JP2012210544A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which ensures the smooth progress of a game and further prevents a decline in the operation rate of the game machine by preventing the erroneous activation of error processing caused by interference between a put-out ball and a flicker or the like.SOLUTION: The game machine includes: a plurality of error-monitoring signal output control means 207 which output first error-monitoring signals (ongoing put-out signals) and output second error-monitoring signals (count signals) every time a plurality of count switch signals are input; a plurality of error-monitoring signal output control means 206 which control the output of the first and second signals; and an error control means which determines whether the presence or absence of the detection of a passing game ball in a period other than the put-out period based on the first and second signals for prescribed error control. The error-monitoring signal output control means 207 controls to output the first and second signals in a manner to develop a non-monitoring state that the error control means does not recognize the occurrence of an error until a prescribed period elapses after a plurality of flickers are closed even in the period other than the put-out period.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that uses a game ball as a game medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as a spinning machine (slot machine), a ball-type spinning machine using a game ball similar to a pachinko machine or the like as a game medium has been developed. Such a ball-type spinning machine is advantageous over the conventional medal-type spinning machine in that it can be installed in existing island facilities for installing pachinko machines.
In such a ball-type spinning machine, for example, five game balls have the same value as one medal, which is a game medium of the medal-type spinning machine, and are paid out when winning a prize. The amount of game media is generally large. Therefore, it is necessary to pay out a large amount of game balls while counting them quickly and accurately, and as such a payout mechanism, it is allowed to pass the game balls using the gate means through the ball passage for paying out the game balls. Or what was comprised so that it might prohibit was known. A typical example of the gate means is flicker. In such a payout mechanism equipped with flicker, a flicker is provided in a ball path for paying out a game ball, and a count sensor for counting game balls passing through the ball path is provided. When the number of game balls counted by the count sensor reaches the predetermined number of payouts after the game balls are started to be allowed to pass, the ball passage is prohibited from passing through the ball path by flicker.

  On the other hand, in a gaming machine equipped with such a payout mechanism, the ball passage is closed by flicker from the viewpoint of preventing an illegal act of illegally paying out a game ball by inserting a wire from a payout opening. When the count sensor detects the passage of the game ball later, it is regarded as a payout other than the payout of the winning ball, a predetermined error process is executed, and the operation of the gaming machine is immediately stopped.

JP 2005-261778 A

  However, in the gaming machine configured as described above, when the gate means is in the game ball passage prohibition state, flicker collides with the last game ball and the last game ball is accelerated. When the interval between the preceding game ball and the passing game ball is short, the preceding game ball and the last game ball collide, and the last game ball bounces up, causing the count sensor to play one game ball. There is an increased risk of chattering that erroneously detects a plurality of game balls. Due to the occurrence of such chattering, it was regarded as a payout other than that during the payout of a prize ball, a predetermined error process was executed, and the game was interrupted. Such interruption of the game has a problem in that the game is hindered from progressing smoothly and the game hall has a significant effect on the operating rate of the gaming machine.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to prevent erroneous processing of error processing due to interference between the payout ball and flicker, etc., to ensure smooth game progress, and to prevent a reduction in the operating rate of the gaming machine. The purpose is to provide a gaming machine.

The gaming machine according to the present invention is
A main control means for controlling the game and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and a lending control means for controlling the lending and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls according to the loan request And a payout control means for comprehensively controlling the payout of the number of game balls based on the game ball payout instruction signal from the main control means or the lending control means,
Storage means for storing game balls;
A plurality of payout passages respectively communicating with the storage means;
A plurality of game ball detecting means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages to detect the passage of game balls introduced into the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages, which are provided above the game ball detection means and permit or prohibit the game balls from passing through the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means driving means provided on each of the plurality of opening and closing members to drive the gate means;
The payout control means includes
A distribution means for distributing the number of payouts based on the payout instructions of the game balls to the plurality of payout paths substantially evenly;
A plurality of counting means provided corresponding to the plurality of payout passages, respectively, for counting the number of game balls based on detection signals of the corresponding game ball detection means;
A plurality of payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths and holding the individual payout numbers of the payout paths set by the distribution means;
Whether or not it is the final game ball in the payout passage based on the number information from the counting means and the individual payout number held in the payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths A plurality of determination means for determining
When the detected game ball is the final game ball in the payout passage, provided according to the plurality of payout passages, and based on the determination result of the determination means, A plurality of gate means drive control means for outputting to the gate means drive means,
A first error monitoring signal is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages to indicate that payout processing is in progress and is output each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means. A plurality of error monitoring signal output means for generating and outputting a second error monitoring signal;
Error monitoring signal output control means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages and performing output control of the error monitoring signal output means, wherein output control of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring is performed. A plurality of error monitoring signal output control means configured to be executed in a first control mode or configured to be executed in a second control mode that is different in control content from the first output control mode;
As a first control mode executed by the error monitoring signal output control means, the first signal for error monitoring is determined by starting signal output with the start of the payout process and maintaining the output state thereafter. When the determination result of the means is the final game ball, even after the payout process is finished, the output stop of the first signal for error monitoring is delayed until a predetermined time elapses after the determination of the final game ball, and the error monitoring first With respect to the two signals, control is performed to generate and output a second error monitoring signal when a game ball detection signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball,
The main control means, based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal for each payout path transmitted from the payout control means, for each payout path during a period other than during the payout period It is characterized in that it is provided with an error control means for determining whether or not the passage of the air has been detected and performing a predetermined error control in the case of an affirmative determination.

  According to the present invention, the error monitoring signal output control means, in addition to during the payout period, until the predetermined period elapses after the gate means is in the game ball passage prohibition state even during a period other than during the payout period. By controlling the output of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring so as to develop an unmonitored state in which the error control means is not authorized to generate an error, the gate means is in a game ball passage prohibited state. Even if a chattering occurs and a game ball is detected by the game ball detection means before a predetermined period elapses, it is ensured that no error occurs. Therefore, there is no interruption of the game due to the occurrence of an error, the player can enjoy the game comfortably, and the gaming machine hall has no interruption of the game, so it is possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine. .

It is a front view of a ball-type spinning machine. It is a front side perspective view of a ball-type swivel game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the state which open | released the door block with respect to the outer frame. It is a perspective view which shows the state which open | released the payout block and the game block with respect to the front block. It is a disassembled perspective view of a front block. It is a perspective view of an upper plate unit. (A) The figure is a top view of an upper plate unit, (B) The figure is a bottom view of an upper plate unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of an upper plate unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of an upper plate ball stop part. It is a principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view of an upper plate ball stop part and a selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which connected the game ball guide path and the ball path. It is a principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view of an upper plate ball stop part and a selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which interrupted | blocked the game ball guide path and the ball path. It is a principal part expanded vertical sectional view which shows the state which removed the selector from the upper plate unit. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an upper dish ball removal operation unit and a selector, and shows a state where a ball passage and a guide passage are blocked by a return shutter. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper dish ball removal operation unit and the selector, and shows a state in which the ball passage and the guide passage are communicated with each other. It is a disassembled perspective view of a selector. It is the perspective view seen from the back side of a selector. It is a rear view of a payout block. It is a rear view which shows the state which removed the payout control apparatus and the power supply control apparatus from the payout block. It is the perspective view seen from the front side of the payout block. It is a principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view of the case rail which shows the structure of a ball | bowl piece detection apparatus, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which sufficient number of game balls are replenished in a case rail. It is a principal part expansion longitudinal cross-sectional view of the case rail which shows the structure of a ball | bowl piece detection apparatus, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which sufficient number of game balls are not replenished in a case rail. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the state which removed the mounting base of the dispensing device and the dispensing relay terminal board from the dispensing block. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the payout apparatus, and shows a state where no payout operation is performed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a payout apparatus, and is a figure which shows the state which is paying out. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a payout apparatus, and is a figure which shows the state which is performing ball extraction operation of the payout apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of a game block. It is a front view of a game panel. It is an expanded view of a symbol seal. It is a partial exploded perspective view of a rotating drum unit. It is a connection diagram which shows the control system of a ball-type spinning machine. The block diagram showing the electrical structural example of the ball-type swivel game machine which concerns on a 1st form. The flowchart showing an example of the power failure interruption process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the timer interruption process of a main control board. The flowchart showing in detail an example of the backup process executed in the timer interrupt process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the main process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the normal game process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the fluctuation waiting process in the normal game process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the rotation control process in the normal game process of a main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the process during the active material operation in the normal game process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the accessory action determination process in the normal game process of the main control board. The flowchart showing an example of the command interruption process in the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the timer interruption process in a payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the main process in the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the game ball payout process in the main process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the payout number distribution process in the game ball payout process of the payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the payout execution process in the game ball payout process of a payout control board. The flowchart showing an example of the timer interruption process in a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the command interruption process in a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the main process in a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the short cycle timer process in the main process of a sub control board. The flowchart showing an example of the long cycle timer process in the main process of a sub control board. The block diagram showing an example of the structure regarding the payout error control of the ball-type spinning machine which concerns on a 1st form from a functional viewpoint. The timing chart showing an example of the payout error control in the ball-type spinning game machine which concerns on a 1st form. The typical explanatory view showing an example of flicker closing operation in the ball-type spinning game machine concerning a 1st form. Explanatory drawing showing the generation | occurrence | production situation of the payout error when not performing output control of the count signal (2nd signal for error monitoring) using the non-monitoring time counter in the conventional ball-type spinning machine. The block diagram showing an example of the structure regarding the payout error control of the ball-type cylinder game machine which concerns on a 2nd form. The timing chart showing an example of the payout error control in the ball-type spinning game machine which concerns on a 2nd form. The block diagram showing an example of the structure regarding the payout error control of the ball-type cylinder game machine which concerns on a 3rd form. The timing chart showing an example of the payout error control in the ball-type spinning game machine which concerns on a 3rd form. The block diagram showing an example of the structure regarding the payout error control of the ball-type cylinder game machine which concerns on a 4th form. The timing chart showing an example of the payout error control in the ball-type spinning game machine which concerns on a 4th form. The timing chart showing the example of a change of the payout error control of the ball-type spinning machine based on this invention. The flowchart showing the other example of a change of the ball type game machine based on this invention. The block diagram showing the example of a change of the structure regarding the payout error control of the ball-type spinning machine based on this invention.

Means 1: The gaming machine according to the present invention is:
Storage means for storing game balls (game ball tank 32), payout passage (ball passage 33d) communicating with the storage means, and game ball detection means (count sensor for detecting passage of game balls introduced into the payout passage) 33h), gate means (flicker 33b) which is provided above the game ball detecting means and allows or prohibits the game balls from passing through the payout passage, and gate means drive means (payout solenoid 33c) for driving the gate means ) And a payout device configured to pay out based on a predetermined game ball payout instruction,
Counting means (payout number counting means 204a) for counting the number of game balls based on the detection signal of the gaming ball detection means;
A payout number holding means (a payout number holding means 203a) for holding a payout number of game balls based on the game ball payout instruction;
Determining means (final ball determining means 205a) for determining whether or not it is the final game ball based on the number information from the counting means and the payout number held in the payout number holding means;
Based on the determination result of the determination means, when the detected game ball is the final game ball, the gate means drive control means outputs a signal for setting the gate means to a game ball passage prohibition state to the gate means drive means. (Dispensing solenoid control means 208a),
A first error monitoring signal (during payout signal) indicating that the game ball is being paid out is generated and output, and every time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means, a second error monitoring signal (count signal) is generated. ) Generating and outputting error monitoring signal output means (error monitoring signal output means 207a);
An error monitoring signal output control means (error monitoring signal output control means 206a) for individually controlling the output of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring outputted from the error monitoring signal output means; ,
Based on the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring, it is determined whether or not the passing of the game ball is detected during a period other than during the payout period. Error control means (error monitoring means 101, error processing means 102) for performing
Including
In addition to the payout period, the error monitoring signal output control means is controlled by the error control means until a predetermined period elapses after the gate means is in a game ball passage prohibition state even during a period other than the payout period. Output control of either the first signal for error monitoring or the second signal for error monitoring is performed so as to develop an unmonitored state in which the occurrence of error is not recognized.

As described above, the error monitoring signal output control means controls the error control until the predetermined period elapses after the gate means is in the game ball passage prohibition state in the period other than the payout period in addition to the payout period. After the gate means is in a game ball passage prohibition state by controlling the output of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring so that an unmonitored state in which the occurrence of error is not recognized by the means is developed. Even if chattering occurs and a game ball is detected by the game ball detection means before the predetermined period elapses, it is ensured that no error occurs. Therefore, there is no interruption of the game due to the occurrence of an error, the player can enjoy the game comfortably, and the gaming machine hall has no interruption of the game, so it is possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine. .
In addition, a paying-out signal can be used as the first error monitoring signal, and a count signal can be used as the second error monitoring signal. The present invention can be realized by controlling the output of the signal to be at a predetermined timing. Therefore, there is very little change or addition of existing circuits and programs, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Note that the gaming machine according to the present invention includes a counting unit, a payout number holding unit, a determining unit, an opening / closing member drive control unit, an error monitoring signal output unit, an error monitoring signal output control unit, and an error control unit all on the same substrate. Further, the error control means and the counting means and the like are separated on different substrates, for example, the error control means is constituted on the main control board, and the counting means and the like are The structure separated on another board | substrate like the structure of a payout board | substrate may be sufficient.

Mean 2: In the gaming machine of means 1,
In the detection position where the game ball detecting means detects a game ball, the tip of the gate means is configured to be positioned above the center axis of the game ball.

If it is the said structure, it can isolate | separate the final game ball and the game ball which follows a final game ball reliably and in a short time by a gate means, and can close a payout channel | path. In addition, since the tip of the gate means hits a position above the center axis of the game ball, the game ball can be smoothly dropped. In addition, since the payout passage can be closed as early as possible, it is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing an illegal act of entering a foreign object from the payout passage.
On the other hand, since the falling speed of the game ball increases, the frequency at which chattering occurs in the vicinity of the game ball detection means due to the last game ball colliding with the preceding game ball and rebounding increases. However, the output control of the error monitoring signal output control means as described above causes a non-monitoring state to appear until a predetermined period has elapsed after the gate means has entered the gaming ball passage prohibited state, so chattering caused by the final gaming ball It is ensured that no error occurs even if a game ball is detected due to the occurrence of the game. For this reason, even if chattering occurs frequently, there is no particular problem.

Mean 3: In the gaming machine of means 1 or 2,
The error monitoring signal output control means (206a) stops the signal output with the end of the payout process for the first error monitoring signal, and the gate means prohibits the game ball from passing for the second error monitoring signal. Control is performed so as to activate the output impossible state of the second error monitoring signal until a predetermined period elapses.

  According to the above configuration, the signal output of the error monitoring first signal is stopped when the payout process ends. In other words, since the first error monitoring signal is a signal indicating that the payout is in progress, the output is stopped as the payout process ends as a rule. As a result, the error control means determines that the payout period ends after the determination of the final game ball, and after that, it is determined that the period is not during the payout period. It becomes a state. On the other hand, regarding the second signal for error monitoring, the error monitoring second signal cannot be output until a predetermined period elapses after the gate means enters the gaming ball passage prohibited state. As a result, since the second error monitoring signal is not input to the error control means until a predetermined period elapses, no error is determined and no error occurs even during a period other than the payout period. This means that, even in a period other than during the payout period, the onset of the non-monitoring state is extended until a predetermined time has elapsed after the gate means has entered the gaming ball passage prohibited state. Therefore, it is ensured that no error occurs even when chattering caused by the final game ball occurs and the game ball is detected by the game ball detection means.

Means 4: In the gaming machine of means 3,
The error monitoring signal output control means (206a)
First signal control means for starting the output of the first signal for error monitoring with the start of the payout processing and maintaining the output state thereafter and stopping the output when the judgment result of the judgment means is the final game ball ( First signal control means 211a),
Measuring means (non-monitoring time counter 215a) for measuring the predetermined period;
State information holding means for holding state information of either the first state information indicating that the measuring means is in an operating state or the second state information indicating that the measuring means is in an inactive state (dispensing number non-monitoring) Flag holding means 213a),
The content held in the state information holding unit is changed from the second state information to the first state information when the measuring unit is operated, and the content held in the state information holding unit is changed from the first state information to the second state information when the measuring unit is operated. Changing means for changing (payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214a);
Each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means, the content stored in the state information holding means is referred to, and if the measurement means is not operating, the second signal for error monitoring is output and measured. Second signal control means (first signal control means 212a) for prohibiting the output of the second error monitoring signal if the means is in operation;
It is provided with.

  With the above configuration, the first error monitoring signal is output to the main control means only during the payout period. On the other hand, the second error monitoring signal is output to the main control means when the measuring means is not operating, and is not output to the main control means when the measuring means is operating. Thus, with the above configuration, an error monitoring signal output control means for executing the second output control can be realized.

Means 5: In the gaming machine of means 1 or 2,
The error monitoring signal output control means (error monitoring signal output control means 206′a) starts signal output with the start of the payout process for the first error monitoring signal and then maintains the output state and payout process. Even after the end, the output stop of the first error monitoring signal is delayed until a predetermined time has elapsed after the gate means is in the gaming ball passage prohibition state, and the second signal for error monitoring is determined after the final gaming ball is determined. Even so, when a game ball detection signal is input, control is performed such that the second error monitoring signal is generated and output.

  According to the above configuration, for the first error monitoring signal, the signal output is started with the start of the payout process and the output state is maintained thereafter, and a predetermined period of time elapses after the gate means enters the gaming ball passage prohibited state. Until the output stop of the first signal for error monitoring is delayed. That is, since the first error monitoring signal is a signal indicating that the payout is in progress, it is in principle output from the start of the payout process to the end of the payout process. However, in the present invention, the gate means is in a game ball passage prohibited state. After that, the output stop of the error monitoring first signal is delayed until a predetermined period elapses. Then, although the payout period has actually ended, the error control means determines that it is the payout period until a predetermined period elapses. This means that the unmonitored state has been extended for a predetermined period. On the other hand, regarding the second error monitoring signal, when the game ball detection signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball, the second error monitoring signal is generated and output. However, since the error control means determines that it is a payout period until a predetermined period elapses, the second error monitoring signal related to the game ball is input after the second error monitoring signal related to the final game ball is input. However, since it is in the non-monitoring state period, it is not determined as an error, and no error occurs.

Means 6: In the gaming machine of means 5,
The error monitoring signal output control means (error monitoring signal output control means 206′a)
Measurement means (non-monitoring time counter 215a) that starts operation when the determination result of the determination means is the final game ball, measures the predetermined period, and outputs a notification signal when the predetermined period elapses;
First signal control for starting the output of the first signal for error monitoring with the start of the payout process and maintaining the output state thereafter and stopping the output of the first signal for error monitoring when the notification signal is input from the measuring means Means (first signal control means 211′a);
A second signal control means (second signal control means 212'a) for outputting a second error monitoring signal each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means;
It is provided with.

  As described above, the first signal control unit stops the output of the error monitoring first signal by the input of the notification signal from the measurement unit. As a result, the error monitoring first signal indicating that the payout is in progress is essentially stopped after the payout process is completed, but in the present invention, the stop of the output of the error monitoring first signal is delayed until a predetermined period has elapsed. Let That is, the output stop of the first error monitoring signal is delayed for a predetermined period. This means that a non-monitoring period is added for a predetermined period to the payout period in which the non-monitoring state is developed. Therefore, no error occurs even if a game ball is detected due to chattering after detection of the final game ball.

Means 7: In the gaming machines of means 1 to 6,
The error monitoring signal output control means includes
Based on the detection result of the game ball detection means, the passage time measurement means (ball passage time measurement means 221a) for measuring the time from the start of the passage of the final game ball to the completion of the passage;
Reference passage time storage means (reference currency time storage means 222a) for storing a reference passage time through which the game ball passes the game ball detection means;
The passage time measured by the passage time measuring means is compared with the reference passage time stored in the reference passage time storage means. If the passage time is larger than the reference passage time, a predetermined value set in the measurement means is set. The time is changed to the first predetermined time, and when the passage time is smaller than the reference passage time, the predetermined time set in the measuring means (non-monitoring time counter 215Aa) is changed to a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time. Predetermined time change setting means (payout number non-monitoring time change means 214a),
It is provided with.

Here, the “reference passage time” is an average value of measurement values obtained by measuring the passage times of a large number of game balls by the inventors.
With the above configuration, the predetermined period set in the measuring means is changed according to the change in the passing time of the final game ball. Specifically, when the passing time of the final game ball is longer than the reference passing time, the first predetermined time is changed to a shorter first predetermined time. That is, when the passing time of the final game ball is larger than the reference passing time, it is determined that the speed of the final game ball is low. If it does so, possibility that the last game ball will collide with the preceding game ball is low. And even if it collides, since the speed of the last game ball is small, it is thought that chattering due to rebound does not occur. Therefore, it can be considered that the predetermined period set in the measuring means is zero. However, it is known that chattering occurs not only when the final game ball collides with the preceding game ball but also when the final game ball rolls in the discharge passage. Therefore, in consideration of chattering caused by such rolling, it is preferable to set a predetermined period in the measuring means. However, chattering due to rolling occurs in a very short time from the time when the gate means is in the gaming ball passage prohibition state, so no error occurs even if the predetermined period set in the measuring means is shortened. . And shortening the predetermined period set in the measuring means means shortening the non-monitoring period, which is preferable from the viewpoint of improving the prevention of fraud.
On the other hand, when the passing time of the final game ball is shorter than the reference passing time, the time is changed to a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time. That is, when the passing time of the final game ball is shorter than the reference passing time, it is determined that the speed of the final game ball is high. Then, the possibility that the final game ball collides with the preceding game ball is high, and it is considered that chattering is large. Therefore, the predetermined period set in the measuring means is lengthened so that an error caused by chattering does not occur. As described above, chattering due to rolling occurs in a very short time from the time when the gate means is in a gaming ball passage prohibition state, so an error based on chattering due to rolling due to the setting of a long predetermined period. Is also prevented.

Means 8: In the gaming machines of means 1 to 6,
The error monitoring signal output control means includes
Based on the detection result of the game ball detection means, a ball interval measurement means (ball interval measurement means 231a) that measures the time from the completion of the passage of the game ball immediately before the final game ball to the start of the passage of the final game ball;
Reference ball interval time storage means (reference ball interval time holding means 232a) for storing a reference ball interval time from the completion of the passage of the game ball immediately before the last game ball to the start of the passage of the final game ball;
The sphere interval time measured by the sphere interval measuring means is compared with the reference sphere interval time stored in the reference sphere interval time storage means. If the measured sphere interval time is smaller than the reference sphere interval time, the measurement is performed. The predetermined time set in the means is changed to a long first predetermined time, and when the measurement ball interval time is larger than the reference ball interval time, the predetermined time set in the measurement means is set to a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time. Predetermined time change setting means (non-monitoring time change means 214Ba) for changing to time;
It is provided with.

Here, the “reference ball interval time” is an average value of measurement values obtained by measuring the ball interval time for a large number of game balls by the inventor.
With the above configuration, the predetermined period set in the measuring means is changed according to the change in the time (measurement ball interval time) from the completion of the passage of the game ball immediately before the final game ball to the start of the passage of the final game ball. The Specifically, when the measured sphere interval time is smaller than the reference sphere interval time, it is changed to a long first predetermined time. That is, when the measured ball interval time is smaller than the reference ball interval time, it is determined that the interval between the last game ball and the previous game ball (preceding game ball) is small. Then, the possibility that the final game ball collides with the preceding game ball is high, and the occurrence of chattering is considered large. Therefore, the predetermined period set in the measuring means is lengthened so that an error caused by chattering does not occur.
On the other hand, when the measured ball interval time is larger than the reference ball interval time, the second predetermined time is changed to be shorter than the first predetermined time. That is, when the measured ball interval time is larger than the reference ball interval time, it is determined that the interval between the last game ball and the previous game ball (preceding game ball) is large. Then, the possibility that the final game ball collides with the preceding game ball is low. In addition, even if a collision occurs, it is considered that chattering does not occur because the distance between the last game ball and the preceding game ball is large. Therefore, it can be considered that the predetermined period set in the measuring means is zero. However, it is known that chattering occurs not only when the final game ball collides with the preceding game ball but also when the final game ball rolls in the discharge passage. Therefore, in consideration of chattering caused by such rolling, it is preferable to set a predetermined period in the measuring means. However, chattering due to rolling occurs in a very short time from the time when the gate means is in the gaming ball passage prohibition state, so it is sufficient to set it to a short predetermined time.

