JP2013252285A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a game machine capable of preventing game balls shot by a shooting device from returning.SOLUTION: A shooting device 3 includes a holding part 41 which holds game balls supplied to a launching rail 34 by a ball feeding part 33. The holding part 41 holds the game balls so as not to deviate them from a shooting position. When a shooting hammer 10 is swung, it hits the game balls and the game balls push away the holding part 41 to the right and are launched. At that time, the holding part 41 is turned up to the right by its own flexibility, and when the game balls run away on the launching rail 34, the holding part 41 returns to a state that it is hung from above again by its own flexibility. By a game machine so constructed that the game balls are held at the shooting position by the holding part 41 so that they are securely shot by the shooting hammer 10. Even if the launching force is small, the shot game balls roll by the decline of the launching rail 34, and are discharged (launched) to a game area, and thus there is no game ball returning.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine provided with a launching device at the upper right or upper left of a gaming area.

  As a gaming machine having a launching device at the upper left of the gaming area, a gaming machine as described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. With such a configuration, it is possible to shorten the distance that the launched ball reaches the gaming area, and the situation where the launched ball returns like a gaming machine provided with a launching device below. Can be prevented.

JP 2008-200288 A

However, even if configured as in Patent Document 1, the fired sphere may return. In particular, when the game ball is configured to circulate in the gaming machine, which is called an encapsulated type, it is necessary to strictly manage the number (in fact, data) of the player's balls (for example, If you return to the launch position, etc. without reaching the game area, the game ball will still be usable, but the game machine will misrecognize that it was `` launched '' and the number of balls will be zero, and additional investment will occur. May be needed).
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game ball that can reliably prevent a return ball in a game machine having a launching device provided in an upper part of a game area.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine in which a game ball launching device is installed above the game area, and the firing force of the game ball is adjusted by the operation of the player Firing force adjusting means, a launch rail on which the game ball to be fired is placed, a ball feeding means for supplying the game ball to the launch rail, and a strike means for hitting and launching the game ball on the launch rail The launch rail is installed in a downward slope toward the launch direction, and the game ball supplied to the launch rail by the ball feeding means can be hit by the hitting means. A holding portion that holds the position in position, and the holding portion has flexibility in at least the firing direction, and when the holding game ball is hit by the hitting means, the flexibility The holding part is in the firing direction By retracting, the moving path of the game ball is secured the recreation ball, characterized in that it is fired.

  Here, flexibility is not limited to meaning that it can be bent or flexible, but the holding part itself is a rigid body, but it is retracted in the firing direction by being suspended from above or pivotally supported by a hinge. It also includes a mode in which the moving path (launching path) of the game ball can be secured by the retraction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, a movable portion that supports the holding portion so that the retraction is possible, a position where the holding portion can hold the position, and a position where the holding portion is impossible. A holding unit moving unit that moves the holding unit between the ball and the ball feeding unit after the game ball is supplied to the firing rail, the hitting unit hits the game ball, Thereafter, the holding unit moving unit moves the movable unit to the position where the holding is impossible, and before the next game ball is supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means, the holding unit moving unit The movable part is moved to a position where the holding is possible.

  The present invention according to claim 3 is a gaming machine in which a game ball launching device is installed in an upper part of the game area, the firing force adjusting means for adjusting the firing force of the game ball by the operation of the player, A launching rail on which a game ball to be played is placed, a ball feeding means for supplying the launching ball to the launching rail, and a striking means for hitting and launching the game ball on the launching rail. The hitting means hits a game ball that is rolling on the launch rail by the down slope, and the hitting means Before the game ball rolls to a position where it is impossible to hit, it is provided with hitting control means for driving the hitting means.

  According to the gaming machine of the first aspect, since the game ball is held at the hitting position by the holding portion, the hitting position is stable (compared to claim 3 described later), and the hitting operation can be performed reliably. it can. In addition, since a holding | maintenance part evacuates to a firing direction with its own flexibility at the time of a hit | damage, a hit | damage is not prevented. In addition, since the launch force set by the player by the launch force adjusting means is too weak, the game ball that could not be fired rolls along the launch rail because the launch rail has a downward slope toward the launch direction. Then, it flows out (fires) into the game area. Therefore, the number of return balls can be made zero.

