JP2019213953A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an encapsulation ball type game machine capable of feeding a game ball having been lifted at the back of the game machine to an upper portion of a body frame by a ball lifting and feeding device without troubling respective members mounted on a rear portion of a game panel.SOLUTION: A ball launching device 29 is arranged on one side of a front portion and an upper portion of a body frame 2, and a ball feeding device 28 is arranged behind the ball launching device 29 so as to overlap in a front and rear direction, so that the ball launching device 29 and the ball feeding device 28 form an upper shooting unit (an upper launching device 12). A ball lifting and feeding device 22 is attached behind an upper launching device to a rear face of the body frame 2, and an upper end portion of the ball lifting and feeding device 22 is arranged above the ball feeding device 28. Between the upper end portion of the ball lifting and feeding device 22 and an upper portion of the upper launching device 12, there is interposed a ball supply route member 24 extending in a front and rear direction for feeding a game ball lifted by the ball lifting and feeding device 22, from above downward into the ball feeding device 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 51

Description

  The present invention relates to an enclosed ball-type gaming machine, and more particularly, to an enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which a hitting ball launching device for hitting a game ball toward a game area is arranged above the gaming machine.

  A launching device of a gaming machine used for a pachinko game is usually arranged at a lower portion of the gaming machine, and a game ball is launched into a gaming area through a launching rail. However, since the distance from the launch position of the game ball to the game area is large, the game ball may not reach the game area and become a foul ball.

  As a prior art, pachinko gaming machines in which a game ball launching device is arranged above a gaming machine for the purpose of expanding the game board surface and preventing foul balls have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). It should be noted that a device in which a hit ball launching device that launches a game ball toward a game area is arranged at an upper portion of the gaming machine is referred to as an upper launching device.

  The pachinko gaming machine described in Patent Literature 1 is a gaming machine provided with an upper launch device, which can expand a game area and can launch a game ball with high accuracy at a target position, and does not generate a foul ball or a return ball. It is a pachinko game machine that aims to be.

  The gaming machine described in Patent Document 2 is also a gaming machine provided with an upper launching device, but is characterized by a mechanism for sending game balls to the launching device. The launching device of the pachinko machine described in Patent Literature 3 aims at reliably firing game balls one by one in the upper launching device.

JP 2008-200268 A JP 2007-676A JP-A-2002-346067

  In the gaming machines of Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, the upper left side of the gaming machine in which the upper launching device is disposed is a conventional gaming panel (game board) in a normal gaming machine that does not employ the upper launching device. Is the part where is arranged. Various members such as a liquid crystal display device for effect display, a movable accessory, a movable decorative body, and a drive mechanism thereof are arranged behind a panel plate of a recent game panel.

  For example, in a game panel in which a movable body movable in the left-right direction is provided at an upper part of the game panel, the movable body, a power transmission mechanism (for example, a gear train) for driving the movable body, and a guide in the left-right direction. Each member such as a slide rail, a drive motor as a drive source, a position detection sensor for detecting the position of a movable body, an LED board, a relay board, and the like is provided at an upper rear portion of the game panel.

  On the other hand, in the case of an enclosed ball type gaming machine, at the lower part of the main body frame to which the game panel is mounted, the game balls are collected from the game panel and once gathered in the ball collecting part, and then from the ball collecting part to the upper part of the main body frame It is necessary to lift the game ball to the upper firing device arranged. In order to widely use the game area, it is advantageous to dispose a ball lifting device for lifting game balls upward behind the side of the main frame on which the upper firing device of the main frame is disposed. In the case of such an arrangement, it is difficult to arrange the ball lifting device close to the upper firing device in consideration of the game panel being mounted on the main body frame, and it is difficult to arrange the ball lifting device and the upper firing device. Are separated from each other and the space is left and right.

  Then, a ball supply path member extending in the front-rear direction for sending the ball from the ball lifting device to the upper firing device is required, but the ball supply path member obstructs various members attached to the rear of the game panel. It must be arranged so that it does not become

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a ball lifting device at the rear of a gaming machine without obstructing each member attached to the rear of the game panel. It is an object of the present invention to provide an enclosed ball-type gaming machine capable of sending a game ball discharged to an upper portion of a main body frame to an upper firing device.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealed ball-type gaming machine in which the space behind the upper firing device can be effectively used as a space for arranging each member disposed at an upper rear portion of the game panel.

Means 1 to 4 are means for solving the problems of the present invention.
The invention according to claim 1 is a sealed ball-type gaming machine,
Outer frame,
A game board in which a game area is sectioned,
A main body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated, and is rotatably supported by the outer frame;
A hitting ball firing device for firing a game ball toward the game area,
A circulation path for collecting the game balls fired by the hitting ball firing device on the back side of the game board as an enclosed ball and supplying the same again to the hitting ball firing device,
A ball lifting device that is a part of the circulation path, and lifts a game ball used for a game from below to an upper portion of the main body frame with an interval between the game balls,
With
In an enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which a predetermined number of game balls are closed and circulated to play a game,
The hit ball launching device is disposed at one side of a front part and an upper part of the main body frame,
The ball lifting device is attached to a rear surface of the main body frame to form an accommodation space capable of accommodating the game board and various members, behind the hitting ball firing device,
The upper end portion of the ball lifting device is disposed above the hitting ball launching device, and between the upper end portion of the ball lifting device and the upper portion of the hitting ball launching device, the ball is lifted by the ball lifting device. A ball supply path member extending in the front-rear direction for sending a game ball from above to the hitting ball firing device in a substantially linear manner was provided,
[Means 1].

  According to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 1], the ball lifting device is attached to the rear surface of the main body frame, behind the upper firing unit disposed on the front part of the main body frame and on one side of the upper part. The upper end of the ball lifting device is disposed above the ball feeding device, and the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device is lifted between the upper end of the ball lifting device and the upper part of the upper firing unit. Since the ball supply path member is provided in the front-rear direction for feeding the ball to the ball feeder, the ball supply path member does not interfere with various members attached to the rear of the game board, and At the rear of the machine, the game balls lifted by the ball lifting device to the upper part of the main frame can be smoothly fed into the upper firing unit.

  Also, since the ball supply path member does not hinder various members attached to the rear of the game board, the space formed behind the upper firing unit is attached to the rear of the game board. It can be applied to the arrangement space of the members.

The enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 2]
In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 1],
The hit ball launching device,
A firing rail for stopping a game ball at the firing position,
A firing member that performs the hitting operation based on the drive of an electric drive source and fires a game ball stopped at the firing position toward the game area,
A launch port for directly sending a game ball launched from the launch position by the hitting operation of the hitting launch device to the game area,
With
The ball feeder,
A ball sending member for sending the game balls arrayed and stored one by one to the firing position of the hitting ball firing device, one by one, in an arrayed path formed in a part of the circulation path based on driving of an electric drive source; ,
The ball feed member is configured to allow the hit ball to pass without interfering with the hit ball fired from the firing position, and to prevent the return ball returning from the game area to the firing port from entering. A return ball blocking portion that is movable between the ball blocking position and
When the return ball blocking portion is at the permissible position, the hitting ball firing device is operated to perform the hitting operation by the firing member, and after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of operation of the hitting ball firing device. A control unit that controls the return ball blocking unit to move to the return ball blocking position so that the return ball is blocked by the return ball blocking unit.
It is characterized by the following.

  According to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 2], the return ball blocking portion is configured to allow the ball to pass without hitting the hit ball fired from the firing position, and from the game area to the firing port. Since it is possible to move between the return ball blocking position for preventing the returning ball from entering, it is possible to prevent the return ball from causing an erroneous ball count of the launch ball.

  Also, when the launching member performs a hitting operation, the return ball blocking portion of the ball feed member is at an allowable position allowing the passing of the shooting ball, and does not interfere with the shooting ball, so that the hitting ball is hit into the game area. Since it is only necessary to provide a sufficient hitting force, it is sufficient to use an electric drive source with low power. For this reason, the electric drive source can be reduced in size and thickness, and the power consumption required for its drive can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the electric drive source of the hit ball launching device can be reduced in size and thickness, the electrical drive source does not protrude behind the upper firing unit, so that it is attached to the rear of the game board. A large space for disposing each member can be secured.

The enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 3]
In the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 1] or [Means 2],
The upper firing unit,
One side in the left-right direction is pivotally supported by the body frame via hinge means oriented vertically, and the other side in the left-right direction is rotated in the front-rear direction with respect to the body frame around the hinge means as a rotation center. It can be opened and closed by being moved,
It is characterized by the following.

  According to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 3], since the upper firing unit is rotatable in the front-rear direction, the upper launching unit is located at a position deviated from a moving path when the left end of the gaming board is inserted when the gaming board is mounted. Since the upper firing unit can be rotated and arranged, the operation of attaching the game board to the main frame is easy.

The enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 4]
In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 3],
The sphere supply path member,
A ball discharge gutter formed at an upper end portion of the ball lifting device and for sending the lifted game balls forward from above,
A lifting communication passage formed at a rear upper portion of the upper firing unit and connected to the ball discharge gutter,
In a state where the upper firing unit is closed with respect to the main body frame, by opening a ball outlet at a front end of the ball sending gutter, the ball outlet is communicated with a ball inlet at a rear end of the lifting communication gutter. While, it is possible to supply game balls from the ball outlet to the ball inlet,
In a state where the upper firing unit is opened with respect to the main body frame, by closing the ball outlet, even if the upper firing unit is opened with a game ball remaining in the ball discharge gutter, the ball is closed. A spill ball prevention means to prevent game balls from spilling from the exit,
It is characterized by having.

  According to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to [Means 4], the ball outlet at the front end of the ball discharge gutter of the ball lifting device can be opened and closed by the spilling ball preventing means in accordance with opening and closing of the upper firing unit with respect to the main body frame. Even if the upper firing unit is opened with the game balls remaining in the ball discharge gutter of the ball lifting device, the spilled ball prevention means closes the ball outlet, so that the game balls are spilled from the ball outlet. Can be prevented.

  According to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine of the present invention, the ball lifting device is attached to the rear surface of the main body frame at the front of the main body frame and behind the upper firing unit arranged on one side of the upper portion, and lifts the ball. The upper end of the feeding device is located above the ball feeding device, and the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device is fed from above between the upper end of the ball lifting device and the upper part of the upper firing unit. Since the ball supply path member extending in the front-rear direction for feeding into the device is provided, the ball supply path member does not obstruct various members attached to the rear part of the game board, and the rear part of the game machine In the above, the game balls lifted to the upper part of the main frame by the ball lifting device can be smoothly fed into the upper firing device.

