JP2014230904A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of favorably improving workability when canceling abnormality in the game machine.SOLUTION: A game board 80 of a Pachinko machine includes a right-side variable ball entry device 83 in which a game ball falling a game area PE can enter. The right-side variable ball entry device 83 has a guide passage and a game ball flowing in the right-side variable ball entry device 83 is discharged via the guide passage. The guide passage includes an upstream-side detection sensor and a downstream-side detection sensor connected to a main control device. The main control device monitors an occurrence of residual ball abnormality in the right-side variable ball entry device 83 on the basis of detection information from both detection sensors. When the residual ball abnormality is recognized, the main control device transfers the state to an abnormal state and cancels the abnormal state by ball entry in the right-side variable ball entry device 83. Further, the main control device has an offered function of monitoring an occurrence of a ball entry in the right-side variable ball entry device in a period other than a ball entry valid period. The monitoring function is invalidated when the residual ball abnormality occurs.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine has a game board in which a game area is formed, and a game ball flowing down the game area flows into a pitching portion provided in the game area, thereby causing a player to Some of them are given benefits such as paying out game balls. In such a gaming machine, if the above-mentioned privilege is not normally given due to a malfunction of the gaming machine or an illegal act, the player or the gaming hall will be disadvantaged. Therefore, in order to cope with such an inconvenience, an abnormality monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of the abnormality is often employed. When the occurrence of an abnormality is confirmed by the abnormality monitoring means, a transition to an abnormal state is performed, for example, by performing abnormality notification using a lamp unit, a speaker unit, etc., or stopping the progress of the game Occurrence of the above disadvantages is suppressed.

  In general, this type of gaming machine is configured such that the abnormal state is canceled when a predetermined operation is performed by a hall manager. The release operation target (release means) is disposed at a position where access by a person other than the hall manager is difficult, such as the back side of the gaming machine, so that the abnormal state is released by the player or the like. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-31768 A

  However, when the release means is arranged on the back side of the gaming machine or the like, when performing the release operation, for example, it is necessary to move the gaming machine body on which the game board is mounted. Since the gaming machine main body includes various gaming machines such as a control device in addition to the gaming board, it is assumed that the burden on performing the release operation is likely to increase. In such a configuration, when a large work area is to be secured, the opened gaming machine main body tends to obstruct surrounding players. For this reason, it is inevitably necessary to suppress the opening amount of the gaming machine main body. This is not preferable because it may cause a decrease in workability when performing the release operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances and the like, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of suitably improving workability when performing abnormality cancellation in a gaming machine. .

The present invention
A game board with a game area formed on the front,
A ball entering portion that is provided in the gaming area and is switchable between a first state in which inflow of gaming balls flowing down the gaming area is disabled and a second state in which inflow of gaming balls is allowed;
A guide passage that is provided in the entrance portion and guides a game ball that has flowed in from an entrance portion of the entrance portion;
Detecting means for detecting a game ball passing through a specific position in the guide passage;
Entering in the entrance part during a specific period that is set to be equal to or longer than the period during which entrance is allowed by the entrance part being in the second state. A privilege granting means for granting a privilege to a player when
An abnormality monitoring means for monitoring the discharge of the game ball from the pitching part in the specific period, and setting an abnormal state when the monitoring result is a predetermined discharge abnormality result;
An abnormal state canceling means for canceling the abnormal state based on the entrance into the entrance part when the abnormal state is in place,
The abnormal state canceling means switches the incoming ball part to the second state when the abnormal state occurs, and when the first abnormal state is released by a game ball flowing into the incoming ball part, It has a switching means for switching the ball-entering portion to the first state.

  Workability at the time of performing abnormality cancellation in a gaming machine can be preferably improved.

It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine in one embodiment. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the main structures of a pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows the structure of an inner frame. It is a front view which shows the structure of a game board. It is a rear view which shows the structure of an inner frame. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game board. It is a rear view of the game board which shows the state which removed the main controller unit. It is a front view which shows the structure of a back pack unit. (A) The elements on larger scale of FIG. 4, (b) The perspective view which looked at the right side variable entrance part from the front side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the right side variable pitching device from the front side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the right side variable pitching apparatus from the back side. It is the schematic which shows the channel | path structure in a right side variable pitching apparatus. It is an AA partial fragmentary sectional view of FIG. It is the schematic which looked at the inside of a guide passage from the game machine front side. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the content of the various counters used for a success or failure lottery. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process in MPU of a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the normal process in MPU of a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows a game state transfer process. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer process for special hits. It is a flowchart which shows an abnormality monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows a residual sphere monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows the process for abnormal state cancellation | release. It is a flowchart which shows a valid period outside entrance monitoring process. It is a timing chart which shows the mode of switching of a monitoring aspect.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as “pachinko machine”), which is a type of gaming machine, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of the pachinko machine 10 in an exploded manner. In FIG. 2, the configuration in the game area in the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 that forms an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10, and a gaming machine main part 12 attached to the outer frame 11.

  The outer frame 11 is configured by connecting wooden plates to four sides and has a rectangular frame shape. By attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to the island facility, the pachinko machine 10 is installed in the game hall. In the pachinko machine 10, the outer frame 11 is not an essential configuration, and the outer frame 11 may be provided on the island facility of the game arcade.

  The gaming machine main part 12 is supported by the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed. Specifically, the upper support bracket 17 is fixed to a connection portion between the upper frame portion and the left frame portion in the outer frame 11, and further, a lower portion is connected to the connection portion between the lower frame portion and the left frame portion in the outer frame 11. Side support fittings 18 are provided. The upper support bracket 17 and the lower support bracket 18 form a support mechanism. The support mechanism causes the gaming machine main unit 12 to turn the left side of the pachinko machine 10 in the front view with respect to the outer frame 11. In addition, the right side can be turned forward of the pachinko machine 10 with the turning tip side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine main part 12 includes an inner frame 13 as a base body, a front door frame 14 arranged in front of the inner frame 13, and a back pack arranged behind the inner frame 13. Unit 15. The inner frame 13 of the gaming machine main part 12 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the outer frame 11. Specifically, the inner frame 13 can be rotated forward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in front view.

  A front door frame 14 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13 and can be rotated forward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in a front view. Further, the back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported on the inner frame 13, and can be rotated backward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in a front view.

  Next, the front door frame 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the front door frame 14 is mainly composed of a synthetic resin frame body 20 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11, and covers almost the entire front surface of the inner frame 13. Yes. A substantially elliptical window portion 21 is formed in the central portion of the frame body 20 so that a substantially entire game area PE described later can be viewed from the front. The window portion 21 is formed by the glass unit 22. The front door frame 14 is closed from the back side.

  The glass unit 22 includes a plurality of glass panels 23 having transparency and a glass holder that holds the glass panels 23. The glass holder is formed with a partition portion for partitioning the holding region of the glass panel 23 in the front-rear direction, and the two glass panels 23 face each other in the front-rear direction with the partition portion interposed therebetween. That is, by securing a predetermined gap between the glass panels 23, the gaming area PE is covered by the glass panels 23 from the front side of the pachinko machine 10 while avoiding interference between the glass panels 23. It is in a state.

  Note that it is not always necessary to unitize both glass panels 23 using a glass holder, and each glass panel 23 may be individually attached to the frame 20. Furthermore, the number of glass panels is arbitrary, and may be one or three or more. However, from the viewpoint of improving safety and security, it is preferable to employ a plurality of glass panels and to make the glass panels face each other across a predetermined gap. Incidentally, it is also possible to employ a synthetic resin panel member having transparency instead of the glass panel.

  Around the glass unit 22 (specifically, the window portion 21), light emitting means such as various lamps are provided. For example, an annular illumination part 26 incorporating a light emitting means such as an LED is provided along the periphery of the window part 21. In the annular illumination part 26, lighting or blinking is performed according to a change in the gaming state at the time of big hit or at a predetermined reach. In addition, an error display lamp unit 27 that is turned on at the time of a predetermined error is provided in the center of the annular illumination unit 26 and at the uppermost part of the pachinko machine 10, and a prize that is turned on while the prize ball is being paid out on the left and right sides. A sphere lamp portion 28 is provided. Further, a speaker unit 29 is provided at a position close to the left and right prize ball lamp units 28 to output sound effects corresponding to the gaming state.

  Below the window portion 21 in the front door frame 14 (frame body 20), an upper bulging portion 31 and a lower bulging portion 32 that bulge toward the front side are arranged side by side. An upper pan 33 that opens upward is provided inside the upper bulging portion 31, and a lower pan 34 that also opens upward is provided inside the lower bulging portion 32. The upper plate 33 has a function of temporarily storing game balls paid out from a payout device described later and guiding them to the game ball launching mechanism described later while aligning them in a line. In addition, the lower tray 34 has a function of storing game balls that become surplus in the upper tray 33.

  A game ball launching handle 41 is provided on the right side of the lower bulging portion 32 so as to protrude toward the front side. By operating the game ball launch handle 41, a game ball is launched from a game ball launch mechanism described later.

  A passage forming unit is attached to the back surface of the front door frame 14. The passage forming unit is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a front door side upper tray passage leading to the upper tray 33 and a front door side lower tray passage leading to the lower tray 34. In the passage forming unit, a receiving portion that protrudes rearward and opens upward is formed at the upper corner of the passage forming unit, and the inlet portion of the front door side upper dish passage is divided by a partition wall. And an entrance portion of the front door side lower dish passage are partitioned. The upstream side of the front door side upper dish path and the front door side lower dish path are connected to a game ball distributing section described later, and the game balls that have entered the front door side upper dish path are guided to the upper plate 33 and are moved to the lower side of the front door. The game ball that has entered the dish passage is guided to the lower dish 34.

  Projecting shafts are provided at the upper end and the lower end of the rotation base end side of the back surface of the front door frame 14. These projecting shafts constitute an assembly mechanism for the inner frame 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of metal fittings 63 extending rearward are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the rotating front end side of the back surface of the front door frame 14. These hooks 63 constitute a locking mechanism for the inner frame 13.

  Next, the inner frame 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the inner frame 13. In FIG. 3, as in FIG. 2, the configuration in the game area PE of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for convenience.

  The inner frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 70 whose outer shape is substantially rectangular like the outer frame 11. The height dimension of the resin base 70 is set slightly smaller than the height dimension of the outer frame 11. The resin base 70 is arranged close to the upper frame portion of the outer frame 11, and a slight gap is formed between the lower frame portion of the outer frame 11 and the resin base 70. A curtain plate is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to close the gap. The curtain plate is disposed below the resin base 70 (specifically, the lower end portion thereof). When the inner frame 13 is closed with respect to the outer frame 11, the resin base 70 is placed on the curtain plate. . A slight clearance may be provided between the curtain plate and the resin base 70.

  Support metal fittings 71 and 72 are attached to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the rotation base end side (left side in FIG. 3) on the front surface of the resin base 70. Although illustration is omitted, shaft holes are formed in the support fittings 71 and 72, and the projection shaft of the front door frame 14 is inserted into these shaft holes, so that the front door frame 14 is attached to the inner frame 13. It is rotatably supported.

  An insertion hole 73 for inserting a metal fitting 63 (see FIG. 2) provided on the back surface of the front door frame 14 is provided on the front end of the rotation of the resin base 70 (on the right side in FIG. 3). Yes. The pachinko machine 10 is configured such that a locking device 75 for locking the inner frame 13 and the front door frame 14 is hidden behind the inner frame 13. Therefore, the front door frame 14 is locked to the inner frame 13 so that it cannot be opened by the hook metal 63 being locked to the locking device 75 (specifically, the front door hook receiving member 76) through the insertion hole 73. The The locking device 75 has an inner frame collar member 77 extending rearward of the inner frame 13. These inner frame hook members 77 are hooked on the hook receiving member 19 of the outer frame 11, so that the gaming machine main part 12 is locked in a closed state with respect to the outer frame 11.

  A cylinder lock 78 for performing an unlocking operation of the locking device 75 is installed at the lower right corner of the resin base 70. The cylinder lock 78 is integrated with the locking device 75. When the key inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 78 is turned to the right, the lock of the front door frame 14 with respect to the inner frame 13 is released, and the cylinder lock 78 is inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 78. The locking device 75 is configured such that when the key is turned counterclockwise, the locking of the inner frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11 is released.

  In addition, an opening detection sensor 79 (specifically, a push sensor) for detecting the opening of the front door frame 14 is provided at a position (a rotation leading end portion of the inner frame 13) side by side with the locking device 75 in the resin base 70. Yes. The opening detection sensor 79 is electrically connected to a main control device described later. In the main control device, the front door frame 14 is opened based on a detection signal (detection information) from the opening detection sensor 79. It is possible to grasp whether or not.

  A substantially elliptical window hole 74 is formed at the center of the resin base 70, and the window hole 74 is closed from behind by a game board 80 attached to the resin base 70. The game board 80 includes a wooden plywood and a sheet material that covers a front plate surface of the plywood, and the front surface thereof is exposed to the front side of the resin base 70 through the window hole 74. In the exposed portion, that is, the front surface of the game board 80, a game area PE in which game balls flow down is formed. As already described, the game area PE is covered with the glass unit 22 (specifically, the rear glass panel 23). In the glass unit 22, the gap between the rear glass panel 23 and the front surface of the game board 80 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, that is, the game balls flowing down the game area PE are the same in the game area PE. It is arranged so that it is not lined up back and forth at a point. Thereby, the ball blockage in the game area PE is suppressed. Note that the game board 80 is not limited to wooden, and may be made of synthetic resin.

  Hereinafter, the game board 80 (in particular, various configurations arranged in the game area PE) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the game board 80.

  The game board 80 is formed with a plurality of large and small openings penetrating in its own thickness direction (front-rear direction) by performing router processing. Each opening is provided with a general winning opening 81, variable pitching devices 82 and 83, operating pitching portions 84 and 85, a through gate 86, a main display unit 87, a variable display unit 88, and the like. When game balls enter the general winning opening 81, the variable pitching devices 82 and 83, and the operation pitching portions 84 and 85, the game balls are detected by a detection sensor described later, and a predetermined number of prize balls are based on the detection result. Benefits such as paying out are given to the player. In addition, an out port 89 is provided at the lowermost part of the game board 80, and game balls that have not entered various winning ports etc. are discharged from the game area PE through the out port 89. In the following description, in order to clearly distinguish the game ball from entering the out port 89, the game to the general winning port 81, the variable ball entering devices 82 and 83, the operation ball entering portions 84 and 85, and the through gate 86 is described. A ball entry is also expressed as a prize.

  The game board 80 is provided with a large number of nails 90 in order to disperse and adjust the flow path of the game ball as appropriate, and various members (functions) such as a windmill. The flow path of the game ball is differentiated by various configurations such as the nails 90 and the windmills, and is adjusted so that a winning in the above-described general winning opening 81 and the like occurs with an appropriate probability.

  The variable display unit 88 is arranged in the center of the game board 80, and the operation entrance parts 84, 85 and the like are arranged around the variable display unit 88. The operation entrance parts 84 and 85 are a lower operation entry part 84 (hereinafter referred to as a lower operation entry part 84 for convenience) disposed below the variable display unit 88, and the variable display unit 88. It is composed of a right-hand operating ball portion 85 (referred to as a right-hand operation ball portion 85 for the sake of convenience hereinafter) disposed on the right side. Further, an electric accessory 91 is provided as an openable / closable entrance assist device (entrance assisting means) or an opening / closing member (opening / closing means). The electric accessory 91 includes a pair of left and right movable pieces 91a and a solenoid-type drive portion 91b that drives the movable piece 91a, and is connected to the inlet portion (right operation port 85a) of the right operation ball entry portion 85. It is possible to switch between an open state (assist state) in which the ball can be entered or facilitated and a closed state (non-assistant state) in which the entry is impossible or difficult.

  The through gate 86 is disposed above the right-hand actuating ball 85, and when the winning combination is a lottery triggered by the passing of the game ball through the through gate 86, the electric accessory 91 is held for a predetermined time. Only open.

  In addition, when the entrance to the lower operation entrance portion 84 occurs, the payout of 3 game balls is executed, and when the entrance to the right operation entrance portion 85 occurs, 4 games are played. Although the payout of the balls is executed, the payout number of the game balls is not limited to the above. However, in order to increase the advantage of the right working ball portion 85 with respect to the lower working ball portion 84, the number of payouts applied to the right operation ball portion 85 is set larger than the number of payouts applied to the lower operation ball portion 84. It is preferable to do.

  The variable pitching device (special pitching device or special pitching means) 82, 83 is also individually provided below and to the right of the variable display unit 88 in the same manner as the lower actuation ball entry portion 84 and the right actuation ball entry portion 85. Is arranged. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the variable pitching device 82 disposed below the variable display unit 88 (specifically, below the lower working pitching portion 84) is referred to as a “lower variable pitching device 82”. The variable pitching device 83 arranged in the direction (specifically, below the right side actuating pitching portion 85) is referred to as “right variable pitching device 83”.

  The lower variable pitching device 82 includes a lower large winning opening 82a leading to the back side of the game board 80, and an opening / closing mechanism 93 as an opening / closing means for opening and closing the lower large winning opening 82a. Yes. The opening / closing mechanism 93 includes an opening / closing door 93a as an opening / closing member for the lower large winning opening 82a. The open / close door 93a can be switched between an open state (assist state) in which a game ball can be entered or facilitated and a closed state (non-assist state) in which the entrance ball is impossible or difficult. The opening / closing door 93a is connected to a variable ball driving unit 82b (specifically, a solenoid) provided on the back side of the game board 80, and the opening / closing door 93a is kept closed in a normal state. In the lottery, when the winning / opening execution mode (opening / closing execution state) is won, the open state is switched.

  Here, the opening / closing execution mode is a mode to be shifted to when a big win is won. As an opening mode of the lower variable pitching device 82 in the opening / closing execution mode, for example, a predetermined time (for example, 30 sec) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) winnings is defined as one round, and a plurality of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) are performed. Some are set so that the opening of the open / close door 93a as the upper limit is repeated.

  The right variable pitching device 83 is opened and closed as an opening / closing member (opening / closing means) that opens and closes the right big prize opening that leads to the back side of the game board 80 and the right big prize winning opening, like the lower variable pitching device 82. It has a door. The open / close door can be switched between an open state (assist state) in which a game ball can be entered or facilitated and a closed state (non-assist state) in which the enter ball is impossible or difficult. In addition, the door is connected to a variable prize driving unit (specifically, a solenoid) provided on the back side of the game board 80, and the door is kept closed in a normal state, and the right operation door is turned on. In the internal lottery based on the entrance to the ball part 85, when a special winning to be described later is won, the lottery result confirmation mode is switched.

  Here, the lottery result determination mode means that the lottery result (special hit) in the right-hand actuated entrance portion 85 becomes valid and the lower variable entrance device 82 is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode, that is, to the opening / closing execution mode. This is a mode for lottery of whether the transition is confirmed or whether the lottery result is invalid and the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is avoided. As an opening mode of the right variable pitching device 83 in the lottery result determination mode, the open / close door is used until a predetermined period (for example, 2 sec) elapses from the timing when a picture indicating a special hit is displayed on the right working port display unit described later. It is set to be released.

  Next, the variable display unit 88 will be described. The variable display unit 88 is provided with a symbol display device 96 that variably displays a symbol by using a winning in the activated ball entering portions 84 and 85 as a trigger. The variable display unit 88 is provided with a center frame 97 so as to surround the symbol display device 96. The lower part of the center frame 97 corresponds to the lower working hole holding lamp part 98 corresponding to the lower working ball part 84 (lower working hole 84a) and the right working ball part 85 (right working hole 85a). A right working port holding lamp portion 99 is provided. In the present embodiment, the number of times that a game ball has passed through each of the actuated entrance parts 84 and 85 is held up to a maximum of 4 times. The reserved number corresponding to the sphere parts 84 and 85 is individually displayed.

  The symbol display device 96 is configured as a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display, and display contents are controlled by a display control device described later. In the symbol display device 96, for example, symbols are displayed side by side on the left, middle, and right, and these symbols are variably displayed as they are scrolled up and down. When a predetermined combination of symbols is stopped and displayed on a preset active line, a special gaming state (hereinafter referred to as a jackpot) occurs.

  The operation entrance parts 84 and 85 are arranged at positions close to the variable display unit 88. Since a winning of the winning ball portion 84, 85 can be triggered as a trigger, a big win can be generated. Therefore, the player pays attention to whether or not the winning ball portion 84, 85 wins, and whether or not the big win is generated. It is considered that attention is paid to the symbol display device 96 for grasping. Providing the operation entrance parts 84 and 85 near the variable display unit 88 is a device for concentrating a portion that the player wants to focus on around the variable display unit 88.

  The main display unit 87 is arranged on the side opposite to the right side variable pitching device 83 across the variable display unit 88. The main display unit 87 is arranged along the outer edge on the lower side of the game area PE, and protrudes from the front surface of the game board 80 to the front of the pachinko machine 10. The front surface of the main display unit 87 is opposed to the glass unit 22 (specifically, the rear glass panel 23) that allows the game area PE to be visually recognized from the front of the pachinko machine 10, and further to the rear glass panel 23. The distance between them is narrower than that of one game ball. This prevents the game ball from dropping in front of the front surface of the main display unit 87.

  Here, the main display unit 87 will be supplementarily described with reference to a partially enlarged view of FIG.

  In the main display unit 87, a main display portion D on which a predetermined pattern or the like is displayed is provided at a portion facing the glass unit 22. The main display section D includes a lower operation opening display section DL for displaying a lottery result based on winning in the lower operation entry section 84 (lower operation opening 84a), and a right operation entry section 85 (right operation opening). 85a) and a right working port display section DR for displaying the result of the lottery performed based on the winning.

  In the lower working port display unit DL, the variation display of the picture is performed using the winning in the lower operation entering ball portion 84 as a trigger, and based on the winning in the lower operation entering ball portion 84 as a stop result of the variation display. The result of the internal lottery performed is clearly indicated. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning to the lower operation entry portion 84 is the winning result corresponding to the shift to the opening / closing execution mode, the change display is stopped in the lower operation port display portion DL, After a predetermined pattern is displayed as a stop result, the mode is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode.

  In the right working port display section DR, the variation display of the picture is performed with the winning of the right operation entering ball portion 85 as a trigger, and as a result of stopping the variation display, the display is performed based on the winning in the right operation entering ball portion 85. The result of the internal lottery will be indicated. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning to the right-hand actuating entry portion 85 is a winning result corresponding to the big hit or special win, the change display is stopped in the right actuating port display portion DR, After the predetermined pattern is displayed, the mode is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode or the lottery result determination mode according to the result.