In the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the holding portion is supported by the movable portion so as to be retractable, and the movable portion is configured to be movable by the holding portion moving portion. By this holding part moving part, the movable part is moved between a position where the holding part can be held and a position where the holding part cannot. Then, after the game ball is supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means, the hitting means hits the game ball, and after hitting, the holding part moving part moves the movable part to a position where it cannot be held, and the next game Before the ball is supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means, the holding unit moving unit moves the movable unit to a position where it can be held.
According to the gaming machine configured in this way, even if the game ball is not fired and remains on the launch rail, the movable part is moved by the holding part moving unit, so that the game ball is Since it rolls and fires with a downward slope, the return ball can be made zero.

  In the gaming machine according to claim 3, even if there is a game ball that has not been hit due to a small firing force, the game ball rolls due to a descending slope of the launch rail and flows into the game area (launch) As a result, the number of return balls can be made zero. In addition, since the game ball falls from the launch rail to the game area, the game ball can be easily launched in the direction directly below the launch device. Since the holding portion does not exist, the configuration is simplified, and there is no possibility that unfired due to a failure such as the holding portion or the movable portion occurs.

The front view of the pachinko machine 50 of Example 1 of the present invention. Electrical configuration diagram of pachinko machine 50 Front view of launcher 3 Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the launcher 10 of the launcher 3 is hitting a game ball Timing chart showing a drive command transmitted to the ball feed solenoid 22 by the firing control board 84 and a firing command sent to the firing motor 11 Front view of launching device 3 of Embodiment 2 Front view of launching apparatus 3 of Embodiment 3 Electrical configuration diagram of pachinko machine 50 of Embodiment 3 Timing chart showing a drive command transmitted to the ball feed solenoid 22, a fire command transmitted to the firing motor 11, and a drive command transmitted to the holding unit drive unit 49 by the launch control board 84 of the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms belonging to the technical scope of the present invention, and the contents described in the respective examples are appropriately combined. It goes without saying that it is possible.
[Example 1]

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 has a launching handle 2 attached to the lower right side of the main body. By rotating the firing handle 2 clockwise, the launching device 3 at the upper left of the main body is movable. A game ball is launched toward the game board 4.

  Although not described in detail, the pachinko machine 1 is an enclosed game machine, and a game ball is lent as a possession ball within the range of the amount of an IC card (prepaid card) inserted into the CR unit 5, and the game ball is Each time it is fired, the number of balls held is subtracted. If there is a prize ball, the number of prize balls is added to the number of balls held. Actually, the number of possessed balls is data. For example, even if a player wins a win and obtains 1000 prize balls, the number of game balls used in the pachinko machine 1 does not increase by 1000. The data indicating the number of balls held by the player is increased by 1000 pieces.

  The actual game ball is not paid out to the player, and the enclosed game ball circulates in the main body. A game ball discharged from the out port 6 or a winning game ball is stored in a tank near the launching device 3 by a lifting device (not shown). In this way, both the payout of the winning ball and the use (launch) of the holding ball are to increase / decrease the holding ball data and do not give or reduce the actual game ball to the player. Following a conventional non-encapsulated gaming machine, it will be expressed as “pay out a prize ball” or “shoot a ball”.

  The game board 4 is provided with a start port 8 for extracting a random number at the timing when the launched game ball enters. The start port 8 is provided in the vertical center of the board surface and in the vicinity of the horizontal center. The effect symbol display device 9 is a liquid crystal display device, and is provided in the approximate center of the game board 4 to indicate the result of the extracted random number. A gate 7 is provided on the left side of the production symbol display device 9, and when a game ball passes through the gate 7, the normal symbol starts to fluctuate on a normal symbol display device (not shown). When stopped in the hit state, the ordinary electric accessory 12 is opened for a short time, and enters the starting port 8 easily. A large number of game nails such as top nails Kg are planted on the four game boards. A big winning opening 14 is provided below the starting opening 8, and when the lottery result caused by entering the starting opening 8 is a win, the big winning game is started and the large number of times is given. The winning opening 14 is opened. It is to be noted that a general winning opening 31 is provided on the left side and two on the right side of the big winning opening 14, and if a player enters the game, both random number lottery and fluctuations in the normal symbols will occur. It is not performed and only the prize ball is paid out to the player.

