JP2014140630A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device capable of extremely reducing restrictions of a device disposed within the game device having each machine count function.SOLUTION: A card unit 3 comprises an upper unit 3a where a card insertion opening 309 is formed and a lower unit 3b arranged at a lower side of the upper unit 3a. The lower unit 3b includes: a first counted ball flow-down passage and a second counted ball flow-down passage where Pachinko balls received by a ball tray unit 4 flow in; and a returned ball flow-down gutter for guiding Pachinko balls to be returned to a player.

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a gaming apparatus that is arranged corresponding to each gaming machine and that accepts a gaming recording medium and enables gaming on the corresponding gaming machine.

  As this type of gaming apparatus, what is conventionally known is provided adjacent to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, for example, by inserting a gaming recording medium such as a card. There has been a technology that reads a remaining amount recorded on a recording medium, rents a game medium from an adjacent gaming machine using the remaining amount, and enables a game by the gaming machine using the gaming medium. Then, the acquired game media acquired as a result of the player playing with the gaming machine is stored in a ball box, etc., and after the game is completed, the acquired game media stored in the ball box is stored in a counter of the game hall It was configured so that prizes could be exchanged within the range of the counted value.

  On the other hand, in order to save the trouble of bringing the acquired game media acquired by the player to a counter etc. and counting them, a game media tray for receiving the acquired game media acquired by the player is provided, and the game media tray Conventionally, a gaming device with a function of counting each vehicle has been conceived in which an accepted gaming medium flows into a corresponding gaming device, counts the acquired gaming media, and adds and stores the counted value ( For example, Patent Document 1).

  In this gaming machine with a counting function, a counting device for counting the flow of acquired gaming media is provided at the lower part of the gaming device, and a nozzle is provided at the center of the gaming device. The game media can be returned from the nozzle to the gaming machine within the range of the counted number of acquired game media.

JP 2004-141524 A

  In the case of the gaming device with the counting function shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a counting device that counts the nozzle by flowing the nozzle at the center of the gaming device and the acquired gaming medium at the lower portion of the gaming device. Is provided.

  However, in the case of a gaming device, there is a limit on the size, and since there is a tendency to become multifunctional in recent years, there is a desire to reduce the restrictions on the devices arranged inside the gaming device. However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional gaming apparatus with a counter function, a nozzle is provided in the center of the gaming apparatus, and the game medium is paid out from the nozzle, and the counter function is provided. Devices and mechanisms peculiar to the gaming device are distributed in the central portion of the gaming device and the lower portion of the gaming device. As a result, there is a drawback in that the devices and mechanisms unique to the gaming devices with the counting function of each of the vehicles that are distributed are obstructing, and the devices placed inside the gaming devices are restricted.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus that can reduce the restrictions on the devices arranged inside the gaming devices with the function of counting each vehicle as much as possible. .

(1) A gaming device that is arranged corresponding to each gaming machine (for example, pachinko machine 2) and that accepts a gaming recording medium (for example, a visitor card or a membership card) and enables gaming on the corresponding gaming machine. (For example, card unit 3),
A reception unit (for example, upper unit 3a) having a reception unit (for example, card insertion slot 309, card reader / writer 327) for receiving the game recording medium;
A game medium receiving unit (for example, a ball receiving tray unit 4) connected to the lower part of the receiving unit and having a counting receiving unit capable of receiving game media for counting;
At the bottom of the reception unit,
A counting game medium passage (for example, a first counting ball down path 440a, a second counting ball down path 440b) into which the game medium received in the counting receiving unit flows;
A payout game medium passage (for example, a return ball flow lower wall 159) for guiding a game medium to be paid out to the player is provided,
The gaming apparatus, wherein the game medium receiving unit further includes a payout receiving section that communicates with the payout game medium passage and is provided separately from the counting receiving section.

  According to such a configuration, since the counting game medium passage and the payout game medium passage are collectively arranged at the lower part of the reception unit, it is possible to reduce restrictions on devices arranged on the reception unit side.

  (2) A counting unit (for example, a first counting sensor 356a and a second counting sensor 356b) that is further provided with a lower unit disposed on the lower side of the receiving unit, and is used for counting processing of game media received in the counting receiving unit. Etc.) and a payout part (for example, payout motor 353, return ball sensor 151, ball breakage detection sensor 204, gears 132 to 136, etc.) used for payout processing of the game medium guided to the payout game medium passage Instead of being provided in the medium receiving unit, all the lower units are provided (for example, FIGS. 12 and 13).

  According to such a configuration, the game medium receiving unit generally protrudes forward, so that, for example, a foreign object collides or a liquid such as water spilled from above enters the game medium receiving unit. Although there is a risk of damage to the unit itself and the electrical parts provided in the game medium receiving unit, the counting parts used for counting processing of the game media received in the counting receiving part and the game medium guided to the payout game medium passage Since the payout parts used for processing are not provided on the game medium receiving unit side, for example, damage to the counting parts and payout parts can be prevented as much as possible. For example, when the game medium receiving unit itself is damaged, Even when the medium receiving unit is exchanged, the gaming medium receiving unit can be configured at a low cost, so that the economic burden of the game arcade accompanying the exchange is minimized. It can be.

(3) A game medium to be paid out to a player flows down from a supply basket on the gaming machine installation island where the gaming machine is installed, and is guided to the payout game medium passage (for example, a return ball flow basket 159),
Downflow pressure reducing means (for example, the meandering path 12) for reducing the downflow pressure of the flowing down game medium is provided on the game medium inflow side of the payout game medium path (for example, FIGS. 3 and 4). (A) and (b)).

  According to such a configuration, since the payout game medium passage is arranged in the lower unit, the flow height when the game medium flows down to the payout game medium passage from the supply tank of the gaming machine installation island is increased. Although the pressure of the game medium flowing down increases by that amount, the flow down pressure reducing means for reducing the flow down of the game medium is provided on the game medium inflow side of the payout game medium passage. The pressure reducing means reduces the flow down pressure of the game medium, and can prevent problems such as clogging of the game medium due to the increase in the flow down pressure as much as possible.

  (4) The game medium receiving unit has a payout receiving part (for example, a sub-dish part 7) for receiving a game medium to be paid out through the payout game medium path.

  According to such a configuration, since the game medium receiving unit is provided with the payout receiving section for receiving the game medium to be paid out through the payout game medium passage, the game medium paid out to the payout receiving section is provided. Makes it easier for players to take out.

(5) A cup (for example, cup 100) that is attached to the payout receiving unit and stores the payout game medium is provided.
The payout receiving unit has a communication port (for example, a return ball outlet 40) communicating with the payout game medium passage on an inner wall,
The cup is characterized in that a game medium receiving opening (for example, opening 101) is formed at a position corresponding to the communication port.

  According to such a configuration, for example, compared to a case where the payout game medium passage is positioned above the cup and the game medium is paid into the cup from above the cup, the payout receiving portion and the cup are sufficiently deep. However, the position of the payout game medium passage can be lowered, and the lower unit can be positioned at the lower part of the gaming apparatus as much as possible. Accordingly, the size of the upper unit can be increased, and the restrictions on the device disposed inside the upper unit can be further reduced.

  As the above gaming apparatus, a gaming recording medium in which a valuable value (card balance) as a consideration for a player's payment is recorded is received, and the valuable value recorded on the gaming recording medium is used. The game is not limited to a game machine corresponding to the game machine. For example, a member's recording medium is received and a storage ball specified by the member's recording medium (a game place among the game media acquired by the player). It is also possible to allow only a game with a stored ball, in which a game is performed using a (deposited game medium). Further, for example, a game recording medium in which the number of counted game media (counted number of balls) taken and counted by taking in the acquired game media acquired by the player is received and recorded on the game recording medium. It is also possible to allow only a game with a counting game medium, in which a game is made possible by paying out the number of counting game media. In other words, the “game device” as used in the present invention may be any value such as a card remaining amount, a storage ball, or a counting game medium used for enabling a game. Anything that accepts and allows gaming on a gaming machine using some valuable value is included.

  The “storing ball” is a game medium deposited in a game hall as described above, and is generally managed by a management computer installed in the game hall. On the other hand, the “counted number of game media” is the number of game media counted by the self-counting function of the game device and not yet deposited in the game hall. Generally, it is managed by each gaming device and is recorded and ejected on the game recording medium at the end of the game, but when playing again using the number of counted game media recorded on the game recording medium The number of counted game media is read into the game device and managed by the game device. The number of counted game media may be managed by a management device for managing the counted game media installed in the game hall. In short, the difference between `` storing ball '' and `` number of counting game media '' is the game media that has been deposited in the game hall by performing the storage operation for depositing in the game hall, or the stage that has not been deposited in the game hall yet It is a point of whether it is a game medium.

  Furthermore, “allowing a game on a gaming machine” as used in the present invention means, for example, restricting playing a game using a game medium lent using cash without accepting a game recording medium. It does not mean (prohibited) but means that a game can be made by accepting a game recording medium and using some valuable value.

It is a front view which shows a card unit and a pachinko machine. (A) And (b) is a perspective view which shows the unit holder which installs a card unit. (A) is a front view of a unit holder, (b) is a partially enlarged view of (a), and (c) is a side view of a counting dispensing unit. (A) And (b) is a perspective view of the card unit and ball receiving tray unit installed in the unit holder. (A)-(d) is a perspective view which shows a ball receiving tray unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball receiving tray unit. It is an enlarged view which shows the metal fitting vicinity for a ball saucer unit. It is a perspective view which shows a ball receiving tray unit and a cup. (A) is a perspective view of a cup, (b) is a top view of a cup. (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the method of removing a ball receiving tray unit. (A) And (b) is a perspective view of a count delivery unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a count dispensing unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a count dispensing unit. It is a figure explaining the mechanism of the connection and unlocking | release of connection of a count delivery unit and a ball receiving tray unit. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit used for a card unit. It is a figure explaining the communication between a control unit and a control part.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing a gaming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, referring to FIG. 1, a card reader-type pachinko machine (hereinafter abbreviated as a pachinko machine) 2 as an example of a gaming machine is juxtaposed in parallel on each gaming island (not shown) arranged in the game hall. The card units 3 are installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko machine 2 at a side position on a predetermined side of the pachinko machine 2. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the card unit 3 is installed in a state of being held by a unit holder 8. This card unit 3 is issued to a visitor card having a prepaid function which is a game recording medium issued to a general player who has not registered as a member, or to a member player who has registered as a member in the game hall. Pachinko machine that is used for a game in the pachinko machine 2 by accepting a membership card, which is a game recording medium to be played, and a pachinko machine acquired in a game in the corresponding pachinko machine 2 It has a function (self-counting function) of counting balls and paying out (returning) pachinko balls within the number of pachinko balls already counted.