  Here, on the basis of winning in any of the actuated balls 84 and 85, the variable display is started on the corresponding display units DL and DR, a predetermined stop result is displayed, and the above variable display is stopped. Corresponds to one game time. However, the number of game times is not limited to the above-mentioned content. For example, a single display area is provided, and even if a winning is made to any of the activated ball entering parts 84 and 85, the single game area is not. In the configuration in which the variable display is performed in one display area, the variable display is started in the single display area, and the above-mentioned variable display is stopped in a state where the predetermined stop result is displayed. Once.

  In addition to the display portions DL and DR, the main display unit D of the main display unit 87 is also provided with a through gate display portion DS for displaying a lottery result based on winning through the through gate 86. In the through gate display unit DS, the display of the variation of the picture is performed with the winning of the through gate 86 as a trigger, and the result of the internal lottery performed based on the winning of the through gate 86 is displayed as a result of stopping the variation display. It is clearly shown. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning to the through gate 86 is a winning result corresponding to the transition to the electric power open state, a predetermined stop result is displayed on the through gate display section DS, and the display is changed. After is stopped, it shifts to the electric utility open state. In the electric combination open state, the electric combination 91 provided in the right operation entrance portion 85 is opened in a predetermined manner.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the number of times that the game ball has passed through the through gate 86 is retained up to 4 times, but the number of suspension is displayed on the main display portion D of the main display unit 87. A holding number display section DH is provided.

  These display parts DL, DR, DS, and DH are visible from the front of the pachinko machine 10 through the glass unit 22 of the front door frame 14, and the front of these various display parts DL, DR, DS, and DH. Visibility is secured by avoiding the movement of the game ball. In addition, the display mode in each of these display units DL, DR, DS, and DH will be described later.

  Referring to FIG. 3 again, the configuration of the inner frame 13 will be described below. A game ball for launching a game ball to the game area PE based on the operation of the game ball launch handle 41 is provided below the game board 80 in the resin base 70. A firing mechanism 110 is provided. The game ball launching mechanism 110 includes a solenoid 111 that launches a game ball placed at a predetermined launch standby position, a launch rail 112 that defines the launch direction of the game ball launched by the solenoid 111, and a game at the launch standby position. A ball feeding device 113 for supplying a ball and a base plate 114 on which the various configurations 111 to 113 are mounted are provided as main components, and the base plate 114 is fixed to the resin base 70, whereby the resin base 70. Are integrated.

  The firing rail 112 is fixed to the base plate 114 in an inclined state so as to be inclined upward toward the game board 80 side. A ball stopper that holds the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 113 at the above-described firing standby position is disposed at a position closer to the downstream end portion (that is, the lower end portion) of the firing rail 112. The solenoid 111 is arranged at a position further downstream than the ball stopper.

  The solenoid 111 is electrically connected to a power source / launch control device described later. Based on the output of the electrical signal from the power supply / launch control device, the output shaft of the solenoid 111 reciprocates in the expansion / contraction direction, so that the game ball placed at the launch standby position is on the game board 80 side, more specifically, the game. It is driven out toward the guide rail 100 mounted on the board 80.

  In the guide rail 100, the game area PE is partitioned so that the outer shape of the game area PE is substantially circular. In addition, the guide rail 100 includes an inner rail 101 and an outer rail 102 arranged so as to face each other with a gap slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and a single guide passage 103 is defined by both the rails 101 and 102. Is formed. The guide passage 103 has an inlet portion that is open to the tip end side (obliquely downward) of the firing rail 112 and an outlet portion that is located above the game area PE. The game ball fired based on the operation of the solenoid 111 is guided to the game area PE by moving in the order of the firing rail 112 → guide rail 100 (entrance portion → exit portion). In the game board 80, a reverse prevention member 106 for preventing the game ball reaching the game area PE from going back into the guide passage 103 is attached to the front side of the exit portion, specifically near the tip of the inner rail 101. Thus, it is possible to prevent the subsequent launch of the game ball from being hindered by the game ball that has reached the game area PE first.

  Each of the rails 101 and 102 constituting the guide rail 100 has an arc shape centered at a substantially central portion of the game area PE. For this reason, the game ball passing through the guide passage 103 is likely to move (slide or roll) along the outer rail 102, that is, in contact with the outer rail 102 due to the centrifugal force generated by itself.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 100 and the launch rail 112 are arranged such that the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the tip end portion of the launch rail 112 face each other with the lower end edge of the game board 80 interposed therebetween. ing. That is, both the rails 100 and 112 are arranged such that the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the tip portion of the firing rail 112 are shifted left and right in the vicinity of the lower end edge of the game board 80. Thus, a gap of a predetermined interval is formed between the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the launch rail 112 while bringing both rails 100 and 112 close to the lower end edge of the game board 80.

  A foul ball passage is disposed below the gap formed in this way. The foul ball passage is integrally formed with the passage forming unit of the front door frame 14. If the game balls launched from the game ball launching mechanism 110 do not reach the game area PE and return to the inside of the guide passage 103 as foul balls, the foul balls enter the foul ball passage through the gap. Become. The foul ball path leads to the front door side lower dish path, and the game balls that have entered the foul ball path are discharged to the lower dish 34 shown in FIG. This suppresses interference between the foul ball and the next game ball to be launched.

  A through hole that penetrates the resin base 70 in the front-rear direction is formed on the left side of the firing rail 112 in the resin base 70 (specifically, the side that supports the front door frame 14). A passage forming member is formed in the through hole. 121 is disposed. The passage forming member 121 is screwed to the resin base 70 and has a main body side upper dish path 122 and a main body side lower dish path 123. The upstream side of the main body side upper dish passage 122 and the main body side lower dish passage 123 communicates with a game ball distributing section described later. In addition, a receiving portion of a passage forming unit attached to the front door frame 14 enters below the passage forming member 121, and a front door side upper plate passage is disposed below the main body side upper plate passage 122, A front door side upper dish passage is disposed below the main body side lower dish passage 123.

  An opening / closing member 124 that opens and closes the main body side upper dish path 122 and the main body side lower dish path 123 is attached below the passage forming member 121 in the resin base 70. The opening / closing member 124 is supported by a support shaft provided at the lower end of the opening / closing member 124 so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction. Further, the opening / closing member 124 is biased to a forward position where the main body side upper dish passage 122 and the main body side lower dish path 123 are closed. A member is provided. Therefore, when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the inner frame 13, the opening / closing member 124 rises as shown in the figure, and the main body side upper dish passage 122 and the main body side lower dish path 123 are closed. Thereby, when the front door frame 14 is opened in a state in which the game balls are stored in the main body side upper dish passage 122 or the main body side lower dish passage 123, it is possible to prevent the stored balls from spilling down. On the other hand, when the front door frame 14 is closed, the opening / closing member 124 is pushed open against the biasing force by the receiving portion provided in the passage forming unit of the front door frame 14. In this state, the main body side upper dish path 122 and the front door side upper dish path communicate with each other, and the main body side lower dish path 123 and the front door side lower dish path communicate with each other.

  Next, the back configuration of the inner frame 13 (the resin base 70 and the game board 80) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the inner frame 13.

  On the rotation base end side (the right side in FIG. 5) on the back surface of the resin base 70, bearing fittings 132 are arranged vertically. The bearing bracket 132 is formed with bearing portions spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and the back pack unit 15 is rotatably attached to the inner frame 13 by these bearing portions.

  A plurality of locking fittings 135 are provided on the back surface of the resin base 70, and the game board 80 is attached to the resin base 70 by the locking fittings 135 as described above. Here, with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7, the structure of the back surface of the game board 80 is demonstrated. 6 is a perspective view of the gaming board 80 as seen from the rear of the gaming machine, and FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a state in which the main controller unit is removed from the gaming board 80.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a synthetic resin frame cover 141 that covers the center frame 97 from behind is provided on the variable display unit 88 disposed in the center of the game board 80 so as to protrude rearward. The above-described symbol display device 96 is attached to 141 from the rear side, and a display control device for driving the symbol display device 96 is attached (not shown). The symbol display device 96 and the display control device are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction (the symbol display device is the front and the display control device is the rear), and the sound lamp control device unit 142 is mounted on the rear side. The sound lamp control device unit 142 includes a sound lamp control device 143 and a mounting table 144, and the sound lamp control device 143 is mounted on the mounting table 144.

  The sound lamp control device 143 includes a sound lamp control board that controls sound, lamp display, and display control device in accordance with instructions from a main control device to be described later, and the sound lamp control board is made of a transparent resin material or the like. It is configured to be accommodated in a substrate box 145.

  As shown in FIG. 7, below the variable display unit 88, there is a collective board unit 150 that collects the game balls that have moved to the back side of the game board 80 via the general winning opening 81, the action entry parts 84, 85, and the like. Is provided. The collective board unit 150 is fixed to the game board 80, and the main controller unit 160 is mounted on the collective board unit 150 so as to cover the collective board unit 150 from behind (see FIG. 6). The mounting target of the main controller unit 160 is not limited to the collective plate unit 150. For example, the main controller unit 160 can be mounted directly on the game board 80.

  The main controller unit 160 includes a colorless and transparent mounting base 161 made of a synthetic resin and a main control apparatus 162 mounted on the mounting base 161. The mounting base 161 is rotatably supported by the collective plate unit 150, and the main control unit 162 is rotated together with the mounting base 161 so that the main control unit 162 is removed from the mounting base 161 for visual confirmation. Work is possible.

  The main controller 162 includes a main control board having a function (main control circuit) that controls the main control of the game and a function (power failure monitoring circuit) that monitors the power source, and the main control board is made of a transparent resin material. It is configured to be accommodated in a substrate box 163 made of, for example.

  The board box 163 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box base (front case body) and a box cover (back case body) that covers an opening of the box base. The box base and the box cover are connected so as not to be opened by a sealing portion 164 as a sealing means, whereby the substrate box 163 is sealed. Five sealing portions 164 are provided on the long side portion of the substrate box 163, and at least one of them is used for sealing processing.

  Any configuration can be applied to the sealing portion 164 as long as the box base and the box cover are coupled so as not to be opened. However, the box base and the box cover can be inserted by inserting a locking claw into the long hole constituting the sealing portion 164 And can be unopened. The sealing process by the sealing unit 164 prevents unauthorized opening after the sealing, and makes it possible to detect such a situation early and easily even if unauthorized opening is performed. It is possible to perform the sealing process again even after it has been performed. That is, the sealing process is performed by inserting a locking claw into at least one of the five sealing portions 164. When opening the board box 163 such as when a failure occurs in the housed main control board or when inspecting the main control board, the connecting part between the sealing part into which the locking claw is inserted and another sealing part is provided. Disconnect. As a result, the box base and the box cover of the substrate box 163 are separated, and the internal main control substrate can be taken out. Thereafter, when the sealing process is performed again, the locking claws are inserted into the long holes of the other sealing portions. If the history of opening the substrate box 163 is left in the substrate box 163, it can be easily found that the unauthorized opening has been performed by looking at the substrate box 163.

  A plurality of coupling pieces are provided on one short side portion of the substrate box 163 so as to protrude laterally. These coupling pieces have a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of coupled pieces formed on the mounting base 161, and a sealing process is performed between the board box 163 and the mounting base 161 by the coupling pieces and the coupled pieces. Is called.

  Next, the back pack unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a front view of the back pack unit 15.

  As already described, the inner frame 13 is covered from behind by the back pack unit 15. As shown in FIG. 8, the back pack unit 15 includes a back pack 201, and a payout mechanism unit 202, a discharge passage board, and a control device assembly unit 204 are attached to the back pack 201.

  The back pack 201 is formed of a synthetic resin having transparency, and includes a base portion 211 to which the payout mechanism portion 202 and the like are attached, and a protective cover portion 212 that protrudes rearward from the pachinko machine 10 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The protective cover 212 has a shape in which the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface are closed and only the lower surface is opened, and has a size sufficient to surround at least the variable display unit 88.

  The base portion 211 is provided with an external terminal plate 213 at the upper right portion thereof. The external terminal board 213 is provided with various output terminals, and various signals are output to the management control device on the game hall side through these output terminals. The base portion 211 is provided with a pair of upper and lower retaining pins 214 at the right end when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and a bearing fitting 132 (specifically, a bearing portion) provided on the inner frame 13 with the retaining pins 214. The back pack unit 15 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the inner frame 13. In addition, a fastening tool 215 for fastening to a fastening hole provided in the inner frame 13 is provided at the rotating tip of the base portion 211, and the fastening tool 215 is fitted into the fastening hole. Thus, the back pack unit 15 is fixed to the inner frame 13.

  In the base portion 211, a payout mechanism portion 202 is disposed so as to bypass the protective cover portion 212. The payout mechanism 202 is provided with a tank 221 that is arranged at the top of the back pack 201 and that opens upward, and game balls supplied from the island facilities of the game hall are sequentially replenished to the tank 221. The A tank rail 222 that is gently inclined toward the downstream side is connected to the lower side of the tank 221, and a case rail 223 that extends in the vertical direction is connected to the downstream side of the tank rail 222. A payout device 224 is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 223. The game balls paid out from the payout device 224 are supplied to the game ball distribution unit 225 provided in the base portion 211 of the back pack 201 through a payout passage (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the payout device 224.

  The game ball distribution unit 225 has a function of distributing the game balls paid out from the payout device 224 to any one of the upper plate 33, the lower plate 34, and a discharge passage described later, and the inner opening is the main body described above. It is formed so that it communicates with the upper plate 33 through the side upper plate passage 122 and the front door side upper plate passage, and the outer opening communicates with the lower plate 34 through the main body side lower plate passage 123 and the front door side lower plate passage. Has been.

  A discharge passage board and a control device assembly unit 204 are attached to the lower end portion of the base portion 211 so as to sandwich the lower end portion in the front and rear directions (see FIG. 2). In the discharge passage board, a discharge passage opened rearward is formed on a surface facing the control device assembly unit 204, and an open portion of the discharge passage is closed by the control device assembly unit 204. The discharge passage is formed so as to discharge the game ball to the island facility or the like of the game hall, and the game ball led to the discharge passage from the recovery passage described above passes through the discharge passage to the outside of the pachinko machine 10. Discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the control device assembly unit 204 has a horizontally long mounting base 241, and a payout control device 242 and a power supply / launch control device 243 are mounted on the mounting base 241. The payout control device 242 and the power supply / launch control device 243 are arranged so as to overlap each other so that the payout control device 242 is behind the pachinko machine 10.

  In the payout control device 242, a payout control board for controlling the payout device 224 is accommodated in the board box 244, and a state return switch 245 provided on the payout control board projects out of the board box 244. For example, when the state return switch 245 is pressed when a payout error occurs, such as a ball jam in the payout device 224, the ball jam is eliminated.

  The power source / launch control device 243 includes a power source / launch control board housed in the board box 246, and a predetermined power source required for various control devices and the like is generated and output by the board. Control of the launch of the game ball accompanying the operation of the firing handle 41 is performed. Further, the power supply / launch control device 243 is provided with a RAM erase switch 247. This pachinko machine 10 has a function to store and store various data so that even if a power failure occurs, it maintains the state at the time of the power failure, and when it recovers from the power failure, it can be restored to the state at the time of the power failure. It has become. Therefore, for example, when the power supply is turned off in the normal procedure, as in the case of the game hall being closed, the state before the interruption is stored and held, but when the power is turned on while the RAM erase switch 247 is held down, the RAM data is initialized. It is like that.

  Here, a supplementary description will be given of the aggregate plate unit 150 and the configuration related thereto. The collective board unit 150 includes a collective board 151 that collects game balls guided to the back side of the game board 80 through the above-described general winning opening 81 or the like. The collective plate 151 is made of a light-transmitting (specifically colorless and transparent) synthetic resin material, which facilitates visual confirmation of the flow path of the game balls. Thereby, even if a ball clogging or the like occurs in the collective plate 151, it is possible to easily grasp where such an inconvenience occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the collective plate 151 is formed by integrally forming a main body portion provided with a function of collecting game balls and a mounting portion with respect to the game board 80, and straddles the left and right ends of the game board 80 as a whole. It has a horizontally long shape. The mounting portion has a plate shape parallel to the back surface of the game board 80, and the mounting plate 261 and the game board 80 are fixed by screwing in a state where the mounting portion 261 contacts the game board 80. Are integrated.

  The main body portion of the collective plate 151 is provided with a pair of wall portions that stand up toward the back surface of the game board 80, and a collection passage for collecting game balls is defined by these wall portions. A plurality of collection passages are provided corresponding to the respective winning portions such as the general winning opening 81, the actuating entering portions 84 and 85, the variable entering devices 82 and 83, and the like. All of the game balls that have won the respective ball entry portions are collected at the lower part of the game board 80 through the collection passage.

  The above-described discharge passage board 203 (see FIG. 2) is arranged below the game board 80, and the game balls collected at the lower part of the game board 80 by the collection passage are led to the discharge passage 231 and then the pachinko machine 10 In detail, it is returned to the island facility. Note that the above-described out port 89 is also connected to the discharge passage 231 in the same manner, and the game balls that have not won any prize opening are led out into the discharge passage 231 through the out port 89, and the pachinko machine 10 Is discharged outside.

  A detection sensor for detecting the passage of the game ball is provided at a midway position in the collection passage corresponding to the general winning opening 81 and the lower operation entrance portion 84 among the collection passages. Each detection sensor 270 detects a ball entering a ball-entry portion such as the general winning opening 81 by passing a game ball through a detection area provided in the middle of each collection passage. Employs a magnetic sensor that grasps a change in magnetic field generated when a game ball passes through the detection region.

  Each of these detection sensors is electrically connected to a main control unit 160 (specifically, main control unit 162) provided on the back side of the game board 80, and the detection signals generated by these detection sensors are the same. It is configured to be output to the main controller 162.

<Right variable pitching device 83>
In the present embodiment, the right variable ball entry device 83 described above has a characteristic configuration. Here, the right variable pitching device 83 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) is a partially enlarged view showing the right side variable pitching device 83 and its peripheral portion in FIG. 4, FIG. 9 (b) is a perspective view of the right side variable pitching device 83 as seen from the front side, and FIG. 10 is the right side. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the variable pitching device 83 as viewed from the front side, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the right side of the variable pitching device 83 as viewed from the back side, and FIG. It is. FIG. 9B shows a state in which the right big prize opening is opened, and in FIGS. 10 and 11, the game board 80 is represented by a two-dot chain line.

  As described above, the opening 92 is formed in the game board 80 at the site on the right side of the variable display unit 88 (see FIG. 9A). The opening 92 penetrates in the thickness direction of the game board 80, and the right variable pitching device 83 is fitted into the opening 92 from the front of the gaming machine. In the state in which the right variable pitching device 83 is arranged in this way, the opening is formed by the base unit 300 that constitutes the front surface portion of the right variable pitching device 83 and is provided with a function as an attachment portion to the game board 80. The part 92 is covered.

  The base unit 300 includes a frame body 301 formed along the edge of the opening 92. The frame body 301 is formed so as to face the front surface of the game board 80 and to face the front surface of the game board 80, and to stand behind the gaming machine from the counter board part 301 a and along the inner wall surface of the opening 92 of the game board 80. And a cylindrical portion 301b (see FIG. 11). The right variable pitching device 83 is integrated with the game board 80 by being screwed to the game board 80 in a state where the opposing plate portion 301a is in contact with the front surface of the game board 80.

  A game ball that has flowed into the right variable pitching device 83 is guided to the back side of the game board 80 at a position above the center opening of the frame body 301 in the frame body 301 (specifically, the opposing plate portion 301a). The right large winning opening 302 is formed. The right big winning opening 302 has an inlet portion 302a formed so as to penetrate in the thickness direction of the frame body 301 (the front-rear direction in the gaming machine), and the frame body 301 is provided with the inlet portion 302a. The opening / closing door 303 is attached so as to be openable and closable so as to cover from the front. The frame 301 is mounted with a variable ball driving unit 304 (specifically, a solenoid) as a power source for driving the open / close door 303. The variable ball driving unit 304 is electrically connected to the main controller 162, and switching between excitation / non-excitation is performed based on a drive signal from the main controller 162. Further, the variable entrance driving unit 304 has a movable piece that is displaced based on switching between excitation / non-excitation, and the opening / closing door 303 is operated by the movable piece to follow the displacement of the movable piece. Displacement (open / close switching) of the open / close door 303 is realized.

  The variable entrance driving unit 304 is provided with a position detection sensor 311 that detects the position of the movable piece in the variable entrance driving unit 304 (see FIG. 10). The position detection sensor 311 is electrically connected to the main control device 162. In the main control device 162, the position of the movable piece, that is, based on the detection signal (detection information) generated by the position detection sensor 311. The position of the opening / closing door 303 can be grasped. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the opening / closing door 303 has been switched in accordance with a signal from the main control device 162, and to suppress the occurrence of a disadvantage due to malfunction or the like.

  It should be noted that the door 303 was opened when the drive signal was output from the main controller 162 or when the door 303 was not operating normally, or the drive signal was not output. If it is recognized, the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29 notify that the abnormality has occurred, and the upper part indicating that the abnormality has occurred is output to the hall computer. . As a result, the hall manager or the like can grasp that an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the right-hand side big winning opening 302 has a horizontally long shape extending in the left-right direction, and the back side (specifically, the right-hand side big winning opening) of one end thereof (specifically, the end that is the central side of the game area PE). 302 is provided with a detection sensor 305 (specifically, a magnetic sensor) that detects a game ball that has flowed into the large winning opening 302 on the right side (see FIG. 11).

  The detection sensor 305 is electrically connected to the main control device 162, and a detection signal (detection information) from the detection sensor 305 is output to the main control device 162. Based on this detection signal, the main controller 162 can grasp the presence / absence of winning in the right big winning opening 302 or the like.

  Here, a supplementary explanation of the right big prize opening 302 will be given based on FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the right big prize winning opening 302 has a passage portion 302 b that guides the game ball flowing in from the entrance portion 302 a to the guide passage 320. The detection sensor 305 disposed in the downstream portion of the passage portion 302b (the outlet portion 302c of the right large winning opening 302) has a through-hole penetrating vertically. The game ball is configured to be detected when the game ball passes through a region (detection region DE0) surrounded by the through hole.

  The passage portion 302b of the right large winning opening 302 is surrounded by the wall surface portion of the base unit 300, and exposure to the outside of the base unit 300 is suppressed. Thereby, inflow and outflow of the game ball at the midway position of the passage portion 302b are avoided, and access to the passage portion 302b through other than the inlet portion 302a and the outlet portion 302c is impossible.

  Returning to FIG. 12, a front panel member 306 is provided below the right large winning opening 302 in the base unit 300 so as to cover the central opening portion of the frame body 301 (that is, the front opening portion of the tubular portion 301 b). It has been. The front panel member 306 is fixed to the frame body 301, and the opening 92 is closed by the front panel member 306 and the frame body 301.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the frame 301 is separated from the front panel member 306 by a predetermined gap (specifically, a gap set to be the same as the thickness dimension of the game board 80). A rear panel member 307 facing from the rear of the gaming machine is provided. The rear panel member 307 has a flat plate shape, and the rear opening of the tubular portion 301b is closed from the rear of the gaming machine by the rear panel member 307.

