JP2014004350A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a game ball to be also easily launched in a direction directly below a launcher of a game machine having the launcher provided in an upper part of a game area.SOLUTION: The length of a launching rail 34 is set slightly greater in dimension than a diameter of a game ball, and the launching rail is inclined rightward and downward. The game ball fed to the launching rail 34 is hit with a launching hammer 10. Even when the game ball is not hit, it is rolled rightward, and ejected to the outside of a launcher 3, that is to say, a game area. A ball feed part 33, which is configured to be swingable in such a manner that a position P serves as an axis, feeds the game ball, which is held in a recess 43, to the launching rail 34 when swung by a ball feed solenoid not shown in Fig. When a launching handle is turned to a degree that does not bring a limit switch into an on-state, only a ball feed operation is performed without performance of a hitting operation. Since the game ball also falls into the game area from the launching rail in that case, the game ball can also be easily launched in a direction directly below the launcher 3.

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, if it is arranged at the upper left as in Patent Document 1, it may be difficult to fire the game ball to the left end side of the game area immediately below it. Even when the launching device is arranged on the upper right side of the game area, it may be difficult to fire the game ball to the right end side of the game area immediately below it.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily launch a game ball in a direction directly below the launching device in a gaming machine in which a launching device is provided above the gaming area.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a game ball launching device installed at an upper part of a game area, and a firing force adjusting means for adjusting the firing force of the game ball by a player's operation. The game ball launching device comprises: a launch rail on which a launch game ball is placed; a ball feeding means for supplying the launch ball to the launch rail; and a game ball on the launch rail. Striking means for striking and firing, and when the firing force by the firing force adjusting means is equal to or greater than zero and equal to or less than the first firing force that is less than the maximum firing force, the ball feeding means When both the striking means and the striking means are not operated and the firing force is greater than the first firing force and greater than or equal to the second firing force that is less than the maximum firing force, the ball feeding means and the striking means Both of these are operated, and the firing force is the first When the firing force exceeds the second firing force, the ball feeding means is operated but the striking means is not activated. The firing control means is provided so as not to be hit by the striking means. The game ball falls from the tip of the firing rail to the game area by the ball feeding operation.

  And the length of the said launch rail is 2 times or less of the diameter of the said game ball, It is provided with the holding | maintenance part holding the game machine mounted in the said launch rail, and a 1st game machine hold | maintains at this holding | maintenance part In this state, when the second game ball is further supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means, the first game ball is pushed out in the firing direction by the second game ball, so that the game It falls on the area.

  As a reference example of the present invention, the launch rail is installed with a downward slope toward the launch direction. When the game ball is supplied to the launch rail by the ball feeding means, the game ball is caused by the downward slope. One that rolls and falls into the game area can be mentioned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the main control device that detects at least one of an illegal act and an error in the gaming machine, the game ball or the number of the game balls Payout control means for giving data to the player of the gaming machine, and used ball number counting means for counting the number of game balls used in the gaming machine by counting the number of times the ball feeding means is operated, When the detection is performed by the main control means, a fraud signal transmitting means for sending a fraud detection signal to the payout control means, and the payout control means receives the fraud detection signal from the fraud detection signal transmitting means. Then, the ball feeding stop means for stopping the supply operation of the game ball by the ball feeding means is provided. Note that although the game ball remains in the holding unit, it is conceivable that the final process of launching includes a process of causing the hitting means to fire when it is detected that a ball remains in the holding unit.

  According to the gaming machine of claim 1, when the firing force is greater than the second firing force, both the ball feeding means and the striking means are operated, and when the firing force is less than or equal to the first firing force, the both are Does not work. When the firing force is larger than the first firing force and smaller than the second firing force, the ball feeding means operates, but the striking means does not operate. If the ball feeding means is operating, the game ball falls from the tip of the firing rail to the game area by the ball feeding operation by the ball feeding means. According to this configuration, when the ball feeding means is operated and the striking means is not operated, the game ball is caused by a constant firing force determined by the mechanism of the ball feeding means regardless of the magnitude of the instructed firing force. May be fired. More specifically, the structure of claim 2 is expected to be fired with a constant firing force, and the structure of claim 3 is slightly different depending on the positional relationship between the first game ball and the second game ball. Are expected to fluctuate (both are stories when the firing force instructed by the firing force adjusting means is larger than the first firing force and smaller than the second firing force).

