payout number setting means for setting the number of times of paying out the predetermined unit of the loan based on the ball rental value set by the ball rental value setting means;
Unit payout execution counting means for counting the number of times the predetermined means of paying out the rental balls based on the loan request;
Comparison determination means for comparing and comparing the value set in the unit payout number setting means and the value counted by the unit payout execution counting means;
A payout disabling activating means for disabling the payout of game balls by the payout means when it is determined that the determination result by the comparison determination means is inconsistent;
It is characterized by providing.
The “rental request” is an instruction for requesting the payout of the predetermined number of balls, and specifically, for example, a BRQ signal in an embodiment described later.

  Note that, as a preferred aspect of the present invention (game machine), as described in claim 2, there is provided an error notification means for notifying that an error has occurred when the determination result by the comparison determination means is determined to be inconsistent. It may be configured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the unit payout execution counting means may be configured to update the value every time the payout of the predetermined unit of lending by the payout means is completed.

Further, as described in claim 4, the ball rental value setting means sets an invariable value as the value for one ball rental,
The unit payout number setting means may be configured to set an invariable value as the number of times of paying out the predetermined unit of the loan based on the value of the ball rental set by the value of the ball rental value setting means.

Further, as described in claim 5, the payout control means includes an initializing means for initializing an immobilization state by the payout immobilization means,
The payout disabling means may be configured to disable all controls including payout control executed by the payout control means until the payout control means is initialized by the initialization means.

A gaming device according to claim 6 is constituted by the gaming machine and a ball lending control unit that is connected to the gaming machine and makes the lending request based on an operation of the ball lending operation unit. In
The ball lending control unit has lending control means for outputting a lending request signal as a lending request to the payout control means,
The lending control means includes
Unit-side lending value setting means for setting a value for one lending;
A lending request number setting means for setting the number of times to output the lending request signal based on the lending value set by the unit side lending value setting means, and based on the operation of the ball lending operation unit The lending request signal is output for the number of times set by the lending request number setting means.

As a preferred aspect of the present invention (game device), as described in claim 7, the payout control means instructs the lending control means to instruct a lending value set in the lending value setting means. A ball rental value instruction means for outputting a ball value instruction signal is provided,
The unit-side ball rental value setting means may be configured to determine a ball rental value to be set based on a ball rental value instruction signal output by the ball rental value instruction means.

  In addition, as described in claim 8, the rented value instruction means may output the rented value instruction signal each time the gaming machine is powered on.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the lending value instruction means may output the lending value instruction signal every time a lending operation start instruction is issued from the lending control means.
Note that the “lending operation start instruction for lending” is, for example, an instruction output from the lending control means prior to the lending request based on the operation of the lending operation unit. It is a BRDY signal of the embodiment to be.

  In the gaming machine according to claim 1, the number of times of paying out a predetermined unit of balls for the operation of the ball lending operation unit based on the value of the lending value set by the lending value setting means is a unit payout number setting means. Is set by Further, the unit payout execution counting means counts the number of times that the payout means pays out a predetermined unit of rental balls based on the loan request. Then, the value set by the unit payout number setting means (set value) and the value (count value) counted by the unit payout execution counting means are compared and determined by the comparison determining means, and the determination result is determined to be inconsistent. Then, the payout disabling means disables the payout of the game ball by the payout means. For this reason, when the gaming machine is used in an environment where a lending request is output based on a rented value other than the rented value unique to the gaming machine, it is set based on the rented value unique to the gaming machine. In addition, the set value and the count value that is the number of times a predetermined unit of rental balls is actually paid out do not match, and the immobilization is executed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the gaming machine that is limited to use with a specific rent value, for example, from being erroneously used with another rent value.

  In the gaming machine according to claim 2, when the determination result by the comparison determination unit is determined to be inconsistent, the error notification unit notifies that there is an error. This can be surely notified to a store clerk or the like of the game store, and can be encouraged to use the ball rental value suitable for the game machine.

  In the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the unit payout execution counting means updates the value every time the payout means finishes paying out the rent of a predetermined unit. As a result, the number of times a predetermined unit of rental balls is actually paid out is reliably counted each time and reflected in the comparison determination by the comparison determination means, so that an accurate determination can be made.

  In the gaming machine according to claim 4, since the information set by the ball rental value setting means and the unit payout number setting means is unchanged, it is ensured that the gaming machine is used for a value other than the specific ball rental value. Can be prevented.

  In the gaming machine according to claim 5, when the comparison determination is inconsistent, all controls including the payout control executed by the payout control unit are disabled. For this reason, for example, when a prize ball is also paid out by the payout control means, this prize ball is not paid out, and the use of the gaming machine with an unsuitable lending value can be prevented more strongly. Further, since this gaming machine is provided with an initializing means for initializing the disabled state, even if the disabled state is entered, the initializing means is used to set the disabled state. If the game machine is released and transferred to an appropriate environment (an environment in which the game machine has a rental value unique to the game machine), the game machine can be used without any problem. However, even if the disabled state is canceled by the initialization means, if the rental environment is not changed to an appropriate environment, the disabled state is set again at the time when the lending payout is executed. Therefore, since the payout control means is not normally controlled until the gaming machine is used with a specific rental value, it is possible to reliably prevent the gaming machine from being used with a value other than the specific rental value. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball lending control unit that makes the lending request to the gaming machine based on the operation of the ball lending operation unit of the gaming machine. Further, in the lending control means of this ball lending control unit, the number of times of outputting the lending request signal as the lending request is determined by the lending request number setting means based on the lending value set by the unit side lending value setting means. Is set. Then, based on the operation of the ball lending operation unit, the lending request signal is output for the number of times set by the lending request frequency setting means. For this reason, if the setting of the rental value by the rental value setting means on the gaming machine side matches the setting of the rental value by the unit side rental value setting means on the ball rental control unit side, the comparison determination If the results match, but they do not match, the disabling is executed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gaming machine limited to use with a specific rent value from being used in combination with, for example, a sphere lending control unit that is erroneously used with another rent value. As a result, a gaming machine limited to use with a specific rental value is separated from a previously connected ball rental control unit, for example, moved to another rental value corner by mistake. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ball lending control unit connected to another ball lending control unit at the corner from being used.

  In the gaming apparatus according to claim 7, the payout control means of the gaming machine outputs a rent value instruction signal for instructing the rent value of the sphere rental control unit to the rent value control means of the sphere rental control unit. A ball rental value instruction means for outputting is provided. Then, the unit-side ball rental value setting means of the ball rental control unit determines a ball rental value to be set based on the ball rental value instruction signal. That is, the ball rental value set on the gaming machine side can be instructed to the ball rental control unit side, and the ball rental control unit side makes a lending request based on the instructed ball rental value. For this reason, a gaming machine limited to use with a specific rent value is a ball rent control unit that has been mistakenly used with another rent value (or a sphere rent control unit with no rent value set). Even if used in combination, the ball rental value of the ball rental control unit is set to the ball rental value indicated by the connected gaming machine (that is, the same rental value as the gaming machine). A lending request is made based on the instructed lending value, and inconsistency in the comparison determination and immobilization due to this do not occur.

Therefore, a gaming machine that is limited to use with a specific rental value is separated from, for example, a previously connected ball rental control unit and mistakenly moved to another rental value corner, etc. Even if it is connected to a ball lending control unit used at another ball lending value in the corner, the ball lending value of the ball lending control unit (and the number of times the lending request signal is output) is connected. Since it is set to be compatible with the gaming machine, at least the relationship between the ball rental control unit and the gaming machine does not cause any inconvenience and can be used as it is.
Or, conversely, a ball lending control unit used at a corner with a specific value for lending is separated from, for example, a gaming machine connected up to that point and moved to another corner with a value for lending by mistake. Even if it is connected to a gaming machine that has been used for another rental value at that corner, it can be used as it is without any inconvenience.

  In the gaming device according to the eighth aspect, the ball rental value instruction means outputs the ball rental value instruction signal each time the gaming machine is powered on. For this reason, the ball rental value set in the gaming machine can be instructed to the ball lending control unit when the power is turned on before the ball lending is executed. Based on the ball value, the number of output of the lending request signal can be set to an appropriate value in advance.

  In the gaming device according to the ninth aspect, the ball rental value instruction means outputs the ball rental value instruction signal every time there is an instruction to start the rental operation of the ball rental. For this reason, the ball rental value set in the gaming machine can be instructed to the ball lending control unit side immediately before the execution of the ball lending, and the ball lending control unit side can instruct based on the instructed ball rental value. It is possible to set the number of outputs of the lending request signal to an appropriate value every time immediately before execution of lending. In the configuration that outputs the ball rental value instruction signal only when the power is turned on, the power supply on the ball rental control unit side is not turned on when the gaming machine is turned on. Although there is a risk that the control unit side will be missed, in the case of the present invention, even if such a missed occurrence occurs, the rent value set in the gaming machine is surely indicated immediately before the renting out of the rented ball. Can do.

(A) is a front view of a pachinko machine, (b) is an enlarged view of a batch display device. It is a back view of a pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the control system (mainly game control apparatus) of a pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the control system (mainly payout control apparatus and a lending unit control apparatus) of a pachinko machine. It is a timing chart explaining the paying-out operation | movement of a ball rental (ball rental value 1 yen). It is a timing chart explaining the paying-out operation | movement of a sphere (a rent value 2 yen). It is a timing chart explaining the paying-out operation | movement (ball rental value of 4 yen). It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the main process of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the main process latter half of a payout control apparatus. (A) And (b) is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. (A) And (b) is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. (A) is a timer interruption process of the payout control apparatus, and (b) is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a rental unit control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the main process of the payout control apparatus of Example 2. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the payout control apparatus of Example 2. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the rental unit control apparatus of Example 2.

Hereinafter, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a configuration example when applied to a pachinko apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
A. Front Configuration of Pachinko Device First, the front configuration of the pachinko device 1 (game device) of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the pachinko machine 1 is called a so-called CR machine (card reading machine) in this case, and is roughly divided into a pachinko machine 2 (game machine) and a game medium lending device. CR units (card-type ball lending control unit) 3 and these are installed in pairs. However, the pachinko machine 2 can be separated from the CR unit 3, and the pachinko machine 2 is separated and taken to another corner (for example, from a corner with a lending value of 1 yen to a corner with 4 yen). There is a risk that it will be set and used for an existing CR unit 3 (a CR unit different from the one connected so far) at the corner. In this case, the pachinko machine 2 is a dedicated platform for each rate. For example, a dedicated platform when the rental value is 1 yen per ball (hereinafter referred to as a dedicated 1-yen platform), and the rental value is A dedicated stand for 2 yen per ball (hereinafter referred to as a 2 yen rental stand) or a dedicated stand for a rental value of 4 yen per ball (hereinafter referred to as a 4 yen rental stand) .

  The CR unit 3 includes a card reader / writer 611 (shown in FIG. 4). On the front surface of the CR unit 3, a card insertion slot 3a into which a card such as a magnetic card or an IC card is inserted, a card usable LED 3b that is lit when a card can be inserted into the card insertion slot 3a, and a card balance are increased. Bill insertion slot 3c, a bill insertion enable LED 3d that lights up when a bill can be inserted into the bill insertion slot 3c, a card insertion LED 3e that lights up during card insertion, and a holding-ball dispensing operation that is operated when dispensing a ball The unit 3f, an information display device 4 for displaying various information, and the like, a game medium paying unit 5 that is a bowl for discharging the ball to the upper plate 12 described later, and the like are provided.

  The information display device 4 includes an information display unit 4a that is a touch panel screen, a main menu button 4b for displaying a main menu, a unit number setting button 4c for setting a unit number, and a model specifying button 4d for specifying a model. , A TV switching button 4e for displaying TV, and a replay button 4f operated when replaying the stored ball. In this information display device 4, information on the model installed in the game hall, operating status of each unit, etc., by operating the machine number setting button 4c and the model designation button 4d and operating the touch panel on the information display unit 4a. Information can be viewed, and a TV broadcast can also be viewed by operating the TV switching button 4e.

The pachinko machine 2 is attached so that the front frame 6 can be freely opened and closed with respect to a machine frame 7 (shown in FIG. 2) disposed on the back side of the front frame 6, and the game board 8 is located above the front frame 6. Installed. Further, a glass frame 9 is attached to the front frame 6 so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the upper side of the front surface, and through a glass plate (a transparent plastic board may be used, not shown) that is held by the glass frame 9. A game area 22 described later of the game board 8 is visible.
An open / close panel 10 is disposed below the glass frame 9 and is attached to the front frame 11 so as to be openable and closable. Further, an operation panel 11 is fixed to the front frame 6 below the open / close panel 10.

The game board 8 has game nails planted on the front surface of a plate-like base material (so-called veneer), and a game area 22 is formed by surrounding a substantially circular area of the front face with a guide rail 21. is there. The game area 22 is an area where a game ball that has been thrown in is dropped from above and a determination of whether it is out or safe (determination of whether or not a prize has been won) is made. Has a configuration in which a predetermined number of game balls are discharged to the upper plate 12 provided in the open / close panel 10 (that is, discharged as prize balls).
Further, a key insertion portion 6a of a locking device (not shown) for the front frame 6 and the glass frame 9 is formed at the edge of the front frame 6 on the opening and closing side (right side in FIG. 1).

Also, on the lower part of the glass frame 9, a ball lending button 9a for paying out a ball, a card return button 9b for discharging a card from the CR unit 3, a ball lending is possible (pressing the ball lending button 9a) A ball lending LED 9c that is turned on when the operation is valid) and a balance display 9d that displays the card balance are provided. Here, the ball lending button 9a constitutes a ball lending operation unit of the present invention.
The upper plate 12 temporarily holds game balls before being released as prize balls or rental balls. The upper plate 12 is a ball for transferring the game balls of the upper plate 12 to the lower plate 13 described later. An upper dish ball removing lever 11a for opening and closing the passage is provided.

