JP2019136564A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game device capable of displaying the number of odd balls by depressing odd ball number display instruction input means.SOLUTION: A ball information control MPU of an enclosed ball type game machine includes: exchange ball number storage means for storing the number of exchange balls as the number of own balls required for exchanging with one prescribed prize; and odd ball number calculation storage means (S753) for dividing the number of own balls managed by own ball number management means by the number of exchange balls, and for obtaining and storing the number of odd balls as the number of remaining own balls smaller than the number of exchange balls. When odd ball number display instruction input means performs instruction input for displaying the number of odd balls, odd ball number display means displays the number of odd balls stored by the odd ball number calculation storage means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 30

Description

  The present invention relates to an enclosed ball game machine having a circulation path through which a ball circulates.

  In an enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a gaming machine) having a circulation path through which game balls used for pachinko games circulate, the game is performed with a certain number of gaming balls enclosed inside the gaming machine. (Patent Document 1). For this reason, the game ball is not touched by the player's hand or directly exposed to the air in the hall that is outside when viewed from the game machine. It is low compared to the type of game machine.

  In an encapsulated pachinko machine that allows the player to play without directly touching the pachinko ball, the player can play when the number of balls that represent the number of pachinko balls is one or more. The number of possessed balls is related to valuable value information, and is recorded as balance information on a card when not playing a game. When a card is inserted into a slot of a card unit (settlement machine) provided in the enclosed pachinko machine, the balance information recorded on the card is read as the number of balls. The number of balls read in this way is stored in a memory in the enclosed pachinko machine through the card unit. When the number of held balls is within a predetermined range, a pachinko game can be performed, and the number of held balls increases or decreases according to the game result of the pachinko game. When payment is completed after the game is finished, the number of balls held at the time of payment is transmitted from the enclosed pachinko machine to the card unit, and this number of balls is recorded again as balance information on the card through the card unit (Patent Document 2).

  A data updating means for updating the game ball number data in a predetermined unit according to the inserted medal; and a medal paying means for converting the game ball number data into a medal and paying out in a predetermined unit when the game is ended. A gaming machine having a fraction ball processing means for launching a game ball corresponding to the fraction when a fraction occurs when the medal payout means converts the game ball number data into a medal is proposed. (Patent Document 3).

JP 2009-131559 A JP 2007-267833 A JP 2008-142257 A

  There are a number of pachinko machines in the game hall that pay out real balls of the number of prize balls determined for the prize opening when the game balls enter the prize opening. For example, if a player plays a game with such a gaming machine and repeats a big hit game a plurality of times within a short period of time, real balls will be paid out intensively. Will win. The player carries the acquired game balls (referred to as possession balls in this specification) one by one into the ball box, but if the player does not fit in one box, the store clerk who goes around the game hall notices, The general situation is that a ball box is stacked behind the player.

  Now, when the player tells the store clerk that he is satisfied with the game result and finishes the game, the store clerk will transport the stacked ball boxes to the jet counter installed in the hall, and sequentially hold the balls in all the ball boxes. Count on the jet counter. At this time, if you are a veteran player (referred to as a customer because you have finished playing with a gaming machine), you know empirically how many balls are in one box, so the number of balls you have earned It is impossible to figure out the exact number of balls, although the approximate number of balls can be determined by the number of ball boxes.

  Then, when all the balls have been counted, the store clerk operates the receipt issuing button attached to the jet counter, and a receipt is issued to the player. Will know the number of balls. When the player brings a receipt to the prize counter and hands it to the clerk at the prize counter, the clerk operates the exchange such as the prize POS and exchange rate for exchanging with one special prize (a holding ball suitable for exchange). The number of special prizes corresponding to the number of possessed balls recorded in the receipt is exchanged according to the number of balls in the receipt. The exchange rate varies depending on the game hall, and the exchange rate is not disclosed to the player by the game hall side.

  By the way, when the possession balls are exchanged for special prizes by the prize counter, the number of balls held is less than the number of exchanged balls. That is, in this specification, a ball having less than the number of exchange balls is called an end ball. In addition, since the number of generated end balls is digitally displayed on the display unit of the exchange such as the prize POS, the player recognizes the correct number of end balls for the first time. . It should be noted that the number of holding balls = the number of holding balls (referred to as the number of holding balls), the number of exchanged balls, the number of special prizes (referred to as the number of prizes), and the number of terminal balls (referred to as the number of terminal balls) The relationship of (number of exchanged balls × number of prizes) + number of end balls is established.

  Also, the handling of end balls that cannot be exchanged for special prizes will vary depending on the amusement hall, but will be exchanged for prizes such as jasper and chocolate.

  For players, the prize counter is forced to be exchanged for prizes such as jasper and chocolate regardless of the small number of end balls. Then, when you know the number of balls, there are not a few players who think that it should have been in the game if that number is enough.

  In this way, in a pachinko gaming machine in which the number of winning balls is paid out by real balls, it was impossible to accurately know the number of possessed balls and the number of end balls acquired by the player performing the game. . There is a demand that the player wants to know how many edge balls are less than the special prize exchange if the currently acquired ball is replaced with a special prize.

  On the other hand, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine, since the real ball is not paid out, the number of balls held by the player is the number of rented balls-the number of fired balls + the number of foul balls + the number of prize balls. Managed. For this reason, as long as the exchange rate (the number of exchanged balls) for exchanging the number of possessed balls with one special prize is set, it is possible to reliably grasp the number of end balls. In addition, in the field of the enclosed ball type gaming machine, there is no one that displays the number of end balls.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus that can display the number of terminal balls by pressing the terminal ball number display instruction input means.

The gaming device according to Solution 1 is:
A game board in which a game area is partitioned;
A ball striking device for launching a game ball into the game area in response to an operation on the ball handle;
A circulation path for collecting the game balls launched by the hitting ball launching device as encapsulated balls and supplying them to the hitting ball launching device again,
A circulating ball feed member that feeds the encapsulated balls stored in an array passage formed in a part of the circulation path one by one into the ball launching position of the hitting ball launching device one by one based on driving of an electrical drive source; A main control board for performing game control processing related to pachinko games;
Two-way data communication is possible with the main control board, the launch control of the game ball by the hitting ball launcher, the feed control of the game ball to the ball launch position by the circulating ball feed member, and the start of the game A ball information control board for managing the number of balls held as the number of balls owned by the player during the game until the end of the game;
An enclosed ball type gaming machine equipped with
An external device that is attached to the enclosed ball type gaming machine and connected to the enclosed ball type gaming machine so as to communicate with each other;
In order to solve the above problem,
The enclosed ball type gaming machine is
End ball as the number of remaining balls less than the number of exchange balls generated when the number of possession balls is divided by the number of exchange balls as the number of possession balls required when exchanging for one special prize End ball number display means for displaying the number;
An end ball number display instruction input means operable by a player and capable of inputting an instruction to display the end ball number on the end ball number display means;
With
The sphere information control board is
The number-of-balls management means for increasing or decreasing the number of balls;
Exchange ball number storage means for storing the exchange ball number,
further,
When there is an instruction input for displaying the number of edge balls from the edge ball number display instruction input means, the number of balls held managed by the number of ball holdings management means is divided by the number of exchanged balls, and the exchange End ball number calculation storage means for obtaining and storing the number of end balls as the number of remaining balls less than the number of balls;
End ball number display processing means for displaying the end ball number stored in the end ball number calculation storage means on the end ball number display means;
When the display of the number of end balls is performed, an allowable processing means that allows selection instruction input to perform end ball driving or end the display of the number of end balls and return to the normal gaming state;
When the instruction to select whether to return to the normal gaming state after finishing the display of the number of end balls is made by the permission processing means, or when the end ball is being driven, the gaming state is a game. Return processing means for ending the display of the number of end balls and returning to the normal gaming state when the gaming state is advantageous to the player,
With
It is characterized by that.

According to the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to claim 1, it is possible to display the number of end balls on the end ball number display means by depressing the end ball number display instruction input means. The player can know how many hemispheres that are less than the exchange of special prizes when the currently acquired ball is exchanged for special prizes during the game.
It is also presumed that a player who knows the number of hemisphere balls has a feeling that he wants to finish the game with a sharp edge by driving only the hemisphere balls. On the other hand, some players who know the number of oddballs only want to know the number of oddballs and want to continue playing as usual. According to the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to claim 1, when the number of end balls is displayed, driving of the end balls and ending the display of the number of end balls and continuing the normal game are performed by the player's intention. You can choose.

It is a front view which shows the payment machine attached to the pachinko machine and pachinko machine which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front perspective view which shows the main body frame which comprises a pachinko machine. It is a back perspective view which shows the main body frame which comprises a pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows the various structural members provided in the lower part of a game board, and the lower surface side lower part of a main body frame. It is a perspective view which shows a hit ball | bowl launcher, a circulation path, and a ball | bowl cleaning mechanism. It is a front view which shows the hit ball | bowl launcher and the 1st and 2nd ball channel | path formation member which forms a circulation path. It is a top view which shows the 1st and 2nd ball passage formation member which forms a hit | ball hitting device and a circulation path. It is a perspective view which shows the firing rail and 2nd ball passage formation member which comprise a hit ball launching device. It is a rear view which shows the firing rail and the 2nd ball passage formation member which constitute a hitting ball launching device. FIG. 4A is a front view showing a casing and a first duct forming member constituting the blower, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the casing and the first duct forming member constituting the blower. is there. FIGS. 9A to 9C are explanatory diagrams showing the game ball feeding control based on the ball detection by the first and second firing standby ball switches, respectively. FIGS. 9A to 9C are explanatory views showing game ball feeding control based on ball detection by the first and second firing standby ball switches in the modified examples, respectively. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part in embodiment of the main control board | substrate provided by the enclosure ball-type pachinko machine and provided with RTC. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part in embodiment of the ball | bowl information control board which is arrange | positioned at the enclosed ball-type pachinko machine and is not equipped with RTC. It is a block diagram which shows each element mainly connected to the account machine. It is a flowchart which shows the main control side power-on process which the main control MPU of FIG. 13 performs. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a continuation of main control-side power-on processing of FIG. 16 executed by the main control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the main control side timer interruption process which main control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the ball | bowl information control side power-on process which the ball | bowl information control MPU of the ball | bowl information control board of FIG. 14 performs. 20 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the sphere information control MPU power-on process in FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control main process executed by the sphere information control MPU following the sphere information control side power-on process of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control power-off process executed by the sphere information control MPU following the sphere information control main process of FIG. 21. It is a flowchart which shows the sphere information control side timer interruption process which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball rental process which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a ball | bowl hit possibility determination process which ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the number-of-balls counting process which ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the subroutine of the LED display data creation process which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball number display button check process which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a figure which shows the one display mode of the message at the time of the initial display of the number of edge balls displayed on a message display part. It is a flowchart which shows a part of subroutine of the ball number display process which sphere information control MPU performs. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a continuation of a subroutine for displaying the number of end spheres of FIG. 30. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part in embodiment of the main control board which is not equipped with RTC. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part in embodiment of the ball | bowl information control board provided with RTC. It is a flowchart which shows a part of main control side power-on process which the main control MPU of FIG. 32 performs. FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the main control side power-on process of FIG. 34 executed by the main control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows a part of sphere information control side power-on process which the sphere information control MPU of FIG. 33 performs. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the sphere information control side power-on process of FIG. 36 executed by the sphere information control MPU. 10 is a flowchart showing a main control side power-on process in an embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the ball information control board includes an RTC. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a continuation of main-control-side power-on processing in FIG. 38. FIG. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a main control side main loop process and a main control side power-off process executed by the main control MPU following FIG. 39. It is a flowchart which shows a part of sphere information control side power-on processing executed by the sphere information control MPU in an embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the sphere information control board includes the RTC. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the sphere information control side power-on process of FIG. 41 executed by the sphere information control MPU. FIG. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control main process executed by the sphere information control MPU following FIG. 42. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the sphere information control power-off which sphere information control MPU performs following FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a part of subroutine of the idling control processing which the ball | bowl information control MPU of FIG.14 and FIG.33 performs. 46 is a continuation of the flowchart of the sub-routine of the idling control process of FIG. FIG. 47 is a continuation of the flowchart of the sub-routine for idle rotation control processing of FIG. 46. FIG. FIG. 48 is a continuation of the flowchart of the subroutine of idle rotation control processing of FIGS. 46 and 47. FIG. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the arrangement | positioning position of the ball capacity | capacitance confirmation switch in the collection | recovery combined flow path, and the largest number of enclosing spheres.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The pachinko machine 1 (enclosed ball game machine) according to the present embodiment is the same as a known pachinko machine, such as game content and outer size, and can be installed in the current island facility in the hall (pachinko game hall). However, it is a gaming machine that does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island facility. In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a game is played using a game ball previously enclosed in the game machine. Then, it becomes possible to launch game balls corresponding to the number of game balls (data on the number of balls held) based on the data on the number of rented balls input from a storage medium such as a card via a checkout system. Then, the data on the number of possessed balls is subtracted corresponding to the number of game balls that have been fired.

  In addition, when the launched game ball wins a winning opening in the game area and a prize ball (game ball) is generated, the actual game ball is not paid out, and the number of prize balls is included in the number-of-balls data. Is added. Further, when the data on the number of possessed balls becomes “0”, the game ball cannot be launched. In this state, when a numerical value (number of rented balls) is added to the data of the number of balls based on the amount data stored in a storage medium such as a card or the data of the stored balls, the game balls can be launched again. It becomes. In addition, the launched game balls are collected in the gaming machine and can be launched again and circulate in the gaming machine. That is, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is an encapsulated ball type gaming machine that collects game balls launched into the game area and uses them again for games.

  First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 which comprise the pachinko machine 1 of embodiment are demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a payment machine 200 as an external device attached to the pachinko machine 1. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the main body frame 2 constituting the pachinko machine 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured in a rectangular frame shape and is installed in an island facility on the hall side, and can be opened and closed to the outer frame. And a door frame 3 that is pivotally supported by the main body frame 2 so as to be openable and closable.

  As shown in the figure, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape in which the outer frame, the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 extend in the vertical direction when viewed from the front. The dimensions of the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 are slightly shorter than the outer frame in terms of the vertical dimension in the vertical direction. A decorative cover 55 is attached to the front surface of the outer frame at a position below the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 so that the front surface of the outer frame is completely closed by the door frame 3 and the decorative cover 55. It has become. The outer frame, the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 are arranged so that the upper ends thereof are substantially aligned, and the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 are rotatably supported at a position on the left end front side of the outer frame. In addition, the right end of the main body frame 2 moves to the front side with respect to the outer frame, and is opened when the right end of the door frame 3 moves to the front side with respect to the main body frame 2. It comes to be in a state.

  The door frame 3 is formed on the game board 4 so that a player can visually recognize a game area 5 into which a game ball is to be placed, and is arranged below the game window 6 and based on a player's operation. A ball hitting handle 7 for driving a game ball into the area 5 is provided. In the gaming window 6, the front surface of the gaming board 4 mounted on the main body frame 2 side (the gaming area 5 defined by the guide rails 8) can be viewed with the door frame 3 closed against the main body frame 2. A transparent plate 9 is attached to cover. The hitting handle 7 drives the launching motor 23 (see FIG. 3) of the hitting ball launching device 20 attached to the back surface of the main body frame 2 based on the player's turning operation. It is designed to perform. The hitting handle 7 has a micro switch (not shown) that is turned on when it is turned, and a firing stop switch 86 that turns off the micro switch when the micro switch is turned on (FIG. 11). And a touch switch 87 (only the reference numeral is shown in FIG. 11) for detecting contact of the player with the hitting ball handle 7 through conductive plating applied to the outer peripheral surface of the hitting ball handle 7. I have. The hit ball launching device 20 will be described later.

  A hook cover (not shown) of the door frame 3 is inserted by inserting a key into a cylinder lock 1010 of a key device provided on the upper side of the hitting handle 7 disposed at the lower right corner of the door frame 3 and rotating it to one side. 1) and the hook portion (not shown) of the sliding frame for the door frame of the main body frame 2 is disengaged, and the door frame 3 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2 by pulling the door frame 3 to the front side. Can be done.

[Operation panel unit 10]
The door frame 3 is provided with an operation panel portion 10 that is formed horizontally in a lower portion of the game window 6 (a portion corresponding to an upper plate of a well-known pachinko machine having a non-enclosed ball type). On the left side of the operation panel unit 10 located in the middle of the front face of the door frame 3, a remaining number display unit 13, a gaming machine ball number display unit 14, and an end ball number display unit 15 are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. It is arranged. In addition, these display units are arranged with five segment displays (7-segment displays) arranged so that the numeral “8” can be displayed in a horizontal row, and can display a 5-digit numerical value.

  Here, the remaining number is a value corresponding to an amount stored in a card 203 to be described later, and the number of player's balls is the number of balls lent to the player by lending a ball. It is the total of the number of prize balls acquired by the player as a result of playing the game.

  A ball lending button (push button type switch) 11 as a ball lending command input means that can be operated by the player and a payment command input means that can be operated by the player are provided at the upper center of the operation panel 10. And a settlement button (push button type switch) 12 are juxtaposed side by side on the left and right. On the upper edge of the ball lending button 11, there is provided an operable notification lamp 52 for notifying that the operation by the ball lending button 11 is in an effective state. The ball lending button 11 is for instructing lending of a ball for playing a game. The settlement button 12 is used for instructing settlement after the pachinko game is finished.

  Further, at the lower center of the operation panel unit 10, an end ball number display as an end ball number display command input means that can be operated by the player at a position below the ball lending button (push button type switch) 11. A button (push-button switch) 16 is disposed, and a message display unit 57 made of, for example, a liquid crystal display is disposed on the right side of the central portion of the operation panel unit 10. Here, the number of end balls is the surplus number of balls when the number of gaming machine balls is divided by the number of balls corresponding to one special prize at the time of prize exchange. When the display of the number of end balls is instructed by the end ball number display button 16, the message display unit 57 displays a message such as “Would you like to drive only the end balls”? On the left and right sides of the number-of-balls display button 16, a YES button for making a selection input for the player to respond to yes or no in response to the interactive question format message displayed on the message display unit 57. A (push button type switch) 53 and an NO button (push button type switch) 54 are provided.

[Main frame 2]
On the other hand, the main body frame 2 is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame, and has a square-shaped accommodation opening for fitting and housing the game board 4 on the front side thereof. A portion 18 is formed. Then, by closing the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2, the front surface of the game board 4 accommodated in the main body frame 2 (the game area 5 defined by the guide rails 8) is the game window 6 of the door frame 3. It comes to face the front side.

  And in the pachinko machine 1 provided with the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 described above, a game is played on the front side (the game area 5) of the game board 4 fitted in the accommodation opening 18 of the main body frame 2. . That is, the pachinko machine 1 plays a game by launching a game ball into the game area 5 surrounded by the guide rails 8 of the game board 4, and the game area 5 has a number of obstacle nails (not shown). ), And various winning ports such as a starting winning port and a large winning port (in FIG. 13, an upper starting port switch 90 for detecting a game ball won in the upper starting winning port arranged in the gaming area 5; A lower start port switch 91 for detecting a game ball won in a lower start winning port arranged in the game area 5, and a gate switch 92 for detecting a game ball passed through a gate arranged in the game area 5. The left winning port switch 93 for detecting a game ball won in a winning port arranged on the left side of the gaming area 5 and the gaming ball won in a winning port arranged on the upper and lower sides on the right side of the gaming area 5 are detected. Upper right / lower right prize port switch 94 and in game area 5 An LED board for displaying a normal symbol and a special symbol, a start-up solenoid 96 for a normal electric accessory disposed in the game area 5, and a solenoid 97 for a big prize opening disposed in the game area 5. And a big prize opening count switch 98 for detecting a game ball won in the big prize opening are described only by reference numerals), and a predetermined number of prize balls are given according to the prizes received in various winning openings. It has become. Specifically, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, which is an enclosed ball type gaming machine, “1” is subtracted from the data of the number of balls in accordance with the driving of one gaming ball, while winning in various winning openings. The number of winning balls corresponding to the number of balls held is added to the data on the number of balls held, and the number of balls held corresponding to this is displayed on the number-of-balls display section 14 of the gaming machine.

  In addition, at the lower end portion of the game area 5, there is provided an out port 19 that accepts a game ball that has flowed down to the lowest end without winning any of the winning ports and discharges it to the back side of the game board 4. On the back side of the game board 4, a collection basket that collects the game balls that have won the various prize openings and the game balls that have flowed into the out slot 19, and guides these game balls toward the out-safe ball collection path 31 described later. (Not shown) is attached.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the payout of the winning ball is not performed, and the number of balls to be played, the number of balls entered, the number of balls difference, the number of balls held, etc. are not the actual number of game balls, It is a numerical value on the data. That is, there are only a limited number of game balls that are actually used (for example, 25 or 50) that are circulated, and the number of balls that can be used is, for example, a game ball that is launched into the game area 5 is detected. The number of shot balls counted, the number of foul balls counted by detecting the game balls that have been launched but returned, the number of collected balls counted by detecting the game balls that have been launched and collected in the game area 5, The number of balls entered, the number of balls out, the number of balls difference, the number of balls held can be obtained from the number of winning balls when winning a prize and the number of balls rented from the hall.

  That is, as long as there is no trouble such as opening the door frame 3 and the game ball going out, the number of fired balls = the number of foul balls + the number of collected balls (when the number of foul balls is not included). And the number of entered balls = the number of collected balls = the number of launched balls-the number of foul balls, the number of issued balls = the number of winning balls (integrated value) = the number of entered balls-the number of rented balls (the number of replayed balls) + the number of held balls, Number of balls held = number of balls rented (or replayed balls) + number of balls played-number of balls entered, number of balls played-number of balls entered = number of balls difference, number of balls held = number of balls lent (or number of balls replayed) ) + Difference ball number. In this way, the game by the pachinko machine 1 is completely performed as a numerical value on the data, and there is no error caused by spilling the game ball or leaving the game ball on the lower plate or the upper plate, It becomes possible to manage in an integer unit.

  Next, the ball striking device 20, the circulation path 30, and the ball cleaning mechanism 60 provided on the back side of the main body frame 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the main body frame 2 constituting the pachinko machine 1. FIG. 4 is a front view showing various components provided on the lower part of the game board 4 and the lower part on the back side of the main body frame 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ball striking device 20, the circulation path 30, and the ball cleaning mechanism 60. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the ball striking device 20 and the first and second ball passage forming members 33 and 37 that form the circulation path 30. FIG. 7 is a top view showing the ball striking device 20 and the first and second ball passage forming members 33 and 37 that form the circulation path 30. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the firing rail 21 and the second ball passage forming member 37 constituting the hit ball launching device 20. FIG. 9 is a rear view showing the firing rail 21 and the second ball passage forming member 37 constituting the hit ball launching device 20. FIG. 10A is a front view showing the casing 65 and the first duct forming member 69 constituting the blower 62. FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the casing 65 and the first duct forming member 69 constituting the blower 62.

[Hitball launcher 20]
As shown in FIG. 3, a hitting ball launching device 20 for launching a game ball on a launch guide path 8 a (see FIG. 2) of a guide rail 8 provided on the game board 4 is provided at the lower part on the back side of the main body frame 2. Ball launching means) is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the hit ball launching device 20 launches a launch rail 21 provided in communication with the launch guide path 8 a and a game ball at a launch position near the starting point of the launch rail 21. A firing hammer 22 and a firing motor 23 as a driving source of the firing hammer 22 are provided. The firing hammer 22 is pivotally supported on the firing base frame 80 and the firing hammer 22 is provided. A slide motor 81 and a slide member for adjusting a biasing force of a biasing spring (not shown) for applying a biasing force for attaching the firing motor 23 to the firing base frame 80 and for returning to the firing hammer 22 are attached to the firing base frame 80. 82 (refer to FIG. 6 for both) is provided on the firing base frame 80. A reverse rotation prevention cam 83 is fixed to the tip of the motor shaft of the firing motor 23. A large number of reverse teeth are formed on the outer periphery of the reverse rotation prevention cam 83, and engages with a stopper piece 85 that is swingably fixed to the stopper piece mounting boss 84 to rotate the firing motor 23 in the reverse direction. It is preventing.

  The firing hammer 22 is actuated (reciprocatingly rotated) by driving the firing motor 23 based on the turning operation of the hitting ball handle 7 described above. In addition, a launch ball check switch 24 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball to be driven by the launch hammer 22 is disposed at the ball launch position near the starting point of the launch rail 21. A launch ball detection switch 25 for detecting a game ball launched from the launch rail 21 is arranged (FIG. 4). Thereby, after the detection of the game ball is switched to non-detection by the launch ball confirmation switch 24, when the passing of the game ball is detected by the launch ball detection switch 25, one game ball is fired by the launching hammer 22. It is supposed to detect that.

  The launch ball check switch 24 includes a flat type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body based on a change in impedance of a detection coil of the high-frequency oscillation circuit. The shot ball detection switch 25 is composed of a pair of sensors for light emission and light reception, and a transmission type photo sensor for detecting the game ball by light shielding accompanying the passage of the game ball.

  In addition, opening / closing plate members 26 and 27 for facilitating maintenance work of the switches 24 and 25 are provided at the mounting portions of the firing ball confirmation switch 24 and the firing ball detection switch 25, respectively (FIG. 5). . The open / close plate members 26 and 27 are attached so as to be rotatable (open / close) side by side with respect to the support shaft 28 (see FIG. 2). A switch mounting portion 26a is formed on the opening / closing plate member 26 disposed on the right side when viewed from the player side, and a launch ball check switch 24 is integrally attached to the switch mounting portion 26a. The maintenance work on the firing ball check switch 24 and the firing rail 21 is facilitated by opening the. On the other hand, the opening / closing plate member 27 disposed on the left side when viewed from the player side is formed with an opening 27a for avoiding interference with the launch ball detection switch 25 when the opening / closing plate member 27 is closed. Opening 27 facilitates the maintenance work of the firing ball detection switch 25.