Means 9: In the gaming machines of means 1 to 8,
The error control means includes
Error monitoring that determines whether or not the passing of a game ball is detected during a period other than during the payout period based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal, and outputs an error signal in the case of an affirmative determination Means (error monitoring means 101) and error processing means (error processing means 102) for performing predetermined error control based on an error signal from the error monitoring means,
Error monitoring means
Second state holding means for holding either first state information indicating that the game ball is in a payout process state or second state information indicating that the game ball is in a state other than the payout process state (Error information holding means 812),
When the first error monitoring signal is input, the content held by the second state holding means set in the second state information at the start of the input is changed to the first state information, and the first error monitoring first signal is received. Changing means (error information changing means 813) for changing the content held by the second state holding means from the first state information to the second state information by stopping the input of the signal;
Each time the second error monitoring signal is inputted, it is determined whether or not the passing of the game ball is detected during a period other than during the payout period with reference to the content held by the second state holding means, An error monitoring determination unit (error monitoring determination unit 813) for outputting an error signal to the error processing unit when the determination result is affirmative determination;
It is provided with.

  With the above configuration, it is determined based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal whether or not the passing of the game ball is detected during a period other than during the payout period. An error control means for performing error control is realized.

Means 10: In the gaming machines of means 1 to 9,
The main control means (main control means 45a) that supervises the game and transmits a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and pays out the game ball based on the game ball payout instruction signal from the main control means. A payout device to perform,
The payout device pays out the number of game balls based on the storage means, the payout passage, the game ball detecting means, the opening / closing member, the driving means, and a payout instruction for the number of game balls accompanying winning. A payout control means (payout control means 37a) for controlling,
The payout control means includes the counting means, the payout number holding means, the determination means, the opening / closing member drive control means, the error monitoring signal output means, and the error monitoring signal output control means,
The main control means includes the error control means.

Means 11: In the gaming machines of means 1 to 9,
The game ball payout instruction includes a number of game ball payout instructions associated with a lending request in addition to a game ball payout instruction number associated with a winning combination.
If it is the said structure, it can apply also in the case of the game machine which has a rental apparatus.

Means 12: In the gaming machine of means 11,
A main control means for controlling the game and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and a lending control means for controlling the lending and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls according to the loan request And a payout device for paying out game balls based on game ball payout instruction signals from the main control means or the lending control means,
The payout device includes the storage means, the payout passage, the game ball detection means, the gate means, the gate means drive means, and a number based on a payout instruction for the number of game balls accompanying a winning or rent request. A payout control means for controlling payout of the game balls of
The payout control means includes the counting means, the payout number holding means, the determination means, the gate means drive control means, the error monitoring signal output means, and the error monitoring signal output control means,
The main control means includes the error control means.

Mean 13:
The main control means that supervises the game and transmits a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and the overall control of the payout of the number of game balls based on the game ball payout instruction signal from the main control means A gaming machine equipped with a payout control means,
Storage means for storing game balls;
A plurality of payout passages respectively communicating with the storage means;
A plurality of game ball detecting means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages to detect the passage of game balls introduced into the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages, which are provided above the game ball detection means and permit or prohibit the game balls from passing through the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means driving means for driving the gate means respectively provided on the plurality of gate means,
The payout control means includes
Distribution means (payout number distribution control means 202) that distributes the number of payouts based on the game ball payout instructions to the plurality of payout paths substantially evenly;
A plurality of counting means provided corresponding to the plurality of payout passages, respectively, for counting the number of game balls based on detection signals of the corresponding game ball detection means;
A plurality of payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths and holding the individual payout numbers of the payout paths set by the distribution means;
Whether or not it is the final game ball in the payout passage based on the number information from the counting means and the individual payout number held in the payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths A plurality of determination means for determining
If the game ball is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages and the detected game ball is the final game ball in the payout passage based on the determination result of the determination means, the gate means is set in a game ball passage prohibition state. A plurality of gate means drive control means for outputting a signal to the gate means drive means;
A first error monitoring signal is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages to indicate that payout processing is in progress and is output each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means. A plurality of error monitoring signal output means for generating and outputting an error monitoring second signal;
Error monitoring signal output control means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages and performing output control of the error monitoring signal output means, wherein output control of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring is performed. A plurality of error monitoring signal output control means configured to be executed in a first control mode or configured to be executed in a second control mode that is different in control content from the first output control mode;
With
As a first control mode executed by the error monitoring signal output control means, regarding the first signal for error monitoring, the signal output is started with the start of the payout process and the output state is maintained thereafter, and the determination result of the determination means Is the final game ball, even after the payout process is completed, the output stop of the first error monitoring signal is delayed until a predetermined time has elapsed after the final game ball is determined. In addition, when the game ball detection signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball, control is performed to generate and output the second error monitoring signal,
As the second control mode executed by the error monitoring signal output control means, the error monitoring first signal is stopped when the payout process is completed, and the error monitoring second signal is the final game. Control is performed so as to activate the output impossible state of the second signal for error monitoring until a predetermined time elapses after the determination of the ball,
The main control means, based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal for each payout path transmitted from the payout control means, for each payout path during a period other than during the payout period It is characterized in that an error control means is provided for determining whether or not the passage of the current has been detected, and performing a predetermined error control in the case of an affirmative determination.
With the above configuration, a predetermined number of game balls accompanying winning can be divided into a plurality of payout paths and paid out simultaneously, and the time required for paying out game balls can be reduced. Thereby, game progress becomes smooth.

Mean 14:
A main control means for controlling the game and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and a lending control means for controlling the lending and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls according to the loan request And a payout control means for comprehensively controlling the payout of the number of game balls based on the game ball payout instruction signal from the main control means or the lending control means,
Storage means for storing game balls;
A plurality of payout passages respectively communicating with the storage means;
A plurality of game ball detecting means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages to detect the passage of game balls introduced into the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages, which are provided above the game ball detection means and permit or prohibit the game balls from passing through the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means driving means provided on each of the plurality of opening and closing members to drive the gate means;
The payout control means includes
A distribution means for distributing the number of payouts based on the payout instructions of the game balls to the plurality of payout paths substantially evenly;
A plurality of counting means provided corresponding to the plurality of payout passages, respectively, for counting the number of game balls based on detection signals of the corresponding game ball detection means;
A plurality of payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths and holding the individual payout numbers of the payout paths set by the distribution means;
Whether or not it is the final game ball in the payout passage based on the number information from the counting means and the individual payout number held in the payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths A plurality of determination means for determining
When the detected game ball is the final game ball in the payout passage, provided according to the plurality of payout passages, and based on the determination result of the determination means, A plurality of gate means drive control means for outputting to the gate means drive means,
A first error monitoring signal is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages to indicate that payout processing is in progress and is output each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means. A plurality of error monitoring signal output means for generating and outputting a second error monitoring signal;
Error monitoring signal output control means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages and performing output control of the error monitoring signal output means, wherein output control of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring is performed. A plurality of error monitoring signal output control means configured to be executed in a first control mode or configured to be executed in a second control mode that is different in control content from the first output control mode;
As a first control mode executed by the error monitoring signal output control means, the first signal for error monitoring is determined by starting signal output with the start of the payout process and maintaining the output state thereafter. When the determination result of the means is the final game ball, even after the payout process is finished, the output stop of the first signal for error monitoring is delayed until a predetermined time elapses after the determination of the final game ball, and the error monitoring first With respect to the two signals, control is performed to generate and output a second error monitoring signal when a game ball detection signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball,
The main control means, based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal for each payout path transmitted from the payout control means, for each payout path during a period other than during the payout period It is characterized in that an error control means is provided for determining whether or not the passage of the current has been detected, and performing a predetermined error control in the case of an affirmative determination.

  With the above configuration, a predetermined number of game balls accompanying a winning or rent request can be divided into a plurality of payout paths and paid out simultaneously, and the time required for paying out game balls can be reduced. Thereby, game progress becomes smooth.

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

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a ball-type spinning machine 10 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the ball-type spinning machine 10, and FIG. 3 is a door block 12 with respect to the outer frame 11. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the payout block 30 and the game block 40 are opened with respect to the front block 20. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ball-type spinning machine 10 is openable and closable on an outer frame 11 that forms an outer shell of the ball-type spinning machine 10 and on one side of the outer frame 11. And a door block 12 supported by the door. The outer frame 11 is formed in a rectangular shape as a whole by a wooden plate material, and each plate material is assembled by a detachable fastener such as a small screw. The outer frame 11 may be made of light metal such as resin or aluminum in order to reduce the weight. The door block 12 is attached to the outer frame 11 by hinges 13 and 13 so that the door block 12 can be opened and closed. The opening and closing axis of the door block 12 is set so as to extend vertically on the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-type rotary gaming machine 10. The door block 12 can be sufficiently opened to the front side with the opening / closing axis as the axis.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the door block 12 includes a front block 20 that constitutes the front surface of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 10, a payout block 30 that is attached to the front block 20 so as to be opened and closed rearwardly, The game block 40 is attached to the front block 20 so as to be openable and closable rearward, and is encapsulated by the front block 20 and the payout block 30.

(Configuration of front block)
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the front block 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the front block 20 includes a front panel 100, a front block frame 200, a rotary display panel 22, a panel press frame 24, an upper plate unit 300, and a selector 400 (game ball throwing device).

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the front panel 100 has a window hole 102 for exposing a game area provided on the front surface of the game block 40, and surrounds the window hole 102 with an upper effect LED. A cover portion 104, upper speaker portions 106 and 106, a right middle effect LED cover portion 108, a left middle effect LED cover portion 110, and a central panel portion 112 are disposed.

  The upper effect LED cover part 104, the right middle effect LED cover part 108, and the left middle effect LED cover part 110 each cover a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED) (not shown) attached from the back side of the front panel 100. The light-emitting device is turned on or blinked as the game progresses, thereby providing a visual effect of the game.

  The upper speaker units 106 and 106 are configured to produce an audible effect of the game by sounding various sound effects as the game progresses or notifying the player of the game state.

  The central panel portion 112 is made of colorless and transparent glass, and includes information not shown in which a predetermined winning condition, the number of game balls to be paid out when the winning condition is satisfied (the number of winning balls), a game method, and the like are described. This is a part for exposing the panel. In order to make it easy to see the display contents of the information posting panel, a fluorescent lamp 41k (see FIG. 27) is installed inside the central panel portion 112. A 1-bet button 114 (see FIG. 1) is disposed on the left side of the central panel portion 112. General-purpose buttons 116 and 118 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are arranged on the right side of the central panel portion 112. The general-purpose buttons 116 and 118 are buttons whose usage can be set as appropriate for each model of the gaming machine, such as switching of the gaming mode and switching of the display mode on the liquid crystal screen. A key cylinder insertion hole 120 that exposes the front surface (key hole) of the door key cylinder 202 for opening and closing the front block is provided further to the right of the general-purpose button 116 and the like of the central panel portion 112. Further, below the center panel portion 112, an operation panel portion 122 protruding forward is disposed.

  The operation panel unit 122 includes, in order from the left side of the drawing, a start lever 124 for starting rotation of a rotating cylinder L, M, R (see FIG. 27) described later, and a left for stopping rotation of the left rotating cylinder L. The rotating cylinder stop button 126L, the intermediate rotating cylinder stop button 126M for stopping the rotation of the intermediate rotating cylinder M, the right rotating cylinder stop button 126R for stopping the rotation of the right rotating cylinder R, and the lower part from the upper plate 302 There is provided a small window hole 130 for exposing the upper dish ball removal lever 386 for operating the game ball to flow to the dish 128. The start lever 124 is a lever that is operated by being pressed by the hand when the player starts the game, and automatically returns to the original position after the hand is released. When the start lever 124 is operated while a predetermined number of game balls are betted, the cylinders L, M, and R start to rotate at the same time. Above the base end portion of the start lever 124, a state in which each cylinder L, M, R is ready for rotation, that is, a state where a predetermined number of game balls are taken in by the selector 400 and the operation of the start lever 124 can be accepted. A start lever LED 132 for notification is embedded. Further, around each of the spinning cylinder stop buttons 126L, 126M, and 126R, the spinning cylinder stop buttons LEDL, 134M, and 134R for notifying the state in which the operation of each of the spinning cylinder stop buttons 126L, 126M, and 126R can be accepted are embedded. . Each spinning cylinder stop button LED 134L, 134M, 134R is turned on when the corresponding spinning cylinder L, M, R is rotating at a constant speed, and is turned off when the rotation of the corresponding spinning cylinder L, M, R is stopped. A lower tray 128 for storing game balls is disposed below the operation panel 122.

  On the back surface of the lower plate 128, there is a lower speaker cover portion 136 that covers the lower speaker portion 204 provided on the front block frame 200, and an outlet for game balls that flow from the upper plate 302 to the lower plate 128, which will be described later. A lower tray discharge outlet 138 in which game balls may be directly paid out from the payout device 33 (see FIG. 17) is provided. Further, a lower plate ball removal lever 140 for performing an operation of dropping a game ball from a lower plate 128 to a game ball housing case (a so-called dollar box) (not shown) disposed below the lower plate 128 is provided at the lower front portion of the lower plate 128. Is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 142 is provided on the bottom surface of the lower plate 128, and the opening 142 is normally closed by the closing plate 144. When the closing plate 144 is slid by the lower plate ball removal lever 140, the opening 142 is opened and the game ball is dropped from the lower plate 128. An ashtray 146 is provided on the left side of the lower plate 128. A left lower effect LED cover portion 148 and a lower right effect LED cover portion 150 are provided on both sides of the operation panel portion 122 and the lower plate 128, respectively. The lower left effect LED cover portion 148 and the lower right effect LED cover portion 150 cover light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes (not shown) attached from the back side of the front panel 100, respectively. The front panel 100 is made of synthetic resin, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin. By doing so, the advantages of high viscosity and high impact resistance and low cost production are exhibited.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front block frame 200 is a rectangular frame that is slightly smaller than the front panel 100, and is screwed to the back side of the front panel 100. A lower speaker unit 204 for audio production covered with a lower speaker cover unit 136 is attached to the lower part of the front block frame 200. By providing the speaker units 106 and 204 above and below, an auditory performance full of realism can be performed. A rotation shaft 206 is provided on the left side of the front block frame 200, and a door opening / closing mechanism 208 is provided on the right side. Reference numeral 202 in the figure denotes a key cylinder constituting the door opening / closing mechanism 208. When a key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 202 and rotated to the right, the locking claws 210 and 210 that are locked to the outer frame 11 rotate downward, and the locking to the outer frame 11 is released. . Conversely, when a key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 202 and rotated leftward, the locking claws 212, 212 that lock against the payout block 30 rotate downward, and the lock against the payout block 30 is locked. Canceled. In addition, the code | symbol 214 in a figure is the induction | guidance | derivation channel | path which continues to the lower tray discharge outlet 138.

  The rotating display panel 22 is a colorless and transparent glass plate, and has a substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the window hole 102 of the front panel 100. Further, the rotating display panel 22 is formed with sufficient strength so that it does not break even if a person passing through the gaming machine installation island crashes and collides.

  The display panel retainer frame 24 is screwed to the front block frame 200 with the rotating display panel 22 interposed between the display panel retainer frame 24 and the front panel 100. The display panel presser frame 24 has a substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the rotary display panel 22 and is formed with a predetermined depth. That is, the window hole 102 of the front panel 100 projects forward from the center panel portion 112, and is formed with a depth corresponding to this projecting length.

  The upper plate unit 300 is a member having an upper plate 302 that stores game balls, and is attached to the back side of the operation panel unit 122 so as to close the opening 152 between the central panel unit 112 and the operation panel unit 122. The upper plate 302 is formed with a desired depth and an inclination that descends from the left side to the right side in the drawing. On the upper surface of the front wall of the upper plate unit 300, a max bet button 304 is disposed on the left side, and a ball lending button 306 and a card return button 308 are disposed on the right side. A max bet button LED (not shown) is embedded in the max bet button 304. The max bet button LED is for informing the player of a possible betting state of the game ball.

  The upper plate unit 300 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper plate unit 300, FIG. 7A is a plan view of the upper plate unit 300, FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the upper plate unit 300, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a unit 300. FIG. However, in FIG. 8, illustration of the hood part 310 shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7 (A) is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, an upper plate discharge outlet 312 is provided at the left end of the upper surface of the upper plate unit 300. In this embodiment, the number of prize balls to be paid out at one time is larger in the ball-type spinning game machine 10 than in the pachinko machine, and from the viewpoint of instantly paying out a large number of prize balls, the conventional ball-type spinning game The horizontal width of the upper tray payout outlet 312 is set larger than the payout outlet of a machine or a pachinko machine (hereinafter collectively referred to as “conventional game machines”). In this embodiment, the lateral width H1 at the back of the upper tray payout outlet 312 is not less than the width (about 44 mm) in which four game balls are arranged and not more than the width (about 55 mm) in which five game balls are arranged. The upper dish payout exit 312 has a tapered shape that expands from the back side to the front side, and the lateral width H2 on the front side thereof is a width (about 77 mm) in which approximately seven game balls are arranged.

  Moreover, the upper plate unit 300 includes a hood portion 310 that covers the rear side of the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction. The hood part 310 constitutes the upper part of the back wall of the upper plate 302 and is also a member constituting the bottom part of the central panel part 112. That is, in the present embodiment, a front portion of a later-described spinning drum unit 43 attached to the game block 40 protrudes forward, and the lower portion is covered with the hood portion 310. Then, the back wall of the upper plate 302 is formed at a position deeper than the central panel portion 112, and is located below the rotating drum unit 43. In this way, even if the forward protrusion length of the upper plate 302 with respect to the outer frame 11 is set to the same level as that of the conventional gaming machine, the conventional amount of the upper plate 302 is increased. It is configured such that a larger amount of game balls can be stored in the upper plate 302 than in the above game machines.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the upper plate unit 300 includes an upper plate unit main body 320, a hood portion 310 (see FIGS. 6 and 7A) screwed to the upper plate unit main body 320, and a ball lending button 306. A card return button 308, an inner cover 330, an outer cover 340, a CR operation display unit 350, an upper plate ball stopper 360, and an upper plate ball removal operation unit 380.

  The upper plate unit main body 320 is a member having the upper plate 302 as described above, and a plurality of (for example, three) game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c are provided in the downstream portion of the upper plate 302. . The game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c are portions that are sequentially guided to the selector 400 with the game balls in an aligned state. At the front side of the game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c, there is provided an attachment portion 323 for mounting the upper dish ball removal operation portion 380 via the CR operation display portion 350 from the lower side. A rectangular window hole 324, a circular window hole 325, and a pair of recesses 328 and 329 having through holes 326 and 327 at the center are provided on the front side of the mounting portion 323 in order from the left side. The rectangular window hole 324 is for exposing the frequency display portion 352 including a plurality of (for example, three) 7-segment LEDs of the CR operation display portion 350. The circular window hole 325 is for exposing the ball lending button LED 354. The pair of recesses 328 and 329 are portions where the ball lending button 306 and the card return button 308 are attached.

  The inner cover 330 and the outer cover 340 have a pair of holes 332, 334, 342, and 344 for exposing the ball lending button 306 and the card return button 308, respectively. The inner cover 330 is for attaching the buttons 306 and 308 to the recesses 328 and 329 by pressing the flanges 306a and 308a of the buttons 306 and 308 at the peripheral edge portions of the pair of holes 332 and 334, respectively. The outer cover 340 is for restricting the push allowance of each button 306,308, and it is comprised so that the front-end | tip part of each button 306,308 may protrude a little from a pair of holes 342,344. By restricting the allowance of the buttons 306 and 308, the ball lending switch 356 and the card return switch 358 of the CR operation display unit 350 can be prevented from being damaged.

  The CR operation display unit 350 includes the frequency display unit 352, a ball lending button LED 354, a ball lending switch 356, and a card return switch 358. The frequency display unit 352 is a part that displays a frequency corresponding to the remaining amount of the card by inserting the card into a CR unit (not shown) arranged adjacent to the ball-type spinning game machine 10. For example, the value of 1/100 of the remaining amount of the card is displayed as the frequency. The ball lending button LED 354 is a part that informs the player by lighting that a game ball can be lent. That is, when there is a remaining amount in the card inserted into the CR unit, the ball lending button LED 354 is turned on to inform that the game ball can be rented, and the card inserted into the CR unit has a remaining amount. When there is no card or when no card is inserted in the CR unit, the ball lending button LED 354 is turned off to notify that the game ball cannot be rented. In addition, when the game ball is lent, the ball rental button LED 354 blinks to notify that the game ball is rented, and the operation of the ball rental button 306 is not accepted even in this blinking state. It is supposed to be configured. The ball lending switch 356 is for lending a game ball by pressing a ball lending button 306. The card return switch 358 is for returning a card from the CR unit by pressing the card return button 308.

  The upper bowl stopper 360 is attached to the lower side of the game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c, and the ball path 402a (402b, 402c) that leads from the game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c to the selector 400 (FIG. 10). , 11, 13). Specifically, when the selector 400 needs to be replaced due to a failure of the selector 400, the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) is closed so that the game ball does not fall from the upper plate 302. .

  FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the upper plate ball stopper 360. 10 and 11 are longitudinal sectional views of the upper plate ball stopper 360 and the selector 400 as viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 10 shows a state in which the inlet of the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) is opened. 11 shows a state in which the entrance of the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) is closed. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper plate ball stopper 360 includes a casing 361, a shaft member 362, and an opening / closing member 363.

  The casing 361 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped box having an open top, and flanges 364 and 365 for screwing to the upper plate unit main body 320 are provided on both sides thereof. A front receiving portion 367 that rotatably supports the distal end of the shaft member 362 is provided on the front wall portion 366 of the casing 361, and a base receiving portion 369 that receives the proximal end side of the shaft member 362 is provided on the rear wall portion 368. It is provided. Further, on the inner bottom surface of the casing 361, intermediate receiving portions 370 and 371 that receive an intermediate portion of the shaft member 362 are provided. Reference numeral 372 in the figure is a stopper protruding rearward from the rear wall 368. The stopper 372 is a part that restricts the rotation of the shaft member 362.

The shaft member 362 is for sliding the opening / closing member 363 with respect to the casing 361. An operation handle 373 disposed on the back side of the casing 361 is provided at the base end portion of the shaft member 362. On the front side of the operation handle 373, an arcuate protrusion 374 that is locked by a stopper 372 is provided. Three pairs of pressing portions 375a and 375b are provided at a distal end portion of the shaft member 362 housed in the casing 361 at an interval of approximately 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. Each of the pressing portions 375a and 375b is formed in a tongue shape, and protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft member 362.

  The opening / closing member 363 has closing portions 376, 376, and 376 for closing the ball passages 402a, 402b, and 402c. In this embodiment, since three game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c are provided in the downstream portion of the upper plate 302, the same three closed portions 376 as the number of game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, and 322c are provided. 376 and 376 are provided. The opening / closing member 363 includes a main body portion 377 slidably fitted to the casing 361, a pair of pressed portions 378a and 378b provided on the lower side of the main body portion 377 so as to straddle the shaft member 362, and a main body There are three arms 379, 379, and 379 protruding from the portion 377 to one side, and closed portions 376, 376, and 376 that protrude upward are provided at the tips of the arms 379, 379, and 379, respectively.

  In a state where the protruding portion 374 of the shaft member 362 is in contact with the stopper 372 of the casing 361, as shown in FIG. 10, one pressing portion 375a faces substantially in the horizontal direction and one pressed portion 378a of the opening / closing member 363. Press. At this time, the other pressing part 375b is maintained substantially downward in the vertical direction. When the operation handle 373 is rotated clockwise as viewed from the back of the ball-type spinning gaming machine 10 from the state of FIG. 10, the other pressing portion 375b is directed substantially in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. The other pressed portion 378b is pressed, and the opening / closing member 363 slides toward the spherical passage 402a (402b, 402c). As a result, the closing portion 376 reduces the size of the entrance of the ball passage 402 and prevents the game ball from passing therethrough. When the operation handle 373 is rotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 11, the game ball returns to a state where it can flow into the ball passage 402 as shown in FIG. 10.

  When the entrance of the ball passage 402 is narrowed as shown in FIG. 11, the selector 400 can be removed with the game balls stored in the game ball guide path 322a (322b, 322c) as shown in FIG.