  As will be described later with reference to FIG. 15, the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 are provided with various signals associated with the lending of a plurality (25 in this embodiment) of pachinko balls that are predetermined as payout units. The terminal terminal lending completion signal (EXS) and the table READY signal (PRDY) output from the pachinko machine 2, the card unit READY signal (BRDY) output from the control unit 328, and the terminal terminal lending request completion confirmation signal (BRQ). ) Are connected so as to be able to transmit / receive, and a jackpot signal, a probability changing signal, a time-short / medium signal, a winning ball signal, and a start signal, which will be described later, output from the pachinko machine 2 are connected.

  Next, the pachinko machine 2 as an example of the gaming machine used in the present embodiment will be briefly described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 2 is provided with a game board 26 whose front surface is covered with a glass door. A game area 27 is formed on the front surface of the game board 26. A hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 23 is provided on the lower surface of the pachinko machine 2, and a lower tray 24 for storing pachinko balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 23 and a hit ball are fired at the lower portion of the hitting ball supply tray 23. A hitting operation handle (hereinafter referred to as operation knob) 25 is provided. When the player rotates the operation knob 25, the pachinko balls in the hitting ball supply tray 23 are shot and fired into the game area 27.

  The pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called first-type pachinko machine, which is not shown, but a start winning opening through which a pachinko ball driven into the game area 27 can win, A variable display device that variably displays based on a detection signal of a start winning ball that has won a mouth, and a variable that is opened when the display result of the variable display becomes a predetermined combination of specific identification information (for example, a glance). A winning ball device is provided.

  When the variable winning ball apparatus is opened, a big hit state is achieved. In addition, since the display result of the variable display device is a combination of predetermined special identification information (for example, a combination of probability variation symbols such as 777) out of a combination of jackpot symbols (grooves), the probability variation big hit state is A probability variation state (probability variation state) in which the occurrence probability of the jackpot is improved after the occurrence of the control of the jackpot state is generated.

  In the variable display device, the variable display device is stopped and displayed in combination with the jackpot symbol, the big hit occurs, and the variable display of the variable display device reaches the predetermined number of times or the next jackpot occurs after the big hit is finished. When the variable display time (fluctuation time) is shortened compared to the normal gaming state, the state becomes short. During this time short state, a time short / medium signal is output to notify the outside of the occurrence of the time short state.

  Further, when the big hit state described above, the big hit signal becomes the output state, and when the probability change state mentioned above, the probability changing signal becomes the output state. Further, the pachinko ball won in the start winning opening is detected and the variable display device is variably displayed, so that the start signal is output. Furthermore, when a pachinko ball wins, a prize ball (prize ball) is paid out, and at that time, a prize ball signal is output.

  The pachinko machine 2 according to the present embodiment has a control for counting and paying out a predetermined number of prize balls from a game control board that controls the game in the pachinko machine 2 based on a prize ball signal that is output based on a prize. And a prize ball control board (not shown) for performing control for counting and lending out 25 pachinko balls, which are payout units, based on signals input / output by the card unit 3. Pachinko balls can be rented in multiples of 25 balls. In addition, since one unit is 25, when lending in one unit, the information exchanged by the communication for lending the pachinko ball between the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 described above increases, and the control is complicated. This is to avoid the inconvenience.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment has the card unit 3 main body engaged with the upper guide 9 and the lower guide 10 formed at the upper and lower positions thereof. Is installed on the amusement island via a unit holder 8 that can be pulled out in the front direction. The card unit 3 includes a counting / dispensing unit 29 and an upper unit 3a located at the upper part thereof. The count dispensing unit 29 is also referred to as a lower unit 3b. The release operation part is provided inside the game island on the back of the card unit 3, and the card unit is obtained by removing the pachinko machine 2 corresponding to the card unit 3 and operating the release operation part from the game island inside to release the lock. 3 can be pulled out. In the state where the upper unit 3a is pulled out, the counting / dispensing unit 29 can be pulled out by releasing the fitting between the counting / dispensing unit 29 which is the lower unit 3b and the unit holder 8, as will be described later.

  The unit holder 8 is provided with a connector for relaying various connection cables. A communication cable or the like connected to the control unit 328 is relay-connected via the unit holder 8. It is devised so that a communication cable or the like is not entangled when the card unit 3 body is pulled out and the card unit 3 body cannot be pulled out.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 (a) and 4 (b), on the front surface of upper unit 3a in card unit 3 of the present embodiment, a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, and a device front direction from the device front surface. And a card insertion slot 309 for inserting a membership card or a visitor card. The membership card or visitor card inserted into the card insertion slot 309 is received by the card reader / writer 327 (see FIG. 15), and the information recorded on these cards is read. In the protrusion 305 described above, on the surface facing the player, a display unit 312 that can display various information, and when a member card is received, the member card ID and member ID recorded on the member card are specified. Receives infrared signals from a replay button / payout button 319 for carrying out a replay game using the number of stored balls and a remote control (not shown) possessed by an attendant of the game hall and converts it into an electronic signal. IR light receiving unit 315 (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided, and each display item displayed on the display unit 312 can be input by touching the surface of the display unit 312 with a finger. A transparent touch panel 314 is provided.

  In addition, a liquid crystal display 313 (to be described later) formed by the display unit 312 is provided inside the protrusion 305. Further, a ball tray unit 4 is provided at a position below the lower plate 24 of the pachinko machine 2. As the pachinko balls stored in the lower plate 24 are discharged to the ball receiving tray unit 4, the discharged pachinko balls (return balls) flow down in the ball receiving tray unit 4 and are counted and discharged as described later. 29, the returned balls are counted, and the counted number of balls is displayed on the display unit 312.

  When the above-mentioned replay button / payout button 319 is operated, if there are counted balls, the pachinko balls are paid out (returned) from the counted balls, and there is no counted balls. When there is the above-mentioned number of stored balls, the pachinko balls are paid out from the number of stored balls. The payout (return) of pachinko balls from the counted number of balls will be described in detail later.

  A control unit, which will be described later, is provided with a bill inserted into a bill insertion slot 302 provided at the upper position of the upper unit 3a, and the authentication of the authenticity and bill type is performed, and the identification result is provided in the substantially central portion of the apparatus. A banknote identification unit (not shown) for output to 328 is provided, and various banknotes (10,000, 5,000, 2,000, and 1,000 yen banknotes) can be received by the banknote identification unit. ing.

  By operating the payout button 319 when there are counted balls, the pachinko balls (return balls) are paid out within the range of the counted balls as described above. At the time of paying out, pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 2 side into the hitting ball supply tray 23 in units of 25, which are the payout units described above. For this reason, since the number of counted balls of less than 25, for example 24, cannot be paid out from the pachinko machine 2 side, the sub-dish portion 7 of the ball receiving tray unit 4 from the counting payout unit 29 of the card unit 3. To be paid out. The returned balls to be paid out to the sub-dish portion 7 are supplied from the ball supply basket of the game island.

  Next, the unit holder 8 will be described with reference to FIG. An upper guide 9 is provided at the upper part of the unit holder 8, and a lower guide 10 is provided at the lower part. The upper guide 9 and the lower guide 10 can guide the card unit 3 between the upper and lower sides and set it in the unit holder 8. The unit holder 8 is provided with a box mounting plate 15, and the power supply board box 14 is mounted through the box mounting plate 15. The power supply board box 14 is for supplying power of a predetermined voltage to the card unit 3.

  The unit holder is provided with a return ball flow path 13 for taking a pachinko ball (return ball) from the ball supply basket of the aforementioned game island and flowing it down. Further, a U-shaped meandering path mounting frame 11 projecting from the back surface is provided on the back side of the unit holder 8, and a meandering path (also referred to as a bellows) 12 is provided in the meandering path mounting frame 11. ing. The meandering path 12 is formed in a shape that causes the pachinko balls to meander and flow down a plurality of times, and reduces the ball pressure of the pachinko balls flowing down by the meandering. The pachinko balls (return balls) that have flowed down the return ball flow path 13 are supplied to the meandering path 12 and supplied to the counting dispensing unit 29 via the meandering path 12. Due to the meandering of the meandering path 12, the return balls are smoothly supplied to the counting / dispensing unit 29 in a state where the flow down pressure of the return balls is reduced. Since the counting / dispensing unit 29 is arranged in the lower part of the card unit 3, the height from the ball supply basket of the game island to the counting / dispensing unit 29 is relatively large, and the ball pressure is high. However, the meandering path 12 has an advantage that the flow down pressure of the ball can be effectively reduced.

  The meandering path 12 is configured to be detachable from the unit holder 8 together with the meandering path mounting frame 11, and the return ball flow path 13 is also configured to be detachable from the unit holder 8. Since the meandering path 12 is configured separately from the counting / dispensing unit 29, as described above, the height (in the vertical direction of the meandering path 12) for effectively reducing the ball pressure of the returned balls that have flowed down. There is an advantage that the counting payout unit 2 can be reduced in size while ensuring the length). In the figure, 16 is a coil spring.