  Further, the operation panel 11 includes a lower plate 13, a lower plate ball release lever 13a for extracting a ball stored in the lower plate 13 toward the game medium counting device 14, and a shooting operation handle for performing a shooting operation of the game ball. 19 etc. are provided. The game medium counting device 14 is provided at the lower part of the pachinko machine 1, receives a game ball pulled out from the lower plate 13, counts it with an internal counter 14a, and then discharges it to the island side. The game balls counted by the game medium counting device 14 are counted as possessed balls and are paid out from the game medium dispensing unit 5 to the upper plate 12 by the player operating the held ball dispensing operation unit 3f. This eliminates the need for the player to carry a game ball (held ball) in a so-called dollar box.

Further, what is indicated by reference numeral 15 in FIG. 1 is a speaker that outputs sound effects and is provided on the upper left and right sides of the glass frame 9 and on the front side of the upper plate 12.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes decorative lamps provided on both sides of the front surface of the glass frame 9.

  Further, in the game area 22 of the game board 8, as shown in FIG. 1, a second start prize as an out ball inlet 23, a center case 24, a first start prize opening 25, and an ordinary electric accessory (general power). A mouth 26, a variable winning device 27, general winning mouths 28 to 31, a normal start gate 32, a number of game nails (not shown), and the like are provided. A collective display device 33 is provided outside the game area 22 of the game board 8. The game nails flow down while hitting the game balls that have entered the upper part of the game area 22, and a plurality of game nails are planted in the game area excluding the attachment portion such as the center case.

  The center case 24 is a member that surrounds the periphery of the front surface of the display unit 41 a of a variable display device (not shown) attached to the back side of the game board 8. Although not shown, the center case 24 includes lamps that use LEDs for production or decoration as light sources, and a production device (motor) that enhances production effects in cooperation with production display in a variable display device, for example. And an accessory having a movable part operated by a driving source such as a solenoid. Note that lamps for production or decoration are also provided in portions other than the center case 24 of the game board 8.

  The variable display device is a liquid crystal display device, for example. This variable display device can display identification information (referred to as a special figure) such as numbers and characters on the display unit 41a (screen), and can display a plurality of special figures. For example, special charts are displayed in three vertical columns on the left, center, and right, and special figures consisting of numbers, letters, etc. in each column are displayed in a stopped state (stop display), or in a fluctuating state (for example, vertically) Display in a scrolling state) (that is, a variable display). In addition to the special figure, the display unit 41a can display an image for presentation such as a background image or a character image or an information notification, or an image corresponding to a so-called ordinary figure. Note that the special figure is identification information that is variably displayed in the variable display game related to the big hit, and the common figure is identification information that is variably displayed in the variable display game related to the common figure (not the big hit). .

The start winning ports 25 and 26 are winning ports functioning as special drawing start winning ports as will be described later. In this example, they are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. The upper first start winning opening 25 is always open. The lower second start winning opening 26 has opening / closing members 26a on both the left and right sides, and when these opening / closing members 26a are opened in a reverse C shape, a winning can be made. As shown in FIG. If the member 26a is closed, no winning is possible. The start winning ports 25 and 26 are disposed below the center portion of the center case 24.
The variable winning device 27 is a device (so-called attacker) having a large winning opening (symbol omitted) that is opened and closed by an opening / closing member (symbol omitted). This special winning opening is opened on condition that a big hit, which will be described later, is made, and game balls can be won.

  Next, the collective display device 33 displays a so-called ordinary figure display or special figure display, and also a special figure or general figure start-up memory hold display (sometimes referred to as a special figure hold display or a general figure hold display) For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, a plurality of indicators (in this case, indicators 33a to 33r made up of one small lamp, For example, a 7-segment display 33x, 33y) capable of displaying special figures and the like. Note that the start memory hold display (in some cases, simply referred to as the start memory display) is a display for informing the number of start memories that are held in a state in which the variable display game is not executed, and generally Is displayed by lighting a lamp or the like for each start memory. That is, if there are three start memories, the three lamps are turned on or three figures are displayed. In the case of FIG. 1 (b), the indicators 33a to 33d are the start memory display of FIG. 1, the indicators 33e to 33h are the start memory display of FIG. 2, and the indicators 33i and 33j are the normal start memory display and display. The indicator 33k is a normal display, the indicator 33m is a jackpot state display, the indicators 33n and 33p are the jackpot rounds display, the indicator 33q is a time-short state indicator, the indicator 33r is a high probability state indicator (probability change state indicator), and the indicator 33x displays the special figure 1 and the display 33y displays the special figure 2, respectively. Special figure 1 and special figure 2 mean each special figure when there are two types of special figures.

  Note that what is displayed by the display of the collective display device 33 is the special figure or the ordinary figure (formal special figure or ordinary figure), whereas the display unit 41a or game of the above-described variable display device. The display of special drawings and general drawings performed by a plurality of lamps provided on the board 8 is a dummy display for effects for the player. For this reason, when referring to the special figure and the ordinary figure as viewed from the player, this dummy display is pointed out. Thus, the collective display device 33 is not intended for general players but is used for inspection of the game board 8 and the like.

B. Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the back side of the pachinko machine 2 according to the present embodiment.
The main components of the back mechanism in the pachinko machine 2 include a storage tank 16, a guide path 16a, a payout unit 17, a CR unit connection board 18, a payout control device 200, a game control device 100, an effect control device 300, and a power supply device 400. and so on.

  The storage tank 16 stores balls before being dispensed in advance, and a shortage of the number of balls in the storage tank 16 is detected by a replenishment sensor (not shown). Balls are replenished from the equipment. The balls in the storage tank 16 are guided by the guide path 16a and discharged to the upper plate 12 by the payout unit 17 having a payout motor 222 (shown in FIG. 4). The payout unit 17 can discharge a maximum number of game balls according to the amount of rotation of the payout motor 222, for example, and the payout unit 17 pays out the game balls toward the upper plate 12 as payout balls. It is detected by the detection SW 211 (shown in FIG. 4). Here, the payout unit 17 including the payout motor 222 constitutes the payout means of the present invention.

The payout control device 200 performs control necessary for paying out game balls (both prize ball payout and rental ball payout), and is configured by storing a circuit board that realizes this control function in a predetermined case. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the payout control device 200 performs a prize ball payout control for discharging a predetermined number of game balls to the upper plate 12 as prize balls based on a payout control command transmitted from the game control device 100. Do. Further, the payout control device 200 controls the payout of paying a ball to discharge a predetermined number of game balls to the upper plate 12 as a loan based on a BRDY signal or a BRQ signal described later from the CR unit 3 shown in FIG. Details will be described later).
The game control device 100 controls a solenoid or the like disposed on the game board 8 and sends control information (commands) to other control devices to comprehensively manage and control the progress of the game ( A substrate on which a circuit including a microcomputer that performs these controls is formed is housed in a predetermined case.

The effect control device 300 controls the above-described variable display device, decoration lamp, effect device, and speaker 15 based on the command transmitted from the game control device 100, and realizes this control function in a predetermined case. A circuit board is accommodated.
The CR unit connection board 18 is a board for wiring connection between the pachinko machine 2 side and the CR unit 3 side. If the wiring connection is not made on the CR unit connection board 18, the pachinko machine 2 is controlled so that it is impossible to launch a game ball (details will be described later).

  In general, when changing the model of a pachinko machine, replace the entire pachinko machine except the CR unit, or leave the pachinko machine frame side (including the payout control device) and the game board side (game board and game control). In some cases, only major control devices such as devices are exchanged. However, in this example, for example, in the case of a dedicated base for 1 yen of rent, it is assumed that the one dedicated to 1 yen of rent is used on both the game board side and the frame side.

C. Configuration of Control System Next, a control system of the pachinko machine 1 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the drawings and the following description, “SW” means a switch. The pachinko machine 1 includes a game control device 100, a payout control device 200, an effect control device 300, and a power supply device 400 as main components of the control system. The CR unit 3 includes a lending unit control device 600.

(Game control device related)
First, a configuration of the game control device 100 of the pachinko machine 1 and devices connected to the game control device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control device 100 is a main control device (main board) for comprehensively controlling games, and includes a CPU unit 110 having a game microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a game microcomputer) 111, an input port, and the like. Unit 120, an output unit 130 having an output port, a CPU unit 110, a data bus 140 connecting the input unit 120 and the output unit 130, and the like.

The CPU unit 110 includes a game microcomputer 111 called an amusement chip (IC), an inverter that logically inverts a signal (start winning detection signal) from a proximity I / F 121 described later, and inputs the signal to the game microcomputer 111. An inverting circuit 112 and an oscillator such as a crystal resonator are included, and an oscillation circuit 113 that generates a clock serving as a reference for a CPU operation clock, a timer interrupt, and a random number generation circuit, and the like.
The gaming microcomputer 111 includes a CPU (central processing unit: microprocessor) 111A, a read-only ROM (read-only memory) 111B, and a RAM (random access memory) 111C that can be read and written as needed.

  The ROM 111B stores invariant information (programs, fixed data, various random number judgment values, etc.) for game control in a nonvolatile manner, and the RAM 111C stores a work area for the CPU 111A and various signals and random number values during game control. Used as As the ROM 111B or the RAM 111C, an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM may be used.

The CPU 111A executes a game control program in the ROM 111B to generate control signals (commands) for the payout control device 200 and the effect control device 300, and generate drive signals for solenoids 72 and 73 and the collective display device 33 described later. The pachinko machine 1 as a whole is controlled.
Further, although not shown, the gaming microcomputer 111 is configured to use a jackpot determination random number for a special figure variation display game, a jackpot symbol random number for determining a jackpot symbol, a hit determination random number for a common figure variation display game, etc. A random number generation circuit for generating a timer interrupt signal with a predetermined period (for example, 4 milliseconds) for the CPU 111A based on an oscillation signal (original clock signal) from the oscillation circuit 113 and a clock for providing update timing of the random number generation circuit A clock generator.

Here, a predetermined level of DC voltage such as DC32V, DC12V, and DC5V generated by the power supply device 400 is applied to the game control device 100 and electronic components such as solenoids 72 and 73 described later driven by the game control device 100. Supplied and enabled.
The power supply apparatus 400 includes a normal power supply including an AC-DC converter that generates the DC 32V DC voltage from a 24V AC power source, a DC-DC converter that generates a lower level DC voltage such as DC 12V and DC 5V from the DC 32V voltage, and the like. Unit 410, backup power supply unit 420 for supplying power supply voltage to the internal RAM of gaming microcomputer 111 in the event of a power failure, and a power failure monitoring circuit and an initialization switch to inform gaming control device 100 of the occurrence and recovery of power failure A control signal generation unit 430 that generates and outputs control signals such as a power failure monitoring signal, an initialization switch signal, and a reset signal is provided.

  In this embodiment, the power supply device 400 is configured separately from the game control device 100, but the backup power supply unit 420 and the control signal generation unit 430 are integrated on a separate board or the game control device 100, that is, the main control device 100. You may comprise so that it may provide on a board | substrate. Since the game board 8 and the game control device 100 are to be replaced when the model is changed, the backup power supply unit 420 and the control signal generation unit 430 are provided on a board different from the power supply apparatus 400 or the main board in this way. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost by removing it from the object of replacement when changing the model.

  The backup power supply unit 420 can be composed of one large-capacity capacitor such as an electrolytic capacitor. The backup power is supplied to the game microcomputer 111 (particularly, the built-in RAM 111C) of the game control device 100, and the data stored in the RAM is held even during a power failure or after the power is shut off. For example, the control signal generation unit 430 monitors the voltage of 32V generated by the normal power supply unit 410 and detects the occurrence of a power failure when it drops to, for example, 17V or less, and changes the power failure monitoring signal (turns on in this example). At the same time, a reset signal is output after a predetermined time. In addition, a reset signal is output after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the power is turned on or the power is restored.

  The initialization switch signal is a signal generated when an initialization switch (not shown) is turned on, and initializes information stored in the RAM 111C in the gaming microcomputer 111 and the RAM in the payout control device 200. To do. In this example, the initialization switch signal is read when the power is turned on, and the power failure monitoring signal is repeatedly read in the main loop of the main program executed by the gaming microcomputer 111. The reset signal causes the entire control system to be reset.

Next, the input unit 120 of the game control apparatus 100 is provided with a first input port 123 and a second input port 122 as input ports. The input unit 120 includes a first starting port SW51 (starting port 1SW in FIG. 3), a second starting port SW52 (starting port 2SW in FIG. 3), a gate SW53, and winning ports SW54 (in FIG. 3, winning ports SW1 to SWN). ), Detection signals from the count SW 55, the magnetic SW 61, the vibration SW 62, the glass frame opening SW 63, and the front frame opening SW 64 are input.
Here, the glass frame opening SW 63 is a sensor that detects that the glass frame 9 is opened. The front frame opening SW 64 is a sensor that detects that the front frame 6 is opened. The magnetic SW 61 and the vibration SW 62 are sensors that are provided in the front frame 6 and the like and detect fraud by magnetism or vibration.

  The first start port SW51 is a sensor for detecting a winning ball that detects the game balls won in the first starting winning port 25 one by one. The second start port SW52 is a similar sensor that detects a game ball won in the second start winning port 26. The count SW 55 is a similar sensor that detects a game ball that has won a big winning opening of the variable winning device 27. The winning opening SW54 is a similar sensor provided for each of the general winning openings 28 to 31, and when there are n general winning openings, one is provided for each and n is provided as a whole. The gate SW 53 is a sensor for detecting one game ball passing through the usual start gate 32 one by one. SW51 to SW55 which are sensors for detecting these game balls are proximity switches in this example, and output a negative logic detection signal such as a high level of 11V and a low level of 7V. The input unit 120 is provided with an interface chip (proximity I / F) 121 that converts the detection signals input from these SW51 to SW55 into a positive logic signal of 0V-5V. The proximity I / F 121 has an input range of 7V-11V, so that the lead wire of the proximity switch (SW51-SW55) is improperly shorted, the switch is disconnected from the connector, or the lead wire is disconnected. An abnormal state such as a floating state can be detected, and when such an abnormal state is detected, an abnormality detection signal is output. In addition, in order to enable the signal level conversion function as described above, the proximity I / F 121 is supplied with a voltage of 12 V in addition to a voltage of, for example, 5 V required for normal IC operation from the power supply device 400. ing.