[Circulation path 30]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a first spherical passage in which an out-safe ball collection path 31 and a foul ball collection path 32 that form a spherical path of the circulation path 30 are formed in the lower part on the back side of the main body frame 2. A forming member 33, and a second spherical passage forming member 37 formed by sequentially connecting the collecting and combining passage 34, the array passage 35, and the launching and sending passage 36 are provided. And, the launch path constituted by the launch rail 21, the launch guide path 8a constituted by the guide rail 8, the game area 5, various winning openings, the out port 19, the recovery bowl on the back of the game board 4, the out-safe ball recovery path A game ball circulation path 30 is configured by the foul ball collection path 32, the collection joint path 34, the arrangement path 35, and the launch delivery path 36.

  It should be noted that the recovery combined flow path 34 as the circulation path 30 formed by the second ball path forming member 37 (strictly speaking, it is arranged directly below each ball outlet of the out-safe ball recovery path 31 and the foul ball recovery path 32. The passage portion on the downstream side of a later-described ball inflow port 42), the arrangement passage 35, and the launch delivery passage 36 are each formed in a passage shape that sequentially conveys one game ball at a time. Further, the ball guide passage according to the present invention is constituted by the collection bowl on the back surface of the game board 4, the out-safe ball collection path 31, the foul ball collection path 32, the collection joint path 34, the arrangement path 35, and the launch and delivery path 36. Yes.

  The out-safe ball collection path 31 is arranged in communication with the collection bowl mounted on the back surface of the game board 4 as described above, and the safe balls collected by the collection bowl (game balls won in various winning openings) and the out The ball (the game ball that has flowed into the out port 19) is received and guided to the recovery combining channel 34. Further, in the middle of the out-safe ball collection path 31, a game ball that has passed through the out-safe ball collection path 31, in other words, a game ball (out ball and safe ball) that has been driven into the game area 5 is detected. An out-safe sphere detection switch 40 is provided. The out-safe ball detection switch 40 includes a penetration type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by a change in impedance of a detection coil of a high-frequency oscillation circuit.

  The foul ball collection path 32 receives a foul ball collected from a foul ball collection port 38 (see FIG. 4) formed in the game board 4 and guides it to the collection joint channel 34. The foul ball collection port 38 is a drop port provided between the launch rail 21 and the lower portion of the outer rail portion of the guide rail 8, and a game ball launched from the launch rail 21 (the hitting ball launching device 20) is a game area. When the guide rail 8 flows backward without being driven into the game ball 5, the game ball enters the foul ball collection port 38 and is collected as a foul ball. Further, in the middle of the passage of the foul ball collection path 32, a game ball that has passed through the foul ball collection path 32, in other words, a game ball (foul ball) that has become foul without being driven into the game area 5 is detected. Foul ball detection switch 41 is provided. The foul ball detection switch 41 is constituted by a penetration type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by a change in impedance of a detection coil of a high-frequency oscillation circuit.

  The recovery joint channel 34 is formed to meander in a substantially S-shape, and the spherical inflow port 42 at the upper end thereof communicates directly below the respective ball outlets of the out-safe ball recovery channel 31 and the foul ball recovery channel 32. It is formed in a shape. In addition, a ball capacity confirmation switch 43 (ball capacity confirmation means) for confirming the capacity of the game balls collected in the collection joint path 34 is provided in the middle of the passage downstream of the collection joint path 34. The ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is configured by a flat type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by a change in impedance of a detection coil of a high-frequency oscillation circuit.

  The array passage 35 is provided so as to communicate with a ball outlet at a downstream portion of the recovery joint channel 34 and is configured to store and array a plurality of game balls in contact with each other. The array passage 35 is formed in a U-shaped passage shape in which one end side communicates with the sphere outlet of the collection passage 34 having a downward slope, and the other end communicates with the sphere inlet of the launch delivery path 36 having an upward slope. In the U-shaped passage, a circulating ball feeding member 44 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) made of a sprocket-like rotating body is assembled so as to be rotatable about a shaft 45. A plurality (two in the embodiment) of ball receiving portions 46 are formed on the outer circumference of the circulating ball feeding member 44 at a predetermined angle (180 degrees in the embodiment). The circulating ball feeding member 44 is rotated by using a circulating ball feeding motor 47 (see FIG. 5: electric drive source) as a drive source so as to send the game balls in the array passage 35 one by one toward the launch delivery path 36. It has become. In other words, the output shaft of the circulating ball feed motor 47 is coupled to the shaft 45 of the circulating ball feed member 44 so that torque can be transmitted.

  The launch delivery path 36 communicates with the ball outlet at the upper end of the array passage 35 having an ascending slope and forms an ascending slope with the entrance passage 48 and the ball hitting device 20 (launch rail) from the top of the upper end of the entrance passage 48. 21) and a delivery passage portion 49 having a gentle downward slope toward the ball launch position side, and has a substantially U-shape.

  In the middle of the passage of the delivery passage portion 49, the first and second for detecting the game ball that has passed through the delivery passage portion 49 and controlling the feeding of the game ball to the ball hitting device 20 by the circulating ball feed motor 47. Are provided side by side with the firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 (first and second sending ball detecting means). The launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are each composed of a flat type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by a change in impedance of a detection coil of a high-frequency oscillation circuit. The control for sending the game ball to the hitting ball launcher 20 based on the ball detection by the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 will be described in detail later.

[Ball cleaning mechanism 60]
In addition, a ball cleaning mechanism 60 for removing dust and the like attached to the game balls circulating in the circulation path 30 is provided at the lower part on the back side of the main body frame 2. The ball cleaning mechanism 60 includes a conductive brush 61 having conductivity provided in the entrance passage portion 48 of the launch and delivery path 36 serving as the circulation path 30 so as to be in contact with the game ball, and an arrangement portion of the conductive brush 61. And an air blowing device 62 (air blowing means) for blowing artificial wind into the entrance passage portion 48 of the launch and delivery path 36.

  As shown in FIG. 9, three conductive brushes 61 are provided side by side on the upper wall side of the firing delivery path 36, and the brush tip portion is formed in the upper wall portion of the inlet passage portion 48 of the firing delivery path 36. It is arranged in a state of being slightly inserted into the inlet passage portion 48 through the brush insertion port 63 formed. As a result, the game ball passing through the entrance passage portion 48 is rubbed against the tip of the conductive brush 61 as it passes through the entrance passage portion 48, so that deposits such as dust adhering to the outer peripheral surface are removed. It has become.

  The conductive brush 61 is connected to a ground wiring 64 (see FIG. 6). Thus, when the conductive brush 61 is rubbed against the game ball, static electricity charged on the surface of the game ball is removed in addition to the removal of the deposits. Two such conductive brushes 61 are also provided side by side on the upper wall side in the downstream portion of the recovery combined flow path 34, and the conductive brush 61 on the side of the launch and delivery path 36 (inlet passage section 48). Similarly, the adhering matter and static electricity are removed from the game ball passing through the passage (in this case, the downstream portion of the recovery combining passage 34).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the blower 62 is a well-known blower fan for exhaust heat (cooling) of a power source of an electric product, a substrate, etc., and a fan (a motor that rotates the fan in a substantially circular casing 65) Both are not shown). A screw fixing boss 66 for screwing the blower device 62 to the back side of the second spherical passage forming member 37 (portion forming the recovery combined flow path 34) and an artificial wind are blown out on the outer peripheral portion of the casing 65. Are formed.

  In addition, a blower duct 68 that guides the artificial wind blown from the blower port 67 toward the launch and delivery path 36 is attached to the blower port 67. The air duct 68 includes a first duct forming member 69 having a casing shape, and a second duct forming member 70 having a flat plate shape that is assembled so as to cover the casing opening of the first duct forming member 69. It is comprised from the assembly | attachment body of. The first duct forming member 69 is provided on the screw stop boss 71 for assembling the second duct forming member 70 integrally and on the second ball passage forming member 37 side (the vicinity of the launching and sending path 36). An air outlet 73 is formed which is connected to the air inlet 72 (see FIG. 6) and sends the artificial wind blown from the air outlet 67 to the launching and sending path 36 and the recovery combined path 34.

  As a result, the artificial wind blown from the blower port 67 of the blower 62 is sent from the wind outlet 73 of the blower duct 68 to the wind inlet 72 of the second ball passage forming member 37. The artificial wind sent to the wind inlet 72 is provided adjacent to the arrangement position of the conductive brush 61 (the brush insertion port 63 through which the brush tip portion is inserted) on the upper wall side of the inlet passage portion 48 of the launch delivery path 36. The three blowout ports 74 are blown into the inlet passage portion 48 and from the three blowout ports 77 provided adjacent to the arrangement position of the conductive brush 61 on the upper wall side in the downstream portion of the recovery combined passage 34. It is blown into the recovery joint channel 34.

  As a result, the artificial wind from the blower 62 is blown to the game balls in the collection joint channel 34 and the inlet passage portion 48, so that the game balls pass through the collection joint passage 34 and the inlet passage portion 48. Thus, it is possible to remove deposits such as dust attached to the outer peripheral surface of the game ball. Further, at this time, the game balls in the collection joint channel 34 and the entrance passage portion 48 are also removed by adhering the conductive brush 61 as described above. The ball cleaning when passing through the inner and inlet passage portions 48 is performed by two methods (a method in which the conductive brush 61 is rubbed against the game ball and a method in which the artificial wind of the blower 62 is blown onto the game ball). The cleaning effect can be greatly enhanced. Specifically, the game ball is surely cleaned by removing the deposit from the outer surface of the game ball by rubbing the conductive brush 61 and completely removing the deposit from the game ball by blowing the artificial wind. Can do. However, by removing static electricity from the surface of the game ball, it is possible to reduce the adherence of garbage, especially dry garbage, and by adhering artificial wind to such a game ball, there are deposits attached to the game ball. Efficiently removed.

  Further, the artificial wind blown from the blower 62 into the recovery joint channel 34 and the inlet passage 48 removes the deposits adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the game ball and, at the same time, adheres to the conductive brush 61 by rubbing the game ball. The conductive brush 61 is also cleaned by blowing away the attached matter from the tip of the brush. For this reason, maintenance is performed such that the worn-out tape portion is gradually wound up and finally replaced with new abrasive paper, as in the configuration of removing the adhering game balls using tape-like abrasive paper. Since it is not necessary to frequently perform the work, the maintenance cycle for the configuration for removing the deposits of game balls can be dramatically increased.

  In addition, in the portion of the second spherical passage forming member 37 that forms the lower wall portion of the inlet passage portion 48 of the launch delivery passage 36 (the portion facing the upper wall portion in which the blowout port 74 is formed), the launch delivery passage is provided. Two discharge ports for discharging the artificial wind of the blower 62 blown into the air blower 36 and the deposits on the surface of the game ball removed by the blowing of the artificial wind to the outside of the inlet passage 48 (circulation path 30) 75 is formed. In addition, a similar exhaust port 78 (see FIG. 6) is also formed in the portion of the second spherical passage forming member 37 that forms the lower wall portion of the recovery combining channel 34 (the portion facing the upper wall portion where the air outlet 77 is formed). ) Is formed. Thus, the artificial wind of the blower 62 blown into the inlet passage portion 48 and the recovery combined passage 34 is not trapped in the inlet passage portion 48 and the recovery combined passage 34 (circulation path 30), and smooth artificial wind. In other words, it is possible to invite a smooth game ball cleaning by blowing artificial wind. In addition, according to such a configuration, the removed deposits on the surface of the game ball are discharged out of the inlet passage portion 48 and the recovery combined passage 34 (circulation path 30), and therefore the deposits are removed from the inlet passage portion 48 and It is possible to avoid such a problem that it remains in the collection joint channel 34 (circulation path 30) and adheres to the surface of the game ball again.

  In addition, three vent holes 76 are formed in a row in a slit shape at the lower portion of the outer peripheral wall of the first duct forming member 69 on the air outlet 73 side, and the artificial wind blown out from the air outlet 67 While being sent from the outlet 73 to the launch delivery path 36 (inlet passage section 48) and the recovery combined flow path 34, it is also blown out slightly from the blower 62 through the vent 76. The three air vents 76 are connected to the driving source of the circulating ball feeding member 44 in a state where the blower 62 is screwed to the back side of the second ball passage forming member 37 (the portion forming the recovery combined passage 34). It is arranged at an upper position close to the circulating ball feed motor 47. Thereby, the artificial wind blown out from the vent hole 76 hits the circulating ball feed motor 47 and cools the circulating ball feed motor 47. That is, the artificial wind of the blower 62 circulates the game balls in the circulation path 30 in addition to the action of cleaning the game balls in the circulation path 30 (the inlet passage portion 48 and the recovery combined passage 34 of the launch and delivery path 36). It also has the function of cooling the electric drive source (circulating ball feed motor 47) having the function of

  Thus, in the pachinko machine 1 described above, the game balls are circulated and used in the circulation path 30, and the deposits attached to the game balls used for circulation are removed by the ball cleaning mechanism 60. The game ball supplied to the hitting ball launching device 20 is shot by the hitting ball launching device 20 from the lower front side of the game board 4 between the inner and outer two guide rails 8 into the game area 5. Then, the game balls launched into the game area 5 flow down in the game area 5, and a part of the game balls are arranged in the game area 5 (for example, a normal prize opening, a start prize opening) , A prize winning opening, etc.), is led to the back side of the game board 4 to become a safe ball, and is guided to the out-safe ball collection path 31 through a collection bowl on the back side of the game board 4.

  On the other hand, the game balls that have not won any of the winning holes after flowing down the game area 5 flow into the out holes 19 at the lower end of the game area 5 to become out balls, and pass through the collecting bowl on the back of the game board 4. It is guided to the out-safe ball collection path 31. The out-ball and the safe ball guided to the out-safe ball collection path 31 through the collection bowl on the back of the game board 4 are detected as out-of-safe balls provided in the middle of the out-safe ball collection path 31 respectively. After being detected by the switch 40, it is fed into the recovery combining channel 34.

  In addition, the game ball which has been launched by the hitting ball launching apparatus 20 but has flowed back through the guide rail 8 without flowing down the game area 5 becomes a foul ball and enters the foul ball collection port 38 and enters the foul ball collection path 32. Be guided to. Then, the foul sphere guided from the foul ball collection port 38 to the foul ball collection path 32 is detected by a foul ball detection switch 41 provided in the middle of the foul ball collection path 32 and then fed into the collection passage 34. It is collected together with the out ball and the safe ball.

  Thereafter, the game balls (out ball, safe ball, and foul ball) sent into the recovery joint channel 34 flow down in the recovery joint channel 34 formed to meander in a substantially S shape, and the recovery joint channel 34 34 is detected by a ball capacity confirmation switch 43 provided in the middle of the passage on the downstream side, and then sent to the array passage 35. Then, the game balls fed into the arrangement passage 35 are fitted into the ball receiving portion 46 of the circulating ball feeding member 44, and 1 when the circulating ball feeding member 44 rotates based on the driving of the circulating ball feeding motor 47. It is sent out one by one to the entrance passage portion 48 side of the launch delivery path 36 that forms an upward slope.

  At this time, the game ball transported in the entrance passage portion 48 is rubbed with the tip portion of the conductive brush 61 as it passes through the entrance passage portion 48, so that the attached matter such as dust attached to the outer peripheral surface is adhered. Is removed, and static electricity charged on the outer peripheral surface is removed. At the same time, artificial wind from the blower 62 is blown against the game ball passing through the entrance passage portion 48. As a result, artificial wind is blown onto the game ball that has passed through the entrance passage portion 48 and has the attached brush peeled off by the conductive brush 61 and from which static electricity has been removed.

  Therefore, the removal of static electricity reduces the adherence of trash, especially dry trash, and the artificial ball is blown against the game ball from which the outer peripheral surface is peeled off. It is possible to efficiently remove deposits attached to the surface. Further, since the deposits such as dust blown off from the game ball are discharged to the outside from the artificial wind outlet 75 formed in the lower wall portion of the entrance passage portion 48, the removed deposits are removed from the entrance passage portion. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem of remaining in the 48 (circulation path 30) and adhering to the game ball display again. The removal of the adhering matter and static electricity on the game ball is also performed by the conductive brush 61 in the recovery joint channel 34 when the game ball is sent from the downstream portion of the recovery joint channel 34 to the array passage 35. It is what is said.

  Further, when the game balls fitted in the ball receiving portion 46 of the circulating ball feeding member 44 are sent one by one to the inlet passage portion 48 along with the rotating operation of the circulating ball feeding member 44, the gaming balls are Also by the feeding operation by the circulating ball feeding member 44, the deposits on the outer peripheral surface are removed to some extent. Specifically, two ball receiving portions 46 for receiving game balls are formed on the outer circumference of the circulating ball feeding member 44 in the present embodiment at an interval of 180 degrees. For this reason, even when game balls are continuously sent by the rotating operation of the circulating ball feeding member 44, a slight interval is provided until the next game ball is fed after the first game ball is fed. .

  During this interval period, that is, in a period in which the outer peripheral portion of the circulating ball feeding member 44 other than the ball receiving portion 46 is in contact with the lowermost game ball of the inlet passage portion 48, it is stopped in the inlet passage portion 48. The game ball moves slightly toward the arrangement passage 35 side. Therefore, by the rotation of the circulating ball feeding member 44, the movement in which the game balls are pushed up one by one in the entrance passage portion 48 and the movement in which the game balls are slightly lowered in the entrance passage portion 48 are alternately repeated. Thus, a slight impact force can be applied to the game ball by the vertical movement of the game ball in the entrance passage portion 48, and the deposit on the outer peripheral surface of the game ball is removed by the impact force. Yes.

  Thereafter, the game ball that has passed through the entrance passage portion 48 has a substantially U-shaped apex portion of the launch delivery path 36, in other words, a communication portion between the entrance passage portion 48 and the delivery passage portion 49 constituting the launch delivery path 36. As a boundary, the delivery passage portion 49 that becomes a downward slope naturally flows down by its own weight. Then, the game balls that naturally flow down the delivery passage portion 49 are detected by the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 provided in the middle of the delivery passage portion 49 and then sent to the hitting ball launcher 20 side. Then, it is derived to a ball launch position that is in the vicinity of the starting point of the launch rail 21 constituting the hit ball launching device 20.

  After that, the game ball is circulated and used again by being fired from the hitting ball launcher 20 to the game area 5. In addition, a game ball collected through the circulation path 30 after being driven by the hitting ball launching apparatus 20 (a game ball led out to the ball launch position again through the circulation path 30) is a launch delivery path 36 (inlet passage section). 48) Since the deposits and static electricity are removed, the possibility that the deposits such as dust will be charged again before reaching the ball hitting device 20 is low. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the unevenness of the game ball caused by being fired in a state where the attached matter is attached.

  The above-mentioned second spherical passage forming member 37 is provided so as to be detachable from the back surface of the main body frame 2, and is a totally enclosed sphere (circulated and used in the recovery combined passage 34, the array passage 35, and the launching and sending passage 36) For example, it may be configured as an enclosed ball exchange unit that can be exchanged in a state where 50 balls are enclosed. According to such a configuration, by replacing the sealed ball replacement unit with a new one, all the sealed balls used for circulation at the same time can be replaced with clean game balls.

  Next, an outline of control of the checkout machine 200 as an external device arranged adjacent to the pachinko machine 1 and one side thereof will be described. FIG. 13: is a block diagram which shows the principal part in embodiment of the main control board provided in the enclosure ball-type pachinko machine and provided with RTC. The control of the pachinko machine 1 is broadly divided into a main board group and a peripheral board group. Among these, the main board group controls the game operation, and the peripheral board group performs a production operation (liquid crystal display panel, lamp , Body frame lamp, door frame lamp, sound). The main board group includes a main control board 100 and a sphere information control board 110, and the peripheral board group includes a peripheral control board 130.

[Main control board 100]
The main control board 100 controls pachinko games. The main control board 100 and a later-described sphere information control board 110 are connected so that bidirectional data communication is possible. As shown in FIG. 13, the main control board 100 for controlling the progress of the game is a main control MPU 101 which is a microprocessor in which a ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and the like are incorporated. A main control I / O port 102 as an input / output device (I / O device), a main control input circuit 103 to which detection signals from various detection switches are input, and a main control solenoid for driving various solenoids A drive circuit 104 and a RAM clear switch 105 for completely erasing information stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101 are provided.

  The main control MPU 101, in addition to its built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in ROM”) and main control built-in RAM, in addition to a watchdog timer that monitors its operation (system) and to prevent fraud These functions are also built in. The main control MPU 101 has a built-in non-volatile RAM, and this non-volatile RAM has a unique code for identifying an individual by the manufacturer of the main control MPU 101 (a code that exists only once in the world). ) Is stored in advance. The ID code once assigned is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, and therefore cannot be rewritten even if an external device is used. The main control MPU 101 can take out and refer to the ID code from the nonvolatile RAM.

[RTC control unit]
Further, the main control MPU 101 of the embodiment includes an external real-time clock (hereinafter referred to as “RTC”) 107 capable of acquiring time information as time information acquisition means. Although not shown, the RTC 107 includes a register circuit, a clock input circuit, a clock output circuit, an interrupt output circuit, a data input / output circuit, and a control circuit.

  The RTC 107 has a clock / calendar function. The clock / calendar function is a function that counts the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. Moreover, you may use what counts to a day of the week as needed. The RTC control unit 106 is provided with an RTC 107 and a battery 108 for driving the RTC 107. By providing the battery 108, the RTC 107 does not interrupt the timekeeping and calendar function even when the power supply of a power supply board (not shown) is shut off.

  The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery), or a rechargeable secondary battery, thereby avoiding the need to arrange a backup power supply and avoiding the complicated configuration of the main control board 100. Can do. The battery 108 is also used as a backup power source for the RAM 109.

  The main control MPU 101 includes the RTC 107 and has a function of specifying year / month / day / hour / minute / second (calendar information and time information). In other words, in this embodiment, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 acquires time information (hour / minute / second) from the RTC 107 when the gaming machine is turned on.

  An upper start switch 90 for detecting a game ball won in an upper start port (not shown) arranged in the game area 5 of the game board 4 and a lower one for detecting a game ball won in a lower start port (not shown). A detection signal from a general winning opening switch 93 that detects a game ball won in the start opening switch 91 and a general winning opening (not shown) is first input to the main control input circuit 103, and the main control I / O port 102. Is input to the main control MPU 101.

  In addition, a gate switch 92 that detects a game ball that has passed through a gate portion (not shown), a general winning port switch 94 that detects a gaming ball won in a general winning port (not shown), and a big winning port (not shown). The detection signal from the count switch 98 that detects the game ball that won the game is first input to the main control input circuit 103 via the panel relay terminal board 140 attached to the game board 4, and the main control I / O port 102. Is input to the main control MPU 101.

  Based on these detection signals, the main control MPU 101 outputs a control signal from the main control I / O port 102 to the main control solenoid drive circuit 104, so that the start-up solenoid 96 and the large-size solenoid 96 are connected via the panel relay terminal plate 140. A drive signal is output to the winning opening solenoid 97, the upper special symbol display 142, the lower special symbol display 143, and the upper special symbol from the main control I / O port 102 through the panel relay terminal board 140 and the function display board 141. A drive signal is output to the symbol memory display 144, the lower special symbol memory display 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol memory display 147, the game state display 148, and the round display 149.

  Further, the main control MPU 101 transmits various information related to the game (game information) and various commands related to the winning ball according to the prize to the ball information control board 110 in a serial manner, or the pachinko game from the ball information control board 110 Various commands relating to the status of the machine 1 are received in a serial manner. Further, the main control MPU 101 transmits various commands related to the control of the game effect and various commands related to the state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to the peripheral control board 130.

[Sphere Information Control Board 110]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main part in an embodiment of the sphere information control board 110 which is provided in the encapsulated sphere pachinko machine and does not have an RTC. The ball information control board 110 includes a ball information control unit 118 that performs management of the number of balls and various controls related to the circulating ball feed motor 47 and a launch control unit 119 that performs launch control by the launch motor 23. Further, the main control board 100 and the sphere information control board 110 are connected so as to enable bidirectional data communication.

[Sphere Information Control Unit 118]
As shown in FIG. 14, the sphere information control unit 118 includes a sphere information control MPU 111, which is a microprocessor in which various processing programs and various commands are stored, a ROM that stores various data, a RAM that temporarily stores data, and the like. A sphere information control I / O port 112 as an O device and an external watchdog timer 116 (hereinafter referred to as “external WDT 116”) for monitoring whether or not the sphere information control MPU 111 is operating normally. A circulating ball feed motor driving circuit 114 for outputting a driving signal to the circulating ball feed motor 47 for performing the ball feeding, a ball information control input circuit 113 for receiving detection signals from various detection switches relating to the circulating ball feeding, And a CR unit input / output circuit 115 for exchanging various signals with the settlement machine 200. In addition to its built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as “ROM with built-in sphere information control”) and RAM (hereinafter referred to as “RAM with built-in sphere information control”), the sphere information control MPU 111 is also adapted to fraud. It also has built-in functions to prevent it.

  The ball information control MPU 111 receives various information (game information) related to games from the main control board 100 and various commands related to prize balls in a serial manner via the ball information control I / O port 112, or from the main control board 100. An operation signal (detection signal) of the RAM clear switch 105 is input via the ball information control I / O port 112.