  Referring to FIG. 3A, a plate member 280 is provided at the lower end of the meandering path 12, and the return ball supply port 517, the wiring insertion port 18, and the counting ball intake port 19 are provided in the plate member 280. And are formed. The return ball supply port 517 faces the lower end of the above-described meandering path 12, and the return balls flowing down via the meandering path 12 are supplied from the return ball supply port 517 to the counting and dispensing unit 29. In addition, a wiring connected to the counting / dispensing unit 29 is inserted from the wiring insertion port 18. Further, the counting balls taken in by the counting payout unit 29 are taken in from the counting ball take-in port 19 and discharged to a ball collection basket on a game island (not shown).

  FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the return ball supply port 517 of FIG. The plate member 280 is provided with a return ball shutter 20 that is rotatable by a rotation shaft 21. The rotating shaft 21 is provided with a torsion coil spring 22. One end of the torsion coil spring 22 is inserted into a spring retaining hole 28 provided in the return ball shutter 20, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 22 is the inner wall of the unit holder 8. It is locked to. In this state, the return ball shutter 20 is urged by an elastic force of the torsion coil spring 22 so as to close the return ball supply port 517 as shown in FIG.

  The upper surface of the plate member 280 is a fitting plate portion 32. When the counting / dispensing unit 29 is inserted and installed in the unit holder 8, the fitting plate portion 32 and the fitting piece 30 shown in FIG. The clearance between the payout unit 29 and the counting payout unit 29 is connected and fixed to the unit holder 8 side. At that time, as shown in FIG. 3C, the shutter pressing portion 31 is formed at the lower end of the engagement piece 30, and the fitting plate portion 32 is fitted into the gap between the engagement piece 30 and the counting dispensing unit 29. When combining, the head of the return ball shutter 20 is pressed downward by the shutter pressing portion 31 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. As a result, the return ball shutter 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the shutter of the return ball supply port 517 is released, and the return ball can flow from the return ball supply port 517 to the counting payout unit 29 side.

  As described above, the return ball shutter 20 is configured so that the return ball supply port 517 is closed and the return balls are not spilled out in a state where the counting / dispensing unit 29 is not attached. By attaching, the closing of the return ball supply port 517 is automatically released so that the return ball can flow down to the counting / dispensing unit 29.

  In FIG. 3C, reference numeral 142 denotes a mounting member for mounting the upper unit 3a. 33a is an upper fitting protrusion and 34 is a lower fitting protrusion. A pair of upper fitting protrusions 33a are provided on the left and right. The ball receiving tray unit 4 is connected and fixed by the upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b and the lower fitting protrusion 34. This will be described in detail later.

  The card unit 3 described above is a card unit with a self-counting function. However, in the case of a card unit without a self-counting function, the meandering path mounting frame 11, the meandering path 12, and the counting payout The unit 29 becomes unnecessary. The counting / dispensing unit 29 and the power supply board box 14 are configured to have the same size. In the case of a card unit without a self-counting function, the counting / dispensing unit 29 is removed. The power supply board box 14 is arranged there. By doing so, the power supply board box 14 does not protrude from the side of the unit holder 8.

  FIGS. 5A to 5D are perspective views showing the ball tray unit 4. In the ball receiving tray unit 4, a ball receiving tray portion 35 and a sub tray portion 7 are formed. The bottom surface of the ball receiving tray 35 is inclined so that the received counting balls flow down to the counting ball outlets 42a and 42b (see FIG. 5C). And the saw 37 is formed from the middle part of the downward inclination in the bottom face of the ball receiving tray part 35. Further, the ball tray 35 is provided with a rubber sheet 39 for alleviating the collision of the counting balls to be inserted. The rubber sheet 39 has a notch formed at a portion corresponding to the saw 37. The returned balls received in the ball receiving tray portion 35 flow down the inclined bottom surface and are guided to the counting ball outlets 42a and 42b through the saw 37.

  The sub-dish portion 7 is used for storing the return ball by discharging the return ball flowing in from the return ball inlet 41 from the return ball outlet 40. A saw 38 is also formed on the bottom surface of the sub dish portion 7. FIG. 5B shows a view of the saw 38 and the aforementioned saw 37 from the bottom side. Water and garbage spilled on the ball tray part 35 and the sub-dish part 7 are configured to be discharged downward from the ball tray unit 4 through the snowboards 37 and 38. Furthermore, since the slat 38 is formed in the direction along the scooping direction of the finger when the player scoops out the stored return ball with the left finger and takes out the stored return ball, the player 38 There is an advantage that it is easy to take out the returned ball with the left hand.

  As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5D, a level adjuster 5 is provided on the bottom side of the ball receiving tray unit 4. The level adjuster 5 is configured to be height-adjustable, and is a member that works effectively when the ball receiving tray unit 4 is attached to and detached from the counting / dispensing unit 29 as will be described later.

  With reference to FIGS. 5C and 5D, plate-shaped connection fittings 59 are provided at locations where the ball receiving tray unit 4 is attached to the counting / dispensing unit 29. The connection fitting 59 is formed with an opening for the return ball inlet 41 and openings for the counting ball outlets 42a and 42b. Further, fitting notches 47a and 47b are formed on the left and right sides of the opening for the return ball inlet 41, and the upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b (see FIGS. 3 and 11) of the counting payout unit 29 It fits into the notches 47a and 47b for fitting.

  Further, a fitting slit 48 is formed on the bottom surface side of the connection fitting 59, and the lower fitting protrusion 34 (see FIGS. 3 and 11) of the counting dispensing unit 29 is fitted into the fitting slit 48. It is configured as follows.

  In the figure, reference numeral 43 denotes a light receiving unit, which receives light emitted from LEDs 115a and 115b (see FIGS. 11 and 13) of the counting / dispensing unit 29, which will be described later, by the light receiving unit 43, and the resin light emitting unit 36 by the received light. Is configured to emit light.

  Further, a restricting protruding piece 44 protrudes from approximately the center of the connection fitting 59. The tip of the restricting protrusion 44 is bent downward to form a pushing claw portion 45. The restricting protrusions 44 and the pushing claw portions 45 will be described in detail later.

  In the figure, reference numeral 46 denotes a recess, which is a recess for avoiding the protrusion of the lower part of the pachinko machine 2 when the ball receiving tray unit 4 is installed.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the ball receiving tray unit 4. With reference to FIG. 6, the ball receiving tray unit 4 is roughly composed of a ball receiving tray unit upper portion 51 and a ball receiving tray unit lower portion 52. The ball tray unit upper portion 51 is formed with a ball tray portion 35 composed of a bottom surface portion 67 and a peripheral wall portion 68 around the bottom surface portion 67. As described above, the bottom surface portion 67 is inclined downward toward the counting ball outlets 42a and 42b, and is configured such that the received counting ball flows down. An opening 69 is formed from a portion of the bottom surface portion 67 that is inclined downward.

  Further, the rubber sheet 39 fitted into the ball receiving tray part 35 is also composed of a bottom surface part 70 and a peripheral wall part 71 around the bottom part 70, and the inner shape of the ball receiving tray 35 when inserted into the ball receiving tray part 35. It is configured to fit the shape. Further, the rubber sheet 39 is formed with an opening 72 at the same position as the opening 69 of the ball receiving tray 35 in a state of being inserted into the ball receiving tray 35. In this state, the ball receiving tray unit upper portion 51 and the ball receiving tray unit lower portion 52 are combined, whereby the counting ball aligning flow rod 53 made of the saw 37 is positioned at the openings 72 and 69.

  In the ball receiving tray unit upper portion 51, a peripheral wall portion 74 and an opening 75 for the sub tray portion 7 are formed. By combining the ball receiving tray unit upper portion 51 and the ball receiving tray unit lower portion 52, the snowboard 38 is positioned at the location of the opening 75, and the subware tray portion 7 is configured by the snowboard 38 and the peripheral wall portion 74. The

  A return ball outlet 40 is formed at a location on the connection wall 73 side in the peripheral wall 74. The return ball outlet 40 is an outlet from which the return ball flowing in from the return ball inlet 41 (see FIG. 5) is discharged, and the return ball discharged from the return ball outlet 40 is stored in the sub dish portion 7.

  A return ball down passage 64 for flowing down the return balls supplied from the return ball supply port 17 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) of the counting and paying unit 29 is attached to the down flow rod mounting portion 480 from below. A return ball flow path 65 is formed in the return ball flow path 64, and the return ball flow path 64 is connected to the flow basket mounting portion 480 so that an end 66 of the return ball flow path 65 faces the return ball outlet 40. And fixed with screws 84.

  In the figure, reference numeral 49 denotes a light emitting portion insertion groove, and the above-described resin light emitting portion 36 is inserted into the light emitting portion insertion groove 49. The light emitting part 36 is formed with an engaging claw 50, and the claw receiving part formed on the light emitting part insertion groove 49 side is engaged with the engaging claw 50, whereby the light emitting part 36 is inserted into the light emitting part. It is fixed in the groove 49. In this state, when the return balls are returned from the counting / dispensing unit 29 to the sub dish portion 7, LEDs 115a and 115b described later emit light, and the light emitting portion 36 emits light. The player can recognize that the return ball has been returned to the sub-dish portion 7 by watching the light emission. In the figure, reference numeral 46 denotes the above-described depression.