  Here, all the outputs of the proximity I / F 121 (excluding the abnormality detection signal) are supplied to the second input port 122 and read into the gaming microcomputer 111 via the data bus 140, and from the main board 100 via the relay board 70. It is supplied to a test firing test apparatus (not shown). Further, the detection signals of the first start port SW51 and the second start port SW52 among the outputs of the proximity I / F 121 are input to the gaming microcomputer 111 via the inverting circuit 112 in addition to the second input port 122. It is configured. The inversion circuit 112 is provided because the signal input terminal of the gaming microcomputer 111 detects that a signal from a micro switch or the like is input, and detects negative logic, that is, low level (0 V) as an effective level. Because it is designed to do.

  In addition, detection signals from the magnetic SW 61 and the vibration SW 62 are also input to the second input port 122. The data held in the second input port 122 is read out by asserting the enable signal CE1 (changing to an effective level) by the gaming microcomputer 111 decoding the address assigned to the second input port 122. (Other ports can do the same). The enable signal of the first input port 123 is CE2.

  On the other hand, a signal from the glass frame opening SW 63 and the front frame opening SW 64 and a signal from the payout control device 200 are input to the first input port 123. These signals are supplied from the first input port 123 to the gaming microcomputer 111 via the data bus 140. The signals from the payout control device 200 include a status signal indicating a payout abnormality, a shot ball break switch signal indicating a shortage of game balls before payout, and an overflow switch signal indicating overflow. The overflow switch signal is a signal that is output when it is detected that a predetermined amount or more of the game balls are stored in the lower plate 13 (full).

  Further, the input unit 120 is provided with a Schmitt trigger circuit 124 for inputting signals such as a power failure monitoring signal, an initialization switch signal, and a reset signal from the power supply device 400 to the gaming microcomputer 111 and the like. Reference numeral 124 has a function of removing noise from these input signals. Of the signals from the power supply device 400, the power failure monitoring signal and the initialization switch signal are once inputted to the first input port 123 and taken into the gaming microcomputer 111 via the data bus 140. That is, it is treated as a signal equivalent to the signal from the above-mentioned various SWs. This is because the number of terminals receiving external signals provided in the gaming microcomputer 111 is limited.

  On the other hand, the reset signal RST from which noise has been removed by the Schmitt trigger circuit 124 is directly input to a reset terminal provided in the gaming microcomputer 111, and each port of the output unit 130 (ports 131, 132, 135, which will be described later). 136, 137). Further, the reset signal RST is directly output to the relay board 70 without going through the output unit 130, thereby turning off the test test signal held in the port (not shown) of the relay board 70 for output to the test board. It is configured as follows. Further, the reset signal RST may be configured to be output to the test firing test apparatus via the relay board 70. The reset signal RST is not supplied to the input ports 122 and 123 of the input unit 120. Data set to each port of the output unit 130 by the gaming microcomputer 111 immediately before the reset signal RST is input needs to be reset to prevent malfunction of the system, but each data of the input unit 120 is input immediately before the reset signal RST is input. This is because the data read by the gaming microcomputer 111 from the port is discarded when the gaming microcomputer 111 is reset.

Next, the output unit 130 of the game control device 100 includes the first port 131, the second port 132, the third port 135, the fourth port 136, and the fifth port 137 as output ports connected to the data bus 140. Prepare. Note that data is transmitted from the technique control device 100 to the payout control device 200 and the effect control device 300 through the ports 131 and 132 by parallel communication.
The first port 131 outputs a 4-bit data signal output to the payout control device 200, a control signal (data strobe signal) indicating validity / invalidity of the data signal, and the effect control device 300 via the buffer 133. A data strobe signal SSTB is generated.
Second port 132 generates an 8-bit data signal to be output to effect control device 300.
The buffer 133 prevents the signal from being input to the game control device 100 from the side of the effect control device 300, that is, in order to secure one-way communication, the data strobe signal SSTB and the first output from the first port 131. This is a unidirectional buffer that outputs an 8-bit data signal from the 2-port 132. A similar buffer may be provided for a signal output from the first port 131 to the payout control device 200.

The third port 135 includes opening / closing data of a solenoid (large winning port solenoid) 72 for opening / closing the opening / closing member of the variable winning device 27 and a solenoid (general power solenoid) 73 for opening / closing the opening / closing member 26a of the second start winning port 26, This is an output port for outputting on / off data of a digit line to which the cathode terminal of the LED of the collective display device 33 is connected.
The fourth port 136 is an output port for outputting on / off data of the segment line to which the anode terminal of the LED is connected according to the contents displayed on the collective display device 33.
The fifth port 137 is an output port for outputting information related to the pachinko machine 2 such as jackpot information to the external information terminal 71 as an external information signal. Note that the information output from the external information terminal 71 is supplied to, for example, an information collection terminal or a management device (not shown) installed in a game store.

  The output unit 130 is connected to the data bus 140 and outputs data indicating special symbol information of the variable display game to a test firing test apparatus of an accredited organization (not shown) or a signal indicating the probability of jackpot via the relay board 70. The buffer 134 is configured to be mountable. This buffer 134 is a component that is not mounted on the game control device 100 (main board) of the pachinko machine 1 as an actual machine (mass production product) installed in the game store. In addition, the detection signal of the switch which does not need to be processed such as the start port SW output from the proximity I / F 121 is supplied to the trial test apparatus via the relay board 70 without passing through the buffer 134.

  On the other hand, detection signals that cannot be supplied to the test fire testing device as they are, such as the magnetic SW 61 and the vibration SW 62, are once taken into the gaming microcomputer 111 and processed into other signals or information, for example, in a state where the gaming machine cannot control the game. An error signal indicating the presence of the error is supplied from the data bus 140 to the trial test apparatus via the buffer 134 and the relay board 70. The relay board 70 is provided with a port that takes in the signal output from the buffer 134 and supplies it to the test test apparatus, a connector that relays and transmits a signal line of a switch detection signal that does not pass through the buffer, and the like. ing. A chip enable signal CE output from the gaming microcomputer 111 is also supplied to the port on the relay board 70, and the signal of the port selected and controlled by the signal CE is supplied to the test firing test apparatus.

  The output unit 130 is provided with a plurality of drive circuits (first driver 138a to fourth driver 138d). The first driver 138a receives the opening / closing data signals of the special prize opening solenoid 72 and the general power solenoid 73 output from the third port 135, and generates and outputs respective solenoid drive signals. The second driver 138 b outputs an on / off drive signal for the digit line on the current drawing side of the collective display device 33 output from the third port 135. The third driver 138c and the fourth port 136 output an on / off drive signal for the segment line on the current supply side of the collective display device 33. The fourth driver 138d outputs an external information signal supplied from the fifth port 137 to an external device such as a management device to the external information terminal 71.

  The first driver 138a is supplied with DC32V from the power supply device 400 as a power supply voltage so that the solenoids 72 and 73 operating at 32V can be driven. Further, DC 12V is supplied to the third driver 138c for driving the segment line. Further, since the second driver 138b for driving the digit line is for pulling out the digit line corresponding to the display data with a current, the power supply voltage may be either 12V or 5V. The collective display device 33 is configured such that a current flows into the anode terminal of a predetermined LED through the segment line by the third driver 138c that outputs 12V, and the cathode terminal of the predetermined LED by the second driver 138b that outputs the ground potential. As a result, current is drawn through the segment line, so that the power supply voltage flows to the LEDs sequentially selected by the dynamic drive method, and the predetermined LED is turned on. The fourth driver 138d is supplied with DC 12V in order to give the external information signal a level of 12V.

  Further, the output unit 130 is provided with a photocoupler 139 for transmitting information such as an identification code and a program of each gaming machine to the external inspection device 500. The photocoupler 139 is configured to be capable of bi-directional communication so that the gaming microcomputer 111 can transmit and receive data to and from the inspection device 500 through serial communication. Note that such data transmission / reception is performed using a serial communication terminal of the gaming microcomputer 111 as in the case of a general general-purpose microprocessor, and therefore, ports such as the input ports 122 and 123 are not provided.

(Discharge control device related)
Next, the configuration of the payout control apparatus 200 and devices connected to the payout control apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the payout control apparatus 200 includes a payout microcomputer 201 and an input / output I / F 202. The payout microcomputer 201 includes a CPU 203, a ROM 204, and a RAM 205, and drives the payout motor 222 of the payout unit 17 described above in accordance with a signal (payout control command) from the first port 131 of the game control device 100 to pay out a prize ball. Control to get out. In addition, the payout control device 200 controls the payout motor 222 to be driven out based on a BRQ signal (lending request signal), which will be described later, from the lending unit control device 600 of the CR unit 3 and pays out the balls. . Although not shown in the figure, the RAM 205 of the payout control device 200 is also configured to be supplied with backup power from the power supply device 400 (shown in FIG. 3) in the event of a power failure.

Here, the ROM 204 stores invariant information (program, fixed data, etc.) for payout control of game balls as prize balls and rental balls in a nonvolatile manner, and the RAM 205 stores the work area of the CPU 203 and various signals during control. It is used as a storage area. The CPU 203 executes a control program in the ROM 204 to generate a control signal for the payout motor 222 or the like, or to generate a drive signal for an error number display LED 224 or the like to be described later. Take control. As the ROM 204 or the RAM 205, an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM may be used.
In the ROM 204, information on the value (ie, the rental value) for one rent used in the pachinko machine 2, in other words, information that can specify how much the rented value is dedicated to the pachinko machine 2 Are preset and stored as invariant values. For this reason, the ROM 204 of this example constitutes the rented value setting means of the present invention.

The devices connected to the input side of the payout control device 200 include the payout ball detection SW 211, the error release SW 212, the shot ball cut SW 213, and the overflow SW 214 described above.
As described above, the payout ball detection SW 211 is a switch that detects game balls (award balls or rental balls) that are paid out toward the upper plate 12 by the payout unit 17 one by one, and the error release SW 212 is an error release operation (for example, A switch for step S141) in FIG. 18 to be described later, a shot ball cut SW213 is a switch for detecting that there is no game ball on the chute for supplying the game ball to the storage tank 16, and an overflow SW 214 is an excess of game balls on the lower plate 13 It is a switch that detects The error cancel SW 212 also functions as a switch for canceling the disabled state by the processing in steps S173 and S174 of FIG. 21 described later, and constitutes the initialization means of the present invention.

Next, devices connected to the output side of the payout control device 200 include a firing control board 221, a payout motor 222, an external information terminal 223, and an error number display LED 224.
The launch control board 221 is a control circuit board that controls a launch device (reference numeral omitted) that launches a game ball in accordance with an operation of the launch operation handle 19.
The payout motor 222 is a motor in the payout unit 17, and when this motor is operated, payout of game balls (the above-mentioned prize ball payout or rental ball payout) is performed.

The external information terminal 223 relays, for example, transmission / reception of signals to / from a game store management device (not shown), and is equipped with a connector or the like. The external information terminal 223 is a frame external information terminal, and a signal output from the external information terminal 223 to the outside includes a ball break signal (output signal) indicating a shortage of stored balls in the storage tank 16, and a rented game. There are a ball lending signal (output signal) indicating the number of balls, a prize ball number signal (output signal) indicating the number of awarded balls.
The error number display LED 224 is an LED that displays an error number indicating an error type and content when an error occurs.

The signals input from the lending unit control device 600 to the payout control device 200 include a BRDY signal and a BRQ signal. Conversely, the signals output from the payout control device 200 to the lending unit control device 600 include a PRDY signal. , EXS signal and PSI signal.
Here, the PSI signal is a signal for confirming whether or not the payout control device 200 and the lending unit control device 600 are connected via the CR unit connection board 18. The BRDY signal, BRQ signal, PRDY signal, and EXS signal will be described later with reference to FIG.

In addition, what is indicated by reference numeral VL in FIG. 4 is from the rental unit control device 600 in order to drive a photocoupler (not shown) for transmitting and receiving a BRDY signal, a BRQ signal, and the like, a ball rental SW 231 described later, and the like. A predetermined power supply (for example, 18V) supplied to the payout control device 200 is shown. The power supply of the lending unit control device 600 is supplied from the payout control device 200. However, the lending unit control device 600 generates the predetermined power source from the power supplied from the payout control device 200, and the payout control device 200. Supply to the side.
Although not shown, the payout control device 200 is also configured to receive a reset signal from the control signal generation unit 430 of the power supply device 400 (shown in FIG. 3).
In the case of this example, the payout control device 200 constitutes the payout control means of the present invention.

(CR unit related)
Next, the configuration of the lending unit control device 600 in the CR unit 3 and the equipment connected to the lending unit control device 600 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lending unit control device 600 includes a lending microcomputer 601 and an input / output I / F 602. The rental microcomputer 601 includes a CPU 603, a ROM 604, and a RAM 605.
First, the devices provided in the pachinko machine 2 and connected to the lending unit control device 600 include the ball lending LED 9c and the balance indicator 9d described in FIG. 1A and the ball lending SW 231. And a return SW 232. The ball lending SW 231 is a switch that is activated by the operation of the above-mentioned ball lending button 9a (FIG. 1 (a)), and the return SW 232 is a switch that is activated by the operation of the above-mentioned card return button 9b (FIG. 1 (a)). It is.