  According to the gaming machine configured as described above, when the firing force adjustment means instructs the firing force to exceed the first launch force and less than the second launch force, the game ball is removed from the launch rail only by the ball feed operation by the ball feed means. Since it is dropped into the game area, the game ball can be easily launched in the direction directly below the launching device. In addition, the expressions such as “above the first firing force” and “less than the second firing force” indicate an outline of the criteria for determining whether or not to operate the ball feeding means and the striking means. Instead of prescribing the boundary, processing at the boundary of judgment may be defined within a reasonable range. For example, the ball feeding means may be activated when the firing force instructed by the firing force adjusting means gradually increases from zero and reaches the first firing force. The ball feeding means cannot be operated without exceeding. Further, when the first firing force is set to zero and the instructed firing force is zero, the ball feeding means may be set not to operate. Similarly, when the first firing force is set to zero and the instructed firing force is zero. Alternatively, the ball feeding means may be set to operate. However, in the latter case, there is a possibility that the ball feeding means operates and a game ball is launched into the game area even though the firing force adjusting means is not operated at all, so that the player touches the firing force adjusting means. For example, it may be configured to clearly determine whether or not the player has the intention of launching by detecting the presence of the player.

  Then, the game ball (first game ball) supplied by the ball feeding means is held in the holding unit, but when the game ball (second game ball) is further supplied by the ball feeding means, the first Game balls are pushed out in the firing direction by the second game ball. Since the length of the firing rail is not more than twice the diameter of the game ball, the pushed first game ball falls into the game area. Therefore, it is possible to easily launch the game ball in the direction directly below the launching device.

  According to the gaming machine of the reference example of the present invention, since the launch rail is inclined downward in the launch direction, when the supply operation by the ball feeding means is performed, the game is caused by gravity even if the hitting means is not operated. The ball falls from the tip of the launch rail into the game area. Therefore, it is possible to easily launch the game ball in the direction directly below the launching device.

In the gaming machine according to the second aspect, the used ball count unit counts the number of used game balls (here, the number of shots) based on the number of times the ball feeding unit is operated. When the main controller configured to detect at least one of fraud and error performs the detection, the fraud signal transmission means transmits an fraud signal to the payout control means. When the payout control means receives the fraud signal, the ball feed stop means stops the game ball supply operation by the ball feed means.
According to the gaming machine configured as described above, the supply operation of the ball feeding means is stopped when an illegal act occurs, so that inappropriate use of the game ball can be prevented. Also, when an error occurs, it is possible to know that the error has occurred only by looking at the situation where the batting operation is performed but the game ball is not fired.

The front view of the pachinko machine 1 of the reference example of this invention Electrical configuration diagram of pachinko machine 1 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the main routine performed with the main control apparatus 80 of the pachinko machine 1. An exploded perspective view of the launch handle 18 of the pachinko machine 1 Explanatory drawing of launcher 3 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the game ball | bowl launch process performed with the launch control board | substrate 84 (A) is a flowchart showing an outline of the fraud monitoring process executed by the main controller 80, and (b) is a flowchart showing an outline of a ball feed stop process executed by the payout controller 81. Explanatory drawing of the error screen displayed on the production symbol display device 9 (A) is explanatory drawing of the launching apparatus 3 of the Example of this invention, (b) is a right view of the launching rail 35 vicinity of the launching apparatus 3 (A) is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the game ball was supplied in the launching device 3 of the Example of this invention, (b) is discharge | released by the game ball to which the unlaunched game ball was newly supplied in the launching device 3 Explanatory diagram showing how