  Detection signals from a door frame opening switch 131 that detects opening of the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2 and a body frame opening switch 132 that detects opening of the main body frame 2 with respect to the outer frame are first input to the ball information control input circuit 113. And input to the sphere information control MPU 111 via the sphere information control I / O port 112. Further, a touch detection signal (ON signal) from the touch switch 87 for detecting whether or not a palm or finger is touching the hitting handle 7 is input to the firing control input circuit 120 via the handle relay terminal plate 123 and further touched. The detection signal is input to the sphere information control MPU 111 via the sphere information control I / O port 112.

  Also, the blower 62, the circulating ball feed motor 47, the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51, the ball capacity confirmation switch 43, the launch ball confirmation switch 24, the launch ball detection switch 25, the foul ball detection switch 41, The detection signal from the out-safe sphere detection switch 40 is input to the sphere information control input circuit 113 via the sensor relay board 124 and input to the sphere information control MPU 111 via the sphere information control I / O port 112. . The ball information control MPU 111 outputs a drive signal for driving the blower 62 and the circulating ball feed motor 47 to the blower 62 and the circulating ball feed motor 47 via the ball information control I / O port 112.

  In addition, the ball information control MPU 111 can receive operation input signals of the end ball number display button 16, the YES button 53, and the NO button 54 disposed on the operation panel unit 10 through the ball information control I / O port 112. It is connected. Further, in the ball information control MPU 111, a gaming machine possession ball number display unit 14, a terminal ball number display unit 15, and a message display unit 57 disposed on the operation panel unit 10 are controlled from the ball information control I / O port 112. It is connected so that it can be displayed by output. In addition, the ball information control board 110 relays the electrical connection between the main control board 100 and the external terminal board 133, and in addition to the door frame opening switch 131, the body frame opening switch 132, the external terminal board 133, The electrical connection between is relayed. The external terminal board 133 is electrically connected to a hall computer installed in the game hall (hall).

[Launch Control Unit 119]
A launch control unit 119 that performs launch control by the launch motor 23 includes a launch control input circuit 120 to which detection signals from various detection switches related to launch are input, an oscillation circuit 121 that outputs a clock signal at regular intervals, and this clock. An output of a firing reference pulse for launching a game ball toward the game area 5 based on the signal, and a firing motor drive circuit 122 that outputs a drive signal to the firing motor 23 based on the firing reference pulse are provided. .

  A detection signal from a touch switch 87 for detecting whether or not a palm or finger is touching the hitting handle 7 and a firing stop switch 86 for detecting whether or not the game ball is forcibly stopped according to the player's will. Is first input to the launch control input circuit 120 via the handle relay terminal plate 123. Further, when the settlement machine 200 and the ball information control board 110 are electrically connected, the CR control signal is input to the launch control input circuit 120.

  Note that DC power supplies + 24V, + 12V, and + 5.2V are supplied to the spherical information control board 110 from a power supply board (not shown). In addition, DC power supplies + 24V, + 12V, and + 5.2V are supplied to the main control board 100 via the sphere information control board 110.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 117 compares and monitors the voltage V1 based on + 24V and the reference voltage, and the voltage V2 based on + 12V and the reference voltage, respectively, and detects a sign of power failure or instantaneous power failure, that is, the voltage V1 or V2 is the reference. When it becomes smaller than the voltage, a power failure warning signal is output as a power failure warning. The power failure notice signal output from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is supplied to the main control MPU 101 in addition to being supplied to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110. Although not shown, the power failure warning signal is also input to the peripheral control board 130.

[Settlement machine 200]
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing each element mainly connected to the checkout machine 200. The payment machine 200 and the ball information control board 110 are connected so that data communication can be performed in both directions. Although not shown, the control unit of the checkout machine 200 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and the like.

  To the checkout machine 200, operation input signals of the ball lending button 11 and the checkout button 12 disposed on the operation panel unit 10 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 are connected so as to be input through an interface, for example. Further, the remaining frequency display unit 13 and the operable notification lamp 52 arranged on the operation panel unit 10 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 are connected so as to be able to be displayed by a control output from the settlement machine 200. Further, the checkout machine 200 is provided with a card processing machine 202 at the back of the card insertion slot 201 of FIG.

[Card 203]
The card 203 used in the embodiment is composed of, for example, a magnetic card or an IC card, and is issued to a player by being issued by a card issuing machine (not shown) when the player pays a predetermined amount. FIG. 15 shows the data structure stored in the card 203.

  In the card 203, an ID storage unit 204 in which an ID number (hereinafter simply referred to as an ID) as identification information individually given to the card 203 is stored, which corresponds to the amount paid when the card 203 is purchased. The remaining number storage unit 205 that stores the remaining number as valuable value information to be stored, and the number of stored balls 206 that stores the number of balls (game machine balls) acquired by the player as a result of playing the game. Is set. When the card 203 is issued, the ID is stored in the ID storage unit 204, and the remaining number corresponding to the amount paid when the card 203 is purchased in the remaining number storage unit 205 (for example, the amount paid is 5000 yen). In this case, “5000”) is stored as the remaining number, but “0” is stored as the initial value of the number of balls in the ball number storage unit 206.

  The card processor 202 is conventionally known, a card sensor for detecting the card 203, a card reader / writer for reading data stored in the card 203 and writing data to the card 203, and data reading of the card 203. A card conveying means is provided for sending the card 203 to the writing position and discharging the card 203 to the card insertion slot 201. When the card 203 is inserted into the card insertion slot 201, the card processor 202 sends the card 203 to a predetermined data reading / writing position, and the card reader / writer stores the stored data, that is, the ID, the remaining frequency, and the like. The number of balls held is read and output to the checkout machine 200. Further, in response to a write command from the settlement machine 200, the ID, the remaining number and the number of balls are written (stored) in each storage unit described above.

  The checkout machine 200 stores the ID read from the card 203 through the card processing machine 202, the remaining number and the number of balls in the RAM.

[Lending by ball with card 203]
When the settlement machine 200 reads the data of the card 203, the settlement machine 200 displays the remaining number stored in the RAM on the remaining number display unit 13. When the card 203 can be used, the checkout machine 200 lends a ball according to the operation of the ball lending button 11. This ball lending shall lend, for example, a ball lending number 125 (ball unit price is 4 yen) per operation of the ball lending button 11. In the ball lending, when there is a number of balls held and the number of balls held is less than 125, the number of balls held is lended as the number of balls lent. The checkout machine 200 transmits the number of rented balls to the ball information control board 110. Further, the checkout machine 200 obtains a consideration for the ball rental by multiplying the set ball unit price by the number of the rental balls, and subtracts the calculated consideration (the consideration corresponding to the ball rental is the remaining frequency) from the current remaining frequency. If there is a number of balls and if a ball is lent from the number of balls, the number of balls is subtracted from the current number of balls. The checkout machine 200 displays this result on the remaining frequency display unit 13. In addition, the remaining number is written in the remaining number storage unit 205 of the card 203.

[Game start]
When the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 receives the number of rented balls transmitted from the checkout machine 200, the ball information control MPU 111 adds the number to the number of gaming machine balls, and displays the addition result on the gaming machine ball number display unit 14. A launch permission signal is output to the launch control input circuit 120 of the launch control unit 119, and the hitting ball launching device 20 can be launched to enter a playable state.

[During game]
When the player operates the hitting handle 7, the launch motor 23 is actuated, and when the game ball in the ball launch position is launched into the game area 5 by the launch hammer 22, this is the launch ball confirmation switch 24 and the launch ball detection switch. Based on the detection of 25 balls, it is detected that each game ball is shot into the game area 5. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 sequentially “1” from the game machine possession ball number data stored in the game machine possession ball number storage area in response to the detection of each game ball. And is displayed on the gaming machine possession ball number display section 14.

  The ball information control MPU 111 detects a launch ball check switch 24 and a launch ball detection switch 25 that detect a game ball fired by the launch hammer 22, and a game ball (out ball and safe ball) that is driven into the game area 5. Out-safe ball detection switch 40, foul ball detection switch 41 for detecting a foul game ball (foul ball), ball capacity check switch 43 for checking the capacity of the game ball recovered in the recovery joint channel 34, circulation Based on the signals input from the first and second firing standby ball switches 50, 51 and the like for controlling the feeding of the game ball to the ball hitting device 20 by the ball feed motor 47, the corresponding signals are respectively sent to the main control board. 100, output to the circulating ball feed motor 47 and the like.

  In addition, when a game ball is driven, when the game ball flows backward through the launch guide path 8a to become a foul ball, the foul ball enters the foul ball collection port 38 and is sent to the foul ball collection path 32. It is detected by the sphere detection switch 41. The ball information control MPU 111 adds “1” to the game machine ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area each time one foul ball is detected by the foul ball detection switch 41 as described above. At the same time, this is displayed on the gaming machine possession ball number display unit 14 to avoid the problem of subtracting the foul ball from the gaming machine possession ball number data.

  On the other hand, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 includes a gate switch 92 disposed on a gate (not shown) that allows game balls to pass through the game board 4 and a normal winning opening (not shown). General winning opening detection switches 93, 94, which are arranged with respect to 94, a count switch 98 which is arranged with respect to a large winning opening (not shown), and a starting opening (not shown) which is an upper starting opening. Based on the detection signals from the start port switches 90 and 91, processing related to the game is performed, and commands and signals as processing results are sent to the ball information control board 110, the peripheral control board 130, the upper and lower special symbol displays 142 and 143. The upper and lower special symbol memory displays 144 and 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol memory display 147, the start port solenoid 96, the big prize port solenoid 97, etc.

  When the game ball launched by the hitting ball launching device 20 wins various winning holes in the game area 5 (starting winning hole, big winning hole, etc.), the game ball has various winning detection switches provided for each winning hole. (Upper start port switch 90, lower start port switch 91, general winning port switch 93, general winning port switch 94, count switch 98).

  The main control MPU 101 detects the game ball in response to a detection signal of a detection switch (general winning port detection switches 93 and 94, count switch 98, and start port switches 90 and 91 correspond) provided for each winning port. A prize ball command for instructing the number of prize balls set according to the winning prize winning opening is output to the ball information control board 110 as necessary.

  Further, the main control MPU 101 periodically outputs a game state signal (status) indicating the type of the current game state to the ball information control board 110. The gaming state means, for example, a winning lottery due to a winning at the start opening and a start opening, a special symbol variable display based on the lottery result to stop the symbol, and the lottery result In the case of the first type pachinko gaming machine that shifts to the special gaming state (big hit gaming state) in the case of, the normal gaming state (the probability of winning by the lottery is normal probability, and the time of variable display of the normal symbol is normal), short time Game state (state that normal symbol variable display time is shortened than usual, time output information output signal), jackpot gaming state (15 round jackpot information output signal or 2 round jackpot information output signal), high probability game Based on the status (state that the probability of winning by lottery is higher than usual, information output signal during probability variation), special symbol variation (special symbol display information output signal), start opening prize Distillate is state (starting opening winning information output signal) and the like have.

  The peripheral control board 130 is based on a command output from the main control board 100, a liquid crystal display panel (not shown), an accessory decoration board (not shown), a board decoration board (not shown), and a frame decoration. By outputting a control signal to a substrate (not shown), the lighting display of various decorative LEDs is controlled, and sound (sound, sound, sound effect, etc.) output from a speaker (not shown) is controlled. The design of effect display on the liquid crystal display panel (not shown) is controlled.

  Based on various input signals, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 includes a launch control unit 119, a circulating ball feed motor 47 constituting the ball circulation device, a blower device 62, a number of balls possessed by the gaming machine 14 and A signal is output to the checkout machine 200. The launch control unit 119 considers a signal transmitted from the touch switch 87 that detects whether or not the player is touching or a launch stop switch 86 that instructs the stop of the hitting ball launching device 20 to hit the game ball. The launch device 20 is controlled to be driven or stopped. The ball circulation device (circulation ball feed member 44) is driven by a circulation ball feed motor 47 and circulates the game ball in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine 1. The sphere information control board 110 instructs the launch control unit 119 to launch (permit) or stop firing (impossible). Also, the circulating ball feed motor 47 is instructed to be operable or to be deactivated.

  A game state signal and a prize ball command output from the main control board 100 are input to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

  In response to receiving such a prize ball command, the ball information control MPU 111 sets the number of prize balls set in advance for each winning slot in the gaming machine possession ball number data stored in the gaming machine possession ball number storage area. The value is added and displayed on the gaming machine possession ball number display unit 14.

  The gaming machine possession ball number display unit 14 of the present embodiment can display a 5-digit numerical value, that is, it can display up to “999999” as a gaming machine possession ball number, but it is set in recent gaming machines. Depending on the content of the game being played, the number of balls possessed by the gaming machine may be 100,000 or more, so that the number of balls possessed by the gaming machine possession ball number display section 14 may not be displayed completely. Assuming such a case, a certain number of balls are sent to the checkout machine 200 when the number of held balls exceeds a specified number. For example, when the number of held balls exceeds 30000, a certain number of held balls The number of balls may be sent to the checkout machine 200, and the checkout machine 200 may be configured to manage as the number of checkout machine possession balls.

  In this embodiment, since it has a function to display the number of end spheres, which will be described later, it is necessary to prevent the number of end spheres from appearing in the adjustment machine number of spheres. The number of balls having the number of balls that is a multiple of is sent to the checkout machine 200. Here, the number of exchanged balls (so-called exchange rate) is the number of holding balls required for exchanging with one special prize (corresponding to the predetermined prize according to claim 1). The number of fractional balls is the number of possessed balls that is less than the number of exchanged balls. The number of exchanged balls differs depending on the area where the game hall is located and the management company that manages the game hall, that is, the game hall.

  For example, in Tokyo, the minimum number of exchange balls is 333 in most game halls, and in Nagoya, there are many game halls that have 66 exchange balls as the minimum unit. As an example, when the number of exchange balls is 333, the number of balls to be sent to the checkout machine 200 may be 9990, which is 30 times 333, and when the number of exchange balls is 66, the number of balls to be sent to the checkout machine 200 The number may be 9900, 150 times that of 66. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the number of end balls from appearing in the number of settlement machine possession balls. In the case of 9990 as an example, the number of balls held in the gaming machine ball number display unit 14 is 20010. In addition, the adjustment machine possession ball number display part is provided, and the adjustment machine 200 is configured to display the adjustment machine possession ball number (9990) on the adjustment machine possession ball number display part.

  In other words, the number of balls held as the number of balls used for gaming in the gaming machine is divided into the number of gaming machine balls managed by the ball information control MPU of the gaming machine and the number of adjusting machine balls managed by the settlement machine 200. It is good also as a structure which carries out division management. If the holding balls managed by the gaming machine and the holding balls managed by the checkout machine 200 can be clearly understood, there is an advantage that the game can be enjoyed with peace of mind. In addition, when it is desired to return the number of balls held from the number of checkout machine balls and add it to the number of game machine balls, the checkout machine 200 determines a certain number of balls from the checkout machine ball number according to the operation of the ball lending button 11. The number may be configured to be transmitted to the sphere information control MPU in the form of a specified number of rented balls. In this case as well, by setting the number of balls that is a multiple of the number of exchanged balls as the specified number of rented balls, it is possible to prevent the number of ending balls from appearing in the number of adjusted machine balls.

  In addition, game balls (safe balls) that have won prizes in various winning holes are out through a collection bowl on the back of the game board 4 together with game balls (out balls) that have flowed into the out port 19 without winning any of the winning ports. -It is sent to the safe ball collection path 31 and detected by the out-safe ball detection switch 40. In addition, the game ball that has passed through the out-safe ball collection path 31 is sent to the collection joint path 34 together with the game ball that has passed through the foul ball collection path 32, and is detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 determines whether or not a game ball to be sent to the arrangement passage 35 (circulation ball feeding member 44) is secured based on the detection of the game ball by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43, in other words, circulation. It is detected whether or not the game ball is properly circulated in the path 30.

  Thereafter, the game balls sent one by one to the inlet passage portion 48 of the launching / feeding path 36 along with the rotating operation of the circulating ball feeding member 44 naturally flow down the sending passage portion 49 with the apex of the launching / delivery path 36 as a boundary. Then, it is derived to the ball launch position of the hit ball launching device 20. At this time, the game balls that naturally flow down the delivery passage portion 49 are detected by the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51.

  Then, the ball information control MPU 111 controls the driving of the circulation ball feed motor 47 that rotates the circulation ball feed member 44 based on the detection of the game ball by the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51. By doing so, the feeding of the game ball from the collecting and combining channel 34 side to the launching and sending channel 36 side is controlled. The control of the game ball inward to the launch and delivery path 36 will be described in detail later.

[Game ends, settlement]
Thereafter, when the checkout button 12 is operated by the player to end the game, the checkout machine 200 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

  When the settlement machine 200 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 according to the operation of the settlement button 12, the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game end command sent from the settlement machine 200. The control MPU 111 transmits “Finishable” to the settlement machine 200. Next, the ball information control MPU 111 stops the launch motor 23 to stop the game, stops the circulating ball feed motor 47, and stops the ball feed. The current number of gaming machine balls stored in the gaming machine ball number storage area is transmitted to the settlement machine 200.

  Then, when the processing of the settlement machine 200 corresponding to the number of gaming machine possessed balls transmitted from the ball information control MPU 111 is completed, the settlement machine 200 transmits a process termination, so that the ball information control MPU 111 receives the process termination. Thus, the gaming machine possession ball number storage area in the RAM is cleared to 0, and the processing is completed.

  On the other hand, after the settlement machine 200 receives “end ready” as an answer to the end state in response to the game end command, the ball information control MPU 111 transmits the number of gaming machine balls to the settlement machine 200. When the number of held balls is received, the received number of gaming machine balls is added to the number of adjusted machine balls stored in the RAM when the card is inserted, and the addition result is stored as the number of adjusted machine balls. Thereby, all of the number of possessed balls as the game result of the game played by the player is stored as the number of adjusted machine possessed balls. Then, the processing end is transmitted to the ball information control MPU 111, the number of adjusting machine balls is written into the ball number storage unit 206 of the card 203, the card 203 is ejected from the card insertion slot 201, and the processing is ended. As a result, the rewritten card 203 with the number of gaming machine balls as a game result added is returned to the player.

[Control of feeding game ball to hitting ball launcher 20]
Next, driving control of the circulating ball feed motor 47 by the ball information control MPU 111 (ball circulation control means), in other words, to the hitting ball launching device 20 side based on the ball detection by the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51. The game ball feeding control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing game ball feeding control based on ball detection by the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51.

  First, in a state in which the game ball is not driven by the hitting ball launching device 20 (operation of the launching hammer 22 based on the driving of the launching motor 23), as shown in FIG. The first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 are stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 on the first firing standby ball switch 50 located on the circulating ball feeding member 44 side (near the entrance passage portion 48). The last game ball is positioned. This state is the state in which the game ball is most stopped in the delivery passage portion 49, and both the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are in the detection state (ON) of the game ball.

  The ball information control MPU 111 is based on the state of detection of the game ball by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 (the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are both ON), and the game ball stopped in the delivery passage portion 49. Detect that is full. Then, by stopping the driving of the circulating ball feed motor 47 (rotating operation of the circulating ball feed member 44), the collection and delivery flow path 34 side to the launch delivery path 36 side (in other words, the entrance passage section 48 side of the launch delivery path 36). To the game passage 49 side) is stopped.

  Note that the first firing standby ball switch 50 is disposed at a position away from the apex T (the boundary between the entrance passage portion 48 and the delivery passage portion 49) of the firing delivery path 36 by a distance A1 corresponding to approximately one game ball. ing. For this reason, in a game ball driving stop state, approximately one game ball is placed between the last game ball stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 and the frontmost game ball stopped in the entrance passage portion 48. The space for the minute becomes empty. Therefore, there is at least one game ball between the game ball in the delivery passage portion 49 that naturally flows down to the hitting ball launcher 20 side and the game ball in the entrance passage portion 48 that is pushed up by the circulating ball feed member 44. Space can be secured at all times.

  As a result, it is possible to avoid a problem in which the game ball stopped in the entrance passage portion 48 due to the operation of feeding the game ball by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is applied more than necessary. The game balls can be sent smoothly. However, the arrangement position of the first firing standby ball switch 50 is a position at a distance A1 of about one game ball from the apex T of the launching and sending path 36 that is the boundary between the entrance passage 48 and the sending path 49. It is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to be arranged at a position at least one game ball away from the apex T, so that the game is stopped in the entrance passage 48 and the delivery passage 49. It is possible to avoid problems such as applying more pressure to the ball than necessary.

  Thereafter, when the game ball is driven by the hit ball launching device 20, as shown in FIG. 11 (B), the game balls stopped in the delivery passage section 49 are one by one. When the game ball is no longer on the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51, the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are both in the non-detected state of the game ball. (OFF).

  The ball information control MPU 111 determines whether or not the game ball stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 is based on the detection state of the game ball by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 (the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are both OFF). It is detected that the number of game balls that decrease and are supplied to the hitting ball launcher 20 is insufficient. Then, by driving the circulating ball feed motor 47 (rotating operation of the circulating ball feed member 44), it is sent from the collection and delivery path 34 side to the launch / sending path 36 side (in other words, from the entrance passage section 48 side of the launch / sending path 36). A game ball is sent to the passage portion 49 side.

  Of the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 arranged in the delivery passage portion 49, the second launch standby ball switch 51 located on the side of the hitting ball launcher 20 has a front end at the first launch standby. The ball switch 50 is disposed at a position away from the rear end of the ball switch 50 by a distance A2 corresponding to approximately three game balls. Therefore, the game ball feeding operation by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is started when three game balls are reduced from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49. In other words, the ball information control MPU 111 detects that the game balls supplied to the ball hitting device 20 are short when three game balls are reduced from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49. It has become.

  Thereafter, the circulating ball feeding member 44 delivers one game ball from the inlet passage 48 side at a speed higher than the game ball driving speed (the speed at which one game ball is driven into the game area 5) by the hit ball launching device 20. As shown in FIG. 11C, the game balls stopped in the entrance passage portion 48 are gradually increased by being sent to the passage portion 49 side. FIG. 11C shows a state in which one more game ball is stopped in the entrance passage 48 than in the state shown in FIG. 11B, and accordingly, the ball is positioned on the ball hitting device 20 side. The case where the game ball is stopped on the second launch standby ball switch 51 and the second launch standby ball switch 51 is in a detection state (ON) of the game ball is illustrated. At this time, the game ball is not stopped on the first firing standby ball switch 50, and the first firing standby ball switch 50 is in a non-detection state (OFF) of the game ball.

  Thereafter, the circulating ball feeding member 44 continues to feed the game ball from the inlet passage portion 48 side to the delivery passage portion 49 side, and is positioned on the circulating ball feed member 44 side as shown in FIG. When a game ball is also stopped on the first firing standby ball switch 50, both the firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 are in the detection state (ON) of the game ball. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 drives the circulation ball feed motor 47 (circulation) based on the detection state of the game balls by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 (both launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 are both ON). The rotation of the ball feeding member 44 is stopped, and the feeding of the game ball from the inlet passage portion 48 side to the delivery passage portion 49 side is stopped.

  By the way, as described above, in this embodiment, two ball detection switches (first and second standby standby ball switches 50 and 51) are provided in the delivery passage portion 49, and the two ball detection switches are provided. Based on the detection of the game ball by, the ball information control MPU 111 controls the feeding of the game ball to the ball hitting device 20 by the circulation ball feed motor 47 (circulation ball feed member 44).

  Specifically, due to the arrangement relationship of the respective launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 provided with the distance A2 corresponding to approximately three game balls, there is no game ball on each launch standby ball switch 50 and 51, and each launch standby ball switch 50. , 51 are turned off, that is, when three game balls are depleted from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49, the feeding of the game balls by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is started. It has become.

  That is, in the control of the game ball in the present embodiment, every time three game balls are stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 according to the game ball being driven, the entrance passage portion 49 side is changed to the delivery passage portion 49 side. It is designed to send game balls to. For this reason, when a game ball is driven into the game area 5, the circulation ball feed motor 47 is not frequently started and stopped in response to the game ball being driven. can do.

  In addition, when the game ball in the delivery passage section 49 is detected by one ball detection switch and the control of the game ball is performed, the ball detection switch instantaneously generates a false detection and the game ball There is a risk of abnormalities in feeding. On the other hand, in the configuration in which two ball detection switches are provided in the delivery passage portion 49 that sends the game ball to the hitting ball launching device 20 side as in the present embodiment, any one of the ball detection switches instantaneously. By making normal detection with the other ball detection switch even if an erroneous detection occurs, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an abnormality caused by a momentary erroneous detection, and to control the feeding of the game ball more reliably. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the two ball detection switches (launch standby ball switches 50 and 51) provided in the delivery passage portion 49 have an arrangement relationship in which a distance A2 corresponding to approximately three game balls is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration of a modification shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing game ball feeding control based on ball detection by the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ in the modified example. However, the second firing standby ball switch 51 ′ in the modified example is composed of the same components as the second firing standby ball switch 51 of the above-described embodiment, and only the arrangement position in the delivery passage portion 49 is different.

  As a configuration of the modified example, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the circulating ball feeding member 44 among the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ arranged in the delivery passage portion 49. The first firing standby ball switch 50 located on the side (near the entrance passage portion 48) is located at the same position as that of the above-described embodiment, that is, the apex T (the entrance passage portion 48 and the delivery passage portion 49) of the launch / delivery passage 36. It is arranged at a position with a distance A1 of about one game ball from the boundary). On the other hand, the second firing standby ball switch 51 ′ located on the hitting ball launching device 20 side is at a position where the front end of the second firing standby ball switch 51 is spaced from the rear end of the first firing standby ball switch 50 by a distance A3 corresponding to approximately six game balls. Has been placed.