  8 has an upper dish ball removal lever 386 exposed from the small window hole 130 of the operation panel part 122 to the front surface of the ball-type rotary gaming machine 10, and this lever operation causes the upper dish ball removal operation part 380 to move upward. This is for flowing a game ball from the plate 302 to the lower plate 128. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the selector 400 plays the game from the upper plate 302 by operating the guide passages 404 a, 404 b, 404 c that guide the game balls from the upper plate 302 to the lower plate 128 and the bet buttons 114, 304. It has discharge passages 406 a, 406 b, and 406 c for collecting the balls and discharging them to the outside of the ball-type rotary gaming machine 10. The upper dish ball removing operation unit 380 moves the return shutter 420 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to connect or block the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) and the guide passage 404a (404b, 404c). is there.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial cross-sectional views of the upper dish ball removing operation unit 380 and the selector 400, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) and the guide passage 404a (404b, 404c). FIG. 14 shows a state in which the ball passage 402a (402b, 402c) and the guide passage 404a (404b, 404c) communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the upper dish ball removing operation unit 380 is erected on the base part 381 and a base part 381 attached to the lower side of the upper dish unit main body 320 via the CR operation display part 350. It has a rotating piece 384 and a pressing piece 385 that rotate about the support shafts 382 and 383, and an upper dish ball removal lever 386 that slides along the front surface of the base portion 381. A connecting portion 384 b that is pivotally attached to the upper dish ball removing lever 386 is provided on the base portion 384 a of the rotating piece 384. Further, the base portion 384 a of the rotating piece 384 is connected to the base portion 381 via the coil spring 387. A bifurcated grip 384 c is provided at the tip of the rotating piece 384. The grip portion 384 c is a portion that slidably grips the convex portion 385 b provided on the base portion 385 a of the pressing piece 385. A pressing portion 385 c that presses the return shutter 420 is provided at the tip of the pressing piece 385. 13 and 14, the hollow protrusion 408 of the selector 400 stores a coil spring 430 (see FIG. 15) that presses the return shutter 420 toward the pressing piece 385. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the return shutter 420 has a number of window holes 422a, 422b, 422c corresponding to the game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, 322c, and the side of each window hole 422a, 422b, 422c. Are provided with blocking walls 424a, 424b, 424c that block the ball paths 402a, 402b, 402c and the guide paths 404a, 404b, 404c. In addition, tongue pieces 426a, 426b, and 426c extending toward the spherical passages 402a, 402b, and 402c are provided below the window holes 422a, 422b, and 422c. Each tongue piece 426a, 426b, 426c is a part for guiding a game ball from the ball passages 402a, 402b, 402c to the respective window holes 422a, 422b, 422c.

  The state of FIG. 13 is a state where the upper dish ball removing lever 386 is not operated. That is, the rotating piece 384 is pulled counterclockwise by the coil spring 387, and the pressing piece 385 is pulled clockwise by the rotating piece 384, so that the pressing portion 385c is separated from one end portion of the return shutter 420. State. In this state, the ball passages 402a, 402b, and 402c and the guide passages 404a, 404b, and 404c are blocked by the blocking walls 424a, 424b, and 424c of the return shutter 420, and the guide passages 404a and 404b are cut from the ball passages 402a, 402b, and 402c. , 404c cannot pass the game ball. When the upper plate ball removal lever 386 is picked from the state of FIG. 13 and is moved downward in the drawing (actually, from the right side to the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-type rotary gaming machine 10), as shown in FIG. The rotation piece 384 rotates clockwise along with the ball removal lever 386, and the pressing piece 385 is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation piece 384, and the pressing portion 385c presses the return shutter 420. When the return shutter 420 is pressed by the pressing portion 385c, the ball passages 402a, 402b, and 402c and the guide passages 404a, 404b, and 404c communicate with each other through the window holes 422a, 422b, and 422c of the return shutter 420. A game ball can pass from the passages 402a, 402b, and 402c to the guide passages 404a, 404b, and 404c. When the hand is released from the upper dish ball removing lever 386 in the state of FIG. 14, the return shutter 420 is pressed forward by the coil spring 430, and the state returns to the state of FIG.

  15 is an exploded perspective view of the selector 400, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the selector 400 as seen from the back side. The selector 400 is a device that is attached obliquely below the upper plate ball stopper 360 and takes a predetermined number of game balls stored in the upper plate 302 based on the operation of the bet buttons 114 and 304 by the player. Each time a predetermined number (for example, 15) of game balls are taken in, a game (game) start condition is established and preparations for game start are made. At this time, a predetermined number of game balls are taken in, and then discharged to the outside of the ball-type spinning game machine 10 through the discharge passages 406a, 406b, and 406c.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the selector 400 includes a plurality of (for example, three) game ball insertion portions 410a, 410b, 410c corresponding to the game ball guide paths 322a, 322b, 322c, the return shutter 420, and the coil spring. 430, return switch board 440, spring / board cover 450 that has a hollow protrusion 408 and covers coil spring 430 and return switch board 440, and selector relay terminal board 462 are covered with relay terminal board cover 464. Selector relay device 460. The selector 400 is provided with a plurality of game ball insertion units 410a, 410b, and 410c so that a game ball can be input quickly. Note that the game ball insertion portions 410a, 410b, and 410c have substantially the same structure as each other, and the description thereof is duplicated. Therefore, only the rearmost game ball insertion portion 410a will be described here.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the game ball throwing portion 410a has a resin casing made up of a casing 411a and a cover 412a. Inside the casing, a throwing flicker 413a, a throwing solenoid 414a, and a passage sensor 415a are provided. And a count sensor 416a. The outer surface of the casing 411a is a mounting surface for the cover 412b of the adjacent game ball inserting portion 410b, and the outer surface of the cover 412a is a mounting surface for the spring / board cover 450. Further, when the casings 411a, 411b, 411c and the covers 412a, 412b, 412c are assembled, as shown in FIG. 16, bowl-shaped portions 417a, 417b, 417c constituting the spherical passages 402a, 402b, 402c are formed at the upper part thereof. The That is, the ball passages 402a, 402b, and 402c are configured by covering the upper portions of the bowl-shaped portions 417a, 417b, and 417c with the bottom portion 320a of the upper plate unit main body 320 as shown in FIGS. On the downstream side of the spherical passages 402a, 402b, and 402c, there are branched portions of guide passages 404a, 404b, and 404c that extend obliquely downward and discharge passages 406a, 406b, and 406c that extend substantially vertically downward.

  The input flicker 413a is a member for opening and closing the discharge passage 406a as shown in FIGS. The insertion flicker 413a has a proximal end portion 413a1 and a distal end portion 413a2 that are rotatably connected by a support shaft 413a3. The proximal end portion 413a1 and the distal end portion 413a2 of the charging flicker 413a are rotatably supported by the support shafts 411a1 and 411a2 of the casing 411a, respectively. A gripping portion 413a4 for gripping the tongue piece 414a1 of the closing solenoid 414a is provided at the base end portion of the closing flicker 413a. In addition, an opening / closing portion 413a5 for opening / closing the discharge passage 406a is provided at the tip of the charging flicker 413a. Note that reference numerals 413b5 and 413c5 in FIGS. 13 and 14 are opening / closing sections of the insertion flicker of the game ball insertion sections 410b and 410c, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the closing solenoid 414a is energized by operation of the bet buttons 114 and 304, and contracts the piston 414a2 upward. A knob 414a3 is attached to the tip of the piston 414a2. The knob portion 414a3 has the tongue piece 414a1 extending in the radial direction of the piston 414a2. The piston 414a2 is provided with a coil spring 414a4. The coil spring 414a4 biases the main body portion 414a5 of the closing solenoid 414a and the knob portion 414a3 in a direction to separate them. That is, when the energization to the closing solenoid 414a is cut off, the piston 414a2 extends downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 414a4.

  When the bet buttons 114 and 304 are pressed, the closing solenoid 414a is energized, the piston 414a2 is contracted, and the proximal end portion 413a1 of the closing flicker 413a is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip end side portion 413a2 of the insertion flicker 413a rotates clockwise in the drawing to open the discharge passage 406a, so that the game ball waiting in the ball passage 402a can naturally fall. On the other hand, when the energization of the closing solenoid 414a is turned off, the piston 41a2 is extended by the urging force of the coil spring 414a4, and the proximal end portion 413a1 of the closing flicker 413a is rotated clockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip side portion 413a2 of the throwing flicker 413a rotates counterclockwise in the figure and closes the discharge passage 406a at the opening / closing portion 413a5, so that the game ball cannot fall naturally.

  The passage sensor 415a is disposed in the discharge passage 406a and immediately downstream of the opening / closing portion 413a5 of the input flicker 413a, and detects whether or not the game ball has been normally taken in. The passage sensor 415a has a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to surround the tip side portion 413a2 of the input flicker 413a, and a light emitting element is provided on either the front side or the back side of the input flicker 413a and on the other side. The light receiving element is provided. In addition, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided as a pair in the upper and lower directions and at an interval shorter than the diameter of one game ball. After detecting the game ball with the upper element 415a1, the upper and lower elements 415a1, 415a2 detect the game ball at the same time, and then only the lower element 415a2 detects the game ball within a predetermined time. When it is determined that the game ball has been properly taken in. On the contrary, when the lower element 415a2 does not detect the game ball even after a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting the game ball with the upper element 415a1, or when the lower element 415a2 detects the game ball with the lower element 415a2, When the lower balls 415a1 and 415a2 detect a game ball at the same time, and then only the upper ball 415a1 detects a game ball, it is determined that the game ball has been inserted by unauthorized means, and a ball-type spinning machine 10 is notified that an error has occurred and the game is prohibited. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent an illegal act such as attaching a string or the like to the game ball so that the game ball is taken in.

  The count sensor 416a is for counting the game balls thrown in by the game ball throwing unit 410a. More specifically, the number of game balls taken in without any error is counted by the passage sensor 415a. When the number of game balls detected by the count sensor 416a reaches a predetermined value (for example, 5, 10, or 15), the charging solenoid 414a is de-energized, and the discharging passage 406a is closed by the charging flicker 413a. It has become.

  The selector 400 also assembles a plurality of game ball insertion portions 410a, 410b, 410c, inserts a return shutter 420 into each game ball insertion portion 410a, 410b, 410c, and attaches the return switch 420 to the backmost cover 412a. The substrate 440 is covered with a spring / substrate cover 450.

  As described above, when the upper plate ball removal lever 386 is operated, the return shutter 420 slides, and the game ball flows from the upper plate 302 to the lower plate 128 through the guide passages 404a, 404b, and 404c. At this time, the return shutter 420 is detected by the return switch board 440, and based on the detection result, a state in which operation acceptance of the bet buttons 114 and 304 is disabled occurs. At this time, the bet button LED (not shown) is turned off, and the player is informed that the operation of the bet buttons 114 and 304 cannot be accepted.

  The selector 400 has a structure in which a plurality of game ball insertion portions 410a, 410b, and 410c are assembled and a selector relay terminal plate 462 attached to one side thereof is covered with a relay terminal plate cover 464. The selector relay terminal plate 462 converts detection results of the passage sensor 415a and the count sensor 416a into a digital signal and transmits the digital signal to the main controller 45 described later.

(Composition of withdrawal block)
As shown in FIG. 4, the payout block 30 is attached to the front block 20 so as to be freely opened and closed. The opening / closing axis of the payout block 30 is set so as to extend vertically on the left side when viewed from the front of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 10, and the payout block 30 can be sufficiently opened rearward with the opening / closing axis as the axis. It has become.

  The payout block 30 is locked to the front block 20 by a door opening / closing mechanism 208. Specifically, the locking claws 212, 212 of the door opening / closing mechanism 208 are locked to the engaging portions 31a, 31a of the payout block 30, and the door key (not shown) is inserted into the door key cylinder 202 and rotated to the left. The latches 212 and 212 are unlocked. Further, the payout block 30 has a one-touch type stopper 31b (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and is also connected to the front block 20 by this stopper 31b.

  FIG. 17 is a rear view of the payout block 30. As shown in the figure, the payout block 30 includes, in the payout block main body 31, a game ball tank 32 for storing game balls for lending and winning balls, a payout device 33 for paying out game balls, and a game ball tank. A tank rail 34 and a case rail 35 for guiding the game ball from the 32 to the payout device 33, a payout relay terminal plate 36, a payout control device 37 for controlling the payout operation of the game ball, and a power source for controlling the power supply of the game ball The control device 38 and a CR unit connection terminal plate 39 for connecting the ball-type rotary gaming machine 10 to the CR unit are attached.

  The payout block main body 31 has a protective cover portion 31c that protrudes rearward at the center and encloses the game block 40. A game ball tank 32, a tank rail 34, a case rail 35, a payout device 33, a payout relay terminal plate 36, a CR unit connection terminal plate 39, a payout control device 37, and a power supply control device so as to surround the protective cover portion 31c. 38 is attached.

  18 is a rear view showing a state in which the payout control device 37 and the power supply control device 38 are removed from the payout block 30, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the payout block 30 as seen from the front side. The broken line in FIG. 18 shows the flow of the game ball from the game ball tank 32. As shown in the figure, the payout block main body 31 has an upper plate guiding path for guiding the game ball from the payout device 33 to the upper plate 302. 31d, a lower plate guide passage 31e for guiding the game ball from the payout device 33 to the lower plate 128, and a discharge passage 31f for discharging the game ball from the payout device 33 to the outside of the ball-type rotating game machine 10. In the lower dish guide passage 31e, when the upper dish guide passage 31d overflows with game balls, the game balls are introduced from the payout device 33. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the upper plate guide passage 31 d has an outlet portion 31 d 1 opened on the front side of the discharge block 30, and this outlet portion 31 d 1 is connected to the upper plate discharge port 312 of the upper plate unit 300. Yes. Similarly, the lower dish guide passage 31e has an outlet 31e1 that is open on the front side of the dispensing block 30, and the outlet 31e1 is connected to the lower dish discharging outlet 138 of the front block 20.

  In FIG. 19, reference numeral 31 g denotes a rotating shaft provided at the left end as viewed from the front side of the payout block main body 31. The rotating shaft portion 31g is provided in a pair of upper and lower sides. In each rotating shaft portion 31g, a bracket 31h extends from the payout block main body 31 in a substantially horizontal direction, and protrudes downward from the bracket 31h. The front block 20 is provided with an annular bearing portion (not shown) into which the rotating shaft portion 31g is dropped, so that the front block 20 and the payout block 30 can be easily attached and detached.

  The game ball tank 32 is a horizontally long box-shaped container that opens upward, and game balls supplied from the game ball circulation facility in the game machine installation island are sequentially replenished. The bottom of the game ball tank 32 is gently inclined. The downstream end of the bottom of the game ball tank 32 is opened to send the game ball to the tank rail 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the tank rail 34 is attached below the game ball tank 32 and has, for example, four rows of bowl-shaped passages (not shown). The bowl-shaped passage is gently inclined toward the downstream side. On the tank rail 34, four pendulums 34a and 34b (see FIG. 22) that rectify the game balls so as not to flow due to stacking are attached in two rows and two columns. A ball stop lever 34c for preventing the game ball from flowing from the tank rail 34 to the case rail 35 is attached to the downstream side of the pendulums 34a and 34b.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the case rail 35 is arranged vertically on the downstream side of the tank rail 34. The case rail 35 has a ball passage 35a that is curved to the left and right with wavy undulations so that the game ball does not flow vigorously, and a ball breakage detection device 35b is assembled to the upper portion thereof. The ball breakage detecting device 35b has a case in which there are not enough game balls inside the case rail 35, that is, the ball is clogged upstream from the case rail 35 and the game balls are not sufficiently supplied to the case rail 35. Is detected. Based on the detection result of the ball break detection device 35b, a ball clogging error is notified. Note that a plurality of case rails 35 (for example, four) are connected in the front-rear direction corresponding to the number of the bowl-shaped passages of the tank rail 34 (see FIG. 22).

  20 and 21 are longitudinal sectional views of the main part of the case rail 35 showing the configuration of the ball breakage detecting device 35b. FIG. 20 shows a state where a sufficient number of game balls are present on the case rail 35, and FIG. Each of the rails 35 shows a state where there is not a sufficient number of game balls.

  As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the broken ball detection device 35b includes a switch piece 35b1 and a broken ball detection switch board 35b2. The switch piece 35b1 is rotatably attached to the case rail 35 by a support shaft 35c. The switch piece 35b1 has a plate-like swinging portion 35b11 that extends downward in the radial direction from the support shaft 35c and can close the ball passage 35a in the case rail 35. Have. The switch piece 35b1 has an eccentric portion 35b12 that is above the support shaft 35c and is biased to one side of the support shaft 35c, and further has a switch portion 35b13 that protrudes to the one side from the eccentric portion 35b12. The ball break detection switch board 35b2 is installed on one side of the switch piece 35b1, and is configured to detect the switch portion 35b13 following the rotation of the switch piece 35b1.

  As shown in FIG. 20, when there are enough game balls in the case rail 35, the swinging portion 35b11 is pushed by the game balls and becomes substantially vertically downward to become a side wall of the ball passage 35a. In this case, the switch part 35b13 is not detected by being separated from the ball break detection switch board 35b2. On the other hand, when ball clogging occurs on the upstream side of the case rail 35, the game ball is not replenished to the case rail 35 and only the game ball is paid out. As shown in FIG. The game balls will run out. In the case of FIG. 21, the switch piece 35b1 rotates due to the weight of the eccentric part 35b12 and the switch part 35b13, and the ball passage 35a is closed by the swing part 35b11. At this time, the switch part 35b13 is detected by the ball break detection switch board 35b2, and a ball break error is notified based on the detection result. When the ball clogging on the upstream side of the case rail 35 is eliminated, the game ball flows into the case rail 35, and the swinging portion 35b11 is pressed to return to a normal state in which the switch portion 35b13 is not detected by the ball cut switch substrate 35b2.

  FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the payout device 30 and the mounting bases 36 a and 36 b of the payout relay terminal plate 36 disposed below the payout device 33 are removed from the payout block 30. The payout device 33 is for paying out a predetermined number of game balls by satisfying a predetermined winning condition or by pressing a ball lending button 306 with a card inserted in a CR unit (not shown). In this embodiment, the maximum number of prize balls of the pachinko machine is 15 balls, whereas the maximum number of prize balls of the ball-type spinning game machine 10 is 75 balls, which is a ball-type spinning machine compared to the pachinko machine. From the viewpoint that the maximum number of prize balls of the gaming machine 10 is large, more payout devices 33 are provided than pachinko machines so that the prize balls can be quickly paid out. In other words, if the pachinko machine is equipped with two payout devices 33, the game can proceed quickly, but in the case of the ball-type spinning game machine 10, if the number of prize balls is large and all the prize balls are not paid out, In this embodiment, the four payout devices 33 are provided in the front-rear direction to speed up the payout of the winning ball so that the game can proceed without delay.

  The mounting bases 36a and 36b shown in FIG. 22 are divided into two parts, and have ball passages 36a1 and 36b1 connected to the upper plate guide passage 31d and the lower plate guide passage 31e on the left side when viewed from the back side. On the right side, ball passages 36a2 and 36b2 are connected to the discharge passage 31f. The upper part of one of the ball passages 36a1 and 36b1 is slightly inclined toward the upper plate guide passage 31d, so that it is easier to guide the game ball to the upper plate guide passage 31d than the lower plate guide passage 31e. Further, the lower part of one of the ball passages 36a1 and 36b1 is tapered so as to straddle the upper plate guide passage 31d and the lower plate guide passage 31e. The other spherical passages 36a2 and 36b2 are configured such that the spherical passage 36a2 on the back side merges with the spherical passage 36b2 on the front side and continues to the discharge passage 31f on the front side.

  FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the dispensing device 33. As shown in the figure, the payout device 33 has a resin housing including a casing 33a and a cover (not shown), and is provided with a payout flicker 33b and a payout solenoid 33c. A spherical passage 33d is formed inside the casing 33a, and on the downstream side thereof, there is a branching portion of a discharge passage 33e extending substantially vertically downward and a discharge passage 33f extending obliquely downward. A switching piece 33g is disposed at the branch portion, and normally the gaming piece passes through the payout passage 33e while maintaining the switching piece 33g substantially vertically upward.

  The payout flicker 33b is a member for opening and closing the ball passage 33d as shown in FIG. The payout flicker 33b includes a base end portion 33b1 and a tip end portion 33b2 that are rotatably connected by a support shaft 33b3. The proximal end portion 33b1 and the distal end portion 33b2 of the payout flicker 33b are rotatably supported by the support shafts 33a1 and 33a2 of the casing 33a, respectively. A gripping portion 33b4 for gripping the tongue piece 33c1 of the payout solenoid 33c is provided at the base end portion of the payout flicker 33b. An opening / closing portion 33b5 for opening / closing the ball passage 33d is provided at the tip of the payout flicker 33b.

  The payout solenoid 33c is energized by pressing a ball lending button 306 when a predetermined winning condition is satisfied or a card is inserted into a CR unit (not shown), and contracts the piston 33c2 upward. . A knob 33c3 is attached to the tip of the piston 33c2. The knob portion 33c3 has the tongue piece 33c1 extending in the radial direction of the piston 33c2. The piston 33c2 is provided with a coil spring 33c4. The coil spring 33c4 biases the main body portion 33c5 of the payout solenoid 33c and the knob portion 33c3 in the direction of separating them. That is, when the energization to the dispensing solenoid 33c is cut off, the piston 33c2 extends downward by the urging force of the coil spring 33c4.

  As shown in FIG. 23, in a state where the ball passage 33d is closed by the opening / closing portion 33b5 of the payout flicker 33b, a ball lending button is established in a state where a predetermined winning condition is satisfied or there is a remaining number in the frequency display portion 352. When 306 is pushed, the dispensing solenoid 33c is energized. Then, as shown in FIG. 24, the piston 33c2 contracts to rotate the proximal end portion 33b1 of the payout flicker 33b counterclockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip end portion 33b2 of the payout flicker 33b rotates clockwise in the drawing to open the ball passage 33d, so that the game ball can fall naturally. On the other hand, when the discharge solenoid 33c is de-energized, the piston 33c2 is extended by the urging force of the coil spring 33c4, and the proximal end portion 33b1 of the discharge flicker 33b is rotated clockwise in the drawing. At the same time, the tip end portion 33b2 of the payout flicker 33b rotates counterclockwise in the drawing to close the ball passage 33d, and the game ball returns to the state where it cannot fall naturally, that is, the state shown in FIG.

  The payout device 33 is equipped with a count sensor 33h having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The count sensor 33h is arranged immediately downstream of the opening / closing part 33b5 of the payout flicker 33b, and is for counting the game balls falling in the ball passage 33d. When the number of game balls detected by the count sensor 33h reaches a predetermined value (for example, 35, 75, 125, or 250), the payout solenoid 33c is de-energized and the payout flicker 33b passes through the ball path 33d. It is configured to close.

  A substantially L-shaped pressing piece 33i for moving the knob portion 33c3 up and down is provided below the dispensing solenoid 33c. The pressing piece 33i is rotatably attached to the support shaft 33a3 of the casing 33a, and presses the knob portion 33c3 upward at the tip end portion 33i1.

  As shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 22, a substantially fan-shaped operation lever 33j is disposed outside the casing 33a. In FIGS. 23 and 24, reference numeral 33a4 denotes a rotation shaft of the operation lever 33j. The operating lever 33j is connected to a protrusion 33g1 provided at the intermediate portion of the switching piece 33g and a protrusion 33i2 provided at the base end of the pressing piece 33i. That is, when the operation lever 33j is rotated, the switching piece 33g and the pressing piece 33i are configured to be linked. When the operation lever 33j is operated counterclockwise in the drawing, as shown in FIG. 25, the discharge passage 33e is closed by the switching piece 33g and the ball passage 33d and the discharge passage 33f are communicated. On the other hand, the knob 33c3 of the payout solenoid 33c is pushed up by the pressing piece 33i, and the payout flicker 33b opens the ball passage 33d. When the operation lever 33j is operated as described above while preventing the game ball from flowing with the ball stop lever 34c provided on the tank rail 34, the game ball on the downstream side of the ball stop lever 34c is It is discharged outside. When the payout device 33 or the case rail 34 breaks down, the payout device 33 or the case rail 34 is discharged in a state where the downstream game balls are discharged from the ball stop lever 10 from the ball stop lever 34c as described above. Can be replaced.

  Returning to FIG. 17, the payout control device 37, the power supply control device 38, and the CR unit connection terminal plate 39 will be described. The payout control device 37 controls the payout of prize balls and lending balls, and includes a payout control board 37a including a central control CPU, ROM, RAM, various ports and the like as is well known.