  Also, since the ball supply path member does not hinder various members attached to the rear of the game board, the space formed behind the upper firing unit is attached to the rear of the game board. It can be applied to the arrangement space of the members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the payment machine attached to the pachinko machine. FIG. 3 is a front view of the gaming machine with the door frame removed. It is a front perspective view showing the main part frame which constitutes a pachinko machine. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing a main frame constituting the pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which shows an upper firing device, a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit, and a sphere assembly part. It is a right view which shows an upper firing device, a ball supply path member, and a ball lifting device. It is the perspective view by the line of sight which looked up at the upper part of the game board from the lower front of the game board showing the upper launch device and the launch area. It is a front view which shows an upper firing device (a hammer hitting ball position for firing). It is a perspective view which shows the upper firing device seen from the front left side. It is a perspective view which shows an upper side firing apparatus seen from the rear left side. It is a perspective view which removes a ball feed unit cover, and shows and shows the upper firing device seen from back left. It is a figure showing the open state of the upper firing device in the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed. It is a right view which shows the longitudinal section of the gaming machine which removes and shows a door frame. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross-sectional perspective view along AA in FIG. 2. It is the perspective view which showed the state which the joint part with the base plate in an upper firing device, and the protrusion part of the panel holder in a game board abut. It is a perspective view which shows an upper firing apparatus seen from the front right side. It is a front view which shows an upper firing device (a hammer standby position for firing). It is a right view which shows an upper firing device (ball feed solenoid non-excitation, a ball feed member is a holding position and a return ball prevention position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device cut along the line BB in FIG. 10 (the ball feed solenoid is not excited, the ball feed member is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position). It is a perspective view which shows the ball feed member, the ball feed shaft, and the ball feed sheet metal in a ball feed device from diagonally backward. It is a right view which shows an upper firing device (ball feed solenoid excitation, a ball feed member is a supply position and a permissible position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device cut along the line BB in FIG. 10 (ball feed solenoid excitation, the ball feed member is at a supply position and an allowable position). It is a block diagram showing an important section in an embodiment of a main control board arranged in an enclosing ball type pachinko machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a ball information control board provided in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine. It is a block diagram showing each element connected to the checkout machine. 9 is a flowchart showing main control-side power-on processing executed by a main control MPU of the main control board. 27 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control-side power-on processing in FIG. 26. It is a flowchart which shows the main control side timer interruption process which a main control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of power-on of the ball information control side performed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board. 30 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control-side power-on process of FIG. 29. 31 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information payout control-side power-on processing following FIG. 30; It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the power cut of the ball information control which the ball information control MPU of a ball information control board performs. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a ball information control side timer interrupt process. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball lending process which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the hit ball possible / impossible determination process which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball count control processing which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball feed / fire drive process which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the shot ball detection processing which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the held ball number subtraction process which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a time chart which shows the drive timing of a ball feed solenoid and a firing solenoid. It is an external appearance perspective view explaining a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 43 is a view illustrating the magnetic ball discharge unit cover separated and turned upside down in FIG. 42. It is a top view of a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a rear view of a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the base plate of a deformed ball and a magnetic ball discharge unit. It is a figure which separates and describes a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit into a deformed sphere discharge unit and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the course by which a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere are discharged in a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the situation where a magnetic sphere is separated and discharged from a circulation route. It is a figure explaining the state where the magnetic sphere reached the magnetic sphere discharge slope. It is sectional drawing which fractured | ruptured the main body frame in the longitudinal direction so as to show the upper firing device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device. It is a front perspective view of a ball outlet opening / closing unit. It is a rear perspective view of a ball outlet opening / closing unit. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between an upper firing unit and a ball exit opening / closing unit in a main body frame.

[Outline of gaming machines]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The pachinko machine 1 (enclosed ball-type game machine) according to the present embodiment can be installed on the existing island facilities in a hall (pachinko game hall), and the content of the game is the same as that of a well-known pachinko machine. However, the game machine does not use the ball supply mechanism and the ball discharge mechanism of the island facility. That is, in the enclosed pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a predetermined number of game balls formed of a non-magnetic material (for example, stainless steel) are accommodated in a game machine, and the predetermined number of game balls are put into a game area by a launch device. Launch and play a game, collect the game balls that have finished the game, guide the launching device to circulate the game balls, and use the game balls pre-enclosed in the gaming machine to play the game. It has become. The game balls can be fired in accordance with the number of game balls (data of the number of held balls) based on the data of the number of ball rentals input from a storage medium such as a card via a settlement system or the like, and the game balls are fired. Then, the data of the number of held balls is subtracted corresponding to the number of launched game balls.

  Also, 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 data of the number of held balls does not include the number of the prize ball. Is added. Also, when the data of the number of held balls becomes “0”, the game balls cannot be fired. In this state, if a numerical value (the number of lent balls) is added to the data of the number of held balls based on the data of the amount of money or the data of the stored balls stored in the storage medium such as a card, the game balls can be fired again. It becomes. The shot game balls are collected in the game machine, sent to the shooting position again, and circulated in the game machine. That is, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is an enclosed ball-type game machine that collects the game balls fired in the game area and supplies them to the game again.

[Outline of gaming machines]
First, a main body frame 2 (FIG. 3) and a door frame 3 (FIG. 1) of the pachinko machine 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the pachinko machine 1 of FIG. 1 is provided with a settlement machine 4 as an external device.

The pachinko machine 1 includes an outer frame 1a (FIG. 12) configured in a rectangular frame shape and installed on the island facility on the hall side, and a game board 5 (FIG. 2) supported by the outer frame 1a to be freely opened and closed. The apparatus is provided with a main body frame 2 that can be mounted, and a door frame 3 that is supported by the main body frame 2 so as to be freely opened and closed.
At a position below the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3, a decorative cover 6 is attached to the front surface of the outer frame 1a, and the front surface of the outer frame 1a is completely closed by the door frame 3 and the decorative cover 6. It has become. The outer frame 1a, the body frame 2 and the door frame 3 are arranged such that their upper ends are substantially aligned, and the body frame 2 is rotatable by a hinge 7 (FIG. 3) provided on the left side of the outer frame 1a. The main frame 2 is pivotally supported, and the main frame 2 is opened by moving the right side of the main frame 2 forward with respect to the outer frame 1a. The door frame 3 is rotatably attached to the main body frame 2 with a pin, and is opened by moving the right side of the door frame 3 to the front side.

[Door frame 3]
The door frame 3 has a game window 9 in which a player can visually recognize a game area 8 of the game board 5 into which a game ball is driven, and a game window 9 disposed below the game window 9 and operated by the player. It has a hit ball handle 10 for hitting a game ball. A transparent plate 11 is attached to the game window 9 so as to cover the front surface (game area 8) of the game board 5 mounted on the body frame 2 in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the body frame 2. Have been. The hit ball handle 10 drives a firing solenoid 13 (see FIG. 5) of a hit ball firing device (referred to as an upper firing device 12) attached to the upper left of the main body frame 2 based on a turning operation of the player. A game ball is driven into the game area 8. The hitting handle 10 includes a micro switch (not shown) that is turned on when the ball is turned, a firing stop switch that is turned off when the micro switch is pressed while the micro switch is turned on, and a hitting handle 10. And a touch switch that detects a player's contact with the hitting handle 10 via conductive plating applied to the outer peripheral surface of the player. The upper firing device 12 will be described later.

  The door frame 3 and the main body frame 2 are opened by opening the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2 by inserting a key into a key device arranged at the lower right corner of the door frame 3 and rotating the key frame to one side. Can be done.

[Touch panel unit 14]
The door frame 3 is provided with a horizontally long touch panel portion 14 below the game window 9 (a portion corresponding to the upper plate of a well-known non-enclosed ball-type pachinko machine). The touch panel section 14 displays the remaining count, the number of balls held in the gaming machine, and the number of end balls.

  Here, the remaining number is a value corresponding to the amount of money stored in the card used in the checkout machine 4, and the number of balls held by the player is lent to the player by lending the ball. It is the sum of the number of balls and the number of prize balls obtained by the player as a result of playing the game.

  The touch panel unit 14 displays a ball lending button as a ball lending command input unit operable by the player and a settlement button as a settlement command input unit operable by the player. The ball lending button is used to instruct lending of a ball held for playing a game. The settlement button is used to end the pachinko game and instruct settlement.

  Further, the touch panel section 14 further displays an edge ball number display button as an edge ball number display command input means that can be operated by the player. Here, the end ball count is the surplus ball count when the player's ball count is divided by the ball count 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, the touch panel unit 14 can also display a message such as “Do you hit only end balls?”. A message in the form of an interactive question is displayed together with the end ball number display button, and a YES button and a NO button are displayed for the player to make a selection input for responding to any of yes and no.

[Body frame 2]
The main body frame 2 is a box-like shape having a frame-shaped fitting frame 15 and a peripheral wall portion 16 so as to just fit in the rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 1a (FIGS. 3 and 4). The fitting frame 15 has a rectangular housing opening 17 on the front side for fitting the game board 5 therein. A projecting wall 18 projecting inward is formed integrally with the interior of the housing opening 17 (FIGS. 3 and 12). The back is closed with a back cover. When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main frame 2, the front surface (game area 8) of the game board 5 accommodated in the main frame 2 can be seen through the game window 9 of the door frame 3.

  A deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit housing portion 19 is formed below the housing opening 17, and a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 is disposed in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit housing portion 19. . As will be described later, the discharge ball receiving box 234 for storing the deformed ball or the magnetic ball smaller in diameter than the regular game ball discharged from the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 is provided in the gaming machine. It can be attached and detached from the front.

  FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view in which the main body frame is cut in the vertical direction to show the upper firing device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 51, the main body frame 2 is provided with an upper firing device 12, a ball collecting unit 21, a ball lifting device 22, and a ball supply path member 24. The ball collecting unit 21 is a portion that receives game balls that have passed through the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20 and guides them to the base of the ball lifting device 22 (FIG. 5), and includes a ball polishing device and the like.

  A hit ball firing device 29 for firing a game ball toward the game area 8 is disposed at a front portion of the main body frame 2 and at one side (left side) of an upper portion (FIGS. 3 and 51). The ball feeder 28 for sending game balls arranged and stored in a guide path (a ball feed guide gutter 69 described later; see FIG. 11) one by one to the firing position of the hit ball firing device 29 includes a hit ball firing device 29. Are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction (FIGS. 6 and 51). In the present embodiment, the upper firing device 12 as an upper firing unit is formed by the hit ball firing device 29 and the ball feed device 28.

  In this embodiment, the ball lifting device 22 uses a screw 25 driven by a ball lifting motor 150 (see FIG. 24), and the game balls that have reached the base are rotated by the screw 25 to reduce the distance between the game balls. It is opened and lifted to the upper part of the main body frame 2 from below. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface of the main frame 2 behind the upper firing device 12, and the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is disposed above the ball feeding device 28 (FIGS. 3 and 3). 4, FIG. 51).

  Between the upper end portion of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper portion of the upper firing device 12, a ball supply in the front-rear direction for feeding game balls pumped by the ball lifting device 22 from above to the ball feeding device 28 is provided. A path member 24 is provided (FIGS. 3, 4, and 51). Further, in the present embodiment, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and has a gentle downward slope toward the front, so that the lifted game balls are moved forward from above. It comprises a ball sending gutter 23 to be sent out, and a lifting communication gutter 65 formed on the rear upper portion of the upper firing device 12 and connected to the ball sending gutter 23 and having a gentle downward slope. In addition, the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device 22 is sent to the ball sending gutter 23. The ball delivery gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 is provided with a launch standby ball detection switch 26 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball flowing down the ball delivery gutter 23 (see FIG. 6).

  The ball lifting device 22 is not limited to a screw, and may employ a belt mechanism. The game balls sent from the ball collecting unit 21 by the belt mechanism are sent to the upper firing device 12 through the ball lifting device 22 and the ball supply path member 24. The ball lifting motor 150 is provided with a gear at the lower center in the left-right direction of the belt mechanism. The belt mechanism is driven by the driving of the ball lifting motor 150, and the ball is moved to the ball reservoir 23 one ball at a time. Game balls are to be lifted.

[Upper firing device]
FIG. 8 is a front view showing the upper firing device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device as viewed from the front left side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device as viewed from the rear left. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device as viewed from the rear left with the ball feed unit cover removed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an open state of the upper firing device in the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed, and FIG. 13 is a right side view showing a longitudinal section of the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed. FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross-sectional perspective view along AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a joint portion of the upper firing device with the base plate is in contact with a projection portion of the panel holder of the game board.

  The upper firing device 12 receives a game ball reaching from the ball supply path member 24 for mounting and fixing a metal plate-shaped base plate 39 for attaching and fixing the upper firing device 12 to the main body frame 2, and is used for firing of the hit ball firing device 29. A ball feeder 28 that reliably sends game balls one by one to a hammer 30 (FIG. 8) and a ball feed solenoid 32 (FIG. 11) and a ball feed member 32 to a hitting ball firing position, and fires game balls toward the game area 8. (See FIGS. 8 to 11).

  The ball feeder 28 receives a game ball arriving from the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6), and uses the ball feeder 32 to move one ball to the firing position of the launch hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the hit ball firing device 29. It is a device for sending out each one surely.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching hammer 30, a launching solenoid 13, a rail member 33, a launching stopper 34, a returning stopper 35, a launching ball confirmation switch 36, an upper launching device hinge 37, and a launching opening. 38. These members are mounted on a base plate 39 (a metal plate in this embodiment) as a substrate. The firing port 38 is formed so as to face the tip of the firing hammer 30, and the rail member 33 is attached to this portion. The rail member 33 is a member that holds one game ball sent to the firing position (ball hitting position) by the ball feeding member 32 by the rail portion 332. The game ball launched by the launch hammer 30 is launched from the launch port 38 to the game area 8.