  A speaker 66 is provided on the upper right side of the main body of the pachinko machine 1, and a game sound generated from the pachinko machine 1 is output to improve the player's preference. In addition, a frame-side decorative lamp 26 that emits light according to the gaming state is provided on the front frame in order to improve the player's preference. On the lower left side of the main body of the pachinko machine 1, an effect button 67 that can be operated by the player is provided, and an effect symbol display device 9 described later by operating the effect button 67 during a predetermined period by the player. The content displayed on the screen changes, or the game sound output from the speaker 66 changes. On the left of the production button 67, a ball lending button 57, a payment button 58, and a payment display device 25 are provided.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 50 is configured with a main controller 80 as a center. In this block diagram, a so-called relay board and power supply circuit for merely relaying signals are not described. Although not shown in detail, the main controller 80, the payout controller 81, the production symbol controller 82, the sub-integrated controller 83, and the launch control board 84 are all CPU, ROM, RAM, input port, and output port. Etc.

  The main controller 80 includes a start port switch 8a that detects a game ball that has entered the start port 8, a normal symbol operation switch 7a that detects a game ball that has entered the gate 7, and a game ball that has entered the big winning port 14. Detection signals such as a count switch 14a for counting the game balls, a winning port switch 31a for detecting a game ball that has entered the winning port 31, and the like are input.

The main control device 80 operates in accordance with the installed program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above-described detection signals and outputs them to the payout control device 81 and the sub integrated control device 83.
The main controller 80 also displays the special symbol display device 15 and the normal symbol display device 16 connected via the symbol display device relay terminal board 90, the normal symbol hold number display device 17, and the special symbol hold number display. The lighting of the device 18 is controlled. Although not shown, the special symbol display device 15 and the normal symbol display device 16 are each constituted by a 7-segment display device, and the normal symbol hold number display device 17 and the special symbol hold number display device 18 are each four pieces. It is comprised by this LED.

  Further, the main controller 80 controls the opening / closing of the special winning opening 14 by controlling the special winning opening solenoid 14b, and controls the normal electric accessory solenoid (denoted as a general electric accessory solenoid in FIG. 2) 12b. Thus, the opening / closing of the ordinary electric accessory 12 is controlled. In addition to being output to the test signal terminal, the control signal from the main controller 80 is also output to the external connection terminal board 78 for management such as symbol fluctuations and jackpots (also called special games) and sent to the hall main computer. It is done. The main control device 80 and the payout control device 81 can perform bidirectional communication.

  The payout control device 81 causes the CR unit 5 to generate prize ball data in response to a command sent from the main control device 80. The CR unit 5 includes an IC card reader / writer 23 (denoted as IC card R / W in FIG. 2) for writing and reading handball data and the like on the IC card. The CR unit 5 is also connected to the settlement display device 25 via the CR unit terminal plate 24 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. The settlement display device 25 is connected with a ball rental button 57 and a settlement button 58.

  In addition, the payout control board transmits information relating to the winning ball, information indicating the open / closed state of the frame (inner frame, front frame), etc. to the hall computer 87 via the external connection terminal board 78, and also to the launch control board 84. To send a firing stop signal or a ball feed operation prohibition command.

  The launch control board 84 controls the ball feed solenoid 22 to send a game ball to a launch rail (described later), and controls the launch motor 11 to launch the game ball into the game area. In addition to the payout control board, the launch control board 84 receives a pivot amount signal from the handle volume 21 indicating the pivot amount of the launch handle 2, a touch signal from the touch switch 28, a launch stop signal from the launch stop switch 19, and the like. The The handle volume 21 is configured to be able to detect the current value of the rotation amount of the firing handle 2 (for example, the firing handle 2 has been rotated 50 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.). If the touch signal is not input to the launch control board 84, the game ball cannot be fired. If the launch stop switch signal is input, the game ball cannot be fired even if the player touches the launch handle 2. It is like that. Further, even when the possession ball data is zero, the game ball cannot be launched.

  The sub-integrated control device 83 corresponds to the sub-control device, receives data and commands transmitted from the main control device 80, distributes them to data for effect display control, sound control and lamp control, The display control command and the like are transmitted to the effect design control device 82, and the sound control and lamp control are distributed to each control part (function unit as a sound control device and a lamp control device) included in the display control command 82. Then, the function unit as the sound control device controls the sound output from the speaker 66 by operating the sound LSI based on the data for sound control, and the function unit as the lamp control device converts the data for the lamp control. Based on the operation of the lamp driver, various LEDs and the lamp 26 are controlled. In addition, an effect button 67 is connected to the sub integrated control device 83, and when the player operates the effect button 67, a signal is input to the sub integrated control device 83.