  The front panel member 306 and the rear panel member 307 are formed of a synthetic resin material having transparency, and the rear of the base unit 300 can be visually recognized through these panel members 306 and 307. Behind the base unit 300, a guide passage that guides the game balls that have flowed into the right big winning opening 302 and that have passed through the detection area DE0 of the detection sensor 305 to the collecting plate 151 (specifically, a collection passage). 320 is provided.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 14 as appropriate in addition to FIGS. 9 to 13, the guide passage 320 formed in the right variable pitching device 83 will be described. FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the inside of the guide passage 320 as viewed from the front side of the gaming machine.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the guide passage 320 is formed by combining a base unit 300 and a passage forming unit 330 disposed behind the base unit 300.

  More specifically, the passage forming unit 330 has a flat plate-like base portion 331 that faces the rear panel member 307 with a predetermined gap therebetween. A plurality of standing wall portions 332 that stand up toward the rear panel member 307 are formed in a portion of the base portion 331 that faces the rear panel member 307. These standing wall portions 332 are opposed to each other with a gap slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the game ball, and a groove portion 333 opened to the rear panel member 307 side (the front of the gaming machine) by the standing wall portion 332. Is formed. The guide passage 320 is formed by closing the opening portion of the groove portion 333 toward the front of the gaming machine with the rear panel member 307. In this way, by arranging the guide passage 320 behind the panel members 306 and 307 and forming the guide passage 320 using the rear panel member 307, the game balls passing through the guide passage 320 can be moved from the front of the gaming machine. Visible.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the guide passage 320 has an upstream passage 321 that communicates with the right large prize winning opening 302 of the base unit 300. The upstream passage 321 has a horizontally long shape, and an inlet portion opened upward is formed at one end thereof. The game ball that has reached the back side of the game board 80 through the passage portion 302b of the right side big winning opening 302 and has flowed out from the outlet portion 302c of the right side big winning opening 302 will flow into the guide passage 320 through the inlet portion. .

  The outlet portion 302c of the right side big winning opening 302 and the inlet portion 320a of the guide passage 320 are opposed to each other with a slight gap therebetween, but the gap is set smaller than the diameter dimension of the game ball. Inflow and outflow of game balls through the gap are avoided. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, this gap is surrounded by the housing case 353, and access to the gap from the outside of the right side variable pitching device 83 is prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the upstream passage 321 is inclined downward from the inlet portion of the upstream passage 321 toward the opposite end (specifically, toward the center of the game area PE). The game ball that has flowed into the upstream side passage 321 from the entrance portion flows down along the portion of the standing wall portion 332 that forms the bottom portion of the upstream side passage 321.

  The downstream end of the upstream passage 321 is continuous with a first downstream passage 322 so as to change the flow direction of the game ball. The first downstream passage 322 extends in the vertical direction, and the game ball that has reached the first downstream passage 322 via the upstream passage 321 falls along the first downstream passage 322 by its own weight. It will be.

  A game ball that has flowed into the first downstream passage 322 is detected at the outlet portion of the first downstream passage 322 (specifically, a game ball that passes through the first detection area DE1 in the first downstream passage 322 is detected). A first detection sensor 325 is provided.

  As the first detection sensor 325, a magnetic sensor capable of grasping a change in a magnetic field that occurs when a game ball passes through the first detection region DE1 is employed. The first detection sensor 325 is electrically connected to the main control device 162, and a detection signal (detection information) from the first detection sensor 325 is input to the main control device 162. Thereby, the main controller 162 can grasp whether or not the game ball has passed in the first detection area DE1, that is, whether or not there is a ball entering the first downstream passage 322.

  Further, the guide passage 320 has a second downstream passage 323 that branches off from a position midway along the first downstream passage 322. That is, the guide passage 320 is branched into two at the middle position. The game ball that has flowed into the right big winning opening 302 has a configuration in which the movement destination (distribution destination) changes according to the inflow timing or the like.

  An upright wall 332 that forms the first downstream passage 322 is formed with an opening 335 that serves as an inlet to the second downstream passage 323. The opening 335 communicates with both the first downstream passage 322 and the second downstream passage 323, and the inflow of game balls from the first downstream passage 322 to the second downstream passage 323 through the opening 335. Is allowed.

  In addition, if it supplements about the relationship between the 1st downstream channel | path 322 and a branch, in the 1st downstream channel | path 322, the site | part (henceforth an upstream part for convenience, a branch part (henceforth the intermediate part 322M is called for convenience)). 322U) extends in the vertical direction, and an outlet portion of the upstream portion 322U is opened downward. An inlet portion of the downstream portion 322L (first branch passage) as one branch passage is located on the extension of the outlet portion to the downstream side, and the inlet portion is on the outlet portion side (upper side) of the upstream portion 322U. ) Is open. On the other hand, the inlet portion (opening 335) of the second downstream passage 323 (second branch passage) as the other branch passage is disposed at a position deviated from the extension of the upstream portion 322U and the extension direction thereof is They are opened in different directions, specifically in the direction in which the downstream passages 322 and 323 are juxtaposed (specifically, in the lateral direction). For this reason, the game ball that has dropped along the upstream portion 322U normally flows into the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream passage 322, and the inflow into the second downstream passage 323 is avoided.

  A game ball that has flowed into the second downstream passage 323 is detected in the middle of the second downstream passage 323 (specifically, a game ball that passes through the second detection region DE2 in the second downstream passage 323 is detected). A second detection sensor 326 (possible) is provided. As the second detection sensor 326, a magnetic sensor capable of grasping a change in the magnetic field generated when the game ball passes through the second detection area DE2 is employed. The second detection sensor 326 is electrically connected to the main control device 162, and a detection signal (detection information) from the second detection sensor 326 is input to the main control device 162. Thereby, it is possible for the main controller 162 to grasp whether or not the game ball has passed in the second detection area DE2, that is, whether or not the game ball flows into the second downstream passage 323. For the convenience of explanation below, the detection sensor 305 arranged upstream of the game ball distribution part (the branch part of the guide passage 320) is arranged as “upstream detection sensor 305” and downstream of the distribution part. The first detection sensor 325 and the second detection sensor 326 are referred to as a “downstream first detection sensor 325” and a “downstream second detection sensor 326”.

  The game ball that has flowed into the right variable pitching device 83 (right large winning opening 302) is first detected by the upstream detection sensor 305, and then the downstream first detection sensor 325 and the downstream second detection sensor according to the flow destination. 326 is detected by any one of 326. When the upstream detection sensor 305 detects a ball entering the right big winning opening 302, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out according to the ball. As described above, the game balls are paid out based on the detection result of the upstream detection sensor 305 among the upstream / downstream detection sensors 305, 325, and 326, so that the detection by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 is performed. Compared to a configuration in which game balls are paid out based on the results, the game balls are expedited.

  The number of game balls that have flowed into the right variable ball entry device 83 (right big prize opening 302) is detected by the upstream detection sensor 305 and the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326, and the game balls detected by these upstream detection sensors 305. And the number of game balls detected by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326, it is possible to confirm whether or not the game balls remain in the guide passage 320.

  In the present embodiment, a magnetic sensor is applied to each of the detection sensors 305, 325, and 326. However, it is possible to change this and apply a photo sensor to each of the detection sensors 305, 325, and 326. . In particular, it is assumed that the right variable pitching device 83 has fewer opportunities for a plurality of game balls to enter at the same time as compared to other pitching units. Therefore, even if a photosensor that is assumed to be difficult to improve the detection accuracy of individual game balls when a plurality of game balls pass through the detection area as a unit, it is preferable to cause inconveniences caused by it. Can be suppressed. Specifically, it is important for the detection sensors 325 and 326 on the downstream side to know whether or not the entry into the advantageous entry portion has occurred rather than the number of inflowing game balls. Therefore, even if the detection function of individual game balls when a plurality of game balls pass through the detection area together, it is possible to know at least the fact that the game balls have passed, so there are disadvantages caused by this. Occurrence is avoided. In addition, a photosensor is less susceptible to radio waves and magnetism than a magnetic sensor. Therefore, a further improvement in the crime prevention function can be expected by applying a photo sensor in particular to the detection sensor related to the advantageous ball entry portion. Incidentally, in view of the fact that the upstream detection sensor 305 is provided with a function relating to a prize ball, in the case of adopting the above modification, a magnetic sensor is applied to the upstream detection sensor 305 and the downstream detection sensor 305 is provided. It is preferable to apply the photosensors of the detection sensors 325 and 326.

  Here, a supplementary description will be given of the passage configuration of the guide passage 320. The guide passage 320 is partitioned and formed by the rear panel member 307 and the passage formation unit 330 of the base unit 300 and surrounded by the housing case 353, similarly to the passage portion 302 b of the right large winning opening 302. The exposure to the outside of the base unit 300 is suppressed. As a result, inflow and outflow of game balls in the middle of the guide passage 320 are avoided, and access to the game ball passage area other than the entrance portion 320a and the exit portions 320b and 320c of the guide passage 320 is impossible. It has become.

  In addition, in the above-described branch portion (intermediate portion 322M of the first downstream passage 322), a guiding state in which the game ball that has flowed from the upstream passage 321 into the first downstream passage 322 is guided to the second downstream passage 323. A switching member 341 that can be switched to a non-inductive state in which the same guidance is not performed is provided. The switching member 341 is prevented from projecting into the guide passage 320 (specifically, the first downstream passage 322) in the non-guided state. By switching to the guide state, the switching member 341 blocks the first downstream passage 322. It protrudes to a position that makes it impossible for the game ball to reach the 1 detection area DE1 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 14).

  If it explains supplementarily about arrangement of switching member 341, storage part 336 which stores switching member 341 is formed in a portion which faces opening 335 in standing wall part 332. The accommodating portion 336 communicates with the first downstream passage 322 through an opening portion 337 formed in the standing wall portion 332. The opening portion 337 has a size that allows the switching member 341 to pass through. When the switching member 341 is in the non-induction state, the opening portion 337 is blocked by the switching member 341.

  The switching member 341 is pivotably supported by a shaft portion 342 provided at the upstream end of the switching member 341 by a bearing portion formed on the base portion 331 of the passage forming unit 330. It is attached to the passage forming unit 330. Specifically, with respect to the shaft portion 342 and the bearing portion, the switching member 341 is configured so that the rotation center axis of the switching member 341 is orthogonal to the direction in which the opening 335 faces and the flow direction of the game ball in the first downstream passage 322. The rotation center axis line 341 extends in the front-rear direction. The shaft portion 342 (rotation base end portion) of the switching member 341 is disposed at a position facing the opening 335. The switching member 341 extends to the downstream side of the first downstream passage 322, and the distal end portion (rotating distal end portion) is located downstream of the opening 335.

  When the switching member 341 is in the guiding state, the switching member 341 comes into contact with the game ball flowing down (falling) the first downstream passage 322 from the downstream side of the first downstream passage 322. Thus, a guide inclined surface 343 is formed to which the function of guiding the game ball to the opening 335 side while maintaining the flow from the upstream portion 322U of the first downstream passage 322 is provided. In the non-guided state, the guiding inclined surface 343 has approximately half of the rotation base end (upstream side) facing the opening 335, and approximately half of the rotation leading end (downstream side) of both downstream passages. It faces the standing wall 332D as a “partition” that partitions 322 and 323. Further, the guide inclined surface 343 is suppressed from projecting toward the opening 335, and the guide inclined surface 343 constitutes a part of the first downstream passage 322 (specifically, the intermediate portion 322M). Accordingly, it is possible to suppress variation in the falling path of the game ball passing through the intermediate portion 322M of the first downstream passage 322 in the non-guided state by the guide inclined surface 343.

  At the time of switching to the guiding state, the switching member 341 is rotated around the rotation base end portion, whereby the rotation tip end portion of the guiding inclined surface 343 in the switching member 341 is closer to the upright wall portion 332D. Will be displaced. Then, when the leading end of the inclined guide surface 343 reaches a position close to the upper end edge of the standing wall 332D (specifically, a position slightly higher than the upper end edge), the amount of rotation is maximized, and switching is performed. The member 341 stops. In such a state, the guiding inclined surface 343 is positioned on the extension of the upstream side passage 321.

  When switching to the guiding state in this way, the end of the guiding inclined surface 343 on the rotating tip side is located below the end of the guiding inclined surface 343 on the rotating base end side, and the guiding The inclined surface 343 is inclined downward toward the inlet portion (opening 335) of the second downstream passage 323. Therefore, in the same guiding state, the game ball that has flowed from the upstream passage 321 to the first downstream passage 322 collides with the guiding inclined surface 343 and moves along the guiding inclined surface 343 or the opening 335. By being reflected to the side, it is led to the second downstream passage 323 (opening 335).

  Note that the switching member 341 can also be referred to as “guidance means 341” when attention is paid to the function of guiding the game ball to the second downstream passage 323 in this way. Further, if attention is paid to the point of blocking the inflow of game balls to the first detection area DE1 of the first downstream passage 322, the switching member 341 can also be referred to as a “shutter 341”.

  Behind the passage forming unit 330, a biasing member 351 that biases the switching member 341 toward a position where the protrusion to the guide passage 320 is suppressed, and the switching member against the biasing force of the biasing member 351. A drive unit 350 having a solenoid type switching member drive unit 352 for moving the 341 to the protruding position and a housing case 353 for housing these various components 351 and 352 is provided.

  The switching member drive unit 352 is electrically connected to the main control device 162, and switching between excitation / non-excitation is performed based on a drive signal output from the main control device 162. Further, the switching member drive unit 352 has a movable piece that is displaced based on switching between excitation / non-excitation, and the switching member 341 is operated by this movable piece to follow the displacement of the movable piece. Displacement (switching) of the switching member 341 is realized.

  The drive unit 350 is provided with a position detection sensor 354 that detects the position of the movable piece in the switching member drive unit 352 (see FIG. 10 and the like). The position detection sensor 354 is electrically connected to the main control device 162. In the main control device 162, based on the detection signal (detection information) generated by the position detection sensor 354, the position of the movable piece, The position of the switching member 341 can be grasped. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not the position of the switching member 341 has been switched according to a signal from the main control device 162, and to suppress the occurrence of a disadvantage due to malfunction or the like.

  It should be noted that the switching member 341 is not operating normally despite the drive signal being output from the main controller 162, or that the switching member 341 has been operated even when the drive signal is not being output. When it is grasped, the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29 notify that the abnormality has occurred, and the upper part indicating that the abnormality has occurred is output to the hall computer. As a result, the hall manager or the like can grasp that an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

  In the present embodiment, the switching member 341 is normally held in a non-inducted state by the urging force of the urging member, and when a special win occurs in the lottery based on the winning to the right operation ball entering portion 85. When the switching member drive unit 352 is driven, the switching member 341 is switched to the guiding state. That is, the inflow of game balls to the second downstream side passage 323 is allowed.

  As will be described in detail later, when a game ball that has flowed into the second downstream passage 323 is detected by the downstream second detection sensor 326, a winning according to the lottery result based on winning in the right working ball entering portion 85 is obtained. When the game ball that has been confirmed and has flowed into the first downstream passage 322 is detected by the first detection sensor 325, the winning according to the lottery result based on the winning to the right operation ball entering portion 85 remains undefined. In other words, the game ball that has flowed into the guide passage 320 has a configuration in which a difference in advantage and disadvantage occurs in the subsequent game progress depending on which of the first detection area DE1 and the second detection area DE2 reaches.

  Here, the operation modes of the opening / closing door 303 and the switching member 341 will be described. The opening / closing door 303 is switched from the closed state to the open state when the special ball driving unit 304 is driven when a special winning occurs in the lottery based on the winning to the right operation ball entering unit 85, and is synchronized with this. When the switching member drive unit 352 is driven, the switching member 341 is switched to the guiding state. In contrast, the return timing of the opening / closing door 303 and the switching member 341 to the initial state is set so as not to be the same timing. Specifically, the switching member 341 is first switched to the non-induction state, and after a predetermined period has elapsed from the switching timing, the open / close door 303 is switched to the closed state. For this reason, the game ball that has flowed into the right big winning opening 302 does not necessarily reach only one of the first detection area DE1 and the second detection area DE2, but the first detection area according to the inflow timing to the right big winning opening 302. The configuration is such that which of DE1 and second detection area DE2 is reached is distributed. Specifically, game balls that have flowed in immediately after opening of the opening / closing door 303 are likely to be guided to the second detection area DE2, and game balls that have flowed in immediately before closing of the opening / closing door 303 are likely to be guided to the first detection area DE1. The operation modes of the opening / closing door 303 and the switching member 341 are set.

  As described above in detail, in the configuration in which the game balls flowing down the guide passage 320 are distributed so that there is an advantage / disadvantage difference in the middle of the game ball, a ball clogging or the like occurs in the guide passage 320 (particularly in the branch portion). Then, there is a concern that the above-mentioned distribution will not be performed normally and the player or the game hall will suffer disadvantages. Such inconvenience is assumed to easily occur due to the movement of the movable part such as the switching member. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the occurrence of the inconvenience is suitably suppressed by devising the switching member 341 and the configuration related thereto. Hereinafter, the relationship between the movement of the switching member 341 and the game ball will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 14, for convenience, the game ball that has flowed into the guide passage 320 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. Note that the switching member 341 normally switches in the order of the non-inductive state (initial state) → the inductive state → the non-inductive state. Thereafter, switching from the non-inductive state to the inductive state will be described.

  When the switching member 341 is in the guiding state, the rotation tip portion of the switching member 341 (specifically, the guiding inclined surface 343) is aligned with the lower end portion of the opening 335 (the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 332). It is arranged at the position. The clearance between the guide inclined surface 343 and the standing wall portion 332 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the game ball, and the game ball B1 moved along the guide inclined surface 343 is between the switching member 341 and the standing wall portion 332. Is preferably avoided. In this guiding state, the gap between the guiding inclined surface 343 and the upper end portion of the opening 335 is set to be larger than the diameter size of the game ball, and moves along the guiding inclined surface 343. It is avoided that the game ball B1 is sandwiched between the upper end edge of the opening 335 and the guide inclined surface 343. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the ball clogging in the guide path 320 in a guidance state is avoided suitably.

  When returning from such a guided state to a non-guided state, the switching member 341 rotates to move the rotating tip portion (downstream end portion) of the switching member 341 toward the side away from the standing wall portion 332D. . At this time, the switching member 341 is displaced so as to pass through a region where the game ball cannot flow down in the guidance state, and therefore the switching member 341 and the passage wall surface of the guide passage 320 (for example, the lower end of the opening portion 337). There is no game ball between the edge). Therefore, it is avoided that the return of the switching member 341 to the non-induction state is hindered by the biting of the game ball.

  Next, the case where the switching member 341 switches from the non-induction state to the induction state will be described. When the switching member 341 switches from the non-guided state to the guided state, the guiding inclined surface 343 moves to the side closer to the standing wall portion 332D as the switching member 341 rotates. If the game ball B2 passes through the side of the opening 335 and reaches the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream passage 322 while the gap between the guide inclined surface 343 and the standing wall portion 332D is gradually reduced, the game There is a possibility that the sphere B2 is pinched (bited) between the guide inclined surface 343 and the standing wall portion 332D. If such a game ball B2 bites, switching of the switching member 341 to the guiding state is prevented. However, when the game ball B2 is bitten in this way, the function of guiding the subsequent game ball B2 to the opening 335 is given to the game ball B2, and the switching member 341 is switched to the guidance state. At least the game ball to be guided to the opening 335 is guided to the opening 335. That is, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a clogged ball with the game ball B2 bitten as the head, and to appropriately suppress a decrease in the distribution function of the game balls in the guide passage 320.

  However, it is not preferable that the game ball B2 bitten in this way remains in the guide passage 320 indefinitely from the viewpoint of improving the crime prevention function. Specifically, as described above, in the present embodiment, the number of game balls that have flowed into the guide passage 320 is compared with the number of game balls that have flowed out of the guide passage 320, thereby remaining games in the guide passage 320. By grasping the number of balls, it is possible to suppress an illegal act such as intentionally reciprocating a game ball in the guide passage 320. For this reason, it is not preferable that the game ball remains in the guide passage 320 as described above because it may hinder the improvement of the reliability of the crime prevention function.

  In this respect, in the present embodiment, as described above, the switching member 341 is displaced so as to pass through the area where the game ball cannot flow down. There is no gaming ball between the lower edge of the opening 337). That is, there is nothing that prevents the switching member 341 from returning from the state in which the game ball B2 is bitten to the non-induction state. For this reason, the guide inclined surface 343 moves to the side away from the standing wall portion 332 by rotating the switching member 341 so as to be switched to the non-induction state. Thereby, the clearance gap between the guidance inclined surface 343 and the standing wall part 332 expands, and the game ball B2 sandwiched between them flows into the downstream part 322L of the first downstream passage 322.

  Since the game ball B2 whose flow has been stopped as described above passes through the side of the opening 335 and misses the opportunity to flow into the second downstream passage 323, the game ball flows into the downstream portion 322L. In this way, the player or the hall manager will not suffer any disadvantages.

  Thus, even if a game ball is caught between the switching member 341 and the passage wall surface, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a clogged ball or the like caused by the game ball, thereby favorably distributing the guide passage 320. Can be secured.

  The housing case 353 is open to the passage forming unit 330 side, and the urging member 351, the switching member driving portion 352, and the like are housed therein. The drive unit 350 is screwed to the base unit 300 together with the passage forming unit 330, whereby the units 300, 330, and 350 are integrated. In this integrated state, the open part of the housing case 353 is covered with the passage forming unit 330 (specifically, the base 331), and the switching member drive unit from the outside of the right variable ball entry device 83 is provided. Access to 352 and the switching member 341 becomes difficult. In addition, as already described, the guide passage 320 is also sandwiched between the base unit 300 and the drive unit 350, thereby preventing the right variable pitching device 83 from being exposed to the outside. Unauthorized access to the passage 320 is suppressed.

  A vibration sensor 355 is attached to the back side of the housing case 353 so as to protrude rearward of the gaming machine. The vibration sensor 355 can detect vibration generated (applied) in the right variable ball entry device 83.

  As described above, in the configuration in which a difference in advantage and disadvantage occurs in the subsequent game progress depending on which of the first detection area DE1 and the second detection area DE2 the game ball flowing into the guide passage 320 reaches, the pachinko machine 10 is It is assumed that an act of changing the moving destination of the game ball is performed by hitting or shaking. In this regard, in the present embodiment, by arranging the vibration sensor 355 in the right variable ball entry device 83, when such an action is performed, this can be easily grasped.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in addition to the above-described protection function against vibration and the like, a protection function against magnetism such as a magnet is provided to enhance the crime prevention in the pachinko machine 10. Specifically, in the game area PE, a plurality of magnetic sensors are arranged along the flow path of the game ball, and each of these magnetic sensors monitors whether an illegal act using a magnet or the like is performed. It is possible.