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.
[Reference 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 substantially 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 ordinary electric accessory solenoid (denoted as a general electric accessory solenoid in FIG. 4) 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 is provided with a pivot amount signal from the handle volume 21 indicating the pivot amount of the launch handle 2, and a limit switch 2b for detecting that the launch handle 2 has been pivoted by a small amount. A rotation signal, a touch signal from the touch switch 28, a firing stop signal, etc. are input from the firing stop switch 19a. Note that the handle volume 21 is configured to be able to detect the current rotation amount value of the firing handle 2 (for example, the firing handle 2 has been rotated 50 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.). Is configured to detect whether or not the amount of rotation is 10 degrees or more. The angle of 10 degrees may be changed according to the specifications of the pachinko machine 1 and the like. 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.

  The main routine will be described with reference to FIG. The main routine is periodically executed by a hardware interrupt about every 2 ms. In the present embodiment, the process that is executed only once from S10 to S65 is referred to as “main process”, and the process of S70 that is repeatedly executed as long as time is allowed within the remaining time after executing this main process. This is referred to as “residual processing”. The “main process” is periodically executed by the interrupt.

  When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not the interrupt is a normal interrupt (S10). This determination process is performed by determining whether or not the value of a predetermined area of the RAM as a memory is a predetermined value. When the process executed by the microcomputer shifts to this process, the normal process is executed. It is for judging whether it is okay. If the interrupt is not normal, microcomputer runaway due to noise or the like may be considered when power is turned on. However, microcomputer runaway may be considered to be almost impossible due to recent technological improvements, and is usually when power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the value of the predetermined area of the RAM is different from the predetermined value.

  If it is determined that the interrupt is not normal (S10: no), initial settings (for example, writing a predetermined value to the predetermined area of the memory and setting a special symbol and a normal symbol as an initial symbol to each initial to the work area of the memory) Value is written (S15), and the process proceeds to the remaining process (S70).

  If a positive determination is made that the interrupt is normal (S10: yes), an initial value random number update process is executed (S20). This process is an increment process that increments the initial random number value by 1 each time this process is executed. The initial random number value before this process is incremented by +1, but the random number value before this process is executed is the maximum. When the value is “299”, it returns to the initial value “0” in the next processing, and 300 integers from “0” to “299” are repeatedly generated in ascending order.

  The big hit determination random number update process (S25) following S20 is an increment process that is incremented by 1 every time the process is executed, similar to the initial value random number update process. When the maximum value is "299", the next process starts with the next process. Returning to the value of “0”, 300 integers from “0” to “299” are repeatedly generated in ascending order. Note that the initial value of the jackpot determination random number is the value set in the initial value random number setting process. If this value is 250, the jackpot determination random number is updated as “250” “251” “252”... “299” “0” “1”.

  When the big hit determining random number is updated once (300 times), the initial value random number at that time is set as the initial value of the big hit determining random number, and the big hit determining random number is +1 from the initial value. Increment processing is performed. Then, when the big hit determining random number makes one round again, the initial value random number at that time is changed to the initial value of the big hit determining random number. That is, this series of operations is repeated. In the above example, when the big hit determination random number reaches “249”, it is one round, so the next value after “249” is the value of the initial value random number. If the value of the initial random number is “87”, “249” “87” “88”... “299” “0” “1”. Next to is a new initial random number value. The jackpot symbol determination random number update process (S30) is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates ten integers “0” to “9”, and is incremented by 1 every time this process is exceeded. Return to.

  The winning determination random number update process (S35) following S30 is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates six integers “0” to “5”, and is incremented by 1 every time this process is exceeded. Return to a certain “0”. The number of values to be won is “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5” in the open extended state, and “3” in the normal state (non-open extended state). is there. In other words, in the open extended state, it is won with a probability of 5/6, and in the normal state, it is won with a probability of 1/6. This winning decision random number update process is used for lottery of normal symbols, and other initial value random numbers, big hit determining random numbers, big hit symbol determining random numbers, reach determination random numbers, fluctuation pattern determining random numbers are used for special symbol lottery To do.