  The power supply control device 38 generates and outputs a predetermined power supply voltage required by various control devices. In addition to the power switch 38a, the power controller 38 is provided with a RAM erasing reset switch 38b, a stop changeover switch 38c, and a setting change key cylinder 38d. When the power switch 38a is turned on, it supplies power to each unit including the CPU. When the reset switch 38b is pressed and the power switch 38a is turned on at the same time, the contents of the RAM are reset. When the reset switch 38b is pressed while the power switch 38a is turned on, the error state is reset. The stop switch 38c is for switching whether or not the game is paused at the end of the big bonus. The setting change key cylinder 38d constitutes a setting change device. In the setting change device, the ball turnout rate of the ball-type spinning game machine 10 is determined in advance in a plurality of steps (for example, 6 steps), and the ball turnout rate is set in any step. The procedure for changing the setting is as follows. First, with the power switch 38a turned off, a setting change key (not shown) is inserted into the setting change key cylinder 38d and rotated 90 degrees clockwise. In this state, when the power switch 38a is turned on, the current turn-out rate (setting) of the 7-segment LED display 41g (see FIG. 27) on the front of the gaming block 40 described later is a numerical value “1” to “6”. Displayed either. Next, when the reset switch 38b is pushed, the number displayed on the 7-segment LED display unit 41g changes and increases by 1 (however, in the case of “6”, it returns to “1”). When the start lever 124 is pressed in a state where any number from “1” to “6” is displayed on the 7-segment LED display portion 41g, the exit rate (setting) is determined.

  The CR unit connection terminal plate 39 is electrically connected to the ball lending button 306 on the front surface of the ball-type rotating game machine 10 and a CR unit (not shown), and receives a ball lending operation command from the player and pays it out. 37 is output. Note that the CR unit connection terminal plate 39 is unnecessary in a cash machine in which game balls are lent directly to the upper plate 302 from a ball lending device or the like without using a CR unit.

  The payout control device 37 and the power supply control device 38 are configured such that a control board is accommodated in a substrate case made of a transparent resin material or the like.

(Game block configuration)
As shown in FIG. 4, the game block 40 is attached to the front block 20 so as to be openable and closable. The open / close axis of the game block 40 is the same as the open / close axis of the payout block 30, and, like the payout block 30, the game block 40 is attached by a drop structure so as to be freely openable and closable. The game block 40 has a one-touch type stopper 40a, and is connected and fixed to the payout block 30 by the stopper 40a. A stopper 31i for hooking the stopper 40a is fixed to the payout block 30 side. That is, the game block 40 is configured to be integrated with the payout block 30 and to be opened and closed with respect to the front block 20 and to be rotated forward with respect to the payout block 30 after being disconnected from the payout block 30. The The game block 40 is a main block that forms the core of the ball-type spinning gaming machine 10, and the game block 40 can be replaced by making such a game block 40 easy to attach and detach as described above. By replacing the gaming block 40, it is possible to change to a gaming machine having completely different gaming characteristics, and it is possible to reduce the cost of replacing a new gaming machine.

  FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the game block 40. As shown in the figure, the game block 40 has a game panel 41 exposed from the window hole 102 of the front panel 100. The game panel 41 has a pair of upper and lower window holes 41a and 41b. The upper window hole 41 a is for exposing the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 42 attached to the back side of the game panel 41, and the lower window hole 41 b is also a rotating unit attached to the back side of the game panel 41. 43 is for exposing. A main controller 45 is attached to the back side of the game panel 41 on one side of the spinning unit 43 via a main mounting base 44, and a sub-control is provided behind the liquid crystal display device 42 via a sub mounting base 46. A device 47 is attached. The main controller 45 is arranged in a vertically long shape so as to be orthogonal to the game panel 41. The reason for this arrangement is to save space by effectively using the lateral position of the rotating drum unit 43 formed with a certain depth as the mounting position of the main controller 45. The sub-control device 47 is disposed behind the liquid crystal display device 42 and tilted above the rotating drum unit 43. That is, the upper rear side of the rotating drum unit 43 is inclined, and space can be saved by arranging the sub-control device 47 diagonally along this inclination.

  FIG. 27 is a front view of the game block 40. 27 shows a state in which a plurality of (for example, 21) symbols are attached to the rotating drum unit 43 for convenience and the strip-shaped symbol seals 43L, 43M, and 43R shown in FIG. 28 are removed.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the three spinning cylinders L, M, and R of the spinning cylinder unit 43 are exposed from the lower window hole 41 b of the game panel 41. Specifically, three of each of the symbols of the symbol seals 43L, 43M, and 43R attached to each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R are exposed from the lower window hole 41b. In the figure, nine pairs of left and right LEDs 43L1, 43M1, and 43R1, which are arranged so that the symbols of the symbol seals 43L, 43M, and 43R are easily seen, are exposed in three rows and three columns.

  An active line display 41c is provided on the left side of the lower window hole 41b of the game panel 41. The effective line display section 41c has a 1-bet display section 41c1 disposed at the center, 2-bet display sections 41c2 and 41c2 disposed above and below it, and 3-bet display sections 41c3 and 41c3 disposed at the top and bottom stages. The desired bet display portions 41c1 to 41c3 are turned on according to the betting number of the game balls. Specifically, if the number of bets is 0 to 4 balls, all the lights remain unlit, and if the number of bets is 5 to 9 balls, only the 1-bet display portion 41c1 is lit, and 10 to 14 balls. If there is, the 1-bet display part 41c1 and the 2-bet display parts 41c2 and 41c2 are lit, and if it is 15 balls, all the bet display parts 41c1 to 41c3 are lit. That is, when the 1-bet button 114 is pressed, a maximum of five game balls stored in the upper plate 302 are taken into the selector 400, and when the five game balls are taken in, the 1-bet display portion 41c1 is turned on. When the 1-bet button 114 is further pressed, the 2-bet display portions 41c2 and 41c2 are turned on when five game balls are similarly taken in. Further, when the 1-bet button 114 is pressed, the 3-bet display portions 41c3 and 41c3 are turned on when five game balls are similarly taken in. When the max bet button 304 is pressed, a maximum of 15 game balls stored in the upper plate 302 are taken into the selector 400, and every time five game balls are taken in, the 1-bet display portion 41c1 and the 2-bet display portion 41c2 , 41c2, and the 3-bet display portions 41c3 and 41c3 are sequentially turned on. When only the 1-bet display part 41c1 is lit, the active line is in the middle row of the upper, middle, and lower three stages, and when the 1-bet display part 41c1 and the 2-bet display parts 41c2 and 41c2 are lit, When the active lines are in the upper, middle, and lower three rows, and all the bet display portions 41c1 to 41c3 are lit, the active lines are the upper, middle, and lower three rows and the diagonal lines in five rows.

  On both sides of the upper window hole 41a of the game panel 41, there are provided the electric accessories 41d and 41e. Further, on the right side of the lower window hole 41b, an electric accessory 41f, a 7-segment LED display portion 41g, and an LED display portion 41h are arranged in this order from the top. These electric accessories 41d, 41e, 41f are used for game effects, confirmation of big bonus or regular bonus, and the like. The 7-segment LED display unit 41g is a part for displaying the number of game balls bet and the number of payouts, an error code, the total number of payouts in the bonus, and six levels of settings when the settings are changed. The LED display unit 41h is provided with four LEDs. Among them, the upper three LEDs constitute a bet number display portion 41h1. The bet number display section 41h1 displays the bet number within a range of 1 to 3 by turning on the number of LEDs corresponding to the number of game balls inserted into the selector 400. The remaining one LED is a re-game display unit 41h2. The replay display section 41h2 lights up when the replay symbols displayed as "re" on the substantially fan-shaped frame among the symbols of the symbol stickers 43L, 43M, and 43R shown in FIG. Is informed that a game can be played without a betting of a game ball. When the start lever 124 is pressed after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replay symbols are aligned on the active line, the replay display portion 41h2 is turned off as the rotating cylinders L, M, and R are rotated.

  Further, the information posting panel (not shown) exposed from the central panel portion 112 is attached below the lower window hole 41b. A stamp 41i and a model name sticker 41j are attached to one end of the information posting panel. Further, as indicated by a broken line, a fluorescent lamp 41k for illuminating the information posting panel from the rear side is disposed inside the information posting panel.

  The liquid crystal display device 42 provides a notification effect for a small role winning during a normal game, a suggestion effect for suggesting that the game state transitions from a normal game state to a bonus state, an effect during a big bonus or a regular bonus, Display of the number of small-games and the number of JAC games, an effect for notifying that a specific gaming state (for example, an RT state in which replay is easy to win), timing of pressing the rotation stop buttons 126L, 126M, and 126R and the order of pressing It is for performing the effect etc. which alert | reports.

  FIG. 29 is a partially exploded perspective view of the rotating drum unit 43. The rotating drum unit 43 has three rotating drums (so-called reels) L, M, and R, and each of the rotating drums L, M, and R is housed in the rotating drum unit frame 43a. Since each of the spinning cylinders L, M, and R has the same configuration, the right spinning cylinder R will be described as an example here.

  The right cylinder R is obtained by winding a symbol seal 43R on which 21 symbols (identification elements) are drawn at equal intervals around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical skeleton member 43R2 forming a cylindrical cage, and the cylindrical skeleton member 43R2 Is attached to the rotation shaft 43R5 of the stepping motor 43R4 for the right turn cylinder via the disk-shaped reinforcing plate 43R3.

  The stepping motor 43R4 for the right swirl is screwed to a motor plate 43R6 that is suspended inside the swivel unit frame 43a. The motor plate 43R6 has a pair of light emitting elements and light receiving elements. A position detection sensor 43R7 is installed. A pair of photosensors (not shown) constituting the rotation position detection sensor 43R7 are arranged in the sensor casing while maintaining a predetermined interval.

  A sensor cut van 43R9 extending in the axial direction is attached to one of the five vehicle radii 43R8 of the cylindrical skeleton member 43R2. The sensor cut van 43R9 is aligned so that it can pass through the gap between both elements of the rotating cylinder position detection sensor 43R7. Then, every time the right cylinder R makes one rotation, the cylinder position detection sensor 43R7 detects the passage of the tip of the sensor cut van 43R9, and outputs a detection signal to the main controller 45 each time it is detected. The main controller 45 can check and correct the angular position of the right cylinder R every rotation based on this detection signal. In addition, the symbol seals 43L, 43M, and 43R wound around the respective spinning drums L, M, and R are different in the order and frequency of the symbols drawn on each.

  The stepping motor 43R4 is set so that the right cylinder R makes one round by a drive signal of 504 pulses (also referred to as an excitation signal or an excitation pulse, hereinafter the same), and the rotational position is controlled by this excitation pulse. That is, when the right round cylinder R makes one round, 21 symbols are sequentially exposed from the lower window hole 41b of the gaming panel 41, so 24 pulses (= 504 pulses / 21 symbols) are required to switch from one symbol to the next. ). Based on the number of pulses from when the detection signal of the rotation position detection sensor 43R7 is output, it is recognized which symbol is exposed from the window hole 41b, or an arbitrary symbol is exposed from the window hole 41b. Control can be performed.

  In this embodiment, a hybrid (HB) type two-phase stepping motor employing a 1-2 phase excitation method is used as the stepping motor 43R4. The stepping motor 43R4 is not limited to a hybrid type or two-phase, and various stepping motors such as a four-phase or five-phase stepping motor can be used.

  A drive signal (drive signal data) for the stepping motor 43R4 is given to the motor driver 70 as excitation data. This excitation data is stored in the RAM 45a3 of the main control board 45a, and appropriate excitation data is output to the input / output port 45a4 based on a command from the CPU 45a1 (see FIG. 32). The excitation data determines the excitation phase for the stepping motor 43R4, and an excitation signal (current) is supplied to the excitation phase.

  The main control device 45 is responsible for the main control of the ball-type spinning game machine 10, and specifically, a winning combination (big bonus, regular bonus, small combination, replay) is received by receiving a signal from the start lever 124. And a command signal is issued to the sub-control device 47 and the payout control device 37 based on the lottery result. As shown in FIG. 32, the configuration of the main control unit 45 includes a CPU 45a1 that controls the main control, a ROM 45a2 that stores a game program, a RAM 45a3 that stores necessary data according to the progress of the game, and communication with various devices. A main control board 45a including an output port 45a4, a random number generation circuit 45a5 used in various lotteries, a clock circuit 45a6 used for time counting and synchronization, and a transparent resin that accommodates the main control board 45a It consists of a substrate case 45b (45b1, 45b2, see FIG. 26) made of a material or the like.

  The sub-control device 47 is based on a command signal (command) issued from the main control device 45, and a light-emitting device (LED) (not shown) covered with various LED cover portions 104, 108, 110, 148, 150 for game effects. Is controlled, such as lighting / flashing, sound effects emitted from the upper and lower speakers 106, 204, and the display mode displayed on the liquid crystal display device 42. The structure of the sub-control device 47 is the same as that of the main control device 45. The substrate 47a and a substrate case 47b (47b1, 47b2) made of a transparent resin material or the like for accommodating the sub control substrate 47a.

(Control system for ball-type spinning machine)
The control system of the ball-type spinning machine 10 will be described. FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ball-type spinning machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 30, the main control board 45a functions as a control unit configured as a microcomputer centering on a CPU 45a1 as an arithmetic processing unit, and a ROM (or flash memory) 45a2 for storing a processing program, temporarily A working RAM 45a3, an input / output port 45a4, and the like for storing data are connected to the CPU 45a1 via an internal bus.

  The input / output port 45a4 of the main control board 45a has a reset signal from the reset switch 38b, a setting signal from the setting key switch 38d1, a one-bet signal from the bet button 114, a maximum bet signal from the max bet button 304, and a selector 400. Auxiliary passage detection signals from count sensors 416a1, 416b1, and 416c1 for detecting game balls taken in, and upper elements 415a1, 415b1, and 415c1 in passage sensors 415a, 415b, and 415c for detecting game balls taken into selector 400 Upstream passage detection signal and downstream passage detection signals from lower elements 415a2, 415b2 and 415c2 in passage sensors 415a, 415b and 415c, fluctuation start signal from start lever 124, left, middle and right turn cylinder stop button 12 A count signal based on a stop signal from L, 126M, 126R, a detection signal from the rotating position detection sensor 43L7, 43M7, 43R7, a count switch signal from a count sensor 33h for detecting a game ball paid out from the payout device 33, a case A game ball detection signal from the ball break detection device 35b for detecting a game ball in the rail 35, a paying out signal indicating the payout period, and the like are input.

  Also, from the input / output port 45a4 of the main control board 45a, a closing solenoid based on the driving signals of the closing solenoids 414a, 414b, 414c based on the bet signals from the bet buttons 114, 304 and the counting values of the passing sensors 415a, 415b, 415c. 414a, 414b, 414c drive stop signals, fluctuation start signals from the start lever 124, and drive signals for the stepping motors 43L4, 43M4, 43R4 for the rotating cylinders based on stop command signals from the rotating cylinder stop buttons 126L, 126M, 126R, etc. Is output. Further, the control signal for controlling the contents of the effect displayed on the liquid crystal display device 42, the sound effect emitted from the speakers 106, 204, the lighting / flashing of various light emitting devices (LEDs) covered with the upper LED cover 104, etc. Is output to the sub-control board 47a.

  The above-described CPU 45a1 includes a ROM 45a2 that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 45a1 and fixed value data, and a work area that temporarily stores various data when executing the control program stored in the ROM 45a2. In addition to the working RAM 45a3 for securing the memory, various processing circuits necessary for the ball-type spinning machine 10 such as a timer circuit and a data transmission / reception circuit as well as an interrupt circuit are built in, as is well known. ing.

  The ROM 45a2 and the RAM 45a3 constitute a main memory, and a processing program (including an output control information generation processing program) for executing various processes is stored in the ROM 45a2 described above as a part of the processing program. In the RAM 45a3, a plurality of work areas (memory areas) are secured functionally. As well known, in addition to the stack memory (stack memory area) for storing the value of the program counter provided in the CPU 45a1, in this example, the power failure flag memory 45a31 for storing the power failure flag and the stack pointer are stored. A stack pointer storage memory 45a32, a checksum correction value memory 45a33 that stores a correction value related to a checksum of data stored in the RAM 45a3, and a power recovery command buffer 45a34 and a power recovery command used during power recovery Memory areas such as the counter 45a35 and the remaining payout number counter 45a36 are secured.

  The stack pointer storage memory 45a32 set in the RAM 45a3 is a memory for saving and storing the value of the stack pointer in the CPU 45a1 when the power of the ball-type spinning game machine 10 is turned off. The value of the stack pointer is saved in the stack pointer storage memory 45a32 at the beginning of the power failure process. At the beginning of the power recovery process, a return process is performed on the stack pointer, and the value stored in the stack pointer storage memory 45a32 is taken into the stack pointer in the CPU 45a1. The contents of the stack pointer are saved and saved in a stack pointer saving memory 45a32 provided in the backed up RAM 45a3.

  The checksum correction value memory 45a33 in the RAM 45a3 is a memory for storing a correction value for setting the checksum calculated from the data in the RAM 45a3 during power failure processing to “0 (zero)”.

  The power recovery command buffer 45a34 temporarily stores a power recovery processing command (power recovery command) transmitted from the main control board 45a to the sub control board 47a when power is restored (when power is restored or power is turned on again). A buffer to store. The power recovery command is used as a command for notifying the sub control board 47a of the execution of power recovery processing. The power recovery command is transmitted to the sub control board 47a in preference to the general command stored in the RAM 45a3.

  The power recovery command counter 45a35 is a counter that stores the number of bytes of the power recovery command stored in the power recovery command buffer 45a34. The power recovery command has a 2-byte configuration, and is transmitted to the sub-control board 47a in units of bytes in the same manner as other commands (speaker driving commands and the like).

  As will be described later, a backup voltage is supplied to the RAM 45a3 from a power supply control board provided in the power supply control device 38, so that data is not lost even after the power of the ball-cylinder gaming machine 10 is cut off. .

  In addition to the I / O device such as the sub control board 47a, the input / output port 45a4 is provided on an external concentration terminal board capable of transmitting information to a hall management device (not shown) or the like, or on the power control board 38 ′. The power failure monitoring circuit 38f, the closing solenoids 414a, 414b, 414c, the payout control board 37a, and the like are connected.

  The power supply control board is equipped with a power supply unit 38e for supplying driving power to the electronic devices of the ball-type spinning machine 10 including the main control board 45a, the power failure monitoring circuit 38f described above, and the like.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 38f monitors the power-off state, and generates a power failure signal not only at the time of power failure but also when the power switch 38a powers off. For this reason, the power failure monitoring circuit 38f monitors the stabilized drive voltage of 24 VDC output from the power supply unit 38e, and determines that the power is cut off when the drive voltage drops to, for example, less than 22 volts. A signal is output. The power failure signal is supplied to each of the CPU 45a1 and the input / output port 45a4, and the CPU 45a1 recognizes this power failure signal to execute the power failure process.

  Even when the output voltage drops below 22 volts, the power supply unit 38e is configured to output a stabilized voltage of 5 volts used as a drive voltage in a control system such as the main control board 45a. As the time during which the stabilization voltage is output, sufficient time is secured to execute the power failure process by the main control board 45a.

  Further, when the reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 38b at the same time when the stabilized drive voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 38e, the main control board 45a erases the information written in the RAM 45a3 and stabilizes from the power supply unit 38e. When a reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 38b in a state where the drive voltage is supplied, the error state is reset.

  Furthermore, when the power is turned on after the setting key switch 38d1 is turned on when the power is turned off, that is, when the power is turned on after the setting key is inserted into the setting change key cylinder 38d and rotated. A state in which the exit rate of the trunk game machine 10 can be changed occurs. In this state, when a reset signal is transmitted from the reset switch 38b, the bonus probability and the small role probability of the ball-type spinning gaming machine 10 are changed, and the change result is represented by the numbers “1” to “6”. Output to the 7-segment LED display 41g (see FIG. 27). Then, when a setting confirmation signal is received from the start lever 124 in a state where any number of “1” to “6” is displayed on the 7-segment LED display portion 41g, the exit rate of the ball-type rotating game machine 10 Confirm (Setting).

  Next, the payout control board 37a will be described. FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the payout control board 37a. The payout control board 37a has substantially the same configuration as the main control board 45a, and includes a CPU 37a1, a ROM (or flash memory) 37a2 for storing processing programs, and a working (working) RAM 37a3 for temporarily storing data. The input / output port 37a4 and the like are connected to the CPU 37a1 via an internal bus. Here, various memories, flags, and counters provided in the RAM 37a3 will be described.

  The command reception flag 37a31 is a flag that is set when the payout control board 37a receives a command from the main control board 45a or the card unit, and is canceled when the command reception is confirmed.

  The payout state counter 37a32 is a state where the state of paying out the game ball by the payout control board 37a is a state of paying out by a payout command transmitted from the main control board 45a, or by a lending payout request signal (command) transmitted from the card unit. It is a counter for memorizing whether the state is paid out. In the present embodiment, if the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “1”, it is a state of paying out a prize ball, and if the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “2”, the state of paying out a rental ball. It is.

  The prize ball number counter 37a33 is a counter that stores the number of game balls to be paid out according to the type of payout command transmitted from the main control board 45a. In the present embodiment, the number of payouts according to the type of payout command is mainly in the range of 5 to 75, and varies depending on the winning combination. The number of payouts according to the type of payout command is set to 1 to 4 depending on the number of game balls that have not been paid out when the payout of game balls has ended in the middle due to a power failure or the like. There is also.

  The total payout number counter 37a34 is a counter that stores the total number of game balls to be paid out by the game ball payout process S4108 of that time (see FIG. 43). In the case of paying out by the payout command, the value of the prize ball number counter 37a33 is stored, and in the case of paying out by the lending payout request, “25” is stored. In the present embodiment, the value stored in the total payout number counter when paying out according to the rental ball payout request is “25”. This is because the number of game balls to be paid out when the ball lending button is operated once is 25. Therefore, when the number of game balls paid out when the ball lending button 306 is operated once, a value corresponding to the different number of game balls may be stored. Further, a value of 25 × n may be stored in accordance with the number n of operations of the ball lending button 306.

  The payout planned number counters 37a35 to 37a38 are counters that respectively store the total payout number in the four ball paths 33d corresponding to each of the four payout devices 33. Corresponding to each of the four ball paths 33d, first to fourth payout scheduled number counters 37a35 to 37a38 are provided. The first article corresponds to the ball passage 33d of the payout device 33 on the most front side of the gaming machine 10, the second article corresponds to the ball passage of the second payout device 33 from the front side of the gaming machine 10, and the third article Corresponds to the ball path of the third payout device 33 from the front side of the gaming machine 10, and Article 4 corresponds to the ball path on the rearmost side of the gaming machine 10. The value of the scheduled payout number counters 37a35 to 37a38 is set by the payout number distribution process (S4219), and the value is subtracted by the payout execution process (S4222). When the value of the payout planned number counters 37a35 to 37a38 becomes “0”, the game ball payout process S4108 for that item is finished.

  The payout item pointer 37a39 is a pointer for designating the first to fourth ball passages 33d. Corresponding to Article 1 to Article 4, it is updated in the integer range of “1” to “4”. The payout number distribution process S4219 (see FIG. 44) and the payout execution process S4222 (see FIG. 44) are performed for each of the first to fourth ball paths 33d by designating the value of the payout item pointer 37a39.

  The payout retry flags 310 to 313 are flags for storing whether or not a game ball payout operation can be performed in the first to fourth ball passages 33d. Corresponding to each of the four ball passages 33d, first to fourth flag payout retry flags 310 to 313 are provided. A payout operation is possible if the payout retry flags 310 to 313 are set, and a payout operation is impossible if the payout retry flags 310 to 313 are released. The payout retry flags 310 to 313 are all set once at the start of the game ball payout process S4108. Then, with the advancement of the payout execution process S4222, the payout retry flags (310 to 313) corresponding to the ball path 33d in which the payout operation becomes impossible are sequentially released. When the all-item payout retry flags 310 to 313 are turned off, the game ball payout process (S4108) for that time ends.

  The payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are flags representing an on state (energized state) or an off state (non-energized state) of the payout solenoid. Corresponding to each payout solenoid 33c provided in each of the four ball passages (33d, etc.), the first to fourth payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are provided. If the payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are set, the corresponding payout solenoid is turned on (S4225), and the corresponding flicker 33b is activated to allow the game ball to be paid out. On the other hand, if the payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are released, the corresponding payout solenoid is turned off (S4225), and the flicker 33b is operated to prohibit the payout of the game ball.

  The payout game ball counters 318 to 321 are the time elapsed after the ball passage 33d is opened by the operation of the flicker 33b, the time elapsed after the start of payout is detected by the payout count sensor 33h, or the maximum waiting time thereof. It is a counter in which a value corresponding to the time elapsed after reaching (timeout time) is stored.

  The payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is a flag indicating that timer interrupt processing (see FIG. 42) has been executed. If the payout execution process S4222 is continuously performed on the same item, payout of one game ball may be erroneously detected as two or more payouts. Therefore, the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is provided to execute the payout execution process S4222 only once for each of the four items per execution of the timer interrupt process. Specifically, the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is set every time the timer interrupt process is executed (S4015). Only when the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is set, the payout execution process can be started, and the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is canceled at the start.