  The ball receiving tray unit lower part 52 is composed of a peripheral wall part 77 around the bottom face part 76, and the above-mentioned slat 38 is formed, and a rising part 78 for the downfall basin is formed. On the ridge portion 78 for the falling basin, the counting ball alignment basin 53 made of the saw 37 is formed. The counting ball alignment flow bar 53 is provided with a partition wall 54 along the flow wall, and on both sides of the partition wall 54, a first count ball alignment flow bar 53a and a second count ball alignment flow bar 53b. Divided into two sections. As a result, the counting balls are divided into two sections and flow down to the counting ball intake port 19 of the counting payout unit 29 from the first counting ball outlet 42a and the second counting ball outlet 42b (see FIGS. 11A and 11B). Led. A ball leveling 55 is provided at a predetermined position of the counting ball alignment flow basket 53a, 53b. The ball leveling 55 is for leveling the counting balls flowing down the first counting ball alignment flow rod 53a and the second counting ball alignment flow rod 53b so that they do not overlap vertically. The ball leveling 55 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the support shaft 56 is inserted into the hole 57 with the support shaft 56 inserted into the cylinder, and is fitted into the fitting portion 58. It is installed in the wet state. Note that a C ring 57a for retaining is fitted into one end of the support shaft 56. By combining the ball receiving tray unit lower portion 52 with the ball receiving tray unit upper portion 51, the upper surface of the fitting portion 58 is sealed, and the supporting shaft 56 is prevented from falling off together with the C ring 57a.

  A cylindrical portion 83 for attaching the level adjuster 5 is further provided on the bottom surface portion 76 of the ball tray unit lower portion 52. The cylindrical portion 83 is configured in a cylindrical shape so that the bolt portion 80 can be inserted, and female screw portions 98 and 99 (the third portion is not shown) are provided at three locations around the cylindrical portion 83. ing. In this state, the nut 81 is attached from the bottom side of the ball tray unit lower part 52. A washer 82 is formed integrally with the nut 81, and screw insertion holes 93 and 94 (the third part is not shown) are formed at three places of the washer 82. By screwing the screws into the above-mentioned three female screw portions 98 and 99 (the third portion is not shown) with the screws 90, 91 and 92 inserted through the three screw insertion holes, the nut 81 Is attached and fixed to the bottom surface side of the ball tray unit lower part 52.

  A nut 79 is screwed to the bolt portion 80 of the level adjuster 5, and the amount of protrusion from the nut 79 on the tip side of the bolt portion 80 can be adjusted by rotating the nut 79. When the bolt portion 80 protruding from the nut 79 is screwed into the nut 81, the bolt portion 80 is screwed into the nut 81 by the protruding amount, and the level adjuster 5 is adjusted with the height of the level adjuster 5 adjusted. It can be attached to the ball tray unit lower part 52.

  The level adjuster 5 is adjusted in height to adjust the ball receiving tray unit 4 horizontally when the ball receiving tray unit 4 is fixed to the counting and dispensing unit 29.

  A connection fitting 59 is attached and fixed to the front side of the connection portion 73 described above. The connection fitting 59 is formed with a return ball inflow notch 62 and a counting ball outlet notch 63. Further, the above-described fitting notches 47a and 47b are formed on the left and right of the return ball inflow notch 62, respectively. Further, the lower end portion of the connection fitting 59 is bent, and the above-mentioned fitting slit 48 is formed at the bent lower end portion, and the screw insertion hole 61 is formed. With the screw 60 inserted into the screw insertion hole 61, the connection fitting 59 is attached to the connection portion 73 and fixed with the screw 60.

  An enlarged view of this state is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, fitting notches 47 a and 47 b are formed at the left and right locations of the return ball inlet 41 in the connection fitting 59. Further, a light receiving portion 43 that receives the light of the LEDs 115 a and 115 ba described above faces the return ball inlet 41. Further, the above-described restriction protrusion 44 protrudes forward at the upper part of the first counting ball outlet 42a and the second counting ball outlet 42b, and the pushing claw is formed by bending the front portion of the restriction protrusion 44 downward. A portion 45 is formed.

  Returning to FIG. 6, screw stopper cylinders 95, 96, 97 and screw insertion holes 401 are formed in the ball tray unit lower part 52. A screw insertion hole (not shown) for inserting the screw 85 is also formed. By screwing these screws into the ball receiving tray unit lower part 52 with the screws 88, 89, 87, 86, 85 inserted into the screw stopper cylinders 95, 96, 97, the screw insertion holes 401, respectively, The ball tray unit upper portion 51 and the ball tray unit lower portion 52 are integrally attached and fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the ball receiving tray unit 4 generally protrudes forward, so that liquids such as water spilled from above may enter. If the ball receiving tray unit 4 itself is provided with electrical components such as the counting sensors 356a and 356b and the payout motor 353, the electrical components may be damaged. However, as described above, since all the electrical components and the like are provided on the counting / dispensing unit 29 side without being provided on the ball receiving tray unit 4, damage to the electrical components and the like can be prevented as much as possible. Further, there is a case where a foreign object collides with the ball tray unit 4 protruding forward, the ball tray unit 4 itself is damaged and the ball tray unit 4 needs to be replaced with a new one. However, since the ball receiving tray unit 4 is not provided with electrical components such as the counting sensors 356a and 356b and the payout motor 353, the ball receiving tray unit 4 itself can be configured at a low cost, and the economic burden of the game arcade accompanying the replacement is reduced. It can be reduced as much as possible.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are views for explaining the cup 100 attached to the sub-dish part 7 of the ball receiving tray unit 4. This cup 100 is configured in the same shape as the shape of the sub-dish part 7, so that when the cup 100 is attached to the sub-dish part 7, there is almost no gap between the cup 100 and the sub-dish part 7. It is configured. An opening 101 is provided in a wall portion around the cup 100. An opening 101 is provided so as to be in the same position as the return ball outlet 40 of the sub dish portion 7 in a state where the cup 100 is mounted on the sub dish portion 7. As a result, if the return ball is released from the return ball outlet 40 in a state where the cup 100 is mounted on the sub dish portion 7, the return ball is smoothly discharged into the cup 100 from the opening 101.

  A large number of small holes 103 are provided on the bottom surface of the cup 100. As a result, there is an advantage that water and dust spilled through the small holes 103 and the saw 38 are discharged downward. Further, a knob portion 102 is provided on the upper left portion of the cup 100 in the figure, and the player can easily take out the return balls in the cup 100 together with the knob portion 102. Become.

  A hanging protrusion 106 is formed on the upper edge of the peripheral wall 105 on the side of the knob portion 102, and when the cup 100 is inserted into the sub dish portion 7, the hanging protrusion 106 is formed on the sub dish portion 7. Locked to the outer top edge.

  FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the function of the level adjuster 5 when the ball receiving tray unit 4 is removed from the counting / dispensing unit 29. First, referring to FIG. 10 (a), a state where the ball receiving tray unit 4 is disconnected from the counting / dispensing unit 29 is shown in FIG. 10 (a). In this state, the level adjuster 5 is located at the center position of the adjuster base 6 that is fixedly attached to the table portion of the game island. The adjuster base 6 is provided with two bottom surfaces 107 and protrusions 108 provided at positions at which the level adjuster 5 can be inserted with respect to the bottom surface portion 107. The level adjuster 5 is inserted in the gap between the two protrusions 108 and the bottom surface portion 107.

  In this state, by pulling the ball tray unit 4 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the level adjuster 5 slides on the bottom surface 107 along the two protrusions 108 together with the ball tray unit 4, and the level adjuster 5 and the adjuster base The fitting state with 6 is released, and the ball receiving tray unit 4 can be completely removed.

  Next, the structure and function of the count dispensing unit 29 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, the counting / dispensing unit 29 is roughly divided into a metal case 130 (see FIG. 12) with one open, and an upper counting / dispensing unit 29a and a lower counting / dispensing unit 29b are mounted. Further, the mounting member 142 described above is provided on the upper portion of the housing 130.

  Referring to FIG. 11, hook-like fitting portions 112a, 112b, 112c, and 112d (112c and 112d are not shown) are provided at four locations in the lower portion of the upper counting and dispensing unit 29a. On the other hand, fitting recesses 113a, 113b, 113c, and 113d (see FIG. 13 for 113c and 113d) are formed at four locations in the upper portion of the lower counting and dispensing unit 29b. Then, when the hook-shaped fitting portions 112a to 112d are fitted into the fitting concave portions 113a to 113d, the upper counting paying unit 29a and the lower counting paying unit 29b are integrally connected and fixed. . The upper counting / dispensing unit 29a mainly has a function of returning fraction balls (return balls) less than 25 from the counted balls to the sub-dish portion 7 of the ball receiving tray unit 4. On the other hand, the lower counting / dispensing unit 29 b mainly has a function for counting the counting balls received in the ball receiving tray portion 35 of the ball receiving tray unit 4.

  The above-described upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b and the lower fitting protrusion 34 are provided on the mounting side of the ball receiving tray unit 4 of the housing 130. Further, the LEDs 115 a and 115 b described above face the upper position of the return ball supply port 17. Further, the lock member 116 faces the upper part of the counting ball intake 19 so as to be able to be withdrawn and withdrawn as will be described later.

  An operation notch 269 is provided at an upper corner portion of the housing 130, and a lock release lever 117 is provided so that one end of the operation notch 269 is exposed.

  The mounting member 142 has side wall portions 110 a and 110 b formed on the left and right sides of the bottom portion 109, and a back side wall portion 111 formed on the back side (the side opposite to the side on which the ball receiving tray unit 4 is attached). ing. In this state, the card unit portion above the counting / dispensing unit 29 is guided by the side wall portions 110 a and 110 b and is slid into the unit holder 8.

  Reference numeral 114 in the figure denotes a counting path cleaning window, which is formed along paths through which counting balls flow down (the first counting ball down path 440a and the second counting ball down path 440b in FIG. 13). The cleaning tool can be inserted from the counting path cleaning window 114 to clean the path through which the counting balls flow down. In the figure, reference numeral 602 denotes a projecting piece formed at the U-shaped notch of the housing 130, and reference numeral 227 denotes an L-shaped member 227 for grounding. These will be described later.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the structure and function of the upper counting dispensing unit 29a will be described. The upper counting / dispensing unit 29a is roughly divided into a return-side frame member 145, a first plate member 129, and a second plate member 131, and various return ball payout components are attached and fixed by these members. Thus, it is housed in the aforementioned housing 130.