  The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is disposed with respect to the rail portion 332 of the rail member 33, detects the presence or absence of a game ball driven by the launch hammer 30, and detects the detection of the game ball by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. By switching, it is detected that one game ball has been fired by the hammer 30 for firing.

  The base plate 39 is attached to the main body frame 2 so as to be openable and closable with a vertical upper hinge 37 for the upper firing device disposed on the front left side of the base plate 39 so as to make the upper firing device 12 movable. The base plate 39 can be opened with the hinge 37 for the upper firing device as an axis (FIGS. 9 and 12).

  The position of the upper firing device hinge 37 is determined when the game board 5 is attached to and detached from the hinge 7 that rotatably connects the main frame 2 and the door frame 3 to the main frame 2. The upper firing device 12 is in a position where the game board 5 can be opened to an angle that does not hinder the insertion and mounting (for example, 120 degrees).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the circulation path of the game ball includes the above-mentioned deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20, ball collection unit 21, ball lifting device 22, ball supply path member 24, upper firing device 12, and game area 8. It is through. The game balls fired from the upper firing device 12 to the firing area 40 (FIG. 7) of the game area 8 flow down the game area from above to below, and pass through the winning port 41 or the out port 42 to discharge the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. Return to

[Game board]
The game board 5 is mounted on the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. In this embodiment, the game board 5 has a structure in which a transparent panel plate 44 is attached to a panel holder 43, and a front component 45 is attached to the front surface thereof to fix the transparent panel plate 44 (FIG. 12). The game board 5 does not have a conventional inner rail, and the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the front component 45 is a game ball running surface 46 (FIG. 7).

  A cutout 47 (FIG. 12) is formed in the upper left corner of the game board 5 in accordance with the form of the upper firing device 12. The notch 47 extends from the front component 45 to a part of the transparent panel plate 44 in the game area 8. The opening 38 of the upper firing device 12 faces the place where the transparent panel plate 44 is cut out, and the vicinity of the opening 38 along the game ball running surface 46 above the opening 38 as shown in FIG. Is the launch area 40. Therefore, the game ball hit by the firing hammer 30 of the upper firing device 12 is guided to the game ball running surface 46 of the front component 45 in the firing area 40.

  In addition, the notch of the panel holder 43 in the notch 47 is smaller than the notch of the front component, and a part of the panel holder 43 becomes the protruding portion 48 that protrudes inside the notch 47 when viewed from the front. (FIGS. 12 and 15). A fixing tool 49 is attached to the base plate 39 of the upper firing device 12 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction, and a tip of the fixing tool 49 is connected to the overhanging wall 18 of the main body frame 2 when the upper firing device 12 is closed. It is detachably attached to the screw receiving member 50 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 15). The fixing tool 49 has a screw at the tip and a relatively large head, so that the fixing tool 49 can be attached and detached without using a tool (using a simple member such as a coin). Is also good). The screw receiving member 50 has, for example, a structure in which a nut is welded to a flat metal plate, and is fixed to the overhanging wall 18 with screws or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, when the fixing tool 49 is mounted on the screw receiving member 50 through the upper firing device 12, the game board is fixed to the main body frame 2 by the base plate 39. At this time, the abutting portion 39a (FIG. 13) of the base plate 39 abuts on the protruding portion 48 protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses the protruding portion 48 toward the main body frame 2 to be fixed. I do.

  As a result, the positional relationship between the firing port 38 of the upper firing device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed without any play, and a step or the like that becomes an obstacle when the game ball travels between the firing port 38 and the game area 8 is reduced. Does not occur. Further, if the fixing device 49 is removed from the screw receiving member 50, the base plate 39 can be opened toward the front centering on the hinge 37 for the upper firing device, and when the game board 5 is fitted into the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. Do not get in the way. In addition, maintenance work such as ball contamination in the ball feeding device 28 and the hit ball firing device 29 can be easily performed.

  In the gaming area 8 of the present embodiment, a number of obstacle nails (not shown) and various winning ports such as winning ports are provided, and a predetermined number of prize balls are awarded according to winning in the various winning ports. It has become. Since this embodiment is an enclosed ball-type gaming machine, "1" is subtracted from the data of the number of held balls in accordance with the driving of one game ball, while the number of prize balls corresponding to winning in various winning ports is determined. Is added to the data of the number of held balls, and the corresponding number of held balls is displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

  In addition, since the ball is a pachinko machine with an enclosed ball, prize balls are not paid out, and the number of outgoing balls, the number of incoming balls, the number of difference balls, the number of held balls, and the like are not actual numbers of game balls but numerical values in data. That is, the number of actually used game balls is limited to a predetermined number (for example, 50 or 75) that is used in a circulating manner. The number of shot balls counted and counted, the number of collected balls detected and counted by detecting game balls fired and collected in the game area 8, the number of prize balls when winning, the number of ball rentals borrowed from the hall side, etc. The number of incoming balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of difference balls, and the number of held balls can be obtained.

  That is, unless there is a trouble such as opening the door frame 3 and the game ball going out, the number of fired balls = the number of collected balls. Then, the number of incoming balls = the number of collected balls = the number of launched balls, the number of outgoing balls = the number of awarded balls (integrated value) = the number of incoming balls-the number of balls for lending (the number of replayed balls) + the number of holding balls, and the number of holding balls = lending Number of balls (or number of replayed balls) + Number of outgoing balls-Number of incoming balls, Number of outgoing balls-Number of incoming balls = Number of difference balls, Number of held balls = Number of ball rentals (or Number of replayed balls) + Number of difference balls It becomes. In this way, the game by the pachinko machine 1 is performed completely 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 can be managed reliably in integer units. In the structure of the upper firing device 12 described later, basically no foul ball is generated.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the front component 45 and the panel holder and the transparent panel plate 44 are formed as separate members, but these are integrated as one member, for example, by bonding, or are integrally formed to form one member. You can also. As described above, when the front component 45 and the panel holder 43 are integrally formed on the transparent panel board 44, the notch 47 is provided on the game board 5, so that the front component 45 and the panel holder 43 have the same. It is possible to suppress the structural weakening of these members due to the cutting of the frame structure (the four sides are connected).

  16 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device as viewed from the front right side, FIG. 17 is a front view showing the upper firing device (a hammer standby position for firing), and FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper firing device. It is.

[Ball launcher 29]
The hit ball launching device 29 is capable of hitting the game ball supplied from the ball feeder 28 into the game area 8 of the game board 5 with a strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the hit ball handle 10. The hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching solenoid 13 mounted on the upper rear surface of the base plate 39 so that the rotary drive shaft 60 projects forward, and a launching hammer 30 fixed to the rotary drive shaft 60 of the launch solenoid 13 so as to be integrally rotatable. A hammer tip 61 fixed to the tip of the hammer 30 for firing; a rail member 33 attached to the front surface of the base plate 39 with a predetermined position on the movement locus of the hammer 61 as a firing position; The launching stopper 34 for restricting the rotation of the hammer tip 61 in the counterclockwise direction from the hitting position where the stopped game ball can be hit, and the firing hammer 30 at the standby position (initial position) in its turning operation. A return-time stopper 35 for restricting the game ball, a firing-ball confirmation switch 36 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball parked at the firing position, A morphism device hinge 37 is provided with a firing port 38 which is opened to face the game area 8, the (8, 9, 16, see FIG. 18).

  Although not shown in detail, the firing solenoid 13 of the hit ball firing device 29 is configured such that the rotary drive shaft 60 reciprocates with a strength (speed) corresponding to the rotation operation angle of the hit ball handle 10. The launching hammer 30 of the hitting ball launching device 29 has a fixed portion 301 fixed to the rotary drive shaft 60 of the firing solenoid 13, and a gentle arc extending from the fixed portion 301, and the tip is at the axis of the rotary drive shaft 60. A rod portion 302 facing the normal direction and having the tip 61 fixed to the tip thereof, and a stopper extending to the opposite side of the rod portion 302 with the fixing portion 301 interposed therebetween and capable of abutting against the stopper 34 at the time of firing. A contact portion 303. When the stopper contact portion 303 of the firing hammer 30 contacts the stopper 34 at the time of firing, rotation in the counterclockwise direction in front view is restricted (see FIG. 8).

  A ball supply port 63 formed in a ball feed unit base (described later) of the ball feed device 28 is disposed directly above the rail member 33 of the hit ball firing device 29. The rail member 33 stops one game ball sent from the ball supply port 63 by the ball feeding operation of the ball feeding member 32 of the ball feeding device 28 described below at the firing position.

  The rail member 33 is formed by bending a metal plate, and includes a mounting plate portion 331 fixed to the base plate 39 and a rail portion 332 bent forward from the mounting plate portion 331. (See FIG. 8). The rail portion 332 for setting the firing position has a substantially L-shape inclined 45 degrees to the left in a front view, and a left rail plate 333 forming the left side of the rail portion 332 and a right side of the rail portion 332. And a right rail plate 334 (see FIG. 8). The left rail plate 333 is formed with a through hole 335 through which the hammer 61 passes when the firing hammer 30 hits the ball (see FIGS. 9 and 21).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when viewed from the front, a portion extending from the center to the lower end in the vertical direction of the right side portion of the hitting ball firing device 29 of the upper firing device 12 is exposed and arranged facing the game area 8. ing. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 16, on the right side of the front surface of the base plate 39, a discharge port decoration member 64 is provided, and the discharge port decoration member 64 is attached to the base plate 39 and a later-described ball feed unit base 67. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 16, the opening decoration member 64 is disposed such that the right side surface and the lower side surface are exposed to the game area 8, and therefore, the right side of the opening decoration member 64 The face portion and the lower side surface portion are formed on a ball entry prevention wall 51 for preventing a game ball hit into the game area 8 from entering the inside of the hit ball firing device 29. The launch port 38 is formed on the ball entry prevention wall 51 on the right side of the launch port decoration member 64, and the ball entry prevention wall 51 surrounds the launch port 38 and is substantially flush with the rear end face of the game area 8. It has an arch shape that rises forward.

  As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 8 and 16, the ejection opening 38 is positioned obliquely rightward and upward with respect to the rail portion 332 in a front view. As understood from FIG. 8 and FIG. 17, the distance between the rail portion 332 (firing position) and the firing port 38 is short (about twice the diameter of the game ball P). It is possible to reliably hit the shot game ball into the game area 8 without generating a foul ball.

  The launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the presence / absence of a game ball parked at the launch position, and the detection of the game ball is not detected when the game ball at the launch position is driven and fired by the launch hammer 30. , It is detected that one game ball has been fired by the hammer 30 for firing.

  The launching ball confirmation switch 36 is composed of a transmission type photo sensor, and the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged so as to straddle the rail section 332 that sets the launching position back and forth. The firing sphere confirmation switch 36 is disposed at a firing position by being supported by the photo bracket 361, and the photo bracket 361 is attached and fixed to a base plate 39 and a lower part of the front surface.

  The hit ball firing device 29 includes a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the firing stopper 34 that can restrict the rotation end of the firing hammer 30 toward the hit ball position, and a position that is separated from the hitting position of the firing hammer 30. And a return stopper 35 for regulating the rotation end (the rotation end in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front). The surfaces of the stoppers 34 and 35 are covered with rubber, so that the impact when the firing hammer 30 abuts can be absorbed and noise generated by the abutment can be suppressed. .

  The hitting ball firing device 29 is configured such that the firing solenoid 13 is driven by a ball information control unit described later with a driving strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the hitting ball handle 10, and the ball feeding device 28 controls the ball feeding. The solenoid 31 is driven so as to perform a ball-hitting operation at a drive timing described later with respect to the drive timing of the solenoid 31 (see FIG. 41). Specifically, in the ball feeder 28 that supplies game balls to the hitting ball launching device 29, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is driven (ON), the game sending balls received by the ball feeding member 32 are sent to the hitting ball launching device 29, and the state is changed. When the driving of the ball feeding solenoid 31 is released (OFF), the ball feeding member 32 receives the game ball.