Bi-directional communication is possible between the sub integrated control device 83 and the production symbol control device 82.
The effect symbol control device 82 displays the effect symbol display based on the data and commands received from the sub integrated control device 83 (both those transmitted from the main control device 80 and those generated by the sub integrated control device 83). The device 9 is controlled to display an effect image such as a pseudo symbol on the screen of the effect symbol display device 9.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the launching device 3. In this figure, a part of the configuration such as the launcher 10 and the launch rail 34 is shown in a transparent manner. The game ball is fired when the launcher 10 strikes the game ball placed on the launch rail 34. The launcher 10 is driven by the launcher motor 11 and is rotated around the rotation axis of the launcher motor 11 to hit the left end of the game ball in the figure with the tip of the launcher 10. The cross section of the firing rail 34 has a shallow V shape. This V-shaped depression defines the position of the game ball in the direction perpendicular to the drawing. The launch rail 34 is inclined downward to the right, and the game ball supplied to the launch rail 34 rolls to the right without being hit, and is discharged to the outside of the launch device 3, that is, the game board 4. The launcher 10 will hit the game ball shortly after the game ball is supplied to the launch rail 34 and before the game ball is out of the movable range of the launcher 10.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a ball feed hole formed in a wall surface configured in parallel to the drawing in the depth direction of the firing rail 34, and is a substantially rectangular hole. Reference numeral 33 denotes a ball feeding unit that is provided in the depth direction of the wall surface and sends a game ball to the firing rail 34. The ball feeding portion 33 is configured to be swingable about the position P as an axis, and includes a bowl-shaped concave portion 43 that is large enough to receive one game ball. The ball feed solenoid 33 (see FIG. 2) swings the ball feed unit 33. The ball feed solenoid 22 is excited to attract an iron plate (not shown) provided on the top of the ball feed unit 33. As a result, the ball feed portion 33 is swung upward by about 20 degrees from the posture shown in FIG. When the ball feeding portion 33 is swung upward, the game ball supplied from the back direction to the front in the drawing enters the concave portion 43 from the right side of the ball feeding portion 33. Note that this “entry” may be reconfigured so as to be performed from the depth direction of the ball feeding portion 33. When the excitation of the ball feed solenoid 22 is released, the ball feed portion 33 swings downward by its own weight and assumes the posture shown in this figure. Then, the positions of the concave portion 43 of the ball feeding portion 33 and the ball feeding hole 13 are aligned, and the game ball in the concave portion 43 passes through the ball feeding hole 13 and is supplied to the firing rail 34.

  FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view at the moment when the launcher 10 hits the game ball. A game ball 38 indicated by a solid line indicates a position when it is hit with the launcher 10, and a game ball 39 indicated by a two-dot chain line indicates a position immediately after being supplied to the launch rail 34 by the ball feed portion 33. However, the positions of these game balls 38 and 39 are only examples, and the position of the game ball 39 may slightly change due to factors such as vibration of the ball feeding portion 33 and the game ball itself. In addition to the above factors, the position of varies depending on the firing intensity. For example, if the firing force is greater than the case shown in this figure (that is, if the firing handle 2 has a large amount of rotation), the launching rod 10 is swung at a faster speed, slightly to the left of the position shown in FIG. Be hit at the position. In any case, the hitting by the launcher 10 is performed on the game ball that is rolling on the launch rail 34. This figure shows the case where the firing force is minimum. When the firing force is smaller than this, the game ball rolls downstream from the range of motion of the launcher 10 before the launcher 10 catches up with the game ball. The launcher 10 cannot hit the game ball. Then, the game ball exits (fires) to the outside of the launching device 3 with the momentum of rolling the launch rail 34 by gravity.

  FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of a drive command (upper pulse waveform) transmitted from the firing control board 84 to the ball feed solenoid 22 and a firing command (lower pulse waveform) sent from the firing control board 84 to the firing motor 11. When the firing handle 2 is rotated, a driving command is transmitted to the ball feed solenoid 22 at a pace of 100 times per minute, and a firing command is transmitted to the firing motor 11 at the same pace. That is, each command is transmitted from the launch control board 84 with a period of 600 ms. Both commands are shifted by t1 s as shown in FIG. 5, and the firing rod 10 starts swinging after t1 s has elapsed since the game ball was sent to the firing rail 34. The transmission timing of each command is recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) included in the launch control board 84, and is a constant timing regardless of the rotation angle of the launch handle 2. On the other hand, if the friction and the vibration of the game ball are ignored, the game ball supplied to the launch rail 34 rolls on the launch rail 34 at a constant speed. Therefore, when the rotation angle of the launch handle 2 is increased, the swinging speed of the launcher 10 is increased to increase the launch force, and the game ball is hit at an earlier time. As described above, when the rotation angle of the launch handle 2 is too small, the game ball rolls out of the range of motion of the launch rod 10 before the launch rod 10 catches up with the game ball. Cannot hit a game ball.

  According to the gaming machine configured as described above, even if there is a game ball that has not been hit due to the rotation angle of the launch handle 2 being too small, the game ball rolls due to the downward slope of the launch rail 34. Since it flows out (fires) into the game area, the number of return balls can be made zero. Further, since the game ball falls from the launch rail 34 to the game area, the game ball can be easily launched in the direction directly below the launch device 3.

Here, the correspondence between the configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration requirements of the present invention is shown. The ball feeding portion 33 and the ball feeding solenoid 22 correspond to the “ball feeding means” of the present invention, the firing rod 10 and the firing motor 11 correspond to the “striking means” of the present invention, and the firing handle 2 of the present invention “the launching”. The firing control board 84 corresponds to the “force adjusting means” of the present invention.
[Example 2]

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the present embodiment has much in common with the first embodiment, only different points will be described mainly.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the launching device 3 of the second embodiment. The launching device 3 according to the present embodiment includes a holding unit 41 that holds a game ball supplied to the firing rail 34 by the ball feeding unit 33. The holding portion 41 is a plate-like member formed of a synthetic resin having flexibility, and is fixed in a state where it is suspended from above. To keep it from moving out of the range of motion. The timing of the drive command transmitted from the firing control board 84 to the ball feed solenoid 22 and the firing command transmitted to the firing motor 11 are the same as in the first embodiment.

  When the launcher 10 is swung, the game ball is reliably hit by the holding portion 41 holding the game ball. Then, the hit game ball is fired by pushing the holding portion 41 to the right. At this time, the holding unit 41 is turned up to the right by its own flexibility, and when the game ball runs off on the launch rail 34, the holding unit 41 returns to the state where it is hung from above again by its own flexibility. When the ball feeding portion 33 swings and the next game ball is supplied to the launch rail 34, the holding ball 41 holds the game ball at the hitting position again as shown in the figure.

According to the gaming machine configured as described above, the game ball is held at the hitting position by the holding portion 41 and is thus hit with certainty by the launcher 10. Since the hit position of the game ball is fixed by the holding portion 41, the firing force is stabilized (in contrast to this, in the first embodiment, the hit position may change slightly depending on the behavior of the game ball on the launch rail 34). Even if the rotation amount of the firing handle 2 is constant, it is not always possible to hit with the same firing force.This problem can be dealt with by readjusting the firing force. This can reduce the need for readjustment). Even if the hitting game ball has a small launching force, it rolls due to the downward gradient of the launch rail 34 and flows out (launches) into the game area, so that the number of return balls can be made zero.
[Example 3]

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the present embodiment has much in common with the second embodiment, only different points will be described mainly.

  FIG. 7A is a front view of the launching device 3 of the third embodiment. The launching device 3 of the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the holding portion 44 is movable. As shown in FIG. 7B, the holding portion 44 is a plate-like member configured to be swingable around the axis Q, and its tip is urged in the direction of arrow A by a tension spring 48. However, the urging force is set to be weak enough to finally support one game ball. The holding portion 44 constitutes a movable portion 47 that moves up and down with respect to the housing 46 together with a tension spring 48 and the like. FIGS. 7A and 7B show the state in which the movable portion 47 is lowered. In this state, the game ball supplied to the firing rail 34 is held at the hitting position as in the second embodiment. . FIG. 7C shows a state in which the movable portion 47 is raised. In this state, the game ball cannot be held on the firing rail 34. If there is a game ball on the launch rail 34, the game ball rolls along the descending slope of the launch rail 34 and flows out (fires) into the game area.