Next, the devices provided in the CR unit 3 and connected to the lending unit control device 600 include the card usable LED 3b, the bill insertion ready LED 3d, and the card inserting LED 3e described with reference to FIG. In addition to the information display device 4, there are a card reader / writer 611, a bill recognition device 612, a ball payout SW 613, a rent value setting SW 614, and a rent value display 615. Note that the counter 14 a of the game medium counting device 14 described above is also connected to the lending unit control device 600, and the counted gaming ball information is transmitted to the lending unit control device 600.
Here, the card reader / writer 611 is a device that reads and writes data of a card inserted from the card insertion slot 3a. The bill identifying device 612 is a device that identifies the type of bill (10,000 yen bill, 5000 yen bill, 1000 yen bill) inserted from the bill insertion slot 3c. The ball payout SW 613 is a switch that is actuated by the operation of the ball payout operation unit 3f (FIG. 1) described above.

In addition, the operation unit of the rent value setting SW 614 and the rent value display 615 are provided on the back side of the CR unit 3, for example. By operating the operation unit of the rent value setting SW 614, the rent value setting SW 614 is activated, and thereby the rent value unique to the CR unit 3 (for example, the value per game ball is 4 yen, 2 yen 1 of 1 yen) can be set for the lending unit control device 600. Then, the rental value display 615 is configured to display the rental value set by the operation of the rental value setting SW 614.
In the case of this example, the lending unit control device 600 constitutes the lending control means of the present invention. Further, the above-mentioned rent-a-value setting SW 614 constitutes a unit-side rent-a-value setting means of the present invention.

D. Outline of Game Next, an outline of a game performed in the pachinko machine of this example and a flow of the game will be described.
First, at the beginning of the game (or before the start of the game), the customer is waiting (during the demonstration), and a command for instructing the display of the customer waiting screen is sent from the buffer 133 of the game control device 100 to the effect control device. 300, and a waiting screen (moving image or still image) is displayed on the display unit 41a of the variable display device.

  When the game ball that has been driven into the game area 22 through the guide rail 21 wins the special winning start winning opening 25 or 26 (that is, when there is a special winning start winning), the fluctuation display of the special figure Is transmitted from the game control device 100 to the effect control device 300, and a display (so-called variation) in which a special figure (including numbers, characters, symbols, patterns, etc.) fluctuates (for example, scrolls) in the table display unit 41a. Display) is performed, and a special figure fluctuation display game (hereinafter referred to as a special figure fluctuation display game) is performed.

And if the stop result mode of this variable display game (the combination of special figures derived by the variable display) is a special result mode (for example, “3, 3, 3”, etc.), a privilege called a big hit is given. It is given to the player. In terms of control, for example, a value such as a big hit random number is extracted and stored on the condition that there has been a start winning, and the extracted and stored random number value is compared with a predetermined determination value at the time of determination. Based on the comparison determination result, whether or not to make a big hit is determined in advance, and the variable display game is started in response to this determination.
Further, in the normal mode, if the stop result mode of the variable display game is a specific mode of the special result mode (for example, “7, 7, 7”), it will be a big hit and after the big hit game The game state shifts from the normal mode to the probability change mode (after a special prize period described later). In this probability variation mode, control is performed to increase the probability that the special figure will be a big hit (hereinafter referred to as the special figure big hit probability). In some cases, so-called time reduction (which shortens the variable display time for special drawings or the like to increase the frequency of the variable display game and make it easier to win) is also performed.

  When the jackpot is reached and the jackpot state is reached, a fanfare period (a period in which an output of a sound effect that produces a jackpot is executed) is passed, and the jackpot of the variable prize winning device 27 is set for a predetermined time (for example, In the range not exceeding 30 seconds), for example, an opening operation (a jackpot round) that is temporarily opened for a period of up to 10 winnings is performed. This opening operation is repeated for a specified number of lands. Further, in this jackpot state, a command for instructing display of a jackpot screen for producing the jackpot state or notifying the player of the number of jackpot rounds is transmitted from the game control device 100 to the effect control device 300, and the display unit 41a. Then, such a big hit display is executed.

The period in which the jackpot is in effect (the fanfare period, the period of the jackpot round in which the jackpot is opened, and the interval period between the jackpot round and the next jackpot round) corresponds to the special prize period.
In addition, as the number of rounds of the big hit, for example, a big hit of 15 rounds is usually the main big hit, but a configuration that generates a 16R big hit as a premier or other configurations may be used.

Further, when a game ball is further won in the start winning opening 25 or 26 during the above-mentioned special figure variable display game or big hit, a special display start memory is held on the display unit 41a or the like, for example, four pieces are displayed. After the change display game or the big hit state is finished, the special display change display game is repeated or returned to the customer waiting state based on the start memory.
In other words, if the variable display game ends with a big hit, the game shifts to a big hit state. If the big hit ends and there is a start memory, the variable display game is executed again. If the big hit ends and there is no start memory, the flow returns to the customer wait state.

On the other hand, when the game ball passes through the usual figure start gate 32 during the game, a usual figure change display game (hereinafter, referred to as a usual figure change display game) is played by the display part 41a or the like. . And if this normal map change display game result (stopped general chart) is a predetermined mode (specific display mode), a privilege called per map is granted.
At this time, a game is held in which the pair of opening / closing members 26a of the second start winning opening 26 is temporarily held in an open state where the pair of opening / closing members 26a is opened in a reverse C-shape. This makes it easier for the game ball to start and win, and accordingly, the number of executions of the special figure variable display game increases and the possibility of winning a big hit increases.
In addition, during the above-mentioned variable display game, when a game ball is further won in the general chart start gate 32, the display start display is held on the display unit 41a and the like, and up to four are stored in this case. After the usual variable display game is over, the usual variable display game is repeated based on the memory.

  As described above, the pachinko machine 2 is a dedicated base for each rate, but the specifications regarding the game of each base may naturally be different depending on the value of rented balls. For example, as the rental value becomes lower, the attractiveness of the platform with the lower rental value may increase if it is set to be advantageous to the player. As a specific example, for example, a specification may be set as follows so that the jackpot probability increases as the value of rented balls decreases.

In other words, the 1-yen rental base has a jackpot probability: 1/100, probability variation continuation rate: 80%, number of winning prize winning balls: 15 balls, counting number of winning prize mouths: 10 balls, number of jackpot rounds: 16R, And
In addition, the special base for 2-yen rental is a jackpot probability: 1/200, probability variation continuation rate: 80%, number of winning prizes: 15 balls, counting number of winning prizes: 10 balls, number of jackpot rounds: 16R, And
And for the rental ball 4 yen stand, the jackpot probability: 1/400, probability variation continuation rate: 80%, the number of winning prize mouth balls: 15 balls, the number of winning prize mouth counts: 10 balls, the number of jackpot rounds: 16R, To do.
In addition, the specification setting according to the rented value is not limited to the above specific example, and there can be various modes. For example, there may be a mode in which the number of big hit rounds increases, a probability variation continuation rate increases, a mode in which the number of winning prizes increases, or the like, as the rented value decreases.

E. Next, the lending payout operation performed under the control of the payout control device 200 and the lending unit control device 600 will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. Fig. 5 shows a case where the rent value is 1 yen per ball, Fig. 6 shows a case where the rent value is 2 yen per ball, and Fig. 7 shows a case where the rent value is 4 yen per ball. ing. In this example, a single press of the ball lending button 9a will lend 200 yen (200 game balls) for 1 yen per ball, and 300 for 2 yen per ball. Lending the yen (150 game balls) and lending 500 yen (125 game balls) for 4 yen per ball. The reason why the number of rented balls per time is 125 to 200 is that such a number is an appropriate number of balls that does not overflow from the upper plate 12.

  First, FIG. 5 will be described. When the payout control device 200 is turned on and activated, a PRDY signal is turned on (from “H” to “L”) to notify the lending unit control device 600 that the payout control device 200 is powered on (ie, the ball payout preparation is completed). Fall down). When the ball lending button 9a is pressed and the ball lending SW 231 is turned on, the lending unit control device 600 turns on the BRDY signal (lending operation start signal) (falls from “H” to “L”) and pays out. The control device 200 is notified of the start of the lending operation. The lending unit control device 600 turns on the BRDY signal and simultaneously turns the ball lending LED 9c from on (lit) to off (non-lit), and invalidates the return SW 232. Next, after the elapse of a predetermined time T0 from the start of the lending operation, the lending unit control device 600 turns on the BRQ signal (lending request signal) (falls from “H” to “L”), whereby the payout control device. The lending request (1) is made to 200. Here, the notation (1) corresponds to a symbol in which numerals are described in small circles in FIG. 5 and the like (the same applies to (2) to (4) described later).

Next, the payout control apparatus 200 turns on the EXS signal as a reply to the loan request after the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the loan request (falls from “H” to “L”) (request approval in (2)). I do.
Next, the lending unit control device 600 turns off the BRQ signal (starts up from “L” to “H”) after a predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the time when this request is acknowledged, thereby giving (3) to the payout control device 200. ) Lending instructions. Then, the payout control device 200 operates the payout motor 222 of the payout unit 17 to execute a single payout operation for actually discharging a predetermined unit of game balls to the upper plate 12 as rental balls. Next, after a predetermined time T3 has elapsed from the lending instruction, the payout control device 200 returns the EXS signal to OFF (starts up from “L” to “H”) to notify the lending unit control device 600 of lending completion (( 4) Loan completion). The predetermined time T3 is set to a value that can sufficiently execute one payout operation of the payout unit 17 (in this case, payout of 25 game balls) within the time T3.

  Next, after a lapse of a predetermined time T4 from the completion of the lending, the lending unit control device 600 turns the BRQ signal on again (falls from “H” to “L”), whereby the lending control device 200 again The loan request (1) is made. In the same manner, the above operations (1) to (4) are repeated eight times in succession, and a total of 200 (25 × 8) rental balls are paid out. When a predetermined time TE has elapsed from the completion of the eighth loan, the loan unit control device 600 returns the BRDY signal to OFF (starts up from “L” to “H”), and notifies the payout control device 200 of the end of the loan operation. . Also, the lending unit control device 600 returns the ball lending LED 9c from OFF (non-lighting) to ON (lighting) at the same time as returning the BRDY signal to OFF, and returns the return SW 232 to the valid state.

  Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 sequentially repeat the operations (1) to (4) as in the case of 1 yen per sphere shown in FIG. Of these, in the case of 2 yen per ball as shown in FIG. 6, the number of times of repeating the operations (1) to (4) is 6 times, and a total of 150 (25 × 6 times) rental balls are paid out. Is executed. In addition, in the case of 4 yen per ball shown in FIG. 7, the number of times of repeating the operations (1) to (4) is 5 times, and a total of 125 (25 × 5 times) rental balls are paid out. Executed. In this case, each signal such as the BRQ signal is an active low (on and low potential “L”) signal, but may be an active high (on and high potential “H”) signal. Not too long.

F. Operation of Control System Next, the control contents of the payout control device 200 and the lending unit control device 600 that realize the above-mentioned rental ball payout will be described. First, the payout control apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIGS.
(A) Main process of payout control apparatus First, the main process of the payout control apparatus 200 (payout microcomputer 201) will be described with reference to FIGS.
This main process starts based on the fact that the payout microcomputer 201 is reset. That is, when a power switch (not shown) of the power supply device 400 is turned on, a reset signal is issued from the control signal generation unit 430 of the power supply device 400 at a predetermined timing (during a predetermined reset period when the power is turned on). When the reset terminal of the payout microcomputer 201 is turned on and then the reset signal is released, the payout microcomputer 201 is activated. Similarly, when the power supply is restored from a power failure, the payout microcomputer 201 is activated after the reset signal is turned on and then released. Further, when the operator wants to initialize the RAM 205 or the like of the dispensing control device 200, it is necessary to turn on the power switch while turning on the initialization switch (not shown) of the power supply device 400.

When the payout microcomputer 201 is activated, the interrupt is first prohibited, the interrupt vector is set, the interrupt mode is set, the access to the RWM (RAM 205) is permitted, and off data (a binary signal “ Data corresponding to “0”), the stack pointer is set, and the serial port is set (steps S1 to S7).
Next, it is determined whether or not the initialization switch of the power supply apparatus 400 is turned on according to the state of the initialization switch signal (step S8). If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S18, and if not, the process proceeds to step S9. move on.

Here, the process proceeds to step S18 when the initialization switch is turned on to start the payout microcomputer 201, when it is determined that the power is normally turned on in steps S9 to S12 described later, or a step described later. This is a case where it is determined in S13 to S15 that the checksum is not normal. For this reason, when the processing proceeds to step S18, processing such as initialization of data (excluding the access prohibited area) in the RAM 205 of the payout microcomputer 201 is performed.
That is, in steps S18 to S19, all work areas before the access-prohibited area are cleared, and all stack areas after the access-prohibited area are cleared. In the next step S20, areas related to input control and output signals are reset. Then, the process proceeds to step S21.

The above-mentioned PRDY signal is turned on by the process of step S20 when the power is turned on without power failure recovery.
Further, the error state is also released by the initialization of steps S18 to S20, and the disabled state in steps S173 and S174 (FIG. 21) described later is also released. For this reason, the initialization switch of the power supply apparatus 400 constitutes the initialization means of the present invention. Incidentally, in this example, the above-described error release SW 211 (FIG. 4) also has the function of initialization means for releasing this disabled state.

On the other hand, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the value of the power failure inspection area 1 in the RAM 205 is normal power failure inspection area check data 1. If normal, the process proceeds to step S11 via step S10, assuming that the power failure is restored. If it is abnormal (if it is not stored normally), the process proceeds to step S18 via step S10 assuming that it is normal power-on.
In step S11, it is determined whether or not the value of the power failure inspection area 2 in the RAM 205 is normal power failure inspection area check data 2. If normal, the process proceeds to step S13 via step S12, assuming that the power failure has been restored. If it is (if not normally stored), it is determined that it is normal power-on, and the process proceeds to step S18 via step S12. The power failure inspection area check data is set in steps S37 and S38 described later. In these steps S9 to S12, since it is determined whether or not it is a power failure recovery time based on a plurality of check data as described above, it is highly reliable to determine whether or not it is a power failure recovery time.