  As described above, the housing 130 is provided with the mounting member 142 on the upper side, and upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b and a lower fitting protrusion 34 are formed on the mounting side of the ball tray unit 4. Yes. Furthermore, screw insertion holes 174, 175, and 176 through which the screws 165, 166, and 167 are inserted are provided.

  The return side frame member 145 can be roughly divided into a part that forms a return ball flow down basket 159 where the return balls flow down, an upper surface mounting part on which the control board 143 is mounted, and the return ball down flow basket 159 described above. In the lower part, a part for housing and arranging the payout motor 353, the plurality of gears 133 to 136, the locking solenoid 146, and the like is included.

  A female screw portion 184 and a pin 201 are provided on the upper surface mounting portion so as to protrude upward. On the other hand, the first plate member 129 is similarly provided with a female screw portion 185 and a pin 202 protruding upward. The height of the female screw portions 185 and 184 and the height of the cylindrical portion excluding the tip small diameter portion in the pins 201 and 202 are configured to be the same height.

  The control board 143 is provided with screw insertion holes 172 and 173 and insertion holding holes 199 and 200. The screw insertion holes 172 and 173 are aligned with the female screw portions 184 and 185, and the insertion holding holes 199 and 200 are provided. With the small diameter portions of the pins 201 and 202 inserted into the pins and the cover member 144 covered with the control board 143, the screws 163 and 164 are screwed into the female screw portions 184 and 185 through the screw insertion holes 172 and 173, respectively. As a result, the control board 143 and the cover 144 are fixed with screws.

  The return ball flow lower rod 159 formed on the return side frame member 145 is inclined downward toward the connection side of the ball receiving tray unit 4, and the return ball supplied from the return ball supply port 517 (see FIG. 3) flows down. Is configured to do. Sprocket storage recesses 160a and 160b are formed in the middle of the return ball lowering rod 159, and the sprocket storage recesses are supported in a state where the sprocket 137 is pivotally supported on the pivot shaft 141 inserted into the bearing portion 158. A sprocket 137 is rotatably arranged in 160a and 160b. As will be described later, the sprocket 137 is configured to receive the rotational driving force from the payout motor 353 and to feed forward one by one by rotating the return balls that have flowed down the return ball flow bar 159. .

  An insertion holding space 155 and an insertion holding groove 154 are formed further forward of the sprocket storage recesses 160a and 160b, and the return ball sensor 151 is inserted into the insertion holding space 155 and held by the insertion holding groove 154. Installed and fixed in the wet state. In this state, when the sprocket 137 rotates, the return balls that are fed one by one are detected one by one by the return ball sensor 151. A connector 152 is connected to the return ball sensor 151, and a return ball detection signal from the return ball sensor 151 is transmitted to the control unit 350 provided on the control board 143 by the wiring connected by the connector 152. .

  Further, board insertion holding grooves 153a and 153b are formed in the upper part on the front side of the return side frame member 145, and the LED board 149 is inserted and held in the board insertion holding grooves 153a and 153b. The LED board 149 is provided with the two LEDs 115a and 115b described above. A connector 150 is connected to the LED board 149, and the LEDs 115a and 115b are lit according to the control of the control unit 350 provided on the control board 143. For example, as described above, the payout motor 353 is driven to rotate the sprocket 137 so that the LEDs 115a and 115b are turned on when the return balls are being paid out, and the light emitting unit 36 is controlled to emit light.

  A relay board 156 is inserted and held in the lower part of the return ball flow lower rod 159 in the return side frame member 145 to be fixed. A connector 157 is connected to the relay board 156.

  Further, a plurality of bearing portions 410, 411, 412 are provided in the lower portion of the return ball flow lower rod 159, and pivot shafts 138, 139, 140 are inserted into the respective bearing portions 410, 411, 412. Mounted. The other ends of the pivot shafts 138, 139, 140 protrude from the assembled second plate member 131, and the second gear 133, the third gear 134, and the fourth gear 135 are attached to the protruding portions, respectively. . Furthermore, screw insertion holes 196 and 197 are provided in the motor mounting board 161 provided with the above-described payout motor 353, and the screws 194 and 195 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 196 and 197. The payout motor 353 and the motor mounting board 161 are assembled and fixed by screwing 195 into the female screw portions 192 and 198.

  The rotation shaft of the payout motor 353 passes through the motor mounting board 161, and the first gear 132 is fixedly attached to the penetrating rotation shaft. By assembling the second plate member 131 in this state, the first gear 132 protrudes from the second plate member 131 and the first gear 132 and the second gear 133 are engaged.

  In addition, the gear fitting portion 413 of the sprocket 137 pivotally supported by the pivot shaft 141 is configured to be fitted to the fifth gear 136 so that the sprocket 137 rotates together with the fifth gear 136. In this state, when the payout motor 353 is driven to rotate, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the first gear 132, the second gear 133, the third gear 134, the fourth gear 135, and the fifth gear 136, and the fifth gear. The sprocket 137 also rotates with the rotation of 136, and the return balls are fed forward one by one as described above.

  Further, the lock member 116 is housed and held in the return side frame member 145 at a position below the aforementioned sprocket housing recess 160b. Further, a locking solenoid 146 is attached and fixed at a rear position of the lock member 116 stored and held. A pin 128 formed on the lock member 116 is inserted into the plunger 147 of the solenoid 146 for locking. The plunger 147 normally protrudes from the solenoid 146 by the urging force of the coil spring 148. As a result, the lock member 116 protrudes forward in the normal state (see FIGS. 11 and 14). .

  When the locking solenoid 146 is excited, the plunger 147 is retracted, and accordingly, the lock member 116 is also retracted from the projecting posture to the back via the pin 128 to be in the retracted posture.

  The second plate member 131 is provided with screw insertion holes 180, 181, 182, and 183, and screw insertion holes 177, 178, and 179 are provided at positions corresponding to the screw insertion holes of the first plate member 129, respectively. 414 are provided. The screws 171, 168, 169, 170 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 180-183, 177-179, 414, and are screwed into the female screw portions 189, 193, 190, 191 formed on the return side frame member 145. As a result, the first plate 129 and the second plate 131 are fixed to the return side frame member 145 with screws.

  Further, the second plate member 131 is provided with a rotating shaft 124, and the shaft insertion hole 123 of the unlocking lever 117 described above is fitted to the rotating shaft 124, so that the unlocking lever 117 can freely rotate. Mounted on. In the assembled state, the contact portion 126 of the lock release lever 117 comes into contact with the pin 127 provided on the lock member 116 described above. When the locking solenoid 146 is in a non-excited normal state, the lock member 116 is projected by the biasing force of the coil spring 148. In this state, the contact portion 126 of the lock release lever 117 is pushed in the lower left direction in FIG. The second plate member 131 is provided with a stopper 125 that restricts the rotation of the unlocking lever 117 in the clockwise direction (see FIG. 12). Then, by manually rotating the lock release lever 117 counterclockwise (see FIG. 12), the pin 127 is pushed by the contact portion 126, and the lock member 116 is retracted against the urging force of the coil spring 148. It is possible to switch to the retracted posture.

  The mechanism of the connection locked state and the unlocked state of the ball tray unit 4 that accompanies the withdrawal and withdrawal of the lock member 116 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 shows a state where the counting / dispensing unit and the ball receiving tray unit 4 are not connected. In this state, in a normal state where the locking solenoid 146 is not excited, the locking member 116 is in a protruding posture by the urging force of the coil spring 148 as described above.

  On the other hand, the connecting metal fitting 59 provided in the ball receiving tray unit 4 is formed with a pushing claw portion 45 in which the regulating protrusion 44 is bent downward as described above. In order to connect the ball receiving tray unit 4 provided with such a connection fitting 59 to the counting and dispensing unit, the upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b are inserted into the fitting notches 47a and 47b as shown by arrows in FIG. In this way, the connection fitting 59 is pressed against the counting / dispensing unit 29 side. Then, the pushing claw portion 45 just contacts the tip of the lock member 116, and the locking member 116 is pushed in by the pushing claw portion 45. When the ball receiving tray unit 4 is dropped downward in the fully depressed state, the connection metal fitting portion on the upper side of the fitting notches 47a and 47b is inserted into the recess on the back side of the upper fitting protrusions 33a and 33b. Will be fitted. Furthermore, the lower fitting protrusion 34 enters and is fitted into the fitting slit 48 (see FIG. 5D) provided on the other side of the connection fitting 59. Then, the pushing claw portion 45 is positioned below the lock member 116, and the lock member 116 released from the pushing of the pushing claw portion 45 is moved forward (to the connection fitting 59 side) by the biasing force of the coil spring 148. Protruding state. In this state, the leading end of the lock member 116 is positioned immediately above the restricting protruding piece 44, and even if the ball receiving tray unit 4 is lifted upward to release the connection from the counting dispensing unit 29, the restricting protruding piece 44 does not move. The ball receiving tray unit 4 cannot be lifted by coming into contact with the tip of the lock member 116, and the connected state cannot be released.

  In such a locked state, as a method of releasing the lock, an automatic release method of exciting the lock solenoid 146 by a remote control operation or the like, and a manual release method of manually releasing the lock release lever 117 described above to release the lock There are two types. As an automatic release method, a lock solenoid 146 provided in the counting / dispensing unit 29 of the corresponding card unit 3 is excited by operating a remote controller possessed by an attendant at a game hall. Then, as described above, since the plunger 147 pulls the pin 128 and the lock member 116 is retracted and the contact with the restricting protrusion 44 is released, it is possible to lift the ball receiving tray unit 4 and release the connection. It becomes.

  On the other hand, as a manual release method, a staff member of the game hall rotates the end of the lock release lever 117 facing the operation notch 269 provided in the counting payout unit 29, so that the rotation shaft 124 is rotated. Then, the lock release lever 117 is rotated, the pin 127 is pushed by the contact portion 126, the lock member 116 is retracted against the urging force of the coil spring 148, the contact with the restricting protrusion 44 is released, and the lock is released. Canceled. For example, the lock is released by this manual release method at the time of a power failure.