  The reach determination random number update process (S40) is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 229 integers from “0” to “228”, and is incremented by +1 for each process and the initial value is “0”. Return to. In the normal probability state, the number of values won when the variable time shortening function is not activated is 21, and the values are “0” to “20”. The number is 5, the values are “0” to “4”, the number of values to be won in the high probability state is 6, and the values are “0” to “5”.

  The variation pattern determination random number update process (S45) is configured as a counter that repeatedly creates 1021 integers from “0” to “1020”, and is incremented by 1 for each process and is the first value when the maximum value is exceeded. Return to "0".

In the subsequent winning confirmation processing (S50), confirmation of winning at the start port 8 and input processing of each switch provided in the pachinko machine 50 and connected to the main controller 80 are executed.
In this reference example, when a game ball wins the starting port 8, a plurality of random numbers such as a jackpot determination random number, a jackpot symbol determination random number, a variation pattern determination random number, a reach determination random number, etc. are acquired. The number of the random numbers is not stored, even if the game ball is won at the start port 8 and the award ball is only paid out when the reserved memory is full. ing.

Subsequently, a success / failure determination process (S55) is performed as condition establishment determination means for determining whether or not a big hit. When the success / failure determination process (S55) is completed, a fraud monitoring process (S60) such as an image output process is subsequently executed.
The fraud monitoring process (S60) is a process for monitoring whether the winning opening 31 is fraudulent. When fraud is detected, the fraud monitoring process (S60) notifies the fact (details will be described later). That is, the fraud determination means is provided in the main controller 80.

  In each subsequent output process (S65), as the game progresses, the main control device 80 controls the production symbol control device 82, the payout control device 81, the launch control board 84, the sub integrated control device 83, the big prize opening solenoid 14b, and the like. To execute each output process. That is, when it is detected by the winning confirmation process (S50) that there is a winning game ball at each winning port on the game board 1, the winning ball data is output to the payout control board 81 so as to pay out the gaming ball as the winning ball. In the process of outputting sound data corresponding to the gaming state to the sub-integrated control device 83, an error signal is output to the production symbol control device 82 to notify that there is an error when the pachinko machine 1 is abnormal. Each process is executed.

  The above-described remaining process following this process is composed of the initial value random number update process (S70), but is exactly the same process as S20 described above. This process forms an infinite loop and is repeated as long as time is allowed until the next interrupt is executed. The time required to execute this processing from S10 to S65 described above differs for each interrupt depending on whether or not to execute the jackpot processing, the difference in the display mode of special symbols, and the like. As a result, the number of times the remaining process is executed is different for each interrupt, and the value updated to the initial random number is not uniform when the interrupt process shown in FIG. 3 is executed once. Thereby, the possibility that the initial value random number is synchronized with the big hit determination random number becomes extremely small. If the value of the initial random number (300 values from 0 to 299) when the big hit determination random number makes one round, the probability of synchronization is only 1/300. The hit determination random number update process (S35) described above may also be executed in the remaining process.

  FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the firing handle 2. The firing handle 2 includes a substantially semi-rest type cover portion 2c including the touch portion 20, a rotation ring 2a fixed to the cover portion 2c, and the rotation ring 2a having a predetermined angle (here, 10 degrees) or more. A limit switch 2b for detecting that it is rotating, a spring 2d that urges the rotating ring 2a to return to the origin, a handle shaft 2e that transmits the rotation of the rotating ring 2a, a firing stop button 19, A launch stop switch 19a for detecting that the launch stop button 19 has been operated, and a support column 2f for fixing to the front surface of the pachinko machine 1 are provided.