  In the hit ball firing device 29, when the hitting handle 10 is fired, energization / disconnection of the firing solenoid 13 is repeated with a voltage corresponding to the operation amount. The excitation and non-excitation of the firing solenoid 13 causes the firing hammer 30 to rotate from the initial position (FIG. 17) in the firing direction (counterclockwise) to the firing position as shown in FIGS. After launching the stopped game ball with the mallet 61 (FIG. 8), the firing operation that rotates clockwise and returns to the initial position is repeated.

[Ball feeder 28]
Next, the ball feeding device 28 will be described. The ball feeding device 28 is mainly configured as a unit as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and has a ball inlet 66 connected to the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 shown in FIG. A ball feeder connected to the gutter 65 and the lifting communication gutter 65 and having a ball supply port 63 for supplying game balls entered from the lifting communication gutter 65 to the hitting ball firing device 29, and having an open rear portion. A unit base 67, a ball feed unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feed unit base 67 and is open at the front, a ball feed solenoid 31 disposed below the ball feed unit base 67, and a ball feed solenoid 31 And a ball feeding member 32 that simultaneously realizes a ball feeding operation and a return ball blocking operation described later by the driving.

  The lifting communication gutter 65 is gently sloped downward from the rear end where the ball inlet 66 is formed to the front end. The ball feed unit base 67 is attached to the left side of the rear surface of the base plate 39, the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 is connected to the upper right side, and is connected to the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 in rear view. From the right side of the upper part to the center in the vertical direction, a gentle downward slope is applied leftward in the left-right direction, and a ball feeding guide gutter 69 bent downward in the middle and a lower end of the ball feeding guide gutter 69 And a ball supply port 63 penetrating in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 11).

  Further, on the rear surface of the ball feed unit cover 68 which is located below the bent portion of the ball feed guide gutter 69 and above the ball supply port 63, the game balls waiting in the ball feed guide gutter 69 are provided. A launch standby ball detection switch 70 for detecting the presence or absence is provided (see FIG. 10). Each of the standby ball detection switches 70 includes a flat proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by changing the impedance of the detection coil of the high-frequency oscillation circuit.

  The ball feed solenoid 31 of the present embodiment is formed of an electromagnet, and is disposed below the ball feed unit base 67 with a suction portion that exerts a suction function when excited facing downward. The ball feed member 32 is disposed below the ball feed unit base 67 adjacent to the left of the ball feed solenoid 31. The ball-feeding member 32 in the present embodiment is provided at an allowable position where the ball-feeding solenoid 31 is excited / non-excited and does not interfere with a hit-ball fired from a firing position by the hitting operation of the hit-ball launching device 29, and allows passage of a hit ball. And a return ball blocking portion that is movable between a return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of a return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38.

  Hereinafter, the ball feed member 32 will be described. FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper firing device 12 (the ball feed solenoid 31 is not excited, and the ball feed member 32 takes the holding position and the return ball blocking position). FIG. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device 12 cut along the line B (the ball feed solenoid 31 is not excited, and the ball feed member 32 takes the holding position and the return ball blocking position). FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a ball feeding member 32, a ball feeding shaft, and a ball feeding sheet metal in FIG.

  FIG. 21 is a right side view showing the upper firing device 12 (the ball feed solenoid 31 is excited, and the ball feed member takes a supply position and an allowable position), and FIG. 22 is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device shown by a broken line (the ball feed solenoid 31 is excited, and the ball feed member 32 takes a supply position and an allowable position).

  As shown in FIG. 20, a shaft hole 75 is formed in the middle of the ball feed member 32 in the up-down direction toward the left-right direction. A ball feed shaft 76 is inserted into the shaft hole 75 with both ends protruding, and both ends in the left-right direction of the ball feed shaft 76 are supported by a ball feed unit base 67. Thus, the ball feed member 32 is supported so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction with the ball feed shaft 76 as a center of rotation.

  In the middle of the ball feeding member 32, an arm portion 77 is formed to extend rearward, and at the lower end of the arm portion 77, an operation extending downwardly of the ball feeding solenoid 31, as shown in FIG. A rod portion 72 is formed, a sheet metal receiving portion 73 is formed in the operating rod portion 72, and a ball feed sheet metal 71 made of a metal material attracted by a magnet is stored in the sheet metal receiving portion 73.

  Immediately below the sheet metal housing 73, a sheet metal locking claw 78 is formed to protrude rearward to prevent the ball feeding sheet metal 71 from dropping off. The ball feeding sheet metal 71 is prevented from falling off from the sheet metal housing 73.

  As shown in FIG. 20, a locking projection 79 is formed at an end of the operating rod portion 72, and one end of the tension spring 52 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the other end of the tension spring 52 is hooked on a spring engagement portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feed unit base 67.

  As shown in FIG. 20, a roof-shaped ball feed portion 74 is formed above the shaft hole 75 of the ball feed member 32 and integrally with the ball feed member 32 toward the lower edge of the ball supply port 63. I have. The ball feed portion 74 is formed in a mountain shape in which the center of the upper surface is raised upward, and is directed forward from the center, that is, the ball feed port 63 formed at the lower end of the ball feed guide gutter 69 in FIG. An arc-shaped convex surface 80 inclined downward toward the lower edge and an arc convex toward the rear from the center, that is, toward the ball-feeding unit cover 68 closing the rear end of the ball-feeding guide gutter 69 in FIG. And a ball holding surface 81 inclined downwardly. At the rear end of the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding section 74, a hanging piece 82 hanging downward is formed.

  The upper part of the ball feeding member 32 in the up-down direction penetrates the ball feeding unit base 67 toward the front, and as shown in FIGS. 18, 20, and 21, the rail portion 332 (the firing position) in a side view. A rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 is formed to extend toward the hitting ball path from the ball, and a hit ball passage opening 85 opened in a rectangular shape is formed at the center of the return ball blocking portion 83.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 formed integrally with the ball feed member 32 is arranged adjacent to the firing port 38 in the firing position direction. In addition, a ball stopper 84 whose base portion is horizontal and protrudes in a triangular shape toward the rail portion 332 is formed on the side of the portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located on the front side of the frame in the firing position direction. The ball stopper 84 is disposed in front of the ball feeder 74 and at a distance above the firing position so as to face the ball feeder 74.

  The ball feed unit cover 68 is provided with a ball guide projection 54 having a vertical cross-section in the shape of a letter "K" at the position facing the ball supply port 63 behind the ball supply port 63. On the upper part of the ball guide projection 54 facing forward, a front guide surface 55 having a circular concave shape facing the ball supply port 63 is formed. The lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54 is formed to be curved convexly rearward, and is provided in a space below the lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54 in the front-rear direction of the ball feed member 32 about the ball feed shaft 76 as the rotation center. In the turning operation, the ball feeder 74 can be retracted. At the lower end of the ball guide projection 54, a stopper piece 56 is formed to project forward.

[Ball feed operation of ball feed member 32 and return ball prevention operation]
The ball feeding operation and the return ball blocking operation by the ball feeding member 32 of the ball feeding device 28 configured as described above will be described. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the non-excited state, the ball feed solenoid 32 is hooked on the hooking projection 79 at the end of the operating rod portion 72 of the ball feed member 32 and the spring locking portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feed unit base 67. Due to the pulling force of the stopped tension spring 52, the lower end of the ball feeding member 32 is pulled toward the ball feeding unit base 67.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in a normal state (when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in a non-excited state), the ball feed member 32 is a rectangular frame-shaped return ball in a rotation posture around the ball feed shaft 76. The blocking portion 83 takes a posture inclined backward, and the launching of the firing port 38 is performed in a side view as viewed from the game area 8, that is, in the hitting path from the firing position of the hitting ball firing device 29 to the firing port 38. At the position on the position direction side, a portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located in front of the frame has a posture intersecting with the firing opening 38, and has a hitting ball passage opening 85 with respect to the firing opening 38 in the hitting path. Is shifted rearward, and it is impossible for the ball to pass to the hit ball passage opening 85 in the hit ball path. That is, in this position, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes a return ball blocking position for preventing the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the firing port 38 from entering.

  After the hit ball is fired, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the game ball launched into the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the firing opening 38, and is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83. Since the return ball can be prevented, it is possible to prevent the return ball from reducing the interest in the game.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 19, in a normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in a non-excited state), the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding portion 74 is in contact with the ball guide projection of the ball feeding unit cover 68. The ball retreats into the space below the portion 54, the hanging piece 82 formed at the lower end of the ball feeding portion 74 abuts the stopper piece 56, and in a rotating posture about the ball feeding shaft 76 of the ball feeding member 32 as the rotation center. And the holding position in the ball feeding operation.

  In the holding position, the ball feed guiding surface 80 of the ball feeding portion 74 is located in front of the lower end of the front guide surface 55 of the ball guide projection 54, and is located on an extension in the tangential direction of the front guide surface 55. Further, the ball stopping portion 84 approaches the ball supply port 63, and the game ball P1 fits in the gap between the lower end portion of the ball supply port 63 and the ball stopping portion 84, and the game ball P1 remains. It becomes.

[Excitation of ball feed solenoid 31]
When energized by energizing the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball feed sheet metal 71 is attracted upward by the electromagnet function, and the operating rod 72 of the ball feed member 32 moves upward against the tensile force of the tension spring 52, The ball feed member 32 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 19 about the ball feed shaft 76 as a rotation center, and as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the ball feed member 32 moves the supply position and the passing of the hit ball in the ball feed operation. Move to the allowable position to allow.

  Thereby, the ball stopper 84 moves forward from the position approaching the ball supply port 63, and at the same time, the ball feeder 74 moves forward and sends the game ball P1 remaining at the holding position to the firing position (FIG. 22). reference).

  As shown in FIG. 21, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 takes an upright position in a rotation position about the ball feed shaft 76, and the game area. 8, that is, at a position on the side of the launching direction from the launching position of the hitting ball launching device 29 to the launching opening 38, which is directly in the direction of the launching position of the launching opening 38, with respect to the launching opening 38. The hit hole passage 85 is located at the coincident position, and is a position where the passage of the ball to the hit ball passing hole 85 is allowed in the hitting path. That is, in this position, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes an allowable position that allows the passing of the hit ball without interfering with the hit ball fired from the firing position.

  As shown in FIG. 22, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feed unit 74 is positioned in front of the ball guide projection 54 of the ball feed unit cover 68 at the supply position in the ball feed operation. Then, the subsequent game ball P2 fits into the gap between the upper end portion of the ball supply port 63 and the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeder 74, and the subsequent game ball P2 stays. By the ball feeding operation described above, the ball feeding member 32 sends the game balls aligned and stored in the ball feeding guide gutter 69 one by one to the firing position of the hit ball firing device 29.

  FIG. 41 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. When the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the firing solenoid 13 is turned on when a period A has elapsed, and when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when a period B has elapsed, and the ball feeding is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when a period C has elapsed since the solenoid 31 was turned off.

  In the present embodiment, the period A is 300 ms, the period B is 30 ms, and the period C is 50 ms. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the shot ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the shooting sphere is detected by the shooting sphere confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a shooting ball when a shooting ball stopped at the shooting position is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time period (the period D is set to 30 ms). I do.

  As described above, when the game ball stopped at the firing position by the fire ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a fire ball. The erroneous ball count of the ball can be eliminated, and the certainty in detecting the fired ball can be increased.

  The operation control is performed by a ball information control MPU 111 of a ball information control unit 118 described later in accordance with the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13 shown in FIG. That is, when the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feed member 32 is at the allowable position, the hitting ball firing device 29 is operated to perform a hitting operation by the firing hammer 30, and the hitting operation is predetermined from the time of operation of the hitting ball firing device 29. After the elapse of the specified time (after the elapse of 30 ms), the excitation of the ball feed solenoid 31 is released and the return ball blocking portion 83 is moved to the return ball blocking position, so that the return ball is blocked by the return ball blocking portion 83. Control.

  According to this, when the return ball blocking section 83 takes the allowable position, the passing of the hit ball is allowed without interfering with the hit ball fired from the firing position, so that the hit ball does not interfere with the shooting ball. It is possible to prevent the player from being distrusted by hitting the ball at the target position, and to prevent the interest in the game from decreasing.

  After the hit ball is fired, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the game ball launched into the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the firing opening 38, and is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83. Since the return ball can be prevented, it is possible to prevent the return ball from reducing the interest in the game.