  Then, in the state where the game ball has been stopped by the hitting ball launching device 20 (operation of the launching hammer 22 based on the drive of the launching motor 23), as shown in FIG. The first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ are stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 on the first firing standby ball switch 50 located on the circulating ball feed member 44 side (near the entrance passage portion 48). The last game ball is placed. This state is the state in which the game ball is most stopped in the delivery passage portion 49, and both the standby standby ball switches 50 and 51 'are in the detection state (ON) of the game ball.

  The ball information control MPU 111 is stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 based on the detection state of the game balls by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ (the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ are both ON). Detects that the game ball is full. Then, by stopping the driving of the circulating ball feed motor 47 (rotating operation of the circulating ball feed member 44), the collection and delivery flow path 34 side to the launch delivery path 36 side (in other words, the entrance passage section 48 side of the launch delivery path 36). To the game passage 49 side) is stopped.

  Thereafter, when the game ball is driven by the hit ball launching device 20, as shown in FIG. 12 (B), the game balls stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 one by one are hit by the hit ball launching device 20 (starting point of the launch rail 21). When the game balls are no longer detected on the first and second launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ', the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51' are both detected as non-detected game balls. It will be in a state (OFF).

  The ball information control MPU 111 is based on such a detection state of the game balls by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ (both launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ are both OFF). It is detected that the number of game balls supplied to the hitting ball launcher 20 is insufficient due to a decrease in the number of balls. Then, by driving the circulating ball feed motor 47 (rotating operation of the circulating ball feed member 44), it is sent from the collection and delivery path 34 side to the launch / sending path 36 side (in other words, from the entrance passage section 48 side of the launch / sending path 36). A game ball is sent to the passage portion 49 side.

  At this time, in the configuration of the modified example, as described above, the position where the front end portion of the second firing standby ball switch 51 ′ is spaced from the rear end portion of the first firing standby ball switch 50 by a distance A3 of about six game balls. Is arranged. Therefore, the game ball feeding operation by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is started when six game balls are reduced from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49. That is, the ball information control MPU 111 detects that the game balls to be supplied to the hitting ball launcher 20 are insufficient when six game balls are reduced from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49. It has become.

  Thereafter, the circulating ball feeding member 44 delivers one game ball from the inlet passage 48 side at a speed higher than the game ball driving speed (the speed at which one game ball is driven into the game area 5) by the hit ball launching device 20. As shown in FIG. 12C, the game balls stopped in the entrance passage portion 48 are gradually increased by being sent to the passage portion 49 side. FIG. 12C shows a state in which two more game balls are parked in the entrance passage portion 48 than in the state shown in FIG. 12B, and accordingly, the ball is positioned on the ball hitting device 20 side. The case where the game ball is stopped on the second launch standby ball switch 51 ′ and the second launch standby ball switch 51 ′ is in the detection state (ON) of the game ball is illustrated.

  At this time, the game ball is not stopped on the first firing standby ball switch 50, and the first firing standby ball switch 50 is in a non-detection state (OFF) of the game ball. Thereafter, the circulating ball feed member 44 continues to feed the game ball from the inlet passage portion 48 side to the delivery passage portion 49 side, and is positioned on the circulating ball feed member 44 side as shown in FIG. When a game ball is also stopped on the first firing standby ball switch 50, each of the firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 'is in a gaming ball detection state (ON).

  Then, the ball information control MPU 111 drives the circulating ball feed motor 47 based on the detection state of the game balls by the launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ (both launch standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ are both ON). (Rotating operation of the circulating ball feeding member 44) is stopped, and the feeding of game balls from the inlet passage portion 48 side to the delivery passage portion 49 side is stopped.

  As described above, in the configuration of the modified example, the two ball detection switches (the first and second firing standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′) in the delivery passage portion 49 are separated by a distance A3 that is approximately six game balls. Are arranged. Thereby, when the game balls on each of the standby standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ disappear and both of the standby standby ball switches 50 and 51 ′ are turned off, in other words, the gaming ball is full in the delivery passage portion 49. When the number of game balls is reduced from 6, the feeding of game balls by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is started.

  That is, in the game ball feeding control in the modified example, every time six game balls are stopped in the delivery passage portion 49 according to the game ball being driven, the entrance passage portion 48 side is changed to the delivery passage portion 49 side. It is designed to send game balls. For this reason, compared with the configuration in which the feeding of the game ball by the circulating ball feeding member 44 is started when three game balls are reduced from the full state of the game balls in the delivery passage portion 49 shown in the above-described embodiment. The interval between the start of game ball feeding (the period during which the circulating ball feed motor 47 is stopped when the game ball is driven) can be increased, and as a result, the driving load of the circulating ball feed motor 47 can be further reduced. .

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, two delivery ball detection means (first and second delivery ball detection) are provided in the launch delivery path (sending passage portion) through which the game ball is fed by the circulating ball feeding member. Means) and the two delivery ball detecting means are arranged at a predetermined interval for detecting the presence or absence of individual game balls at the respective arrangement positions.

  When there is a game ball detected by each of the two send-out ball detecting means, it is determined that sufficient game balls are stopped in the launch and send-out path (send-out passage section), and the game ball is fed by the circulating ball feed member. Stop. On the other hand, if no two game balls are detected by the two delivery ball detection means, it is determined that sufficient game balls are not stopped in the launch delivery path (sending passage section), and the game balls are fed by the circulating ball feed member. Start. For this reason, even when the game is continuously performed, it is not necessary to frequently start and stop the electric drive source that operates the circulating ball feeding member, and the burden on the electric drive source can be reduced. Since the performance degradation of the function can be suppressed, normal game balls can be continuously fed by the circulating ball feeding member.

  Further, the first sending ball detecting means located on the circulating ball sending member side among the first and second sending ball detecting means is from the apex portion of the launch sending path which becomes the boundary between the inlet passage section and the sending passage section. It is arranged at a position that is at least one game ball away. In this case, in a game ball driving stop state, a space of at least one game ball is provided between the last game ball stopped in the delivery passage and the front game ball stopped in the entrance passage. Can be freed up.

  Therefore, a space of at least one game ball is always ensured between the game ball in the delivery passage section that naturally flows down to the ball launching means side and the game ball in the entrance passage section that is pushed up by the circulating ball feeding member. be able to. As a result, it is possible to avoid a problem that the game ball stopped in the entrance passage due to the operation of feeding the game ball by the circulating ball feeding member can be avoided, and the game ball is smoothly placed on the ball launching means. Can be sent to.

[Empty turning of enclosing ball]
In the embodiment described below, all encapsulated spheres (25 in this embodiment) that shoot all encapsulated spheres at least once are set on the circulation path 30 when the power is turned on before the opening time. The encapsulated sphere is kept clean by moving the hit ball along the travel path and performing the idle rotation to clean the surface of all encapsulated spheres with the ball cleaning member (conductive brush 61). The present invention relates to an invention that equalizes the game conditions for all the tables.

  In an enclosed ball type gaming machine, the balls used in the game will not be replaced, so the enclosed balls are likely to get dirty, and depending on whether the game balls are clean or not, for example, the repulsion between balls or the game balls hit the nail It is conceivable that a large difference occurs in the difference in the movement of the game ball, such as a mode when a bullet is fired and a mode when the ball is fluttering on the stage. That is, if the encapsulated sphere stays for a long time without moving, the surface of the encapsulated sphere will adhere to the surface of the encapsulated sphere, dust, dust, fiber scraps, and the like. For this reason, the movement of the encapsulated ball may not be equal to the player at the beginning of the game. In any enclosed ball-type game machine installed in the hall, there is a possibility that the principle that a player has fairness with respect to a chance to win with a game ball to be used may be broken.

  Therefore, at least once a day, when there is no player, if the encapsulated ball is launched and moved, it can be avoided that the encapsulated ball stays for a long time without moving, and the game ball can be kept clean. Conceivable.

[Various control processing of main control board]
First, various control processes performed by the main control board 100 shown in FIG. 13 according to the progress of the game of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 is a flowchart showing a main control side power-on process executed by the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 of FIG. 13, and FIG. 17 is a main control side power-on process of FIG. 16 executed by the main control MPU. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing main control-side timer interrupt processing executed by the main control MPU 101.

[Main control side power-on processing]
When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter simply referred to as main control MPU) of the main control board 100 performs main control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. When the main control side power-on process is started, the main control MPU sets the stack pointer (step S10). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address accumulated on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the memory element (register) being used, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after completing the subroutine. It indicates the address that is stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S10, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

  Subsequent to step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S14). The voltage does not increase immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, when a power outage or a momentary power interruption (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is suddenly stopped) occurs, the voltage decreases, and when it becomes smaller than the power outage notification voltage, the power outage monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110 gives a power outage notice A signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure notice voltage from when the power is turned on until it reaches the predetermined voltage, a power failure notice signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110.

  Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S12 is a process for waiting after the power is turned on until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes. In this embodiment, the wait timer process 200 is 200 milliseconds (wait timer). ms) is set. The determination in step S14 is performed based on a power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110. After the power is turned on, when the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable, the power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is not output, and the main control MPU proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the main control MPU determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 shown in FIG. 11 is operated (step S16). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and an operation signal (detection signal) is input to the main control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not operated.

  When it is determined in step S16 that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value 1 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S20, while the RAM clear switch 105 is set in step S16. When it is determined that it is not operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to 0 (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S20.

  This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is a game related to a game such as probability fluctuation, unpaid prize ball, etc. stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101. It is a flag indicating whether or not to erase information, and is set to a value of 1 when erasing game information and a value of 0 when not erasing game information. Note that the value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in step S18 and step S19 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

  When the process proceeds to step S20, a current time information acquisition process is performed (step S20). That is, current time information is acquired from the external RTC 107 and stored in a current time data storage unit set in a predetermined area of the internal RAM.

  Following step S20, the current time acquired in step S20 is compared with the opening time preset and stored in accordance with the opening time of the amusement hall, and it is determined whether or not the current time is earlier than the opening time. Determination is made (step S21). For example, when 10:00 is set and stored as the opening time and the power-on time is 8:30, it is determined that the current time is before the opening time. Since the store opening time varies depending on the game hall, it is preset and stored in the ROM in accordance with the store opening time when the product is delivered. The store opening time may be configured such that the store opening time can be set and input using an input device connected to the main control I / O port 102 during idling.

  In this embodiment, when determining whether or not to perform idling based on the current time, the main control MPU is for identifying whether to perform idling or not to perform idling according to the determination result. The idling identification data is transmitted to the sphere information control MPU. In addition, the sphere information control MPU waits until idling identification data is received.

  When the main control MPU determines that the current time is before the opening time, the main control MPU transmits the idling identification data including the idling execution to the ball information control board 110 (step S22). Next, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S23). The watchdog timer is cleared by setting value A, value B, and value C in this order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. Then, the process proceeds to step S24, and it is determined whether or not the idling end signal transmitted from the sphere information control board 110 is received (step S24).

  Since the idling control process is directly performed by the ball information control MPU, the main control MPU cannot directly determine the end of idling. On the other hand, the ball information control MPU directly determines whether or not the idling end condition is satisfied in the idling control process.

  If the idle control end signal transmitted from the ball information control board 110 is not received, the main control MPU returns to step S23 and performs clear setting of the watchdog timer. Therefore, the main control MPU stands by by repeating the process of step S23 and the process of determining step S24 as NO. In other words, the watchdog timer is set to be clear and waits until an idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control board 110 is received. This prevents the watchdog timer from timing out during standby and resetting the main control MPU.

  On the other hand, the ball information control MPU 111 (hereinafter simply referred to as the ball information control MPU) of the ball information control board 110 does not depend on an operation on the hit ball handle 7 when the content of the received idling identification data is idling execution. By automatically operating the ball striking device 20 (the firing motor 23) and the circulating ball feeding member 44 (the circulating ball feeding motor 47), all the enclosed balls (25 or 50 in this embodiment) are at least once. It is fired to circulate through the circulation path 30, and idle rotation control is performed to clean the surfaces of all encapsulated spheres by means of a sphere cleaning member (conductive brush 61).

  During the idling control, the ball information control MPU determines that the idling is completed and transmits an idling end signal to the main control MPU when the execution time from the idling execution start is a predetermined end condition. When the main control MPU receives the idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control board 110, the main control MPU proceeds to step S30.

  When the enclosing sphere is idled, the enclosing sphere moves and circulates in the circulation path 30, so that it is possible to avoid a state in which the enclosing sphere stays for a long time without moving, and dust and dust accumulate on the enclosing sphere. Can be avoided. As a result, the game conditions for the encapsulated ball can be made uniform for any stand, and the player can be ensured fairness with respect to the winning chance by the game ball used. Further, dust or the like attached to the surface is removed by the conductive brush 61 of the sphere cleaning mechanism 60, and the encapsulated sphere can be kept clean.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that the acquired current time is compared with the store opening time set and stored in advance and the current time is not earlier than the store opening time, the main control MPU executes step S21. The determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S28, and the idling identification data including the idling and non-execution content is transmitted to the ball information control MPU (step S28), and the process proceeds to step S30. Accordingly, the enclosing ball is idled only once when the power is turned on before the opening time.

  For example, if there is a power outage or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon where power supply is suddenly stopped) during business hours after the store opening time, when the power is restored, the enclosing ball may have been idled before the store opening time. Since there is no need for idling and there is a possibility that the player has played a game at the time of a power failure or momentary power failure, the idling control process is not performed.

  In this way, when a momentary power failure or power failure occurs while the game hall is operating, and when the power supply is restored after that, it is possible to avoid the idling state, and when the player recovers from the power failure or power failure, For this reason, it is possible to avoid the trouble that the meaningless and unnecessary idle rotation is suddenly performed, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  Also, in the main control side power-on process, the main control MPU does not shift to a game control process (main control side timer interrupt process), which will be described later, after the idling is executed until the idling end signal is received. stand by. As a result, in the unlikely event that the ball hit for emptying wins, it will be added to the number of game machines held as a winning or change in symbols, jackpots, production and prize balls even though it is empty The game data in the reset work area of the RAM is not distorted at the time of power recovery, so that both the player and the game hall can be avoided. In addition, no unnecessary load is applied to the main control MPU, and other necessary processing is not hindered.

  When the main control MPU proceeds to step S30, the main control MPU performs the wait timer process 2 (step S30). In this wait timer process 2, the system waits until a system that performs drawing control of a liquid crystal display device (not shown) by the liquid crystal control unit of the peripheral control board 130 starts (boots). In this embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as a time until booting (boot timer).

  Subsequent to step S30, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0 (step S32). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value of 1 when erasing game information and a value of 0 when not erasing game information. When it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0, that is, when the game information is not erased, a checksum is calculated (step S34). This checksum is calculated by regarding the game information stored in the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculating the sum.

  Following step S34, whether or not the calculated checksum value (sum value) matches the checksum value (sum value) stored in the main control side power-off processing (power-off) described later. Is determined (step S36). If they match, it is determined whether or not the backup flag BK-FLG is 1 (step S38). The backup flag BK-FLG is stored and held in the main control built-in RAM in the main control side power-off processing described later, such as game information, checksum value (sum value), and backup flag BK-FLG value. This flag is set to a value of 1 when the main control side power-off process is normally terminated, and to a value of 0 when the main control-side power-off process is not terminated normally.

  When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S30, that is, when the main control side power-off process is normally terminated, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as the time of power recovery (step S40). In this setting, in addition to setting the backup flag BK-FLG to a value of 0, the power recovery time information is read from a ROM built in the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in ROM”). Time information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, “recovery” means not only the state where the power is turned off but also the state where the power is turned on, the state where the power is restored after a power outage or a momentary power failure, and the detection that a high frequency has been applied. It also includes the state of returning after that.

  Subsequent to step S40, power-on command creation processing is performed (step S42). In the power-on command creation process, game information is read from the backup information, and various commands corresponding to the game information are stored in a predetermined storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not 0 (i.e., 1), that is, when the game information is deleted, or the checksum value (sum value) matches in step S36. If not, or if it is determined in step S38 that the backup flag BK-FLG is not a value 1 (value 0), that is, if the main control side power-off process has not been terminated normally, the main control built-in RAM All areas are cleared (step S44). Specifically, the value 0 is written in the main control built-in RAM (a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM as an initial value and set). Further, the big hit determination initial value determination random number used for determining the initial value of the big hit determination random number is when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase the game information, the sum value does not match, or When the main control-side power-off process has not ended normally, a unique ID code stored in advance in the non-volatile RAM of the main control MPU is extracted, and the jackpot determination random number is updated based on the extracted ID code An initial value deriving process for always deriving the same fixed value from the fixed numerical value range of the counter is executed, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

  Following step S44, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S46). In this setting, the initial information is read from the main control built-in ROM, and the initial information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S46, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing is performed (step S48). In the RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a power-on command classified into power-on for notifying that the main control built-in RAM is cleared and the initial setting is performed is created, and various peripheral control board 130 Test commands that are classified as related to tests for inspection are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S42 or step S48, interrupt initialization is performed (step S50). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when a main control timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 4 ms.

  Subsequent to step S50, interrupt permission is set (step S52). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process is repeated every interrupt cycle set in step S50, that is, every 4 ms. The processing in steps S10 to S52 is referred to as “main control side power-on processing”.

  Subsequent to step S52, a value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S54). The watchdog timer is cleared by setting value A, value B and value C in this order in this watchdog timer clear register WCL.

  Subsequent to step S54, it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S56). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, if the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, the power failure warning signal is displayed as a power failure monitoring circuit of the ball information control board 110. 117 is input. The determination in step S56 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

  If no power failure warning signal is input in step S56, a non-winning random number update process is performed (step S58). In this non-winning random number update process, for example, a reach determination random number, a variable display pattern random number, a big hit symbol initial value determining random number, a small hit symbol initial value determining random number, and the like are updated. In this way, in the non-winning random number update process, random numbers that are not involved in the winning determination (big hit determination) are updated. It should be noted that the random number for normal symbol determination, the random number for initial value determination for normal symbol determination, the random number for normal symbol variation display pattern, and the like are also updated by this non-winning random number update process.

  Following step S58, the process returns to step S54 again to set the value A in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. In step S56, it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal has been input. For example, a non-winning random number update process is performed in step S58, and steps S54 to S58 are repeated. The processing from step S54 to step S58 is referred to as “main control side main loop processing”.

[Main control side power-off processing]
On the other hand, when a power failure warning signal is input in step S56, interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S60). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt processing described later is not performed, writing to the main control built-in RAM is prevented, and rewriting of game information is protected.

  Subsequent to step S60, the start opening solenoid 96, the big prize opening solenoid 97, the upper special symbol display 142, the lower special symbol display 143, the upper special symbol storage display 144, and the lower special symbol storage display shown in FIG. The drive signal output to the display unit 145, the normal symbol display unit 146, the normal symbol storage display unit 147, the game state display unit 148, the round display unit 149, etc. is stopped (step S62).

  Subsequent to step S62, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S64). This checksum is calculated by regarding the game information in the work area of the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value excluding the storage area for the checksum value (sum value) and backup flag BK-FLG described above.

  Subsequent to step S64, a value 1 is set in the backup flag BK-FLG (step S66). Thereby, the storage of the backup information is completed.

  Subsequent to step S66, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S68). As described above, the clear setting is performed by sequentially setting the value A, the value B, and the value C in the watchdog timer clear register WCL.

  Subsequent to step S68, a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is executed is entered. Note that the processing and the loop processing in steps S60 to S68 are referred to as “main control side power-off processing”. In this loop processing, since the value A, the value B, and the value C are not sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, the watchdog timer is not cleared. For this reason, the watchdog timer times out and outputs a time-out signal, and the main control MPU is reset by the time-out signal, and then the main control MPU performs the main control side power-on process from the beginning again.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 (main control MPU 101) is reset when a power failure occurs or when an instantaneous power failure occurs, and the main control side power-on process is performed by subsequent power recovery.

  In step S36, it is checked whether or not the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal. In step S38, it is determined whether or not the main control side power-off process has been normally completed. I am inspecting. In this way, by checking the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM twice, it is inspected whether the backup information is stored by an illegal act.

[Main control timer interrupt processing]
Next, the main control timer interrupt process will be described (see FIG. 18). This main control side timer interrupt process is repeated at every interrupt cycle (4 ms in this embodiment) set in the main control side power-on process shown in FIGS.

  When the main control timer interrupt process is started, the main control MPU of the main control board 100 sets a value B in the watchdog timer clear register WCL as shown in FIG. 18 (step S70). At this time, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value A set in step S54 of the main loop on the main control side.

  Subsequent to step S70, the interrupt flag is cleared (step S72). By clearing the interrupt flag, the interrupt cycle is initialized, and the next interrupt cycle is counted from the initial value.

  Subsequent to step S72, switch input processing is performed (step S74). In this switch input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the main control I / O port 102 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S74, timer subtraction processing is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction process, for example, the time during which the upper special symbol display unit 142 and the lower special symbol display unit 143 are turned on in accordance with the variable display pattern determined in the special symbol and special electric accessory control process described later, In addition to the time that the normal symbol display 146 is turned on according to the normal symbol variation display pattern determined in the normal electric accessory control process, the ball information control substrate 110 receives various commands transmitted by the main control board 100 (main control MPU). Time management such as an ACK signal input determination time set as a determination condition is performed when determining whether or not a ball information main ACK signal that indicates normal reception is input. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, the timer interruption period is set to 4 ms. Therefore, every time this timer subtraction process is performed, the fluctuation time is subtracted by 4 ms. When the subtraction result is 0, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is accurately measured.

  In this embodiment, the ACK signal input determination time is set to 100 ms. Each time this timer subtraction process is performed, the ACK signal input determination time is subtracted by 4 ms, and the subtraction result becomes 0, thereby accurately measuring the ACK signal input determination time. The various times and the ACK signal input determination time are stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S76, a winning random number update process is performed (step S78). In the winning random number update process, the big hit determination random number, the big hit symbol random number, and the small hit symbol random number described above are updated. Further, in addition to these random numbers, a big hit symbol initial value determination random number that is updated by the non-winning random number update process of step S58 in the main control side power-on process (main control side main process) shown in FIG. And the random number for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol is also updated. The random value for determining the initial value for the big hit symbol and the random number for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol are updated in the main control side main process and the main control side timer interrupt process, respectively, thereby improving the randomness. . On the other hand, the big hit determination random number, the big hit symbol random number, and the small hit symbol random number are random numbers related to the winning determination (big hit determination). Counts up. For example, the counter for updating the jackpot determination random number is an initial value updating type counter as described above, and is a predetermined fixed numerical value range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in this embodiment, the value as the minimum value). 0 to the maximum value is updated within the value 32767), and the range from the minimum value to the maximum value is incremented by incrementing by 1 each time the main control timer interrupt processing is performed. The big hit determination initial value determination random number is counted up toward the maximum value (value 32767), and then the big hit determination initial value determination random number is counted up. When the counter for updating the big hit determination random number finishes counting up within the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the big hit determination random number, the big hit determination initial value determination random number is updated by the winning random number update process. At this time, the updated value is always the same from the fixed numerical value range of the counter in which the main control MPU extracts the ID code from the built-in nonvolatile RAM and updates the big hit determination random number based on the extracted ID code. An initial value deriving process for deriving a fixed value of is performed, and the derived fixed value is set as an initial value. In other words, the initial value determination random number for jackpot determination is always overwritten and updated with the same fixed value derived based on the ID code as a result of execution of the initial value derivation process. Note that the above-described random numbers for normal symbol determination and random numbers for determining the initial value for normal symbol determination are also updated by this winning random number update process. The random number for determining normal symbols is the same as the method for updating the random number for determining big hits, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Subsequent to step S78, prize ball control processing is performed (step S80). In this prize ball control process, the input information is read from the above-described input information storage area and a prize ball command for transmitting to the ball information control board 110 based on this input information is created, or the main control board 100 and the ball information A self-check command for confirming a connection state between the control board 110 and the board is created. Then, the created prize ball command and self-check command are transmitted to the ball information control board 110 as main ball information serial data. For example, when one game ball enters the big prize opening, a prize ball command representing 15 balls as the number of prize balls is created and transmitted to the ball information control board 110, or this prize ball command is sent to the ball information control board. When a ball information main ACK signal notifying that 110 has been successfully received is not input within a predetermined time, a self-check command is generated to check the connection state between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110. Or transmitted to the sphere information control board 110.

  Subsequent to step S80, frame command reception processing is performed (step S82). The sphere information control board 110 transmits various commands of 1 byte (8 bits) divided into status displays. In the frame command reception process in step S82, when these various commands are normally received as the sphere information main serial data, information that informs the sphere information control board 110 to the effect is stored in the output information storage area of the main control built-in RAM as output information. Remember. Further, the command normally received as the sphere information main serial data is shaped into a 2-byte (16-bit) command and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S82, an illegal act detection process is performed (step S84). In this fraud detection process, the abnormal state related to the prize ball is confirmed. For example, when the input information is read from the above-described input information storage area and the detection signal from the count switch 98 is input when the game is not in the big hit game state (when the game ball enters the big winning opening), etc. A winning abnormality display command that is classified as a notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S84, a special symbol and special electric accessory control process is performed (step S86). In this special symbol and special electric accessory control processing, the value of the counter for updating the jackpot determination random number described above is taken out, and it is determined whether or not it matches the jackpot determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM. It is determined whether or not a gaming state is to be generated (referred to as “special lottery”)), or a counter value for updating the jackpot symbol random number is extracted, and the probability variation hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM It is determined whether or not they match (determining whether or not probability fluctuations are generated). Here, “probability fluctuation” means that the probability of a big hit changes to a high probability (at the time of probability change) set higher than that at the normal time (low probability). In the present embodiment, the value 32668 to the value 32767 are set in the low probability as the range of the big hit determination value (big hit determination range) described above, and read from the normal determination table, whereas the value 32438 in the high probability. ˜value 32767 is set and read from the probability variation determination table. As described above, in the special symbol and special electric accessory control process in step S86, the value of the counter for updating the big hit determination random number matches the big hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM. Is determined depending on whether or not the value of the counter for updating the jackpot determination random number is included in the jackpot determination range.