  The vertical movement of the movable portion 47 is performed by the firing control board 84 transmitting a command to the holding portion drive portion 49 (see FIG. 8). Although the holding unit driving unit 49 is not shown in FIG. 7, it is a direct acting solenoid arranged in the depth direction of the movable unit 47, and its plunger moves up and down by a command from the firing control board 84. Accordingly, the movable portion 47 is also moved up and down. FIG. 9 shows a drive command (upper pulse waveform) transmitted from the launch control board 84 to the ball feed solenoid 22, a fire command (middle pulse waveform) sent from the launch control board 84 to the launch motor 11, and a launch control board. 84 shows a timing chart of a drive command (lower pulse waveform) transmitted by 84 to the holding unit drive unit 49. Any command is generated with a period of 600 ms when the firing handle 2 is rotated.

  First, a driving command is issued to the ball feeding unit 33, and the game ball in the recess 43 is supplied to the firing rail 34. The supplied game ball is prevented from rolling on the firing rail 34 by the holding portion 44 and is held at the hitting position. A drive command to the launch motor 11 is issued with a delay of t2 s from the drive command to the ball feed unit 33, and the launcher 10 strikes the game ball. The hit game ball rotates the holding portion 44 counterclockwise against the urging force of the holding portion 44 (see FIG. 7B), and moves out of the launching device 3 along the firing rail 34. Fired. The holding portion 44 rotated counterclockwise is rotated clockwise by the elastic force of the tension spring 48 when the held game ball is fired, and FIGS. 7A and 7B. Return to the posture.

  A drive command to the holding unit drive unit 49 is issued with a delay of t3 s from the drive command to the firing motor 11, and the holding unit 44 is lifted together with the movable unit 47, and the state shown in FIG. The three types of commands are issued independently of each other. If a drive command to the ball feeding unit 33 is not issued, a drive command to the launch motor 11 is not issued, or a drive to the launch motor 11 is performed. If a command is not issued, a drive command to the holding unit drive unit 49 is not issued. Values such as t2 and t3 merely indicate the time difference between the commands. Therefore, even if a drive command to the launch motor 11 is not issued due to some trouble and a game ball remains on the launch rail 34, if a drive command to the holding unit drive unit 49 is issued, When the movable part 47 moves up, the game ball rolls on the launch rail 34 and flows out (fires) into the game area. Even if the launcher 10 moves, but the game ball remains on the launch rail 34 for some reason, the game ball on the launch rail 34 is moved to the game area by moving the movable part 47 upward. Fired.

Even with the gaming machine configured as described above, the game ball is held at the hitting position by the holding unit 44, so that the hitting position of the game ball is made constant by the holding unit 44, and the hitting position of the game ball is fixed by the holding unit 44. The firing power is stabilized. The hit game ball rolls and fires due to the downward slope of the launch rail 34 even if the launch force is small, so that the number of return balls can be made zero. In the unlikely event that the game ball remains on the launch rail 34 without being fired, the holding ball 44 is lifted together with the movable portion 47 so that the game ball is rolled and fired due to the downward slope of the launch rail 34. Therefore, the number of return balls can be made zero. The holding unit driving unit 49 corresponds to the “holding unit moving unit” of the present invention.
[Other embodiments]

  The firing power source is the firing motor 11, but other actuators (eg, rotary solenoid, linear solenoid, etc.) may be used. The holding unit driving unit 49 is a direct acting solenoid, but other actuators (eg, rotary solenoid, motor, cylinder, etc.) may be used. As the ball feeding mechanism, mechanisms other than those shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 may be adopted. Moreover, although the firing force is adjusted by the rotation angle of the launching handle 2, the firing force may be adjusted by an operation using another lever or a touch panel.

  Although the pachinko machine 1 was a type of ball game machine called an enclosure type, a game in which the launching device 3 is located at the upper part of the game board for other configurations, for example, a non-encapsulated game machine from the past. The present invention can be similarly applied to any machine. When the launching device 3 is on the upper right side of the game board, the game ball is fired leftward from the launching device. It is better to have a close configuration. For example, the firing rail 34 is configured so that the inclination direction is lower left.