  In particular, in the right variable pitching device 83, as described above, there is a difference between advantages and disadvantages depending on the timing of entering the game ball, etc. As described above, the inflow timing of the game ball to the right big winning opening 302 by the magnet or the downstream side It is not preferable that the game ball is arbitrarily distributed to the respective downstream passages 322 and 323 by adjusting the inflow timing to the passage 322. Therefore, at least one of the above magnetic sensors is arranged around the right variable pitching device 83 and employs a configuration for monitoring the use of a magnet or the like around the right variable pitching device 83.

<Electric configuration of pachinko machine 10>
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.

  An MPU 602 is mounted on a main control board 601 provided in the main controller 162. The MPU 602 includes a ROM 603 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 602 and fixed value data, and a memory that temporarily stores various data when the control program stored in the ROM 603 is executed. It is an element incorporating a RAM 604, an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, a data input / output circuit, various counter circuits as a random number generator, and the like. Note that a part of the functions of the MPU 602, for example, the function of the ROM 603 and the function of the RAM 604 may be included as another element.

  The MPU 602 is provided with an input port and an output port. On the input side of the MPU 602, a power failure monitoring board 605 provided in the main controller 162, a payout controller 242 and various detection sensors (for example, a ball detection sensor and a position detection sensor) are connected. The power failure monitoring board 605 is connected to a power source / emission control device 243, and power is supplied to the MPU 602 via the power failure monitoring board 605.

  As an example of the entrance detection sensor constituting the sensor group, a general winning opening 81, a lower variable entrance device 82, a right variable entrance device 83, a lower operation entrance portion 84, a right operation entrance portion 85, and a through. A plurality of detection sensors (for example, detection sensors 305, 325, 326) provided in a winning-corresponding pitching portion (payout-corresponding pitching portion) such as the gate 86 are connected, and each pitch is entered in the MPU 602 of the main controller 162. A winning determination (entrance determination) to the club is performed. The MPU 602 executes a lottery for winning a special jackpot or special hit based on winning in the lower operating ball entering portion 84 and the right operating ball entering portion 85, and executes a support generating lottery based on winning in the through gate 86. .

  Further, as an example of the position detection sensor constituting the sensor group, an opening detection sensor 79 for the front door frame 14 and an opening detection sensor for the gaming machine main part 12 (inner frame 13) are connected, and the main control device 162 is connected. In the MPU 602, an open determination is made based on detection signals from these open detection sensors. Furthermore, the opening / closing door 303 and the position detection sensors 311 and 354 for the switching member 341 in the right variable pitching device 83 are connected, and the MPU 602 of the main control device 162 is based on detection signals from these position detection sensors. Then, operation judgment (monitoring of malfunction) is performed.

  In addition, about the said various sensors connected to the main controller 162, the presence or absence of a disconnection is confirmed by the main controller 162 when power is turned on in the gaming machine, and if it is determined that there is a possibility of disconnection, A notification to that effect is executed.

  On the output side of the MPU 602, a power failure monitoring board 605, a payout controller 242 and an audio lamp controller 143 (specifically, an audio lamp controller board 651) are connected. For example, a payout ball command is output to the payout control device 242 based on a winning determination result to the winning corresponding winning portion. In this case, the command information storage area 625 of the ROM 603 is referred to when a prize ball command is output. When a winning to the general winning opening 81 is specified, a winning ball command corresponding to paying out 10 game balls is output, and when a winning to the variable pitching devices 82 and 83 is specified, When a prize ball command corresponding to the payout of 15 game balls is output and a winning to the lower operation ball entering portion 84 is specified, a prize ball command corresponding to the payout of three game balls is output. When the winning to the right operation ball entering portion 85 is specified, a winning ball command corresponding to the payout of four game balls is output.

  Various commands such as a change command, a type command, a change end command, an opening command, and an ending command are output to the sound lamp control device 143. In this case, the command information storage area 625 of the ROM 603 is referred to when these various commands are output. Details of these various commands will be described later. Each command is configured as information of a predetermined number of bytes, and various information is included as information of the predetermined number of bytes.

  Further, on the output side of the MPU 602, there are a variable ball driving unit 93b of the lower variable ball driving device 82, a variable ball driving unit 304 for the right variable ball driving device 83, a driving unit 352 for the switching member 341, and a right operation. A drive part 91b for an electric accessory that opens and closes the electric accessory 91 of the entrance part 85 and a main display unit 87 are connected. The main control board 601 is provided with various driver circuits, and the MPU 602 executes drive control of various drive units through the driver circuits.

  That is, in the opening / closing execution mode, the MPU 602 executes drive control of the variable ball driving unit 93b so that the open / close door 93a of the lower variable ball pitching device 82 is opened and closed. In addition, in the case where the electrified combination 91 is won, the MPU 602 executes drive control of the drive unit 91b for the electrified instrument so that the electrified instrument 91 is opened and closed. In each game round, the MPU 602 executes light emission control of the main display portion D.

  The power failure monitoring board 605 relays between the main control board 601 and the power / fire control device 243, and monitors the DC stable voltage of 24 volts, which is the maximum voltage output from the power / fire control device 243. The payout control device 242 controls payout of prize balls and rental balls by the payout device 224 based on the prize ball command input from the main control device 162.

  The power / launch control device 243 is connected to, for example, a commercial power source (external power source) in a game hall or the like. Based on external power supplied from the commercial power supply, necessary operating power is generated for each of the main control board 601, the payout control device 242, and the like, and the generated operating power is supplied through a predetermined power path. To do. The power supply / launch control device 243 is responsible for launch control of the game ball launch mechanism 110, and the game ball launch mechanism 110 (specifically, the solenoid 111) is driven when predetermined launch conditions are met.

  The sound lamp control device 143 drives and controls the various lamp units 26 to 28 and the speaker unit 29 provided on the front door frame 14 and controls the display control device 725 based on various commands input from the main control device 162. To do.

  The sound lamp control board 651 controls the various lamp units 26 to 28, the speaker unit 29, and the display control device 725 based on various commands input from the main control device 162. The MPU 661, which is an arithmetic unit, includes a ROM 662 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 661, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 663 that is used as a work memory or the like.

The display control device 725 executes display control of the symbol display device 96 based on the command input from the sound lamp control device 143. In this case, the voice lamp control device 143 determines the symbol variation display time in the symbol display device 96 and the type of symbol combination to be finally stopped and displayed based on various commands input from the main control device 162. The presence or absence of reach and the contents of reach production are determined.
<About various counters>
Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 configured as described above will be described.

  The MPU 602 uses various counter information in the game to generate a jackpot or special winning lottery, display setting of the main display unit D (that is, setting of the light emission mode of the main display board 310), setting of symbol display of the symbol display device 96, etc. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, it is used when determining whether or not there is a hit random number counter C1 used for lottery for generating big wins or special wins and a high-frequency support mode described later. In the hit type counter C2, the random number initial value counter CINI used for setting the initial value of the hit random number counter C1, the lower working port display unit DL, the right working port display unit DR, and the symbol display device 96 in the main display unit D The variation type counter CS that determines the variation display time is used. Furthermore, the electric accessory release counter C3 used for the lottery for determining whether or not the electric accessory 91 of the right operation entering ball portion 85 is in the electric utility open state is used.

  Each of the counters C1 to C3, CINI, and CS is a loop counter that adds 1 to the previous value each time it is updated, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a lottery counter buffer 631 set in a predetermined area of the RAM 604. The RAM 604 is provided with a reserved ball storage area 632 including a first result display area reservation area Ra, a second result display area reservation area Rb, an execution area AE, and a total reservation number storage area. In the reserved ball storage area 632, the values of the winning random number counter C1 and the winning type counter C2 are time-sequentially matched to the winning history of the game balls to the lower operating ball entering portion 84 or the right operating ball entering portion 85. It is designed to be stored.

  Specifically, each counter is configured so that the hit random number counter C1 is incremented by 1 in the range of, for example, 0 to 599, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. In particular, when the winning random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the initial random number counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the winning random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the winning random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 599). The hit random number counter C1 is periodically updated and stored in the reserved ball storage area 632 of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball wins the lower operation ball entering portion 84 or the right operation ball entering portion 85. More specifically, the game ball is stored in the first result display holding area Ra of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball is won in the lower operation ball entering portion 84, and the game sphere is won in the right operation ball entry portion 85 at the timing when the game ball is won. It is stored in the second result display area reservation area Rb.

  The value of the random number for winning is stored as a success / failure table (availability information group) in a success / failure table storage area 621 as a success / failure information group storage means in the ROM 603. Here, the contents of the success / failure table will be described.

<Attack table>
As the success / failure table, two types are set in association with each of the operation entrance parts 84 and 85 individually. In other words, the winning table for the lower working port (the lower working port winning / failing information group) and the winning for the right working ball entering portion 85 that are referred to when the winning to the lower working ball entering portion 84 occurs. A right operation port success / failure table (right operation port success / failure information group) referred to in this case is set.

  In the gaming state in which the winning / failing table for the lower working port is referred to at the time of the lottery, the random number values (that is, winning information) for winning the jackpot are two, “7” and “307”. That is, among the values of the hit random number counter C1 of “0 to 599”, “7” and “307” correspond to the jackpot result, and the others correspond to the outlier result.

  On the other hand, in the gaming situation in which the winning table for the right working port is referred to at the time of the lottery, the random value (that is, the winning information) for winning the big hit is the same as the winning table for the lower working port. “7” and “307”. Further, among the values of the random number counter C1 of “0 to 599”, “51 to 60”, “151 to 160”,..., “551 to 560” correspond to the special winning results, and other than that Corresponds to outliers.

  Here, the difference between the jackpot result and the special hit result will be described. When the big win result is obtained by the lottery based on the winning to each of the activated ball entering portions 84 and 85, the lower variable ball entering device 82 is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode. On the other hand, if a special winning result is obtained by the lottery, the lower variable pitching device 82 is not immediately shifted to the opening / closing execution mode, but is given the right to perform another lottery again. By winning the lottery, similarly to the case of the jackpot result, the lower variable pitching device 82 is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode.

  Specifically, when a special hit result is obtained, first, the right variable pitching device 83 is shifted to an open state. At that time, the winning is determined when the game ball that has won the right big winning opening 83a flows into the second downstream passage 323 out of both the downstream passages 322 and 323, and the lower variable pitching device 82 is opened and closed. Transition to mode. In other words, when a special win is won, a result similar to that of the big win is given to the player when the ball enters the second downstream passage 323. Note that the second downstream passage 323 can also be referred to as an “advantageous entry ball portion 323” when attention is paid to the fact that the hit is determined by entering the second downstream passage 323.

  Next, the win type counter C2 will be described. The hit type counter C2 is incremented by 1 within the range of 0 to 29, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The hit type counter C <b> 2 is periodically updated and stored in the reserved ball storage area 632 of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball wins the lower operation ball entry portion 84 or the right operation ball entry portion 85. More specifically, the game ball is stored in the first result display holding area Ra of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball is won in the lower operation ball entering portion 84, and the game sphere is won in the right operation ball entry portion 85 at the timing when the game ball is won. It is stored in the second result display area reservation area Rb.

  The game result distribution destination for the win type counter C2 is stored as a distribution table (distribution information group) in a distribution table storage area 622 as a distribution information group storage unit in the ROM 603. Here, the contents of the distribution table will be described.

<Distribution table>
Two types of sorting tables are set in association with each of the actuated ball entering portions 84 and 85 individually. In other words, the lower working port sorting table (lower working port sorting information group) and the right working ball entering portion 85 that are referred to when a prize is awarded to the lower working ball entering portion 84 are received. The distribution table for the right working port (right working port sorting information group) that is referred to when it occurs is set individually.

  With reference to these distribution tables, the support mode is distributed in the electric accessory 91 of the right-hand acted ball entering portion 85 after the opening / closing execution mode ends.

  As a support mode in the electric working component 91 of the right working entrance 85, when compared with a situation in which the game ball is continuously fired in the same manner with respect to the game area PE, The low frequency support mode (low frequency support state or low frequency guide state) and the high frequency support mode (high frequency support state or High frequency guide state) is set.

  Specifically, in the low-frequency support mode and the high-frequency support mode, the probability of winning the power combination open state in the electric combination release lottery using the electric combination release counter C3 is the same (for example, both 4/5) However, in the high frequency support mode, the number of times that the electric utility item 91 is opened is set more frequently than in the low frequency support mode. The time is set longer. In this case, in the high frequency support mode, when the electrified open state is selected and the open state of the electric utility item 91 occurs a plurality of times, the closed state from the end of one open state until the next open state is started The time is set shorter than one opening time. Furthermore, in the high frequency support mode, the minimum secured time is set shorter when the next electric character opening lottery is performed after one electric character opening lottery is performed than in the low frequency support mode. Has been.

  As described above, in the high-frequency support mode, the probability that a winning to the right-hand acted ball entering portion 85 occurs is higher than in the low-frequency support mode. In other words, in the low frequency support mode, there is a higher probability of winning the lower operation ball entry portion 84 than in the right operation ball entry portion 85, but in the high frequency support mode, the lower operation ball entry portion 84. As a result, the probability that a winning to the right-hand acted ball entering portion 85 will occur becomes higher. When a winning to the right-hand actuated pitching portion 85 occurs, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out. Therefore, in the high frequency support mode, the player plays the game while not reducing the number of possessed balls so much. It can be performed.

  The configuration for increasing the frequency at which the high frequency support mode is set to the power release state per unit time as compared with the low frequency support mode is not limited to the above-described configuration, for example, the electric component release lottery It is good also as a structure which raises the probability of becoming electrified in the electric character open state in Furthermore, the number of times of opening is increased, the opening time is lengthened, and the minimum secured time is secured when the next electric character opening lottery is performed after one electric character releasing lottery is performed. By applying any one condition or any combination of conditions (in other words, shortening one fluctuation display time in the through gate display section DS) and increasing the winning probability, the low frequency support mode is applied. The advantage of the high frequency support mode may be increased.

  However, the high-frequency support mode shifts to the low-frequency support mode when the number of games reaches the end reference number (specifically, 100 times) after the shift.

  In the pachinko machine 10, the distribution mode to the low-frequency support mode and the high-frequency support mode in the case of a big hit result or a special win result is a win based on winning in the lower operation ball entering portion 84. And the case where the winning combination is based on winning in the right-hand actuated entry portion 85.

  Specifically, in the gaming state in which the lower work opening success / failure table is referred to at the time of the allocation, the random number value (that is, the winning information) for winning the high frequency support mode is “0 to 14”. It is 15 pieces. On the other hand, under the gaming situation in which the distribution table for the right working port is referred to at the time of the distribution, the random number value (that is, the winning information) for winning the high-frequency support mode is 25 of “0-24”. It is a piece. In other words, if a big win is won by winning the lower operating ball 84, it is assigned to the high frequency support mode with a probability of 1/2, and a big win or special win is won by winning the right operating ball 85. In this case, the high frequency support mode is assigned with a probability of 5/6.

  In addition, when it becomes a losing result in the success / failure lottery, it does not shift to the opening / closing execution mode, and the change of the support mode does not occur.

  The variation type counter CS is, for example, incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 198, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The variation type counter CS determines in the MPU 602 the variation display time in the lower working port display unit DL and the right working port display unit DR and the symbol variation display time in the symbol display device 96 in the main display unit 87. Used. The variation type counter CS is updated once every time a normal process to be described later is executed once, and is repeatedly updated even within the remaining time in the normal process. Then, the buffer value of the variation type counter CS is acquired when the variation pattern is determined at the start of variation display in the lower working port display unit DL and the right working port display unit DR and at the time of symbol variation start by the symbol display device 96. .

  The electric accessory release counter C3 is, for example, configured to increment one by one within a range of 0 to 249 and return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The electric accessory release counter C <b> 3 is periodically updated, and is stored in the electric accessory reservation area 633 of the RAM 604 at the timing when a game ball wins the through gate 86. Then, at a predetermined timing, a lottery is performed as to whether or not the electric accessory 91 is controlled to be in an open state based on the stored value of the electric accessory release counter C3. For example, if C3 = 0 to 199, the electric accessory 91 is controlled to the open state, and if C3 = 200 to 249, the electric accessory 91 is not controlled to the open state.

  As described above, the MPU 602 determines the variation display time in the lower working port display unit DL and the right working port display unit DR using at least the buffer value of the variation type counter CS. The variable display time table storage area of the ROM 603 is used. In addition, the MPU 602 determines the stop result in the lower working port display unit DL and the right working port display unit DR using the value of the hit random number counter C1 and the value of the hit type counter C2 stored in the execution area AE. However, the stop result table storage area 624 of the ROM 603 is used for the determination.

<Various processes executed by the MPU 602 of the main control board 601>
Next, each control process executed by the MPU 602 of the main control board 601 will be described. The processing of the MPU 602 is roughly classified into a normal processing that is started when the power is turned on and a timer interrupt processing that is started by periodically interrupting the normal processing. For convenience of explanation, the timer interrupt processing is first described. Thereafter, the normal process will be described. The MPU 602 is activated by inputting a power interruption signal to the NMI terminal (non-maskable terminal) in addition to the timer interrupt process and the normal process, and a power interruption flag storage area (power interruption information storage in the various flag storage areas of the RAM 604). NMI interrupt processing for storing a power interruption flag (power interruption information) in the means) is executed, but a detailed description of the processing is omitted.
<Timer interrupt processing>
First, timer interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is started periodically by the MPU 602 (for example, at a cycle of 2 msec).

  In step S101, various detection sensor reading processes are executed. That is, the status of various detection sensors connected to the main control device 162 is read, and the status of the detection sensors is determined and the detection information (winning detection information) is stored.

  For example, the state of the upstream detection sensor 305 disposed in the right variable pitching device 83 is read, the state of the detection sensor 305 is determined, the detection information (winning detection information) is stored, and the downstream detection sensor 325 is stored. The state of 326 is read, the state of the detection sensors 325 and 326 is determined, and the detection information (winning detection information) is stored.

  Thereafter, in step S102, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated. Specifically, the random number initial value counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value. Then, the update value of the random number initial value counter CINI is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 604.

  In the subsequent step S103, the winning random number counter C1, the hit type counter C2, and the electric accessory release counter C3 are updated. Specifically, the hit random number counter C1, the hit type counter C2, and the electric accessory release counter C3 are each incremented by 1, and are cleared to 0 when the counter values reach the maximum value. Then, the updated values of the counters C1 to C3 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 604.

In a succeeding step S104, a through winning process for winning through the through gate 86 is executed.
<Winning winning process>
In the through winning process, it is determined whether or not the game ball has won the through gate 86 based on the read result in step S101. When it is determined that the game ball has won the through gate 86, it is determined whether or not the accessory reservation storage number SN is less than the upper limit value (4 in the present embodiment).

  When it is determined that no game ball has been won in the through gate 86 or when the value of the stored item reservation memory number SN is determined to be greater than or equal to the upper limit value, the value of the electric accessory release counter C3 is not stored. The winning process is terminated.

  On the other hand, on the condition that the game ball wins the through gate 86 and that the accessory reservation storage number SN <4, the accessory reservation storage number SN is incremented by one. Thereafter, the updated value of the electric accessory release counter C3 is stored in the first area of the free storage area of the electric utility reservation area 633 of the RAM 604, and the winning process is completed.

  It should be noted that in the through winning process, a process for turning on the hold number display section DH is executed. The light emitters corresponding to the number-of-holds display section DH are sequentially turned on in accordance with the number of stored items stored.

  After the through winning process is executed in step S104, a winning process for the operation opening associated with winning in the operating balls 84 and 85 is executed in step S105.

<Winning process for working port>
In the winning process for the operation opening, first, the detection sensor for the lower operation entry part 84 detects whether or not the game ball has won (starting prize) in the lower operation entry part 84 (lower operation opening 84a). Judge by state. If it is determined that the game ball has won the lower operation opening 84a, a prize ball command for causing the payout device 224 to pay out three game balls is set.

  Thereafter, an external signal setting process is performed to output a signal to the management control device on the game hall side that the game ball has won the lower operation port 84a, and the number of reservations in the lower operation ball holding unit reservation area Ra is stored. The value stored in the area is read out, and the starting reserved memory number that is reserved and stored in the lower working ball holding area Ra is set (hereinafter also referred to as the lower working ball holding memory number).

  The lighting process of the lower operation hold number display portion HL of the main display portion D is executed in correspondence with the changed start hold storage number. Specifically, among the four LEDs arranged side by side in the lower operation hold number display portion HL, the number of LEDs corresponding to the current number of winnings is turned on. Thereafter, an information acquisition process for storing each value of the winning random number counter C1, the winning type counter C2, and the electric accessory release counter C3 is performed, and the main winning process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the game ball has not won the lower operation ball entry portion 84, whether or not the game ball has won the right operation ball entry portion 85 (right operation port 85a) is determined (start winning). The determination is made based on the detection state of the detection sensor for the right operation entrance portion 85 (right operation port 85a). If it is determined that the game ball has won the right operation opening 85a, a prize ball command for causing the payout device 224 to pay out four game balls is set.

  Thereafter, an external signal setting process is performed to output a signal to the management control device on the game hall side that the game ball has won the right operation opening 85a, and the retention number storage area in the right operation ball holding section reservation area Rb is stored. The stored value is read out, and the starting reserved memory number stored in the right-hand actuated entry holding area Rb is set (hereinafter, also referred to as the right-acting actuated entry reserved storage number).

  The lighting process of the right operation hold number display portion HR of the main display portion D is executed in correspondence with the changed start hold storage number. Specifically, among the four LEDs arranged side by side in the right operation hold number display section HR, the number of LEDs corresponding to the current number of winnings is turned on. Thereafter, the same process as the information acquisition process described above is performed, and the main winning process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the game ball has not won any of the lower operating port 84a and the right operating port 85a, the main winning process is terminated. Note that the winning ball command set in the winning process for the working port is transmitted to the payout control device 242 in the external output process S201 of the normal process described later.

  After performing the winning process for the operating port in step S105, the timer interrupt process is terminated after performing the winning process for the right large winning port in step S106.

<Winning process for the right-hand side winning prize exit>
The right variable pitching device 83 in the present embodiment is normally in a closed state in which it is not possible to enter the ball, and is switched to an open state in which the ball is allowed to enter when a special hit occurs. Although the details will be described later, a period in which a ball is assumed to be generated by switching from the closed state to the open state to the closed state is set in advance. Sphere), and game balls are not paid out for incoming balls outside the same period. That is, in the right variable pitching device 83, an effective period for determining whether or not a prize ball is allowed is set.