The touch part 20 is plated, and when the player touches the plated touch part 20, the touch is detected by a touch switch 28 (not shown).
In this case, the touch unit 20 is provided on the cover 2c. However, the touch unit 20 may be provided separately, and the limit switch 2b and the firing stop switch 19a may be disposed at the illustrated positions. Absent.

  FIG. 5 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 length of the firing rail 34 is slightly longer than the diameter of the game ball (that is, shorter than twice the diameter of the game ball), and although not shown, the cross section 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 35 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. A ball feed solenoid 22 (not shown) swings the ball feed unit 33, and the ball feed solenoid 22 is excited to attract an iron plate (not shown) provided on the top of the ball feed unit 33. The ball feeding portion 33 is swung upward by about 20 degrees from the posture shown in the figure. 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. 6 shows a flowchart of the game ball launch process executed by the CPU of the launch control board 84. Similar to the main routine, this processing is periodically executed by a hardware interrupt about every 2 ms. When this process is activated, it is determined whether or not the possessed ball data is positive (S100). The possessed ball data is recorded on the membership card of the player (member of the game hall in which the pachinko machine 1 is installed), and the IC card reader / writer 23 reads the membership card, and thereby via the payout control board. The launch control board 84 can know the ball data. Instead of the possession ball data in the membership card, the possession ball data may be a part (or all) of them recorded in a RAM such as the launch control board 84 or the payout control board. Further, when the player is not the member, it is preferable that the number of possessed ball data corresponding to the cash inserted into the CR unit 5 is lent to the player, and the possessed ball data is referred to in the process of S100. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that the possessed ball data is plus, that is, the player has the possessed ball data, and the firing stop button 19 is not pressed. If the determination is negative (S100: no), the process is terminated (returned) as it is. If the determination is affirmative (S100: yes), it is determined whether or not the touch switch 28 is ON, that is, whether or not the player is touching the firing handle 2 (S110). If the determination is negative (S110: no), the process is terminated. If the determination is affirmative (S110: yes), it is determined whether or not the present is the ball feed timing (S120).

  The ball feed timing refers to a timing at which the ball feed unit 33 performs an operation of supplying a game ball to the launch rail 34 in a cycle related to launch of ball feed, batting, ball feeding, batting,. When the launch handle 2 is rotated as the limit switch 2b is turned on, the launcher 3 launches game balls at a pace of 100 per minute. That is, the cycle is repeated at a period of 60 s / 100 = 3/5 s, and the timing at which the ball feeding is performed within 3/5 s is the ball feeding timing. During 3/5 s, the game ball launch process is activated 300 times, and the ball feed timing is defined as, for example, “ball feed is performed at the 100th interruption among the 300 times”. Although not shown in the drawing, there is a counter that counts how many times the process is activated in the game ball launch process, and it is determined by this counter whether or not the current time is the ball feed timing. . In the above example, if the counter value is 100, 400, 700, 1000,. Of course, other methods may be used to determine whether or not the current time is the ball feed timing. For example, when the counter value reaches 299, the counter may return to 0, and when the counter reaches 100, it may be determined that the ball feed timing is reached, or the counter is reset every time the touch switch 28 is turned off. May be.

  If the determination is negative (S120: no), the process ends. If the determination is affirmative (S120: yes), a ball feeding operation process (S130) is performed. Specifically, the ball feed solenoid 22 is excited to swing the ball feed portion 33 upward, and the game ball is held in the recess 43. Then, after a predetermined time (for example, 0.2 seconds), the excitation is released and the held game ball is sent to the launch rail 34. When the ball feeding operation process is completed, 1 is subtracted from the held ball data (S140). Then, in S150, it is determined whether or not the limit switch 2b is ON (the firing handle 2 is rotated by 10 degrees or more). If the determination is negative (S150: no), the process ends. If the determination is affirmative (S150: yes), it is determined whether the current timing is the launch timing (S160). The firing timing is the timing at which the launcher 10 strikes in the cycle, and is set to be the 250th interrupt in the 3 / 5s period. If the determination is negative (S160: no), the process is terminated. If the determination is affirmative (S160: yes), a firing operation process (S165) is performed. Specifically, the launch motor 11 is driven and the game ball is hit with the launcher 10. When the firing operation process (S165) is executed, this process ends.