  In the present embodiment, since the return ball blocking portion 83 is formed integrally with the ball feed member 32, the ball feed to the firing position is performed by excitation / non-excitation of one electric drive source (ball feed solenoid 31). And return ball prevention can be realized at the same time. That is, the ball feeding member 32 is located on the hitting path through which the game ball fired from the firing position passes when taking the supply position, while the ball feeding member 32 deviates from the hitting path when taking the holding position. And a frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 formed such that the hit ball passage opening 85 is located at the retracted position.

  When the ball feed member 32 takes the supply position, the return ball blocking portion 83 takes the allowable position and does not interfere with the hit ball fired from the firing position. It is possible to prevent a feeling of distrust and prevent a decrease in interest in the game.

  Also, when the ball feed member 32 moves to the holding position, the return ball blocking portion 83 moves to the return ball blocking position at the same time, so that the game ball launched into the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the firing port 38. Can be blocked and the return ball can be prevented, so that the return ball can be prevented from deteriorating the interest in the game.

  Further, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 3 mentioned above has a structure in which a return ball prevention valve closing a firing port is forcibly opened with a firing sphere and punched or pushed into a game area. For this reason, an electric drive source for performing the ball hitting operation is required to have a size and power corresponding to the electric drive source, and it is necessary to supply a large current to obtain the hitting force, and the power consumption is large. is there.

  On the other hand, when the firing hammer 30 performs a ball-hitting operation, the upper firing device 12 of the present example allows the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 to allow the shooting ball to pass (the hitting hole 85 and the hitting ball passage opening 85). The launching port 38 and the launching port 38 coincide with each other on the hitting ball path) and do not interfere with the shooting ball, so that it is only necessary to provide a hitting force enough to hit the hitting ball in the game area 8, so that the power is small. The use of an electric drive source is sufficient. Therefore, the electric drive source can be reduced in size and thickness, and the power consumption required for the drive can be suppressed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 41, the state where the firing solenoid 13 is excited for the period C from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on and the mallet 61 projects through the through hole 335 of the rail portion 332 (FIG. 9). As a result, the game ball can be prevented from being stopped on the rail portion 332, and the return ball can be prevented, and the error count of the fired ball can be further ensured.

  Although the return ball blocking portion 83 of the present embodiment has a rectangular frame shape and has a hit ball passage opening 85 in the center, the shape of the return ball blocking portion 83 is not limited to this. It may be flaky or rod-shaped, and need not be provided with a hit ball passage opening 85. That is, on the ball-hitting path from the launch position to the launch port 38, an allowable position that is provided adjacent to the launch position direction of the launch port 38 and allows the passing of the hit ball without interfering with the hit ball launched from the launch position. It is only necessary to be able to move between the return ball blocking position for preventing the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 from entering.

  In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine according to the present embodiment described above, the ball lifting device 22 is provided with the main frame 2 behind the upper firing device 12 arranged at the front of the main frame 2 and on one side of the upper portion. Mounted on the rear surface, the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is disposed above the ball feeding device 28, and the ball lifting device 22 is located between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper portion of the upper firing device 12. A ball supply path member 24 extending in the front-rear direction for feeding the game balls lifted in the above to the ball feeder 28 from above is provided.

  With the above-described configuration, the ball supply path member 24 includes various members (movable body, power transmission mechanism (eg, gear train) for driving the movable body) attached to the rear of the game board 5, left and right. Slide rail for guiding in the direction, a drive motor as a drive source, a position detection sensor for detecting the position of a movable body, an LED board, a relay board, etc.), and a ball is provided at the rear of the gaming machine. The game balls pumped to the upper portion of the main frame 2 by the pumping device 22 can be smoothly fed into the upper firing device 12.

  Further, since the ball supply path member does not obstruct various members attached to the rear of the game board, the space formed behind the upper firing device 12 can be taken at the rear of the game board 5. Can be allocated to the arrangement space of each member.

  The upper firing device 12 shown in FIG. 51 employs an electric drive source that is smaller and thinner than the conventional one for the above-described reason. As shown in FIG. 51, the electric drive source (launch solenoid 13) of the hit ball launching device can be reduced in size and thickness, so that the electrical drive source does not protrude behind the upper launch device 12. Accordingly, it is possible to secure a large space 57 for disposing each member attached to the rear portion of the game board 5.

  The upper firing device 12 of this embodiment can be rotated by the upper firing device hinge 37 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12). Since the upper firing unit can be rotated and arranged at a position deviated from the moving path when the part is inserted, the operation of attaching the game board to the main body frame is easy.

  In this case, when the upper firing device 12 is opened with respect to the main frame 2, even if the game balls remain in the ball discharge gutter 23, the ball discharge gutters 23 are prevented from spilling. It is preferable to provide a spill sphere preventing means for blocking the sphere outlet 58 of the sphere.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the spilled ball preventing means (ball exit opening / closing unit) will be described. FIG. 52 is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit, and FIG. 53 is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit. FIG. 54 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper firing unit and the ball outlet opening / closing unit.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 51, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and a ball delivery gutter 23 for sending the lifted game balls forward from above, and an upper firing unit. 12 is formed on the rear upper part of the rear part 12 and is connected to the ball discharge gutter 23 and is connected to the lifting communication gutter 65. When the upper firing unit 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the front end of the ball discharge gutter 23 is closed. By opening the ball outlet 58, the ball outlet 58 communicates with the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting communication gutter 65, and game balls can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

  The ball feeding device of the upper firing device 12 includes an opening / closing operation piece 426 for operating the opening / closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 on the right side of the ball feeding unit cover (FIG. 54). When the upper firing device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the opening / closing operation piece 426 makes contact with the spherical contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 in the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, thereby rotating the opening / closing crank 413. The opening and closing shutter 412 can be opened.

[Ball exit opening / closing unit]
The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 in the main body frame 2 of the present embodiment is mounted on a mounting member 407 mounted on the lower surface of the ball discharge gutter 23 of the ball lifting device 22, and the upper firing is performed on the main body frame 2. When the device 12 is opened, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 is closed, and the flow of the game ball from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball feeding device 28 of the upper firing device 12 is controlled. It can be cut off.

  The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 includes a shutter base 411 mounted on a vertically hanging wall 408 of the mounting member 407, a plate-shaped opening / closing shutter 412 held by the shutter base 411 in a vertically slidable manner, An opening / closing crank 413 for sliding the shutter 412 in the vertical direction, and an opening / closing spring 414 for urging the opening / closing shutter 412 upward through the opening / closing crank 413 are provided.

  The shutter base 411 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 has a pair of vertically extending slide grooves 415 for holding the opening / closing shutter 412 slidably in the vertical direction so as to protrude upward from the upper end of the shutter base 411, A rectangular opening 416 penetrating in the front-rear direction between the pair of slide grooves 415, and a crank disposed on the front surface of the left end portion in front view so as to rotatably support the open / close crank 413 about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. A support portion 417 and a spring locking portion 418 for locking one end (upper end) of the opening / closing spring 414 are provided. The crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411 is disposed on the left side of the opening 416 in a front view, and the spring locking portion 418 is disposed near the upper left of the center in the left-right direction in the front view.

  Further, the opening / closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 has a flat shutter body 419 and a pair of sliding projections (not shown) that project from the front surface of the shutter body 419 and slide in the sliding grooves 415 of the shutter base 411. ), And a horizontally long rectangular drive hole 420 that is disposed between the pair of sliding protrusions and faces the opening 416 of the shutter base 411 and penetrates in the front-rear direction.

  The opening / closing crank 413 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 includes a shaft portion 421 supported rotatably around an axis extending in the front-rear direction by a crank supporting portion 417 of the shutter base 411, and a right side outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 when viewed from the front. A drive rod 422 extending outward and having a distal end extending to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the opening 416, and protruding rearward from the distal end of the drive rod 422 and slidably inserted into a drive hole 412 b of the opening / closing shutter 412. Drive pin 423, a contact portion 424 that extends downward from the lower outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 when viewed from the front and has a spherical tip, and is formed on the upper surface of the drive rod 422, and the other end of the open / close spring 414. (A lower end).

  In the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, the driving pin 423 of the opening / closing crank 413 is vertically rotated in an arc shape by rotating the opening / closing crank 413 about an axis extending in the front-back direction, and at the same time, the driving pin 423 is inserted. The opening / closing shutter 412 slides up and down via the driving hole 420.

  When the upper firing device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 contacts the opening / closing operation piece 426 of the upper firing device 12, and the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 contacts the main frame 2. The rotation of the drive pin 424 in the clockwise direction in the front view causes the drive pin 423 to rotate in the clockwise direction in the front view together with the contact portion 424. The opening / closing shutter 412 is lowered to open the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending gutter 23. That is, the ball outlet 58 is communicated with the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting communication gutter 65, so that game balls can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

  When the upper firing device 12 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2 from this state, the contact between the contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 and the opening / closing operation piece 426 of the upper firing device 12 is released, and the opening / closing crank 413 is opened and closed. At the same time as the counterclockwise rotation in front view is caused by the urging force of 414, the opening / closing shutter 412 is raised to close the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball discharge gutter 23.

  In this manner, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball discharge gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 can be automatically opened and closed by the ball outlet opening and closing unit 410 according to the opening and closing of the upper firing device 12 with respect to the main body frame 2. Even if the upper firing device 12 is opened with the game balls remaining in the ball discharge gutter 23, it is possible to prevent the game balls from spilling out of the ball outlet 58 or the like.

  Next, an outline of control of the pachinko machine 1 and the settlement machine 4 as an external device arranged adjacent to one side thereof will be described. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the main control board provided with the RTC, which is provided in the sealed ball type pachinko machine. The control of the pachinko machine 1 is roughly divided into a main board group and a peripheral board group, of which the main board group controls a game operation, and the peripheral board group performs a staging operation (a liquid crystal display panel, a lamp). , Body frame lamp, door frame lamp, sound). The main board group includes a main control board 100 and a ball 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 a pachinko game. The main control board 100 and a ball information control board 110 described later are connected so that bidirectional data communication is possible. As shown in FIG. 23, the main control board 100 for controlling the progress of the game is a main control MPU 101 which is a microprocessor including a ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands and a RAM for temporarily storing data. 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 has a built-in ROM (hereinafter, referred to as a "main control built-in ROM") and a main control built-in RAM, a watchdog timer for monitoring the operation (system), and a countermeasure to prevent fraud. And other functions are also built-in. The main control MPU 101 has a built-in non-volatile RAM. The non-volatile RAM has a unique code (a code that exists only once in the world) for identifying an individual by the manufacturer of the main control MPU 101. ) Are stored in advance. Since the ID code once assigned is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, it is not rewritten even by using an external device. The main control MPU 101 can take out the ID code from the nonvolatile RAM and refer to it.

[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 acquiring 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 for counting time by counting the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. If necessary, a counter that counts until the day of the week may be used. The RTC control unit 106 includes an RTC 107 and a battery 108 for driving the RTC 107. The provision of the battery 108 prevents the RTC 107 from interrupting the timekeeping and calendar functions even when the power supply board (not shown) is turned off.

  The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery) or a rechargeable secondary battery, thereby avoiding the necessity of disposing a backup power supply and preventing the configuration of the main control board 100 from becoming complicated. Can be. The battery 108 is also used as a backup power supply for the RAM 109.

  The main control MPU 101 has a function of specifying the year, month, date, hour, minute, and second (calendar information and time information) by including the RTC 107. The main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 acquires time information (hour / minute / second) from the RTC 107 when the power of the gaming machine is turned on.

  An upper starting port detection switch 90 for detecting a game ball that has won an upper starting port (not shown) arranged in the game area 8 of the game board 5, and detecting a gaming ball that has won a lower starting port (not shown). A detection signal from the lower starting opening detection switch 91 and a general winning opening detection switch 93 for detecting a game ball winning a general winning opening (not shown) is first input to the main control input circuit 103, and the main control I / O The data is input to the main control MPU 101 via the O port 102.

  Further, a gate switch 92 for detecting a game ball passing through a gate section (not shown), a general winning port detection switch 94 for detecting a game ball winning a general winning port (not shown), a large winning port (not shown). First, a detection signal from the count switch 98 for detecting a game ball that has won a prize is input to the main control input circuit 103 via a panel relay terminal plate 140 attached to the game board 5, and the main control I / O port is provided. The data is input to the main control MPU 101 via the control unit 102.