  In the winning process for the right big prize opening, first, it is determined whether or not the game ball payout (prize ball) based on the winning to the right variable pitching device 83 (right big prize opening 302) is valid. To do. If it is during the valid period, the presence / absence of a winning is determined based on the winning determination result based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 (the determination result in step S101). If it is determined that the game ball has won the right variable pitching device 83 (right large winning opening 302), a prize ball command for causing the payout device 224 to pay out 10 game balls is set. Note that the winning ball command set in the winning process for the right-hand large winning opening is transmitted to the payout control device 242 in the external output process S201 of the normal process described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not during the effective period, or when it is determined that no winning has occurred even during the effective period, the winning process of the right variable pitching unit is terminated.

<Normal processing>
Next, the flow of normal processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The normal process is a process that is started after the main process that is activated when the power is turned on, and the main process of the game is executed in the normal process. As an outline, the processing of steps S201 to S207 is executed as a periodic processing with a period of 4 msec, and the counter update processing of steps S209 and S210 is executed with the remaining time.

  In the normal process, in step S201, output data such as a command set in the timer interrupt process or the previous normal process is transmitted to each control device on the sub side. Specifically, the presence or absence of a prize ball command is determined, and if a prize ball command is set, it is transmitted to the payout control device 242. Further, when a predetermined effect command or notification command is set, the command is transmitted to the audio lamp control device 143. When flags for outputting information to the hall computer are stored, information corresponding to the flags is transmitted to the hall computer via the external terminal board 213.

  Next, in step S202, an abnormality monitoring process is performed to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine based on signals from various monitoring sensors such as a magnetic sensor, an opening detection sensor 79, and various detection sensors 305, 325, and 326. To do. A detailed description of the abnormality monitoring process will be described later.

  Next, in step S203, the variation type counter CS is updated. Specifically, the variation type counter CS is incremented by 1, and the counter value is cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value. Then, the update value of the variation type counter CS is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 604.

  In subsequent step S204, a game time control process for controlling a game in each game time is executed. In this game times control process, jackpot determination or special hit determination is performed, symbol variation display setting by the symbol display device 96, display control of the display units DL and DR on the variable display side, and the like are performed.

  Thereafter, in step S205, a game state transition process for shifting the game state is executed. Although details will be described later, the gaming state shifts to an opening / closing execution mode, a high frequency support mode, or the like by this gaming state transition processing.

  In step S <b> 206, an electric combination support process for driving and controlling the electric combination 91 provided in the right operation entrance portion 85 is executed. In this electric combination support process, it is determined whether or not the electric combination 91 is in an open state, display control of the through gate display unit DS, and the like.

  Thereafter, in step S207, a game ball launch control process is executed. In the game ball launch control process, a predetermined period (for example, 0.6 sec) is set on condition that the launch permission signal is input from the power source / launch control device 243 and that launch regulation based on occurrence of an abnormality is not being executed. Once, the solenoid 111 of the game ball launching mechanism 110 is excited. Thereby, the game ball is launched toward the game area.

  In subsequent step S208, it is determined whether or not the execution timing of the next normal process has been reached, that is, whether or not a predetermined time (4 msec in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the previous normal process. Then, the random number initial value counter CINI and the variation type counter CS are repeatedly updated within the remaining time until the next normal processing execution timing.

  That is, in step S209, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated. Specifically, the random number initial value counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value. Then, the update value of the random number initial value counter CINI is stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 604. In step S210, the variation type counter CS is updated. Specifically, the variation type counter CS is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter values reach the maximum value. Then, the update value of the variation type counter CS is stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 604.

  Here, since the execution time of each process of steps S201 to S207 changes according to the state of the game, the remaining time until the execution timing of the next normal process is not constant and varies. Therefore, by repeatedly executing the update of the random number initial value counter CINI using the remaining time, the random number initial value counter CINI (that is, the initial value of the hit random number counter C1) can be updated at random. The variation type counter CS can also be updated at random.

<Game state transition processing>
Next, the gaming state transition processing in step S205 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step S301, it is determined whether or not the open / close execution mode corresponding to the big hit result or the special hit result is in effect. If it is not in the opening / closing execution mode corresponding to the big hit result or the special hit result, the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, it is determined whether or not the lottery result determination mode corresponding to the special winning result is in progress. That is, it is determined whether or not the lottery result based on the winning to the right-hand acted ball entering portion 85 becomes a special winning result, and the mode is switched to a mode in which the inflow of game balls to the right variable ball-entering device 83 is allowed.

  In each of step S301 and step S302, the determination is made based on whether or not the flags corresponding to the opening / closing execution mode flag storage area and the lottery result determination mode flag storage area provided in the various flag storage areas 635 are set. The lottery result determination mode flag is stored in the flag storage area by winning a special winning when a lottery based on winning in the right-hand side actuating ball portion 85 is performed.

  If it is determined in step S302 that the lottery result determination mode corresponding to the special winning result is in progress, the process proceeds to a special winning transition process in step S303.

<Migration processing for special bonus>
Here, the special winning transition process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the special winning transition process, first, in step S401, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer counter T1 stored in the various counter areas 634 of the RAM 604 is “0”. The timer counter T1 is a counter used for measuring the operation period (opening period) in the right variable pitching device 83 and the above-described winning effective period.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S401, that is, when it is the transition timing to the lottery result determination mode, the process proceeds to step S402, and the switching member 341 is switched from the non-guided state to the guided state. Specifically, by starting the output of the drive signal to the drive unit 352 and exciting the drive unit 352, the movable piece of the drive unit 352 is displaced against the urging force of the urging member 351, and the switching member 341 is switched from the non-inductive state to the inductive state. This disables the inflow of game balls to the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream passage 322 and allows the game balls to be guided to the second downstream passage 323.

  After executing the driving process in step S402, the process proceeds to step S403, and "1750: (corresponding to 7 sec)" is set in the timer counter T1. After completing the setting process of the timer counter T1, the process proceeds to step S404, and the opening process of the right variable pitching device 83 is executed. In the opening process of the right variable pitching device, a drive signal is output to the variable pitching driving unit 304 to open the right large winning opening 302, and the variable pitching driving unit 304 is brought into an excited state. Thereby, the open / close door 303 covering the right large winning opening 302 is switched from the closed state to the open state. In the process of step S404, the confirmation mode start command transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143 in the external output process (step S501) is set. In the sound lamp control device 143, based on the received confirmation mode start command, the effect when the right variable pitching device 83 is open in the lottery result confirmation execution mode corresponding to the special winning result is determined and determined. Various devices are controlled so that the contents of the performance are executed.

  After executing the release process in step S404, the remaining ball monitoring process flag is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 in the subsequent step S405, and then the special winning transition process is terminated. The remaining sphere monitoring process described later is validated by the remaining sphere monitoring process flag stored in step S405.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S401, that is, if the value of the timer counter T1 is not “0”, the process proceeds to step S406, and the timer counter T1 is updated. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the timer counter T1.

  After executing the update process of the timer counter T1 in step S405, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer counter T1 is “1500” in the subsequent step S407. If an affirmative determination is made in step S407, the process proceeds to step S408, and a switching member return process is executed. Specifically, the output of the drive signal to the drive unit 352 of the switching member 341 is stopped. As a result, the drive unit 352 switches from the excited state to the non-excited state, and the switching member 341 returns to the non-inductive state by the biasing force of the biasing member 351. Thereby, the inflow of the game ball to the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream side passage 322 is allowed, and the inflow of the game ball to the second downstream side passage 323 becomes impossible, and the right variable pitching device 83 at a later timing. The game ball that has flowed into the first portion is guided to the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream passage 322.

  That is, in this special winning transition process, the value of the timer counter T1 is decremented by “1” each time a negative determination is made in step S401, and the transition timing of the lottery result determination mode (that is, the opening timing of the door 303). ), The game ball cannot be guided to the second downstream passage 323 at the timing when approximately 1 sec has elapsed.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S407, the process proceeds to step S409 to determine whether or not the value of the timer counter T1 is “1250”. If an affirmative determination is made in step S409, the process proceeds to step S410, and the closing process of the right variable ball entry device 83 is executed. Specifically, the drive signal output to the variable ball driving unit 304 is stopped to close the right large winning opening 302, and the variable ball driving unit 304 is brought into a non-excited state. As a result, the open / close door 303 is switched from the open state to the closed state, and subsequent entry into the right variable entry device 83 (the right big prize opening 302) becomes impossible.

  If a negative determination is made in step S409, the process proceeds to step S411 to determine whether or not the value of the timer counter T1 is “0”. That is, it is determined whether or not 5 seconds have elapsed since the closing timing of the right variable pitching device 83. When a negative determination is made in step S411 or after the processing of steps S408 and S410 is executed, it is still a period during which the winning of the game ball to the advantageous ball-entry unit 323 is still valid, and step S412 It is determined whether or not a winning to the advantageous ball portion 323 has occurred. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the downstream second detection sensor 326 provided in the right variable pitching device 83 has detected a pitch in the reading process in step S101 in the timer interrupt process described above.

  If a negative determination is made in step S412, that is, if no winning has been made for the advantageous pitching portion 323, the special winning transition process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S412, that is, if it is determined that there is a winning in the advantageous pitching portion 323, after executing the opening / closing execution mode setting process corresponding to the lower variable pitching device 82 in step S413. Then, the migration process for this special hit is completed.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S411, the lottery result determination mode flag is deleted in step S414. As a result, when the next normal process is executed, a negative determination is made in step S302 in the game state transition process, and this special winning transition process is canceled until the next lottery result determination mode flag is stored.

  After executing the process of step S414, the specific valid period end flag is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 in the subsequent step S415, and the transition process for the special win is ended. The specific effective period end flag is referred to in the remaining sphere monitoring process described later, and the remaining sphere monitoring process ends based on the specific effective period end flag.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S411, a confirmation mode end command transmitted to the audio lamp control device 143 in the external output process (step S201) is set. The sound lamp control device 143 controls various devices so that the contents of the determined effect are executed based on the received confirmation mode end command. Specifically, when this process is executed, it means that the lottery result confirmation mode corresponding to the special winning result has ended, so an effect corresponding to the end of the lottery result fixing mode corresponding to the special winning result is executed. Is done. For example, a message such as “Retry!” Or “Lucky!” Is displayed on the symbol display device 96.

  Returning to the description of the game state transition process (FIG. 19), if it is determined in step S302 that the lottery result determination mode is not in effect, the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, it is determined whether or not it is the timing when the variable display in each display part DL, DR of one game time is finished. If it is not the timing when the variable display is finished, the gaming state transition process is finished as it is.

  If it is the end timing of the variable display, that is, the timing when the display units DL and DR are switched from the variable display to the stop display, it is determined in step S305 whether or not the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is restricted. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a transition restriction flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604. The transition restriction flag is a flag that is stored when occurrence of an abnormality is confirmed in the remaining ball monitoring process described later, and details thereof will be described later.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S305, that is, if the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is restricted, the gaming state transition process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S305, the process proceeds to step S306, and it is determined whether or not the game result of the current game round corresponds to the transition to the opening / closing execution mode. Specifically, it is determined whether an open / close execution mode flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604. If the flag is not stored, the gaming state transition process is terminated as it is.

  If the opening / closing execution mode flag is stored, “15” is set in the first round counter area RC1 in step S307. The first round counter area RC1 is a counter area for counting the number of times the lower large winning opening 82a of the lower variable pitching device 82 is opened.

  In a succeeding step S308, it is determined whether or not the current hit result corresponds to the high frequency support mode. If the hit result corresponds to the high frequency support mode, the high frequency is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604. Set the support mode flag.

  After executing the process of step S308, an opening command is set in step S309. The set opening command is transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143 in step S201 in the normal process (FIG. 18). This opening command includes information indicating whether the high-frequency winning mode or the low-frequency winning mode is set. The sound lamp control device 143 determines the contents of the effect corresponding to the opening / closing execution mode based on the received opening command, and controls various devices so that the determined contents of the effect are executed. In addition, the opening command is transmitted from the sound lamp control device 143 to the display control device 725, and the display control device 725 receives the opening command to display corresponding to the current opening / closing execution mode (for example, moving image display). Display control of the symbol display device 96 is performed. After executing the process of step S309, the gaming state transition process is terminated.

  When it is determined in step S301 that the open / close execution mode corresponding to the jackpot result or special hit result is being executed, the processing for the open / close execution mode corresponding to the jackpot result or special hit result in steps S310 to S315 is executed.

  First, in step S310, it is determined whether or not the waiting time for opening has elapsed. If the opening standby time has not elapsed, the gaming state transition process is terminated. If the opening standby time has elapsed, the lower variable winning device opening / closing process is executed in step S311.

  In the lower variable winning device opening / closing process, the variable ball driving unit 93b is driven on condition that the first round counter area RC1 is “1” or more when the lower large winning opening 82a is closed. The lower big prize opening 82a is opened by setting the state. In addition, when the lower big prize opening 82a is being opened, on condition that the opening limit time has passed since the lower big prize opening 82a is opened or the opening limit number has been won. The driving state of the variable ball driving unit 93b is stopped, and the lower large winning opening 82a is closed.

  After the lower variable winning device opening / closing process is executed in step S311, it is determined in subsequent step S312 whether or not the value of the first round counter area RC1 is “0”. If the value of the first round counter area RC1 is not “0”, the gaming state transition process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if the value of the first round counter area RC1 is “0”, the open / close execution mode flag is cleared in step S313.

  If the opening / closing execution mode flag is cleared in step S313, the process proceeds to step S314, and it is determined whether or not the high-frequency support mode flag is set. If the high frequency support mode flag is not set, the gaming state transition process is terminated as it is. If the high-frequency support mode flag is set, the process proceeds to step S315, where “100” is set in the game number counter provided in the RAM 604, and the gaming state transition process is terminated. When “100” is set in the game number counter, the game state is shifted to the high frequency support mode. However, the high-frequency support mode ends when the game times continue 100 times, and thereafter, the support mode shifts to the normal game state in which the low-frequency support mode is set. The number of high-frequency support continuations (restricted number of games) is not limited to 100 times, and may be 1 or more and less than 100 times, such as 10 times, 20 times, or 30 times, or 101 times or more. May be.

  Next, the abnormality monitoring process in step S202 of the normal process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

<Abnormality monitoring processing>
As shown in FIG. 21, in the abnormality monitoring process, it is monitored whether an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10 in each of the processes of steps S501 and S503, and if an abnormality has occurred, Various processes such as notifications defined in the above are executed. In particular, if it is determined in step S501 that an abnormality has occurred, information indicating that the remaining ball abnormality has been confirmed in the hall computer through the external terminal board 213 while performing notification to that effect through the voice lamp control device 143. Is output. Furthermore, the progress of the gaming machine is temporarily stopped until a predetermined release operation is performed. Such abnormality notification and regulation of game progress are released by detecting a release operation in step S502.

  If it is determined in step S503 that an abnormality has occurred, a notification to that effect is executed through the voice lamp control device 143, and the hall computer is confirmed to enter the ball outside the valid period through the external terminal board 213. Outputs information to that effect.

<Remaining sphere monitoring process>
Hereinafter, the remaining sphere monitoring process in step S501 will be described first with reference to FIG.

  In the remaining sphere monitoring process, it is determined in step S601 whether or not the remaining sphere monitoring process flag is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604. The remaining ball monitoring process flag is a flag stored in step S405 in the gaming state transition process (special winning transition process).

  If a negative determination is made in step S601, that is, if it is outside the effective period, the various processes in steps S602 to S616 in the remaining sphere monitoring process are canceled, and the remaining sphere monitoring is performed as it is without performing abnormality determination or the like. The process ends. On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S601, that is, within the specific effective period, the process proceeds to step S602.

  In step S602, it is determined whether it is the end timing of the specific effective period, that is, whether it is the end timing of the lottery result determination mode. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a specific effective period end flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604. The specific valid period end flag is a flag stored in step S415 when the value of the timer counter T1 becomes “0” in the gaming state transition process (special winning transition process).

  If a negative determination is made in step S602, the process proceeds to step S603 to determine whether or not it is during the first valid period. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer counter T1 is greater than “750”. If an affirmative determination is made in step S603, the process proceeds to step S604, and it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the upstream detection area DE0 based on the result of the reading process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S604, that is, if a ball has entered within the effective period, the comparison counter CC stored in the various counter areas 634 of the RAM 604 is updated in step S605. Specifically, “1” is added to the value of the comparison counter CC. The comparison counter CC compares the number of incoming game balls (the number of inflows) detected by the upstream detection sensor 305 and the number of incoming game balls (the number of discharges) detected by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326. This counter is used when the value is set to “10” as an initial value.

  After executing the update process of step S605 or when a negative determination is made in any of steps S603 and S604, the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the downstream first detection area DE1 based on the result of the reading process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above. If an affirmative determination is made in step S606, that is, if the game ball is discharged from the right variable pitching device 83 (guide passage 320), the comparison counter CC is updated in step S607. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the comparison counter CC.

  After executing the update process in step S607 or in the case of a negative determination in step S606, the process proceeds to step S608, and the second downstream side is determined based on the result of the read process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above. It is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the detection area DE2. If an affirmative determination is made in step S608, the comparison counter CC is updated in step S609. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the comparison counter CC. After performing the remaining number confirmation process shown in steps S603 to S609, the remaining sphere monitoring process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S602, that is, if the specific effective period end flag is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604, the determination processing in steps S610 to S616 is executed.

  In the determination process, first, in step S610, it is determined whether or not the value of the comparison counter CC has changed from the initial value. In the present embodiment, since the inflow of game balls from the midway position to the guide passage 320 is impossible, the number of game balls detected by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 is detected by the upstream detection sensor 305. It is assumed that it will not be larger than the number of played game balls. Therefore, specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the comparison counter CC is larger than the initial value “10”. In the comparison counter CC, the initial value is set to “10”, the upper limit value is “20”, and the lower limit value is “0”. These values are arbitrary.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S610, that is, when it is assumed that the game ball remains in the right variable pitching device 83 (guide passage 320) despite the completion of the lottery result determination mode, The process proceeds to step S611.

  In step S611, the abnormality detection flag is stored in the various flag storage area 635 of the RAM 604. The abnormality detection flag is a flag that is referred to when determining whether or not to cancel the monitoring in an out-of-period incoming ball monitoring process described later.

  In the subsequent step S612, an abnormality notification start command is set, and various flag storage areas 635 abnormality notification flags in the RAM 604 are stored. The abnormality notification start command is output to the sound lamp control device 143 in the external output process S201 of the normal process (see FIG. 18), and the sound lamp control device ends the lottery result confirmation mode when receiving the abnormality notification start command. An effect notification is executed by stopping an effect or the like indicating the above. Specifically, the error display lamp unit 27 is turned on and a warning sound indicating that an abnormality has occurred is output from the speaker unit 29. Further, a predetermined message (for example, “call an attendant”) is displayed on the display screen 96a of the symbol display device 96. Please display ").

  After the abnormality notification start command is set in step S612, the process proceeds to step S613, and the abnormality occurrence information transmission flag is stored in the various flag storage area 635 of the RAM 604. When this abnormality occurrence information transmission flag is stored, the right variable pitching device 83 (in spite of the completion of the lottery result confirmation mode in the external output process (step S201) of the normal process (see FIG. 15)) ( Information indicating that a game ball may remain in the guide passage 320) is output to the hall computer via the external terminal board 213.

  After storing the abnormality occurrence information transmission flag in step S613, the emission restriction flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 in step S614. When this launch restriction flag is stored, the launch of the game ball is restricted in the game ball launch control process (step S207) of the normal process (see FIG. 15). When this launch restriction flag is stored, even if the game ball launch handle 41 is operated, the game ball is not fired.

  After storing the firing restriction flag in step S614, the opening / closing execution mode transition restriction flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 in step S615. If the opening / closing execution mode transition restriction flag is stored, an affirmative determination is made in step S305 of the gaming state transition processing (see FIG. 19), and the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is temporarily restricted. Become. That is, when the remaining ball abnormality occurs, even if the winning is determined in the lottery result determination mode, the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is restricted.

  After executing various processes corresponding to the occurrence of abnormality in steps S611 to S615, or when a negative determination is made in step S610 (when no abnormality has occurred), the process proceeds to step S616, where various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 are stored. After erasing the remaining sphere monitoring process flag and the specific effective period end flag stored in, the remaining sphere monitoring process is terminated.

  When it is determined in the remaining ball monitoring process that a remaining ball abnormality has occurred, the gaming state is shifted to one corresponding to the occurrence of the abnormality by the various processes in steps S611 to S615. When returning from such a state to a normal gaming state, it is necessary to perform a specific release operation. Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 23, the abnormal state canceling process for returning the gaming state when the canceling operation is performed will be described.

<Abnormal state release processing>
In the abnormal state canceling process, it is first determined in step S701 whether or not abnormality notification is being executed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the abnormality notification flag is stored in various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S701, the process proceeds to step S702, where it is determined whether the front door frame 14 is open based on detection information from the open detection sensor 79.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S702, that is, when the front door frame 14 is opened, the process proceeds to step S703, and after the game ball firing restriction is started, that is, in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604, It is determined whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed since the firing restriction flag was stored. This predetermined period is set to be a period required for the game ball to substantially reach the right variable pitching device 83 after the game ball is stopped.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S703, that is, if there is no game ball upstream of the right variable pitching device 83, the process proceeds to step S704, where the right variable pitching device 83 is opened. Execute the process. Specifically, a driving signal is output to the variable pitch driving unit 304 of the right variable pitching device 83, and the driving unit 304 is excited to displace the open / close door 303 to the open position. As a result, the entry into the right variable entry device 83 is permitted.

  After performing the release process in step S704, or when a negative determination is made in step S703, the process proceeds to step S705. In step S705, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the downstream first detection area DE1 based on the result of the reading process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above. If a positive determination is made in step S705, the comparison counter CC is updated in step S706. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the comparison counter CC.

  After the subtraction process of the comparison counter CC is executed in step S706, or when a negative determination is made in step S705, the process proceeds to step S707. In step S707, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the downstream second detection area DE2 based on the result of the reading process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above. If an affirmative determination is made in step S707, the comparison counter CC is updated in step S708. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the comparison counter CC.

  After performing the subtraction process of the comparison counter CC in step S708, if a negative determination is made in any of steps S702, S705, and S707, the process proceeds to step S709. In step S709, it is determined whether or not the value of the comparison counter CC is smaller than “10”. That is, it is determined whether or not the number of game balls that is one more than the number of remaining balls has been discharged from the right variable pitching device 83 (guide passage 320).

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S709, that is, if the value of the comparison counter CC becomes “9” or less due to the inflow of the game ball into the right variable pitching device 83, an abnormality notification end command is issued in step S710. At the same time, the abnormality notification flag is deleted. The abnormality notification end command is output to the sound lamp control device 143 in the external output process (step S201) of the normal process (see FIG. 18), and the sound lamp control device 143 receives the abnormality notification end command. Then, the abnormality notification corresponding to the remaining sphere detection is terminated. Even when the abnormality notification corresponding to the remaining ball detection is finished in this way, in the situation where the front door frame 14 is opened, a notification corresponding to the opening of the front door frame 14 is issued. Will be executed.