  The ball presence flag 323 is a flag for storing whether or not a predetermined number or more of game balls are stored in the ball passage 35 a of the case rail 35. In this embodiment, the predetermined number of game balls is 80, because the maximum number of payouts per time is 75.

  The payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 are flags indicating that it is during a non-monitoring period in which each count signal is not generated to the main control board 45a based on each count switch signal from the count sensor 33h.

  The non-monitoring time counters 328 to 331 store a value corresponding to the duration of the non-monitoring period in which each count signal is not generated to the main control board 45a based on each count switch signal from the count sensor 33h. It is. In this embodiment, each non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) is updated to a value obtained by subtracting 1 for each execution of the timer interrupt process.

  A control process executed in the main control board 45a will be described. The control process of the main control board 45a is roughly divided into a main process that is activated in response to power recovery by restarting the supply of external power or turning on the power switch 38a, and an interrupt process that interrupts the main process. The For convenience of explanation, after describing the interrupt process, the main process will be described. As interrupt processing, there are power failure interrupt processing for interrupting in response to reception of a power failure signal at the NMI terminal, and timer interrupt processing for periodically interrupting by measuring time with a timer.

  First, the power failure interrupt process will be described. FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a power failure interrupt process in the main control board 45a. When a power failure occurs, a power failure signal is generated by the power monitoring circuit 300b of the power control board 38 'and output to the main control board 45a. In the main control board 45a, an NMI terminal of the CPU 45a1 receives a power failure signal, and an interrupt process (hereinafter referred to as “power failure interrupt process”) for setting a power failure flag in response to the reception of the power failure signal is executed.

  In the power failure interrupt process, first, the data of the register currently used is saved in the backup area in the RAM 45a3 ("register save process" S101). After the register saving process S101, a power failure flag is set ("power failure flag setting process" S102). The power failure flag is information that is held in a specific area (the power failure flag memory 45a31) in the RAM 45a3 and represents the occurrence of a power failure state. After the power failure flag setting process S102, the CPU 45a1 is notified of the end of the process in its own interrupt ("interrupt end declaration process" S103). After the interrupt end declaration process, the register data saved in the backup area of the RAM 45a3 in the register save process S101 is returned to the register of the CPU 45a1 ("register return process" S104). After the register restoration process S104, a new interrupt is permitted ("interrupt permission process" S105). When the interrupt permission process S103 is completed, the power failure interrupt process ends. If the power failure flag setting process S102 can be performed without destroying the data of the register in use, the register saving process S101 and the register restoration process S104 can be omitted.

  Next, timer interrupt processing will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of timer interrupt processing in the main control board 45a. In the main control board 45a, timer interrupt processing is periodically performed. In this embodiment, the timer interrupt process is substantially performed at a period of 1.49 ms [milliseconds].

  In the timer interrupt process, first, information on all registers used in the normal process in the main process, which will be described later, is stored in the backup area of the RAM 45a3 (“register save process” S201). After the register saving process S201, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure flag is set (S202). When the power failure flag is set, the backup process S203 is executed.

  Here, the backup process S203 will be described in detail. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the backup process executed in the timer interrupt process in the main control board 45a.

  In the backup process S203, as shown in FIG. 43, first, it is determined whether or not transmission of various commands stored in the ring buffer has been completed (S301). If the transmission of these commands has not ended, the backup process S203 is once ended and control returns to the timer interrupt process. This is control for completing the transmission of the command before starting the backup process S203. On the other hand, when the transmission of these commands is completed, the value of the stack pointer of the CPU 45a1 is stored in the stack pointer storage memory 45a32 in the RAM 45a3 ("stack pointer storage process" S302). After the stack pointer saving process S302, a RAM determination value, which will be described later, is cleared, and the output state of the output port in the input / output port 45a4 is cleared, and all actuators (not shown) are turned off ("stop process" S303). .

  After the stop process S303, a new RAM determination value is calculated and stored in the checksum correction value memory ("RAM determination value storage process" S304). The RAM determination value is a 2's complement of the checksum value in the work area of the RAM 45a3. Here, the 2's complement of the checksum value is a value generated when each digit (bit) of the checksum value is inverted in binary representation. In this case, the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR (“FFFF”) of the checksum value of the RAM 45a3 and the RAM determination value is “0”. In this embodiment, the complement of the checksum value is used as the RAM determination value. However, in the present invention, the checksum value itself may be used as the RAM determination value.

  After the RAM determination value storage process S304, access to the RAM 45a3 is prohibited ("RAM access prohibition process" S305). Thereafter, an infinite loop is entered in preparation for the case where the processing cannot be executed due to complete interruption of the internal power. Note that, for example, when the power failure flag is erroneously set due to noise or the like, although not shown, it is confirmed whether the power failure signal is still input before entering the infinite loop. If the power failure signal is not output, the internal power supply has been restored. Therefore, writing to the RAM 45a3 is permitted, the power failure flag is canceled, and the timer interrupt process is resumed. On the other hand, if the power failure signal is continuously input, an infinite loop is entered (not shown).

  In this way, it is determined whether or not the command transmission is completed at the initial stage of the backup process S203, and when the transmission is not completed, the transmission process is given priority. By adopting a configuration in which the backup process is executed after the command transmission process is completed, it is not necessary to construct a power failure processing program considering that the backup process is executed during the command transmission. As a result, it is possible to simplify the program related to the processing at the time of a power failure and to reduce the capacity of the ROM 45a2.

  The power supply unit 38e of the power supply control board 38 ′ outputs backup power used as drive power for the control system for a sufficient time to complete the power failure interrupt process and the backup process even after a power failure occurs. . With this backup power, backup processing of power failure interrupt processing and timer interrupt processing is performed. In this embodiment, backup power is continuously output for 30 ms [milliseconds] after the occurrence of a power failure.

  Returning to the description of the timer interrupt process, as shown in FIG. 33, when it is determined in the determination process S202 that the power failure flag is not set, the watchdog timer for monitoring the occurrence of malfunction is initialized. Then, an interrupt permission is issued to the CPU 45a1 itself ("interrupt end declaration process" S204). After the interrupt termination declaration process S204, each stepping motor (43L4, 43M4, 43R4) is referred to rotate each cylinder (L, M, R) with reference to the left drive stop flag, the middle drive stop flag, and the right drive stop flag. ) Is transmitted ("stepping motor control process" S205). Specifically, if the left drive stop flag is not set, a rotation drive signal is transmitted to the stepping motor 43L4 of the left rotation cylinder L. The middle cylinder M and the right cylinder R are the same as the case of the left cylinder L. After the stepping motor control process S205, the switch state change in various devices connected to the input / output port 45a4 is monitored ("switch reading process" S206). After the switch reading process S206, the sensor state change in various devices connected to the input / output port 45a4 is monitored ("sensor monitoring process" S207). After the sensor monitoring process S207, various counter values and various timer values are calculated ("timer calculation process" S208). After the timer calculation process S208, the number of bet balls and the number of acquired balls are output to the external concentration terminal board 126 for counting the difference balls (difference between the total number of bets and the total number of acquisitions) ("difference ball counting process" S209). ).

  After the difference ball counting process S209, various commands accumulated in the ring buffer are transmitted to the sub control board 47a ("command output process" S210). After the command output process S210, segment data to be displayed on the 7-segment LED display 41g and the like is set ("segment data setting process" S211). The segment data set in the segment data setting process S211 is transmitted to a predetermined segment data display device in the 7-segment LED display unit 41g or the like (“segment data display process” S212). Accordingly, the 7-segment LED display unit 41g and the like display numbers, characters, symbols, and the like corresponding to the received segment data. Data is output from the input / output port 45a4 to the I / O device ("port output processing" S213). After the port output process S213, the data of each register saved in the backup area in the register save process S201 is restored to the corresponding register in the CPU 45a1 ("register restore process" S214). After the register restoration process S214, the next timer interrupt is permitted ("interrupt permission process" S215). A series of timer interrupt processing is completed through the above processing.

  The main process in the main control board 45a will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing of the main control board 45a. The main process of the main control board 45a is executed when returning from the power failure state.

  In the main process of the main control board 45a, first, an initial value of the stack pointer is set ("stack pointer setting process" S401). After the stack pointer setting process, an interrupt mode permitting the interrupt process is set ("interrupt mode setting process" S402). After the interrupt mode setting process S402, various settings for the register group, I / O device, etc. in the CPU 45a1 are performed ("register setting process" S403).

  After the register setting process S403, a setting key is inserted into the setting key switch 38d1, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined operation (such as a right rotation operation) is performed (S404). If it is determined that the setting key is operated, one probability setting selected from a plurality of predetermined probability settings (in this embodiment, six settings from “setting 1” to “setting 6”) The data in all the areas of the RAM 45a3 excluding a predetermined area that holds the set value is forcibly cleared ("forced RAM clear processing" S405). After the forcible RAM clear process S405, the current setting value can be reset (resetting the setting) ("probability setting selection process" S406). In changing the setting value, the operation of the reset switch 38b and the operation of the start lever 124 are used. After the probability setting process S406, the process proceeds to the normal game process.

  If it is determined in the determination process S404 that the setting key switch 38d1 has not been operated, is the set value of the selected probability setting within a predetermined range (“1” to “6”)? It is determined whether or not (S407). Note that the set value takes only a value within a predetermined range unless an abnormal situation such as mechanical or electrical destruction of the RAM 45a3 occurs between the occurrence of a power failure state and the return from the power failure state. Absent. If the set value is within a predetermined range, it is determined whether or not a power failure flag is set (S408). When the power failure flag is set, the checksum value of the work area of the RAM 45a3 is newly calculated, and it is determined whether or not the new checksum value is normal. The new checksum value is normal means that the new checksum value and the checksum value before the occurrence of the power failure state are the same, that is, the new checksum value and the RAM determination held in the backup area of the RAM 45a3. It means that the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR with the value is “0”. This value is “0” when the new checksum value and the checksum value before the occurrence of the power failure are the same, and other than “0” when they are different. Unless an abnormal situation such as mechanical or electrical destruction of the RAM 45a3 occurs between the occurrence of a power failure state and the return from the power failure state, this value is not “0”.

  When it is determined in the determination process S407 that the set value of the probability setting is not a value within the predetermined range, when it is determined that the power failure flag is not set in the determination process S408, or a new checksum is determined in the determination process S409. When it is determined that the value obtained by adding 1 to the exclusive OR of the value and the RAM determination value is other than “0”, the interrupt process is prohibited (“interrupt prohibition setting process” S416). After the interrupt inhibition setting process S416, all output ports of the input / output port 45a4 are cleared, and all actuators connected to the input / output port 45a4 are turned off ("all output port clear process" S417). After the all output port clear process S417, a process for notifying the occurrence of an error is performed ("error notification process" S418). This error notification state continues until the reset switch 38b is operated.

  If it is determined in the determination process S409 that the new checksum value is normal, the stack pointer value stored in the stack pointer storage memory 45a32 is written to the stack pointer of the CPU 45a1, and the stack pointer value is in a power failure state. Is restored to the value before occurrence of (stack pointer return processing) S410. As a result, after returning from the power failure state, it is possible to resume from the process interrupted by the occurrence of the power failure state. After the stack pointer recovery process S410, a power recovery command indicating recovery from the power failure state is set ("power recovery command setting process" S411). As a result, the power recovery command is transmitted to the sub control board 47a.

  After the power recovery command setting process S411, the state of the stop changeover switch 38c is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 45a3 ("game form setting process" S412).

  After the game form setting process S412, the values of the sensors of various devices are initialized ("sensor initialization process" S413). After the sensor initialization process S413, the power failure flag is released ("power failure flag release process" S414). If a power failure occurs during payout after the power failure flag release process S414, a payout command for resuming payout is set ("payout command setting process" S415). After the payout command setting process S415, the process is resumed from the process before the occurrence of the power failure state indicated by the stack pointer. Specifically, the interrupt end declaration process S204 after the backup process S203 (see FIG. 33) in the timer interrupt process described above is executed.

  The normal process for performing the main control related to the game at the normal time will be described. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of a normal game process executed on the main control board 45a.

  The normal game process of the main control board 45a is executed after the probability setting process S406 (see FIG. 35) in the main process. In the normal game process, as shown in FIG. 36, first, interrupt permission is set ("interrupt permission setting process" S601). After the interrupt permission setting process S601, the state of the stop switch 38c for determining the game form and the state of the automatic settlement switch are stored in the RAM 45a3 ("game form setting process" S602). The game form setting process S602 is the same process as the game form setting process S412 in the main process (see FIG. 35).

  After the game form setting process S602, the process proceeds to the loop process described below. In the following, a case where a continuous game is in progress will be described.

  In the RAM 45a3, the data in the area holding information that changes for each game is cleared ("game information clear process" S603). Specifically, information related to the previous game is cleared. The information to be cleared includes, for example, information related to random numbers, information related to control of the reels L, M, and R, information related to winning, and information related to errors. Information related to winning includes information such as winning symbols, winning lines, and number of game balls to be won.

  After the game information clear process S603, it waits while performing a predetermined process until a change start signal is input ("change wait process" S604). Here, the fluctuation waiting process S604 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the variation standby process S604.

  In the variable waiting process S604, first, a game monitoring timer is set ("game monitoring timer setting process" S701). Here, the setting of the game monitoring timer means that the value of the timer is reset and a new time measurement by the timer is started. The game monitoring timer is a timer for measuring a game interval, and when a predetermined time has elapsed without being played by the player, the image on the liquid crystal display device 42 is transferred to a predetermined image (demonstration image). Used to make

  After the game monitoring timer setting process S701, it is determined whether or not a re-game has been won in the previous game. The ball is automatically bet ("automatic betting process" S702).

  After the automatic betting process S702, it is confirmed whether or not an error has occurred in the selector 400. If an error has occurred, the speaker 106, LEDs 41g and 41h, the liquid crystal display device 42, etc. are notified of the error. The selector error command is set ("selector error notification process" S703). For example, a case where an upstream passage detection signal or a downstream passage detection signal is received from the passage sensors 415a, 415b, and 415c except during a game ball insertion period can be given. The selector error command stored in the ring buffer is output to the sub control board 47a in the command output process S210 of the timer interrupt process executed after the storage. In the following, various commands stored in the ring buffer are output to the sub-control board 47a in the command output process S210 of the timer interrupt process executed after the storage as in the case of the selector error command.

  After the selector error notification process S703, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the payout device 33. If an error has occurred in the payout device 33, the speaker 106, LEDs 41g and 41h, the liquid crystal display device 42, and the like. A payout error command for notifying an error is set ("payout error notification process" S704). Specifically, it is determined whether or not a signal being paid out from the payout board 37a is in an on state, and whether or not a count signal from the payout board 37a based on count switch signals from various count sensors 33h is in an on state. Is determined. If any of the count switch signals is on even though the determination result is that the paying out signal is not on (during payout), error processing is executed and a payout error command is set. Is done. As a result, the game cannot proceed and an error is notified. Note that the same payout error notification process is executed in a state waiting for some input from the player even during other processes, for example, in a reel stop waiting state during reel rotation.

  After the payout error notification process S704, it is determined whether or not the return button 308 has been operated. If the return button 308 is being returned, input by the operation of other buttons or the like is prohibited ("return process" S705).

  After the return process S705, as shown in FIG. 37, it is confirmed whether or not the 1-bet button 114 or the max-bet button 304 is operated. A game ball is bet ("game ball bet process" S706). Note that the number of inserted game balls is counted by the passage sensors 415a, 415b, and 415c, and separately counted by the count sensors 416a, 416b, and 416c.

  After the game ball betting process S706 ends, it is determined whether or not the bet number is less than the minimum prescribed number (S707). If the bet number is less than the minimum prescribed number, the selector error process S703 to the determination process S707 are repeated. On the other hand, if the bet number is not less than the minimum prescribed number, it is determined whether or not a variation start signal corresponding to the operation of the start lever 124 has been received (S708). When the fluctuation start signal is not received, the selector error process S703 to the determination process S708 are repeated. On the other hand, when the change start signal is received, the number of game balls counted by the passage sensors 415a, 415b, and 415c in the game ball betting process S706 and the game balls counted by the count sensors 416a, 416b, and 416c. Are compared ("injected ball number comparison process" S709). In addition, in throwing ball number comparison processing S709, if the number does not match as a result of comparison, error processing is performed. Through the above processing steps (S701 to S709), the fluctuation waiting process S604 is completed.

  After the variable waiting process S604, as shown in FIG. 36, the value of the random number counter latched by hardware when the start lever 124 is operated is read out and stored in the RAM 45a3 (“random number generation”). Process "S605). When the start lever 124 is operated, the random number counter is latched by hardware so that the operation of the start lever 124 and the acquisition of the random number value are synchronized in time. Although the value of the random number counter can be read out by software, in this case, the time from the operation of the start lever 124 to the acquisition of the random number value becomes more uneven than in the case of latching by hardware.

  After the random number generation process S605, the winning combination corresponding to the random value acquired in the random number generation process S605 is determined by referring to the random number table corresponding to the probability setting, the number of bets, and the gaming state, and according to the type of the winning combination Winning flags (for example, Big Bonus Winning Flag, Regular Bonus Winning Flag, Cherry Winning Flag, Bell Winning Flag, Watermelon Winning Flag, Replay Winning Flag) are set. A set value command representing a value is set ("internal lottery process" S606). Winning roles include, for example, a big bonus role (hereinafter also referred to as “BB”), a regular bonus role (hereinafter also referred to as “RB”), and various small roles (in this embodiment, a cherry role, a bell role, and a watermelon role) , A re-playing role and a loser role. Note that a plurality of types of winning combinations may be selected in one game.

  After the internal lottery process S606, one manual stop control table used for controlling each cylinder (L, M, R) from the manual stop control table group held in the ROM 45a2 based on the winning combination, the number of bets and the gaming state. The reference control table is selected, and the table number of the reference control table is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 45a3 ("rotation initialization process" S607). When the winning combination is other than losing, an effective line or the like for winning the winning combination is determined according to the reference control table, and each round (L, M, When each of the spinning cylinder stop buttons (126L, 126M, 126R) corresponding to R) is operated, extra in a predetermined range (less than 5 symbols) to win the winning combination as much as possible on the predetermined active line Sliding control for rotating the rotating drum is performed. When the winning combination is lost, the same slip control is performed in order to prevent other winning combinations from winning. This reference control table is not necessarily referred to. In this embodiment, each of the turning cylinder stop buttons (126L, 126M, 126R) is arranged in a predetermined order (for example, “left turning cylinder stop button 126L → intermediate rotation cylinder stop button 126M”). → "Right Crew Stop Operation Unit 126R" and "Left Cylinder Stop Button 126L → Right Cylinder Stop Operation Unit 126R → Medium Cylinder Stop Button 126M"). In some cases, the predetermined symbol pattern is stopped by reselecting the reference control table from the manual stop control table group or by another control method or by using them. Further, when the change of the symbol display is automatically stopped, it is stopped with a predetermined symbol pattern by referring to the automatic stop control table held in the ROM 45a2.

  After the rotation initialization process S607, a symbol variation standby process S608 is executed. In the symbol variation standby process S608, first, it is determined whether or not the measurement time by the symbol variation monitoring timer is equal to or longer than a predetermined specified time (for example, 4.1 seconds). Here, the “symbol fluctuation monitoring timer” is a timer that measures the elapsed time from the time of the last symbol display fluctuation start. If the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is less than a predetermined specified time, a variable waiting command (internal state command of the internal state command) indicating that the specified time has elapsed (hereinafter referred to as “variable waiting state”). Is stored in the ring buffer. Note that the player is informed of the variable standby state by a variable standby state display device (not shown). After that, until the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer becomes equal to or longer than the predetermined specified time, whether or not the measurement time by the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is equal to or longer than the predetermined specified time while the change waiting state is notified. Is repeated. On the other hand, when the measurement time of the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is equal to or longer than the predetermined specified time, the symbol fluctuation monitoring timer is reset and started, the notification of the standby state for the specified time is stopped, and the predetermined specified time has elapsed. A specified time elapse command (a kind of internal state command) indicating this and a bet number command to be output to the external concentration terminal board are stored in the ring buffer. Thereafter, information related to the control of each stepping motor (43L4, 43M4, 43R4) of the symbol display variation unit in a predetermined area of the RAM 45a3 is initialized for starting rotation. The actual driving of the stepping motors (43L4, 43M4, 43R4) is controlled by the stepping motor control process S205 (see FIG. 33) of the timer interrupt process.

  After the symbol variation standby processing S608, a rotation control processing S609 for controlling the rotation of each cylinder (L, M, R) in the symbol display variation unit 103 is executed. Here, the rotation control process S609 will be described in detail. FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the rotation control process S609.

  In the rotation control process S609, information on the rotation of each cylinder (L, M, R) in a predetermined area of the RAM 45a3 is initialized, and all the cylinders (L, M, R) indicating that all the cylinders (L, M, R) are rotating are initialized. A rotating rotation command (a type of rotating rotation information command) and a symbol change state command (a type of internal state command) indicating a symbol display change state in the symbol display change unit 103 are stored in the ring buffer (“ “Rotation start process” S1101). After the rotation start process S1101, the process waits until a predetermined stop standby time elapses ("design stop standby process" S1102). The “predetermined stop standby time” in the symbol stop standby process S1102 is substantially the same as the average time required from the start of rotation of each cylinder (L, M, R) to steady rotation at a constant speed. After the symbol stop standby process S1102, it is determined whether or not the rotation of all the spinning cylinders (L, M, R) is a steady rotation (S1103). Specifically, whether or not these rotations are steady rotations is determined by whether or not a detection signal is received from the rotation position detection sensor 43R7 corresponding to the rotation cylinder that last started rotation. If the detection signal is received, it is determined that the rotations are steady rotations. If the detection signal is not received, it is determined that the rotation of any of the rotating cylinders is not steady rotations. . If these rotations are not steady rotations, the determination process S1103 is repeatedly executed. In this embodiment, all the drums (L, M, R) start rotating simultaneously.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1103 that the rotations of all the cylinders are steady rotations, an automatic stop timer for measuring the fluctuation time of the symbol display until the automatic stop is set (“automatic stop timer setting process” S1104). ). After the automatic stop timer setting process S1104, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the automatic stop timer exceeds the specified rotation time (S1105). If the measurement time by the automatic stop timer does not exceed the specified rotation time, the following process for manually stopping the symbol display fluctuation is executed.

  It is determined whether or not a left stop signal corresponding to the operation of the left cylinder stop button 126L is received (S1106). If the left stop signal is not received, it is determined whether or not a middle stop signal corresponding to the operation of the middle-cylinder stop button 126M is received (S1107). If the middle stop signal has not been received, it is determined whether a right stop signal corresponding to the operation of the right-turn cylinder stop button has been received (S1108). When the right stop signal has not been received, that is, when none of the left stop signal, the right stop signal, and the right stop signal has been received, determination processing S1106 is executed.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1106 that a left stop signal has been received, it is determined whether a left stop flag is set (S1109). The “left stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the left cylinder L is rotating or stopped, and is canceled in the rotation initialization process S607. When the left stop flag is set, it indicates that the left cylinder L has already stopped, and when the left stop flag is released, it indicates that the left cylinder L is rotating. When the left stop flag is set, the determination process S1106 is executed. On the other hand, when the left stop flag is cancelled, the left turn cylinder stop process S1110 is executed. In the left rotating cylinder stop process S1110, first, the left stepping motor 43L4 that rotates the left rotating cylinder L is stopped with reference to the reference control table selected in the rotation initialization process S607. After the left stepping motor 43L4 is stopped, a left stop flag is set, the number of stop rotations is incremented, and a left rotation stop command (a type of rotation rotation information command) indicating that the left rotation L is stopped; A left swirl symbol command (a kind of stop symbol command) representing a stop symbol of the left swirl L is stored in the ring buffer. “The number of spinning cylinders” represents the number of spinning cylinders that are stopped, and is reset to “0” in the rotation start process S1101.