  When these determination results are based on the upper start opening switch 90, various commands related to the special figure 1 tuning effect are created, whereas when the lottery result is based on the lower start opening switch 91, the special figure 2 is created. Create various commands related to the tuning effect, store them in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, and turn on the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 according to the determined variation display pattern of the special symbol The output of the lighting signal to the special symbol display unit 142 or the lower special symbol display unit 143 is set and stored as output information in the output information storage area described above.

  Also, depending on the gaming state to be generated, for example, when the big hit gaming state is entered, various commands classified as jackpot related are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area, or the opening / closing member is opened and closed. When the output of the drive signal to the winning opening solenoid 97 is set and stored in the output information storage area as output information, or when the number of times that the large winning opening is changed from the closed state to the opened state (round) is two times, the round display The lighting signal output to the two-round display lamp is set so that the two-round display lamp of the device 149 is lit, and stored in the output information storage area as output information, or when the round is 15 times, Set the output of the lighting signal to the 15 round display lamp to light the 15 round display lamp, and output information as output information. And stores in the storage area, presence or absence of occurrence probability variations sets the output of the lighting signal to the game state indicator 148 to be lit in a predetermined color, or stored in the output information storage area as the output information.

  Subsequent to step S86, normal symbol and normal electric accessory control processing is performed (step S88). In the normal symbol and normal electric accessory control process, the input information is read from the above-described input information storage area, and the gate winning process is performed based on the input information. In this gate winning process, it is determined from the input information whether the detection signal from the gate switch 92 has been input to the input terminal. Based on this determination result, when a detection signal is input to the input terminal, the gate information storage area of the main control built-in RAM is extracted as gate information by extracting the counter value etc. for updating the random number for determination per normal symbol described above To remember.

  Subsequent to step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In this port output process, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102, and various signals are output based on this output information. For example, the main sphere information ACK signal is output to the sphere information control board 110 when various commands from the sphere information control board 110 are normally received from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102 based on the output information. When in the big hit gaming state, a driving signal is output to the big winning opening solenoid 97 for opening / closing the opening / closing member of the big winning opening, or a driving signal is output to the starting opening solenoid 96 for opening / closing the movable piece. In addition, 15 rounds jackpot information output signal, 2 rounds jackpot information output signal, probability changing information output signal, special symbol display information output signal, normal symbol display information output signal, short and medium time information output information, start opening prize information output signal For example, various information (game information) signals relating to the game such as, are output to the ball information control board 110.

  Subsequent to step S90, peripheral control board command transmission processing is performed (step S92). In the peripheral control board command transmission process, the transmission information is read from the transmission information storage area described above, and the transmission information is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main peripheral serial data. This transmission information includes various commands created in the main control side timer interrupt processing, which is this routine, classified as related to the special figure 1 tuning effect, various commands classified as related to the special figure 2 synchronous effect, and classified as related to the jackpot. Various commands that are classified as power-on, various commands that are classified as related to ordinary drawing effects, various commands that are classified as related to ordinary electronic effects, various commands that are classified into notification displays, and status displays Various commands classified, various commands classified as related to tests, and various commands classified into others are stored. The main serial data consists of 3 bytes per packet.

  Specifically, the main peripheral serial data includes a status indicating a type of command having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), a mode indicating a production variation having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), and a status. And a sum value obtained by calculating the sum with the mode regarded as a numerical value, and this sum value is created at the time of transmission. The processing from step S74 to step S92 is referred to as “game control processing”.

  Subsequent to step S92, a value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S94). By setting the value C in the watchdog timer clear register WCL in step S94, the value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value B set in step S70. As a result, the value A, the value B, and the value C are sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, and the watchdog timer is cleared.

  Subsequent to step S94, the register is switched (returned) (step S96), and this routine is terminated. Here, when the main control side timer interrupt processing, which is this routine, is started, the main control MPU loads the contents of the general-purpose registers on the stack and saves them. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main process on the main control side from being destroyed. In step S96, the contents saved on the stack are read and written to the original register. The main control MPU sets interrupt permission after the return in step S96.

[Various control processing of sphere information control board]
Next, various control processes performed by the sphere information control board 110 shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a power-on process on the sphere information control side executed by the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110 of FIG. 14, and FIG. 20 is a sphere information control side of FIG. 19 executed by the sphere information control MPU. 21 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the power-on process. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control main process executed by the sphere information control MPU following the sphere information control-side power-on process of FIG. 20, and FIG. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control power-off process executed by the sphere information control MPU following the sphere information control main process of FIG. 21, and FIG. 23 shows a sphere information control side timer interruption process executed by the sphere information control MPU. It is a flowchart.

[Ball information control side power-on processing]
When the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on, the ball information control MPU 111 (hereinafter simply referred to as the ball information control MPU) of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 is as shown in FIGS. Sphere information control side power-on processing is performed. When the ball information control side power-on process is started, the ball information control MPU sets an interrupt mode (step S500). This interrupt mode is for setting the priority order of interrupts of the sphere information control MPU. In this embodiment, a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority, and when an interrupt of this sphere information control unit timer interrupt process occurs, the process is preferentially performed.

  Subsequent to step S500, input / output setting (I / O input / output setting) is performed (step S502). In this I / O input / output setting, the I / O port input / output setting of the sphere information control MPU is performed.

  Subsequent to step S502, output of the power failure clear signal is started to the power failure monitoring circuit 117 shown in FIG. 14 (step S504). The power failure monitoring circuit 117 is composed of a voltage comparison circuit and a D-type flip-flop IC. The voltage comparison circuit compares the voltage between + 24V and the reference voltage, or compares the voltage between + 12V and the reference voltage, and outputs the comparison result. This comparison result shows that when no power failure or instantaneous power failure occurs, the logic becomes HI and is input to the PR terminal which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. The logic becomes LOW and is inputted to the PR terminal which is a preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. In step S504, output of the power failure clear signal is started to the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal of the D type flip-flop. This power failure clear signal is input to the clear terminal with the logic being LOW via the ball information control I / O port 112 of the ball information control unit 118. Thereby, the sphere information control MPU can release the latch state of the D-type flip-flop, and inverts the logic input to the PR terminal which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop until the latch state is set. Thus, the output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal, can be made, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

  Subsequent to step S504, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S508). The voltage does not increase immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, when there is a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped), the voltage decreases, and when it becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage from when the power is turned on until it reaches the predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117. Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S506 is a process for waiting until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes after the power is turned on. In this embodiment, the wait timer process 200 waits for 200 milliseconds (wait timer) (wait timer). ms) is set. In step S508, it is determined whether or not the power failure notice signal is input. This determination is performed based on the signal output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal of the D-type flip-flop described above, as the power failure warning signal.

  Subsequent to step S508, the output of the power failure clear signal is stopped at the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal of the D-type flip-flop (step S510). By stopping the output of the power failure clear signal, the logic becomes HI via the ball information control I / O port 112 and is input to the CLR terminal which is a clear terminal. Thereby, the sphere information control MPU can set the D-type flip-flop in the latched state. When the D-type flip-flop latches the state that the logic is LOW and is input to the PR terminal that is the preset terminal, the D-type flip-flop outputs a power failure warning signal from the 1Q terminal that is the output terminal.

  Subsequent to step S510, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 is operated (step S512). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and an operation signal (detection signal) is input to the sphere information control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not operated.

  If it is determined in step S512 that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, the value 1 is set in the sphere information RAM clear flag (step S514), and the process proceeds to step S518, while the RAM clear switch 105 is operated in step S512. If it is determined that it is not, the value 0 is set in the ball information RAM clear (step S516), and the process proceeds to step S518.

  The sphere information RAM clear flag is stored in, for example, various flags and various information storage areas stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “sphere information control built-in RAM”) built in the sphere information control MPU. It is a flag indicating whether or not to delete various sphere information, and is set to a value of 1 when the sphere information is deleted and a value of 0 when the sphere information is not deleted. The sphere information RAM clear flag set in step S514 and step S516 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the sphere information control MPU.

  Subsequent to step S514 or step S516, setting for permitting access to the spherical information control built-in RAM is performed (step S518). This setting allows access to the sphere information control built-in RAM, for example, writing (storage) or reading of the sphere information.

  Subsequent to step S518, the stack pointer is set (step S520). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address accumulated on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the memory element (register) being used, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after completing the subroutine. It indicates the address that has been stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S520, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

  Subsequent to step S520, the sphere information control MPU outputs an external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116 and stops the output (turns ON / OFF, step S521). Thereby, the external WDT 116 is cleared so that the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 are not reset. Then, the process proceeds to step S522, and it is determined whether or not the idling identification data transmitted from the main control MPU is received (step S522).

  If the idle identification data transmitted from the main control MPU is not received, the sphere information control MPU returns to step S521, outputs the external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116, and stops the output. Therefore, the main control MPU stands by by repeating the process of step S521 and the process of determining step S522 as NO. That is, while the clear setting of the external WDT 116 is performed, it waits until the idle identification data transmitted from the main control MPU is received. Thereby, it is avoided that the external WDT 116 times out during standby and the sphere information control MPU is reset.

  When the idling identification data transmitted from the main control MPU is received, the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S523, and determines whether the received idling identification data is the idling execution (step S523). . When it is determined that the idling identification data is not idling execution (idling non-execution), the process proceeds to step S526, where the idling execution flag is set to 0 (step S526), and the process proceeds to step S527.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S523 that the idling identification data is idling execution (idling execution), the process proceeds to step S524, and the value 1 is set in the idling execution flag (step S524). A value of 0 is set in the flag (step S525), and the process proceeds to step S527.

  Here, the idling execution flag is a flag for identifying whether or not the ball information control MPU executes idling control processing in the subsequent processing, and indicates that it is idling and non-executing with “0”. This means that “1” means idle running.

  The processing flag is a flag for identifying whether the sphere information control MPU branches to any of the processes in the idling control process, and “0” means an initial setting. ”Means the start of time measurement of the movement time of the hit ball, and“ 2 ”means the end of time measurement of the movement time of the hit ball. This means that the end of the control process is detected. The idle rotation control process will be described later.

  When the power is turned on before the store opening time, since the main control MPU sends the idling identification data including the idling execution in step S22, the sphere information control MPU is emptied via the sphere information control I / O port 112. Rotation identification data is received, step S523 is determined to be YES, and preparations for the idling control process are performed in steps S524 and S525.

  On the other hand, if a power outage or momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is suddenly stopped) occurs during business after the opening time, the main control MPU idles when the power is restored. In order to transmit the rotation identification data, the sphere information control MPU receives the rotation identification data via the sphere information control I / O port 112, determines that step S523 is NO, and performs the process of step S526. Set to not perform idling control processing.

  In step S527, it is determined whether or not the sphere information RAM clear flag is 0 (step S527). As described above, the sphere information RAM clear flag is set to a value of 1 when the sphere information is erased, and a value of 0 when the sphere information is not erased.

  When the sphere information RAM clear flag is 0 in step S527, that is, when the sphere information is not deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S528). This checksum calculates the sum by regarding the sphere information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM as a numerical value.

  Subsequent to step S528, it is determined whether or not the calculated checksum value matches a checksum value stored in a sphere information control unit power-off process (power-off) described later (step S530). ). If they match, it is determined whether or not the sphere information backup flag is 1 (step S532). This sphere information backup flag is a flag indicating whether or not sphere information backup information such as sphere information and checksum value is stored and held in the sphere information control built-in RAM in the sphere information control unit power-off process described later. A value of 1 is set when the sphere information control unit power-off process is normally terminated, and a value of 0 is set when the sphere information control unit power-off process is not terminated normally.

  When the sphere information backup flag has a value of 1 in step S532, that is, when the sphere information control unit power-off process is normally terminated, the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is set as power recovery (step S534). In this setting, in addition to setting the value 0 to the sphere information backup flag, the power recovery time information is read from a ROM built in the sphere information control MPU (hereinafter referred to as “sphere information control built-in ROM”). The power recovery information is set in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM. Thereby, the information used for various processes is set based on the various information stored in the various information storage areas, such as various flags, which are the above-described spherical information backup information stored in the spherical information control built-in RAM. . Note that “recovery” includes not only a state in which the power is turned off from a state in which the power is turned off but also a state in which the power is restored after a power failure or a momentary power failure.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S527 that the sphere information RAM clear flag is not 0 (value 1), or if the checksum values do not match in step S530, or the sphere information backup flag is set in step S532. When it is determined that the value is not 1 (value 0), that is, when the process of turning off the power of the sphere information control unit is not normally terminated, the entire area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is cleared (step S536). Thereby, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is cleared.

  Subsequent to step S536, the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S538). In this setting, the initial information is read from the sphere information control built-in ROM, and the initial information is set in the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S534 or step S538, interrupt initialization is performed (step S540). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 1.75 ms.

  Subsequent to step S540, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S542). With this setting, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every interrupt cycle set in step S540, that is, every 1.75 ms.

[Sphere information control main processing]
Subsequent to step S542, it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S544). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning voltage when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the power failure warning voltage. The determination in step S540 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

  If no power failure warning signal is input in step S544, it is determined whether or not the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 (step S546). Here, the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that counts 1.75 ms in a ball information control unit timer interrupt process processed every 1.75 ms, which will be described later, and has a value of 1 when 1.75 ms has elapsed. 1. Set to 0 when 1.75 ms has not elapsed.

  If it is determined in step S546 that the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 0, that is, if 1.75 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S544 to determine whether a power failure warning signal has been input. To do. When the power failure warning signal is not input, the ball information control MPU repeats the processing loop in which step S544 is determined as NO (none) and step S546 is determined as NO. Among them, when 1.75 ms elapses, a timer interrupt is generated, and the sphere information control MPU shifts to a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process (FIG. 23).

[Ball information control timer interrupt processing]
Here, the spherical information control side timer interruption process will be described. This sphere information control side timer interruption process is repeatedly performed every interruption period (1.75 ms in this embodiment) set in the sphere information control side power-on process shown in step S540 of FIG.

  When the sphere information control side timer interrupt process is started, the sphere information control MPU of the sphere information control unit 118 in the sphere information control board 110 sets the timer interrupt to be prohibited and switches registers (see FIG. 23). (Evacuation) is performed (step S590). Here, the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) used in the above-described sphere information control unit main process is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the sphere information control side timer interrupt process, the value of the general-purpose register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main process on the sphere information control side from being destroyed.

  Subsequent to step S590, a value 1 is set to the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S592). The 1.75 elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that counts 1.75 ms every time the ball information control unit timer interrupt process is performed, that is, every 1.75 ms. The value is set to 0 when 1.75 ms has not elapsed. Subsequent to step S592, the register is switched (returned) (step S594). This return is switched from the auxiliary register used in the sphere information control side timer interrupt process to the general-purpose memory element (general-purpose register). By using this general-purpose register in the main process on the sphere information control side, the value of the auxiliary register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the auxiliary register used in the ball information control unit timer interrupt processing from being destroyed. Subsequent to step S594, interrupt permission is set (step S596), the interrupt processing routine is exited, and the process returns to step S544 of the ball information control main process.

[Continuation of explanation of sphere information control main processing]
When the sphere information control MPU exits the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process and returns to the sphere information control main process, the value of 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to 1 in step S592 of the sphere information control side timer interrupt process. Is set, and if NO is determined in step S544, it is determined in step S546 that the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 (YES in step S546), and the process proceeds to step S547. .

  Proceeding to step S547, that is, when 1.75 ms has elapsed, the value 0 is set in the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S547), and it is determined whether the idling execution flag is 1 (step S548). ). As described above, the idling execution flag is a flag for identifying whether the ball information control MPU executes idling control processing or not, and means “0” means idling and non-execution. , "1" means idle running.

  If it is determined in step S548 that the idling execution flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S549, the idling control process is executed (step S549), and after exiting the idling execution process, the process returns to step S544. And when it is under the normal condition where the power failure warning signal is not inputted, the ball information control MPU repeats the processing loop in which step S544 is determined as NO (none) and step S546 is determined as NO. When 1.75 ms elapses, a timer interrupt is generated, and the sphere information control MPU proceeds to the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process (FIG. 23). When the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process is exited, step S544 is NO. In step S546, it is determined that the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 (step S546 is determined as YES), the process proceeds to step S547, and it is determined that the idling execution flag is 1. The idling control process in step S549 is executed.

  As apparent from the above description, when the idling execution flag is 1, the value 1 is set for the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG every 1.75 ms, thereby determining YES in step S546, Since the process of step S547 and step S548 are determined as YES and the process proceeds to step S549, the idling control process of step S549 is executed every 1.75 ms. The idle rotation control process will be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S548 that the idling execution flag is not 1, that is, if the idling execution flag is 0, step S548 is determined as NO, and the process does not shift to the idling control process. Proceed to step S550.

  In step S550, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (ON, step S550). The external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the sphere information control MPU. When the external WDT clear signal is not stopped at the clear signal release time, a reset signal is sent to the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112. Is output and reset (periodically diagnoses whether or not the system of the sphere information control MPU is out of control).

  Subsequent to step S550, port output processing is performed (step S552). In this port output process, various information is read from the output information storage area of the spherical information control built-in RAM, and various signals are output from the output terminal of the spherical information control I / O port 112 based on the various information.

  In the output information storage area, for example, ball information main ACK information indicating that various commands (prize ball command and self-check command) related to the prize ball from the main control board 100 have been normally received, to the circulating ball feed motor 47, Various information such as drive information for performing drive control is stored, and when a prize ball command from the main control board 100 is normally received from the output terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 based on this output information. The ball information main ACK signal is output to the main control board 100, or the drive signal is output to the firing motor 23.

  Subsequent to step S552, port input processing is performed (step S554). In this port input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the sphere information control I / O port 112 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM. For example, a door frame opening switch 131, a main body frame opening switch 132, a launch standby ball switch 50, a launch standby ball switch 51, a ball capacity confirmation switch 43, a launch ball confirmation switch 24, a launch ball detection switch 25, a foul ball detection switch 41, Tells the main control board 100 that the out-of-safe ball detection switch 40, the touch switch 87, the BRQ signal from the checkout machine 200, the BRDY signal, the CR connection signal, and various commands transmitted in the command transmission process described later have been normally received. The main sphere information ACK signal from the main control board 100 is read and stored as input information in the input information storage area.

  Subsequent to step S554, timer update processing is performed (step S556). The various determination times are stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S556, settlement machine communication processing is performed (step S558). In the settlement machine communication processing, whether or not various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal, and CR connection signal) from the settlement machine 200 are input based on the input information read from the input information storage area described above. Determine. Based on various signals from the payment machine 200, the ball information control MPU exchanges various signals with the payment machine 200. For example, when the ball information control MPU receives the number of balls lent transmitted from the checkout machine 200, the ball information control MPU adds the number of balls lent to the number of balls held by the gaming machine.

  Following step S558, command reception processing is performed (step S560). In this command reception process, various commands (prize ball commands and self-check commands) related to prize balls from the main control board 100 are received. When these various commands are normally received, the sphere information main ACK information to that effect is stored in the output information storage area described above. On the other hand, when various commands cannot be received normally, a connection that indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 (an abnormality has occurred in various command signals). Abnormality information is stored in the state information storage area described above.

  In the command reception process, a game state signal (status) indicating the type of the current game state transmitted from the main control board 100 is received, and the received game state signal is stored in the game state information storage area of the RAM.

  The gaming state means, for example, a winning lottery due to a winning at the starting port and the starting port, a special symbol variable display based on the lottery result to stop the symbol, and the lottery result In the case of the first type of pachinko gaming machine that shifts to the special gaming state (big hit gaming state), the normal gaming state (the probability of winning by the lottery is the normal probability, and the normal display variable time is normal), the short-time game State (state in which normal symbol variable display time is shortened than usual, time output information output signal), jackpot gaming state (15 round jackpot information output signal or 2 round jackpot information output signal), high probability gaming state (State that the probability of winning by lottery is higher than normal, information output signal during probability variation), special symbol variation (special symbol display information output signal), hold based on start opening prize There are certain conditions (starting opening winning information output signal) and the like.

  Following step S560, command analysis processing is performed (step S562). In this command analysis processing, the command received in step S562 is analyzed, and the analyzed command is stored as received command information in the received command information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S562, main operation setting processing is performed (step S564). In this main operation setting process, the ball information control MPU performs operation settings of the circulating ball feed motor 47, the blower 62, and the like. In addition, the ball information control MPU sequentially “1” from the game machine ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area in response to the detection of each game ball shot by the ball detection of the shot ball detection switch 25. Each time one foul ball is detected by the foul ball detection switch 41, “1” is added to the game machine ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area. Further, when a winning ball command is stored in the received command information storage area, the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning ball command is added to the gaming machine ball number data stored in the gaming machine holding ball number storage area.

  Following step S564, LED display data creation processing is performed (step S566). In this LED display data creation processing, for example, the gaming machine possession ball number data stored in the above-mentioned gaming machine possession ball number storage area is read out, and display data to be displayed on the gaming machine possession ball number display unit 14 is created to display the LED display. Information is stored in the output information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S566, command transmission processing is performed (step S568). In this command transmission process, various information is read from the state information storage area described above, and various commands classified into status displays are created based on the various information and transmitted to the main control board 100.

  Subsequent to step S568, output of the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 is stopped (turns OFF, step S570). Thereby, the external WDT 116 is cleared so that the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 are not reset. The external WDT 116 starts counting the clear signal release time when the output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped.

  Following step S570, the process returns to step S544 again to determine whether or not a power failure warning signal has been input. If this power failure warning signal has not been input, the 1.75 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1 in step S546. When the 1.75 ms elapse flag HT-FLG has a value of 1, that is, when 1.75 ms elapses, the value 0 is set in the 1.75 ms elapse flag HT-FLG in step S548. In step S548, it is determined that the idling execution flag is not 1. In step S550, an external WDT clear signal is output (ON) to the external WDT 4120c, port output processing is performed in step S552, and port input processing is performed in step S554. In step S556, timer update processing is performed, and in step S558, settlement machine communication processing is performed. Step S560 performs command reception processing, Step S562 performs command analysis processing, Step S564 performs main operation setting processing, Step S566 performs LED display data creation processing, Step S568 performs command transmission processing, In step S570, the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116 is stopped (OFF). As is clear from the above description, steps S544 to S570 are repeated every 1.75 ms. The processing from step S544 to step S570 is referred to as “sphere information control main processing”.

[Processing when the ball information control power is turned off]
On the other hand, when a power failure warning signal is input in step S544, interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S572). With this setting, a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is not performed, writing to the sphere information control built-in RAM is prevented, and the rewriting of the sphere information described above is protected.

  Subsequent to step S572, the power failure clear signal is output to the CLR terminal, which is the clear terminal of the D-type flip-flop of the power failure monitoring circuit 117, via the ball information control I / O port 112 (step S574). Thereby, the D type flip-flop can be released from the latched state by outputting the power failure clear signal.

  Subsequent to step S574, the output of the drive signal to the firing motor 23 is stopped (step S576). Thereby, the launch of the game ball is stopped. Subsequent to step S576, output of the drive signal to the circulating ball feed motor 47 is stopped (step S578). Thereby, the feeding of the game ball to the hit ball launching device 20 side is stopped.

  Subsequent to step S578, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S580). As a result, the external WDT 116 is cleared. Subsequent to step S580, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). The checksum is calculated by considering the sphere information in the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM as a numerical value, excluding the storage area of the checksum value calculated in step S528 and the value of the sphere information backup flag HBK-FLG. To do. Subsequent to step S582, a value 1 is set in the sphere information backup flag (step S584). Thereby, the storage of the sphere information backup information is completed.

  Subsequent to step S584, access prohibition to the sphere information control built-in RAM is set (step S586). With this setting, access to the sphere information control built-in RAM is prohibited, and writing and reading cannot be performed, and the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is protected.

  Subsequent to step S586, a loop process of repeating a state of doing nothing is entered. In this loop processing, the clear signal is not turned ON / OFF to the external WDT 116. Therefore, the external WDT 116 resets the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 by outputting a reset signal. Thereafter, the sphere information control MPU performs this sphere information control side power-on process from the beginning again. Note that the processing and loop processing in steps S572 to S586 are referred to as “sphere information control power-off processing”.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset when a power failure occurs or when a power failure occurs, and the ball information control side power-on process is performed by power recovery thereafter.

  In step S530, it is checked whether or not the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is normal, and in step S532, the sphere information control unit power-off process is normally terminated. It is inspected whether or not. As described above, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is checked twice to check whether or not the sphere information backup information is stored by an illegal act.

[Each process executed in the sphere information control main process]
Next, each process executed by the sphere information control MPU of the sphere information control board 110 every 1.75 ms in the sphere information control main process of FIG. 21 will be described. First, the ball lending process will be described, and then the hit ball availability determination process, the number of held balls count process, the LED display data creation process, the edge ball number display button check process, and the edge ball number display process will be described. The hit ball availability determination process, the number-of-balls counting process, the edge ball number display button check process, and the edge ball number display process are executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, and the hit ball availability determination process. , The number-of-balls counting process, the terminal ball number display button check process, and the terminal ball number display process are executed in this order.

  When the player inserts the card 203 into the card insertion slot 201, insertion of the card 203 is detected by the checkout machine 200, and data stored in the card 203 is read through the card processing machine 202. 15, the ID stored in the ID storage unit 204 of the card 203 in FIG. 15, the remaining number stored in the remaining number storage unit 205, and the number of balls held in the ball number storage unit 206 are read and stored in the RAM. Are stored in predetermined storage areas (ID storage area, remaining frequency storage area, and ball count storage area).