Next, in steps S13 to S14, a checksum of the data in the RAM 205 is calculated and compared with the checksum at the time of power-off, and it is determined whether or not the value is normal. In step S15, if the checksum is not normal (that is, when the data in the RAM 205 is corrupted), the process proceeds to step S18. If the checksum is normal, the process proceeds to step S16.
In steps S16 to S17, processing for power failure recovery is executed. That is, in step S16, areas other than the reception buffer area, the remaining number of game balls remaining, the external terminal (prize ball signal) control area, etc. are cleared, and in the next step S17, areas related to input control and output signals are reset. Then, the process proceeds to step S21. The aforementioned PRDY signal is turned on by the process of step S17 when the power failure is restored.

In step S21, for example, a CTC (Counter / Timer Circuit) provided in the payout microcomputer 201 is activated. Next, in step S22, an interrupt is permitted, and then the process proceeds to step S23 in FIG. The CTC is a circuit for timer interrupt, and timer interrupt processing (FIG. 23A) described later is periodically executed by this timer interrupt.
In step S23, a launch control determination process (described later) is executed. In the next step S24, it is determined whether the ball lending control mode is set as the payout device control mode. The process proceeds to S30, and if not in the ball lending control mode, the process proceeds to Step S25. The setting during the ball lending control mode is executed in step S61 in FIG.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not the prize ball control mode is set as the payout device control mode. If the prize ball control mode is in progress, the process proceeds to step S31, and if not in the prize ball control mode, the process proceeds to step S26. The setting during the prize ball control mode is executed in step S59 of FIG.
In step S26, a payout excess error monitoring process is executed. In a next step S27, a payout apparatus control start determination process (described later) is executed, and then the process advances to step S28.
On the other hand, in step S30, a ball lending control process (described later) is executed, and the process proceeds to step S32. In step S31, a prize ball control process for paying out a prize ball is executed, and the process proceeds to step S32.
When the process proceeds to step S32, the payout motor 222 of the payout unit 17 is driven based on the contents of the game ball payout (prize ball payout or rental ball payout) set in step S30 or S31, and the game balls are actually placed in the upper plate 12 The process of discharging is executed, and the process proceeds to step S28.

If it progresses to step S28, an error alerting | reporting edit process will be performed, and the number of checks (for example, 2 times) of a power failure monitoring signal will be set in the following step S29, and it will progress to step S33. The error notification editing process is a process of editing information for notifying an error when an error occurs.
In step S33, it is determined whether or not the power failure monitoring signal is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S34 for final judgment of power failure, and if it is not turned on, the process returns to step S23. For this reason, steps S23 to S33 are repeated during normal operation.

And when it progresses to step S34, it will determine whether the ON state of a power failure monitoring signal is continued by the number of times of the check, and if this determination result is affirmative, it will be finally determined that a power failure has occurred, and it will proceed to step S35. If negative, it is determined that a power outage has not occurred, and the process returns to step S33.
When the power failure monitoring signal is turned on, the power failure monitoring signal may be used as an NMI interrupt signal to interrupt the process being executed and forcibly execute the power failure processing from step S35. However, in the configuration of this example, since the power failure monitoring signal is checked several times in step S34, the power failure monitoring signal is temporarily and momentarily turned on due to noise or the like even though no power failure has actually occurred. In this case, there is an advantage that it is not erroneously determined that a power failure has occurred.

In step S35, interrupts are prohibited, and then all outputs are turned off in the next step S36 (off data is output to all output ports), and then a power failure information setting process is executed in steps S37 to S38. . In the power failure information setting process, the power failure inspection area check data 1 is saved in the power failure inspection area 1 and the power failure inspection area check data 2 is saved in the power failure inspection area 2.
After step S38, in the next steps S39 to S40, a checksum of the data in the RAM 205 is calculated and saved in a predetermined checksum area, and then access to the RAM 205 is prohibited in step S41, and then waiting (described above). The control is waiting for a reset signal from the control signal generation unit 430. 8 and 9, “RWM” means the RAM 205.
Note that the power failure processing in steps S35 to S41 described above is performed before the power supply voltage drops below the operating voltage of the payout microcomputer 201 due to power failure.

(B) Firing control determination process of payout control device Next, the firing control determination process executed in step S23 in the main process described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, first, in step S45, it is checked whether or not a CR unit unconnected error is in progress. If a CR unit unconnected error is in progress, the process proceeds to step S48 through step S46. If not, the process proceeds to step S47. If it is determined that the CR unit 3 (lending unit control device 600) and the pachinko machine 2 (payout control device 200) are not connected based on the PSI signal described above, a CR unit unconnected error occurs.

Next, in step S47, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the power supply line indicated by reference numeral VL in FIG. 4 is unconfirmed. If unconfirmed, the process proceeds to step S48, and if not unconfirmed, the process proceeds to step S49. In step S48, off data of the firing permission signal is set, and in step S49, on data of the firing permission signal is set. The launch permission signal is a signal that is output to the launch control board 221, and when this is set to on data, it is possible to launch a game ball with the launch device, and when this is set to off data, No game balls can be fired. The process returns after step S49 or S48.
According to the launch control determination process in steps S45 to S49 described above, the game ball cannot be launched unless the CR unit 3 (lending unit control device 600) and the pachinko machine 2 (payout control device 200) are connected.

(C) Dispensing Device Control Start Determination Process of Dispensing Control Device Next, the dispensing device control start process executed in step S27 of the main process of the dispensing control device 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S51 whether an excessive payout error has occurred. If the excessive payout error has occurred, the process returns. If not, the prize ball control start determination process in step S52 (described later) ) And a ball lending control start determination process (described later) in step S53 are sequentially executed, and then the process returns. The excessive payout error is monitored in step S26 described above, and if this error occurs, information indicating that an excessive payout error is occurring is set in step S28.
Note that the prize ball control start determination process in step S52 is a process of setting the prize ball control mode when there is an undischarged prize ball and payout is not prohibited, as will be described later. The ball lending control start determination process in step S53 is a process of setting the ball lending control mode when there is a ball lending request (lending request based on the BRQ signal described above), as will be described later. However, when both the condition for setting the winning ball control mode and the condition for setting the ball lending control mode are satisfied, the ball lending control is prioritized. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10B, the ball lending control start determination process (step S53) is after the prize ball control start determination process (step S52). Specifically, the ball lending control mode is set to give priority to ball lending control.

(D) Prize Ball Control Start Determination Process of Payout Control Device Next, the prize ball control start determination process executed in step S52 will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S55 whether the number of remaining game balls (the number of undiscarded prize balls) is zero. If it is zero, the process returns. If not, the process proceeds to step S56. In step S56, it is determined whether the payout is prohibited. If the payout is prohibited, the process returns. If the payout is not prohibited, the process proceeds to step S57. In step S56, if any one of the shot ball out error flag, the overflow error flag, the switch abnormality error flag, and the payout ball detection error flag is set to ON, it is determined that the payout is prohibited. Here, the shot ball break error flag is a flag that is set to ON when the shot ball break SW 213 detects a shot ball break, and the overflow error flag is an excess of the game balls on the lower plate 13 described above by the overflow SW 214. This flag is turned on when it is detected. Each error flag is set, for example, in the input monitoring process in step S198 of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 23) described later.

Next, in step S57, it is determined whether the shot ball is in an unconfirmed state, and if it is an unconfirmed state, the process returns. If not, the process proceeds to step S58.
Next, in step S58, it is determined whether the overflow is in the indeterminate state. If in the indeterminate state, the process returns. If not in the indeterminate state, the process proceeds to step S59.
In step S59, the prize ball control mode is set as the payout device control mode, and then the process returns.

(E) Ball lending control start determination process of payout control device Next, the ball lending control start determination process executed in step S53 will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, first, in step S60, it is determined whether or not a ball lending request has been made, that is, whether or not the above-described BRQ signal has been turned on. Otherwise return. In step S61, the ball lending control mode is set as the payout device control mode, and the process returns. Note that the determination in step S60 is made based on a ball lending request flag that is set in step S220 of FIG. 24 described later and cleared in step S184 of FIG. That is, if the requested data is set in the ball rental request flag, it is determined that there is a ball rental request, and if the data of the flag is cleared (erased), it is determined that there is no ball rental request. Further, the ball lending request determined in step S60 corresponds to (1) the lending request of the first payout operation shown in FIG.

(F) Ball lending control process of payout control device Next, the ball lending control process executed in step S30 in the main process will be described with reference to FIG. This ball lending control process is executed when the BRQ signal is turned on. That is, when the BRQ signal is turned on, the ball lending control mode is set in step S61 of the above-described ball lending control start determination process, and when this ball lending control mode is set, step S24 of the main process in FIG. This is because the determination result becomes affirmative and step S30 of the main process is executed.
When this routine is started, first, in steps S65 to S67, a ball lending process branch table is set for branching by a ball lending process number described later, and a branch destination address of a process corresponding to the ball lending process number is acquired. The return address after branch processing is saved in the stack area.

  Next, in step S68, the process branches by a ball lending process number (hereinafter, simply referred to as a process number). That is, the process number 0 is step S70 (request acknowledgment response pre-processing), the process number 1 is step S71 (request acknowledgment response process), the process number 2 is step S72 (response reception confirmation waiting process), and the process number 3 is Step S73 (ball lending payout start process), process number 4 to step S74 (ball lending payout retry determination process), process number 5 to step S75 (ball lending payout shortage error release waiting process), process number 6 to step To S76 (ball lending payout end process), process number 7 to step S77 (continuous ball lending request determination process), process number 8 to step S78 (ball lending error handling process), process number 9 to step S79 (ball lending) Proceed to the closing process.

  Note that each process of steps S70 to S79 (excluding the process of step S78) will be described in detail later. The ball lending error handling process in step S78 is a predetermined process for various errors related to ball lending.

(G) Request acknowledgment response pre-processing of payout control device Next, the request acknowledgment response pre-processing executed in step S70 in the above-described ball lending control processing (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG. This request acknowledgment response pre-processing is executed when the ball lending process number is set to 0 as described above. The ball lending processing number is set to number 0 in step S186 of FIG. 22 described later at the end of the lending operation, and remains set to number 0 when the ball lending is not performed. For this reason, when the ball lending control process is first executed after the BRQ signal is turned on, first the request acknowledgment response pre-processing is executed.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S81 whether a T0 timing error has occurred. If it has occurred, the process proceeds to step S88, and if not, the process proceeds to step S82. The T0 timing error is an error related to the predetermined time T0 described in FIG. 5 (described later), and is set in the T0 timing error flag that is set in step S219 in FIG. 24 described later and cleared in step S185 in FIG. Based on the determination. That is, if the T0 timing error flag is set, it is determined that a T0 timing error has occurred, and if the flag is cleared, it is determined that the error has not occurred.

  In step S82, it is determined whether or not the payout is prohibited as described in step S56. If the payout is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S87. If the payout is not prohibited, the process proceeds to step S83. Next, in step S83, it is determined whether or not the shot ball is in an unconfirmed state. Next, in step S84, it is determined whether the overflow is in the indeterminate state. If in the indeterminate state, the process proceeds to step S87, and if not, the process proceeds to step S85.

  In step S85, a T1 delay timer initial value (for example, 15 msec) is saved in the T1 timer and the timing operation of the T1 timer is started. In the next step S86, the request acknowledge response process is set to be executed next (process number). Set to 1) and return. The T1 timer is a timer for measuring the predetermined time T1 in FIG. 5 described above, and the T1 delay timer initial value is a set value of the predetermined time T1. Next, in step S87, a setting for executing the ball lending closing process next (setting with a process number of 9) is performed, and the process returns. In step S88, a setting for executing the ball lending error handling process next (setting with a process number of 8) is performed, and the process returns. When the ball lending process number is set in this way, the process corresponding to this ball lending process number is executed in steps S70 to S79 when the ball lending control process in FIG. 12 is executed next. As described above.

(H) Request acknowledge response process of payout control device Next, the request acknowledge response process executed in step S71 in the above-described ball lending control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S91 whether the T1 timer set in step S85 has expired (that is, whether a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the BRQ signal was turned on). If YES in step S92, the flow returns to step S92, and if the flow proceeds to step S92, it is determined whether the BRDY signal is on, and in the next step S93, it is determined whether the BRQ signal is on. If either the BRDY signal or the BRQ signal is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S97, where the setting for executing the ball lending termination process is executed next (setting with the process number set to 9), and the process returns. If both the BRQ signal and the BRQ signal are on, steps S94 to S96 are executed, and in step S94, the EXS signal is changed. In step S95, the T2 monitoring timer initial value (for example, 55 msec) is saved in the T2 timing determination timer. ) And return.

The T2 timing determination timer is a timer for measuring the predetermined time T2 in FIG. 5 described above, and the T2 monitoring timer initial value is a time over determination value of the predetermined time T2. Further, the ON data of the EXS signal set in step S94 is output in step S194 of a timer interrupt process (FIG. 23A) described later, and as a result, the EXS signal is turned on. For this reason, the operation | movement implement | achieved by this step S94 corresponds to the request | requirement consent of (2) in FIG.
Further, the timing operation of the T2 timing determination timer is started by the setting in step S95. Therefore, as a result, the T2 timing determination timer substantially measures the elapsed time from when the EXS signal is turned on.

(I) Response receipt confirmation waiting process of payout control device Next, the response receipt confirmation wait process executed in step S72 in the above-described ball lending control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S101 whether the BRDY signal is on. If not, the process proceeds to step S109, and if it is on, the process proceeds to step S102.
When the processing proceeds to step S109, the OFF data of the EXS signal is set, and in the next step S112, the setting for executing the ball lending termination processing (setting for setting the processing number to 9) is performed and the process returns.