  Since the upper unit 3a is provided above the counting / dispensing unit 29 as described above, the operation notch 269 is not exposed unless the upper unit 3a above the counting / dispensing unit 29 is removed. Manual release by the lock release lever 117 is not possible.

  In FIG. 14, 115 a and 115 b are LEDs, 43 is a light receiving unit that receives the light, and the light emitting unit 36 emits light by the light received by the light receiving unit 43.

  Returning to FIG. 12, in order to attach the upper counting / dispensing unit 29 a to the housing 130, the screws 165, 166, 167 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 174, 175, 176 and screwed into the female screw portions 186, 187, 188. It becomes possible.

  At the lower end portion of the first plate member 129, the hook-shaped fitting portions 112c and 112d described above are formed. In addition, hook-shaped fitting portions 112a and 112b are also formed below the return-side frame member 145 (see FIG. 13). In a state where the upper counting / dispensing unit 29 a is assembled to the housing 130, the control board 143 and the cover member 144 are in a state where they enter the lower portion of the mounting member 142. The cover member 144 and the mounting member 142 are made of metal, and by placing the upper unit 3a of the mounting member 142, the ground for the control board 143 is connected to the cover member 144, the mounting member 142, It is constituted by the case of the upper unit 3a, and the control board 143 can be satisfactorily grounded.

  Note that reference numeral 162 in FIG. 12 denotes a cover member that covers the top of the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b, which will be described later.

  Next, on the other side surface of the return side frame member 145, a sensor substrate 208 on which the radio wave sensor 207 and the ball receiving tray presence / absence detection sensor 270 are mounted, a ball breakage detection sensor 204 composed of a flat proximity sensor, and a withdrawal member 118 is assembled (see FIG. 13). The ball tray presence / absence detection sensor 270 is configured by a U-shaped light projecting / receiving sensor in which two portions in the vertical direction protrude. A projector is provided on one projecting portion in the vertical direction, and a light receiver is provided on the other projecting portion. The ball break detection sensor 204 detects the presence or absence of a return ball flowing down the return ball flow lowering rod 159, and the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 350 of the control board 143 through the wiring connected to the connector 205. The

  The radio wave sensor 207 is a so-called anti-goat sensor, and is used to detect an illegal radio wave and notify an error when the radio wave is transmitted to perform fraud.

  The withdrawal / retraction member 118 is a member for detecting whether or not the ball receiving tray unit 4 is connected to the counting / dispensing unit 29. The retractable member 118 has a coil spring insertion portion 120 formed therein, and is slidably provided on the return side frame member 145 with the coil spring 119 inserted in the coil spring insertion portion 120. And the withdrawal member 118 is in the state which protruded to the front side (ball tray unit 4 side) of the count delivery unit 29 by the urging | biasing force of this coil spring 119 (refer Fig.11 (a)).

  Then, by connecting the ball receiving tray unit 4 to the counting / dispensing unit 29, the retracting member 118 is pushed inward by the connection fitting 59 of the ball receiving tray 4. Then, the plate-like protrusion 121 formed on the retracting member 118 is inserted between the projector and the light receiver of the ball tray presence / absence detection sensor 270, and the ball tray unit 4 is attached by the ball tray presence / absence detection sensor 270. Can be detected.

  Further, a cover member 209 is provided on the side surface of the return side frame member 145. The cover member 209 has an opening 211 and screw insertion holes 244, 245, 246, and 247. On the other hand, female screw portions 252, 253, 254, and 257 are provided on the side surface of the return side frame member 145, and the screws 230, 231, 232, and 233 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 244 to 247, respectively. The cover member 209 is screwed to the side surface of the return side frame member 145 by being screwed into the female screw portions 252 to 255. The radio wave sensor insertion notch 210 is formed in the cover member 209, and the radio wave sensor 207 is exposed from the radio wave sensor insertion notch 210 when the cover member 209 is attached.

  Further, female screw portions 255, 256 are further provided on the side surface of the return side frame member 145. By inserting screws 235, 236 into the female screw portions 255, 256 and screwing them in, the locking solenoid 146 is moved. Screws are fixed to the return side frame member 145.

  Next, the structure and function of the lower counting payout unit 29b will be described with reference to FIG. The lower counting / dispensing unit 29b is mainly for causing the counting balls taken from the ball receiving tray unit 4 to flow down and counting. The lower counting / dispensing unit 29b is configured by assembling various components to the counting-side frame member 206. The counting-side frame member 206 is formed with a first counting ball flow path 440a and a second counting ball flow path 440b that allow the counting balls taken from the counting ball intake port 19 to flow down in two rows. Each of these flow-down paths 440a and 440b is inclined downward from the counting ball inlet 19 toward the back. The bottom surface of each flow-down path 440a, 440b is configured by standing a plate-like member, and the counting ball flows down the peak portion of the plate-like member. Gaps are formed on both sides of the plate-like member so that dust is discharged downward from the respective flow-down paths 440a and 440b.

  The counting sensor 356 provided with the first counting sensor 356a and the second counting sensor 356b composed of dual sensors is attached to the counting-side frame member 206 from above, so that the first counting ball flow path 440a has a first position in the middle. The counting sensor 356a is arranged, and the second counting sensor 356b is arranged at a midpoint of the second counting ball flow path 440b. The counting sensor 356 is provided with pin insertion holding holes 225 and 226. The pins 223 and 224 protruding from the sensor cover member 222 are inserted into the pin insertion holding holes 225 and 226, respectively. It is attached to 206.

  As a result, the counting balls flowing down the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b are detected one by one by the first counting sensor 356a and the second counting sensor 356b, and the detection signal is sent to the control board 143. It is transmitted to the provided control unit 350. In the control unit 350, the counted number of balls is added and updated based on the detection signal and stored, and the counted number of balls is displayed on the display unit 312 as described above.

  On both side surfaces of the counting side frame member 206, the counting path cleaning window 114 described above is formed along the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b.

  Further, a plate member 229 for covering the upper part of the counting side frame member 206 on the counting ball inlet 19 side is attached. Fitting recesses 265, 266, 267, and 268 are formed in the upper portion of the counting frame member 206 on the counting ball inlet 19 side, and the fitting protrusions 261 formed at the four corners of the plate member 229, The plate member 229 is attached to the counting side frame member 206 by fitting 262, 263, and 264, respectively.

  Further, the counting-side frame member 206 is formed with the above-described fitting recesses 113a, 113b, 113c, and 113d, and the hook-like fitting portions 112a, 112b, 112c, and 112d on the upper counting dispensing unit 29a side are respectively fitted. Configured to match.

  The plate member 229, the sensor cover member 222, and the cover member 162 (see FIG. 12) are made of a resin material (for example, Duracon (registered trademark)) having excellent fatigue resistance and wear resistance. The upper portions of the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b are covered by the members 229, 222, 162 with a cover of a resin material (for example, Duracon) having excellent fatigue resistance and wear resistance. It becomes a state. Specifically, the cover member 162 is provided inside the hook-shaped fitting portions 112a and 112c. As described above, the hook-shaped fitting portions 112a to 112d are fitted into the fitting concave portions 113a to 113d, respectively. Thus, the upper counting / dispensing unit 29a and the lower counting / dispensing unit 29b are integrally connected and fixed, and in this state, the cover member 162 is attached and fixed inside the fitting recesses 113a and 113c. The cover member 162 is notched in the lower left part in FIG. The portion of the first counting sensor 356a of the counting sensor 356 enters and is combined with the notched portion. The sensor cover member 222 is formed in a shape that covers a bottom surface portion of the count sensor 356 excluding the first count sensor 356a and the second count sensor 356b protruding downward. The sensor cover member 222 end and the cover member 162 end are in contact with each other except for the first count sensor 356a and the second count sensor 356b. Further, the other end of the sensor cover member 222 and the end of the plate member 229 are in contact with each other. Further, the bottom surface of the plate member 229, the bottom surface of the sensor cover member 222, and the bottom surface of the cover member 162 are flush with each other, and each member is inclined downward toward the lower flow side of the counting ball flow paths 440a and 440b. The thicknesses of 229, 222 and 162 are adjusted.

  The pachinko ball may jump upward and collide with the ceiling cover member in the middle of flowing down the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b, and the ceiling cover member is made of a general hard resin. Then, there is a risk of damage such as cracking of the cover member. However, by configuring as described above, each of the upper sides of the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b is made of a resin material having excellent fatigue resistance and wear resistance such as Duracon. Even if a pachinko ball that has jumped upward in the middle of flowing down the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b is covered with the members 229, 222, 162, the damage is prevented as much as possible. can do. In addition, since the bottom surface portion of the counting sensor 356 is covered with the sensor cover member 222, the counting sensor 356 can be protected from the collision of the pachinko balls that have jumped upward.

  Further, a shutter mechanism for stopping the flow of the counting balls is disposed below the first counting ball flow down path 440a and the second counting ball flow down path 440b of the counting side frame member 206.

  This shutter mechanism includes a shutter solenoid 212 as a drive source and shutters 213a and 213b that are in a standing posture (rise posture) by the driving force of the shutter solenoid 212. First, the shutter solenoid 212 as a drive source is fixed to the solenoid mounting member 217 with screws 237 and 238. In this state, the solenoid mounting member 217 is screwed and fixed to the counting side frame member 206 by screws 239 and 260. At that time, the L-shaped member 227 shown in FIG. That is, the screw insertion hole 258 provided in the L-shaped member 227 and the screw insertion hole 259 provided in the solenoid mounting member 217 are in communication with each other, the screw 260 is inserted, and the screw 260 is used together to count the frame member on the counting side. Screwed to 206. The L-shaped member 227 is made of metal and serves as a ground. The L-shaped member 227 is positioned on the protruding piece 602 formed in the U-shaped notch portion of the housing 130 in the assembled state (see FIG. 11B). The projecting piece 602 is slightly bent inward from the housing 130 and comes into contact with the assembled L-shaped member 227. The casing 130 is also metallic, and static electricity generated due to excitation of the shutter solenoid 212 and the falling of the counting ball can be grounded and discharged via the L-shaped member 227 and the casing 130.