  Here, the control when stopping the left stepping motor 43L4 will be described in detail. Based on the current number of revolution drive signal transmissions, the reference control table is referenced to determine the number of transmissions of the revolution drive signal. If the winning flag of big bonus combination, regular bonus combination, various small combinations or re-playing combination is set, it is possible as long as the winning combination is not established The number of transmissions is determined so that the symbol pattern of the winning combination stops along any of the active lines. For example, if a small role that “watermelon” symbols are arranged on the lower line is selected, and the counterclockwise stop operation unit 231 is operated at a timing when the “watermelon” symbol passes through the upper line, it will stop at the lower level. Slide the left drum L by 2 symbols. It should be noted that the range that can be slid is determined in advance, and the “watermelon” symbol may not stop at the lower stage depending on the operation timing of the left-turn cylinder stop button 126L. Even in this case, if the “watermelon” symbol can be stopped at the middle or upper level, the “watermelon” symbol is controlled to stop at the middle or upper level regardless of the planned pay line. “Number of rotation drive signal transmissions” indicates the number of transmissions of the rotation drive signal transmitted to the left stepping motor 43L4, and the value is “in response to reception of the detection signal from the rotation position detection sensor 43L7”. It is reset to “0”. Specifically, in the left turn cylinder stop process S1110, referring to the number of rotation drive signal transmissions, it is confirmed that transmission of the rotation drive signal for the determined number of transmissions has been completed and left drive stop A flag (a kind of drive change information) is set. Note that in the stepping motor control process S205 of the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 33, the setting of the left stop flag is confirmed and transmission of the rotating drum drive signal is stopped. Thereby, after the number of transmissions is determined, the rotating drum driving signal is repeatedly transmitted to the left stepping motor 43L4 by the number of times.

  After the left turning cylinder stop process S1110, it is determined whether or not the number of stopping cylinders is 3 (S1111). If the number of stop cylinders is not 3, that is, if at least one of the cylinders is rotating (during the change of the symbol display), it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed (S1112). ). When it is necessary to change the reference control table when stopping the unstopped cylinder, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process"). S1113). In the control table changing process S1113, the stop position of the already-rotated rotating cylinder of the middle rotating cylinder M and the right rotating cylinder R is referred to together with the stop position of the left rotating cylinder L. As a case where it is necessary to change the reference control table, for example, there is a case where a combination other than the winning combination wins.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1107 that an intermediate stop signal has been received, it is determined whether or not an intermediate stop flag is set (S1114). As in the case of the left stop flag, the “medium stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the middle drum M is rotating or stopped, and is canceled in the rotation start process S1101. If the middle stop flag is set, determination processing S1106 is executed. On the other hand, when the middle stop flag is released, it is determined whether or not the number of stop rotations is 0 (S1115). When the number of stop cylinders is not 0, the middle cylinder stop process S1117 is executed. On the other hand, when the number of stop rotations is 0, a predetermined manual stop control table in the manual stop control table group is reset as the reference control table (“control table resetting process” S1116), and the control table is reset. After the process S1116, the middle cylinder stop process S1117 is executed. Note that the middle cylinder stop process S1117 is the same process as the left cylinder stop process S1110. In the middle cylinder stopping process S1117, first, referring to the reference control table, an intermediate driving stop flag (a kind of drive change information) is set, and the middle stepping motor in the middle cylinder apparatus 170M is stopped. The control for stopping the middle stepping motor is substantially the same as the control for stopping the left stepping motor 43L4. After the middle stepping motor 43M4 is stopped, a middle stop flag is set, the number of stop cylinders is incremented, and a middle cylinder stop command (a kind of rotation rotation information command) indicating that the middle cylinder M is stopped. ) And a middle-rotor symbol command (a kind of stop symbol command) representing a stop symbol of the middle drum M is stored in the ring buffer.

  After the middle cylinder stop process S1117, it is determined whether or not the number of stop cylinders is 3 (S1118). If the number of stop rotations is not 3, it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed when stopping the unrotated rotation (S1119). When the reference control table needs to be changed, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process" S1120). In the control table changing process S1120, the stop position (stop symbol) of the already-rotated rotating cylinder among the left rotating cylinder L and the right rotating cylinder R is referred to together with the stopping position of the middle rotating cylinder M.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1108 that a right stop signal has been received, it is determined whether a right stop flag is set (S1121). The “right stop flag” is a flag for identifying whether the right cylinder R is rotating or stopped, as in the case of the left stop flag and the middle stop flag, and is canceled in the rotation start process S1101. If the right stop flag is set, determination processing S1106 is executed. On the other hand, when the right stop flag is released, it is determined whether or not the number of stop rotations is 0 (S1122). If the number of stop rotations is not 0, right rotation stop processing S1124 is executed. On the other hand, when the number of stop rotations is 0, a predetermined manual stop control table in the manual stop control table group is reset as a reference control table (“control table resetting process” S1123), and the control table is reset. After the process S1123, a right-turn cylinder stop process S1124 is executed. Note that the right crotch stop processing S1117 is the same processing as the left crotch stop processing S1110. In the right turn stopping process S1117, first, referring to the selected manual stop control table, the right drive stop flag is set, and the right stepping motor in the right turn device 170R is stopped. The control for stopping the right stepping motor is substantially the same as the control for stopping the left stepping motor 43L4. After stopping the right stepping motor 43R4, a right stop flag is set, the number of stop rotations is incremented, and a right rotation stop command (a type of rotation rotation information command) indicating that the right rotation R is stopped ) And a right swirl symbol command (a kind of stop symbol command) representing a stop symbol of the right swirl are stored in the ring buffer.

  After the right turn stopping process S1124, it is determined whether or not the number of stop turns is 3 (S1125). If the number of stop rotations is not 3, it is determined whether or not the reference control table needs to be changed when stopping the unrotated rotation (S1126). When the reference control table needs to be changed, the reference control table is changed to another manual stop control table selected from the manual stop control table group ("control table change process" S1127). In the control table changing process S1127, the stop position (stop symbol) of the already-rotated spinning cylinder among the left and right rotating cylinders L and M is referred to together with the stop position of the right rotating cylinder R.

  In the determination process S1105, when the time measured by the automatic stop timer exceeds the specified rotation time, the rotation of all the rotating cylinders currently rotating is stopped ("automatic stop process" S1128). After the automatic stop process S1128, and when it is determined in the determination process S1111, the determination process S1115, and the determination process S1125 that the number of stop cylinders is “3”, the automatic stop timer is canceled (“automatic stop timer release”). Process "S1129).

  Here, the automatic stop process S1128 will be described in detail. In the automatic stop process S1128, first, one table is set as a reference control table from the automatic stop control table group held in the ROM 45a2 with reference to the stop position (stop symbol) of the rotating cylinder that has already stopped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the left stop flag is set. If the left stop flag is not set, the rotation of the left cylinder L is stopped. Next, it is determined whether or not the intermediate stop flag is set. If the intermediate stop flag is not set, the rotation of the intermediate drum M is stopped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the right stop flag is set. If the middle stop flag is not set, the rotation of the middle cylinder R is stopped.

  After the rotation control process S609, a winning confirmation process S610 is executed as shown in FIG. In the winning confirmation process S610, first, it is determined whether or not the symbol pattern for each activated line is a winning symbol pattern, and whether or not a winning combination is established and whether or not a winning flag is established. It is inspected that no other players have won the prize. In this embodiment, if the number of bets is 1, the pattern pattern of the middle stage line is inspected. If the number of bets is 2, the pattern patterns of the middle stage line, the upper stage line, and the lower stage line are inspected. For example, all symbol patterns of the five combination lines are inspected. When even one winning combination other than the winning combination is won, error processing for notifying the occurrence of a winning error is executed. On the other hand, if only the winning combination is winning, a winning flag corresponding to all winning winning combinations (for example, big bonus winning flag, regular bonus winning flag, cherry winning flag, bell winning flag, watermelon winning flag, A replay winning flag) is set. Further, the number of acquired game balls corresponding to each winning combination won is added within a range not exceeding the maximum number of acquired game balls, so that the number of acquired game balls is finally determined. Further, in the winning confirmation process S610, a winning combination command including information on the type of winning combination, a winning line command including information on the type of winning line, and a winning combination error command including information on winning errors are stored in the ring buffer. .

  After the winning confirmation process S610, a payout command including information on the number of acquired game balls is set ("acquired ball payout process" S611). After the acquired game ball payout process S611, a re-game process S612 is performed. In the re-game process S612, when it is determined that the re-game is won in the winning confirmation process S610, various processes such as setting the internal state to a re-game are performed. Further, a re-game command (a kind of internal state command) indicating that the next game is a re-game is stored in the ring buffer.

  After the re-game process S612, an accessory operating process S613 is performed. In the in-community-operating process S613, a process during the operation of an accessory such as a big bonus and a regular bonus is performed. Here, the processing-in-acting step S613 will be described in detail. FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process during an accessory operation.

  In the accessory operating process S613, it is determined whether or not the internal state is a big bonus (S1301). If the internal state is a big bonus, it is further determined whether the internal state is a JAC game or a small role game (S1302). If it is not a JAC game, it is determined whether or not a JACIN symbol pattern (in this embodiment, a combination of three replay symbols) is displayed on the active line as a trigger for transition to the JAC game (S1303). When the JACIN symbol pattern is displayed on the active line, initialization regarding the JAC game is performed ("JAC initialization process" S1304). In the JAC initialization process S1304, the internal state is set to a JAC game with a big bonus, and the number of JACs and the number of established JACs are respectively set to predetermined values. On the other hand, when the JACIN symbol pattern is not displayed on the active line, the JAC initialization process S1304 is skipped.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1302 that the internal state is a JAC game, the number of JAC games is decreased by 1 ("JAC number update process" S1305). After the JAC number updating process S1305, it is determined whether or not a JAC symbol pattern (in this embodiment, a combination of three replay symbols) is displayed on the active line (S1306). When the JAC symbol pattern is displayed on the effective line, the number of JAC establishment is decreased by 1 ("JAC establishment number update process" S1307). On the other hand, if the JAC symbol pattern is not displayed on the valid line, the JAC establishment number update process S1307 is skipped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the number of JACs or the number of established JACs is 0 (S1308, S1309). When the number of JACs or the number of established JACs is 0, the internal state is changed to a small role game (“JAC end process” S1310). On the other hand, if the number of JACs and the number of established JACs are not 0, the JAC end process S1310 is skipped.

  After passing through the predetermined processes of the above-described processing S1302 to S1310, the number of acquired game balls calculated in the winning confirmation processing S610 is added to the total number of acquisitions, and the total number of acquisitions is updated (“acquisition total number update process” S1311). It should be noted that the total number acquired is initialized in the accessory operation determination process S614 described below at the start of the big bonus. After the total acquisition update process S1311, it is determined whether the total acquisition is equal to or greater than the predetermined acquisition number (S1312). If the total number of acquisitions is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of acquisitions, big bonus end processing is performed (“BB end processing” S1313). On the other hand, when the total acquisition number is less than the predetermined acquisition number, the BB end processing S1313 is skipped. Through the above-described processing steps, the accessory operating process S613 ends.

  If it is determined in the determination process S1301 that the internal state is not a big bonus, it is determined whether or not the internal state is a regular bonus (S1314). If the internal state is not a regular bonus, this process ends. On the other hand, if the internal state is a regular bonus, the number of JAC games is decreased by 1 ("JAC number update process" S1315). The number of JACs is initialized to a predetermined number in the accessory operation determination process S614 described below at the start of the regular bonus. Note that the number of JACs in the regular bonus may be different from the number of JACs in the big bonus. After the JAC number update process S1315, it is determined whether or not a JAC symbol pattern (in this embodiment, a combination of three replay symbols) is displayed on the active line (S1316). When the JAC symbol pattern is displayed on the active line, the number of established JACs is decreased by 1 ("JAC establishment number update process" S1317). The number of established JACs is initialized to a predetermined number in the accessory action determination process S614 (see FIG. 36) described below at the start of the regular bonus. Note that the number of JACs established in the regular bonus may be different from the number of JACs established in the big bonus. On the other hand, if the JAC symbol pattern is not displayed on the valid line, the JAC establishment number update process S1317 is skipped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the number of JACs or the number of established JACs is 0 (S1318, S1319). When the number of JACs or the number of established JACs is 0, the internal state is changed to a small role game (“RB end process” S1320). On the other hand, if the number of JACs and the number of established JACs are not 0, the JAC end process S1320 is skipped. Through the above-described processing steps, the accessory operating process S613 ends.

  After the accessory operating process S613, as shown in FIG. 36, an accessory operating determination process S614 is performed. FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the accessory operation determination process S614. In the accessory operation determination process S614, as shown in FIG. 40, it is determined whether or not a big bonus winning flag indicating that the big bonus (BB) is won is set (S1401). If the big bonus winning flag is set, it is determined whether or not a big bonus winning flag indicating that the big bonus has been won is set (S1402). If the big bonus winning flag is set, processing for starting the big bonus is executed ("BB start processing" S1403). On the other hand, when the big bonus winning flag is not set, the BB start processing S1403 is skipped.

  If the big bonus winning flag is not set in the determination process S1401, it is determined whether or not the regular bonus winning flag indicating that the regular bonus (RB) is won is set (S1404). If the regular bonus winning flag is set, it is determined whether or not a regular bonus winning flag indicating that the regular bonus has been won is set (S1405). If the big bonus winning flag is set, a process for starting the regular bonus is executed ("RB start process" S1406). On the other hand, if the regular bonus winning flag is not set, the RB start process S1406 is skipped. Through the above process, the accessory operation determination process S614 ends.

  After the accessory operation determination process S614, as shown in FIG. 36, a game progress display process S615 is executed. In the game progress display process S615, when the internal state is a big bonus or a regular bonus, data for displaying the remaining number of JAC games, the total number of acquired game balls in one big bonus, and the like are set. . In addition, after the end of the big bonus or regular bonus, the internal state is changed to the specific gaming state in order to shift to a specific gaming state such as a replay time (“RT”) in which the winning probability of replaying is higher than the normal gaming state. The specific game state command (a kind of internal state command) indicating the specific game state is set and stored in the ring buffer.

  A control process executed by the payout control board 37a will be described. The control process of the payout control board 37a is roughly divided into a main process that is activated in response to power recovery by restarting the supply of external power or turning on the power switch 38a, and an interrupt process that interrupts the main process. The For convenience of explanation, after describing the interrupt process, the main process will be described. The interrupt process includes a command interrupt process for interrupting in response to reception of various commands from the main control board 45a and a timer interrupt process that is periodically and repeatedly executed (2 ms in this embodiment). For convenience of explanation, the interrupt process will be described first, followed by the main process.

  First, command interrupt processing will be described. FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing command interruption processing of the payout control board 37a. The command interruption process is executed when the payout control board 37a receives a command from the main control board 45a. As shown in FIG. 41, when the command interrupt process is executed, first, the received command is stored in the reception data buffer (“command reception process” S3901). After the command reception process S3901, the command reception flag 37a31 is set ("command reception flag setting process" S3902). The external interrupt process ends from the end of the command reception flag setting process S3902.

  Next, timer interrupt processing will be described. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt process of the payout control board 37a. As shown in FIG. 42, in the timer interrupt process, it is first determined whether or not the command reception flag 37a31 is set (S4001). When the command reception flag 37a31 is set, the command stored in the reception data buffer is read (“command reading process” S4002). After the command reading process S4002, the command reception flag 37a31 is canceled ("command reception flag cancellation process" S4003). After the command reception flag release processing S4003, it is determined whether or not the read command is a payout command (S4004). In the case of a payout command, the number of winning balls (the number of payouts) corresponding to the type of payout command is set in the winning ball number counter 37a33 ("prize ball number counter setting process" S4005). On the other hand, when the read command is not a payout command, the prize ball number counter setting process S4005 is skipped. If it is determined in the determination process S4001 that the command reception flag 37a31 is not set, the command reading process S4002 to the prize ball number counter setting process S4005 are skipped.

  Next, the state of the detection signal from the overflow detection switch (not shown) is confirmed, and setting control of the lower pan full state is performed based on the reception state ("lower pan full state setting process" S4006). . Specifically, when the detection signal from the overflow detection switch is continuously detected for 200 ms, “Lower pan full” is set, the lower pan full state is set. The dish full state is released.

  After the lower plate full state setting process S4006, the reception state of the game ball detection signal from each ball break detection device 35b is confirmed, and setting control of the ball presence state is performed based on the reception state (“ball presence state”). Setting process "S4006). Specifically, setting control for the presence of a sphere is performed as follows. First, it is determined whether or not all the game ball detection signals are in an on state, that is, whether or not a predetermined number or more of game balls are stored in all of the ball paths 33d and 35a. When all the game ball detection signals are in the on state, it is confirmed whether or not the state continues for 2000 ms. When the on-state of the game ball detection signal has passed 2000 ms, there are more than a predetermined number (20 in this embodiment) of game balls in all the ball passages 35a, so that the ball presence flag 323 is set. Then, the ball presence state setting process S4006 ends, and if the on state of the gaming ball detection signal has not elapsed 2000 ms, the ball presence state setting process S4006 ends. On the other hand, when at least one of the game ball detection signals is in the off state, it is determined whether or not the state continues for 200 ms. If the state has elapsed for 200 ms, the ball presence flag 323 is set. When the ball is released and the ball presence state setting process S4006 ends and the state does not continue for 200 ms, the ball presence state setting process S4006 ends as it is.

  After the ball presence state setting process S4007, when the state in the lower pan full state setting process S4006 or the ball presence state setting process S4007 is a state to be notified, the state is notified ("state notification process" S4008). . Specifically, in the case of “bottom full of lower plate ball”, the player is notified by voice from the speakers 106, 204, or the player is notified by the image by the liquid crystal display device 42. . Further, when the game ball is not stored in the game ball tank 32 (when the ball presence flag 323 is released), the player is similarly notified of that fact.

  After the status notification process S4008, it is determined whether or not the prize ball payout is disabled (S4009). The prize ball payout disabled state is a case where a payout of a ball is currently being executed. If the prize ball payout is not disabled, it is determined whether or not the value of the prize ball number counter 37a33 is “0” (S4010). When the value of the winning ball number counter 37a33 is “0”, there is no gaming ball to be paid out based on the payout command, so the process proceeds to S4012, and the value of the winning ball number counter 37a33 must be “0”. For example, since there is a game ball to be paid out based on the payout command, “1” is set in the payout state counter 37a32 (“payout state counter setting process” S4011). If it is determined in the determination process S4009 that the prize ball cannot be paid out, or if the value of the prize ball number counter is “0” in the determination process S4010, the process proceeds to the next process.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the rental ball payout state is disabled (S4012). Note that the rental ball payout disabled state is a case where the payout of the winning ball is currently being executed. If it is not in the lend-out status, it is determined whether or not a lend-out request command is received from the card unit (S4013). If a rental ball payout request command has been received, “2” is set in the payout state counter 37a32 in order to pay out the winning ball (“payout state counter setting process” S4014). On the other hand, when the rental ball payout request command has not been received, the payout state counter setting process S4014 is skipped. If it is determined in S4012 that the rental ball payout is disabled, the determination process S4013 and the payout state counter setting process S4014 are skipped.

  Next, a payout timer interrupt execution flag is set ("payout timer interrupt execution flag setting process" S4015). After the payout timer interrupt execution flag setting process S4015, the reception state of the count switch detection signal from the count sensor 33h is confirmed ("count sensor confirmation process" S4016).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a payout number non-monitoring flag is set (S4017). When the payout number non-monitoring flag (324 to 327) is set, the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) associated with the set payout number non-monitoring flag is decremented by “1”. And updated to a new value ("unmonitoring time counter update process" S4018). When the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) is “0”, the set time (timeout time) has elapsed. The update is performed only when the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) is “1” or more, and when the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) is “0”, the update is further performed. It is configured not to perform. On the other hand, if the payout number non-monitoring flag is not set, the non-monitoring time counter update process S4018 is skipped.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the dispensing solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are set (S4019). When any one of the payout solenoid operation flags (314 to 317) is set, the value of the payout game ball counter 318 to 321 associated therewith is subtracted by “1” and updated to a new value. ("Payout game ball counter update process" S4020). When the value of the payout game ball counters 318 to 321 is “0”, the set time (timeout time) is measured. Note that the update is performed only when the value of the payout game ball counter is “1” or more, and no further update is performed when the value of the payout game ball counter is “0”. When the payout game ball counter update process S4020 ends, the timer interrupt process ends.

  The main process in the payout control board 37a will be described. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing of the payout control board 37a. As shown in FIG. 43, in the main process, first, various settings are made for a register group around the CPU, an I / O device, and the like ("initial setting process" S4101). After the initial setting process S4101, access to the RAM 37a3 is permitted ("RAM access permission process" S4102), and an external interrupt vector is set ("external interrupt vector setting process" S4103). After the external interrupt vector setting process S4103, all areas of the RAM 37a3 are cleared to “0” (S4104), then initial values are set in the RAM 37a3 (“RAM initial setting process” S4105), and other peripheral devices of the CPU 37a1. Initial setting is performed ("CPU peripheral device initial setting process" S4106). After the CPU peripheral device initial setting process S4106, interrupt permission is set (S4107), and the game ball payout process S4108 is repeatedly executed. In a normal game, in response to receiving a payout command from the main control board 45a, pay out game balls with the number of prize balls based on the type of payout command, and pay out 25 game balls when a lending payout request is made. It is processing to issue.

  Here, the game ball payout process S4108 will be described in detail. FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing an example of the game ball payout process S4108. As shown in FIG. 44, in the game ball payout process S4108, it is first determined whether or not the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “0” (S4201). When the payout state counter 37a32 is “0”, that is, when a payout command is not received, it is determined whether or not reception of a count switch signal from the count sensor 33h is detected (S4202). If reception of the count switch signal is detected, processing for outputting the count signal to the main control board 45a is performed ("count signal output processing" S4203). On the other hand, when the reception of the count switch signal is not detected, the count signal output process S4203 is skipped. If it is determined in the determination process S4201 that the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is other than “0”, the determination process S4202 and the count signal output process S4203 are skipped.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the ball presence flag 323 is set (S4204). If the ball presence flag 323 is not set, the game ball cannot be paid out because a predetermined number or more of game balls are not stored in the ball passage 35a of the case rail 35, so that the game ball payout process S4108 is performed. Ends. On the other hand, when the ball presence flag 323 is set, the process proceeds to S4205 and subsequent steps in order to pay out the game ball.

  When it is determined in the determination process S4204 that the ball presence flag 323 is set, the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is confirmed (S4205, S4207), and the value is neither “1” nor “2”. The game ball payout process S4108 ends because the game ball is not paid out. When the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “1”, the game ball is paid out based on the payout command, and the value of the prize ball number counter 37a32 is set in the total payout number counter 37a34 (“ Total payout counter setting process ”S4206). On the other hand, when the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “2”, “25” is set as the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 (“total payout number counter setting process” S4208). The reason why “25” is set as the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is that, in this embodiment, every time a lending payout request signal is received, 25 game balls are paid out.

  In the total payout number counter setting processing S4206 and S4208, when the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is set, the first to fourth payout retry flags 310 to 313 are respectively set ("all payout retry flag" “Setting process” S1209) Initial setting is performed so that the payout process is performed for all four ball paths 33d.

  After the all-item payout retry flag setting process S4209, output of a payout signal (first signal for error monitoring) to the main control board 45a is started ("payout signal output start process" S4210).

  After the payout signal output start process S4210, it is determined whether any payout retry flag (310-313) is set (S4211). If all the payout retry flags 310-313 are not set, An error process is executed to notify that the payout becomes impossible in the state where the game ball has not been paid out ("error process" S4212). The error process S1208 is an infinite loop, and the error can be eliminated by resetting the gaming machine 10. On the other hand, if any one of the payout retry flags 310 to 313 is set, it is determined whether or not the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is “0” (S4213), and the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is “ If it is “0”, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “2” (S4214). If the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is “2”, a loan end signal is output to the CR unit (“lending end signal output process” S4215), while the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is not “2”. Since the payout is not based on the lending payout request signal, the lending end signal output process S4215 is skipped. Next, “0” is set to the value of the payout state counter 37a32 (“payout state counter initialization process” S4216), and the game ball payout process S4108 ends. When the value of the payout state counter 37a32 is set to “0”, the winning ball payout is permitted and the rental ball payout is permitted.

  Before the determination process S4213, it is confirmed whether or not the withdrawal retry flags 310 to 313 of any item are in the state. If the withdrawal retry flag 310 to 313 is not set even for one item, the ball is jammed. Therefore, it may be configured to perform error processing. That is, if even one of the ball passages 33d of the payout device 33 is clogged, even if 80 or more game balls are stored in the ball passage 35a of the case rail 35, the game balls cannot be paid out reliably. However, it is possible to surely pay out the game ball by encouraging the error processing to be executed to cancel the abnormality.

  If the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is not “0” in the determination process S4213, it is determined whether or not the all-item payout retry flags 310 to 313 are set (S4217). In the determination process 4217, if any of the payout retry flags 310 to 313 is released, the payout of the game ball is delayed in any of the sections as will be described later. It waits for a predetermined time (“wait process” S4218), and then proceeds to a payout number distribution process S4219. In this embodiment, the wait time in the wait process S4218 is 80 ms. This weight processing S4218 is provided to suppress flapping of the game ball on the upstream side of the payout passage 33e when the ball passage 33d of the game ball is closed by the flicker 33b. On the other hand, when the all-item payout retry flag is set, the process proceeds to the payout number distribution process S4219 without performing the wait process S4218.