In step S102, it is determined whether or not the BRQ signal is on. If it is on, the process proceeds to step S107, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step S103.
In step S103, it is determined whether the T2 timing determination timer is over. If the time is over, the process proceeds to step S111 via step S104. If not, the process proceeds to step S105 via step S104.
Similarly, in step S107, it is determined whether the T2 timing determination timer is over. If the time is over, the process proceeds to step S111 via step S108. If the time is not over, the process returns via step S108.

  Here, the T2 timing determination timer is over time means that the T2 timing determination timer has timed out before (or at the same time as) the BRQ signal is turned off, that is, the BRQ signal is turned off after the EXS signal is turned on. This means that the elapsed time until the time has reached the T2 monitoring timer initial value (for example, 55 msec) or more. This time-over state is an error state in which the BRQ signal does not turn off even though an abnormally long time has passed since the EXS signal was turned on, so the process proceeds to step S111 and the ball lending error handling process is executed next. Is set (setting the process number is 8), and the process returns.

In step S105, it is determined whether the T2 timing determination timer is time-short. If the time is short, the process proceeds to step S111 via step S106. If not, the process proceeds to step S110 via step S106.
Here, the time short of the T2 timing determination timer means that the value of the T2 timing determination timer at the time when the BRQ signal is turned off (value counted down from the initial value of 55 msec) is abnormally large (for example, 24 msec or more). That is, it means that the elapsed time from when the EXS signal is turned on to when the BRQ signal is turned off is a specified value or less (for example, 31 msec or less). The state in which the time short has occurred is an error state in which the BRQ signal is turned off abnormally in a short time after the EXS signal is turned on.

  If neither the time over nor the time short-circuiting occurs (that is, the process proceeds to step S106 and the determination result in step S106 is negative), the normal timing (elapsed time from the ON of the EXS signal) 32 to 54 msec) when the BRQ signal is turned off (that is, when the lending instruction (3) shown in FIG. 5 or the like is properly made), the process proceeds to step S110, and the ball lending / dispensing start processing is performed. Is set next (setting the processing number as 3), and the process returns.

(J) Ball rental payout start processing of payout control device Next, the ball loan payout start processing executed in step S73 in the above-mentioned ball loan control processing (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, this routine is executed when the BRQ signal is turned off at a normal timing after the EXS signal is turned on.
When this routine is started, the number per ball lending operation unit is saved as the number of payouts (for unit control) (step S114), and the number per ball lending operation unit is saved as the number of payouts (for ball lending detection). (Step S115), the off data of the payout ball detection SW output permission signal is set (Step S116), the detection payout number monitoring flag is set (Step S117), and the payout control flag is set to being controlled (Step S118). Then, the setting for executing the ball lending / dispensing retry determination processing (setting for setting the processing number to 4) is performed (step S119), and then the process returns. In this case, the number per ball lending operation unit is 25 (the number of balls for 100 yen if 4 yen per ball). With this ball lending / dispensing start processing (particularly, step S114), the dispensing operation of the game ball for one time, that is, a predetermined unit (25 pieces) is started by the above-described dispensing unit 17.

Here, the number of payouts (for unit control) is data of the payout target number for controlling the payout unit 17, and for example, this payout is performed in step S199 (payout motor output editing process) in the interrupt process of FIG. A setting process is executed to execute the operation of the payout motor 222 for realizing the discharge of game balls for the number (for unit control). The number of payouts (for ball rental detection) is data for counting the remaining number of game balls to be paid out.
Note that the set number (25) of game balls is not necessarily paid out by one payout operation of the payout unit 17 based on the setting of the payout number (for unit control), and from the storage tank 16 to the payout unit 17. There may be a case where the number is less than 25 depending on the flow situation of the game balls. Therefore, a control process for an additional payout operation that compensates for this is the next ball lending payout retry determination process. The payout control flag set in step S118 is a flag indicating that the payout unit 17 is in operation, and when one payout operation (including a retry operation described later) of the payout unit 17 is completed, the payout control flag is illustrated. Set during non-control by omitted processing.

(K) Ball rental payout retry determination process of payout control device Next, the ball loan payout retry determination process executed in step S74 in the above-described ball loan control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is executed after the ball lending / dispensing start process is executed according to the setting in step S119.
When this routine is started, first, in step S121, it is determined whether or not the payout control flag set in step S118 is set during control. If it is set during control, the payout unit 17 is performing a payout operation. Therefore, the process returns through step S122, and if it is set during non-control, the process proceeds to step S123.

  In step S123, it is determined whether the number of payouts (for ball lending detection) has become zero. If it is zero, the process proceeds to step S124, and if not, the process proceeds to step S128. Here, the number of payouts (for ball lending detection) is set to 25 in step S115 (FIG. 6). For example, in step S198 (input monitoring process) of timer interrupt processing described later, the payout ball detection SW211 pays out the balls Each time an error is detected, an update process is executed to decrease the numerical value by one. For this reason, if the number of payouts (for ball lending detection) is zero, it means that the prescribed number (25) of game balls has been paid out. For this reason, when the determination in step S123 becomes affirmative, the process proceeds to step S124, the setting for executing the ball lending / dispensing end processing (setting for setting the processing number to 6) is performed next, and the process returns.

On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S128, since the number of payouts (for ball rental detection) at that time is not zero (the number of game balls discharged is less than 25), the number of payouts at that time (for ball rental detection) is calculated. The number of payouts (for unit control) is saved, and in the next step S129, it is determined whether the control state of the payout motor 222 is a retry operation. If the retry operation is in progress, the process proceeds to step S131 through step S130. If so, the process proceeds to step S125.
In step S125, the control state of the payout motor 222 is set to retry operation. In the next step S126, the maximum number of retries (for example, 2 times) is set, and in the next step S127, the payout control flag is set. Is set during control, and then returns.
In step S131, the number of retries is checked to see if the retry operation can be performed again. If the number of retries is zero, the process proceeds to step S135 via step S132. If not, the process proceeds to step S133.

In step S133, an update for reducing the number of retries by one is executed, and then in step S134, the payout control flag is set during control, and then the process returns.
In step S135, since the number of retries is zero and the retry operation cannot be performed again, the payout shortage error flag is set. Set the number to 5) and return.
According to the processing of these steps S125 to S136, when the payout is insufficient, the retry operation for operating the payout unit 17 again and paying out the remaining number of balls is repeated up to the maximum number of retries, and there is still a remaining number. If the number of payouts (for ball lending detection does not become zero), a process for waiting for release of a ball lending deficiency error, which will be described later, resulting in a payout deficiency error, is performed.

(L) Ball rental payout shortage error release waiting process of payout control device Next, the ball lending payout shortage error release wait process executed in step S75 in the above-mentioned ball loan control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG. .
When this routine is started, first, in step S141, it is determined whether or not the error release SW 212 (shown in FIG. 4) is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S142. Leave in state.
When the process proceeds to step S142, it is determined whether or not the payout is prohibited as in step S56 described above. If the payout is prohibited, the process returns. If the payout is not prohibited, the process proceeds to step S143.

In step S143, the payout shortage error flag set in step S135 is cleared. In the next step S144, the value of the number of payouts (for ball rental detection) at that time is set as the number of payouts (for unit control). In step S145, the maximum number of retries (two) is set as the number of retries, and in step S146, the payout control flag is set during control, and the process proceeds to step S147.
In step S147, a setting for executing the ball lending / dispensing retry determination process next (setting with a process number of 4) is performed, and then the process returns.
According to the above-mentioned ball lending / dispensing error release waiting process, if the error canceling SW 212 is turned on in the payout insufficient error state and the payout is not prohibited, the payout insufficient error occurrence state is canceled and the ball lending is performed again. The payout retry determination process (FIG. 17) is executed, and the aforementioned retry operation is executed.

(M) Processing of Payout Control Device Next, the ball lending payout end processing executed in step S76 in the above-described ball lending control processing (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, this routine is executed according to the setting in the above-described step S124 when the predetermined number (25) of lending is completed and the number of payouts (for lending detection) becomes zero.
When this routine is started, first, in step S151, the detection payout number monitoring flag set in step S117 (FIG. 16) is cleared, and in the next step S152, it is determined whether there is excess sphere detection. If detected, the process proceeds to step S153, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S154.

In step S153, the control state of the payout motor 222 is set to the initial position determining operation, and in step S154, the control state of the payout motor 222 is set to the basic operation.
After step S153 or S154, steps S155 to S160 are sequentially executed. That is, the excess sphere detection flag is cleared (step S155), the T4 monitoring timer initial value (for example, 255 msec) is saved in the T4 timing determination timer (step S156), the OFF data of the EXS signal is set (step S157), Update is performed to increase the counter value of the lending operation number counter by one time (step S158), the ON data of the payout ball detection switch output permission signal is set (step S159), and the continuous ball lending request determination process is set to be executed next (step S159). The process number is set to 7) (step S160), and then the process returns.
Here, the ball lending operation number counter updated in the above step S158 actually indicates what one payout operation (in this case, 25 game balls payout) is made for one operation of the ball lend button 9a. It is a counter for counting whether or not it has been repeatedly performed. The ball lending operation number counter and the count-up function realized by the processing of step S158 constitute the unit payout execution counting means of the present invention. The counter value of the ball lending operation number counter is initialized to zero at an appropriate timing by a process not shown. For example, the mode may be initialized when the BRDY signal is turned on and the lending operation is started (for example, in the request acknowledgment response preprocessing in step S70 of FIG. 12).

  The T4 timing determination timer is a timer for measuring the predetermined time T4 in FIG. 5 described above, and the T4 monitoring timer initial value is a time over determination value of the predetermined time T2. Further, the OFF data of the EXS signal set in step S157 is output in step S194 of a timer interrupt process (FIG. 23A) described later, and as a result, the EXS signal is turned off. For this reason, the operation | movement implement | achieved by this step S157 is equivalent to completion | finish of rental of (4) in FIG. Further, the time counting operation of the T4 timing determination timer is started by the setting in step S156. Therefore, as a result, the T4 timing determination timer substantially measures the elapsed time from when the EXS signal is turned off.

(N) Continuous ball lending request determination process of payout control device Next, the continuous ball lending request determination process executed in step S77 in the above-described ball lending control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, first, in step S161, it is determined whether the BRDY signal is on. If not, the process proceeds to step S167, and if it is on, the process proceeds to step S162.
When the process proceeds to step S167, since the BRDY signal is turned off and it is determined that the lending operation is completed, the ball lending operation number determination process described later is executed, and then the process proceeds to step S170, where the ball lending end process is performed. The setting to be executed (setting that sets the processing number to 9) is performed, and the process returns.

In step S162, it is determined whether the BRQ signal is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S165, and if it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S163.
In step S163, it is determined whether the T4 timing determination timer has expired. If the time has expired, the process proceeds to step S168 via step S164. If the time has not expired, the process returns via step S164.
In step S168, the setting for executing the ball lending error handling processing next (setting for setting the processing number to 8) is performed, and the process returns. It should be noted that the process proceeds to step S168 because the elapsed time from the time when the EXS signal is turned off by the above-described step S157 (the time when one lending payout is completed) while the BRQ signal remains off. This means that the T4 monitoring timer has reached an initial value (for example, 255 msec) or more. In other words, this state is an error state in which the BRQ signal does not turn on for the next rental payout even though an abnormally long time has elapsed since the EXS signal turned off, and the ball lending error handling process is executed. Set and return.

In step S165, if continuous ball lending is not prohibited, steps S166 and S169 are sequentially executed, and if continuous ball lending is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S170.
In step S166, as in step S85 (FIG. 13) described above, the T1 delay timer initial value (for example, 15 msec) is saved in the T1 timer, and the time counting operation of the T1 timer is started. The setting for executing the response process next (setting with the process number set to 1) is performed, and the process returns. In step S165, if any one of the shot ball break error flag, overflow error flag, switch abnormality error flag, and payout ball detection error flag is set to ON, it is determined that continuous ball lending is prohibited.

  According to the above continuous ball lending request determination process, when the BRDY signal is turned on before the T4 timing determination timer expires in the state where the BRDY signal is on (the state where the lending operation has not ended) ( In other words, when the next lending request shown in FIG. 5 or the like is executed at a normal timing), steps S165 and S169 are executed unless the continuous ball lending is prohibited, whereby the lending shown in FIG. The operation of one ball payout (rental payout of a predetermined unit) is started again. That is, as long as no abnormality occurs, the above processing causes the lending process to be performed each time the BRQ signal is turned on while the BRDY signal is turned on (that is, every time the lending request (1) shown in FIG. 5 is repeated). The operation for one ball payout is repeatedly started as shown in FIG.

(O) Ball lending operation number determination process of payout control device Next, the ball lending operation number determination process executed in step S167 in the above-mentioned continuous ball lending request determination process (FIG. 20) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, first, in step S171, a ball lending operation setting value specific to the pachinko machine 2 is acquired. Here, the ball lending operation setting value refers to how many times a payout operation of a predetermined number of balls (in this case, payout for 25 game balls) is performed in a lending payout operation for one operation of the ball lending button 9a. This is data that can specify the number of repetitions, for example, data that is set in, for example, the RAM 205 as an invariant value based on the above-mentioned information on the value of the rent stored in the ROM 204 of the payout control device 200 by a process that is not shown. is there. For example, in the case where the pachinko machine 2 is a dedicated base for lending 1 yen, the ball lending operation setting value is set as an invariable value. Similarly, when the pachinko machine 2 is a dedicated base for 2-yen rental balls, 6 times are set as this ball lending operation setting value in a similar manner. ing. The function of setting the ball lending operation setting value in this way constitutes the unit payout number setting means of the present invention.