  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 based on these detection signals, so that the starting port solenoid 96 and the large A drive signal is output to the winning opening solenoid 97, an upper special symbol display 142, a lower special symbol indicator 143, an upper special symbol from the main control I / O port 102 via the panel relay terminal board 140 and the function display board 141. A drive signal is output to the symbol storage display 144, the lower special symbol storage display 145, the ordinary symbol display 146, the ordinary symbol storage display 147, the game state display 148, and the round display 149.

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

[Sphere information control board 110]
FIG. 24 is a block diagram mainly showing a main part of a ball information control board 110 provided in an enclosed ball type pachinko machine. The ball information control board 110 is provided with a ball information control unit 118 for managing a held ball and performing various controls related to the ball lifting device 22, the launch solenoid 13, the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. The main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 are connected so that bidirectional data communication is possible.

[Sphere information control unit 118]
As shown in FIG. 24, the sphere information control unit 118 includes a sphere information control MPU 111 which is a microprocessor including a ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing 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 ball lifting motor drive circuit 114 for outputting a drive signal to a ball lifting motor 150 of the ball lifting device 22 for performing ball lifting, and a ball information control input circuit to which detection signals from various detection switches are input. 113, a CR unit input / output circuit 115 for exchanging various signals with the settlement machine 4, and a drive signal to the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. A spherical polish ribbon feeding motor driving circuit 119 for, and a. In addition to the built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as “ball information control built-in ROM”) and the RAM (hereinafter referred to as “ball information control built-in RAM”), the sphere information control MPU 111 is capable of detecting unauthorized use. Functions are also built in to prevent this.

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

  The detection signals from the door frame opening switch 131 for detecting the opening of the door frame 3 with respect to the body frame 2 and the body frame opening switch 132 for detecting the opening of the body frame 2 with respect to the outer frame are input to the ball information control input circuit 113 first. The data is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112. Further, a touch detection signal (ON signal) from the touch switch 87 for detecting whether a palm or a finger is touching the hitting handle 10 is input to the ball information control board 110 via the handle relay terminal plate 123, and the touch is further performed. The detection signal is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112.

  Further, the ball information control MPU 111 is connected to the firing solenoid 13 through the firing solenoid drive circuit 120, is connected to the ball feed solenoid 31 through the ball feed solenoid drive circuit 122, and responds to the control output from the ball information control MPU 111. And the ball feed solenoid 31 is driven. Also, the presence / absence of game balls to be supplied to the launch standby ball detection switches 26 and 70, the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the recovered ball detection switch 203, the ball path full tank detection switch 206, the appropriate ball amount detection switch 207, and the ball lifting device 22. 156, a lifting motor sensor (photo sensor) 157 for detecting the rotation speed of the ball lifting motor 150, and a ball polishing cartridge containing a ball polishing cloth ribbon. The detection signal from the cassette detection switch 158 for detecting the input is input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the sensor relay board 124, and is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112. I have. The ball information control MPU 111 sends drive signals for driving the ball lifting motor 150, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 to each drive element via the ball information control I / O port 112. Output to

  Further, the touch panel unit 14 is connected to the ball information control MPU 111 so as to be displayed by a control output from the ball information control I / O port 112. The ball information control board 110 relays the electrical connection between the main control board 100 and the external terminal board 133, and also opens the door frame opening switch 131, the main body frame opening switch 132, and the external terminal board 133. Relays the electrical connection between them. In addition, the external terminal board 133 is electrically connected to a hall computer installed in a game hall (hall).

  Detection signals from a touch switch 87 for detecting whether a palm or a finger is touching the hitting handle 10 and a firing stop switch 86 for detecting whether or not to forcefully launch a game ball according to a player's will. Is first input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the handle relay terminal plate 123. When the payment machine 4 and the ball information control board 110 are electrically connected, they are input to the CR unit input / output circuit 115 as a CR connection signal.

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

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

[Checkout machine 4]
FIG. 25 is a block diagram mainly showing each element connected to the checkout machine 4. The settlement machine 4 and the ball information control board 110 are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional data communication. Although not shown, the controller of the checkout machine 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and the like.

  The payment machine 4 is connected to be able to input operation input signals of a ball lending button and a payment button arranged on the touch panel section 14 of the enclosed ball-type gaming machine 1 through, for example, an interface. In addition, a remaining frequency display unit and an operable notification lamp provided on the touch panel unit 14 of the enclosed ball type pachinko machine 1 are connected so as to be displayed by a control output from the settlement machine 4. Further, the payment machine 4 is provided with a card processing machine 402 at the back of the card insertion slot in FIG.

[Card 403]
The card 403 used in the embodiment is, for example, a magnetic card or an IC card, and is issued by a card issuing machine (not shown) and provided to the player when the player pays a predetermined amount. FIG. 25 shows a data configuration stored in the card 403.

  The card 403 has an ID storage unit 404 in which an ID number (hereinafter simply referred to as ID) as identification information individually assigned to the card 403 is stored. The ID storage unit 404 corresponds to the amount paid when the card 403 is purchased. Remaining number storage unit 305 in which the remaining number as valuable value information to be stored is stored, and the held ball number storage unit 406 in which the number of held balls (number of held game machines) obtained by the player as a result of playing the game is stored. Is set. When the card 403 is issued, the ID is stored in the ID storage unit 404, and the remaining number corresponding to the amount paid when purchasing the card 403 is stored in the remaining number storage unit 405 (for example, the paid amount is 5,000 yen). If this is the case, “5000”) is stored as the residual count, but “0” is stored in the held ball count storage unit 406 as the initial value of the held ball count.

  The card processor 402 is a conventionally known one, and includes a card sensor for detecting the card 403, a card reader / writer for reading data stored in the card 403 and writing data to the card 403, and reading data for the card 403. A card transport unit is provided for sending the card 403 to the writing position and discharging the card 403 to the card insertion slot. When the card 403 is inserted into the card insertion slot, the card processor 402 sends the card 403 to a predetermined data reading / writing position, and the card reader / writer stores the stored data, that is, the ID, the remaining number, The number of balls is read and output to the checkout machine 4. In addition, in response to a write command from the checkout machine 4, the ID, the remaining number, and the number of held balls are written (stored) in the above-described storage units.

  The checkout machine 4 stores the ID, the remaining number, and the number of held balls read from the card 403 through the card processor 402 in the RAM.

[Rental ball by card 403]
When the payment machine 4 reads the data from the card 403, the balance number stored in the RAM is displayed on the balance number display unit. When the card 403 can be used, the checkout machine 4 lends a ball in response to the operation of the ball lending button. This ball lending is, for example, lending a ball lending number 125 (ball unit price is 4 yen) per one operation of the ball lending button. In the case of ball lending, if there is a number of held balls, and if the number of held balls is less than 125, the ball is loaned with the total number of held balls as the number of balls to be loaned. The settlement machine 4 transmits the number of ball rentals to the ball information control board 110. Further, the settlement machine 4 obtains a price for the ball lending by multiplying the set ball unit price by the number of the ball lending, and subtracts the obtained price (the price corresponding to the ball lending is the remaining number) from the current remaining number. Note that if there is a number of balls held and a ball is lent from the number of balls held, the number of balls to be loaned is subtracted from the current number of balls held. The settlement machine 4 displays this result on the remaining frequency display section. Further, the residual count is written in the residual count storage unit 405 of the card 403.

[Game start]
The ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110, upon receiving the number of ball rentals transmitted from the checkout machine 4, adds the number to the number of balls held by the gaming machine, and displays the addition result on the touch panel unit 14. The upper firing device 12 can be fired, and the game can be played.

[Playing]
When the player operates the hitting handle 10 to operate the hitting ball firing device 29 and the game ball at the ball firing position is hit by the firing hammer 30 into the game area 8, this is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36. Based on this, the driving of each game ball into the game area 8 is detected. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 sequentially detects “1” from the game machine possessed ball number data stored in the game machine possessed ball number storage area in response to the hit detection of such game balls one by one. Is subtracted, and the number of held balls is displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

  On the other hand, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 includes a gate switch 92 provided on a gate (not shown) of the game board 5 on which a game ball can enter, and a normal winning opening (not shown). , A winning switch (not shown) provided for a general winning opening (not shown), and a start switch (not shown) provided as an upper starting opening. Based on the detection signals from the upper and lower starting port detection switches 90 and 91, processing relating to the game is performed, and commands and signals as processing results are transmitted to the ball information control board 110, the peripheral control board 130, the upper and lower special symbols. Output to display 142, 143, upper and lower special symbol storage display 144, 145, normal symbol display 146, normal symbol storage display 147, starting opening solenoid 96, big winning opening solenoid 97, and the like.

  When a game ball launched by the upper firing device 12 wins various winning openings (starting winning opening, large winning opening, or the like) in the game area 8, the gaming ball is provided with various winning detection switches provided for each winning opening. (Upper starting port detection switch 90, lower starting port detection switch 91, general winning opening detection switch 93, general winning opening detection switch 94, and count switch 98).

  The main control MPU 101 responds to a detection signal of a detection switch provided for each winning opening (corresponding to general winning opening detection switches 93 and 94, a count switch 98, and upper and lower starting opening detection switches 90 and 91). Then, a prize ball command indicating the number of prize balls set according to the winning opening in which the game ball has won 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 peripheral control board 130. The gaming state refers to, for example, a starting opening and a winning lottery due to a winning in the starting opening, a special symbol is variably displayed based on the lottery result, the symbol is stopped, and the lottery result is hit. In the case of the first type of pachinko game machine which shifts to the special game state (big hit game state) in the case of, the normal game state (the probability of hitting by lottery is the normal probability, and the time of variable display of the normal symbol is usually), Game state (normal symbol variable display time is shorter than usual, information output signal during time saving), jackpot game state (15 round jackpot information output signal or 2 round jackpot information output signal), high probability game State (state where the probability of winning by lottery is higher than usual, information output signal during probability fluctuation), special symbol design changing (special symbol display information output signal), based on starting opening prize Distillate is state (starting opening winning information output signal) and the like have.

  In addition, the peripheral control board 130, 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. , And controls the symbols to be rendered and displayed on a liquid crystal display panel (not shown).

  The ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 displays the number of balls held by the firing solenoid 13, the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball lifting motor 150, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the touch panel unit 14 based on various input signals. And outputs a signal to the settlement machine 4.

  The game state signal and the 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.

  The ball information control MPU 111, in response to receiving such a prize ball command, sets the value of the number of prize balls set in advance for each of various winning ports in the game machine possessed ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area. Are added and displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

[End of game, settlement]
Thereafter, when the settlement button is operated by the player to end the game, the settlement machine 4 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

  In response to the operation of the settlement button, the settlement machine 4 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111, so that the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game termination command sent from the settlement machine 4 and controls the ball information control. The MPU 111 transmits “end possible” to the checkout machine 4. Next, the ball information control MPU 111 stops the shooting solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 to stop the game. The current game machine ball count stored in the game machine ball count storage area is transmitted to the checkout machine 4.

  Then, when the processing of the settlement machine 4 corresponding to the number of balls held by the gaming machine transmitted from the ball information control MPU 111 ends, the settlement machine 4 transmits a processing end, and the ball information control MPU 111 receives the processing end. That is, the game machine held ball count storage area of the RAM is cleared to 0, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, after the settlement machine 4 receives "end possible" as a response to the termination state with respect to the game termination command, the ball information control MPU 111 transmits the number of balls held by the gaming machine to the settlement machine 4, so that the settlement machine 4 When the number of possessed balls is received, the number of game machine balls received is added to the number of cleared machine balls stored in the RAM when the card is inserted, and the addition result is stored as the number of cleared machine balls. As a result, all of the number of balls held as a result of the game played by the player are stored as the number of balls held by the checkout machine. Then, the end of processing is transmitted to the ball information control MPU 111, the number of balls held in the adjusting machine is written in the held ball number storage unit 406 of the card 403, the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot, and the processing is ended. As a result, the card 403 rewritten by adding the number of balls held by the gaming machine as a game result is returned to the player.