  A slide member 216 for transmitting the retracting force of the plunger 221 of the shutter solenoid 212 to the shutters 213a and 213b is also slidably provided on the counting side frame member 206. A coil spring locking piece 219a is provided on the side of the slide member 216, and the coil spring 218 is in a tensioned state across the coil spring locking piece 219b provided on the solenoid mounting member 217 and the coil spring locking piece 219a. It is passed by. In a normal state where the shutter solenoid 212 is not excited, the slide member 216 is pushed by the plunger 221 of the shutter solenoid 212, and the slide member 216 is pushed out against the tensile force of the coil spring 218. ing.

  When the shutter solenoid 212 is excited and the plunger 221 is pulled, the slide member 216 is pulled by the pulling force of the coil spring 218 and moves to the solenoid mounting member 217 side.

  On the other hand, in both shutters 213a and 213b, the pivot shaft 214 is inserted into the pivot shaft insertion holes 215a and 215b so that both the shutters 213a and 213b rotate integrally around the pivot shaft 214 as a rotation center. It is configured. That is, when one shutter 213b is rotated to the upright posture, the other shutter 213a is also rotated to the upright posture. When the slide member 216 is pulled by the pulling force of the coil spring 218 and moves to the solenoid mounting member 217 side, the lower protrusion 604 of the shutter 213b is pushed up by the inclined portion 606 of the slide member 216, and both the shutters 213a and 213b are moved. It becomes a standing posture (a standing posture), thereby preventing the counting ball from flowing down. Specifically, the counting ball in the first counting ball flow path 440a is blocked by the shutter 213a in the standing posture, and the counting ball in the second counting ball flow channel 440b is blocked by the shutter 213b in the standing posture. Flow is prevented.

  In this state, the excitation of the shutter solenoid is released and the plunger 221 protrudes, so that the slide member 216 is pushed out. Accordingly, the downward protrusion 604 is not pushed up by the inclined portion 606, and both shutters 213a and 213b are released. Returns to the lying posture.

  A plate member 228 is further attached to the counting side frame member 206. Screw insertion holes 248, 249, 250, and 251 are provided at four corners of the plate member 228, and the screws 240, 241, 242, and 243 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 248 to 251, respectively. Is screwed into the counting side frame member 206 to fix the plate member 228 to the counting side frame member 206 with screws. The plate member 228 is located below the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b, and the dust that has fallen from the first counting ball flow path 440a and the second counting ball flow path 440b, It is comprised so that it can drop and discharge | emit downward from two notches 228a and 228b.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card unit 3 of the present embodiment. As described above, the upper unit 3a in the card unit 3 mainly controls the bill identification unit 321, the card reader / writer 327, the display control board 329, the count dispensing unit 29, and each part of the card unit 3. The control unit 328 is implemented by a control program and provides various functions of the card unit 3. The bill recognition unit 321, the card reader / writer 327, the counting payout unit 29, and the display control board 329 are controlled by the control unit 328. To send and receive various data.

  The card reader / writer 327 reads and writes recorded information such as a (member) card ID, a member ID (member card only), and prepaid balance data recorded on the member card and visitor card inserted from the card insertion slot 309. I do. The prepaid balance is stored in association with the card ID without being recorded on the member card or visitor card, and is managed so that the prepaid balance corresponding to the card can be searched from the card ID of the card. May be.

  Next, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 328 is accepting a central processing unit (CPU) 328a capable of executing a control program and a card reader / writer 327. (Membership) card ID and prepaid balance of the visitor card and membership card, the number of balls, the number of stored balls, the number of points visited, the corresponding pachinko machine 2 machine data, the game information of the members in the game, the counting payout unit 29 Settings including RAM 328b capable of storing various data such as stored ball count data, which is the number of pachinko balls stored, a control program executed by a central processing circuit (CPU) 328a, and a device ID of the card unit 3 An EEPROM 328c which is a nonvolatile memory capable of rewriting and storing information is included, and a RAM 328b is illustrated. Not being backed up by a battery, even when power supply is stopped, data stored in the predetermined period is maintained.

  The control unit 328 of the present embodiment is connected to the prize ball control board (not shown) provided in the pachinko machine 2 so as to be able to exchange various signals accompanying the lending of the pachinko balls as described above. In addition, as described above, by connecting to the information output board of the pachinko machine 2 through the signal cable, various external output signals such as a big hit signal can be input.

  The control unit 328 is connected to an out ball counter 16 provided at a lower position of the corresponding pachinko machine 2 so that each count signal from the out ball counter 16 can be input.

  The control unit 328 is connected to the count payout unit 29 and, as will be described later, in response to the reception of the count information output from the count payout unit 29, By updating the number of balls, the total number of balls counted by the counting and paying unit 29 (if there are balls already counted on that day before that time, the total number of balls Number) is displayed as the number of balls already counted.

  The control unit 328 is connected to a payout button switch 311 ′ corresponding to a payout button 319 provided at a position below the protrusion 305 on the front surface of the apparatus, and a signal corresponding to the operation of the payout button 319 is sent to the control unit 328. By inputting from the button switch 311 ′, the presence / absence of the operation of the payout button 319 is grasped, and when the payout button 319 is operated, a payout process to be described later is performed, so that the number of payout units (25) is pachinko. The payout of balls is performed from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 and the payout of fractional pachinko balls less than the number of payout units (24 or less) is performed from the counting payout unit 29.

  The game information is stored in the RAM 328b. Specifically, the current gaming state (only today) based on the input status of the big hit signal, the probability changing signal, and the short time signal output from the corresponding pachinko machine 2, the latest gaming state data, and the previous Game state data (game state data before being updated to the latest game state data, today only), total number of balls hit from the start of business, total number of winning balls, number of difference balls (total number of balls hit-total The number of winning balls), the total number of starts, the number of start after hit, which is the number of starts after the occurrence of a big hit, and the number of big hits, which is the number of hits from the start of business. , The number of times of probability change that is the number of occurrences of the probability change state from the start of business, the number of time reductions that are the number of times of short-time state from the start of business, and from the big hit that occurred in the normal game state to the next normal game state Generated The game information consisting of the number of consecutive villas is stored, and these game information are input to the big hit signal, the probability change signal, the short time signal, the start signal, the prize ball signal, and the out ball count signal. The latest information is updated based on this.

  The control unit 328 receives various inputs from the display control board 329 in response to an output from the IR light receiving unit 315 according to transmission from the remote controller, an operation of the payout button 119 provided on the protrusion 305, or an operation of the touch panel 314. It is provided in the multifunction lamp connected to the control unit 328 in response to information, money identification information by the banknote identification unit 321, card insertion information from the card reader / writer 327, visitor card storage state information, and the like. The overall operation control such as the lighting control of each LED such as the full color LED 301a, the control of the card reader / writer 327, the display control board 329, the display control of the remaining amount indicator, and the membership card or visitor inserted in the card insertion slot 309 Card acceptance processing to determine whether cards can be used or not, and accepting For lending processing using the prepaid balance based on the prepaid balance data read from the membership card or visitor card, returning the membership card or visitor card being accepted by operating the return button, and accepting money Depending on the payment to the prepaid balance remaining on the member card or visitor card being accepted, or issuance / payment processing in which the prepaid balance is written to a new visitor card, and the operation of the payout button 319 has been counted. A payout process for paying out (returning) the number of balls that have been counted (including those specified by the inserted visitor card and membership card) and subtracting the number of balls that have been paid out from the counted number of balls when there are balls Alternatively, various processes such as a replay process using the number of stored balls are executed.

  The control unit 328 also transmits data such as a system controller (not shown), a hall computer (not shown), a management computer (not shown), etc. connected to the local area network (LAN) via the communication unit 334 and the HUB 7. It is connected so that communication is possible, and various data can be transmitted to and received from each of these computers through the communication unit 334.

  The display control board 329 connected to the control unit 328 is an electronic device such as a liquid crystal display 313 constituting the display unit 312, a transparent touch panel 314, an IR light receiving unit 315, and an LED 320 a (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 4). The components are connected, and the operation information of the transparent touch panel 314 and information based on the output signal output from the IR light receiving unit 315 are output to the control unit 328 via the display control board 329.

  In the display control board 329 of the present embodiment, a display driving circuit (not shown) that performs display driving of the liquid crystal display 313 and a position that is pressed based on an output signal from the transparent touch panel 314 are specified. An input position detection circuit (not shown) that outputs the specified input position information, a VDP (not shown) that performs processing related to a display image displayed on the display unit 312, image data used for menu display, and the like are stored. A processing program that performs determinations and processes associated with inputs from various switches and a touch panel independently of a VROM (not shown), a VRAM (not shown) that temporarily stores display data to be displayed on the display unit 312, and the control unit 328 Is implemented based on the display data (page data) output from the control unit 328, etc. The type of display screen, and is capable of displaying on the liquid crystal display 313 constituting the display unit 312.

  The control unit 328 is connected to the count payout unit 29 so that various data such as count information and fractional payout requests can be sent and received by serial communication that can send and receive data with a small number of communication lines.

  The control unit 352 is connected to the counting sensors 356a and 356b, the radio wave sensor 207, the ball break detection sensor 204, the payout motor 353, the ball tray presence / absence detection sensor 270, the shutter solenoid 212, the LEDs 115a and 115b, and the return ball sensor 151. Yes.