In step S172, the value of the ball lending operation number counter at this time is acquired. The ball lending operation frequency counter is a counter that is updated in the above-described step S158, and counts how many times a predetermined unit of lending operation for lending a ball (in this case, paying out 25 gaming balls) is actually performed. .
Next, in step S173, the value of the ball lending operation setting value acquired in step S171 is compared with the counter value of the ball lending operation number counter acquired in step S172. If not, the process proceeds to step S174. Note that the comparison / determination function realized by the processing in step S173 constitutes the comparison / determination means of the present invention.
In step S174, interrupts are prohibited and the process waits until the error release SW 212 is turned on. According to the process of step S174, the process of the payout control device 200 does not proceed any more, and the payout of game balls including award balls is disabled. The function realized by the process of step S174 constitutes the payout impossible activating means of the present invention.

  In the above ball lending operation frequency determination process, the following is realized. That is, for example, in the case of a lending base for 1 yen of balls, the BRQ signal transmitted from the CR unit 3 is 8 times in total (because it is set to lend out 200 yen in advance), but the BRQ actually transmitted is If the total number of signals does not match 8, the ball lending operation is disabled by assuming that the dedicated lending platform for 1 yen is installed at the 4 yen or 2 yen corner. . In addition, for example, in the case of a rented 2-yen stand, the BRQ signal is a total of 6 times (because it is set to lend 300 yen in advance), but the total number of BRQ signals actually transmitted is 6 If the number does not coincide with the number of times, the ball lending operation is disabled by assuming that the dedicated ball 2-yen stand is installed at the ball lending 4 yen or 1-yen corner. Further, according to the process of step S174, the process of the payout control device 200 does not proceed any more and the payout of the prize ball is not performed, so that the progress of the game is substantially disabled. Note that when a resetting operation (for example, power-on with the above-mentioned initialization switch on) is performed by a clerk at the amusement shop, the payout control device 200 returns to normal, but an error occurs when the ball lending operation is performed again. Therefore, the above error (decision mismatch in step S173) occurs until the pachinko machine 2 is installed in an appropriate corner (for example, a rental ball 1 yen corner for a rental ball 1 yen stand), and the impossibility Will be realized.

(P) Ball rental termination process of payout control device Next, the ball rental termination process executed in step S79 in the above-described ball rental control process (FIG. 12) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S181 whether the BRDY signal is on, and in the next step S182, it is determined whether the BRQ signal is on. If either the BRDY signal or the BRQ signal is on, it is not possible to determine that the lending operation has ended, and the process returns. Further, when both the BRDY signal and the BRQ signal are not turned on (when both are turned off), the lending operation (multiple lending of balls for one operation of the ball lending button 9a) should be terminated. , Steps S183 to S189 are executed. That is, the ON data of the PRDY signal is set (step S183), the ball lending request flag is cleared (step S184), the T0 timing error flag is cleared (step S185), and the request acknowledgment response preprocessing is executed next. (Set the processing number to 0) (step S186), clear the error operation process number (step S187), clear the error operation control pointer (step S188), and set the payout device control mode to the standby operation mode. Set (step S189), and then return. Note that the PRDY signal remains on as shown in FIG. 5 and the like even after the lending operation is completed by the processing in step S183.

(Q) Timer interrupt process of payout control apparatus Next, the timer interrupt process of the payout control apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. This timer interrupt process is started by the processes of steps S21 and S22 in the main process (FIG. 8) described above, and is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timer interrupt cycle.
In this timer interrupt process, first, in steps S191 to S193, register saving, timer interrupt interrupt request clearing, and communication interrupt permission are executed, and then in steps S194 and S195, output processing and input processing are sequentially executed. . In the output processing, for example, processing of signal output to the CR unit 3 such as the aforementioned PRDY signal and EXS signal (processing for setting output data to a corresponding output port) is performed. In the input process, for example, an input flag corresponding to the detection signal of each of the above-described switches (the payout ball detection SW 211, the shot ball cut SW 213, the overflow SW 214, the error release SW 212, etc.) is set or game control is performed. Processing such as receiving a payout control command from the apparatus 100 is executed.

Next, in step S196, timer update processing is executed, and then in step S197, request monitoring processing (described later) is executed.
Next, an input monitoring process (step S198), a payout motor output editing process (step S199), and an external information output editing process (step S200) are sequentially executed. In the input monitoring process, for example, when the above-described input flag is set, a process (such as an error determination) based on the input flag is performed. The payout motor output editing process is a process for setting a control signal to be output to the payout motor 222. The external information output editing process is a process for setting data to be output from the external information terminal 223.
Thereafter, in steps S201 and S202, in order to resume the main routine, the timer interrupt is permitted, the saved register is restored, and the process interrupted at the interruption is returned (returned).

(R) Request monitoring process of payout control device Next, the request monitoring process executed in step S197 in the timer interrupt process will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, first, in step S205, when a payout control command is received, a command analysis process such as analyzing this command is executed, and then a ball lending request monitoring process (described later) is executed in step S206. And then return.

(S) Ball rental request monitoring process of payout control device Next, the ball rental request monitoring process executed in step S206 in the request monitoring process (FIG. 23B) will be described with reference to FIG.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S211 whether or not a ball lending request has been detected. If a ball lending request has been detected, the process returns. If not, the process proceeds to step S212. Note that the determination in step S211 is made based on the ball lending request flag that is set in step S220 described later and cleared in step S184 in FIG. That is, if this ball lending request flag is set, it is determined that a ball lending request has been detected, and if this flag is cleared, it is determined that a ball lending request has not been detected.

Next, in step S212, it is determined whether the BRDY signal is turned on. If the BRDY signal is turned on, the lending operation is started, and the process proceeds to step S213. If the BRDY signal is not turned on (OFF In the case), the process proceeds to step S221 to wait for the start of the lending operation.
In step S221, a T0 monitoring timer initial value (for example, 53 msec) is set in the T0 timing determination timer, and the process returns. The T0 timing determination timer is a timer for measuring the predetermined time T0 in FIG. 5 described above, and the T0 monitoring timer initial value is a time-over determination value for the predetermined time T0.

In step S213, updating is performed by reducing (counting down) the value of the T0 timing determination timer by a predetermined unit time corresponding to the interrupt cycle, and then the process proceeds to step S214.
In step S214, it is determined whether the T0 timing determination timer is over. If the time is over, the process proceeds to step S219 via step S215. If not, the process proceeds to step S216 via step S215.

Here, the T0 timing determination timer is over time means that the T0 timing determination timer has timed out before (or at the same time as) the BRQ signal is turned on, that is, after the BRDY signal is turned on, the BRQ signal is turned on. This means that the elapsed time until the time has reached the initial value of the T0 monitoring timer (for example, 53 msec) or more. The state in which this time over has occurred is an error state in which the BRQ signal does not turn on even though an abnormally long time has passed since the BRDY signal turned on, and thus the process proceeds to step S219 to set the T0 timing error flag. After step S219, the process proceeds to step S220.
Next, in step S216, it is determined whether or not the BRQ signal is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S217. If it is not turned on (if turned off), there is no lending request yet, and the process returns. .

In step S217, it is determined whether the T0 timing determination timer is time short. If the time is short, the process proceeds to step S219 via step S218, and the T0 timing error flag is set. If not, the process proceeds to step S220 via step S218. In step S220, the ball rental request flag is set as requested, and then the process returns.
Here, when the T0 timing determination timer is short-circuited, the value of the T0 timing determination timer (the value counted down in step S213 from the initial value 53 msec) at the time when the BRQ signal is turned on is abnormally large (for example, 25 msec or more). That is, the elapsed time from when the BRDY signal is turned on to when the BRQ signal is turned on is less than a specified value (for example, 28 msec or less). Since the state in which the time short-circuit has occurred is an error state in which the BRQ signal is turned on abnormally in a short time after the BRDY signal is turned on, the process proceeds to step S219.

If neither the time over nor the time short-circuiting occurs (that is, the process proceeds to step S218 and the determination result in step S218 is negative), the normal timing (elapsed time from turning on the BRDY signal) 29-52 msec) when the BRQ signal is turned on (that is, when the first (1) lending request shown in FIG. 5 or the like is made properly), the error flag setting in step S219 is not executed. In step S220, the ball lending request flag is set and the process returns.
According to the above processing, if the BRDY signal is turned on when the ball lending request flag is not set, even if the BRQ signal is turned on at a normal timing after that, the above time over or time short error occurs. Even when the T0 timing error flag is set, step S220 is finally executed to set the ball lending request flag. As a result, the ball lending control mode is set in step S61 (FIG. 11B), and the ball lending control process (FIG. 12) in step S30 is executed in the main process (FIG. 9). become. However, in the request acknowledgment response preprocessing (FIG. 13) in the ball lending control processing, if the T0 timing error flag is set, the determination in step S81 is affirmative and the ball lending error handling processing is executed. It will be.

Next, the lending value setting process of the lending unit control device 600 of the CR unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
This lending value setting process is periodically executed in, for example, an interruption process of the lending microcomputer 601 in the lending unit control apparatus 600.
When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S231 whether or not the rented value setting SW 614 (FIG. 4) has been operated. If operated, the process proceeds to step S232, and if not operated, the process returns.
Next, in step S232, it is determined whether or not the lending value designated by the operation of the lending value setting SW 614 is 1 yen per ball. If it is 1 yen per ball, the process proceeds to step S233; The process proceeds to S234. In step S233, the number of BRQ signal transmissions for the signal from the ball lending SW 231 is set to 8, and then the process returns. That is, in this step S233, 25 ball rental payouts are performed 8 times for one operation of the ball lending button 9a, and a total of 200 (200 yen) game balls are paid out. Set to.

Next, in step S234, it is determined whether or not the rental value designated by the operation of the rental value setting SW 614 is 2 yen per ball. If it is 2 yen per ball, the process proceeds to step S235; The process proceeds to S236. In step S235, the number of BRQ signal transmissions for the signal from the ball lending SW 231 is set to 6, and then the process returns. In other words, in this step S235, 25 ball rental payouts are made 6 times for one operation of the ball lending button 9a, and a total of 150 (300 yen) game balls are paid out. Set to.
Next, in step S236, it is determined whether or not the rental value designated by the operation of the rental value setting SW 614 is 4 yen per ball. If it is 4 yen per ball, the process proceeds to step S237; To do. In step S237, the number of BRQ signal transmissions for the signal of the ball lending SW 231 is set to 5, and then the process returns. In other words, in this step S237, 25 ball rentals are paid out five times for one operation of the ball rental button 9a, and a total of 125 (500 yen) game balls are paid out. Set to.

Note that the function realized by the processing of the above steps S231 to 237 (lending value setting processing) constitutes the lending request number setting means of the present invention.
Also, the BRQ signal transmission count data set in steps S233, S235, and S237 is stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory in the lending unit control device 600 or a power failure so that the data is stored and retained even when the CR unit is powered off. It is sometimes desirable to register in a memory to which backup power is supplied. For example, backup power may be supplied to the RAM 605 in the lending unit control device 600 and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 605, or a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM may be installed in the lending unit control device 600. It may be stored and saved in this nonvolatile memory.

  In addition, the data of the BRQ signal transmission count registered on the CR unit 2 side in this way is used for a lending unit payout control process (not shown) in the lending unit control device 600. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 5 and the like, when the lending unit control device 600 determines that the ball lending button 9a has been pressed by the signal from the ball lending SW 231, it turns on the BRDY signal and then the BRQ signal after a predetermined time T0 has elapsed. Is turned on, then the BRQ signal is turned off after a predetermined time T2 elapses from the time when the EXS signal is turned on, and then the BRQ signal is turned on again after the elapse of the predetermined time T4 from the time when the EXS signal is turned off. After the repetition, the BRDY signal is turned off. At this time, the operation of turning on / off the BRQ signal is repeated by the number of times registered as the BRQ signal transmission number. In this example, if the rental value designated by the operation of the rental value setting SW 614 is 1 yen per ball, it is 8 times (see FIG. 5), and if it is 2 yen, 6 times (see FIG. 6), 4 yen. If so, the above operation is repeated five times (see FIG. 7).

  Then, the above-described operation (operation for turning on / off the BRQ signal) is performed by the control of the above-described payout control device 200, in which a lending payout of a predetermined unit per time (discharge of 25 game balls in this case) is performed. The number of repetitions is read in the above-described step S172 (FIG. 21) and compared with the setting on the pachinko machine 2 side in step S173, and if it does not match, the ball lending operation is disabled.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 2 according to the first embodiment, based on the value of the ball rental set and registered in the ROM 204, the ball rental of a predetermined unit is paid out for the operation of the ball rental button 9a (ball rental operation unit). The number of times data is registered as a ball lending operation setting value, and this is read out in step S171. Further, the number of times that a predetermined unit of lending is paid out to the payout unit 17 (payout means) is counted based on the BRQ signal (lending request signal) (step S158). Then, the set value (ball lending operation set value) of the number of payouts is compared with the count value (step S173), and when it is determined that the determination result is inconsistent, the payout of the game ball is disabled. For this reason, when the pachinko machine is used in an environment where a BRQ signal is output based on a rent value other than the rent value unique to the pachinko machine, it is set based on the rent value unique to the pachinko machine. In addition, the set value and the count value that is the number of times a predetermined unit of rental balls is actually paid out do not match, and the immobilization is executed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pachinko machine 2 that is limited to use with a specific rental value, for example, from being erroneously used with another rental value.

Further, in the pachinko machine 2 of the present example, the value of the ball lending operation number counter for counting the number of payouts is updated every time a predetermined unit of payout of balls is completed (step S158). As a result, the number of times that a predetermined unit of rental balls is actually paid out is reliably counted each time and reflected in the comparison determination in step S173, so that an accurate determination can be made.
Further, in the pachinko machine 2 of this example, the ball rental value set in the ROM 204 and the information on the number of payouts (ball lending operation setting value) are unchanged, so that the pachinko machine is used for a value other than the specific ball rental value. This can be surely prevented.