  After the process of step S710 is executed or when a negative determination is made in step S709, the abnormal state canceling process is terminated.

  If a negative determination is made in step S701, that is, if the abnormality notification flag is not stored, the process proceeds to step S711, and various processes after completion of the abnormality notification are executed. Specifically, it is first determined in step S711 whether or not it is the timing when the first specific period has elapsed after completion of the abnormality notification, and if an affirmative determination is made in step S711, the right variable pitching device The closing process 83 is executed. Specifically, the output of the drive signal to the variable ball driving unit 304 is stopped. As a result, the variable ball driving unit 304 is de-energized, and the open / close door 303 is returned to the closed position by the biasing force. The supply of game balls to the right variable pitching device 83 is continued by ensuring a certain interval rather than immediately returning the right variable pitching device 83 to the closed state (initial state) after the abnormality notification ends. As a result, inconveniences such as fingers interfering with the opening / closing door 303 or preventing the opening / closing door 303 from returning to the initial state are less likely to occur.

  After performing the process of step S712 or when a negative determination is made in step S711, the process proceeds to step S713, and it is determined whether or not it is the timing when the second specific period has elapsed after the end of the abnormality notification. More specifically, after the closing process of the right variable pitching device 83 is executed, a sufficient period of time has passed for the game ball flowing in at the closing timing to reach the first detection area DE1 or the second detection area DE2. Determine whether or not.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S713, the process proceeds to step S714 to reset the value of the comparison counter CC. That is, the comparison counter CC is updated so that the value of the comparison counter CC becomes “10”.

  After the update process of the comparison counter CC is executed in step S714, the process proceeds to step S715. In step S715, the firing restriction flags stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604 are deleted. When the firing restriction flag is deleted, the firing restriction of the game ball corresponding to the remaining ball abnormality is canceled in the game ball launch control process S207 in the normal process (see FIG. 18). However, even when the firing restriction flag is deleted, the launch of the game ball is restricted based on the opening of the front door frame 14 in a situation where the front door frame 14 is opened. That is, cancellation of the release restriction of the game ball is set to cancel the abnormal state (elapse of the second specific period) and return the front door frame 14 to the closed position.

  In the following step S716, the abnormality detection flag stored in the various flag storage area 635 of the RAM 604 is deleted. By deleting the abnormality detection flag, the after-valid period monitoring process described later becomes effective.

  After each process of step S714 to step S716 is executed, or when a negative determination is made in step S713, it is determined in step S717 whether it is a timing to cancel the transition restriction to the opening / closing execution mode. The timing at which the transition restriction is released is measured using a release timer counter stored in the various counter areas 634 of the RAM 604, and a predetermined period elapses after the front door frame 14 returns to the closed position. When the abnormal state is released, the shift to the opening / closing execution mode is not immediately possible, but the shift is possible after the front door frame 14 returns to the closed position.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S717, the transition restriction flag stored in the various flag storage area 635 of the RAM 604 is erased, and then the abnormal state clearing process is terminated.

<Out-of-valid incoming ball monitoring process>
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 24, a description will be given of an out-of-valid entry ball monitoring process for monitoring an out-of-valid entry ball in the right variable entry device 83. In the in-ball monitoring process outside the effective period, the occurrence of entering the right-hand variable entry device 83 is monitored outside the period in which the remaining ball monitoring process is being executed, and if the entering ball is detected, Then, abnormality notification indicating that is executed.

  In the in-valid entry monitoring process, first, in step S801, it is determined whether or not an abnormality notification corresponding to an out-of-valid entry is being executed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the abnormality notification timer counter stored in the various counter areas 634 of the RAM 604 has changed from the initial value “0”. If an affirmative determination is made in step S801, the ball-out monitoring process outside the valid period is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S801, the process proceeds to step S802, and whether or not the lottery result determination mode corresponding to the special winning result is in effect, that is, whether or not the remaining ball monitoring process is being executed. Determine. If an affirmative determination is made in step S802, the valid period out-of-ball entering monitoring process is terminated. If a negative determination is made in step S802, the process advances to step S803 to determine whether or not an abnormality detection flag is stored in the various flag storage area 635 of the RAM 604.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S803, this valid period out-of-ball entering monitoring process is terminated. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S803, the process proceeds to step S804, and at least one of the detection areas DE0, DE1, DE2 is played based on the result of the reading process (step S101) in the timer interrupt process described above. It is determined whether or not the ball has passed. The various processes in steps S801 to S803 described above are execution conditions for executing the process in step S804.

  If a negative determination is made in step S804, that is, if the passing of the game ball is not confirmed in any of the detection areas DE0, DE1, DE2, it is determined that there is no entry outside the valid period, and this effective The out-of-period incoming ball monitoring process is terminated. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S804, that is, if a ball is entered outside the effective period, the process proceeds to step S805, where an out-of-period incoming ball corresponding abnormality notification command is set and the abnormality notification timer counter is set. A predetermined value (in this embodiment, “7500”: equivalent to 30 sec) is input. The out-of-period incoming ball corresponding abnormality notification command is output to the sound lamp control device 143 in the external signal output processing of the normal processing (see FIG. 18). After reception, notification that abnormality has occurred over a preset period (30 sec) is executed.

  After the process of step S805 is executed, in the subsequent step S806, the extra-period incoming ball correspondence information transmission flag is stored in the various flag storage areas 635 of the RAM 604, and the present extra-period extraneous ball monitoring process is terminated. If the out-of-period incoming ball correspondence information transmission flag is stored in step S805, in the external signal output process of the normal process (see FIG. 18), information corresponding to the abnormality (occurrence of out-of-period incoming ball) Is transmitted to the hall computer via the external terminal board 213.

<Monitoring mode switching as the game progresses>
Here, how the monitoring mode is switched as the game progresses will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 25 (a) shows the gaming state, FIG. 25 (b) shows the monitoring state of the remaining sphere, FIG. 25 (c) shows the monitoring state of the ball that has entered the effective period, and FIG. 25 (d) shows the abnormality notification. FIG. 25E shows whether or not a winning ball can be made by entering the right variable entry portion, and FIG. 25F shows the update of the comparison counter CC based on the detection result of the upstream detection sensor 305. FIG. 25 (g) shows the possibility of hitting determination based on the entry into the advantageous entry portion 323, and FIG. 25 (h) shows the comparison counter CC based on the detection results of the downstream side detection sensors 325, 326. 25 (i) shows the value of the comparison counter CC, FIG. 25 (j) shows the opening / closing mode of the opening / closing door 303, and FIG. 25 (k) shows the opening / closing mode of the front door frame 14. FIG. 25 (l) shows whether or not a game ball can be launched.

  When the result of the winning / losing lottery based on the entry to the right operation entering ball portion 85 is a special winning result, the lottery result confirmation mode is shifted to the timing of t1. The lottery payout based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 is allowed and the lottery based on the detection signal from the downstream second detection sensor 326 is triggered by the transition to the lottery result determination mode. The determination of the result will be allowed.

  Further, at the timing of t1, the opening / closing door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 is switched from the closed state to the open state, and the inflow of game balls to the right large winning opening 302 is permitted. At the same time, the monitoring of the remaining balls in the right variable pitching device 83 is validated, and the monitoring of the incoming balls outside the valid period is invalidated. By enabling the monitoring of the remaining sphere, the comparison counter CC using the detection sensors 305, 325, and 326 is allowed to be updated.

  Thereafter, when a plurality of balls are generated during a period in which the winning ball based on the ball entering the right variable ball player 83 is valid, the value of the comparison counter CC becomes “at timing t2 and timing t3”. It is added in the order of “10” → “11” → “12”. Thereafter, when the preceding game ball passes through the second downstream detection area DE2 of the second downstream passage 323 (advantageous incoming ball portion 323) at the timing of t4, the winning based on the lottery result is determined and the comparison counter CC Is subtracted from “12” to “11”.

  Here, for example, when a subsequent game ball is captured in the upstream passage 321 or the like by an unauthorized tool such as a wire or a magnet, the game ball is between the branch portion (intermediate portion 322M) and the upstream detection area DE0. It will stop.

  When the opening / closing door 303 is switched from the open state to the closed state at the timing t5 when a preset period has elapsed from the timing t1, the inflow of game balls to the right big winning opening 302 becomes impossible. At the timing of t6 when a predetermined period has elapsed from the timing of t5 (or timing of t1), the detection signal from the winning ball and the upstream detection sensor 305 is based on the entry to the right variable pitching device 83. The update of the comparison counter CC based on it is invalidated.

  Thereafter, the determination of the lottery result based on the detection signal from the downstream second detection sensor 326 is impossible at the timing t7 when a preset period has elapsed from the timing t5 (or timing t1), and With reference to the comparison counter CC, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining sphere, and the lottery result determination mode is terminated.

  Here, if the value of the comparison counter CC is “10”, the monitoring process for remaining spheres is invalidated and the monitoring process for out-of-period balls is validated. However, in this example of operation, as described above, two game balls flow into the right variable ball entry device 83, while only one game ball is discharged from the right variable ball entry device 83. In other words, one game ball is in a state of being stopped in the right variable pitching device 83 (specifically, the upstream passage 321). That is, the value of the comparison counter CC is maintained as “11” and remains larger than the initial value “10”. For this reason, based on the value of the comparison counter CC, the main controller 162 will know that the game ball remains in the right variable pitching device 83.

  When it is determined from the value of the comparison counter CC that the game ball remains, abnormality notification using the speaker unit 29 and the error display lamp unit 27 is executed, and the game ball launching mechanism 110 is restricted from firing the game ball. It becomes a state.

  When the front door frame 14 is opened by the hall manager at the timing of t8 after entering the abnormality notification state, the gaming area PE is exposed, and the right variable pitching device 83 from the front of the pachinko machine 10 is entered. Access is permitted. In addition, at the timing of t8, after entering the abnormality notification state, the opening / closing door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 is switched from the closed state to the open state again on condition that a predetermined period has passed. The At this time, since there is no game ball upstream of the right variable pitching device 83, it is avoided that the game ball fired by the game ball launching mechanism 110 flows into the right big winning opening 302. .

  When game balls are thrown into the right big winning opening 302 by the hole manager, the game balls pass through the upstream detection area DE0. At this time, the update of the comparison counter CC based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 is invalid, and the comparison counter CC is not added by passing through the upstream detection region DE0. Since the prize ball based on the detection signal from the upstream side detection sensor 305 is also invalid, the game ball is not paid out by the operation for canceling the abnormal state.

  At the timing t9 when the remaining ball whose flow has been urged by the inserted game ball has passed through the downstream first detection region DE1, the comparison counter CC is allowed to be updated based on the detection signal from the downstream first detection sensor 325. The value of the comparison counter CC is subtracted from “11” to “10” by the detection signal from the detection sensor 325. At the subsequent timing t10, the thrown ball following the remaining ball passes through the downstream first detection area DE1, and the value of the comparison counter CC is subtracted from “10” to “9” by the detection signal from the detection sensor 325. .

  As a result, the abnormality notification based on the remaining ball abnormality is released, and the game ball launch restriction based on the remaining ball abnormality is released.

  However, at the timing of t10, the front door frame 14 is still open, and the game ball launch restriction based on the opening of the front door frame 14 is continued. For this reason, at least until the front door frame 14 returns to the closed position, the launch of the game ball remains restricted. In the present embodiment, in the abnormality notification using the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29, the notification corresponding to the opening of the front door frame 14 is given priority over the notification corresponding to the remaining sphere abnormality. It is the composition which becomes. Accordingly, in the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29, the notification indicating that the front door frame 14 is opened is executed by canceling the abnormality notification based on the remaining ball abnormality.

  At the timing of t11 when the above-described first specific period has elapsed after the notification based on the remaining ball abnormality is canceled at the timing of t10, the open / close door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 returns from the open state to the closed state. In this way, by delaying the return of the opening / closing door 303 with respect to the end timing of the abnormality notification based on the remaining ball abnormality, the interference between the finger of the hall manager and the opening / closing door 303 is suitably suppressed.

  The second specific period elapses after the notification based on the remaining ball abnormality is canceled at the timing t12 when a preset period has elapsed from the timing t11 when the opening / closing door 303 is switched, that is, at the timing t10. At the timing t12, initialization processing of the comparison counter CC is executed, that is, “10” is set in the comparison counter CC, and preparation for shifting to the next lottery result determination mode is completed. In addition, the monitoring of the balls outside the valid period is resumed at the timing t12.

  In particular, it takes a certain period of time for the game balls flowing in from the right big winning opening 302 to reach the detection areas DE1, DE2. For this reason, it is assumed that the number of game balls thrown into the right big winning opening 302 by the hall manager is likely to vary. Therefore, by delaying the monitoring of the balls outside the effective period from the timing of the abnormality notification end, the game balls that have flowed into the right large winning opening 302 at the moment when the opening / closing door 303 is switched to the closed state are detected on the downstream detection areas DE1, DE2. By arriving at, it is avoided that the game ball becomes a cause of anomaly notification due to an out-of-period incoming ball.

  When the front door frame 14 returns to the closed position at the timing t13 after the monitoring of the balls that have entered the valid period has been resumed at the timing t12, the game ball launch restriction is released. Then, at the timing of t14 when a preset period has elapsed from the timing of t13, the opening / closing execution mode is entered on the condition that the entrance to the advantageous entrance portion 323 occurs during the lottery result determination mode (during the effective period). And migrate. As a result, the lower variable entrance device 82 is opened and closed. In addition, when the entrance to the advantageous entrance part 323 has not occurred during the lottery result determination mode, the game state returns to the normal gaming state at the timing of t13.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects are obtained.

  In the pachinko machine 10 according to the above-described embodiment, a configuration for monitoring entry into the right variable entry device 83 is employed. Specifically, when a period during which entry into the right variable entry device 83 is permitted has elapsed, whether there is a game ball remaining in the right variable entry device 83 (whether there is a remaining ball) ) Is used. If it is determined that a remaining ball is present, the fact can be grasped on the hall side by stopping the progress of the game and performing a notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred.

  The distribution of the game balls in the guide passage 320 determines whether or not a special game state has occurred depending on the operation of the switching member 341 (specifically, at what timing it flows into the right big winning opening 302). In such a gaming machine, for example, a game ball that is flowing down the guide passage 320 (for example, the upstream side passage 321) is captured using a magnet or the like, and the game can be played at a timing at which entry into the advantageous entry portion 323 can occur. The probability of occurrence of a special gaming state can be increased by releasing the ball. If such an illegal act is performed, the damage to the game hall can be significant. In this regard, if the configuration is such that the remaining sphere is monitored as described above, it is possible to make such an illegal act difficult and improve the crime prevention function.

  When it is determined in the remaining ball monitoring process that there is a remaining ball, the game proceeds to an abnormal state and the game progress is stopped until a predetermined release operation is performed, and the abnormality is notified. This abnormal state is canceled by throwing a game ball into the right variable pitching device 83 (right big prize opening 302). The right variable pitching device 83 is normally covered by the front door frame 14. By releasing the locked state by the locking device 75 and opening the front door frame 14, Access is allowed. It is possible to perform the abnormality canceling operation without exposing the back configuration of the pachinko machine 10 (for example, the main control device 162) to the front of the gaming machine, and a preferable configuration is realized from the viewpoint of improving the crime prevention function.

  Further, if the front door frame 14 is opened, the object of the release operation (the right side variable pitching device 83) can be accessed. For example, the release operation can be released by opening the gaming machine main part 12 to enable the release operation. Preliminary operation can be facilitated, and improvement in work efficiency can be expected.

  Although the remaining ball abnormality is assumed to occur during business hours of game halls, etc., as described above, if the front door frame 14 is opened, the object of the release operation can be accessed, so that the expansion of the work space when performing the release operation is suppressed. Inconveniences such as preventing a game in an adjacent gaming machine can be made difficult to occur.

  Assuming that the configuration that cancels the abnormal state is assumed, for example, a configuration in which a release switch is provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 10 and the abnormal state is canceled by operating the release switch or the like is assumed. It is conceivable that the abnormality canceling operation is performed without distinguishing between the two. At this time, if the remaining spheres are not discharged, the remaining spheres flow down during the monitoring of the incoming balls after the cancellation of the abnormality, thereby causing an abnormality due to the incoming balls during the period. In this regard, in the present embodiment, it is necessary to throw in a game ball when canceling the abnormal state, and it is possible to promote the discharge of the remaining ball by the thrown game ball, and to suppress the occurrence of the above disadvantages.

  It is assumed that the above-described abnormality does not only occur accidentally, but inevitably occurs due to fraud. For example, it may occur by an act of inserting a fraudulent tool such as a wire or a cellophane into the guide passage 320 and capturing a game ball with the fraudulent tool. In the right variable pitching device 83 shown in the present embodiment, since the access path to the guide passage 320 is limited to the right big prize opening 302 and the like, the above-mentioned illegal tool is inserted through the right big prize opening 302. It is assumed that it is easy. By making it necessary to insert a game ball into the right variable pitching device 83 (right big prize opening 302) at the time of canceling the abnormality, attention to the right big prize winning hole 302 is urged, and oversight of the above-mentioned illegal equipment and the like is suppressed. Can do.

  In determining whether or not there is a remaining ball, the number of game balls determined to have flowed into the right variable ball entry device 83 based on the detection information from the upstream detection sensor 305 and the detection from the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326. This is done by comparing with the number of game balls that have been determined to have flowed out of the right variable pitching device 83 based on the information, and in the abnormal state, the former is one more than the number that exceeds the latter When the game ball is detected by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326, the abnormal state is canceled. In this way, by setting the number of inserted game balls required at the time of canceling the abnormality to be at least one more than the number of remaining balls, it is possible to prevent the remaining balls from remaining in the guide passage 320. it can. Furthermore, in view of the point that at least one game ball is thrown in, it is possible to make it difficult for the thrown-in game ball to remain in the guide passage 320.

  In the configuration in which the remaining ball abnormality is canceled by throwing the game ball into the right variable pitching device 83, there is a disadvantage that if the player shifts to the opening / closing execution mode immediately after the abnormality is canceled, the privilege that the player should originally be able to enjoy is missed. Can occur. Specifically, in the opening / closing execution mode, the number of times the lower large winning opening 82a is opened and the opening period are set in advance, and as much as possible while entering the lower variable pitching device 82 is allowed. Many game balls need to flow in. Here, in the present embodiment, it is necessary to throw the game ball into the right variable pitching device 83 in order to cancel the abnormal state. For this purpose, it is necessary to open the front door frame 14. Therefore, when the mode is shifted to the opening / closing execution mode immediately after the abnormal state is released, a period during which the game ball cannot be substantially fired is generated, so that the number of game balls that can flow into the lower variable ball entry device 82 is reduced. Can do. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by adopting a configuration in which the restriction on the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is canceled by returning the front door frame 14 to the closed position after the abnormality is canceled, the occurrence of the above-described inconvenience is suitably suppressed. It is possible.

  Note that even if a residual ball abnormality occurs, the player's profit is secured by adopting a configuration that ensures the transition to the opening / closing execution mode. In other words, since the remaining ball may be accidentally generated, it is severe for the player that the player has not shifted to the special gaming state due to the occurrence of an abnormality. Therefore, a practically preferable configuration is realized by ensuring the shift to the opening / closing execution mode.

  The right variable pitching device 83 in the present embodiment employs a configuration that switches to an open state when an abnormal state occurs. This eliminates the need for a preliminary operation of opening the right variable pitching device 83 with a finger or the like, for example, and facilitates the game ball throwing operation when the abnormality is canceled.

  Further, by restricting the launching of the game ball before opening the right variable pitching device 83, it is possible to prevent the game ball launched from the game ball launching mechanism 110 from reaching the right variable pitching device 83. Yes. Thereby, while facilitating the above-described operation, it is possible to prevent inadvertent occurrence of entering the right variable entry device 83 due to the operation.

  Further, if the game ball is continuously inserted when the abnormal state is released, it may be a cause of occurrence of a ball clogging or the like. Therefore, when the conditions for canceling the abnormality are satisfied, it is preferable to finish the game ball insertion as soon as possible. However, simply trying to quickly return the right variable pitching device 83 to the closed state tends to cause inconvenience that the open / close door 303 interferes with the operator's finger or the like. Here, the timing for returning to the closed state is set to be after the completion of the abnormality notification, and after the suggestion that the game ball is sufficiently inserted, the return to the closed state is made, and the occurrence of the above inconvenience can be suitably avoided. It is possible.

  It is necessary to open the front door frame 14 in order to properly access the right variable pitching device 83 provided in the game area PE. By adding the opening of the front door frame 14 to the abnormal condition release condition, the following This inconvenience can be preferably avoided. In other words, if an illegal act is performed in which the game ball is intentionally left by capturing the game ball in the guide passage 320, the abnormal state can be obtained by releasing the game ball. There is concern that the crime prevention function will be reduced if it can be canceled. In this respect, in the present embodiment, since the abnormal state cannot be canceled unless the front door frame 14 is opened, such an illegal act can be made difficult. On the other hand, when the hall manager or the like cancels the abnormal state, an operation to open the front door frame 14 is essential for access to the right variable pitching device 83, so that the work procedure does not increase. Thereby, it is possible to improve the security function while avoiding complication of the work procedure, and a practically preferable configuration can be realized.

  Further, in the above embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the remaining spheres are monitored during the allowed entry period, and the entry into the right variable entry device 83 is monitored outside the allowed entry period. In this way, by executing the entrance monitoring outside the effective period, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a disadvantage due to the failure of the right side variable pitching device 83 or the illegal act on the right side variable pitching device 83. .

  As described above, in the configuration in which the abnormal state when the remaining ball is generated is canceled by inserting the game ball, the out-of-period incoming ball monitoring process in the case of the abnormal state is canceled. As a result, it is possible to prevent the thrown ball from getting caught in the out-of-period incoming ball monitoring process, and the remaining ball monitoring function and the out-of-period incoming ball monitoring function can suitably coexist, thereby realizing a comprehensive monitoring system. Can contribute.

  If the number of game balls thrown into the right side variable ball entry device 83 at the time of releasing the abnormal state corresponding to the remaining ball is limited, it is assumed that the release operation becomes complicated. Therefore, it is preferable to allow a variation in the number of inserted game balls when the abnormality is canceled. However, if an attempt is made to cancel an abnormality in response to various numbers of throws, there is a possibility that a game ball thrown after the cancellation of the anomaly will be determined as an abnormal entry in the out-of-valid entry monitoring process. Therefore, when canceling the abnormal state, it is suggested that a sufficient number of game balls have been thrown in by first switching the right variable pitching device 83 to the closed state, and thrown at the timing of switching to the closed state. By monitoring the incoming balls after a sufficient period for the passed game balls to pass through the downstream detection areas DE1 and DE2, the game balls thrown in during normal release work are It avoids misjudgment by considering it as a target. Thereby, while improving the crime prevention function mentioned above, the complexity of the cancellation | release work resulting from it is suppressed.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of embodiment mentioned above, For example, you may implement as follows. Incidentally, the configuration of another embodiment described below may be applied individually to the configuration in the above embodiment, or may be applied in combination with each other.