  In order to pay out game balls evenly in the four ball passages 33d from which game balls are paid out, the number of payouts to be paid out by each ball passage 33d is distributed ("paid out number distribution process"). S4219). This process will be described in detail separately.

  After the payout number distribution process S4219, it is determined whether or not the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is set (S4220). If the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is set, the maximum value “4” is set in the payout item pointer 37a39 (“payout item pointer maximum value setting process” S4221).

  After the payout item pointer maximum value setting process S4221, the payout number distribution process S4219 distributes to each ball path 33d and counts the number of game balls at the start of payout in each ball path 33d. Processing for managing the end of payout is executed (“payout execution processing” S4222). This process will be described in detail separately.

  After the payout execution process S4222, it is determined whether or not the payout item pointer 37a39 is the minimum value “1” (S4223). If the payout item pointer is not “1”, the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is decreased by “1” (“payout item pointer subtraction process” S4224), and the process returns to the payout execution process S4222. On the other hand, if the payout line pointer is “1”, each payout solenoid 33c is driven based on each payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) (“all line payout solenoid operation control process” S4225). Specifically, in each article, when the dispensing solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) is newly set, the dispensing solenoid 33c is changed to the on state, and the dispensing solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) is already set. When the payout solenoid 33c is on, the on state of the payout solenoid 33c is maintained. When the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) is newly released, the payout solenoid 33c is changed to the off state, and the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to If 317) has already been released, the disengagement solenoid 33c remains off.

  After all the payout solenoid operation control processing S4225 for all items, it is determined whether or not all the values of the first to fourth payout game ball counters 318 to 321 are “0” (S4226). If all of the values of the Article 1 to Article 4 payout game ball counters 318 to 321 are “0”, the process returns to the determination process S4211. On the other hand, if any of the values of Article 1 to Article 4 payout game ball counters 318 to 321 is not “0”, the payout timer interrupt execution flag 322 is canceled (“payout timer interrupt execution flag release processing”). S4227), the process returns to the determination process S4220. As described above, the game ball payout process S4108 is realized by the determination process S4201 to the payout timer interrupt execution flag release process S4227.

  Here, the payout number distribution process S4219 will be described in detail. FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout number distribution process S4219. As shown in FIG. 45, in the payout number distribution process S4219, first, the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is saved in the stack area ("total payout number counter value save process" S4301). Next, all the values of the 1st to 4th scheduled payout number counters 37a35 to 37a38 that store the planned payout number in each ball passage 33d are all cleared to “0” (“all payout planned number counters” In addition, the maximum value “4” is set to the payout item pointer 37a39 (“payout item pointer maximum value setting process” S4303). Of the four ball passages 33d, the payout item pointer 37a39 sequentially and repeatedly designates from the ball passage 33d provided on the front side of the gaming machine 10 to the ball passage 33d provided on the back side of the gaming machine 10. (Specifically, it is updated as 4, 3, 2, 1, 4,...).

  It is determined whether or not the withdrawal retry flag (310 to 313) of the article indicated by the value of the withdrawal article pointer 37a39 is set (S4304), and if the withdrawal retry flag (310 to 313) of the article is set. Since it is possible to pay out the game ball using the ball passage 33d corresponding to the article, the value of the payout planned number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the article is incremented by “1” to obtain one piece. The game balls are distributed so as to be paid out from the ball passage 33d corresponding to the article ("payout scheduled number counter addition process for the article" S4305). Furthermore, the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) for the item is set ("Discharge solenoid operation flag setting process for the item" S4306), and the maximum waiting time until the first game ball is inserted (timeout time, The value “180” corresponding to the detection time) is set in the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the item (“payout game ball counter setting process of the item” S4307), and the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is set to “ 1 "is subtracted (" total payout number counter subtraction process "S4308). In the present embodiment, the ball passage 33d is opened by the payout flicker 33b in a state where the game ball is in the game ball tank 32, and the first game ball flowing down the ball passage 33d normally reaches the payout output sensor 33h. Therefore, 360 ms is set as the maximum waiting time as a time with a sufficient margin. The reason for setting the time with a sufficient margin in this way is that fluttering that occurs when the game ball flows down in the ball passage 33d is taken into consideration. Further, the value of the Article 1 to Article 4 payout game ball counters 318 to 321 is decremented by “1” every time the timer interrupt process is executed. Since the timer interruption process is repeatedly executed every 2 ms as described above, 360 ms is designated by setting “180” in the first to fourth payout game ball counters 318 to 321.

  Also, by setting the discharge solenoid operation flag (314 to 327) of the item in the discharge solenoid operation flag setting process 4306 of the item, all items of the discharge solenoid operation control process S4225 (see FIG. 44) of the item are set. The payout solenoid 33c is turned on, the ball passage 33d is opened by the flicker 33b, and the payout operation for the article is started.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is “0” (S4308). If the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is not “0”, the game ball distribution is completed. Therefore, the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is updated. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the payout item pointer 37a39 is the minimum value “1” (S4311), and the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is not the minimum value “1” but “4”, “3” or If “2”, the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is subtracted by “1” (“payout item pointer subtraction process” S4312), and the process returns to the determination process S4304. On the other hand, if the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is “1”, the process returns to the payout item pointer maximum value setting process S4303.

  If it is determined in the determination process S4309 that the value of the total payout number counter 37a34 is “0”, the distribution of all the game balls to be paid out has been completed, so the total payout number counter value is saved. The value of the total payout number counter 37a34 saved in the process S4301 is restored ("total payout number counter value return process" S4313), and this payout number distribution process S4219 is ended.

  In addition, if the payout retry flag (310-313) of the item indicated by the value of the payout item pointer 37a39 is not set in the determination process S4304, it is impossible to pay out the game ball using the item. In order to prevent the game balls from being distributed to the item, the processing skips the payout number counter addition process S4305 to the determination process S4309 of the item and initializes information and values corresponding to the item (" The article initialization process "S4310) and the process proceeds to the determination process S4311. In the initializing process S4310 of the item, a scheduled payout number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item, a payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) of the item, a payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the item, Information and values used in the payout execution process S4222 described below are initialized.

  Here, the payout execution process S4222 will be described in detail. FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the payout execution process S4222. As shown in FIG. 46, in the payout execution process S4222, it is first determined whether or not the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the article is “0” (S4401). If it is “0”, the payout operation corresponding to the article has already been completed, and thus the payout execution process S4222 is ended.

  If the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the item is not “0” in the determination process S4401, whether or not the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) of the item is “0”. Determined. If the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) of the article is “0”, the process proceeds to the determination process S4414 without confirming the reception state (S4403, S4408, S4414) of the count switch signal from the count sensor 33h. Transition. On the other hand, if the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) of the item is not “0”, it is determined whether or not the passing completion of the game ball by the payout output sensor 33h of the item is detected (S4403). If the passing of the game ball is not completed, the process proceeds to determination process S4408 described later. On the other hand, if completion of the passing of the game ball is detected by the payout output count sensor 33h of the article, it is determined that one payout of the game ball has been detected, and the value of the total payout counter 37a34 is subtracted by “1” (“ "Total payout number counter subtraction process" S4404), and the value of the planned payout number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item is decremented by "1" ("schedule payout number counter subtraction process of the item" S4405). After the scheduled payout number counter subtraction process S4405 of the item, it is determined whether or not the value of the planned payout number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item is “0” (S4406). If there is, the payout of all the game balls scheduled to be paid out in the article has been completed, so the output of the payout signal is stopped (“payout signal output stop process” S4407), and the payout execution process S4222 ends. On the other hand, if the value of the planned payout number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item is other than “0” in the determination process S4406, the payout execution process S4222 ends. .

  If the completion of the passing of the game ball by the count sensor 33h of the item is not detected in the determination process S4403, it is determined whether or not the start of the passing of the game ball by the count sensor 33h of the item is detected (S4408). The start of the passing of the game ball is confirmed by detecting the rising of the count switch signal from the payout output sensor 33h. Further, the completion of the passing of the game ball in the determination process S4403 is detected by the falling edge of the count switch signal.

  If the start of the passing of the game ball is not detected in the determination process S4408, the payout execution process S4222 is terminated. If the start of the passing of the game ball is detected, the maximum time until the game ball that has started to pass is completed. In order to set the waiting time (timeout time, passage time) of the item, “150” is set to the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the item (“payout game ball counter setting process of the item” S4409) ). In the present embodiment, since the time from when the start of passage of one game ball is detected in the state where there is a game ball in the game ball tank 32 until the next game ball starts to pass normally is about 10 ms. In addition, 300 ms is set as the maximum waiting time as a time waiting for a sufficient margin. The reason for setting a sufficient waiting time in this way is that fluttering that occurs when the game ball flows down is taken into consideration. As described above, by setting “150” to the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the article, 300 ms is set as the maximum waiting time.

  After the payout game ball counter setting process S4409 of the item, control is performed to output a count signal (second signal for error monitoring) to the main control board 45a ("count signal output process" S4410).

  It is determined whether or not the value of the scheduled payout counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the article is “1” (S4111). If the value is not “1”, there is still a game ball to be paid out. The payout execution process S4222 is once ended. On the other hand, if the value of the scheduled payout number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item is “1” in the determination process S4411, the non-monitoring time counter (324 to 327) of the item is set and the non-monitoring of the item is monitored. A predetermined value (“50” in this embodiment) is set as the value of the time counter (328 to 331) (“unmonitored time counter setting process for the item” S4412). The Article 1 to Article 4 payout number non-monitoring flags (324 to 327) are canceled according to the time-up of the corresponding non-monitoring time counters (328 to 331). Further, in this embodiment, by setting “50” to the value of the unmonitored time counter (328 to 331) of the article, 100 ms is set as the maximum waiting time. The game ball that has started to pass through is the last one game ball to be paid out in the ball passage 33d (hereinafter also referred to as “final game ball”), and excessive game balls are paid out. In order to prevent this, the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) of the article is canceled ("delivery solenoid action flag release process of the article" S4413). Accordingly, when the payout solenoid operation control process S4225 for all the strips in FIG. 44 is executed, the payout solenoid 33c of the corresponding ball passage 33d is turned off, and the game ball in the ball passage 33d is blocked by the closing of the payout flicker 33b. The payout operation ends.

  If the value of the non-monitoring time counter (328 to 331) of the item is other than “0” in the determination process S4402, the value of the payout planned number counter (37a35 to 37a38) of the item is “1” or more in the determination process S4406. In the case where the game ball passing start by the count sensor 33h of the item is not detected in the determination process S4408, the payout execution process S4222 ends.

  On the other hand, if the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the item is “0” in the determination process S4401, it is determined whether or not the game ball is being detected (S4414). The passage of the game ball is detected when the count switch signal from the payout count sensor 33h is on. If the game ball is in the process of passing, the game ball is clogged (stayed) in the payout output sensor 33h for some reason, or the game ball is abnormally passed due to a forced release of the payout flicker 33b. Therefore, an error process is executed to notify the occurrence of a game ball passing error ("error process" S4419). The error processing S4419 is an infinite loop, and the error can be eliminated by resetting after the game ball staying state is eliminated. The error may be eliminated by releasing the staying state. As described above, immediately after the time-out is confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not the game ball has successfully passed, so in a state where there is little error with respect to the set time-out time (360 ms or 300 ms), It can be confirmed whether or not the game ball has passed.

  If no error is detected in the determination process S4414, it is determined whether or not the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) of the article is set (S4415). If the payout solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) of the item is released, the payout execution processing S4222 is ended because the payout of the game balls in the ball passage 33d has been completed. On the other hand, if the discharge solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) for the item is set, the discharge solenoid operation flag (314 to 317) for the item is canceled ("release solenoid operation flag release process for the item" S4416). Then, the withdrawal retry flag of the relevant section is canceled (“delivery solenoid actuating flag release processing of the relevant section” S4417), and “50” is set as the maximum waiting time in the withdrawal game ball counter (318 to 321) of the relevant section ( “Disbursement game ball counter setting process of the article” S4419). In this embodiment, by setting “50” to the value of the payout game ball counter (318 to 321) of the article, 100 ms is set as the maximum waiting time.

  A control process executed by the sub control board 47a will be described. The control process of the sub-control board 47a is roughly divided into a main process that is activated when the external power is restored from a power failure or when the power is turned on, and an interrupt process that interrupts the main process. For convenience of explanation, after describing the interrupt process, the main process will be described. As interrupt processing in the CPU, there are regular timer interrupt processing and regular command interrupt processing.

  The timer interrupt process will be described. FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing an example of timer interrupt processing in the sub-control board 47a.

  The timer interrupt process is executed with a period of approximately 1 ms. In the timer interrupt process, first, an interrupt flag is read (“interrupt flag read process” S2001). After the interrupt flag reading process S2001, it is determined whether or not the interrupt flag is valid (S2002). Specifically, it is confirmed that it is a timer interrupt among various interrupts to the CPU. If the interrupt flag is valid, the interrupt timer counter is incremented and the interrupt timer counter is updated ("interrupt timer counter update process" S2003). After the interrupt timer counter update process S2003, the interrupt flag related to the timer interrupt is released ("interrupt flag release process" S2004). As a result, the next timer interrupt process for the CPU can be executed. If it is determined in the determination process S2002 that the interrupt flag is not valid, the interrupt timer counter update process S2003 and the interrupt flag release process S2004 are skipped because this is another interrupt process.

  The command interrupt process will be described in detail. FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing command interrupt processing in the sub-control board 47a. The command interruption process is executed in response to the transmission of a command from the main control board 45a. Since the command transmission in the main control board 45a is performed with a period of approximately 1.49 ms, this processing is performed with a period of approximately 1.49 ms.

  In the command interrupt process, first, it is determined whether or not the strobe signal from the main control board 45a is normal (S2101). If the strobe signal is normal, command data is acquired (“command data acquisition process” S2102). After the command data acquisition process S2102, it is determined whether or not the content is normal (S2103). When the command data is normal, the command is received (“command reception process” S2104), and after the command reception process S2104, the retry counter value is changed to a predetermined retry maximum value (“retry counter value maximization”). Process "S2105).

  If it is determined in step S2101 that the strobe signal is not normal, the retry counter value is changed to a predetermined maximum retry number (S2106). When it is determined in the determination process S2103 that the command data is not normal, the retry counter value is changed (“retry counter update process” S2107). In this change, the retry counter value is increased by one. After the process of changing the retry counter value (S2105, S2106, S2107), it is determined whether the retry counter value is the maximum value (S2108). When the retry counter value is the maximum value, the interrupt flag is read (“interrupt flag read process” S2109). After the interrupt flag reading process S2109, the value of the retry counter is cleared to the initial value (“0”) (“retry counter clear process” S2110). After the retry counter clear process S2110, the interrupt flag is released ("interrupt flag release process" S2111). By releasing the interrupt flag, the next command interrupt process can be executed.

  When the retry counter value is not the maximum value, that is, when the strobe signal is normal but the command data is not normal, the interrupt flag read process S2109, the retry counter clear process S2110, and the interrupt flag release process S2111 are skipped. The acquisition of command data at a predetermined timing is repeated until the retry counter value reaches a predetermined maximum retry value.

  The main process executed by the sub control board 47a will be described in detail. FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing an example of the main process of the sub control board.

  In the main processing, first, in response to the supply of internal power from the power supply control board 38 ', the sub control board 47a itself is initialized and peripheral devices such as the liquid crystal display device 42 connected to the sub control board 47a are initialized. Is performed ("initialization process" S2201). After the initialization process S2201, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S2202). Here, the system state includes a voltage drop state indicating that the supply voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, and an initialization indicating that the sub-control board 47a and the peripheral device connected to the sub-control board 47a are being initialized. It implies a state and a normal state indicating that the supply voltage is a predetermined voltage and normal game can be performed. Note that the initialization state is selected during the initialization process S2201.

  When it is determined in the determination process S2202 that the system state is a voltage drop state, a power failure process S2211 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is determined whether or not the value of the interrupt timer counter has changed (S2203). When the value of the interrupt timer counter is changed, the interrupt timer counter is updated (“interrupt timer counter update process” S2204). In the interrupt timer counter update process S2204, the value of the interrupt timer counter is decreased by 1. After the interrupt timer counter update process S2204, a short cycle timer process S2205 described later is performed. After the short cycle timer process S2205, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S2206). If the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is determined whether or not any command is received from the main control board 45a (S2207). If a command has been received, a received command confirmation process S2208 described later is performed. On the other hand, if a command has not been received, the received command confirmation process S2208 is skipped. After the received command confirmation process S2208, the base value of the random number that determines the details of the effect is updated ("random number base value update process" S2209). After the random number base value update process S2209, the process proceeds to a determination process S2202. When the system state is not a voltage drop state, the above processes (S2202 to S2209) are repeatedly executed in sequence.

  When it is determined in the determination processing S2202 and the determination processing S2206 that the system state is not the voltage drop state, the register data and the stack data are stored in the external RAM (“backup processing” S2210). After the backup process S2210, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state (S2211). If the system state is a voltage drop state, the determination process S2211 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if the voltage drop state is not established, the system waits for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 30 ms) to confirm that the cancellation of the voltage drop state is not a malfunction due to noise or the like (“wait process” S2212). After the wait process S2212, it is determined again whether the system state is a voltage drop state (S2213). If the system state is a voltage drop state, the process returns to the determination process S2211. On the other hand, if the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is determined that the supply of internal power has been resumed normally, and a process for starting the main process is performed ("start process" S2214). After the startup process S2214, the process returns to the initialization process S2201, and the main process is resumed.

  The short cycle timer process S2205 in the main process of the sub control board 47a will be described in detail. FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing an example of the short cycle timer process S2205. By executing the timer interrupt process substantially every 1 ms, the short cycle timer process S2205 is also executed substantially every 1 ms. In the short cycle timer process 2205, as shown in FIG. 50, first, a startup command confirmation process S2301 is executed. In the startup command confirmation process S2301, it is confirmed whether any command is received from the main control board 45a within 2 seconds after the execution of the startup process S2216. When no command is received from the main control board 45a, it is determined that the main control board 45a has not been normally activated, and processing for notifying the occurrence of an error is performed. On the other hand, if any command is received from the main control board 45a, this process is terminated and the process proceeds to the device control process S2302.

  In the device control process S2302, the liquid crystal display device 42, the speakers 106 and 204, and the light emitting devices 41g, 41h, 132, and 134L1 according to various commands that have been confirmed to be received in the received command confirmation process S2208 (FIG. 49) described below. The drive control is performed. Specifically, a signal for controlling them is transmitted.

  In the system state change process S2303, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the system state. Depending on the determination result, the voltage drop flag indicating the voltage drop state and the in-initialization flag indicating the initialization state are set or canceled. . If there is a change in the system state, processing corresponding to the change is executed. When the voltage drop flag and the initialization flag are canceled, the system state is regarded as a normal state, and this process ends. After the system state changing process S2303, a voltage monitoring process S2304 is executed.

  In the voltage monitoring process S2304, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the internal power supplied from the power supply board 109 is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. If the internal voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, the voltage drop flag is cleared. If the voltage drop flag is set, the voltage drop flag is canceled when the internal voltage is not lower than the predetermined voltage. After the voltage drop check process S2304, a long cycle timer process S2305 described below is executed.

  After the long cycle timer process S2305, data for controlling the liquid crystal display device 42, the speakers 106 and 204, the light emitting devices 41g, 41h, 132, 134L1, and the like are updated ("notification data change process" S2307).

  Here, the long cycle timer process S2306 will be described. FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing an example of the long cycle timer process S2306. In the long cycle timer process S2306, the value of the short cycle timer counter is added to the value of the long cycle timer counter, and the long cycle timer counter is updated ("long cycle timer counter addition process" S2401). After the long cycle timer counter update process S2401, it is determined whether or not the value of the long cycle timer counter is 10 or more (S2402). By the determination process S2402, the following process is executed approximately every 10 updates of the short cycle timer counter. Since the short cycle timer counter is updated approximately every 1 ms, the following processing is performed approximately every 10 ms.

  If it is determined in the determination process 2402 that the value of the long-period timer counter is less than 10, this process ends. On the other hand, when the value of the long cycle timer counter is 10 or more, the value of the long cycle timer counter is decreased by 10 and the value of the long cycle timer counter is updated ("long cycle timer counter subtraction process" S2403). . After the long cycle timer counter subtraction process S2403, data of a desired light emission pattern is extracted from a light emission data table including a plurality of light emission patterns for various light emitting devices (light emitting device 117 and the like) held in the ROM of the sub control board 47a. And stored in the output data buffer ("light emission data update process" S2404). The stored data is output by the device control process 2303 in the short cycle timer process S2206.

  After the light emission pattern data update process S2404, a process for synchronizing the light emission effect and the sound effect is executed ("light emission / sound synchronization process" S2405). After the light emission / sound synchronization processing S2405, in the situation where the sound effect is being performed, if the player is left for a predetermined time (30 seconds in this embodiment) without any input, The volume of the sound effect is changed to a low volume (“acoustic fade-out process” S2406). Further, without any input by the player, it is confirmed whether or not a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 50 seconds) has elapsed, and a demonstration flag is set ("demonstration start confirmation process" S2407). A predetermined demonstration effect is started on the liquid crystal display device 42 by setting the demonstration flag. After the demonstration process S2407, the volume setting of the volume adjustment switch (not shown) in the volume changing operation device (not shown) is confirmed, and the volume at the time of error notification or production for the acoustic devices 106 and 204 is updated. ("Volume setting process" S2408). Through the above processing steps (S2401 to S2408), the long cycle timer processing S2306 ends.

[Main configuration related to the present invention]
The structure of the main characteristic part of the game ball type revolving game machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 52 and 53 are functional block diagrams according to the characteristic part of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 54 is a timing chart showing an example of control according to the characteristic part of the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 54, when the total number of payouts is 75, the payout numbers of 18, 19, 19, and 19 game balls are allocated to the payout devices in Articles 1 to 4, respectively. An example is shown.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the main control board 45a is configured such that the game ball is not used during a period other than during the payout period based on the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring. An error monitoring unit 101 that outputs an error signal in the case of an affirmative determination by determining whether or not passage has been detected; an error processing unit 102 that performs predetermined error control based on an error signal from the error monitoring unit 101; Have The payout control board 37a corresponds to the game ball payout control means 201, the payout number distribution means 202, the payout number holding means (scheduled payout number counters 37a35 to 37a38) 203a to 203d corresponding to the respective items. Game ball counting means 204a to 204d, final ball determination means 205a to 205d corresponding to each item, error monitoring signal output control means 206a to 206d corresponding to each item, and error monitoring signal output unit 207a corresponding to each item To 207d and payout solenoid control means 208a to 208d corresponding to each item. Here, each of the error monitoring signal output control means 206a to 206d includes, as shown in FIG. 53, first signal control means 211a to 211d, second signal control means 212a to 212d, payout number non-monitor flag holding means (payout Number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327) 213a to 213d, payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214a to 214d and non-monitoring time measuring means 215a to 215d (non-monitoring time counters 328 to 331).

Next, the operation of the payout process will be described with reference to FIG.
A payout command including information relating to the total payout number of game balls set in the payout command setting process S415 (see FIG. 35) or the acquired ball payout process S611 is issued from the prize ball payout control means 801 of the main control board 45a. When input to the 37a side (time t1 in FIG. 54), the game ball payout means 201 extracts information regarding the total payout number from the input payout command, and the total payout number is extracted as a total payout number counter 37a34 ( 31) (S4206 and S4208 in FIG. 44), and the process is transferred to the payout number distribution means 202. In the case of accompanying a lending request according to the operation of the ball lending button 306 (see FIG. 6), a lending lending request signal is input from the lending lending switch 356 to the lending control board 37a.

  The number-of-payout distribution means 202 subtracts one by one until the value of the total number-of-payout counter 37a34 to which the total number of payouts is set becomes 0 (S4308). By repeatedly adding one by one in descending order to the scheduled payout number counters 37a35 to 37a39 (see FIG. 31), the total payout number is distributed to each item. In this way, the payout number of game balls distributed to the payout device 33 of each item (value of the payout planned number counters 37a35 to 37a38) is held by the payout number holding means 203a to 203d.