[Various control processing of main control board]
First, various control processes performed by the main control board 100 shown in FIG. 23 in accordance with the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the main control-side power-on processing executed by the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the main control-side power-on processing of FIG. 9 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 power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as the main control MPU) performs a main control-side power-on process as shown in FIGS. When the main control-side power-on process is started, the main control MPU sets a stack pointer (step S10). The stack pointer indicates, for example, an address stacked on the stack to temporarily store the contents of a storage element (register) in use, or temporarily indicates a return address of the present routine when the subroutine is terminated and the process returns to the present routine. It indicates an address 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 from this initial address, the contents of the register, the return address, and the like are stacked on the stack. Then, the stack pointer is returned to the initial address by reading sequentially from the last stack to the first stack.

  Subsequent to step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether a power failure notice signal is input (step S14). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power failure or momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which power supply is temporarily suspended), when the voltage drops and becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the sphere information control board 110 provides a power failure warning as a power failure warning. A signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure notice voltage from the time when the power is turned on to 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 until the voltage becomes higher than the power failure notice voltage and stabilizes after the power is turned on. In the present embodiment, the wait time (wait timer) is 200 milliseconds (wait timer). ms) is set. The determination in step S14 is performed based on a power failure notification 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 higher than the power failure notification voltage and stabilizes, the power failure monitoring signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is not output, and the main control MPU proceeds to step S16.

  When proceeding to step S16, the main control MPU determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 (FIG. 23) has been operated (step S16). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 has been operated and the operation signal (detection signal) has been input to the main control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, while 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 S16 that the RAM clear switch 105 has been operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value of 1 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S30. If it is determined that the operation has not been performed, a value 0 is set to the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S30.

  The RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is a game related to a game such as a probability change, an unpaid award ball, and the like stored in a RAM (hereinafter, referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101. This flag indicates whether or not information is to be erased, and is set to a value 1 when the game information is erased, and a value 0 when the game information is not erased. The value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in steps S18 and S19 is stored in the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

  When shifting to step S30, the main control MPU performs wait timer processing 2 (step S30). In the wait timer process 2, the system waits until the system that performs the drawing control of the liquid crystal display device (not shown) by the liquid crystal control unit of the peripheral control board 130 starts (boots). In the present embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as the 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. If it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is equal to 0, that is, if the game information is not to be deleted, a checksum is calculated (step S34). This checksum calculates the sum by regarding the game information stored in the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value.

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

  When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S38, that is, when the main-control-side power-off process has been normally completed, a work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as power recovery (step S40). This setting includes setting a value of 0 to the backup flag BK-FLG, reading power recovery time information from a ROM built in the main control MPU (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in ROM”), and recovering the power. The time information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, `` power recovery '' means, besides the state where the power is turned on from the state where the power is turned off, the state where the power is restored after the power failure or momentary power failure, the high frequency irradiation is detected and reset, It also includes the status after returning.

  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, when it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not the value 0 (the value is 1), that is, when the game information is deleted, or in step S36, the checksum values (sum values) match. If not, or if it is determined in step S38 that the backup flag BK-FLG is not the value 1 (it is the value 0), that is, if the main-control-side power-off process has not been completed normally, The entire area is cleared (step S44). Specifically, this is performed by writing the value 0 into the main control built-in RAM (a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM and set as an initial value). Further, the random number for initial value determination for big hit determination to be used for determining the initial value of the random number for big hit determination is used when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase the game information, when the sum values do not match, or When the main-control-side power-off process has not been completed normally, the unique ID code previously stored in the nonvolatile RAM of the main control MPU is extracted, and the big hit 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 to be performed is executed, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

  Subsequent to step S44, a work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S46). For 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 are performed (step S48). In the RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a power-on command is divided into power-on commands for notifying that the main control built-in RAM has been cleared and initialization has been performed. A test command classified for a test for performing an inspection is created and stored in the transmission information storage area of the main control built-in RAM as transmission information.

  Subsequent to step S42 or step S48, interrupt initial setting 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 setting is performed. (Step S52). With this setting, the main control timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed at the interrupt cycle set at step S50, that is, every 4 ms. The processing of steps S10 to S52 is referred to as “main control-side power-on processing”.

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

  Subsequent to step S54, it is determined whether a power failure notice signal has been input (step S56). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or a power failure or an instantaneous power failure occurs, if the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is output as the power failure warning signal to the power failure monitoring circuit of the ball information control board 110. 117. The determination in step S56 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

  If there is no input of the power failure notice signal in step S56, a non-hit random number updating process is performed (step S58). In the non-hit random number updating process, for example, the reach determination random number, the variation display pattern random number, the big hit symbol initial value determining random number, and the small hit symbol initial value determining random number are updated. As described above, in the non-hit random number updating process, the random numbers that are not involved in the hit determination (big hit determination) are updated. Note that the normal symbol hit determination random number, the normal symbol hit determination initial value determination random number, the normal symbol variation display pattern random number, and the like are also updated by the non-hit-hit random number update processing.

  Subsequent to step S58, the process returns to step S54, where the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL. In step S56, it is determined whether or not a power failure notice signal has been input. For example, the non-hit random number updating process is performed in step S58, and steps S54 to S58 are repeatedly performed. Note that the processing of steps S54 to S58 is referred to as "main control side main loop processing".

  On the other hand, when a power failure notice signal is input in step S56, interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S60). By 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 starting opening solenoid 96, the special winning opening solenoid 97, the upper special design display 142, the lower special design display 143, the upper special design storage display 144, and the lower special design storage display shown in FIG. The drive signal output to the device 145, the ordinary symbol display 146, the ordinary symbol storage display 147, the game status indicator 148, the round indicator 149, and the like is stopped (step S62).

  Subsequent to step S62, the checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S64). The 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 the backup flag BK-FLG, as described above.

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

  Subsequent to step S66, clear setting of the watchdog timer is performed (step S68). As described above, this 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, the process enters a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is executed. The processing of steps S60 to S68 and the loop processing are referred to as "main control-side power-off processing". In this loop processing, the value A, the value B, and the value C are not sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, so that 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. Thereafter, the main control MPU performs the main control-side power-on process again from the beginning.

  The pachinko machine 1 (main control MPU 101) is reset when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, and performs a main control-side power-on process by restoring power thereafter.

  In step S36, it is checked whether the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal or not. Then, in step S38, it is checked whether or not the main control side power-off processing has been normally completed. Inspection. As described above, the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is double-checked to check whether or not the backup information has been stored due to fraud.

[Main control timer interrupt processing]
Next, the main control timer interrupt process will be described. The main-control-side timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed at an interrupt cycle (4 ms in the present 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 the value B in the watchdog timer clear register WCL as shown in FIG. 28 (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 control side main loop processing.

  Subsequent to step S70, the interrupt flag is cleared (step S72). When the interrupt flag is cleared, 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 processing, various signals input to the input terminal of the main control I / O port 102 are read and stored in the input information storage area of the main control built-in RAM as input information.

  Subsequent to step S74, a timer subtraction process is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction process, for example, the time during which the upper special symbol display 142 and the lower special symbol display 143 are turned on in accordance with the variable display pattern determined in the special symbol and special electric accessory control process described later, the normal symbol and the later described The ball information control board 110 transmits various commands transmitted by the main control board 100 (main control MPU) in addition to the time during which the normal symbol display 146 is turned on according to the normal symbol variation display pattern determined in the normal electric accessory control process. When it is determined whether or not the ball information main ACK signal indicating normal reception is input, time management such as an ACK signal input determination time set as a determination condition is performed. 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 result of the subtraction 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.

  Following step S76, a hit random number update process is performed (step S78). In the hit random number updating process, the above-described big hit determination random number, big hit symbol random number, and small hit symbol random number are updated. 27. In addition to these random numbers, a random number for determining a jackpot symbol initial value, which is updated in the non-hit random number updating process in step S58 in the main control side power-on process (main control side main process) shown in FIG. And the random number for initial value determination for small hit symbols is also updated. These random numbers for determining the initial value for the big hit symbol and the random numbers 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 random number for the jackpot determination, the random number for the big hit symbol, and the random number for the small hit symbol are random numbers related to the hit determination (big hit determination). Counts up. For example, the counter for updating the jackpot determination random number is an initial value update type counter as described above, and has a predetermined fixed numerical value range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in the present embodiment, the value is set as the minimum value. It is updated within the value 32767) as 0 to the maximum value, and the range from the minimum value to the maximum value is counted up by being incremented by 1 every time the main control timer interrupt processing is performed. It counts up from the random number for initial value determination for jackpot determination toward the maximum value (value 32767), and then counts up from the minimum value (value 0) to the random number for initial value determination for jackpot determination. When the counter that updates the random number for jackpot determination finishes counting up the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the random number for jackpot determination, the random number updating process for the jackpot determination updates the random number for jackpot determination initial value determination. At this time, the updated value is always the same as the fixed value range of the counter that retrieves the ID code from the built-in nonvolatile RAM by the main control MPU and updates the big hit determination random number based on the retrieved 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 same fixed value derived based on the ID code as a result of the execution of the initial value deriving process is always overwritten and updated as the initial value for the random number for initial value determination for jackpot determination. 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 normal symbol hit determination random number and the like are the same as the above-described method of updating the big hit determination random number, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Subsequent to step S78, a prize ball control process is performed (step S80). In this prize ball control processing, input information is read from the above-described input information storage area, and a prize ball command for transmitting to the sphere information control board 110 is created based on the input information. For example, a self-check command for confirming a connection state between the control board 110 and the board is created. Then, the created award ball command and the 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 special winning opening, a winning ball command representing 15 balls as the number of winning balls is created and transmitted to the ball information control board 110, or the award ball command is transmitted to the ball information control board. When the ball information main ACK signal notifying that the reception of the ball 110 has been normally completed is not input within a predetermined time, a self-check command for confirming the connection state between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 is created. The information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110.

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

  Subsequent to step S82, a fraud 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 is input from the count switch 98 when the jackpot is not in the gaming state (when a game ball enters the special winning opening) or the like, A prize abnormal display command classified as a notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored in the above-described transmission information storage area as transmission information.

  After step S84, a special symbol and special electric accessory control process is performed (step S86). In the special symbol and special electric accessory control process, the value of the counter for updating the above-described random number for jackpot determination is taken out, and it is determined whether or not the value matches the jackpot determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM (big jackpot). It is determined whether or not a game state is to be generated (referred to as “special lottery”), and the value of a counter for updating the random number for the big hit symbol is taken out, and a certainty variable hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM is determined. For example, it is determined whether or not they match (determination of whether or not to generate a probability change). Here, “probability fluctuation” means that the probability of a big hit changes to a high probability (at the time of a probable change) set higher than normal (low probability). In the present embodiment, the value 32668 to the value 32767 are set for the low probability as a range of the above-described big hit determination value (big hit determination range), and are read from the normal time determination table, whereas the value 32438 is read for the high probability. To 32767 are set, and are read from the probability change 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. The determination is made based on whether or not the value of the counter for updating the big hit determination random number is included in the big hit determination range.

  When these determination results are based on the upper starting port detection switch 90, various commands related to the special effect 1 tuning performance are created. On the other hand, when the lottery result is based on the lower starting port detection switch 91, special commands are generated. FIG. 2 Creates various commands related to the tuning effect, stores them in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, and turns on the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 according to the determined special symbol variation display pattern. The output of the lighting signal to the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 is set, and stored as output information in the output information storage area described above.