  (1) In the above embodiment, when a remaining ball abnormality occurs, an abnormal state based on the remaining ball abnormality is obtained by inserting a game ball into the right variable ball entering device 83 as the “entrance part”. Although it was set as the structure which cancels | releases, you may apply the same idea to cancellation | release of the abnormal state based on a ball outside an effective period. That is, it is possible to stop the progress of the game ball when the incoming ball is out of the effective period, and to allow the game to be resumed when the game ball is thrown into the right variable ball entry device 83 in this state. .

  (2) In the above embodiment, when a remaining ball abnormality occurs in the right variable ball entry device 83, the game ball is thrown into the right variable ball entry device 83, thereby restricting the launching or abnormality of the game ball. An abnormal state such as notification is canceled. That is, the entrance part to be monitored for abnormality is the same as the entrance part to be operated when canceling the abnormality (game ball input object). By changing this, it is also possible to set a pitching portion different from the pitching portion to be monitored for abnormality as an operation target at the time of canceling the abnormality.

  However, when such a change is made, that is, in the gaming machine of the type that monitors the remaining ball abnormality as shown in the above embodiment, the game ball remaining in the entrance portion by the inserted game ball The effect of encouraging the release of water is no longer expected. Therefore, in a game machine of the type that monitors the remaining ball abnormality, it is preferable that the incoming ball portion to be monitored is the same as the incoming ball portion to which the game ball is thrown.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the variable right variable ball-injecting device 83 is employed as the “ball-in portion”, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to employ a non-variable pitching portion, for example, a general winning opening 81 as the “pickup portion”.

  However, in the case of an abnormal state due to the use of a fraudulent tool or the like, if the fraudulent tool is removed before the hall manager rushes to the gaming machine, it may be difficult to identify the fraudulent act. Therefore, preferably, as shown in the above embodiment, the “entrance ball portion” is made variable, and the ingress ball portion is maintained in a state in which inflow of game balls is impossible until a preset condition is satisfied. It is preferable to adopt a configuration to do so. This can make it difficult for fraudsters who have noticed that they have entered an abnormal state to remove fraudulent tools. The effect of facilitating discovery can be expected.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the right variable pitching device 83 is employed as the “entrance portion” and the remaining balls in the right variable pitching device 83 are monitored. The device 83 is not limited to this. However, in the case of monitoring the remaining ball, it is preferable that the ball is a variable-type ball entry part in which at least a period during which entry is impossible and an allowable period are set. The remaining sphere may be monitored.

  When the game ball passes through the through gate 86, the right-hand actuating ball portion 85 performs an open lottery, and when the lottery is won, the electric accessory 91 is switched to an open state for a preset period. It is the composition which becomes. Here, an upstream side detection sensor for detecting a game ball flowing in from the right side operation port 85a is disposed at the entrance portion of the right side operation entrance portion 85, and a winning lottery such as a big hit is arranged downstream from the upstream side detection sensor. When a downstream detection sensor is provided and the right operation ball entering portion 85 changes from an open state to a closed state, the number of game balls determined to pass by each detection sensor is compared to generate a remaining ball. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure monitored.

  Furthermore, the configuration relating to the monitoring of the remaining sphere can be applied not to the variable entry portion but to the entry portion that is always open. In other words, the remaining balls may be monitored at a ball-entry portion of a type in which inflow of game balls such as the general winning opening 81 is always allowed. Even when such a change is made, the upstream detection sensor and the downstream detection sensor are used in the same manner as in the above-described modification, and a predetermined period (upstream side) after the passage of the game ball is detected by the upstream detection sensor. When the game ball does not pass through the downstream detection area when the same period as the period required to move from the detection area to the downstream detection area or a period longer than that period has elapsed, What is necessary is just to set it as the structure which determines with the residual sphere having generate | occur | produced.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the abnormal state is canceled when the number of game balls confirmed to be passed by the downstream side detection sensors 325 and 326 in the abnormal state is larger than the number of remaining balls that have been grasped. Although configured, it is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the abnormal state is canceled when the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 detect the passage of at least one game ball.

  However, when such a change is made, there is a high possibility that the gaming ball thrown in when the abnormality is canceled is replaced with the remaining ball and remains in the guide passage 320. Therefore, preferably, as shown in the above embodiment, the abnormal state is caused by the fact that the number of game balls confirmed to pass by the downstream side detection sensors 325 and 326 in the abnormal state is larger than the number of remaining balls. It is good to have a structure to cancel.

  Further, in the abnormal state, the comparison counter CC based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 is not updated. However, this is changed, and the comparison counter CC based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 is changed. It is good also as a structure which updates. Thereby, it is possible to suitably avoid the occurrence of inconvenience such that the game ball thrown in at the time of abnormality cancellation remains in the guide passage 320. Even when such a change is made, it is preferable that the prize ball is not paid out based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the abnormal state is canceled based on the detection of the game ball by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the abnormal state may be canceled based on the detection of the game ball by the upstream detection sensor 305, or the game ball is detected by both the upstream detection sensor 305 and the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326. It is good also as a structure which cancels | releases an abnormal condition based on this.

  (7) In the above-described embodiment, the presence / absence of the remaining sphere is determined at the end timing of the effective period in which the entry to the advantageous entry portion 323 is valid. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the end timing of the valid period may be shifted from the determination timing. For example, it is good also as a structure which determines the presence or absence of a remaining sphere at the specific timing after the effective period end. However, even when such a change is made, the determination is completed at a timing before the transition to the special gaming state (opening / closing execution mode of the lower variable pitching device 82) can be made, and the special gaming state is temporarily entered. When the transition is confirmed, it is preferable to avoid the transition to the special gaming state based on the occurrence of the remaining ball abnormality until the release operation is performed.

  Residual spheres are roughly classified into those that occur accidentally and those that are intentionally made for the purpose of fraud. Therefore, if there is a remaining ball due to fraudulent purposes, the configuration that restricts the transition to the opening / closing execution mode is adopted to suppress the disadvantage that the game hall suffers, and the regulation of the game progress is controlled by canceling the abnormality notification. By being released, for example, by entering into the opening and closing execution mode by entering the advantageous entry part, it is preferable to prevent the player from suffering disadvantages due to accidental remaining balls It becomes possible to do.

  (8) In the above embodiment, when the abnormality notification is canceled, the game ball is first released based on the abnormality notification, and then the restriction on the transition to the opening / closing execution mode based on the abnormality notification is canceled. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which both restrictions are canceled at the same time is possible.

  However, in the opening / closing execution mode, an upper limit is set for the period during which the lower variable pitching device 82 is opened. Therefore, when the above change is made, the player must pay out the game ball that should be originally obtained. It is assumed that inconveniences such as missing are likely to occur. Therefore, preferably, as shown in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable to first release the game ball emission restriction, and then release the restriction to shift to the opening / closing execution mode.

  (9) In the above embodiment, after the notification canceling operation corresponding to the remaining ball abnormality is performed (that is, after suggesting that the amount of game balls that have been input has reached a sufficient amount for canceling the abnormality) Although the opening / closing door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 is switched to the closed state at a timing when a predetermined period has elapsed since the cancellation of the notification, this can be changed as follows.

  It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the open / close door 303 is switched to the closed state in accordance with the notification release timing. However, when such a change is adopted, the opening / closing door 303 closes while the hall manager is throwing in the game ball, and the possibility that a finger or the like interferes with the opening / closing door 303 is increased. It is not preferable.

  The opening / closing door 303 may be closed at the timing when the front door frame 14 is closed. However, when an attendant who is not familiar with the specifications of the gaming machine performs work, the front door frame It is assumed that opening / closing door 303 does not close before closing 14, thereby increasing the possibility of being confused by the release operation. In this regard, the above-described various inconveniences can be achieved by adopting a configuration in which the opening / closing door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 is switched to the closed state at a timing when a predetermined period has passed since the cancellation of the notification as shown in the above embodiment. Can be wiped off.

  (10) In the above embodiment, when an abnormal state occurs, a predetermined period of time after the game ball is restricted from being released (the game ball released immediately before the release restriction is downstream of the right variable entry device 83). Open / close door 303 of the right variable pitching device 83 when both the conditions that the time period required to reach the side) has passed and the front door frame 14 is opened are satisfied. However, it is not always necessary to set the above two conditions as a transition condition to an abnormal state as an opening condition of the door 303. For example, the opening / closing door 303 may be opened when the front door frame 14 is opened, or the opening / closing door 303 may be opened when the predetermined period has elapsed since the launch of the game ball is restricted. Good.

  However, in the case of an abnormal state due to the use of a fraudulent tool or the like, if the fraudulent tool is removed before the hall manager rushes to the gaming machine, it may be difficult to identify the fraudulent act. And in the structure which opens the opening-and-closing door 303 when it becomes abnormal as mentioned above, it is assumed that removal of an unauthorized tool through the right side big winning opening 302 is facilitated. While this can facilitate the release operation, it can be a factor that makes it difficult to confirm fraud. Furthermore, it is not preferable that the game ball fired by the player enters the right variable entrance device 83 and the abnormal state is canceled by chance.

  In view of these circumstances, it is preferable that the opening condition of the opening / closing door 303 is set so that a predetermined period has elapsed since the launch of the game ball is restricted and the front door frame 14 is opened. . Thereby, while facilitating the above-described release operation, it is possible to suitably avoid a reduction in the security function caused by the release operation.

  (11) In the above embodiment, the opening / closing door 303 is opened when transitioning to an abnormal state. However, the opening / closing door 303 may be configured not to be opened. However, in the present embodiment, it is difficult to operate the opening / closing door 303 without driving the driving unit 304 when the opening / closing door 303 is in a closed state. This is considered preferable from the viewpoint of improving the crime prevention function, but it is assumed that it is difficult to cancel the abnormal state if the door 303 is not opened in such a configuration. Therefore, it is desirable that the door 303 be opened when abnormality notification is performed as shown in the above-described embodiment, so that both the security function and the improvement of workability are preferably achieved.

  (12) In the above embodiment, the comparison counter CC is used to compare the number of inflows and the number of outflows. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an inflow number counter for counting the number of inflows and an outflow number counter for counting the number of outflows are separately provided, and the presence or absence of a remaining sphere is determined by comparing the inflow number counter with the outflow number counter. It is good also as a structure.

  In the above embodiment, the value of the comparison counter CC is added according to the number of inflows, and the value of the comparison counter CC is subtracted according to the number of outflows. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to reverse.

  The initialization timing of the comparison counter CC does not necessarily have to be before the return timing from the abnormality notification state to the monitoring process outside the valid period. For example, the initialization timing of the comparison counter CC may be set before the transition from the out-of-validity monitoring state to the remaining ball abnormality monitoring state.

  (13) Although the initial value of the comparison counter CC is “10” and the range is “0” to “20” in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. The initial value, the lower limit value, and the upper limit value of the comparison counter CC are arbitrary. However, the guide passage 320 is configured such that the movement of the game ball flowing down the guide passage 320 can be visually recognized and branched into a hitting determination passage and a release passage at a midway position of the guide passage 320. This contributes to increasing attention to the movement of game balls. However, in such a configuration, the guide passage 320 extends and the number of game balls that can exist in the guide passage 320 tends to increase. Here, the initial value and lower limit of the comparison counter CC are matched to the number of game balls (10 in the present embodiment) that may exist between the upstream detection area DE0 and the downstream detection areas DE1 and DE2. A practically preferable configuration can be realized by setting the value and the upper limit value.

  (14) In the above embodiment, the winning ball valid period based on the detection signal from the upstream detection sensor 305 and the determined validity period of the lottery result based on the detection signal from the downstream detection sensor 326 are different. However, it is possible to make these periods the same. When making such a change, for example, the prize ball validity period of the upstream detection sensor 305 may be matched with the fixed validity period of the downstream detection sensor 326.

  However, the distance from the entrance 302a (opening / closing door 303) of the right large winning opening 302 to the upstream detection area DE0 is set shorter than the distance from the entrance 302a to the downstream detection areas DE1, DE2. The period required for the game ball to move from the entrance portion 302a to the upstream detection area DE0 is longer than the period required for the game ball to move from the entrance section 302a to the downstream detection areas DE1, DE2. Shorter. Therefore, when the above change is made, it is assumed that the prize ball valid period in the upstream side detection sensor 305 becomes uselessly long and the probability of occurrence of false detection increases. Therefore, preferably, as shown in the above-described embodiment, the effective period of each of the detection sensors 305 and 326 is preferably determined according to the distance from the entrance portion 302a of the right large winning opening 302 or the like.

  (15) In the above embodiment, the right-hand side big prize is obtained by making the distance from the branch position to the downstream first detection area DE1 substantially the same as the distance from the branch position to the downstream second detection area DE2. The period required for the game ball to move from the inlet portion 302a of the mouth 302 to each of the downstream detection areas DE1, DE2 is made substantially the same, and the update of the comparison counter CC in the downstream detection sensors 325, 326 is effective in accordance with both the periods. Although the period is made common, it is not limited to this. For example, in a configuration in which the distance from the branch position to the downstream first detection region DE1 and the distance from the branch position to the downstream second detection region DE2 are different, each downstream detection sensor 325 according to each distance. , 326 may be set individually.

  (16) In the above embodiment, when abnormality notification is being executed, the value of the comparison counter CC is updated based on the detection signal from the downstream first detection sensor 325 and the downstream second detection sensor 326 is updated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the abnormality notification state, the switching member 341 stands by at the guide position to the downstream portion 322L of the first downstream passage 322, so that the game ball flowing down the guide passage 320 reaches the downstream first detection region DE1. The game ball does not reach the downstream second detection area DE2. Therefore, it is only necessary to update the value of the comparison counter CC based on the detection signal from at least the first detection sensor 325 on the downstream side.

  (17) In the above embodiment, in the abnormality notification state, the game ball flowing down the guide passage 320 reaches the downstream side first detection area DE1 when the switching member 341 stands by at the guide position to the downstream portion 322L. However, when the switching member 341 stands by at the guide position to the second downstream passage 323 in the abnormality notification state, the game ball flowing down the guide passage 320 reaches the downstream second detection region DE2. It is good also as a structure. If the game ball is intentionally left for the purpose of fraud, there is a possibility that the game ball is put on standby immediately upstream of the downstream second detection area DE2 in the second downstream passage 323. For example, such illegal acts can be suitably suppressed.

  Also, it is possible to add to the condition for canceling the abnormality notification that the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 confirm the passage of the game ball. For example, after the value of the comparison counter CC becomes “10” or less by the inserted game ball, the game ball passes through the other downstream detection area by changing the position of the switching member 341 and switching the inflow destination. It is good also as a structure which cancels | reports abnormality notification, when it is detected as a result and it is confirmed as a result that the game ball passed both detection area | region DE1, DE2. Thereby, a practically preferable configuration can be realized.

  (18) A second comparison counter that counts the number of inflows and outflows is provided in an abnormal state, and a predetermined period has elapsed since the abnormality was canceled (the value of the comparison counter CC was “10” or less and the door 303 was closed). Later, it is determined whether the number of outflows is greater than the number of inflows, and if not, a notification that the abnormality has not been canceled (for example, a message such as “Check inside the passage”) is executed. With this configuration, further improvement of the abnormality detection function can be expected.

  (19) When the upstream detection sensor 305 detects the passing of the game ball in the abnormality notification state, the abnormality is canceled even if a predetermined period elapses from the detection timing of the upstream detection sensor 305. If not, it may be configured to notify that the possibility that a clogged ball is generated in the guide passage 320 is high. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the insertion of an excessive number of game balls and to protect the right variable ball entry device 83.

  (18) In the above-described embodiment, when the out-of-valid entry monitoring process is enabled, the entry determination based on the detection information from the upstream detection sensor 305 and the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 is performed at the same timing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. At least the passage length from the right side big winning opening 302 to the upstream side detection area DE0 is shorter than the passage length from the right side big winning opening 302 to the downstream side detection areas DE1, DE2, so that the game ball is determined from the closing timing of the door 303. If it can pass, the period is shortened. Therefore, the winning determination based on the detection information from the upstream detection sensor 305 is validated in synchronization, and the winning determination is preceded by the winning determination based on the detection information from the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326. It is good also as a structure.

  As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to insert illegal tools or the like into the guide passage 320 aiming at the invalid period of the upstream detection sensor 305 at the timing of transition to the second monitoring state, and to further improve the crime prevention function. Can contribute.

  (20) In the above embodiment, the guide passage 320 has the first downstream passage 322 (specifically, the downstream portion 322L) and the second downstream passage 323 as a plurality of branch passages, and the game that has flowed into the guide passage 320 However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the guide passage 320 does not branch is possible. When such a change is made, a configuration having an upstream sensor and a downstream sensor may be used.

  Further, the number of branch passages is not limited to two, and may be three or more. In this case, what is necessary is just to set it as the structure which has the upstream sensor distribute | arranged upstream from the branch position, and the downstream sensor distribute | arranged to each branch channel | path.

  (21) In the above-described embodiment, the guide passage 320 is configured to suppress exposure to the outside of the right variable pitching device 83 by sealing the portion excluding the inlet portion and the outlet portion. It is sufficient if the configuration is such that at least the outflow of game balls from the passage portion between the upstream detection region DE0 and the downstream detection regions DE1 and DE2 and the inflow of game balls from outside the guide passage 320 through the same passage portion are impossible. It is not always necessary to seal.

  However, in order to avoid temporary evacuation of the remaining balls and unauthorized tools to the outside of the guide passage 320 in order to avoid interference with the game balls thrown in when the abnormal state is canceled, the above-described sealed structure should be adopted. Is desirable.

  (22) In the above embodiment, the special winning transition process is terminated when a preset period has elapsed since the right variable pitching device 83 is opened (or closed). However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the special winning transition process is terminated based on the determination result of the presence or absence of the remaining sphere. For example, from the timing when the upstream detection sensor 305 detects the passage of the game ball in the detection area DE0, a predetermined period (specifically, when the game ball that has passed the detection area DE0 passes the detection areas DE1, DE2). Before the passage of a game ball in the detection areas DE1 and DE2 is detected by the downstream detection sensors 325 and 326 before a period required for the time period or a period set longer than the synchronization period). If not, the special winning transition process is completed in response to the occurrence of the remaining ball, and when the passing of the game ball in the detection areas DE1, DE2 is detected before the above period has elapsed, What is necessary is just to set it as the structure which complete | finishes a special hit | shift process so that it may respond | correspond to the non-occurrence | production of a remaining sphere.

  (23) It is possible to adopt a configuration for monitoring the incoming balls outside the effective period in the lower variable ball entry device 82. In the lower variable pitching device 82, after the opening / closing execution mode ends, that is, after the final round ends, a predetermined period of time (specifically, a game ball that has flowed in from the lower big prize opening occupies the detection area). The configuration may be such that, when a period set longer than the period required to pass) elapses, the monitoring of the balls outside the valid period is validated. In addition, when the entrance to the lower variable entrance device 82 occurs outside the valid period, the prize ball based on the entrance is invalidated and a notification that the entry outside the valid period has occurred. Is preferably performed.

  (24) Other types of pachinko machines different from the above embodiment, for example, a pachinko machine in which an electric accessory is released a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, or a game ball in a specific area of a special device The present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine that generates a right if a player enters, a pachinko machine equipped with other objects, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball, and other gaming machines.

<Invention Group Extracted from the Embodiments>
Hereinafter, the features of the invention group extracted from the above-described embodiment will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configuration in the above embodiment is appropriately shown in parentheses, but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses.

Features 1. A game board (game board 80) having a game area (game area PE) formed on the front surface;
A ball entry part (for example, a right variable ball entry device 83) provided in the game area and capable of entering a game ball flowing down the game area;
Abnormality monitoring means that monitors the occurrence of an abnormality that is a specific event and sets an abnormal state when the monitoring result becomes a predetermined abnormality result (function to execute the remaining sphere monitoring process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) )When,
An abnormal state canceling means (a function for executing the abnormal state canceling process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) for canceling the abnormal state based on the ball entering the ball entrance unit when the abnormal state is entered; A gaming machine characterized by comprising.

  According to the feature 1, the occurrence of an abnormality which is a specific circumstance is monitored by the abnormality monitoring means, and when an abnormality is confirmed, the occurrence of a disadvantage caused by the occurrence of the abnormality can be suppressed by shifting to an abnormal state. it can.

  If it is in an abnormal state, the abnormal state is canceled by throwing a game ball into the entrance. Thus, by improving the operability when canceling the abnormal state, it is possible to contribute to facilitating the work when canceling the abnormality.

Feature 2. A door body (front door frame 14) disposed in front of the game area and provided to be openable and closable;
Opening detection means (open detection sensor 79) for detecting that the door body has been opened,
The abnormal state canceling means has means for effectively canceling the abnormal state based on the ball entering the ball entrance when the opening detection unit detects the opening of the door body. The gaming machine according to Feature 1, characterized by the following:

  It is necessary to open the door to properly access the entrance area provided in the game area, and by adding the opening of the door to the abnormal condition cancellation condition, it is possible to suppress unauthorized cancellation of the abnormal condition. Can do. On the other hand, when the hall manager or the like cancels the abnormal state, the operation of opening the door is indispensable for the access to the ball entry part, so that the work procedure does not increase. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve a crime prevention function, avoiding complication of a work procedure.

Feature 3. Launch restriction means for restricting the launch of the game ball based on the transition to the abnormal state (function of executing the process of step S614 in the MPU 602 of the main controller 162);
When the abnormal state is released and the door body returns to the closed position, the restriction release means for releasing the restriction by the firing restriction means (the process of step S715 is executed in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162). The gaming machine according to claim 2, further comprising: a function and a function of restricting the launch of a game ball during the opening period of the front door frame 14 in the MPU 602.

  In the configuration in which the abnormal state is canceled by inserting the game ball into the entrance part, it is not preferable that the launched game ball accidentally flows into the entrance part and the abnormal state is canceled by a person other than the hall manager. Therefore, the occurrence of the inconvenience can be suitably suppressed by restricting the launch of the game ball based on the transition to the abnormal state.

  In addition, by setting the release condition of the emission restriction to release the abnormal state and return the door body to the closed position, a series of release operations (opening the door body → inserting the game ball → to the closed position of the door body) The occurrence of inconveniences such as playing a game in a state where the return of the game has not been completed can be suppressed.

Feature 4. The entrance portion is provided so as to be switchable between a first state in which inflow of game balls flowing down the game area is disabled and a second state in which inflow of game balls is allowed,
A switching means for switching the ball-entering portion to the second state when the opening detection means detects the opening of the door body in the abnormal state is provided. The gaming machine according to Feature 2 or Feature 3.