  As described above, the pachinko balls that have flowed into the ball receiving tray 35 enter the counting ball intake 19, and are detected by the counting sensors 356a and 356b, and the count ball detection signal is input to the control unit 350 and counted. The counted number of balls is added to the counted number of balls data and recorded. The counted number of balls is displayed on the liquid crystal display 313. The control unit 350 monitors the flow direction of the balls based on the detection signals of the counting sensors 356a and 356b, and decrements the count ball count when the balls flow backward. Furthermore, the control unit 350 monitors the speed at which balls are counted based on the detection signals of the counting sensors 356a and 356b. On the other hand, when the counting speed is too slow and is detected at a substantially constant period, the counting abnormality 1 is similarly set. If only one of the two counting sensors 356a and 356b is detected, it indicates a clogging abnormality (single flow). Further, if a ball is detected by the counting sensors 356a and 356b while the shutter solenoid 212 is being controlled to be excited, a counting abnormality 2 is set.

  A detection signal of unauthorized radio waves from the radio wave sensor 207 is input to the control unit 350, and control is performed to notify that an abnormality has occurred by lighting or blinking of the full color LED 301a. A ball-out detection signal from the ball-out detection sensor 204 is input to the control unit 350, and it is determined that there is no return ball, a notification to that effect is made, and the payout motor 353 is stopped to pay out the return ball. Interrupt the operation. Furthermore, based on the detection signal from the ball receiving tray presence / absence detection sensor 270, the control unit 350 determines whether or not the ball receiving tray unit 4 is connected, and notifies that when it is not connected.

  Each time a return ball paid out by rotating the payout motor 353 is detected by the return ball sensor 151, a detection signal is input to the control unit 350, and the number of return balls to be paid out is a predetermined number based on the detection signal. Control unit 350 determines whether or not the value has been reached. When the predetermined number is reached, driving of the payout motor 353 is stopped to stop payout.

  Further, when the control unit 350 prevents the counting ball from flowing down, the control unit 350 excites the shutter solenoid 212 to stop the counting ball from flowing down. For example, the control unit 350 excites the shutter solenoid 212 to stop the counting ball from flowing down when communication with the control unit 328 is disabled. Moreover, the control part 350 performs control which light-emits LED115a, 115b at the time of payout of a return ball.

  Further, the control unit 350 performs control to excite the locking solenoid 146, thereby releasing the lock between the counting and dispensing unit 29 and the ball tray unit 4 as described above. Specifically, the unlocking is performed by the following procedure.

  First, a group number is assigned to each card unit 3. This group number is set so that the same group is formed between the card units 3 installed corresponding to the pachinko machine 2 of the same model. On the other hand, the card unit 3 is assigned a device ID that can identify the card unit 3 individually. When the card unit 3 is turned on, the device ID is managed from the communication unit 334 of the card unit 3 via the HUB 7. It is transmitted to a computer (not shown). The management computer stores the device IDs and group numbers of all card units 3 installed in the game hall in association with each other. The management computer determines the group number corresponding to the transmitted device ID and returns the group number to the card unit 3. The card unit 3 stores the returned group number in the RAM 328b.

  Next, when replacing or maintaining a certain type of pachinko machine 2, it is necessary to remove the ball tray unit 4 on the front surface of the pachinko machine 2 so as not to obstruct the work. In that case, the attendant at the game hall goes to one of the pachinko machines 2 to be worked, and operates a remote controller (not shown) toward the card unit 3 installed corresponding to the pachinko machine 2. . The remote controller is configured to be able to select two types of unlocking modes: a group simultaneous unlocking mode and a unit-by-unit unlocking mode, and performs an unlocking operation in a state where the group simultaneous unlocking mode is selected. Then, a group simultaneous unlock command signal is transmitted as an infrared signal from the remote controller, and the IR light receiving unit 315 receives the light and converts it into an electrical signal. Upon receiving the electrical signal, the display control board 329 transmits the electrical signal to the control unit 328, and the control unit 328 sends the stored group number and group simultaneous unlocking command from the communication unit 334 via the HUB 7. To the management computer. In response to this, the management computer transmits the received group number and group simultaneous unlock command to all card units 3. The control unit 328 of the card unit 3 collates the transmitted group number with the stored group number and determines whether or not they match. Only when they match, the lock release command is transmitted to the control unit 350. Receiving this, the control unit 350 controls the excitation of the locking solenoid 146 to release the lock as described above.

  In this way, all the card units 3 belonging to the group to be unlocked can be unlocked all at once by performing an unlocking operation on only one of the card units 3 to be unlocked.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a state of communication between the control unit 350 and the control unit 328 described above. First, in the countable state of the counting balls, a countable signal is transmitted from the control unit 328 to the control unit 350. The control unit 350 returns a non-counting time signal to the control unit 328 in the case of non-counting when counting balls are not counted. The transmission of the count enable signal and the reply of the non-count signal are repeatedly executed every 500 ms. When the ball is inserted into the ball tray unit 4 and is counted by the counting sensors 356a and 356b, the control unit 350 is counting the count value (for example, 10) when the count enable signal is received. It returns to the control unit 328 as a signal. When a countable signal is transmitted from the control unit 328 to the control unit 350 after the next 500 ms elapses, the control unit 350 controls the counting signal including the number of counting balls (for example, 15 balls) counted at that time. Reply to unit 328. Further, when a countable signal is transmitted from the control unit 328 after the next 500 ms, if the counting of the counting ball has been completed, the control unit 350 determines the final number of counts (for example, 15) is returned to the control unit 328.

  In the control unit 328, the counting state included in the counting signal is displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 when the counting signal is received. In addition, when a count end signal (15) is returned from the control unit 350, the control unit 328 performs control to display 15 as the final number on the liquid crystal display 313 as a fixed number.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can be modified or added without departing from the scope of the present invention. included.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the ball breakage detection sensor 204 that detects the presence or absence of a return ball is provided in the count dispensing unit 29. However, instead of this, the broken ball detection sensor 204 may be provided in the meandering path 12. In addition, when the ball break detection sensor 204 is provided in the counting / dispensing unit 29, when changing from a card unit without a self-counting function to a card unit with a self-counting function, the path to the meandering path 12 is changed. There is an advantage that the work of attaching the ball break detection sensor 204 is not required.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as a method for simultaneously unlocking all the card units 3 belonging to the group to be unlocked, the card unit 3 side stores the group number transmitted from the management computer. It is shown that a group number is checked to determine whether or not they match. However, instead, on the management computer side, the device ID of the card unit 3 belonging to the group to be unlocked is indexed, and the unlock command is transmitted only to the card unit 3 of the determined device ID. You may control to make it unlock.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the meandering path 12 is used as a flow down pressure reducing means for reducing the flow down ball pressure when the pachinko balls are taken from the ball supply basket of the game island and flowed down and supplied to the counting payout unit 29. Used. However, the downflow pressure reducing means is not limited to the meandering path 12. For example, various things such as a spiral flow path in which a spiral member is inserted in the flow down cylinder and the pachinko ball flows down while spirally circulating in the flow down cylinder are conceivable and can reduce the flow down ball pressure. Anything is acceptable.

  In the above-described embodiment, the card unit 3 accepts a gaming card in which the remaining amount of the card as a consideration for the player's payment is recorded, and uses the remaining card amount recorded on the gaming card. A so-called CR unit that enables games on the corresponding pachinko machine 2 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a player receives a membership card and plays a game using a storage ball specified by the membership card (a game medium deposited in a game hall among game media acquired by a player). It may be one that allows only playing in the pool. Furthermore, for example, it is possible to accept a game card that records the number of balls counted by taking in the balls acquired by the player and paying out the number of balls recorded on the card, thereby enabling a game. It may be possible to play only with counting balls. In other words, the valuable value used to enable the game may be anything such as the remaining card amount, savings, or counting balls, and accepts the gaming card and uses some valuable value in the gaming machine. Anything may be used as long as it enables a game.

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

2 Pachinko machine, 3 card unit, 309 card insertion slot, 312 display unit, 314 transparent touch panel, 315 IR light receiving unit, 321 bill recognition unit, 328
Control unit, 4 ball tray unit, 5 level adjuster, 7 sub-dish section, 8 unit holder, 11 meander path mounting frame, 12 serpentine path, 13 return ball down path, 14 power supply box, 17 return ball supply port, 19 count Ball take-in port, 20 return ball shutter, 29 counting payout unit, 30a, 30b fitting piece, 31 shutter presser, 32
Fitting plate part, 35 ball receiving part, 36 light emitting part, 40 return ball outlet, 41 return ball inlet, 42a, 42b counting ball outlet, 44 regulating protrusion, 45 pushing claw part, 47a, 47b fitting notch 48, Slit for mating, 51 Upper part of ball receiving tray unit, 52 Lower part of ball receiving tray unit, 53a, 53b Counting ball alignment down flow, 59 Connection fitting, 62 Notch for return ball inflow, 63 Notch for counting ball outlet, 64 Return Ball flow lower rod, 65 return ball flow lower path, 29a upper counting payout unit, 29b lower counting payout unit, 116 lock member, 117 lock release lever, 130 housing, 129 first plate portion, 130 second plate portion, 137 sprocket, 143 Control board, 145 Return side frame member, 146 Solenoid for locking, 151 Return ball sensor, 159 04 ball OFF detection sensors, 206 counting side frame members, 207 radio wave sensor, 212 a shutter solenoid, 213 shutter, 261 fitting protrusion 265 fitting recess 327 card reader-writer, 356a, 356b counting sensor.

Claims (1)

A gaming device that is arranged corresponding to each gaming machine and that accepts a gaming recording medium and enables gaming on the corresponding gaming machine,
A reception unit having a reception unit for receiving the game recording medium;
A game medium receiving unit connected to a lower portion of the reception unit and having a counting receiving unit capable of receiving a game medium for counting;
At the bottom of the reception unit,
A counting game medium passage into which the game medium received in the counting receiving unit flows;
A payout game medium path for guiding a game medium for paying out to a player,
The gaming apparatus, wherein the game medium receiving unit further includes a payout receiving section that communicates with the payout game medium passage and is provided separately from the counting receiving section.

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