  Next, the checkout machine 200 determines whether the inserted card 203 is usable or unusable. In this embodiment, when the read remaining number is 0 and the read number of held balls is 0, it is determined that the card 203 cannot be used, and the card 203 is ejected from the card insertion slot 201. For this reason, when it is determined that the card 203 is unusable, each of the number-of-balls counting process, the terminal ball number display button check process, and the terminal ball number display process described below is not executed.

  On the other hand, when the read remaining frequency is not 0, or when the read remaining frequency is 0 and the read number of held balls is not 0, the checkout machine 200 determines that the card is usable, and the ball information The card usable information is transmitted to the control board 110.

  In addition, when the checkout machine 200 transmits the card usable information to the ball information control board 110, it next transmits the number of exchanged balls to the ball information base control board 110. Here, the number of exchanged balls (so-called exchange rate) is the number of holding balls required for exchanging with one special prize (corresponding to the predetermined prize according to claim 1).

  The number of exchanged balls varies depending on the area where the game hall is located and the management company that manages the game hall, that is, the game hall, and nowadays, the unit price of the ball varies from island to island. (There are so-called 1-yen pachinko and 4-yen pachinko in the game hall). For this reason, it may be configured such that the number of exchanged balls is transmitted from the management computer installed in the game hall to the settlement machine 200, and the settlement machine 200 receives and stores the number of exchanged balls.

  When a player presses the ball lending button 11 to perform a game, an operation signal for the ball lending button 11 is input to the checkout machine 200. In accordance with the operation signal of the ball lending button 11, the checkout machine 200 performs ball lending processing, for example, transmits a specified number of balls to the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110, and thereafter the ball information control MPU. Wait until you receive the end of ball rental sent from.

[Rental processing]
Here, the lending process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a ball lending process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball lending process is executed as one of the settlement machine communication processes in step S558 executed every 1.75 ms in the ball information control main process.

  When starting the ball lending process, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is received (step S700). In step S700, when the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is received, the process proceeds to step S701, and the number-of-ball counter (the gaming machine possession) which is a part of the storage area set in the built-in RAM. (Ball number storage area) is cleared to 0 (step S701), and the process proceeds to step S702. On the other hand, if the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is not received in step S700, the process proceeds directly to step S702. Note that the initial value of the number-of-ball counter is set to “0” by the power recovery setting in the RAM work area in step S534.

  When proceeding to step S702, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the exchanged ball number transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is received (step S702). If the exchanged ball number transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is received in step S702, the process proceeds to step S703, where the exchanged ball number storage area that is a part of the storage area set in the internal RAM is received. The number of exchange balls is stored (step S703), and the process proceeds to step S704. On the other hand, if the number of exchanged balls transmitted from the settlement machine 200 is not received in step S702, the process directly proceeds to step S704. Note that the initial value of the number of exchanged balls is also set to “0” by the power recovery setting in the RAM work area in step S534.

  When proceeding to step S704, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the number of rented balls transmitted from the settlement machine 200 is received (step S704). If the number of rented balls transmitted from the checkout machine 200 is received in step S704, the process proceeds to step S705, and the received number of lent balls is added to the value of the number of held balls counter (step S705). The end of lending is transmitted to the checkout machine 200 (step S706), and the lending process subroutine is exited.

  On the other hand, if the number of rents transmitted from the settlement machine 200 is not received in step S704, the process does not proceed to step S705 and step S706, and the direct renting process subroutine is exited.

  In this way, only when a newly usable card 203 is inserted into the checkout machine 200, the card usable information and the number of exchanged balls are transmitted to the ball information control board 110. Also, after the card usable information and the exchanged ball number are received, the ball rental number is transmitted to the ball information control MPU only when the operation signal of the ball rental button 11 is input to the settlement machine 200. Come. Then, when the number of rented balls is received, the number of rented balls is first added and stored in the value of the number-of-balls counter.

[Battery ball impossibility determination processing]
Next, the hitting / impossible determination process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the hit / impossible hitting determination process performed by the ball information control MPU. The hit / impossibility determination process is executed as one of the main action setting processes in step S564 executed every 1.75 ms in the ball information control main process.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the hit / impossibility determination process, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the number of held balls is 0, that is, whether or not the value of the held ball number counter is 0 (step S710). If it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number-of-balls counter is 0, that is, if step S710 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S711, and the operation signal to the firing control input circuit 120 is By turning off the output, the launch motor 23 cannot be driven (step S711), the circulating ball feed motor 47 cannot be driven, and the ball cannot be fed to the ball launch position (step S712). Exit the subroutine of judgment processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number-of-ball counter is not 0, the process proceeds to step S713, where the output of the operation signal to the firing control input circuit 120 is turned on, thereby 23 can be driven (step S713), the circulating ball feed motor 47 can be driven, and the ball can be fed to the ball launching position (step S714), and the ball-throwability determination processing subroutine is exited.

  Thus, when the value of the number-of-ball counter is not 0, the launching motor 23 and the circulating ball feed motor 47 can be driven, and the gameable state in which the game ball can be driven into the game area 5 substantially. It is in. When the value of the number-of-balls counter is 0, the firing motor 23 cannot be driven, and the game ball cannot be driven into the game area 5 substantially. At the same time, the circulating ball feed motor 47 cannot be driven.

[Ball count processing]
Next, a description will be given of the number-of-balls counting process corresponding to the ball information processing during the game assuming that the game is substantially possible. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the number-of-balls counting process performed by the ball information control MPU. The number-of-balls counting process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 executed every 1.75 ms in the ball information control main process.

  When starting the ball count control process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not there is a shot ball detection signal from the shot ball detection switch 25 (step S720). If there is a fired ball detection signal from the fired ball detection switch 25, it is determined that step S720 is present, the value of the number-of-balls counter is decremented by 1 (step S721), and the process proceeds to step S722. On the other hand, when there is no shot ball detection signal from the shot ball detection switch 25, it is determined that step S720 is not performed, and the process directly proceeds to step S722.

  In step S722, it is determined whether there is a foul sphere detection signal from the foul sphere detection switch 41 (step S722). If there is a foul ball detection signal from the foul ball detection switch 41, it is determined that step S722 is present, the value of the ball holding counter is incremented by 1 (step S723), and the process proceeds to step S724. On the other hand, if there is no foul sphere detection signal from the foul sphere detection switch 41, it is determined that step S722 is absent, and the process directly proceeds to step S724.

  In step S724, it is determined whether there is a prize ball command analyzed in the command analysis processing in step S562 (step S724). That is, it is determined whether or not a prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area. If a prize ball command is stored, step S724 is determined to be present, and the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize ball command stored in the received command information storage area is added to the value of the number-of-balls counter and stored (step S725). ), Exit the subroutine of the number-of-balls counting process. On the other hand, if no prize ball command is stored, step S724 is determined to be none, and the subroutine for counting the number of possessed balls is exited.

  For example, when a winning occurs at the winning opening set with the number of winning balls “4”, the number of winning balls “4” is added to the value of the holding ball counter and stored, for example, the number of winning balls “15”. When a winning occurs at the winning opening (large winning opening) set to “15”, the number of winning balls “15” is added and stored in the value of the holding ball counter.

[LED display data creation processing]
Next, LED display data creation processing will be described. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of a subroutine of LED display data creation processing performed by the sphere information control MPU. Note that the LED display data creation processing is executed as one of the LED display data creation processing in step S566 executed every 1.75 ms in the sphere information control main processing. The ball information control MPU creates LED display data to be displayed on the gaming machine ball number display unit 14 corresponding to the value of the ball number stored in the ball number counter (game machine ball number storage area). Then, the data is transferred to the LED output data storage section in the output information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM (step S730).

  Subsequent to step S730, the sphere information control MPU corresponds to the number of end spheres stored in the end sphere number storage area which is a part of the storage area set in the built-in RAM, and the end sphere number display unit 15 LED display data to be displayed is created and transferred to the LED output data storage section in the output information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM (step S731). When the ball information control MPU completes the process of step S731, it exits the LED display data creation process subroutine. In the port output process of step S552, various information is read from the output information storage area of the spherical information control built-in RAM, and various signals are output from the output terminal of the spherical information control I / O port 112 based on the various information.

[End ball number display button check processing]
If the player wants to know how many hemispheres will be less than the special prize exchange if he or she exchanges the currently acquired ball for special prize during the game, By pressing the end ball number display button (push button type switch) 16 provided in the unit 10, the end ball number display unit 15 can display the number of end balls.

  The terminal ball number display button check process is a process for checking whether or not the terminal ball number display button 16 has been pressed. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the number-of-end-sphere display button check process performed by the sphere information control MPU. The number-of-balls display button check process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 executed every 1.75 ms in the sphere information control main process.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the end ball number display button check process, it first determines whether or not there is an operation signal from the end ball number display button 16 (step S740). If there is an operation signal from the end ball number display button 16, step S740 is determined to be YES, and the process proceeds to step S741 to determine whether or not the end ball number display execution flag is 0 (step S741). On the other hand, when there is no operation signal from the end ball number display button 16, step S740 is determined to be NO, and the end ball number display button check processing subroutine is exited.

  Here, the edge ball number display execution flag is a flag for identifying whether or not the ball information control MPU substantially executes the edge ball number display process in the edge ball number display process described later. "Means non-execution, and" 1 "means execution. Note that the initial value of the number-of-balls display execution flag is set to “0” by the power recovery setting in the RAM work area in step S534.

  If it is determined in step S741 that the end ball number display execution flag has a value of 0, that is, if step S741 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S742 and 1 is set in the end ball number display execution flag. Is stored (step S742), the display processing flag is set to 0 (step S743), and the end ball number display button check processing subroutine is exited. On the other hand, if it is determined that the end ball number display execution flag is not 0, that is, if it is determined NO in step S741, the subroutine for the end ball number display button check process is exited.

  Here, the display processing flag is a flag for identifying whether the sphere information control MPU branches to any one of the processes in the later-described sphere number display process, and an initial display of the sphere number is “0”. In other words, “1” means the determination of the driving of the end sphere.

[End ball number display processing]
Next, the edge ball number display process will be described. 30 to 31 are flowcharts showing a subroutine of the number-of-end-spheres display process performed by the sphere information control MPU. The number-of-end-sphere display process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 executed every 1.75 ms in the sphere information control main process.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the edge ball number display process, it first determines whether or not the edge ball number display execution flag is 1 (execution) (step S750). If it is determined in step S750 that the end ball number display execution flag is not 1 (execution), that is, if step S750 is determined to be NO, the end of the end ball number display processing subroutine is exited. For this reason, when the number-of-end-sphere display execution flag is 0 (non-execution), the substantial number-of-end-sphere display process is not performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S750 that the edge ball number display execution flag is 1 (execution), that is, if step S750 is determined to be YES, substantial edge ball number display processing is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S751, and the value of the number-of-balls counter is divided by the number of exchanged balls (step S751), and the number of fractional balls is calculated from the result of division in step S751, ie The number of end spheres as the number of spheres is obtained (step S752), and the obtained number of end spheres is stored in the end sphere number storage area set in the built-in RAM (step S753).

  Here, the number of end spheres will be described. As an example, when the number of exchange balls is 333, the number of end spheres obtained in steps S751 to S753 is a number in the range of 0 to 332. When the number of exchange balls is 66, the number of end balls is a number in the range of 0 to 65.

  Subsequent to step S753, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the value of the display processing flag is 0 (step S754). When it is determined that the value of the display processing flag is 0, that is, when it is determined YES in step S754, the process proceeds to step S755, and the output of the operation signal to the firing control input circuit 120 is turned off to The motor 23 is stopped (step S755), the driving of the circulating ball feed motor 47 is stopped to stop the ball feeding to the ball launch position (step S756), and the message display data 1 is displayed on the message display unit 57 (step S756). S757), the process proceeds to step S758.

  FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a display mode of a message at the time of initial display of the number of edge balls displayed on the message display unit 57. In the message display 57, for example, “Do you want to hit only the end ball?”, “Press YES if you only want to hit the end ball.”, “Press NO to end the display of the number of end balls. ”Is displayed indicating that it is possible to input a selection instruction for whether only the end ball is to be shot (pressing operation of the YES button 53) or to end the display of the number of end balls (pressing operation of the NO button 54). ing.

  In addition, on the left and right sides of the number-of-balls display button 16, for the player to make a selection input for responding to either of yes or no in response to the interactive question format message displayed on the message display unit 57. A YES button (push button type switch) 53 and a NO button (push button type switch) 54 are provided. The player visually recognizes the message display at the time of the initial display of the number of end balls, presses the YES button 53 when driving only the end ball, and presses the NO button 54 to end the display of the number of end balls. Press the button.

  In step S758, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not the YES button 53 has been operated (step S758). When it is determined that the YES button 53 has not been operated, that is, when it is determined NO in step S758, the process proceeds to step S764. In step S764, it is determined whether or not the NO button 54 has been operated (step S764). If the NO button 54 has not been operated, that is, if it is determined NO in step S764, the subroutine for the number-of-balls display process is exited.

  In addition, LED display data corresponding to the value of the number of edge balls is created in the LED display data creation process (FIGS. 21 and 27) described above, and the number of edge balls is displayed in the port output process of step S552. The number of hemispheres is displayed in part 15.

  In this way, by pressing the end ball number display button 16, it is possible to display the end ball number on the end ball number display unit 15, so that the player can currently acquire during the game. If you replace the holding ball with a special prize, you can know how many end balls are less than the special prize exchange.

  It is assumed that the player who knows the number of the end balls has a feeling that he wants to finish the game clearly by driving only the end balls. On the other hand, some players who know the number of oddballs only want to know the number of oddballs and want to continue playing as usual. Therefore, when the number of oddballs is displayed, the player's intention is to temporarily stop hitting the ball and feeding the ball, and to end only the ball and end the display of the oddball number and continue the normal game. Can be selected.

  Therefore, when the message at the time of initial display of the number of edge balls is displayed, the value of the edge ball number display execution flag is displayed every time the edge ball number display processing is performed until either the YES button 53 or the NO button 54 is operated. 1, step S750 is determined as YES, step S751 to step S753, step S754 is determined as YES based on the display process flag value 0, step S755 to step S757 and step S758 are determined to be NO, The processing routine for determining NO in step S764 is repeated.

  If the YES button 53 is pressed, it means that the player has selected to hit only the end ball, so that step S758 is determined as YES, the process proceeds to step S759, and the display processing flag is set to 1. The fact that only the end ball has been selected is stored (step S759), and the process proceeds to step S760, where the number of end balls stored in the end ball number storage area is copied to the initial value end ball number storage area as an initial value. (Step S760), and by turning on the output of the operation signal to the firing control input circuit 120, the firing motor 23 can be driven (step S761), and the circulating ball feed motor 47 can be driven so that the ball firing position can be driven. Can be sent to the ball (step S762), and the message displayed on the message display unit 57 is deleted (step S763). The subroutine ends counts display process.

  In this case, the number-of-end spheres display process is executed even after the next period, and the process related to driving only the end spheres is executed in the number-of-ends ball display process.

  On the other hand, if the NO button 54 is pressed, the player has selected to end the display of the number of hemispheres, that is, to return to the normal gaming state, and step S764 is determined to be YES. Proceeding to S765, the end ball number display execution processing flag is set to 0 to return to the initial value (step S765), the process proceeds to step S766, and the output of the operation signal to the firing control input circuit 120 is turned on. The motor 23 can be driven (step S766), the circulating ball feed motor 47 can be driven and the ball can be fed to the ball launch position (step S767), and the message display displayed on the message display unit 57 is erased ( In step S768), the subroutine for displaying the number of end balls is exited.

  In this case, the fractional ball number display execution processing flag is returned to the initial value 0, so that the substantial fractional ball number display processing is not executed after the next period. Even if the firing is temporarily stopped, the firing stop state is canceled by returning to the state before the display of the number of end balls, and the normal gaming state is restored.

[Punching only the end ball]
It is assumed that a player who wants to know the number of hemispheres has a feeling that he wants to finish the game with a good finish by driving only the hemisphere. Therefore, when the player selects driving only the end ball, the end ball can be driven and the number of end balls that change with driving is displayed.

  Assuming that no winnings occur in the game area 5, the number of end balls displayed on the end ball number display unit 15 decreases by one each time a shot is fired. For example, if the number of exchanged balls is 66 and the initial value of the number of end balls is 50, 49 → 48 → 47 → 46 → ... → 30 → ... → It circulates in the range of 0-65 like 1 → 0 → 65 → 64 →... → 51 → 50.

  Note that it is up to the player to continue or stop half-ball driving. For example, if a player wants to exchange juice with an end ball, when the end ball is driven and the number of end balls displayed on the end ball number display section 15 becomes 30 balls to be exchanged with juice, It is only necessary to release the hand from the hitting ball handle 7. Thereby, when the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 in the firing control input circuit 120 is turned off, the firing motor 23 stops and the circulating ball feed motor 47 stops. Thereafter, the player depresses the settlement button 12 to end the game.

  In addition, if the player continued to drive the ball, when the ball number returned to the initial value after 1 order, the law was fulfilled by showing the player the ball number after 1 That is the end ball number display processing ends. And it returns to the normal state before the number of end balls is displayed. If necessary, the terminal ball number display button 16 is pressed again.

  Also, if a big hit is made during the end ball driving, a number of winning ball commands are received and the number of held balls is greatly increased, meaning that the number of end balls is displayed and that only the end ball is driven Therefore, the terminal ball number display process is terminated and the normal state before the terminal ball number display is restored. If necessary, the terminal ball number display button 16 is pressed again.

  Now, in step S758, when the YES button 53 is pressed, the number-of-balls display process is executed even after the next period. The holding ball will be driven, and the value of the holding ball number counter is updated and stored in the holding ball number counting process described above.

  In the ball count display process, step S750 is determined to be YES based on the value 1 of the ball count display execution flag, and the ball count is calculated from the value of the ball count counter at each step S751 to step S753. Update memorize. Then, based on the value 1 of the display processing flag, step S754 is determined as NO, and the process proceeds to step S769.

  As described above, if it is assumed that no winning occurs in the game area 5, the value of the number-of-ball counter decreases by 1 each time a shot is shot. Therefore, the number of end spheres calculated and stored each time from the value of the holding ball number counter is also decreased by one. Therefore, the number of end balls displayed on the end ball number display unit 15 decreases by one every time a shot is fired. For example, if the number of exchange balls is 66 and the initial value of the number of end balls is 50, 50 → 49 → 48 → 47 → 46 → ... → 30 → ... -It circulates within the range of 0-65 like → 1 → 0 → 65 → 64 → ・ ・ ・ → 51 → 50. Of course, if there is a winning in the game area 5, the value of the number-of-balls counter is increased by the number of winning balls, so the number of terminal balls displayed on the terminal ball number display unit 15 is also increased by the number of winning balls. .

  In step S769, it is determined whether the gaming state is a big hit (step S769). Here, the game state information is received in the command reception process from the main control MPU in step S560 in the ball information control main process, and stored in the game state information storage area of the RAM. In the process of step S768, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the content of the gaming state information storage area is a big hit.

  If it is determined in step S769 that the gaming state is not a big hit, that is, if it is determined NO in step S769, the process proceeds to step S770, and whether or not the number of hemispheres is the initial value stored in step S760. Determination is made (step S770). That is, it is determined whether the current number of hemispheres has returned to the initial value one by one from the initial value.

  When it is determined that the number of end spheres is not the initial value, that is, when it is determined NO in step S770, the subroutine for displaying the number of end spheres is exited. Further, LED display data corresponding to the value of the number of edge balls is created in the LED display data creation process described above, and is displayed on the edge ball number display unit 15 in the port output process of step S552.

  Therefore, if the player continues to hit the end ball, step S750 is determined to be YES until the number of end balls reaches the initial value unless the gaming state is a big hit, and the number of end balls is determined by steps S751 to S753. Each time it is calculated and stored, step S754 is determined to be NO based on the value 1 of the display processing flag, step S769 is determined to be NO, and step S770 is determined to be NO. Accordingly, the number of end balls displayed on the end ball number display unit 15 is, for example, when the number of exchange balls is 66 and the initial value of the number of end balls is 50, each time a shot is launched, → 49 → 48 → 47 → 46 → ・ ・ ・ → 30 → ・ ・ ・ → 1 → 0 → 65 → 64 → ・ ・ ・ → 51 → 50

  If the number of end spheres reaches the initial value in order while driving the holding ball, step S770 is determined as YES, and the process proceeds to step S771. Then, the display processing flag is set to 0 to return to the initial value (step S771), the process proceeds to step S772, the end ball number display execution processing flag is set to 0 to return to the initial value (step S772), and the end ball Exit the number display subroutine.

  In this case, the fractional ball number display execution processing flag is returned to the initial value 0, so that the substantial fractional ball number display processing is not executed after the next period. That is, the end ball number display process is completed.

  In this way, when the number of end balls becomes the initial value in the process of driving the end ball, the end ball number display process is terminated because the righteousness has been fulfilled by showing the end ball number to the player in order. By returning to the state before displaying the number of hemispheres, the normal gaming state is restored.

  Further, if a big hit state occurs during the end ball driving, step S769 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S773, the display processing flag is set to 0 and returned to the initial value (step S773), and step S773 is executed. The process proceeds to S774, in which the end ball number display execution processing flag is set to 0 to return to the initial value (step S774), and the end ball number display processing subroutine is exited.

  In this case, the fractional ball number display execution processing flag is returned to the initial value 0, so that the substantial fractional ball number display processing is not executed after the next period.

  In this way, when a big hit state is reached in the middle of driving the end ball, a number of winning ball commands are received and the number of held balls is greatly increased, and the meaning of the display of the end ball number and the driving of only the end ball are continued. Since the meaning is faded, the terminal ball number display processing is terminated and the normal state before the terminal ball number display is restored.

[Modified embodiment of idling control processing based on time information by RTC]
In the above-described embodiment, an external real-time clock (hereinafter referred to as “RTC”) 107 capable of acquiring time information is provided on the main control board 100 as the time information acquisition means, and the main control MPU 101 is connected to the RTC 107. However, instead of this, as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the main control MPU 101 may not include the RTC 107, and the ball information control MPU 111 may include the RTC 107.

  FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing a main part in the embodiment of the main control board not provided with the RTC, and FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a main part in the embodiment of the ball information control board provided with the RTC. As shown in FIGS. 32 to 33, the RTC control unit 106 (see FIG. 11) is not connected to the main control MPU 101, but is mounted on the sphere information control unit 118 and connected to the sphere information control MPU 111. Therefore, the sphere information control MPU 111 can acquire current time information from the external RTC 107. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a part of main control-side power-on processing executed by the main control MPU of FIG. 32, and FIG. 35 shows the main control-side power-on processing of FIG. 34 executed by the main control MPU. It is a flowchart. The main control timer interrupt process executed by the main control MPU 101 is the same as that in the previous embodiment (see FIG. 18).

[Main control side power-on processing]
In the main control side power-on process of this embodiment, the processes of Step S10, Step S12, Step S14, Step S16, Step S18, and Step S19 are the same as the main control-side power-on process of the embodiment shown in FIG. Since it is the same process, description is abbreviate | omitted. The main control MPU proceeds to step S25 following step S18 or step S19.

  In this embodiment, since the main control MPU does not include the RTC 107, it cannot directly determine whether or not to perform idling based on the current time. On the other hand, the sphere information control MPU including the RTC 107 directly determines whether or not to perform idling based on the current time. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the ball information control MPU determines whether or not to perform idling based on the current time, whether to perform idling or not to perform idling according to the determination result. The idle rotation identification data for identification is transmitted to the main control MPU. Further, the main control MPU waits until idling identification data is received.

  When the main control MPU proceeds to step S25, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S25). The watchdog timer is cleared by setting value A, value B, and value C in this order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. Then, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is determined whether or not the idling identification data transmitted from the sphere information control board 110 is received (step S26).

  If the idling identification data transmitted from the ball information control board 110 is not received, the main control MPU returns to step S25 and performs clear setting of the watchdog timer. Therefore, the main control MPU stands by by repeating the process of step S25 and the process of determining step S26 as NO. That is, while the watchdog timer is cleared, the system waits until idle identification data transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received. This prevents the watchdog timer from timing out during standby and resetting the main control MPU.

  When the idling identification data transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received, the main control MPU proceeds to step S27, and determines whether or not the received idling identification data is an idling execution (step S27). . If it is determined that the idling identification data is not idling and not executing (not idling), the process proceeds to step S30.

  On the other hand, in step S27, when it is determined that the idling identification data is idling execution (idling execution), the process proceeds to step S23. Then, clear setting of the watchdog timer is performed (step S23), and the process proceeds to step S24 to determine whether or not the idling end signal transmitted from the ball information system MPU is received (step S24).

  If the idling end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU is not received, the main control MPU returns to step S23 and performs clear setting of the watchdog timer. Therefore, the main control MPU stands by by repeating the process of step S23 and the process of determining step S24 as NO. That is, while setting the watchdog timer to clear, it waits until an idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received. This prevents the watchdog timer from timing out during standby and resetting the main control MPU.

  Also in this embodiment, in the main control side power-on process, the main control MPU waits without shifting to the game control process (main control side timer interrupt process) until the idle end signal is received. As a result, in the unlikely event that the ball hit for emptying wins, it will be added to the number of game machines held as a winning or change in symbols, jackpots, production and prize balls even though it is empty The game data in the reset work area of the RAM is not distorted at the time of power recovery, so that both the player and the game hall can be avoided. In addition, no unnecessary load is applied to the main control MPU, and other necessary processing is not hindered.