  According to the feature 4, when the door body is opened when performing the operation for canceling the abnormal state, the incoming ball portion is switched to the second state. Thereby, even if it is a case where the variable type entrance part is made into the operation object at the time of abnormal state cancellation | release, it can avoid suitably that operativity falls.

  Feature 5. The entrance portion is provided so as to be switchable between a first state in which an inflow of game balls flowing down the game area is disabled and a second state in which an inflow of game balls is allowed. The gaming machine according to any one of features 3.

  As shown in feature 5, if the entrance portion can be switched between the first state and the second state, the entrance occurs immediately after the occurrence of the abnormality, and the inconvenience is caused by the entrance ball canceling the abnormal state. Can be difficult.

Feature 6 The abnormality monitoring means includes
Based on the transition to the abnormal state, firing restriction means (function to execute the processing of step S614 in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) for restricting the launch of the game ball,
When the abnormal state occurs, the ball entering portion is set to the first state, and the launching of the game ball is restricted by the launch restricting means, and then it is necessary for the launched game ball to reach the ball entering portion. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising switching means for switching the pitched portion to the second state after a period set longer than the period has elapsed.

  As shown in the feature 1, in the configuration in which the abnormal state is canceled by entering the ball entering part, it is not preferable that the abnormal state is canceled by the launched game ball entering. Therefore, the ball entering part is made variable, and the second state is set in the first state when the abnormal state is reached and the arrival of the launched game ball to the entering part is substantially avoided. By switching to, the inconvenience that the abnormal state is canceled due to accidental entry or the like is less likely to occur, and the decrease in operability due to the variable entry part being the target of the release operation is suitably suppressed Can do.

  In features 4 to 6, operability can be ensured by using a configuration (for example, a lock mechanism) that disables switching from the first state to the second state by directly operating the ball-entry unit. However, further strengthening of the crime prevention function can be expected.

  Feature 7. The game according to any one of features 4 to 6, further comprising means for bringing the ball-entering portion into the first state until a preset condition is satisfied in the abnormal state. Machine.

  According to the feature 7, by setting the entrance portion in the first state until a preset condition is satisfied, the entrance occurs immediately after the occurrence of the abnormality, and the abnormal state is canceled by the entrance ball. Inconvenience can be made difficult to occur.

Feature 8 A guide passage (guide passage 320) that is provided in the entrance portion and guides a game ball that has flowed in from the entrance portion of the entrance portion (right large winning opening 302);
Detection means (detection sensors 305, 325, 326) for detecting a game ball passing through a specific position (detection areas DE0, DE1, DE2) in the guide passage;
8. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 7, wherein the abnormality monitoring unit is configured to monitor occurrence of an abnormality in the ball-entry unit based on detection information from the detection unit. .

  According to the feature 8, the abnormal state is canceled by throwing the game ball into the incoming ball part where the abnormality has occurred. As a result, it is possible to combine the check operation of the ball-entrance part where the abnormality has occurred and the cancel operation of the abnormal state, which can contribute to the improvement of workability.

  In addition, the following effects can be expected in combination with the feature 2 or the like (configuration in which the release is effective when the door is opened). In other words, if an illegal act such as intentionally remaining the game ball by capturing the game ball flowing into the guide passage using an improper tool such as a magnet is performed, the game ball is temporarily If the release of the abnormal state is possible by releasing, there is a concern that the crime prevention function will deteriorate. In this regard, according to the present feature, since the abnormal state cannot be canceled unless the door is opened, such an illegal act can be made difficult. On the other hand, when the hall manager or the like cancels the abnormal state, the operation of opening the door is indispensable for the access to the ball entry part, so that the work procedure does not increase. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve a crime prevention function, avoiding complication of a work procedure.

  Moreover, the following effects can be expected in combination with the feature 7 (a configuration in which the entrance portion is in the first state until a preset condition is satisfied). For example, if an illegal tool such as a wire or cellophane enters the entrance area, the detection means misidentifies the entrance as if the entrance occurred, but it flows into the entrance area even though no entrance occurred. There is a possibility that an illegal act is performed such that the game ball is operated so as to pass a specific position at a desired timing by capturing the game ball with the illegal tool. For this reason, the abnormality in the entrance part is caused not only by accidental factors but also by intentional factors. Here, in the combination with the feature 7, even if an unauthorized person who noticed the transition to the abnormal state tries to remove the unauthorized tool, the act may be difficult. As a result, in addition to the effect of suppressing fraud, if an abnormality caused by fraud occurs, it is easy to find the cause of the abnormality during the operation of canceling the abnormal state.

Feature 9 The detection means includes
First detection means (upstream detection sensor 305) for detecting a game ball passing through a first specific position (detection region DE0) in the guide passage;
And second detection means (downstream detection sensors 325 and 326) for detecting a game ball passing through a second specific position (detection areas DE1 and DE2) downstream of the first specific position in the guide passage. ,
The guide passage is configured to pass through the second specific position when the game ball that has passed through the first specific position flows down to the downstream side, and the first specific position and the second specific position It is a configuration in which a plurality of game balls do not pass through the same place at the same time or are difficult to pass between,
First determination means for determining whether or not a game ball has passed through the first specific position based on detection information of the first detection means (detection areas DE1, DE2 in the reading process in the MPU 602 of the main controller 162) Function to determine whether or not passed, and
Based on detection information of the second detection means, second determination means for determining whether or not a game ball has passed the second specific position (passes the detection area DE0 in the reading process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162). And a function for determining whether or not
The abnormality monitoring means includes the number of game balls determined to have passed the first specific position by the first determination means and the number of game balls determined to have passed the second specific position by the second determination means. Means for determining that an abnormality as the specific event has occurred when it is recognized that a game ball remains between the first specific position and the second specific position based on the number (main The gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein the MPU 602 of the control device 162 has a function of executing a determination process in the abnormal state canceling process.

  According to the feature 9, the game ball thrown at the time of the abnormality canceling operation flows down toward the remaining ball causing the abnormality and collides with the remaining ball. As a result, the discharge of the remaining sphere can be promoted, and the remaining sphere can be prevented from remaining in the guide passage without being discharged properly. Therefore, the occurrence of a disadvantage or the like due to the remaining sphere can be suitably suppressed.

  In addition, by canceling the abnormality and discharging the remaining balls and the like by the inserted game ball, it is possible to contribute to simplification of the work for eliminating the cause of the abnormality.

  The “second specific position” includes not only one place but also a plurality of places.

  Feature 10 The abnormal state releasing means is set to release the abnormal state when a larger number of game balls than the number of remaining game balls pass through the second specific position. The gaming machine according to Feature 9,

  According to the feature 10, it is possible to suppress the remaining sphere that has caused the abnormality from remaining in the guide path without being discharged well when the abnormality is canceled. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the disadvantage etc. by a residual ball | bowl can be suppressed suitably.

  Feature 11. The abnormal state canceling means includes a number of game balls determined by the first determination means to have passed the first specific position after the game balls thrown by the abnormality canceling operation have passed the first specific position. Set so that the abnormal state is canceled when the number of game balls determined to have passed the second specific position by the second determination means remains consistent over a preset period. The gaming machine according to the feature 9 or the feature 10, wherein

  According to the feature 11, it is possible to suitably avoid the occurrence of inconvenience such as the game ball thrown in when canceling the abnormality remains in the guide passage.

Feature 12. A door body (front door frame 14) that is disposed in front of the game area and that can be opened and closed,
The entrance portion is provided so as to be switchable between a first state in which inflow of game balls flowing down the game area is disabled and a second state in which inflow of game balls is allowed,
A switching means (a function for executing a special winning transition process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) for switching the pitched portion to the second state when a preset condition is satisfied;
After the switching to the second state by the switching means is completed and the pitching part returns to the first state, the transition to the special gaming state advantageous to the player based on the pitching into the pitching part Game state transition means (function to execute game state transition processing in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162),
The abnormality monitoring means has a restricting means for restricting the transition to the special gaming state by the gaming state transition means by becoming the abnormal state,
The restriction means cancels the restriction on transition to the special gaming state when the door body returns to the closed position under the situation where the abnormal state is released. The gaming machine according to any one of the above.

  In a configuration in which an abnormal state is canceled by inserting a game ball into the ball-entry unit, a state in which a game is substantially disabled (for example, a door body is opened) when a transition is made to the special game state immediately after the abnormality is canceled. (Under the circumstances), there may be a disadvantage that a privilege that the player should originally enjoy can be missed. Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the configuration in which the transition restriction to the special gaming state is released by returning the door body to the closed position after the abnormality is released, the occurrence of the above-described inconvenience can be suitably suppressed. it can.

  Since the remaining ball may be accidentally generated, it is harsh to the player that the transition to the special gaming state has not occurred due to the occurrence of an abnormality. Therefore, as shown in this feature, it is preferable to adopt a configuration that ensures the transition to the special gaming state after the abnormality is canceled.

Feature 13. The abnormality monitoring means is a first abnormality monitoring means (a function for executing a remaining sphere monitoring process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) which is set to a first abnormality state when the abnormality result is obtained,
The entrance portion is provided so as to be switchable between a first state in which inflow of game balls flowing down the game area is disabled and a second state in which inflow of game balls is allowed,
Entering in the entrance part during a specific period that is set to be equal to or longer than the period during which entrance is allowed by the entrance part being in the second state. A privilege granting means for granting a privilege to a player when
The event is different from the specific event monitored by the first abnormality monitoring means, and an event that a ball enters outside the specific period is monitored, and the monitoring result is a predetermined abnormality result. A second abnormality monitoring means (a function for executing the in-valid ball monitoring process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) to be in a second abnormal state when
Invalidating means (in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162 for invalid state) that disables the function of monitoring the entrance to the entrance by the second abnormality monitoring means when at least the first abnormality state has occurred. The game machine according to any one of features 1 to 12, further comprising: a function of executing step S701 of the release process.

  According to the feature 13, by monitoring the incoming ball outside the specific period by the second abnormality monitoring means, it is possible to suppress the game hall from being disadvantaged by the incoming ball that should not normally occur. As described above, when the variable entrance portion monitored by the second abnormality monitoring means is the target of the release operation of the first abnormal state, an improvement of the crime prevention function can be expected, but the game ball of the release operation can be improved. There is a possibility that an erroneous determination is made as if an abnormality has occurred due to the insertion.

  Therefore, in this feature, when the first abnormal state is canceled by entering the entrance, the second abnormality state is set by the canceling operation by invalidating the monitoring by the second abnormality monitoring means. Can be avoided. Thereby, the monitoring function of the 1st abnormality monitoring means and the 2nd abnormality monitoring means can be made to coexist suitably, and the monitoring system can be strengthened suitably.

  In combination with feature 1, this feature can be replaced with the following configuration. That is, “a game board having a game area formed on the front surface, a first state that is provided in the game area and that prevents the inflow of game balls flowing down the game area, and a second state that allows inflow of game balls During a specific period that is set to be equal to or longer than the period during which entry is permitted by the entrance of the entrance part being in the second state. And a bonus granting means for granting a bonus to a player, and monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality that is a specific event, and the monitoring result is a predetermined abnormality result. The first anomaly monitoring means that sets the first anomaly state in the event that the event has occurred is different from the specific event monitored by the first anomaly monitoring means, and the entry occurs outside the specific period. And monitoring results A second abnormality monitoring means for setting a second abnormality state when a predetermined abnormality result is obtained, and a first abnormality based on a ball entering the ball entry portion when the first abnormality state is established. An abnormal state canceling unit for canceling the state, and a disabling unit for disabling the function of monitoring the entrance to the ball entering part by the second abnormality monitoring unit when at least the first abnormal state is established; It is also possible to replace it with a “gaming machine characterized by being equipped with”.

Feature 14. A guide passage (guide passage 320) that is provided in the entrance portion and guides a game ball that has flowed in from the entrance portion of the entrance portion (right large winning opening 302);
Detection means (detection sensors 325, 326) for detecting a game ball passing through a specific position (detection areas DE1, DE2) in the guide passage;
The first abnormality monitoring means monitors the discharge of game balls from the pitching part during the specific period, and sets the first abnormality state when the monitoring result is a predetermined discharge abnormality result. And
The abnormal state canceling means switches the ball entering part to the second state when the first abnormal state is reached, and the first abnormal state is canceled by the game ball flowing into the ball entering part Has a switching means (function for executing various processes of steps S702, S703, S711, and S712 of the abnormal state canceling process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) to switch the pitched portion to the first state.
The invalidating means is a period required for the game ball that has flowed into the entrance portion to move to the specific position from the entrance portion after the entrance portion is switched to the first state by the switching means. 14. The gaming machine according to claim 13, wherein the monitoring of the entrance to the entrance by the second abnormality monitoring means is invalidated until a predetermined period set for a long time elapses.

  According to the feature 14, by monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality during the specified period and outside the specified period by the first abnormality monitoring unit and the second abnormality monitoring unit, it is possible to improve the reliability and crime prevention of the gaming machine. Thereby, it can suppress that a player and a hall manager suffer from a disadvantage resulting from generation | occurrence | production of the abnormality in a pitching part.

  Thus, when monitoring the same object (ball-entry unit) by a plurality of monitoring means, it is preferable to shorten the non-monitoring period that can occur between the monitoring periods as much as possible. According to this feature, when the abnormality is canceled, the ball is switched to the second state so that the game ball cannot be thrown in, and then set longer than the period required for the game ball to move from the entrance portion to the specific position. The monitoring by the second abnormality monitoring means becomes effective when the predetermined period has elapsed. Even if the game ball flows in at the timing when the pitching unit switches to the first state, it is possible to suppress the game ball from being caught by the second abnormality monitoring means. Then, by reducing the difference between the predetermined period and the period required for the game ball to move from the entrance portion to the specific position, the non-monitoring period can be shortened and the crime prevention function can be improved.

Feature 15. The detection means includes
First detection means (upstream detection sensor 305) for detecting a game ball passing through a first specific position (detection region DE0) in the guide passage;
And second detection means (downstream detection sensors 325 and 326) for detecting a game ball passing through a second specific position (detection areas DE1 and DE2) downstream of the first specific position in the guide passage. ,
The guide passage is configured to pass through the second specific position when the game ball that has passed through the first specific position flows down to the downstream side, and the first specific position and the second specific position It is a configuration in which a plurality of game balls do not pass through the same place at the same time or are difficult to pass between,
First determination means for determining whether or not a game ball has passed through the first specific position based on detection information of the first detection means (detection areas DE1, DE2 in the reading process in the MPU 602 of the main controller 162) Function to determine whether or not passed, and
Based on detection information of the second detection means, second determination means for determining whether or not a game ball has passed the second specific position (passes the detection area DE0 in the reading process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162). And a function for determining whether or not
The first abnormality monitoring means determines the number of game balls determined to have passed the first specific position by the first determination means and the game determined to have passed the second specific position by the second determination means. Means for determining that an abnormality as the specific event has occurred when it is recognized that a game ball remains between the first specific position and the second specific position based on the number of balls (The MPU 602 of the main control device 162 has a function of executing a determination process in the abnormal state release process)
15. The gaming machine according to claim 14, wherein the second abnormality monitoring unit monitors discharge outside the specific period based on a determination result by the first determination unit.

  According to the feature 15, the game ball thrown at the time of the release operation of the first abnormal state flows down toward the remaining sphere causing the abnormality and collides with the remaining sphere. As a result, the discharge of the remaining sphere can be promoted, and the remaining sphere can be prevented from remaining in the guide passage without being discharged properly. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the inconvenience that the remaining sphere is caught by the second abnormality monitoring means and another abnormality occurs. In addition, by canceling the abnormality and discharging the remaining balls and the like by the inserted game ball, it is possible to contribute to simplification of the cause elimination work of the first abnormal state.

  The “second specific position” includes not only one place but also a plurality of places.

Feature 16. The abnormal state canceling means switches the ball entering part to the second state when the first abnormal state is reached, and the first abnormal state is canceled by the game ball flowing into the ball entering part Has a switching means (function for executing various processes of steps S702, S703, S711, and S712 of the abnormal state canceling process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 162) to switch the pitched portion to the first state.
The invalidating means is a period required for the game ball that has flowed into the entrance portion to move to the specific position from the entrance portion after the entrance portion is switched to the first state by the switching means. The gaming machine according to the feature 14 or the feature 15, wherein the second abnormality monitoring means invalidates the monitoring of the entrance to the entrance portion until a predetermined period set for a long time elapses.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the first abnormal state is canceled by inserting the game ball into the ball entering part, the work becomes complicated if the number of game balls thrown into the ball entering part when the abnormality is canceled is limited. is assumed. For this reason, it is preferable to allow a variation in the number of inserted game balls when the abnormality is canceled. However, if an attempt is made to cancel the abnormality in response to various numbers of throws, there is a possibility that the second abnormality monitoring means determines that the game ball thrown after the abnormality is released is an abnormal throw.

  Therefore, in this feature, when the game balls necessary for canceling the abnormality are confirmed and the abnormal state is canceled, it is suggested that a sufficient number of game balls are inserted by first switching the entrance part to the first state. At the same time, the second abnormality monitoring means validates the game ball that has been properly inserted by the second abnormality monitoring means after the gaming ball thrown in at the switching timing to the first state has passed the specific position. It is avoided to determine that the ball is abnormal. Thereby, while improving the crime prevention function mentioned above, the complexity of the cancellation | release work resulting from it is suppressed.

  Feature 17. The abnormal state canceling means is set to cancel the abnormal state when a larger number of game balls than the number of remaining game balls pass through the first specific position. The gaming machine according to any one of features 14 to 16.

  According to the feature 17, it is possible to prevent the remaining sphere that has caused the abnormality from remaining in the guide path without being discharged properly when the abnormality is canceled. Thereby, it can suppress suitably that a residual sphere becomes a cause of transfer to the 2nd abnormal state by the 2nd abnormality monitoring means.

  Feature 18. The abnormal state canceling means includes a number of game balls determined by the first determination means to have passed the first specific position after the game balls thrown by the abnormality canceling operation have passed the first specific position. Set so that the abnormal state is canceled when the number of game balls determined to have passed the second specific position by the second determination means remains consistent over a preset period. The gaming machine according to the feature 15 or the feature 16, wherein

  According to the feature 18, it is possible to avoid the gaming ball thrown in when the abnormality is canceled remaining in the guide passage. Thereby, it can suppress suitably that the thrown game ball becomes a cause of transfer to the 2nd abnormal state by the 2nd abnormality monitoring means.

Feature 19. A gaming machine main body (inner frame 13) provided rotatably with respect to the support target (outer frame 11) and mounted with the game board;
A door body (front door frame 14) that is disposed in front of the gaming area and that can be opened and closed with respect to the gaming machine main body,
The gaming machine body is
A support frame (resin base 70) for supporting the door body and the game board;
A launcher (game ball launching mechanism 110) that is provided on the support frame and launches a game ball to the game area;
A variable display device (main display unit 87 or variable display unit 88) provided on the game board for variably displaying a pattern;
A control device (main control device 162 or display control device 725) provided on the back side of the gaming machine main body for controlling the variable display device;
A cover body (back pack 201) that is provided on the back side of the support frame and covers the control device from the back of the gaming machine;
The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 18, further comprising a payout mechanism (payout mechanism portion 202) for paying out game balls.

  A practically preferable configuration can be realized by applying the technical idea shown in features 1 to 18 to the gaming machine shown in this feature.

  The gaming machine main body includes not only a door body but also a variable display device, a control device, a launching device, a payout mechanism, a cover body, and the like, and the weight thereof is relatively large. For this reason, the operation force required when closing the gaming machine main body in a game hall or the like tends to increase. On the other hand, when opening and closing the door body, the required operating force is smaller than at least when opening and closing the gaming machine main body. Since the release operation can be performed by opening the door body instead of the gaming machine main body when the abnormal state is released, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of workability as compared with the case of opening the gaming machine main body.

  On the back side of the gaming machine main body, a configuration related to the provision of profits such as a control device and a payout mechanism is arranged, but when the abnormal state is released, it is not necessary to open the gaming machine main body, It is possible to reduce the chance of exposure of various configurations such as.

  In addition, there is a cover body on the back side of the gaming machine body, but it is not necessary to open the gaming machine body when releasing the abnormal state, and it is difficult to secure a work area due to the presence of the cover body. There will be no inconvenience. In other words, if the door is opened, it is possible to access the ball entry part, so that, for example, a working space on the front side of the gaming machine is ensured compared to a configuration in which a release switch or the like is provided on the gaming machine body. Becomes easy.

  The basic configuration of the gaming machine to which the above features can be applied is shown below.

  Pachinko machine: operation means (game ball launching handle 41) operated by a player, game ball launching means (game ball launching mechanism 110) for launching a game ball based on the operation of the operation means, and the fired A ball passage (guide rail 100) for guiding a game ball to a predetermined game area and game parts (nails 90, etc.) arranged in the game area, and a predetermined passage portion (general prize) among these game parts A gaming machine that gives a privilege to a player when a game ball passes through the mouth 81 or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pachinko machine as game machine, 11 ... Outer frame as support object, 13 ... Inner frame as game machine body, 14 ... Front door frame as door body, 70 ... Resin base as support frame, 79 ... Open Open detection sensor as detection means, 80... Game board, 83... Right side variable entry device as entry portion, 87... Main display unit as variable display device, 88 .. variable display unit as variable display device, 110. A game ball launching mechanism as a launching device, 162 ... a main control device as a control device, 201 ... a back pack as a cover body, 202 ... a payout mechanism part as a payout mechanism, 302 ... a right big prize opening as an entrance portion, 305 ... upstream detection sensor as first detection means, 320 ... guide passage, 325, 326 ... downstream detection sensor as second detection means, 601 ... main control board, 602 ... MPU, 25 ... display controller, DE0 ... upstream detection region as a first specific position, DE1, DE2 ... downstream detection region as a second specific position, PE ... game area.

Claims (1)

A game board with a game area formed on the front,
A ball entering portion that is provided in the gaming area and is switchable between a first state in which inflow of gaming balls flowing down the gaming area is disabled and a second state in which inflow of gaming balls is allowed;
A guide passage that is provided in the entrance portion and guides a game ball that has flowed in from an entrance portion of the entrance portion;
Detecting means for detecting a game ball passing through a specific position in the guide passage;
Entering in the entrance part during a specific period that is set to be equal to or longer than the period during which entrance is allowed by the entrance part being in the second state. A privilege granting means for granting a privilege to a player when
An abnormality monitoring means for monitoring the discharge of the game ball from the pitching part in the specific period, and setting an abnormal state when the monitoring result is a predetermined discharge abnormality result;
An abnormal state canceling means for canceling the abnormal state based on the entrance into the entrance part when the abnormal state is in place,
The abnormal state canceling means switches the ball entering part to the second state when the abnormal state occurs, and when the first abnormal state is canceled by a game ball flowing into the ball entering part A gaming machine comprising switching means for switching a ball-entering portion to the first state.

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