  When the first signal control means 211a to 211d inside the error monitoring signal output control means 206a to 206d detects that the payout command has been input to the game ball paying means 201, the first signal control means 211a to 211d A first signal control signal including an instruction to turn on the paying-out signal (first signal for error monitoring) of each item is transmitted to the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 206d (S4210), and the error monitoring signal is accordingly received. The output means 207a to 207d turn on the paying-out signal for each item (S4210, times t21, t22, t23, t24 in FIG. 54). On the other hand, when the game ball payout means 201 receives a payout command from the prize ball payout control means 801 or a ball payout request signal payout command from the ball lending switch 356, the game ball payout means 201 starts paying out the game balls distributed to each item. The dispensing solenoid control means 208a to 208d are instructed (S4419). The payout solenoid control means 208a to 208d turn on the payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 for each line to be paid out (all payout solenoid operation flag setting processing S4306, times t31, t32, t33 in FIG. 54, t34). As a result, energization of the payout solenoid 33c of the line for which the payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are set is started, the payout flicker 33b of each line is actuated, and the ball passage 33d is opened.

  When the payout flicker 33b for each item is activated (the payout solenoid operation control process S4225 for all items) and the ball passage 33d is opened, the flow of the game ball in the ball passage 33d is started. When the ball starts to pass (for example, time t41, t42, t43, t44 in FIG. 54) and falls when the passing of the game ball is completed (for example, time t51, t52, t53, t54 in FIG. 54) Output from the strip count sensor 33h. The count switch signal output from the count sensor 33h of each item is input to the second signal control means 212a to 212d inside the game ball counting means 204a to 204d and the error monitoring signal output control means 206a to 206d.

Each time the game ball counting means 204a to 204d detects the falling of the count switch signal of the corresponding line, the game ball counting means 204a to 204d subtracts the payout number of the corresponding line held in the payout number holding means 203a to 203d one by one.
Each time the second signal control means 212a to 212d detects the rising edge of the corresponding count switch signal, the second signal control means 212a to 212d corresponds to the second signal control signal including the transmission instruction of the count signal (second signal for error monitoring). The error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d are sent to the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d, and in response to this, the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d outputs a corresponding count signal (S4410, for example, times t41 'and t42' in FIG. 54). t43 ', t44').

  Here, the error monitoring means 101 is a means for monitoring the count signal of each item in order to prevent the game balls from being illegally paid out. When the count signal of the corresponding item is received, an error signal is transmitted to the error processing means 102, assuming that the game ball is paid out illegally in the corresponding item. When the error processing unit 102 receives an error signal from the error monitoring unit 101, the error processing unit 102 executes predetermined error processing. Specifically, the error monitoring means 101 having such a function, as shown in FIG. 64, is the first state information indicating that it is in the game ball payout processing state or is not in the game ball payout processing state. When the error information holding means 812 that holds any of the second state information indicating that the state is the state and the payout signal are input, the second state information that was set in the second state information at the start of the input Error information changing means 813 for changing the holding contents of the state holding means to the first state information and changing the holding contents of the second state holding means from the first state information to the second state information by stopping the input of the paying out signal. Each time the count signal is input, the content held in the error information holding means 812 is referred to determine whether or not the passing of the game ball is detected during a period other than during the payout period, and the determination result is affirmative Error signal in the case of It includes an error monitoring determination unit 813 to be output to the processing unit 102.

  The final ball determining means 205a to 205d determine the payout number of the corresponding item held in the payout number holding means 203a to 203d and the rise of the count switch signal detected by the second signal control means 212a to 212d of the corresponding item. When it is determined that the rising of the count switch signal corresponding to the last game ball of each item has been detected by the second signal control means 212a to 212d (time t61, t62, t63, t64 in FIG. 53). The final ball determination signal of the corresponding item is output. The final ball determination signals from the final ball determination means 205a to 205d are the corresponding line payout solenoid control means 208a to 208d, the first signal control means 211a to 211d inside the corresponding line error monitoring signal output means 206a to 206d, and Input to the corresponding unmonitored time measuring means 215a to 215d.

When the final ball determination signal is input from the final ball determination means 205a to 205d, the discharge solenoid control means 208a to 208d cancels the corresponding discharge solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 (time t71, t72, t73, t74). As a result, energization from the dispensing solenoid control means 208a to 208d to the corresponding dispensing solenoid 33c is stopped, and the corresponding ball passage 33d is closed by the dispensing flicker 33b.
In addition, when the final ball determination signal is input, the first signal control means 211a to 211d of each item receives the first signal control signal including an instruction to turn off the paying-out signal of the corresponding item. The error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d is transmitted to the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d, and in response to this, the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d turns off the paying-out signal of the corresponding item (S4407, time t81, t82, t83 in FIG. 54, t84).

  In addition, when the final sphere determination signal is input, the non-monitoring time measuring means 215a to 215d sets a non-monitoring time of a predetermined time (for example, 100 ms) for the corresponding item, and sets the set non-monitoring time. Start timing as if subtracting. When the non-monitoring time measuring means 215 starts counting the non-monitoring time (values of the non-monitoring time counters 328 to 331), the payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214 corresponds to the payout number non-monitoring flag holding means 213a to 213d. While the payout number non-monitoring flag (324 to 327) is set (time t91, t92, t93, t94 in FIG. 54), the non-monitoring time measuring means 215a to 215d is measuring the non-monitoring time. Maintain that state. When the non-monitoring time measuring means 215a to 215d finishes counting the non-monitoring time and outputs a notification signal to the payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214a to 214d, the payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214a to 214d does not monitor the payout number. The payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 held in the flag holding means 213a to 213d are canceled (time t91 ', t92', t93 ', t94' in FIG. 54).

  The second signal control means 212a to 212d monitor the payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 of the respective lines, and while the payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 are set, from the corresponding line count sensor 33h. Even if the count switch signal is input, the second signal control signal including the transmission instruction of the corresponding count signal (second signal for error monitoring) is not transmitted to the corresponding error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d. Therefore, even if the corresponding line count sensor 33h detects the game ball when the paying-out signal of each line is in the OFF state, the error monitoring means 101 outputs the corresponding count signal to the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d. Therefore, no error signal is transmitted from the error monitoring means 101 to the error processing means 102, and no error processing is executed. Hereinafter, the reason why such a non-monitoring time is provided will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 55, in the gaming machine of the embodiment, when the payout flicker 33b is closed by releasing the payout solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 in order to prevent payout of game balls exceeding the expected payout number, The operation timing of the payout flicker 33b is set as early as possible so that the tip 33b21 of the payout flicker 33b collides with a portion above the central axis I of the last game ball (W1) flowing down the ball passage 33d. The ball passage 33d is closed. For this reason, when the last game ball (W1) is accelerated by the collision with the payout flicker 33b and the interval D between the game ball (W2) passing through the ball passage 33d immediately before that is short, this and the last game ball (W1) The game ball (W1) collides and bounces up, and the possibility that chattering such that the count sensor 33h erroneously detects one game ball as a plurality of game balls increases.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the possibility that the count sensor 33h erroneously detects the number of game balls due to the interference between the last game ball (W1) and the payout flicker 33b is increased. The rising of the count switch signal corresponding to the last game ball of each item is detected (time t61, t62, t63, t64 in FIG. 54), and a predetermined time has elapsed after the release solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 of each item are released. The payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 of the corresponding item are set, and even if the count sensor 33h detects the game ball during the period when the payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 are set, the second item of the corresponding item is detected. The signal control means 212a to 212d are prevented from outputting a count signal. For this reason, even when an erroneous detection of the count sensor 33h due to the chattering or the like occurs (time t101, t102, t103, t104 in FIG. 54), the error monitoring unit 101 does not output an error signal. Misdetection of errors caused by chattering or the like is prevented.

  In order to prevent the occurrence of the error, it is only necessary to prevent the occurrence of chattering. For example, the flicker operation timing is set so that the tip of the flicker enters between the last game ball and the subsequent game ball. Can be set. This is because the last game ball does not interfere with flicker, and chattering can be suppressed. However, in such a configuration, if the speed of the game ball following the last game ball is high, it is assumed that the game ball following the last game ball will pass before the flicker is closed. There is a risk that it will not be possible to completely prevent the game balls from being paid out. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing payout of game balls exceeding the planned payout number, the operation timing of the payout flicker 33b is set so that the tip of the flicker hits a position above the center axis of the game ball as in the present embodiment. A configuration is preferred. Therefore, in this embodiment, on the premise that chattering occurs due to the last game ball, erroneous detection of errors caused by chattering or the like is prevented.

  Here, the non-monitoring time is set to 100 ms because the period in which the erroneous detection of the game ball of the count sensor 33h due to chattering (the rebound of the last game ball) occurs by the inventors' experiment is the relevant condition. This is because it has been found that it is 46 ms at the maximum after the solenoid operation flags 314 to 317 are released. That is, in order to completely guarantee the risk of erroneous detection, the allowance period is anticipated and the maximum period is set to 100 ms, which is approximately twice the maximum period of 46 ms.

  Thus, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the predetermined time (for example, 100 ms) from the time when the payout device 33 of each item starts to pass through the last game ball allocated to the item, Since the count signal corresponding to the count switch signal is not transmitted from the count sensor 33h, it is possible to prevent erroneous error processing due to the chattering or the like. It becomes. Therefore, smooth game progress can be ensured.

[Second form]
In the second embodiment, the output control of the error monitoring signal output control means is different from that in the first embodiment. Specifically, regarding the payout signal, signal output is started with the start of the payout process, and thereafter The output state is maintained, and even after the payout process is completed, the output stop of the payout signal is delayed until a predetermined time has elapsed after the flicker is closed, and the count signal is counted even after the final game ball is determined. When a switch signal is input, control is performed so as to generate and output a count signal.

  FIG. 56 is a functional block diagram of error monitoring signal output control means according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 57 is a timing chart showing the control operation of the error monitoring signal output control means. Also in this embodiment, when the total number of payouts is 75, the payout numbers of 18, 19, 19, and 19 game balls are respectively paid to the payout devices of Article 1 to Article 4. An example in the case of distribution is shown.

  The error monitoring signal output control means 206′a to 206′d includes non-monitoring time measuring means 215a to 215d, first signal control means 211′a to 211′d, and second signal control means 212′a to 212 ′. d. The first signal control means 211′a to 211′d according to the second embodiment starts outputting the paying-out signal of each item with the start of the payout process, and then maintains the output state and the non-monitoring time measuring means. When the notification signals are input from 215a to 21d, the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d are controlled so as to stop the output of the paying-out signal of each item (see FIG. 57). The second signal control means 212'a to 212'd control the error monitoring signal output means 207a to 207d so as to output the count signal every time the count switch signal is input from the count sensor 33h (FIG. 57). reference).

  According to the above configuration, with respect to the paying out signal, the signal output is started with the start of the paying out process, and thereafter the output state is maintained, and the output of the paying out signal is stopped until a predetermined period elapses after the flicker 33h is closed. Delay. That is, since the payout signal is a signal indicating that the payout is in progress, it is in principle output from the start of the payout process to the end of the payout process, but in the second embodiment, until a predetermined period elapses after the flicker is closed. Delay output stoppage of payout signal. Then, although the payout period has actually ended, the error monitoring unit 101 determines that it is the payout period until a predetermined period has elapsed. That is, it means that a non-monitoring state has been added for a predetermined period. On the other hand, regarding the count signal, if the count switch signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball, the count signal is generated and output. However, since the error monitoring means 101 determines that it is a payout period (non-monitoring state period) until a predetermined period elapses, even if a count signal is input after detection of the final game ball, It is not determined that there is an error, and no error occurs.

[Third embodiment]
The configuration of the main characteristic part of the game ball type revolving game machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 58 is a functional block diagram relating to the characteristic part of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 59 is a timing chart showing an example of control related to the characteristic part of the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 59 extracts the 1st article | item to which 18 payout number was distributed.

  The third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. In the gaming machine of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 58, the error monitoring signal output means 206Aa to 206Ad are replaced with the first signal control means 211Aa to 211Ad. 2-signal control means 212Aa to 212Ad, payout number non-monitoring flag holding means 213Aa to 213Ad, payout number non-monitoring flag setting means 214Aa to 214Ad, non-monitoring time measuring means 215Aa to 215Ad, ball passing time measuring means 221a to 221d, reference passing The time storage unit 222 and the non-monitoring time change units 223a to 223d are included. Since the other configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the gaming machine of the third embodiment, the ball transit time measuring means 211a to 211d determines the count switch signal from the count sensor 33h for the game ball determined by the final ball determining means 205Aa to 205Ad as the last payout ball of each item. The time from the rise to the fall, that is, the period (referred to as the ball passage time) Tw (refer to Tw1 and Tw2 in FIG. 59) in which the count switch signal is in the ON state is calculated, and the calculation result is sent to the non-monitoring time changing means 223. send.

  When the final ball determination signal is input, the non-monitoring time counters 215Aa to 215Ad set a non-monitoring time of a predetermined time (for example, 50 ms) shorter than the predetermined time (100 ms) of the first embodiment for the corresponding item. Then, the timing is started by subtracting the set non-monitoring time.

  When the ball passing time Tw is equal to or shorter than the reference passing time Tr1 (see FIG. 59 (b)), that is, when Tw ≦ Tr1, the non-monitoring time changing means 223a to 223d has a large speed at which the game ball flows down and chatters. Non-monitoring time counters 215Aa to 215Ad that count a non-monitoring time of a predetermined time shorter than the predetermined time of the first embodiment, assuming that there is a high possibility of occurrence of (bounce back after colliding with the immediately preceding game ball). Is added to the shortened time (in this example, 50 ms (= 100 ms−50 ms)). Thereby, the non-monitoring time having the same length as that of the first embodiment is counted by the non-monitoring time counters 215Aa to 215Ad. The reference passage time Tr1 is an average value of measurement values obtained by measuring the passage times of a large number of game balls by the inventor.

  The non-monitoring time changing means 223a to 223d compares the sphere passing time Tw calculated by the sphere passing time measuring means 221a to 221d with the reference passing time Tr1 stored in the reference passing time storage means 222, and passes the sphere. If the time Tw is longer than the reference transit time Tr1 (see FIG. 59 (a)), that is, if Tr1 <Tw, it is assumed that the speed at which the game ball flows down is small and the possibility of chattering is small. No additional time is added. As a result, when the non-monitoring time measuring means 215Aa to 215Ad finishes counting the non-monitoring time of a predetermined time (for example, 50 ms) shorter than the predetermined time of the first embodiment, error monitoring by the error monitoring means is started. Therefore, the period during which the error monitoring means does not monitor errors is shortened.

  Thus, in the gaming machine of the third embodiment, when the ball passage time Tw is longer than the reference passage time Tr1 and the flow velocity of the game ball is small, the last game ball may collide with the previous game ball and bounce off. Since the error monitoring means 101 shortens the non-monitoring time during which the error is not monitored, the gaming ball is illegally paid out while preventing erroneous detection of errors due to chattering in most cases. It is possible to perform error monitoring for preventing the error for a maximum period.

  In the above, two types of non-monitoring times are used. In the present invention, the non-monitoring time is provided only when the ball passage time Tw is shorter than the reference passage time Tr1, and the ball passage time Tw is the reference passage time Tr1. If it is smaller than this, a configuration in which no non-monitoring time is provided may be used. The cause of chattering is not only the case where the last game ball collides with the previous game ball but also the case where the game ball flutters while passing through the payout count sensor. Therefore, a configuration in which two types of non-monitoring times are selectively used as described above is preferable. Note that chattering due to flapping of the game ball occurs within a very short time after the operation of the payout flicker 33b due to the end of payout, compared to the case where the last game ball collides with the immediately preceding game ball. Preferably, one of the two types of non-monitoring time is set to a time that can substantially prevent chattering due to a collision with a straight game ball (for example, 100 ms as described above), and the other is substantially set to chattering due to flapping. This is the case when the time is set to prevent.

[Fourth form]
The structure of the main characteristic part of the game ball type revolving game machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 60 and 61. FIG. FIG. 60 is a functional block diagram related to the characteristic part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 61 is a timing chart showing an example of control related to the characteristic part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 61 shows an example of the first article in which the number of payouts of 18 game balls is distributed.

  Hereinafter, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fourth embodiment is a modification of the third embodiment. In the gaming machine of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 60, instead of the final ball determining means 205a to 205d, the final ball / immediate ball determining means 205Ba to 205Bd and error monitoring signal output means 206Ba to 206Bd are provided as first signal control means 211Ba to 211Bd, second signal control means 212Ba to 212Bd, payout number non-monitoring flag holding means 213Ba to 213Bd, payout number non-monitoring flag setting. Means 214Ba to 214Bd, non-monitoring time measuring means 215Ba to 215Bd, ball passing time measuring means 231a to 231d, reference sphere interval time storage means 232, and non-monitoring time changing means 233a to 233d are included. Since the other configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the gaming machine of the fourth embodiment, the ball interval measuring means 231a to 231d determines the last payout ball of each article and the payout ball immediately before it by the final ball / immediate ball determination means 205Ba to 205Bd. Time Td (referred to as a ball interval) Td (refer to Td1 and Td2 in FIG. 61) from the fall of the count switch signal of the immediately preceding payout ball to the rise of the count switch signal of the last payout ball is calculated. This is sent to the non-monitoring time setting changing means 233a to 233d. The non-monitoring time changing means 233a to 233d compares the sphere interval time Td measured by the sphere interval measuring means 231a to 231d with the reference sphere interval time Tr2 stored in the reference sphere interval storage means 232, and compares the sphere interval time Td. Is longer than the reference ball interval time Tr2, that is, when Tr2 <Td, the interval between the last game ball and the immediately preceding game ball is large, and chattering (rebounding after colliding with the immediately preceding game ball) occurs. In order to shorten the reference non-monitoring time (100 ms in the first embodiment) and shorten the period during which the error monitoring means does not monitor errors, the rising edge of the count switch signal of the last payout ball is assumed to be small. Is detected, a non-monitoring period (for example, 50 ms) shorter than the reference non-monitoring time is set in the non-monitoring time measuring means 215Ba to 215Bd. To. The “reference ball interval time Tr2” is an average value of measurement values obtained by measuring the ball interval time for a large number of game balls by the inventor through experiments.

  Further, the non-monitoring time changing means 233a to 233d determines that if the ball interval time Td is equal to or less than the reference ball interval time Tr2, that is, if Td ≦ Tr1, the interval between the last game ball and the immediately preceding game ball is The reference non-monitoring time is not particularly changed on the assumption that small chattering (rebounding after colliding with the immediately preceding game ball) is likely to occur.

  As described above, in the gaming machine of the fourth embodiment, when the ball interval time Td is larger than the reference ball interval time Tr2 and the interval between the last game ball and the immediately preceding game ball is large, the last game ball is the previous one. The error monitoring means 101 shortens the non-monitoring time during which the error is not monitored, assuming that the possibility of bouncing off the game ball is small, so that false detection of errors due to chattering is prevented in most cases. It is possible to perform error monitoring for the maximum period to prevent the game ball from being paid out.

(Other matters)
In the above embodiment, the payout number non-monitoring flag is set at the rising edge of the count switch signal. However, as shown in FIG. 62, the payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 are set at the falling edge of the count switch signal. You may do it.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the payout signal corresponding to the cancellation of the corresponding payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 is canceled using an individual payout signal for each item, but as shown in FIG. The common payout signal is set to the OFF state when the payout number non-monitoring flag 324 to 327 which is released the latest among the payout number non-monitoring flags 324 to 327 is released using the common payout signal. May be.

  In Embodiment 3 described above, the configuration including the ball passage time measuring means 221 detects the speed of the game ball that is thrown last, by measuring the passage time of the payout count sensor 33h, and generates an error caused by chattering. If there is such a possibility, measures were taken to prevent the occurrence of errors due to chattering. If the possibility was extremely low, measures against fraud were strengthened. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration including the ball interval time measuring means 231 detects the interval between the game ball to be paid out last and the game ball to be paid out immediately before it by measuring the time difference between the start of passage. If there is a possibility of error due to chattering, take sufficient measures to prevent the occurrence of error due to chattering. Strengthened. In this invention, the structure which combined the structure of Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4 may be sufficient. Chattering is likely to occur when the distance between the game ball to be paid out last and the game ball to be paid out immediately before is small and the speed of the game ball to be paid out immediately before the last is slow, so by combining them, It is possible to dramatically improve the accuracy of estimating the possibility of an error due to chattering. Further, the speed of the game ball to be paid out last is measured by the passing time of the payout count sensor 33h, and the chattering is paid out immediately before the last and last interval between the game ball to be paid out and the game ball to be paid out immediately before it. It is preferable to estimate the possibility of occurrence of an error due to chattering based on the speed difference between the first game ball and the last game ball. In this case, it is possible to determine the possibility of occurrence of an error due to chattering with higher accuracy.

  In the above embodiment, the ball-type spinning machine has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a ball-type game machine.

  The present invention is suitable for game machines such as a ball-type spinning machine and a ball-type game machine (pachinko machine).

33c: Dispensing solenoid (opening / closing member driving means)
33b: Dispensing flicker (opening / closing member)
33d: ball passage 33e: payout passage 33h: count sensor 101: error monitoring means 102: error processing means 201a to 201d: game ball payout control means 202: payout number distribution means 203a to 203d: payout number holding means 204a to 204d: Game ball counting means 205a to 205d: Final ball determination means 205Ba to 205Bd: Final ball / straight ball determination means 206a to 206d, 206'a to 206'd, 206Aa to 206Ad, 206Ba to 206Bd, 206Ca to 206Cd: Error monitoring signal Output control means 207a to 207d, 207Ca to 207Cd: Error monitoring signal output means 208a to 208d: Discharge solenoid control means 211a to 211d, 211'a to 211'd, 211Aa to 211Ad, 211Ba to 211Bd: First signal output Control means 212a to 212d, 212'a to 212'd, 212Aa to 212Ad, 211Ba to 211Bd: second signal output control means 213a to 213d, 213Aa to 213Ad: payout number non-monitoring flag holding means 214a to 214d, 214Ba to 214Bd : Discharge number non-monitoring flag setting means 215a to 215d, 215Aa to 215Ad, 215Ba to 215Bd: Non-monitoring time counter 221a to 221d: Ball passage time measuring means 222: Reference passage time storage means 223a to 223d: Non-monitoring time changing means 231a ˜231d: Sphere interval measuring means 232: Reference sphere interval holding means 233a to 233d: Non-monitoring time changing means 800: Lending ball payout control means 801: Prize ball payout control means 811: Error information changing means 812: Error information holding means 813 : Error monitoring judgment means

Claims (1)

A main control means for controlling the game and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls accompanying the winning, and a lending control means for controlling the lending and transmitting a payout instruction signal for the number of game balls according to the loan request And a payout control means for comprehensively controlling the payout of the number of game balls based on the game ball payout instruction signal from the main control means or the lending control means,
Storage means for storing game balls;
A plurality of payout passages respectively communicating with the storage means;
A plurality of game ball detecting means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages to detect the passage of game balls introduced into the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means provided in each of the plurality of payout passages, which are provided above the game ball detection means and permit or prohibit the game balls from passing through the payout passage;
A plurality of gate means driving means provided on each of the plurality of opening and closing members to drive the gate means;
The payout control means includes
A distribution means for distributing the number of payouts based on the payout instructions of the game balls to the plurality of payout paths substantially evenly;
A plurality of counting means provided corresponding to the plurality of payout passages, respectively, for counting the number of game balls based on detection signals of the corresponding game ball detection means;
A plurality of payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths and holding the individual payout numbers of the payout paths set by the distribution means;
Whether or not it is the final game ball in the payout passage based on the number information from the counting means and the individual payout number held in the payout number holding means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout paths A plurality of determination means for determining
When the detected game ball is the final game ball in the payout passage, provided according to the plurality of payout passages, and based on the determination result of the determination means, A plurality of gate means drive control means for outputting to the gate means drive means,
A first error monitoring signal is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages to indicate that payout processing is in progress and is output each time a game ball detection signal is input from the game ball detection means. A plurality of error monitoring signal output means for generating and outputting a second error monitoring signal;
Error monitoring signal output control means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of payout passages and performing output control of the error monitoring signal output means, wherein output control of the first signal for error monitoring and the second signal for error monitoring is performed. A plurality of error monitoring signal output control means configured to be executed in a first control mode or configured to be executed in a second control mode that is different in control content from the first output control mode;
As a first control mode executed by the error monitoring signal output control means, the first signal for error monitoring is determined by starting signal output with the start of the payout process and maintaining the output state thereafter. When the determination result of the means is the final game ball, even after the payout process is finished, the output stop of the first signal for error monitoring is delayed until a predetermined time elapses after the determination of the final game ball, and the error monitoring first With respect to the two signals, control is performed to generate and output a second error monitoring signal when a game ball detection signal is input even after the determination of the final game ball,
The main control means, based on the first error monitoring signal and the second error monitoring signal for each payout path transmitted from the payout control means, for each payout path during a period other than during the payout period A game machine comprising: error control means for determining whether or not passage of the vehicle has been detected and performing a predetermined error control in the case of an affirmative determination.

Images