  On the other hand, the ball information control MPU executes the idling control processing described later when the idling identification data indicating that idling is executed as the content of the idling identification data is transmitted to the main control MPU. Then, when the execution time from the start of the idling execution becomes a predetermined end condition, it is determined that the idling is completed, and an idling end signal is transmitted to the main control MPU. When the main control MPU receives the idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU, the main control MPU proceeds to step S30. In addition, since the structure of the process after step S30 is the same as that of FIG. 17 as shown in FIG. 35, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

[Ball information control side power-on processing]
FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a part of the ball information control side power-on process executed by the ball information control MPU of FIG. 33, and FIG. 37 is the ball information control side power-on of FIG. 36 executed by the ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows a continuation of a process.

  In the ball information control side power-on process of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, each process executed from the time of power-on is the step of FIG. 19 of the main control-side power-on process of the previously described embodiment. Since it is the same process as each process of S500-step S520, description is abbreviate | omitted. After setting the stack pointer in step S520, the sphere information control MPU proceeds to step S5021 and performs current time information acquisition processing (step S5021). That is, current time information is acquired from the external RTC 107 and stored in a current time data storage unit set in a predetermined area of the internal RAM.

  Subsequent to step S5021, the current time acquired in step S5021 is compared with the store opening time set and stored in advance, and it is determined whether the current time is before the store opening time (step S5022). For example, when 9:00 is set and stored as the opening time and the power-on time is 8:30, it is determined that the current time is before the opening time.

  When the ball information control MPU determines that the current time is before the opening time, the ball information control MPU transmits idle identification data including the idle rotation content to the main control MPU (step S5023). Then, the process proceeds to step S5024, a value 1 is set to the idle rotation execution flag (step S5024), a value 0 is set to the processing flag (step S5025), and the process proceeds to step S527.

  On the other hand, in step S5022, if the current time acquired is compared with the store opening time set and stored in advance and it is determined that the current time is not earlier than the store opening time, the ball information control MPU performs step S5022. Is determined as NO, the process proceeds to step S5026, and the idling identification data including the contents of idling and non-execution is transmitted to the main control MPU (step S5026), the process proceeds to step S5027, and the idling execution flag is set to 0. (Step S5027), the process proceeds to Step S527.

  The idling execution flag is a flag for identifying whether or not the ball information control MPU executes idling control processing in the subsequent process, and means “0” means idling and non-execution. However, “1” means idle running. The process flag is a flag for identifying whether the sphere information control MPU branches to any of the processes in the idling control process, and “0” means an initial setting. Further, since the configuration of the processing after step S527 is the same as that in FIGS. 20 to 22, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this embodiment, the enclosing ball is idled only once when the power is turned on before the opening time. On the other hand, if a power outage or momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which power supply is suddenly stopped) occurs during business after the opening time, the ball information control MPU performs idle control processing when the power supply is restored. Absent.

  In the main control side power-on process, the main control MPU proceeds to the above-described game control process (main control side timer interrupt process) until it receives the idle execution end signal after receiving the idle execution. Without waiting (repeats the process of step S23 and the process of determining step S24 as NO). Then, when the idling end signal is received, step S24 is determined as YES, and the process proceeds to the game control process.

  As a result, in the unlikely event that the ball hit for emptying wins, it will be added to the number of game machines held as a winning or change in symbols, jackpots, production and prize balls even though it is empty The game data in the reset work area of the RAM will not be distorted when power is restored, so that both the player and the game hall are avoided. In addition, no unnecessary load is applied to the main control MPU, and other necessary processing is not hindered.

  In the two embodiments described above, as an example of performing the idling control process when there is no player, the idling control process is performed when the current time is before the store opening time when the power is turned on. Is. That is, as a trigger for starting the idling control process, time information by RTC is used, and when the time information by RTC is before the opening time, the idling control process is started.

  However, the trigger for starting the idling control process is not limited to using time information by RTC. When the power is turned on, it is determined that the touch of the hitting ball handle 7 is not stored, and it is determined that the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. It may be configured to start.

  The embodiment described below is different from the two embodiments described above in that the time information by RTC is not used, and the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 do not include the RTC control unit 106. The main control board 100 in the embodiment not including the RTC described below is the same as the block diagram showing the main part of the main control board shown in FIG. 32, and the sphere information control board 118 is the sphere information control board shown in FIG. It is the same as that of the block diagram which shows the principal part.

  An enclosed ball game machine according to an embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the ball information control board is provided with an RTC is a hitting ball handle disposed at the lower right corner of the door frame 3 in FIG. 7 by inserting a key (not shown) into a cylinder lock 1010 of the key device provided on the upper side of the door 7 and turning it to one side, thereby sliding the hook cover (not shown) of the door frame 3 and the sliding frame for the door frame of the main body frame 2 The hook frame (not shown) is disengaged and the door frame 3 can be opened with respect to the main body frame 2 by pulling the door frame 3 to the front side.

  Here, the power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is based on the power supply of the island equipment of the game arcade in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. As a result, power is supplied to the pachinko gaming machine 1. The normal power-on state means that, for example, a store clerk who has started work works by turning on the island facility before the opening time. Therefore, when the power is turned on during normal times, the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, that is, the door frame opening switch 131 (see FIG. 14) is turned off. . As described above, the idling control process described later is performed when the power is turned on during normal times.

  However, even when the power is turned on, when the door frame 3 is open with respect to the main body frame 2, that is, when the door frame open switch 131 (see FIG. 14) is on. Does not perform idling control processing. For example, if it is determined by the store clerk not to perform the idling control process, a key (not shown) is inserted into the cylinder lock 1010 and rotated to one side, and then the door frame 3 is pulled to the front side by pulling the door frame 3 to the front side. Is open to the main body frame 2. Even if the power is turned on in this state, it is possible to avoid the idling control process.

  Further, in this embodiment, for example, when an instantaneous stop (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped for a short period of time or a power outage) or a power failure occurs during business after the opening time, the supply of power is restored thereafter. When the power is restored, the enclosing ball has already been idle before the opening time, and there is no need for idle rotation, and the player is playing a game when a momentary power failure or power failure occurs. If it has been detected, the idling control process is not performed.

  In this way, when the player is playing, a momentary power failure or power failure occurs, and when the power supply is restored after that, avoiding the idle rotation state, when recovering from a power failure or power failure Therefore, it is possible to avoid the trouble that the player is suddenly meaningless and idle, and the player is not inconvenienced.

[Main control side power-on processing]
FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a main control side power-on process executed by the main control MPU 101 in an embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the ball information control board is equipped with an RTC, and FIG. 39 is a main control side of FIG. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing main control-side main loop processing and main control-side power-off processing executed by the main control MPU 101 subsequent to FIG. 39. The main control timer interrupt process executed by the main control MPU 101 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as main control MPU) performs main control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. When the main control side power-on process is started, the main control MPU sets the stack pointer (step S10). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address accumulated on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the memory element (register) being used, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after completing the subroutine. It indicates the address that has been stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S10, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

  Subsequent to step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S14). The voltage does not increase immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, when a power outage or a momentary power interruption (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is suddenly stopped) occurs, the voltage decreases, and when it becomes smaller than the power outage notification voltage, the power outage monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110 gives a power outage notice A signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure notice voltage from when the power is turned on until it reaches the predetermined voltage, a power failure notice signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110.

  Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S12 is a process for waiting after the power is turned on until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes. In this embodiment, the wait timer process 200 is 200 milliseconds (wait timer). ms) is set. The determination in step S14 is performed based on a power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110. After the power is turned on, when the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable, the power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is not output, and the main control MPU proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the main control MPU determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 shown in FIG. 11 is operated (step S16). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and an operation signal (detection signal) is input to the main control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not operated.

  When it is determined in step S16 that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to 1 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S100, while the RAM clear switch 105 is set in step S16. When it is determined that it is not operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to 0 (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S100.

  This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is a game related to a game such as probability fluctuation, unpaid prize ball, etc. stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101. It is a flag indicating whether or not to erase information, and is set to a value of 1 when erasing game information and a value of 0 when not erasing game information. Note that the value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in step S18 and step S19 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

  When the main control MPU proceeds to step S100 following step S18 or step S19, the main control MPU performs the wait timer process 2 (step S100). In this wait timer process 2, the system waits until a system that performs drawing control of a liquid crystal display device (not shown) by the liquid crystal control unit of the peripheral control board 130 starts (boots). In this embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as a time until booting (boot timer).

  Following step S100, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0 (step S102). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value of 1 when erasing game information and a value of 0 when not erasing game information. When it is determined in step S102 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0, that is, when the game information is not deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S104). This checksum is calculated by regarding the game information stored in the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculating the sum.

  Following step S104, whether or not the calculated checksum value (sum value) matches the checksum value (sum value) stored in the main control side power-off processing (power-off) described later. Is determined (step S106). If they match, it is determined whether or not the backup flag BK-FLG is 1 (step S108). The backup flag BK-FLG is stored and held in the main control built-in RAM in the main control side power-off processing described later, such as game information, checksum value (sum value), and backup flag BK-FLG value. This flag is set to a value of 1 when the main control side power-off process is normally terminated, and to a value of 0 when the main control-side power-off process is not terminated normally.

  When the backup flag BK-FLG is a value of 1 in step S108, that is, when the main control side power-off process is normally terminated, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as power recovery (step S110). In this setting, in addition to setting the backup flag BK-FLG to a value of 0, the power recovery time information is read from a ROM built in the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in ROM”). Time information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, “recovery” means not only the state where the power is turned off but also the state where the power is turned on, the state where the power is restored after a power outage or a momentary power failure, and the detection that a high frequency has been applied. It also includes the state of returning after that.

  Subsequent to step S110, power-on command creation processing is performed (step S112). In the power-on command creation process, game information is read from the backup information, and various commands corresponding to the game information are stored in a predetermined storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not 0 (value 1), that is, when the game information is deleted, or the checksum value (sum value) matches in step S106. If not, or if it is determined in step S108 that the backup flag BK-FLG is not 1 (value 0), that is, if the main control side power-off process has not been terminated normally, the main control built-in RAM All areas are cleared (step S114). Specifically, the value 0 is written in the main control built-in RAM (a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM as an initial value and set). Further, the big hit determination initial value determination random number used for determining the initial value of the big hit determination random number is when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase the game information, the sum value does not match, or When the main control-side power-off process has not ended normally, a unique ID code stored in advance in the non-volatile RAM of the main control MPU is extracted, and the jackpot determination random number is updated based on the extracted ID code An initial value deriving process for always deriving the same fixed value from the fixed numerical value range of the counter is executed, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

  Following step S114, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S116). In this setting, the initial information is read from the main control built-in ROM, and the initial information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S116, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing is performed (step S118). In the RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a power-on command classified into power-on for notifying that the main control built-in RAM is cleared and the initial setting is performed is created, and various peripheral control board 130 Test commands that are classified as related to tests for inspection are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  By the way, since the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 (FIG. 14) and the detection signal of the door frame opening switch 131 (FIG. 14) are not directly input to the main control MPU, it is directly determined whether the idling is performed or not. Cannot judge. On the other hand, the ball information control MPU to which the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 and the detection signal of the door frame opening switch 131 are directly input is empty based on the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 and the detection signal of the door frame opening switch 131. It is directly determined whether to rotate or not. For this reason, in this embodiment, when the ball information control MPU determines whether or not to perform idling, it determines whether to perform idling or not to perform idling according to the determination result. The rotation identification data is transmitted to the main control MPU. Further, the main control MPU waits until idling identification data is received.

  When the main control MPU proceeds to step S120 following step S112 or step S118, the main control MPU performs clear setting of the watchdog timer (step S120). The watchdog timer is cleared by setting value A, value B, and value C in this order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. Then, the process proceeds to step S122, and it is determined whether or not the idling identification data transmitted from the sphere information control board 110 is received (step S122).

  If the idling identification data transmitted from the ball information control MPU is not received, the main control MPU returns to step S120 and performs clear setting of the watchdog timer. Therefore, the main control MPU stands by by repeating the process of step S120 and the process of determining step S122 as NO. That is, while the watchdog timer is cleared, the system waits until idle identification data transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received. This prevents the watchdog timer from timing out during standby and resetting the main control MPU.

  When the idling identification data transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received, the main control MPU proceeds to step S124, and determines whether or not the received idling identification data is the idling execution (step S124). . If it is determined that the idling identification data is not idling and not executing (not idling), the process proceeds to step S50.

  On the other hand, in step S124, when it is determined that the idling identification data is idling execution (idling execution), the process proceeds to step S126. Then, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S126), the process proceeds to step S128, and it is determined whether or not the idle end signal transmitted from the ball information system MPU is received (step S128).

  Since the idling control process is directly performed by the ball information control MPU, the main control MPU cannot directly determine the end of idling. On the other hand, the ball information control MPU directly determines whether or not the idling end condition is satisfied in the idling control process.

  If the idle control end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU is not received, the main control MPU returns to step S126 and performs clear setting of the watchdog timer. Therefore, the main control MPU waits by repeating the process of step S126 and the process of determining step S128 as NO. That is, while setting the watchdog timer to clear, it waits until an idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU is received. This prevents the watchdog timer from timing out during standby and resetting the main control MPU.

  In the main control side power-on process, the main control MPU waits without shifting to a game control process (main control side timer interrupt process) to be described later until an idling end signal is received. As a result, in the unlikely event that the ball hit for emptying wins, it will be added to the number of game machines held as a winning or change in symbols, jackpots, production and prize balls even though it is empty The game data in the reset work area of the RAM is not distorted at the time of power recovery, so that both the player and the game hall can be avoided. In addition, no unnecessary load is applied to the main control MPU, and other necessary processing is not hindered.

  On the other hand, the sphere information control MPU of the sphere information control board 110 executes the idling control processing when the idling identification data indicating that idling is executed as the content of the idling identification data is transmitted to the main control MPU.

  That is, by operating the hitting ball launching device 20 (launching motor 23) and the circulating ball feeding member 44 (circulating ball feeding motor 47) without operating the hitting ball handle 7, all enclosed balls (in this embodiment) 25 or 50) is fired at least once to circulate through the circulation path 30 and idle control is performed to clean the surface of all encapsulated spheres with the ball cleaning member (conductive brush 61).

  During the idling control process, the ball information control MPU determines that idling is completed and transmits an idling end signal to the main control MPU when a predetermined termination condition related to the number of collected balls or the termination timer described later is met. . When the main control MPU receives the idle rotation end signal transmitted from the ball information control MPU, the main control MPU determines YES in step S128 and proceeds to step S50.

  When the enclosing sphere is idled, the enclosing sphere moves and circulates in the circulation path 30, so that it is possible to avoid a state in which the enclosing sphere stays for a long time without moving, and dust and dust accumulate on the enclosing sphere. Can be avoided. As a result, the game conditions for the encapsulated ball can be made uniform for any stand, and the player can be ensured fairness with respect to the winning chance by the game ball used. Further, dust or the like attached to the surface is removed by the conductive brush 61 of the sphere cleaning mechanism 60, and the encapsulated sphere can be kept clean.

  Subsequent to step S128 or step S124, interrupt initialization is performed (step S50). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when a main control timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 4 ms.

  Subsequent to step S50, interrupt permission is set. (Step S52). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process is repeated every interrupt cycle set in step S50, that is, every 4 ms. The processing in steps S10 to S52 is referred to as “main control side power-on processing”. The sphere information control MPU proceeds to step S54 following step S52. 40 is the same as that shown in FIG. 17, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Ball information control side power-on processing]
FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a part of the sphere information control side power-on process executed by the sphere information control MPU in an embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the sphere information control board is provided with the RTC, and FIG. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control side power-on process of FIG. 41 executed by the information control MPU. FIG. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control main process executed by the sphere information control MPU following FIG. FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a sphere information control power-off process executed by the sphere information control MPU following FIG. Note that the sphere information control side timer interruption process executed by the sphere information control MPU is the same as that in FIG.

  Further, the first half of the power-on process on the sphere information control side of the third embodiment is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 19, and each process executed from the time of power-on is the sphere information of the first embodiment described above. Since it is the same process as each process of step S500 to step S520 of FIG.

  The sphere information control MPU proceeds to step S526 following step S520, and determines whether or not the sphere information RAM clear flag is 0 (step S526). As described above, the sphere information RAM clear flag is set to a value of 1 when the sphere information is erased and to a value of 0 when the sphere information is not erased.

  When the sphere information RAM clear flag is 0 in step S526, that is, when the sphere information is not deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S528). This checksum calculates the sum by regarding the sphere information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM as a numerical value.

  Subsequent to step S528, it is determined whether or not the calculated checksum value matches a checksum value stored in a sphere information control power-off process described later (power-off) (step S530). . If they match, it is determined whether or not the sphere information backup flag is 1 (step S532). This sphere information backup flag is a flag indicating whether or not sphere information backup information such as sphere information and checksum value is stored and held in the sphere information control built-in RAM in the sphere information control power-off process described later. A value of 1 is set when the information control power-off process is normally terminated, and a value of 0 is set when the ball information control power-off process is not normally terminated.

  When the sphere information backup flag is 1 in step S532, that is, when the sphere information control power-off process is normally terminated, the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is set as power recovery (step S534). In this setting, in addition to setting the value 0 to the sphere information backup flag, the power recovery time information is read from a ROM built in the sphere information control MPU (hereinafter referred to as “sphere information control built-in ROM”). The power recovery information is set in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM. Thereby, the information used for various processes is set based on the various information stored in the various information storage areas, such as various flags, which are the above-described spherical information backup information stored in the spherical information control built-in RAM. . Note that “recovery” includes not only a state in which the power is turned off from a state in which the power is turned off but also a state in which the power is restored after a power failure or a momentary power failure.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S526 that the sphere information RAM clear flag is not 0 (value 1), or if the checksum values do not match in step S530, or if the sphere information backup flag is set in step S532. When it is determined that the value is not 1 (value 0), that is, when the process of turning off the sphere information control power supply is not normally terminated, the entire area of the sphere information control built-in RAM excluding the touch storage flag is cleared (step S537). . Thereby, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM excluding the touch storage flag is cleared. The touch storage flag will be described later.

  Following step S537, the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S538). In this setting, the initial information is read from the sphere information control built-in ROM, and the initial information is set in the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM.

[Judgment of touch memory]
Subsequent to step S534 or step S538, the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S5030, and determines whether or not the value of the touch storage flag is “1” (step S5030).

  Here, the touch memory flag indicates that in the power-on process that the ball information control MPU performs this time, an instantaneous power failure or power failure occurs when the player is playing a game, and then the power supply is restored and power is restored. Or “1” means that there is a handle touch memory, and “0” means that there is no handle touch memory. means.

  In other words, it is considered that there is no player playing a game on a gaming machine in a situation where the game shop is closed and the store clerk powers off the island equipment at the closing time. I can do it. Therefore, the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 in the later-described processing for turning off the sphere information control power supply should be off. In this case, “0” is set in the touch storage flag. In other words, no handle touch memory is stored.

  On the other hand, if a momentary power failure or power failure occurs while the player is playing a game on the gaming machine during the business hours after the opening time, the player operates the hitting handle 7 by hand. Therefore, the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 in the process of turning off the sphere information control described later should be on, and in this case, “1” is set in the touch storage flag. In other words, the presence of a handle touch is stored.

  If the ball information control MPU determines in step S5030 that “1” is set in the touch storage flag, that is, if it is determined that the handle touch is stored, the ball information control MPU is set to empty for non-execution. The rotation identification data is transmitted to the main control MPU (step S5040), the value 0 is set to the idle rotation execution flag (step S5042), and the process proceeds to step S540. In this case, the idling control process described later is not executed.

  For example, if there is a momentary power outage (suddenly short time, a phenomenon where power supply is temporarily stopped) or a power failure occurs during business after the opening time, For example, it is detected that the enclosed ball has already been idled before the opening time, for example, and that there is no need for idle rotation, and that the player was playing a game when a momentary power failure or power outage occurred. In such a case, the idling control process is not performed.

  In this way, when the player is playing, a momentary power failure or power failure occurs, and when the power supply is restored after that, avoiding the idle rotation state, when recovering from a power failure or power failure Therefore, it is possible to avoid the trouble that the player is suddenly meaningless and idle, and the player is not inconvenienced.

[Door frame open judgment]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5030 that the touch storage flag is set to “0”, in other words, if it is determined that the handle touch is not stored, the process proceeds to step S5032, and the door frame opening switch is set. It is determined whether or not 131 is on (step S5032). As described above, when the handle touch is not stored, it is determined whether or not the door frame opening switch 131 is on. When the door frame 3 is opened from the main body frame 2, the door frame opening switch 131 is turned on. On the other hand, when the door frame 3 is closed by the main body frame 2, the door frame opening switch 131 is turned off.

  When the power is turned on in the normal state when turning on the island facility of the amusement hall with the door frame 3 closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the door frame is turned on (when the power is turned on before the opening time). The open switch 131 is off. In this case, the ball information control MPU determines that step S5032 is NO, that is, determines that the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, and moves to step S5034. The idling identification data including idling execution is transmitted to the main control MPU (step S5034), the process proceeds to step S5036, a value 1 is set in the idling execution flag (step S5036), and a value 0 is set in the processing flag. Set (step S5038), the process proceeds to step S540. In this case, the idling control process described later is executed. The idle rotation control process will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the power is turned on while the door frame 3 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2 by pulling the door frame 3 to the front side, the door frame opening switch 131 is turned on. In this case, the ball information control MPU determines that step S5032 is YES, that is, determines that the door frame 3 is open with respect to the main body frame 2, and performs idle rotation and non-execution. Is transmitted to the main control MPU (step S5040), a value 0 is set in the idle rotation execution flag (step S5042), and the process proceeds to step S540. In this case, the idling control process described later is not executed.

  As described above, it is determined whether or not the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2 on the condition that it is determined that the handle touch is not stored when the power is turned on (step S5032). Then, since the idling control process is executed on the condition that the door frame opening determination means determines that the door frame is closed, the game room is closed with the door frame 3 closed with respect to the main body frame 2. It is possible to discriminate between a normal power-on when the island facility is turned on and a return from a momentary power failure or power failure when the player is playing a game on the gaming machine. Further, when the island facility of the amusement hall is turned on in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the door frame 3 is opened to the main body frame 2 at the time of normal power-on. As a state, it is possible to distinguish the case where the power is turned on.

  Subsequent to step S5036 or step S5038, the ball information control MPU performs an interrupt initial setting (step S540). This setting is to set an interrupt cycle when a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 1.75 ms.

  Subsequent to step S540, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S542). With this setting, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every interrupt cycle set in step S540, that is, every 1.75 ms. The sphere information control MPU proceeds to step S544 following step S542.

  In the above embodiment, the entire area of the sphere information control built-in RAM excluding the touch memory flag is cleared in step S537, but the entire area of the sphere information control built-in RAM including the touch memory flag is cleared. It may be.

  In the gaming machine of this embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the ball information control board is equipped with the RTC, the store clerk inserts the key into the cylinder lock 1010 (FIG. 1) and rotates to one side, as in the past. The engagement between the outer frame closing plate (not shown) and the hook (not shown) on the main body frame 2 side is disengaged, and the main body frame 2 is pulled to the front side to bring the main body frame 2 into the outer frame. It can be opened to the public.

  A RAM clear switch 105 (FIG. 13) and a power switch attached to the power board on the rear face of the power board box are operable (can be turned on and off) on the back of the main body frame 2 thus opened. It has been. Since such a RAM clear switch 105 and a power switch are provided on the back side of the gaming machine, it can be operated by a game shop clerk who can open the main body frame 2 with respect to the outer frame. The player cannot operate.

  Therefore, when the store clerk presses the RAM clear switch 105 and the power is turned on by turning on / off the power switch, it is considered that there is no player. Therefore, if the RAM clear switch 105 is on, the touch storage flag is cleared, it is determined in step S5030 that the handle touch is not stored, and in step S5032, it is determined that the door opening switch 131 is off (door frame closed). A value 1 may be set in the idling execution flag in S5036, and a value 0 may be set in the processing flag in Step S5038.

  In addition, since the structure of the spherical information control main process comprised by step S544-step S570 is the same as that of FIG. 21, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

[Processing when the ball information control power is turned off]
On the other hand, when a power failure warning signal is input in step S544, the interrupt inhibition setting shown in FIG. 44 is performed (step S572). With this setting, a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is not performed, writing to the sphere information control built-in RAM is prevented, and the rewriting of the sphere information described above is protected.

  Subsequent to step S572, the power failure clear signal is output to the CLR terminal, which is the clear terminal of the D-type flip-flop of the power failure monitoring circuit 117, via the ball information control I / O port 112 (step S574). As a result, the power failure clear signal is output, so that the D-type flip-flop can be released from the latched state, and the logic input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop, is inverted to be the output terminal. It can be set in a state of outputting from the 1Q terminal, and the on / off state of the power failure warning signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

  Following step S574, it is determined whether or not the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 is on (step S5070). If it is determined that the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 is on, the touch storage flag is set to “1” (step S5072), and the process proceeds to step S576 while the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 is off. Is determined, the touch storage flag is set to “0” (step S5074), and the process proceeds to step S576.

  As explained earlier, during the business hours after the opening time, if the player is playing a game with a gaming machine when a momentary power failure or power failure occurs, the player manually operates the batting handle 7 doing. Therefore, the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 in the later-described processing for turning off the sphere information control power is on, and in this case, “1” is set in the touch storage flag. In other words, the presence of a handle touch is stored.

  On the other hand, it is considered that no player is playing a game on a gaming machine in a situation where the game shop is closed and the store clerk powers off the island equipment at the closing time. I can do it. Therefore, the touch detection signal of the touch switch 87 in the later-described processing for turning off the sphere information control power is OFF, and in this case, “0” is set in the touch storage flag. In other words, no handle touch memory is stored.