  That is, according to the game ball launch process, the launch operation is not performed only by touching the launch handle 2 and the touch switch 28 is turned on, and only the ball feeding operation is performed. When the firing handle 2 is further rotated from this state and the limit switch 2b is turned on, the firing operation is also performed, and the firing rod 10 strikes the game ball. Even in a state where only the ball feeding operation is performed without performing the firing operation, the game ball is supplied to the game area. The game balls thus supplied onto the launch rail 34 roll slowly in the launch direction due to the launch rail 34 having a downward slope toward the launch direction (rightward in FIG. 5). The game ball is fired without being hit by. The possessed ball data is subtracted when the ball feeding operation is performed, but when the ball feeding operation is performed, the game ball is always fired, so the game ball is fired even though the possessed ball data is subtracted. The trouble that it is not done does not occur. A game ball that has not been hit by the launcher 10 falls almost directly below because the launch rail 34 is only about the diameter of the game ball. For this reason, it can be easily launched directly under the launching device 3, and it is easy to aim at the gate 7 and the like.

  An outline of the flowchart of the fraud monitoring process (S60) is shown in FIG. When this process is activated, it is determined whether fraud has been detected (in this case, whether or not the number of game balls entering the winning opening 31 within a predetermined time is greater than a predetermined number). If there are many, it is determined to be fraud (detection of fraud). If the determination is negative (S200: no), the process is terminated (returned). If the determination is affirmative (S200: yes), a notification operation is performed (S210). Specifically, a command is transmitted to the sub-integrated control device 83 to display a notification screen (see FIG. 8) on the effect symbol display device 9. On this notification screen, the character 40 (Tatsuyoshi Kuma) is displayed, and "Error" "Please call the clerk" is displayed. The reason why “error” is displayed instead of “illegal occurrence” is to avoid trouble with the player as much as possible. Instead of (or in addition to) displaying such a notification screen as a notification operation, a signal indicating that fraud has been performed is transmitted to the hall computer 87 or a command is transmitted to the sub-integrated control device 83, and the speaker 66 may output an alarm sound. Returning to FIG. When the notification operation is executed in this way, a ball feed stop command is transmitted to the payout control device 81 in S220, and this process is terminated.

  The payout control board that has received the ball feed stop command executes a ball feed stop process shown in FIG. That is, when a ball feed stop command is received from the main control device 80 (S300: yes), a ball feed operation inhibition command is transmitted to the firing control board 84 (S310). Although not shown, the launch control board 84 that has received the ball feed operation inhibition command does not excite the ball feed solenoid 22 even at the ball feed timing. That is, the ball feed operation prohibition command has priority over the ball feed operation process (S130).

According to the gaming machine configured as described above, when an illegal act occurs, the supply operation of the game ball is stopped by the ball feed operation prohibition command, so that inappropriate use of the game ball can be prevented. .
[Example 1]

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the present embodiment has much in common with Reference Example 1, only different points will be described mainly.

  First, the correspondence between the configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration requirements of the present invention will be shown. The ball feed portion 33 and the ball feed solenoid 22 correspond to the “ball feed means” of the present invention, the launcher 10 and the launch motor 11 correspond to the “blow means” of the present invention, and the game ball launch process of FIG. The payout control device 81 corresponds to the “payout control means” of the present invention, the processing of S130 and S140 corresponds to the “used ball number counting means” of the present invention, and corresponds to the “shooting control means” of the present invention. The process corresponds to the “illegal signal transmission unit” of the present invention, and the process of S310 corresponds to the “ball feed stop unit” of the present invention. Further, the “first firing force” of the present invention corresponds to zero, and the firing force corresponding to the turning amount of 10 degrees for turning on the limit switch 2b corresponds to the “second firing force” of the present invention. The stopper 36 corresponds to the “holding portion” of the present invention.