  The timing charts shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 are realized when the launch control board 84 transmits a command, but the payout control board may transmit the command. In that case, the detection signal of the touch switch 28 or the like may be directly input to the payout control board without going through the firing control board 84. The holding ball data may be subtracted when the payout control board transmits a ball feed command to the firing control board 84. Further, the timing of the firing command or the like may be changed according to the rotation angle of the firing handle 2. Further, it may be configured such that the holding ball data is reduced after detecting that the game ball is supplied to the launch rail 34 by a detection means such as a proximity sensor (optical sensor or ultrasonic sensor).

  The holding unit does not have to have a configuration or mechanism such as the holding unit 41 illustrated in FIG. 6 or the holding unit 44 illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, the holding part may be suspended from the housing 46 like a warmth, and the game ball is held by the weight of the holding part itself, and when hit, the game ball is launched so as to push up the holding part. . When the launch is completed with this configuration, the holding portion is again suspended from the housing 46 by its own weight like a warmth, and can hold the game ball. In this configuration, a configuration as in the second embodiment that does not include the holding unit driving unit can be employed. The holding portion 41 is made of synthetic resin in the second embodiment. However, if the holding portion 41 is made to be suspended like a warm bath, it is made of a material (eg, metal, ceramic, etc.) that does not have much flexibility. May be. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which hold | maintains a game ball in a striking position by forming the hollow or hole smaller than the diameter of a game ball on the launch rail 34, and a game ball getting stuck in this hollow or hole. When a hit is made in this configuration, the game ball leaves the recess or hole and then travels along the launch rail 34 to be launched into the game area.

  The trigger for issuing a drive command to the holding unit drive unit 49 may be set as follows using the detection unit. That is, when a game ball is detected by the detection means in a period from when a drive command to the launch motor 11 is issued until a drive command to the ball feed solenoid 22 is issued after a predetermined delay time, A drive command to the holding unit drive unit 49 is issued. In this way, when the game ball is hit by the launcher 10, no game ball exists on the launch rail 34, so that the detection means cannot detect the game ball. The “predetermined delay time” is assumed to be a time from when a driving command to the firing motor 11 is issued until the game ball is hit and until the game ball leaves the detectable range of the detection means. . If comprised in this way, when the discharge by impact is performed, the movable part 47 will not be driven, and the frequency of the up-and-down movement of the movable part 47 can be suppressed to required minimum.

1: Pachinko machine 2: Launch handle 3: Launch device 4: Game board 10: Launcher 11: Launch motor 12: Ordinary electric accessory 13: Ball feed hole 22: Ball feed solenoid 33: Ball feed unit 34: Launch rail 41 44: Holding unit 47: Movable unit 49: Holding unit drive unit 80: Main control unit 81: Dispensing control unit 82: Production symbol control unit 83: Sub integrated control unit 84: Launch control board 87: Hall computer

Claims (3)

A gaming machine in which a gaming ball launcher is installed at the top of the gaming area,
Firing force adjusting means for adjusting the firing force of the game ball by a player's operation, a firing rail on which the game ball to be fired is placed,
A ball feeding means for supplying a game ball to the firing rail;
A striking means for striking and firing a game ball on the firing rail,
With
The launch rail is installed at a downward slope toward the launch direction,
A holding portion for holding the game ball supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means at a position where the game ball can be hit by the hitting means;
The holding portion has flexibility in at least the firing direction, and when the held game ball is hit by the hitting means, the holding portion is retracted in the firing direction by the flexibility. By doing so, a moving path of the game ball is secured and the game ball is launched. In the gaming machine according to claim 1,
A movable part that supports the holding part so that the retraction is possible;
A holding unit moving unit that moves the holding unit between a position where the holding unit can be held and a position where the holding unit is impossible;
With
After the game ball is supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding unit, the hitting unit hits the game ball, and after the hit, the holding unit moving unit cannot hold the movable unit. The holding unit moving unit moves the movable unit to the position where the holding can be performed before the next game ball is supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means. Machine. A gaming machine in which a gaming ball launcher is installed at the top of the gaming area,
Firing force adjusting means for adjusting the firing force of the game ball by a player's operation, a firing rail on which the game ball to be fired is placed,
A ball feeding means for supplying a game ball to the firing rail;
A striking means for striking and firing a game ball on the firing rail,
With
The launch rail is installed at a downward slope toward the launch direction,
The hitting means hits a game ball that is rolling on the launch rail by the descending slope,
A gaming machine comprising: striking control means for driving the striking means before the gaming ball rolls to a position where the striking means cannot hit the gaming ball.

Images