Moreover, in the pachinko machine 2 of this example, when the comparison determination of step S173 becomes inconsistent, all the controls including the payout control executed by the payout control device 200 are disabled as described above. For this reason, for example, in the case of this example in which a prize ball is paid out by the payout control apparatus 200, the prize ball is not paid out, and the game cannot be played at all. The use of the machine can be prevented more powerfully.
In addition, since this pachinko machine is provided with initialization means (such as an error release SW) for initializing the disabled state, the initialization unit is used even if the disabled state is entered. If the disabled state is canceled and the pachinko machine is moved to an appropriate environment (an environment in which the pachinko machine has a rental value unique to the pachinko machine), the pachinko machine can be used without any problem. However, even if the disabled state is canceled by the initialization means, if the rental environment is not changed to an appropriate environment, the disabled state is set again at the time when the lending payout is executed. Therefore, since the normal control of the payout control device 200 is not performed until the pachinko machine is used with a specific rental value, it is possible to reliably prevent the pachinko machine from being used with a value other than the specific rental value. it can.

  Further, in the pachinko machine 1 of this example, a CR unit 3 (ball lending control unit) is provided that makes the lending request (transmission of a BRQ signal) to the pachinko machine 2 based on the operation of the ball lending button 9a of the pachinko machine 2. It has been. Further, in the lending unit control device 600 (lending control means) of the CR unit 3, the number of times the BRQ signal is output based on the lending value set by the lending value setting SW 614 (unit-side lending value setting means). Is set (step S233, etc.). Then, based on the operation of the ball lending button 9a, the BRQ signal is output for the set number of times. For this reason, if the setting of the rental value on the pachinko machine side matches the setting of the rental value on the CR unit side, the comparison determination result in the step S173 is the same. Deactivation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pachinko machine 2 limited to use with a specific rent value, for example, in combination with a CR unit used with another rent value. As a result, the pachinko machine 2 limited to use with a specific rental value is separated from, for example, the previously connected CR unit (or the CR unit to be connected), and mistakenly another rental ball. It can be prevented from being transferred to a value corner or the like and connected to another CR unit having a rental value in that corner.

  In addition, when the specification of the pachinko machine 2 that is dedicated to each rate is set so as to be advantageous to the player as the rent value becomes lower as described above (for example, the rent value becomes lower) (For example, if the rental ball 1 yen stand is mistakenly used in the 4 yen corner, it will be compared to the appropriate 4 yen corner model (4 yen rental stand). As a result, a platform with an abnormally high probability of hitting is installed, which is abnormally advantageous for the player and is particularly inappropriate. However, according to the present invention, as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent such a gaming machine with a low rental value from being used in a corner with a high rental value by mistake. In that respect, the present invention is particularly useful.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, since this Example 2 has the characteristic about the setting of a rental value, and the structure of the other pachinko machine is the same as that of Example 1, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the second embodiment, the processes of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 26 to 28 are performed in place of the processes of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8, 24, and 25 of the first embodiment. 26 is a diagram showing the main process (first half) of the payout control apparatus 200, in which step S241 is added between step S20 and step S21 in the first embodiment (FIG. 8). In the case of FIG. 26, after passing through steps S17 and S20, the process proceeds to step S241 to set on-data of the rent value instruction signal. The ball rental value instruction signal is information on the ball rental value of the pachinko machine 2, that is, the pachinko machine 2 is a rental ball 1 yen dedicated table, a rental ball 2 yen dedicated table, and a rental ball 4 yen dedicated table. It is a signal containing information that can identify which one corresponds, and specifically, it may be information on the above-mentioned ball lending operation setting value (step S171 in FIG. 21).

  According to the process of step S241, when the payout control apparatus 200 is activated (when the pachinko machine 2 is powered on), the on-data of the above-mentioned rental value instruction signal is set. Thus, in the output process of step S194, A lending value instruction signal is transmitted to the lending unit control device 600 of the CR unit 3.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a ball lending request monitoring process performed in the timer interrupt process of the payout control apparatus 200, and a step between step S212 and step S213 in the first embodiment (FIG. 24). S251 is added. In the case of FIG. 27, if it is determined in step S212 that the BRDY signal is ON, the process proceeds to step S251, and ON data of the rent value instruction signal is set in the same manner as in step S241.
According to the processing of step S251, the rent value instruction signal is transmitted to the lending unit control device 600 every time the BRDY signal is turned on (that is, when a lending operation start instruction is given). In the transmission at the time of activation in step S241, if the activation of the lending unit control device 600 is delayed from the activation of the payout control device 200, the lending value instruction signal may not be received by the lending unit control device 600. is there. However, in this example, the lending unit control device 600 transmits the lending value instruction signal before the lending operation, because the lending value instruction signal is transmitted every time the lending operation is started in step S213. You can always receive it.
Here, the functions realized by the processes of steps S241 and S251 constitute the rented value instruction means of the present invention.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the lending value setting process performed by the lending unit control device 600, and steps S261 and S262 are added between step S231 and step S232 in the first embodiment (FIG. 25). It is a thing. In the case of FIG. 28, when it is determined in step S231 that the rented value setting SW 614 (FIG. 4) is not operated, the process proceeds to step S261. In step S261, it is determined whether or not the rent value instruction signal is received from the payout control device 200 of the pachinko machine 2. If received, the process proceeds to step S262, and if not received, the process returns. In step S262, a rent value is set based on the received rent value instruction signal. In subsequent steps S232 to S237, based on the set rent value, steps S233, S235, and S237 are selected. One of the above is executed. For example, if the rent value indicated by the rent value instruction signal is 1 yen, the process proceeds to step S233, and the BRQ signal transmission count is set to 8.

For this reason, in this Example 2, the following effects are acquired.
In other words, in the pachinko machine 1 of this example, the payout control device 200 of the pachinko machine 2 instructs the lending unit control device 600 of the CR unit 3 to designate the lending value set in the pachinko machine 2. Is output (steps S241 and S251). Then, the lending unit control device 600 determines a lending value to be set based on the lending value instruction signal (steps S261 and S262). That is, the ball rental value set in the pachinko machine 2 can be instructed to the CR unit side, and the CR unit side makes a lending request (transmission of a BRQ signal) based on the instructed ball rental value. For this reason, the pachinko machine 2 limited to use with a specific rent value is combined with a CR unit 3 (or a CR unit 3 whose rent value has not been set) that was mistakenly used with another rent value. Even if used, the ball rental value of the CR unit 3 is set to the ball rental value instructed from the connected pachinko machine 2 (that is, the same rental value as the pachinko machine 2). A lending request is made based on the instructed lending value, and inconsistency in the comparison and determination in step S173 and immobilization caused thereby do not occur.

Therefore, the pachinko machine 2 limited to use with a specific rental value is separated from, for example, the previously connected CR unit 3 and mistakenly moved to another rental value corner, etc. Even if it is connected to a CR unit 3 that has been used for another ball rental value at a corner, the ball rental value of the CR unit 3 (and the number of times the BRQ signal is output) is connected to the connected pachinko machine 2 Therefore, at least the relationship between the CR unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 causes no inconvenience and can be used as it is.
Or, conversely, the CR unit 3 used at a corner of a specific rental value is separated from, for example, the pachinko machine 2 (or the pachinko machine 2 to be connected) that has been connected so far, and mistakenly. Even if it is relocated to a corner with a rental value of the other and connected to a pachinko machine 2 that has been used for other rental values at that corner, it will be used without any inconvenience. it can.

  In the gaming machine of this example, the rented value instruction signal is output every time the pachinko machine 2 is powered on (step S241). For this reason, when the power is turned on before the renting out of the sphere, the rented value set in the pachinko machine 2 can be instructed to the CR unit side. Based on this, the number of BRQ signal outputs can be set to an appropriate value in advance.

  Further, in the gaming apparatus of this example, whenever a rental lending operation start instruction is given (that is, every time the BRDY signal is turned on), the rental value instruction signal is output (step S251). For this reason, the ball rental value set in the pachinko machine 2 can be instructed to the CR unit side immediately before the execution of the ball rental payment, and the CR unit side pays out the ball rental based on the instructed ball rental value. It is possible to set the BRQ signal output count to an appropriate value every time immediately before execution. In addition, as described above, there is a possibility that the CR unit side cannot receive the signal when the power is turned on, but the rental unit set in the pachinko machine 2 may not be received. The value can be reliably instructed to the CR unit 3 immediately before the rental payout is executed.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to the Example mentioned above, There can be various deformation | transformation and application.
For example, when it is determined that the determination result in step S173 is inconsistent, in addition to the disabling configuration (or instead of the disabling configuration), an error notification unit notifies the error. Also good. For example, the error number display LED (error notification means) in FIG. 4 in the above-described embodiment notifies that an error has occurred (or that the value of rental money is inappropriate as the content) by displaying the error number. It may be. Alternatively, a mode in which a predetermined error lamp provided in the pachinko machine 2 is simply turned on or an error sound is output may be employed. In this way, the store clerk of the game store is surely notified that an error has occurred, that the value of the rented ball has become an error due to incompatibility, or that the payout of the game ball has been disabled due to the error. And can be urged to use with a rental value suitable for the gaming machine.

  Also, in the above embodiment, if the rental value setting does not match between the pachinko machine and the CR unit, they are all disabled, but if the rental value on the CR unit side is high (for example, dedicated to 1 yen rental) When the stand is disabled (or error notification) only when the stand is used at 2 yen or 4 yen corners, and the rental value on the CR unit side is low (for example, 1 yen for a rental 4 yen stand It is good also as a structure which does not make immobility (or error alerting | reporting) in the case of using in a 2 circle corner.

  Moreover, even if the operation of the ball lending operation unit or the lending of the ball is not executed, the setting of the lending value of the gaming machine and the CR unit is compared. If the sphere is set to 2 yen or 4 yen (or if it is set), an error may be notified. In this way, for example, when a game machine is replaced or when an island to be installed in a game store is rotated, it can be detected early even if it is installed by mistake. It is possible to prevent a problem of noticing that the ball lending function is not activated.

  In addition, the gaming machine can be separated into a gaming board side (including a game control device) and a gaming machine frame side (including a payout control device). It is configured to use a dedicated gaming machine frame. However, for example, there is a possibility that a gaming board dedicated to 1 yen rental ball may be attached to a gaming machine frame used in an existing gaming machine with 4 yen rental ball. Therefore, at the time of turning on the power of the gaming machine, for example, in the main program of the gaming control apparatus, it is confirmed whether or not a gaming machine frame dedicated for lending 1 yen (that is, a payout control apparatus) is attached (connected) If not, the game may be disabled.

  Further, the game control device outputs unique information (unique ID) to the CR unit, and the unique information includes information indicating that the gaming machine is a dedicated lending base for a lending ball. May be. Then, on the CR unit side, the ball rental value may be set based on this unique information, and the number of BRQ signal transmissions corresponding to the ball rental value may be set.

  In addition, it should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 Pachinko machine (game machine)
2 Pachinko machines (game machines)
3 CR unit (ball rental control unit)
9a Ball rental button (ball rental operation part)
17 Dispensing unit (dispensing means)
100 game control device 200 payout control device (payout control means)
205 ROM (ball rental value setting means)
212 Error reset SW (initialization means)
222 Dispensing motor 222 (dispensing means)
231 Ball rental SW
224 Error number display LED (error notification means)
600 Lending unit control device (lending control means)
614 Lending value setting SW (unit-side lending value setting means)
615 Value rental indicator

Claims (9)

A payout control means for performing payout control for paying out a predetermined number of game balls as a loan based on a loan request; and a payout means for paying out game balls based on the payout control by the payout control means,
In the gaming machine in which the payout control means causes the payout means to repeatedly pay out a predetermined unit of balls based on a single operation of the ball lending operation unit.
The payout control means includes
A rental value setting means for presetting a value for one rental ball used in the gaming machine;
Unit payout number setting means for setting the number of times of paying out the predetermined unit of the loan based on the ball rental value set by the ball rental value setting means;
Unit payout execution counting means for counting the number of times the predetermined means of paying out the rental balls based on the loan request;
Comparison determination means for comparing and comparing the value set in the unit payout number setting means and the value counted by the unit payout execution counting means;
A payout disabling activating means for disabling the payout of game balls by the payout means when it is determined that the determination result by the comparison determination means is inconsistent;
A gaming machine comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising an error notification unit that notifies that an error has occurred when the determination result by the comparison determination unit is determined to be inconsistent.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the unit payout execution counting means updates the value every time the payout of the predetermined unit of lending by the payout means is completed. The ball rental value setting means sets an invariable value as the value for one ball rental,
2. The unit payout number setting means sets an invariable value as the number of payouts of the predetermined unit of balls based on the value of the ball rental set by the value of the ball rental value setting means. The gaming machine according to claim 3. The payout control means includes an initialization means for initializing an immobilization state by the payout impossibility activating means,
2. The payout disabling means for disabling all controls including payout control executed by the payout control means until the payout control means is initialized by the initializing means. 4. The gaming machine according to any one of 4. In a gaming apparatus comprising the gaming machine and a ball lending control unit connected to the gaming machine and making the lending request based on an operation of the ball lending operation unit,
The ball lending control unit has lending control means for outputting a lending request signal as a lending request to the payout control means,
The lending control means includes
Unit-side lending value setting means for setting a value for one lending;
A lending request number setting means for setting the number of times to output the lending request signal based on the lending value set by the unit side lending value setting means, and based on the operation of the ball lending operation unit 6. The game comprising the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the lending request signal is output for the number of times set by the lending request frequency setting means. apparatus. The payout control means includes a lending value instruction means for outputting a lending value instruction signal for instructing the lending control means to a lending value set in the lending value setting means,
7. The gaming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unit-side rent value setting unit determines a set rent value based on a rent value instruction signal output by the rent value instruction unit. .   8. The gaming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rented value instruction means outputs the rented value instruction signal every time the gaming machine is powered on. 9. The game according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the rent value instruction means outputs the rent value instruction signal every time there is an instruction to start renting a rent from the lending control means. apparatus.

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