  FIG. 9A is a front view of the launching device 3 of the second embodiment. The difference from the launching device 3 of the first embodiment is that the launch rail 35 has an upward slope, and a stopper 36 is provided to prevent the game ball from dropping off from the launch rail 35 to the left. The slope 33 a is attached to the concave portion 43 of the ball feeding portion 33. The slope 33a and the stopper 36 are shown in FIG. FIG. 9B is a view of the vicinity of the firing rail 35 of the launching device 3 as viewed from the right side, and the lower surface 33a of the concave portion 43 of the ball feeding portion 33 is inclined as shown in this figure. When the recess 43 is aligned with the ball feed hole 13, a game ball (not shown) held in the recess 43 is supplied to the firing rail 35. Although omitted in FIG. 5, there is also an inclination in the concave portion 43 of the ball feeding portion 33 of the first embodiment. However, the angle is so gentle that the game ball is smoothly sent to the launch rail 34 (for example, 5 degrees). On the other hand, the angle of the inclined surface 33a of the second embodiment is larger than the angle of the concave portion 43 of the first embodiment, so that the game ball is released to the launch rail 35 vigorously (for example, 15 degrees). . A through hole 36a is formed in the stopper 36, and when the launch motor 11 (see FIG. 9A) is driven, the launch rod 10 (see FIG. 9A) swings, and the launch rod 10 The tip passes through the through hole 36a. If a game ball (not shown) is held by the stopper 36, the game ball is launched at a speed corresponding to the striking force of the launcher 10.

  Also in the second embodiment, the game ball launch process (see FIG. 6) is executed. That is, the ball feeding operation is performed only by the player touching the launch handle 2, but the launcher 10 is not driven unless the limit switch 2b is turned on. FIG. 10 shows the movement of the game ball when the launcher 10 is not driven. First, FIG. 10A is an explanatory view showing a state where the game ball 38 is supplied. As shown in the figure, the game ball 38 rolls to the left in the figure by the slope of the launch rail 35 and is held by the stopper 36. If the limit switch 2b is ON in this state, the launcher 10 is driven by the launcher motor 11 at the launch timing, and the left end of the game ball 38 is hit by the launcher 10, and the game ball 38 is shown in FIG. Fired to the right. FIG. 10B shows a state in which the touch switch 28 continues to be turned on without the limit switch 2b being turned on, and the ball feed timing is reached. When the ball feeding timing comes, a ball feeding operation is performed, and the second game ball 39 is supplied to the firing rail 35. Then, the first game ball 38 is pushed rightward by the second game ball 39 flowing down the slope 33a (see FIG. 9). Since the length of the firing rail 35 is less than two game balls, the first game ball 38 drops from the right end of the launch rail 35 and is released to the game area.

According to the gaming machine configured as described above, the game ball 38 left on the launch rail 35 without being hit can be discharged to the game area by the next game ball 39, and a dedicated device is provided in particular. There is no need.
[Other embodiments]

  In the above-described embodiment, the ball feeding operation is performed only by the player touching the shooting handle 2. However, the ball feeding operation is not performed unless the shooting handle 2 is rotated to some extent (however, the limit switch 2b is not turned ON). You may comprise so that it may not be performed. For this purpose, a second limit switch may be provided, and the ball feeding operation may not be performed until the limit switch is turned on. In addition, although the rotation angle of the firing handle 2 at which the limit switch 2b is turned on is 10 degrees, other angles may be used. It is not necessary to set the number of interruption processing activations that define the ball feeding timing and the firing timing to the above-described values, and they may be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the gaming machine.