  Subsequent to step S5072 or step S5074, output of the drive signal to the firing motor 23 is stopped (step S576). Thereby, the launch of the game ball is stopped. Subsequent to step S576, output of the drive signal to the circulating ball feed motor 47 is stopped (step S578). Thereby, the feeding of the game ball to the hit ball launching device 20 side is stopped.

  Subsequent to step S578, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S580). As a result, the external WDT 116 is cleared. Subsequent to step S580, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). The checksum is calculated by considering the sphere information in the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM as a numerical value, excluding the storage area of the checksum value calculated in step S528 and the value of the sphere information backup flag HBK-FLG. To do.

  Subsequent to step S582, a value 1 is set in the sphere information backup flag (step S584). Thereby, the storage of the sphere information backup information is completed. Subsequent to step S584, access prohibition to the sphere information control built-in RAM is set (step S586). With this setting, access to the sphere information control built-in RAM is prohibited, and writing and reading cannot be performed, and the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is protected.

  Subsequent to step S586, a loop process of repeating a state of doing nothing is entered. In this loop processing, the clear signal is not turned ON / OFF to the external WDT 116. Therefore, the external WDT 116 resets the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 by outputting a reset signal. Thereafter, the sphere information control MPU performs the sphere information control side power-on process again from the beginning. Note that the processing and loop processing in steps S572 to S586 are referred to as “sphere information control power-off processing”.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset when a power failure occurs or when a momentary power failure occurs, and the ball information control side power-on process is performed from the beginning by the subsequent power recovery.

  In step S530, it is checked whether or not the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is normal, and in step S532, the sphere information control unit power-off process is normally terminated. It is inspected whether or not. As described above, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is checked twice to check whether or not the sphere information backup information is stored by an illegal act.

[Improve control processing]
45 to 48 show subroutines of the idling control processing executed by the common ball information control MPU in the two embodiments using the RTC and the embodiment in which neither the main control board nor the ball information control board includes the RTC. It is a flowchart which shows. The idling control process is performed by operating the hitting ball launcher 20 (launching motor 23) and the circulating ball feeding member 44 (circulating ball feeding motor 47) without operating the hitting ball handle 7. In this embodiment, 50 balls) are fired at least once to move the hitting ball along the moving path set upward on the circulation path 30 and the ball cleaning mechanism 60 controls to clean the surface of all encapsulated balls. .

  As described above, the idling control process is executed every 1.75 ms when the idling execution flag is set to 1. That is, 1 is set to the idling execution flag in step S524 of FIG. 20, step S5024 of FIG. 29, and step S5036 of FIG.

  When starting the idling control process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not the processing flag is 0 (step S600). As described above, when the idling execution flag is set to 1, the processing flag is set to 0. That is, the processing flag is set to 0 in step S525 in FIG. 20, step S5025 in FIG. 29, and step S5038 in FIG.

  The process flag is a flag for identifying whether the sphere information control MPU branches to any of the processes in the idling control process, and “0” means initial setting. This means the determination of the start of time measurement of the travel time of the fired hit ball, the determination of the end of time measurement of the travel time of the hit ball fired at “2”, and the idling control processing at “3”. This means the end detection of.

  When the idling control process is executed first, as a result of setting the process flag to 0, the sphere information control MPU determines YES in step S600 and proceeds to step S602, and the sphere capacity confirmation switch 43 is on. It is determined whether or not (step S602).

  FIG. 49 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the position at which the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is disposed in the recovery joint channel 34 and the maximum number of encapsulated spheres. In a state where driving of the game ball by the hit ball launching device 20 (operation of the launching hammer 22 based on the driving of the launch motor 23) is stopped, as shown in FIG. The last game ball that has been collected and stopped is positioned. That is, when the number of encapsulated balls is 50 (the specified number of balls), the 50th game ball is positioned on the ball capacity confirmation switch 43. This state is a state in which the game ball is most stopped in the collection joint channel 34, and the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is in a detection state (ON) of the game ball. Therefore, if the sphere capacity confirmation switch 43 is on, the number of spheres is sealed up to a specified number (the maximum number of spheres), and there is no shortage of spheres.

  If it is determined that the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is not turned on, it means that there is a shortage of balls whose enclosing ball number is not within the specified number of balls. Therefore, it is determined that step S602 is NO, and the idling execution flag is set to 0. (Step S604), the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine.

  As a result of setting the idling execution flag to 0, after 1.75 ms has elapsed, step S548 in FIG. 21 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S550. As described above, when it is determined that the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is not turned on, since a shortage of balls has occurred, substantial idling is not performed. If it is determined that the sphere is insufficient, the sphere information control MPU transmits an error command to the main control MPU, the main control MPU 101 transmits an error command to, for example, the peripheral control board 130, and the peripheral control board 130 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. It may be configured to notify by displaying a shortage of spheres.

  On the other hand, if the sphere information control MPU determines in step S602 that the sphere capacity confirmation switch 43 is on, that is, if there is no sphere shortage, the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S606). As described above, the external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the sphere information control MPU, and the external WDT clear signal input to its CK terminal (not shown) is stopped (released) at the clear signal release time. ) When not performed (when the state is not changed from the on state to the off state), a reset signal is output to the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 to perform a reset.

  By the process of step S606, the external WDT 116 is cleared so that the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 are not reset during the idling control process. The external WDT 116 starts measuring the clear signal release time when the output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped.

  Subsequent to step S606, the processing flag is set to 1 (step S608). Next, the firing ball number counter is cleared to 0 (step S610), and the recovered ball number counter is cleared to 0 (step S612). Following step S612, a default value is set for the minimum time Tmin (step S614), and a default value is set for the maximum time Tmax (step S616).

  Here, the firing strength of the hitting ball launching apparatus 20 when the idling is performed when the idling is performed is controlled such that the hitting ball movement path becomes a constant path. Note that the setting of the launch intensity of the hitting ball launcher 20 is performed by adjusting the excitation current that is applied to the launch motor drive circuit 122, for example. As an example, at least the launch rail 21 shown in FIG. 4 is jumped over, but the game area 5 cannot be reached along the guide rail 8 of the game board 4. That is, even if the game ball launched by the launching hammer 22 by driving the launch motor 23 can jump over the launch rail 21, the game is played along the guide rail 8 of the game board 4 shown in FIGS. Since the region 5 cannot be reached, the discharge guide path 8a flows backward to enter the foul ball collection port 38, and the foul ball is received and collected by the foul ball collection path 32.

  The hit ball launched for idle rotation is detected by the shot ball detection switch 25 (one specific example of the shot ball detecting means) disposed on the tip side of the shot rail 21 to pass the game ball. Further, the foul balls collected in the foul ball collection path 32 are fed into the collection merging path 34, merged together with the out sphere and the safe sphere and collected as a collection sphere, and flow down in the collection merging path 34. After the passage of the game ball is detected by a ball capacity confirmation switch 43 (one specific example of the recovery ball detection means) provided in the middle of the passage downstream of the recovery joint passage 34, the game ball is sent to the array passage 35.

  Even if the hitting ball travels in a fixed path from when the hitting ball is detected by the launching ball detection switch 25 to when it is detected as the recovered ball by the ball capacity check switch 43, the ball hits the ball, etc. Due to variations. For this reason, it is necessary to measure how long the swing time of the hitting ball travels. Then, the minimum time Tmin and the maximum time Tmax of the movement time of the hit ball obtained by timing are updated and stored.

  When the last ball (the 50th ball) is detected by the launch ball detection switch 25, if this hit ball is caught in the middle of the movement path, it is not detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 as a recovered ball, and the idling control is performed. There is a possibility that the processing cannot be completed. Even in such a case, in order to be able to finish the idling control process, the ball capacity check switch 43 detects the last ball (the 50th ball) as a collected ball from when the last ball (50th ball) is detected by the shot ball detection switch 25. Even if it is not done, it is configured so that the idling control process is ended when a certain time (end time) elapses. A margin must be taken for this end time. In this embodiment, the difference between the minimum time Tmin and the maximum time Tmax, that is, the maximum value (= Δt) of the fluctuation width of the movement time of the hit ball is used as a margin. The time obtained by adding the margin Δt to the maximum time Tmax is set as the end time.

  In this embodiment, counting of the hitting ball movement time is started when the hit ball is detected by the shot ball detecting switch 25, and counting of the hitting ball moving time is detected when the hit ball is detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 as a recovered ball. Exit. The above-mentioned minimum time Tmin and maximum time Tmax are times compared with the measured time of movement of the hit ball.

  Subsequent to step S616, the ball information control MPU outputs an operation signal to the launch motor drive circuit 122, thereby driving the launch motor 23 to cause the hitting device 20 to perform a hitting operation (step S618). Next, the circulating ball feed motor 47 is driven to start ball feeding to the ball firing position (step S620), the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine.

  Thereby, the game ball is launched and the ball is fed to the hit ball launch position. The game balls launched for idle rotation are all collected as foul balls after being launched, and then aligned with the arrangement passage 35 via the collection joint channel 34. As described above, the hit ball launched for emptying is collected as a foul ball in the foul ball collection path 32, and then detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 while flowing down the collection joint channel 34 as a collection ball. Is done. Here, the moving path of the hit ball is a moving path from the shot ball detecting means (the shot ball detecting switch 25) to the recovered ball detecting means (the ball capacity confirmation switch 43).

  Even with this, the number of game balls held as a winning ball is changed as a result of winning, even if the ball hit for emptying wins, even though it is empty. The game data in the work area of the reset RAM is not distorted at the time of power recovery, so that troubles for both the player and the game hall can be avoided.

  The next processing cycle of the idling control processing is after 1.75 ms. As a result of setting 1 in the process flag, in the idling control process in the next cycle, step S600 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S622. In step S622, the external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S622). By the process of step S606, the external WDT 116 is cleared so that the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 are not reset during the idling control process.

  Subsequent to step S622, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not there is detection of a fired ball (step S624). If it is determined in step S624 that the shot ball is not detected by the shot ball detection switch 25, the process proceeds to step S626, and it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S626). In this case, since 1 is set in the process flag, step S626 is determined to be YES, the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine. Therefore, the sphere information control MPU outputs an external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116 and stops the output (turns ON / OFF), that is, clears the external WDT 116, that is, Waiting for detection.

  Then, if the ball information control MPU detects a shot ball by the shot ball detection switch 25 in step S624, the ball information control MPU increments the value of the shot ball number counter by 1 every time the shot ball is detected (step S628). The process proceeds to S630. In step S630, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not the value of the firing ball number counter has reached the specified number of balls (in this embodiment, 50 balls) (step S630).

  If it is determined in step S630 that the value of the firing ball number counter has not reached the specified number of balls, the process proceeds to step S632, and it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S632). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 1, step S632 is determined to be YES, the timekeeping timer is set to 0 (step S634), the processing flag is set to 2 to start the time measurement of the hitting ball movement time. Store (step S636), exit from the idling control process, and return to the main routine.

  Here, in this embodiment, the determination of the shot ball detection (S624) is performed before determining the value of the processing flag (S632, S626). In some cases, after the hit ball is detected by the shot ball detection switch 25, before the shot ball is collected and detected by the collected ball detection means (ball capacity confirmation switch 43), the next shot ball is the shot ball detection switch 25. This is because it can happen to be detected by. Thereby, it is avoided that the detection failure of the shot ball occurs.

  Here, as another example of controlling the movement path of the hit ball so as to be a constant path, so-called right hit may be used. In this case, all the hit balls move along the guide rail 8 on the right side of FIG. 2, enter the out port 19 and are collected in the out-safe ball collection path 31 shown in FIG. Sphere capacity check switch 43 (provided in the middle of the passage downstream of the recovery combined flow path 34, which flows into the recovery combined flow path 34 and flows together in the recovery combined flow path 34. A specific example of the collected ball detecting means) is detected by the game ball passing through the arrangement passage 35 after it has been detected. That is, the launch ball detection switch 25 is used as a specific example of the launch ball detection means, and the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is used as a specific example of the recovered ball detection means.

  As a result of setting the processing flag to 2, in the idling control process of the next cycle, step S600 is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S622, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116, and the output is stopped. If no shot ball is detected by the shot ball detection switch 25 in step S624, the process proceeds to step S626 to determine whether or not the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S626). In this case, since 2 is set in the processing flag, step S626 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S638.

  If there is a shot ball detected by the shot ball detection switch 25 in step S624, the process proceeds to step S628, and every time a shot ball is detected, the value of the shot ball number counter is incremented by 1 (step S628), and step S630 is entered. When it is determined that the value of the firing ball number counter has not reached the specified number of balls, the process proceeds to step S632, and it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S632). In this case, since 2 is set in the processing flag, step S632 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S638.

  In step S638, it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 2 (step S638). In this case, since 2 is set in the processing flag, step S638 is determined as YES, and the process proceeds to step S640.

  In step S640, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not a recovered sphere is detected (step S640). If the recovered ball is not detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 in step S640, the process proceeds to step S642, the value of the time measuring timer is incremented by 1 (step S642), the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine. Accordingly, the value of the clock timer is incremented by 1 every 1.75 ms until the collected ball is detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43.

  If there is a recovery ball detection by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 in step S640, the process proceeds to step S644, and whenever the recovery ball is detected, the value of the recovery ball number counter is incremented by 1 (step S644). The time measurement is terminated and the process proceeds to step S646.

  The value of the timekeeping timer thus measured (movement time of the hit ball) and the value of the minimum time Tmin are compared to determine whether or not the value of the timekeeping timer is below the value of the minimum time Tmin (step S646). ). If it is determined that the value of the timekeeping timer (movement time of the hit ball) is below the value of the minimum time Tmin, the value of the timekeeping timer is set as the value of the minimum time Tmin and stored (step S648). The process proceeds to S650. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value of the time timer (movement time of the hit ball) is not less than the minimum time Tmin, the process directly proceeds to step S650.

  In step S650, the value of the timekeeping timer (movement time of the hit ball) is compared with the maximum time Tmax to determine whether or not the value of the timekeeping timer exceeds the value of the maximum time Tmax (step S650). If it is determined that the value of the time timer exceeds the value of the maximum time Tmax, the value of the time timer is set and updated as the value of the maximum time Tmax (step S652), and the process proceeds to step S654. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value of the clock timer does not exceed the value of the maximum time Tmax, the process directly proceeds to step S654.

  In step S654, the process flag is set to 1 and returned (step S654), the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine. That is, the movement time of the hit ball is counted based on the detection of the next shot ball. The processing routine described above is repeated until the value of the shot ball counter reaches the specified number of balls, the movement time of the hit ball is counted by the clock timer, and the value of the minimum time Tmin and the value of the maximum time Tmax are updated and stored. To do. During this time, the value of the processing flag is alternately switched between 1 and 2.

  Then, when the 50th game ball is fired and the fire ball is detected by the fire ball detection switch 25, and the value of the fire ball counter reaches the specified number (50 balls), step S630 is determined as YES. Then, the process proceeds to step S656, the process flag is set to 3 and the control flag is set to idle to enter the end of the control process (step S656), and by stopping the output of the operation signal to the firing motor drive circuit 122, the firing motor 23 is turned on. The driving of the ball is stopped to stop the driving of the ball (step S658), the driving of the circulating ball feeding motor 47 is stopped and the ball feeding to the ball launching position is stopped (step S660).

  Subsequent to step S360, the difference Δt (margin time) between the minimum time Tmin and the maximum time Tmax is calculated (step S662), Δt is added to the maximum time Tmax to determine the end time, and the end time is set in the end timer. The elapsed time is then started (step S664), the idling control process is exited, and the process returns to the main routine. Here, the end time corresponds to the expected return time until the recovered ball is detected by the recovered ball detecting means when the number of shot balls reaches the specified number of balls as described in claim 1. is there.

  As a result of setting the processing flag to 3, in the idling control processing after the next cycle, step S600 is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S622, the external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116, and the output is stopped. If it is determined in step S624 that the shot ball is not detected by the shot ball detection switch 25, the process proceeds to step S626, step S626 is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S638, step S638 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S666.

  In step S666, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not a recovered sphere is detected (step S666). If the collected ball is not detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 in step S666, the process proceeds to step S672, the value of the end timer is decremented by -1 (step S672), and whether or not the value of the end timer has become 0, in other words, Then, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time after the 50th ball is detected has expired (step S672). If it is determined in step S672 that the value of the end timer is not 0, the idling control process is exited and the process returns to the main routine.

  On the other hand, if the collected ball is detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 in step S666, the process proceeds to step S668, the value of the collected ball counter is incremented by 1 (step S668), and the value of the collected ball counter is the specified number ( It is determined whether or not (50 balls) has been reached (step S670).

  If it is determined in step S670 that the value of the collected ball number counter has reached the specified number (50 balls), as shown in FIG. The final collected ball (50th ball) is positioned. That is, when it is determined that the number of collected balls has reached the specified number (50 balls), it is determined that the idling is completed, the process proceeds to step S676, and the idling end signal is transmitted to the main control MPU ( In step S676), the idling execution flag is set to 0 to return to the initial state (step S678), the idling control process is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine. In this way, if all the hit balls are detected as the collected balls before the end time set in the end timer elapses, it can be confirmed that the idling can be terminated and the idling is performed, All spheres can be made uniform uniformly.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S670 that the value of the collected ball counter has not reached the specified number (50 balls), that is, it is determined that the number of collected balls has not reached the specified number (50 balls). If YES in step S672, the flow advances to step S672 to decrement the end timer value by -1 (step S672). In other words, whether or not the end timer value has become 0, in other words, the elapsed time since the 50th ball was detected. It is determined whether or not the end time has expired (step S674). If it is determined in step S674 that the value of the end timer is not 0, that is, if it is determined NO in step S674, the idle control process is exited and the process returns to the main routine.

  Therefore, when the state in which the collected ball is not detected by the ball volume confirmation switch 43 continues, or even if the collected ball is detected by the ball volume confirmation switch 43, the value of the collected ball number counter reaches the specified number (50 balls). If no such state continues, the process proceeds to step S672, and the value of the end timer is decremented by 1 every 1.75 ms.

  Then, when the above state continues and the elapsed time after the 50th ball is detected expires, the end timer value becomes 0, and the ball information control MPU ends in step S674. It is determined that the value of the timer has become 0, that is, it is determined that the idling is completed, the process proceeds to step S676, the idling end signal is transmitted to the main control MPU (step S676), and the idling execution flag is set to 0. Is returned to the initial state (step S678), the idling control process is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine.

  As a result of setting the idling execution flag to 0, after 1.75 ms has elapsed, step S548 in FIG. 21 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S550. Thereafter, idling control processing is executed. Absent.

  When the enclosing sphere is idled, the enclosing sphere moves and circulates in the circulation path 30, so that it is possible to avoid a state in which the enclosing sphere stays for a long time without moving, and dust and dust accumulate on the enclosing sphere. Can be avoided. As a result, the game conditions for the encapsulated ball can be made uniform for any stand, and the player can be ensured fairness with respect to the winning chance by the game ball used. Further, dust or the like attached to the surface is removed by the conductive brush 61 of the sphere cleaning mechanism 60, and the encapsulated sphere can be kept clean.

  As described above, the shot ball detection switch 25 is used as a specific example of the shot ball detection means, and the ball capacity confirmation switch 43 is used as a specific example of the recovered ball detection means. Timed by a timer. That is, the time measurement by the timer is started from the time when the shot ball is detected by the shot ball detection switch 25, and the time measurement by the timer is ended when the recovered ball is detected by the ball capacity confirmation switch 43. The last ball is hit (the 50th ball when the number of encapsulated balls is 50), and when the 50th ball is detected by the launch ball detection switch 25, the ball driving and the ball feeding are stopped. The difference Δt (margin time) between the minimum time Tmin and the maximum time Tmax is calculated, Δt is added to the maximum time Tmax to obtain the end time (expected return time), the end time is set in the timer, and the elapsed time When the end time is measured by the timer, it is configured so that it is idled. Therefore, even if not all hit balls are detected as recovered balls, for example, the number of balls is insufficient. Even if the generated ball number becomes unmanageable, when the idling control process is executed, the idling control process can be reliably ended.

  As described above, (1) when all the hit balls are detected as recovered balls before the end time set in the end timer elapses, (2) the end time is not detected as all recovered balls. When the time is counted, it is possible to end the idling in either case (1) or (2).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 2 Main body frame 3 Door frame 4 Game board 5 Game area 6 Game window 7 Hitting ball handle 8 Guide rail 8a Launch guide way 9 Transparent board 10 Operation panel part 11 Ball rental button 12 Checkout button 13 Remaining frequency display part 14 Game machine Number of held balls 15 End ball number display 16 End ball number display button 18 Accommodating opening 19 Out port 20 Hitting ball launching device 21 Launching rail 22 Launching hammer 23 Launching motor 24 Launching ball confirmation switch 25 Launched ball detection switch 26 Opening / closing Plate member 26a Switch mounting portion 27 Opening / closing plate member 27a Opening 30 Circulating path 31 Out-safe ball collection path 32 Foul ball collection path 33 First ball path formation member 34 Collection joint path 35 Arrangement path 36 Launching delivery path 37 Second ball Passage forming member 38 Foul ball collection port 40 Out-safe ball detection switch 41 Fur Sphere detection switch 42 Sphere inflow port 43 Sphere capacity confirmation switch 44 Circulating sphere feed member 45 Shaft 46 Sphere receiving portion 47 Circulating sphere feed motor 48 Inlet passage portion 49 Outlet passage portion 50 Launch standby ball switch 51 Launch standby ball switch 52 Operable Notification lamp 53 YES button 54 NO button 55 Decoration cover 57 Message display part 60 Ball cleaning mechanism 61 Conductive brush 62 Blower 63 Brush insertion port 64 Ground wiring 65 Casing 66 Screw stop boss 67 Blower port 68 Blower duct 69 First duct Forming member 70 Second duct forming member 71 Screw stop boss 72 Air inlet 73 Air outlet 74 Air outlet 75 Air outlet 77 Air outlet 77 Air outlet 78 Air outlet 80 Fire base frame 81 Slide rod 82 Slide member 83 Reverse rotation prevention cam 84 Stopper single-sided Boss 85 Stopper piece 86 Launch stop switch 87 Touch switch 90 Upper start opening switch 91 Lower start opening switch 92 Gate switch 93 General winning opening switch 94 General winning opening switch 96 Start opening solenoid 97 Large winning opening solenoid 98 Count switch 100 Main control board 101 Main control MPU
102 Main Control I / O Port 103 Main Control Input Circuit 104 Main Control Solenoid Drive Circuit 105 RAM Clear Switch 106 RTC Control Unit 107 RTC
108 Battery 109 RAM
110 Sphere information control board 111 Sphere information control MPU
112 Ball information control I / O port 113 Ball information control input circuit 114 Circulation feed motor drive circuit 115 CR unit input / output circuit 116 External WDT
117 Power failure monitoring circuit 118 Sphere information control unit 119 Launch control unit 120 Launch control input circuit 121 Oscillation circuit 122 Launch motor drive circuit 123 Handle relay terminal board 124 Sensor relay board 130 Peripheral control board 131 Door frame release switch 132 Body frame release switch 133 External terminal board 140 Panel relay terminal board 141 Function display board 142 Upper special symbol indicator 143 Lower special symbol indicator 144 Upper special symbol memory indicator 145 Lower special symbol memory indicator 146 Normal symbol indicator 147 Normal symbol memory indicator 148 Game state indicator 149 Round indicator 200 Settlement machine 201 Card insertion slot 202 Card processor 203 Card 204 ID storage unit 205 Remaining number storage unit 206 Ball number storage unit 1010 Cylinder lock

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is partitioned;
A ball striking device for launching a game ball into the game area in response to an operation on the ball handle;
A circulation path for collecting the game balls launched by the hitting ball launching device as encapsulated balls and supplying them to the hitting ball launching device again,
A circulating ball feed member that feeds the encapsulated balls stored in an array passage formed in a part of the circulation path one by one into the ball launching position of the hitting ball launching device one by one based on driving of an electrical drive source; A main control board for performing game control processing related to pachinko games;
Two-way data communication is possible with the main control board, the launch control of the game ball by the hitting ball launcher, the feed control of the game ball to the ball launch position by the circulating ball feed member, and the start of the game A ball information control board for managing the number of balls held as the number of balls owned by the player during the game until the end of the game;
An enclosed ball type gaming machine equipped with
An external device that is attached to the enclosed ball type gaming machine and connected to the enclosed ball type gaming machine so as to communicate with each other;
In the gaming device configured by
The enclosed ball type gaming machine is
An end ball as the number of remaining balls less than the number of exchange balls generated when the number of possession balls is divided by the number of exchange balls as the number of possession balls required when exchanging with one predetermined prize. End ball number display means for displaying the number;
An end ball number display instruction input means operable by a player and capable of inputting an instruction to display the end ball number on the end ball number display means;
With
The sphere information control board is
The number-of-balls management means for increasing or decreasing the number of balls;
Exchange ball number storage means for storing the exchange ball number,
further,
When there is an instruction input for displaying the number of edge balls from the edge ball number display instruction input means, the number of balls held managed by the number of ball holdings management means is divided by the number of exchanged balls, and the exchange End ball number calculation storage means for obtaining and storing the number of end balls as the number of remaining balls less than the number of balls;
End ball number display processing means for displaying the end ball number stored in the end ball number calculation storage means on the end ball number display means;
When the display of the number of end balls is performed, an allowable processing means that allows selection instruction input to perform end ball driving or end the display of the number of end balls and return to the normal gaming state;
When the instruction to select whether to return to the normal gaming state after finishing the display of the number of end balls is made by the permission processing means, or when the end ball is being driven, the gaming state is a game. Return processing means for ending the display of the number of end balls and returning to the normal gaming state when the gaming state is advantageous to the player,
With
A gaming device characterized by that.

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