  Further, although the firing power source is the firing motor 11, other actuators (eg, rotary solenoid, linear solenoid, etc.) may be used. As the ball feeding mechanism, mechanisms other than those shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 to 10 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 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, in the case of the launch rail 35, the inclination direction is reversed (lowering left in the first embodiment, lowering right in the second embodiment).

  The game ball launch process of FIG. 6 is executed by the launch control board 84, but may be a process executed by the payout control board. In that case, the amount of rotation of the handle volume 21, the detection signal of the limit switch 2b, etc. 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, it may be configured such that the holding ball data is reduced after detecting that a game ball is supplied to the launch rail 34 or the launch rail 35 by a proximity sensor (such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor).

  In the second embodiment, the first game ball 38 is pushed rightward by the second game ball 39 flowing down the slope 33a. However, the second game ball 39 is pushed from the position higher than the position shown in FIG. The first game ball 38 may be pushed out (fired) by supplying (falling) the game ball 39 to the launch rail 35. In this case, the slope 33a may be made as gentle as the first embodiment. Further, the launch rail 35 of the second embodiment may be inclined downward like the launch rail 34 of the first embodiment. However, the right end portion of the firing rail 35 is provided with a protrusion or warp that can barely hold the game ball 38 so that the first game ball 38 is not fired only by being placed on the launch rail 35. When the second game ball 39 is supplied, the previous game ball 38 is discharged beyond the protrusion or warpage.

1: Pachinko machine 2: Launch handle 2a: Rotating ring 2b: Limit switch 3: Launcher 4: Game board 5: CR unit 6: Out port 7: Gate 7a: Normal symbol operation switch 8: Start port 8a: Start port Switch 9: Production symbol display device 10: Launch rod 11: Launch motor 12: Ordinary electric accessory 13: Ball feed hole 19: Launch stop button 19a: Launch stop switch 20: Touch unit 21: Handle volume 22: Ball feed solenoid 23 : IC card reader / writer 24: CR unit terminal board 25: Settlement display device 28: Touch switch 31: Winning port 33: Ball feeding portion 33a: Slope 34, 35: Launch rail 36: Stopper 36a: Through hole 38: First Game ball 39: Second game ball 57: Ball rental button 58: Checkout button 66: Speaker 67: Production button Tan 80: Main control device 81: Dispensing control device 82: Production symbol control device 83: Sub integrated control device 84: Launch control board 87: Hall computer

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine comprising a game ball launching device installed at the top of a game area, and a firing force adjusting means for adjusting the firing force of the game ball by a player's operation,
The game ball launcher includes a launch rail on which a game ball to be launched 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
When the launch force by the launch force adjusting means is not less than zero and not more than the first launch force that is less than the maximum launch force, both the ball feeding means and the hitting means are not operated, and the launch force is When the first firing force exceeds the second firing force, which is a firing force less than the maximum firing force, both the ball feeding means and the striking means are operated, and the firing force is the first firing force. In a case where it is less than or equal to the second firing force, the ball feeding means is operated, but the striking means is not activated.
A holding unit for holding a gaming machine placed on the firing rail;
With
The length of the firing rail is not more than twice the diameter of the game ball;
When the second gaming ball is further supplied to the firing rail by the ball feeding means while the first gaming machine is held by the holding portion, the second gaming ball is not hit by the hitting means. The gaming machine is characterized in that the first gaming ball is pushed out in the firing direction by the gaming ball and falls from the tip of the firing rail to the gaming area. In the gaming machine according to claim 1,
A main control device for detecting at least one of fraud and error in the gaming machine;
A payout control means for giving the game ball or data corresponding to the number of the game balls to a player of the game machine;
A used ball number counting means for counting the number of game balls used in the gaming machine by counting the number of operating times of the ball feeding means;
When the detection is performed by the main control means, an unauthorized signal transmitting means for transmitting an unauthorized signal to the payout control means;
When the payout control means receives the fraud detection signal from the fraud detection signal transmission means, the ball feed stop means for stopping the supply operation of the game ball by the ball feed means,
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

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