  Further, when a big hitting game state is set, for example, according to the game state to be generated, various commands classified into a big hit relation are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area, and the opening / closing member is opened and closed. 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. When the number of times (round) that the special winning opening changes from the closed state to the open state is two times, round display is performed. The output of the lighting signal to the two round display lamp is set so that the two round display lamp of the device 149 is turned on, and the output signal is stored in the output information storage area as the output information. The output of the lighting signal to the 15 round display lamp is set so as to light the 15 round display lamp, and the output information is output 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, a normal symbol and normal electric accessory control process is performed (step S88). In the normal symbol and normal electric accessory control process, the input information is read from the input information storage area described above, and a gate winning process is performed based on the input information. In the gate winning process, it is determined from the input information whether a detection signal from the gate switch 92 has been input to the input terminal. Based on the determination result, when the detection signal is input to the input terminal, the gate value storage area of the main control built-in RAM is extracted as the gate information by extracting the value of the counter 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 processing, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from an output terminal of the main control I / O port 102, and various signals are output based on the output information. For example, when various commands from the ball information control board 110 are normally received from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102 based on the output information, a main ball information ACK signal is output to the ball information control board 110. In the big hit game state, the driving signal is output to the special winning opening solenoid 97 for opening and closing the opening and closing member of the special winning opening, and the driving signal is output to the starting opening solenoid 96 for performing the opening and closing operation of the movable piece. In addition, 15 rounds jackpot information output signal, 2 rounds jackpot information output signal, probability fluctuation information output signal, special symbol display information output signal, normal symbol display information output signal, hourly information output information, start opening winning information output signal For example, the CPU outputs various information (game information) signals relating to the game to the ball information control board 110.

  Subsequent to step S90, a peripheral control board command transmission process is performed (step S92). In this peripheral control board command transmission process, the transmission information is read from the transmission information storage area described above, and this transmission information is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main serial data. This transmission information includes various commands that are created in the main control side timer interrupt processing of this routine and are classified into special figure 1 tuning effect-related, various commands classified in special figure 2 tuning effect-related, and big hit-related. Commands, power commands, various commands related to general-purpose synchronizing effects, various commands related to normal electric roles, various commands related to information display, and status display. Various commands to be classified, various commands to be related to the test, and various commands to be classified are stored. The main serial data consists of 3 bytes per packet.

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

  Subsequent to step S92, the 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 set to clear.

  After step S94, the register is switched (returned) (step S96), and this routine ends. Here, when the main control-side timer interrupt process, which is the present routine, is started, the main control MPU saves the contents of the general-purpose registers on a stack by hardware. This prevents destruction of the contents of the general-purpose registers used in the main processing on the main control side. In step S96, the contents saved on the stack are read and written to the original register. The main control MPU sets the interruption permission after the return in step S96.

[Various control processing of ball information control board]
Next, various control processes performed by the ball information control board 110 shown in FIG. 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the sphere information control-side power-on processing executed by the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110, and FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the sphere information control-side power-on processing of FIG. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control-side power-on process following FIG. 30. FIG. 32 shows a ball information control power-off process executed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the ball information control timer interrupt process.

[Process at power-on of ball information control side]
When the pachinko gaming machine 1 is powered on, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the ball information control MPU), as shown in FIGS. The processing at the time of turning on the ball information control side is performed. When the sphere information control-side power-on process is started, the sphere information control MPU sets an interrupt mode (step S500). This interrupt mode is for setting the priority of the interrupt of the ball information control MPU. In the present embodiment, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority. When an interrupt of the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process occurs, the process is performed with priority.

  Following step S500, input / output settings (I / O input / output settings) are performed (step S502). In this I / O input / output setting, the input / output setting of the I / O port of the ball information control MPU is performed.

  Subsequent to step S502, output of a power failure clear signal to the power failure monitoring circuit 117 shown in FIG. 24 is started (step S504). The power failure monitoring circuit 117 includes a voltage comparison circuit and a D-type flip-flop IC. The voltage comparison circuit compares the voltage between +24 V and the reference voltage, or compares the voltage between +12 V and the reference voltage, and outputs the comparison result. This comparison result indicates that when no power failure or instantaneous power failure occurs, the logic becomes HI and is input to the PR terminal which is a preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. The logic becomes LOW and is input to the PR terminal which is a preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. In step S504, the output of the power failure clear signal to the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal of the D-type flip-flop is started. The logic of this power failure clear signal becomes LOW via the ball information control I / O port 112 of the ball information control unit 118 and is input to the clear terminal. As a result, the ball 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. Then, a state can be obtained in which the signal is output from the output terminal 1Q, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

  Subsequent to step S504, wait timer process 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether a power failure notice signal is input (step S508). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until the voltage reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which power supply is suddenly stopped temporarily), the voltage drops. When the voltage drops below 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, during the period from when the power is turned on to when the voltage rises to the predetermined voltage, if the voltage becomes lower than the power failure notification voltage, a power failure notification signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117. Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S506 is a process for waiting after the power is turned on until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure notice voltage and stabilizes. In the present embodiment, the wait time (wait timer) is 200 milliseconds (wait timer). ms) is set. In the determination of step S508, it is determined whether or not the power failure notice signal has been input. This determination is made based on the signal output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal of the D-type flip-flop, as the power failure notice signal.

  Subsequent to step S508, the output of the power failure clear signal to the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal of the D type flip-flop is stopped (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 ball information control MPU can set the D-type flip-flop to the latch state. The D-type flip-flop outputs a power failure notice signal from its output terminal 1Q when it latches the state where the logic is input to the preset terminal PR terminal as LOW.

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

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

  The ball information RAM clear flag is stored in, for example, various flags and various information storage areas stored in a RAM (hereinafter, referred to as “ball information control built-in RAM”) built in the ball information control MPU. This flag indicates whether or not various types of ball information are deleted. The value is set to 1 when the ball information is deleted, and set to 0 when the ball information is not deleted. The sphere information RAM clear flag set in steps S514 and 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, a setting is made to permit access to the ball information control built-in RAM (step S518). This setting enables access to the sphere information control built-in RAM, for example, to write (store) or read sphere information.

  Subsequent to step S518, a stack pointer is set (step S520). The stack pointer indicates, for example, an address stacked on the stack to temporarily store the contents of a storage element (register) in use, or temporarily indicates a return address of the present routine when the subroutine is terminated and the process returns to the present routine. It indicates an address 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 from this initial address, the contents of the register, the return address, and the like are stacked on the stack. Then, the stack pointer is returned to the initial address by reading sequentially from the last stack to the first stack.

  Subsequent to step S520, the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S527. In step S527, it is determined whether or not the ball information RAM clear flag has a value of 0 (step S527). As described above, the ball information RAM clear flag is set to the value 1 when the ball information is deleted, and to the value 0 when the ball information is not deleted.

  When the sphere information RAM clear flag has the value 0 in step S527, that is, when the sphere information is not deleted, the checksum is calculated (step S528). The checksum is obtained by regarding the ball information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculating the sum thereof.

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

  If the sphere information backup flag has the value 1 in step S532, that is, if the sphere information control unit power-off processing has been normally completed, 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 ball information backup flag, power recovery time information is read from a ROM (hereinafter, referred to as “ball information control built-in ROM”) built in the ball information control MPU. The power recovery time information is set in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM. Thereby, information used for various processes is set based on various flags, various information stored in various information storage areas, etc., which are the above-mentioned ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM. . Note that “power recovery” includes not only a state where the power is turned on from a state where the power is turned off, but also a state where 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 ball information RAM clear flag is not the value 0 (it is the value 1), or if the checksum values do not match in step S530, or if the ball information backup flag is set to the value in step S532, If it is determined that the value is not 1 (the value is 0), that is, if the process of turning off the ball information control unit has not been completed normally, the entire area of the ball information control built-in RAM is cleared (step S536). Thereby, the ball information backup information stored in the ball 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). For this setting, the initial information is read from the ball information control built-in ROM, and this initial information is set in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S534 or step S538, interrupt initial setting is performed (step S540). This setting is for setting an interrupt cycle when a later-described ball information control unit timer interrupt process is performed. In the present embodiment, it is set to 2 ms.

  Subsequent to step S540, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S542). With this setting, the ball information control unit timer interrupt processing is repeatedly performed at the interrupt cycle set at step S540, that is, every 2 ms.

  Subsequent to step S542, it is determined whether a power failure notice signal has been input (step S544). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, if the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. The determination in step S540 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

  If there is no input of the power failure notice signal in step S544, it is determined whether the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1 (step S546). The 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag for measuring 2 ms in a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process that is performed every 2 ms, which will be described later, and is set to a value of 1 when 2 ms has elapsed and a value of 0 when 2 ms has not elapsed. Each is set.

  If it is determined in step S546 that the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has the value 0, that is, if 2 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S544 to determine whether a power failure notice signal has been input.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S546 that the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has the value 1, that is, if 2 ms has elapsed, the value 0 is set in the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S547), and the process proceeds to step S550. An external WDT clear signal is output to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (turns on, step S550). The external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the ball information control MPU. When the external WDT clear signal is not stopped during the clear signal release time, a reset signal is sent to the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112. Is output and reset (the ball information control MPU system is periodically diagnosed whether runaway or not).

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

  The output information storage area includes, for example, ball information main ACK information that informs that various commands (prize ball command and self-check command) regarding the prize ball from the main control board 100 have been normally received, Various information such as drive information for performing drive control is stored. 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 the output information, The ball information main ACK signal is output to the main control board 100, and the drive signal is output to the firing solenoid 13.

  Subsequent to step S552, port input processing is performed (step S554). In this port input processing, various signals input to the input terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM. For example, a door frame opening switch 131, a main body frame opening switch 132, a standby ball detection switch 26, 70, a firing ball confirmation switch 36, a recovery ball detection switch 203, a full ball path detection switch 206, a proper ball quantity detection switch 207, Lifting entrance switch 156, lifting motor sensor (photo sensor) 157, cassette detection switch 158, firing stop switch 86, touch switch 87, BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal from the payment machine 4, and command transmission processing described later. The main control board 100 reads the various commands transmitted by the main control board 100, and reads the main sphere information ACK signal and the like from the main control board 100, and stores them in the input information storage area as input information.

  Subsequent to step S554, a timer update process is performed (step S556). The various determination times are stored as time management information in a time management information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM. In the timer updating process, it is determined whether or not the timer values of various timers are set, and if the timer values are set, the timer values are decremented by one. For example, if “1000” is set as a value corresponding to 2 seconds (2000 ms) in the timer, the timer interrupt cycle is set to 2 ms. Therefore, the timer value is incremented by 1 each time the timer subtraction processing is performed in the 2 ms cycle. When the subtraction results in the value 0, the time is up and the time is accurately measured.

  Subsequent to step S556, a settlement machine communication process is performed (step S558). In the checkout machine communication process, input information is read from the above-described input information storage area, and based on the input information, whether various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal, and CR connection signal) from the checkout machine 4 are input. Is determined. The ball information control MPU exchanges various signals with the settlement machine 4 based on various signals from the settlement machine 4. The ball information control MPU, for example, upon receiving the number of ball rentals transmitted from the settlement machine 4, adds the number of ball rentals to the game machine possessed ball number data.

  Subsequent to step S558, a command receiving process is performed (step S560). In this command receiving process, various commands (prize ball commands and self-check commands) regarding the prize balls from the main control board 100 are received. When the various commands are normally received, the sphere information main ACK information notifying the fact is stored in the output information storage area described above. On the other hand, when the various commands cannot be received normally, a connection that indicates that the connection between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 is abnormal (the various command signals are abnormal). The abnormality information is stored in the state information storage area described above.

  Subsequent to step S560, a command analysis process is performed (step S562). In this command analysis process, 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 the main operation setting process, the ball information control MPU sets the operation of the firing solenoid 13, the ball feeding solenoid 31, the ball lifting device 22 (the ball lifting motor 150), the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. In addition, the ball information control MPU sequentially detects “1” from the game machine possessed ball number data stored in the game machine possessed ball count storage area in response to the hit detection of each game ball based on the ball detection of the launch ball confirmation switch 36. Is subtracted. Further, when a prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area, the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize ball command is added to the game machine possession ball number data stored in the game machine possession ball number storage area.

  Subsequent to step S564, an LED display data creation process is performed (step S566). In the LED display data creation processing, for example, the game machine held ball count data stored in the above-described game machine held ball count storage area is read, and display data for displaying the held ball count on the touch panel unit 14 is created. The display information is stored in the output information storage area described above.

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

  Subsequent to step S568, the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 is stopped (turned off, step S570). This clears the external WDT 116 so that the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112 are not reset. When the output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped, the external WDT 116 starts measuring the clear signal release time.

  Subsequent to step S570, the process returns to step S544 again to determine whether or not the power failure notice signal has been input. If this power failure notice signal has not been input, the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has the value 1 in step S546. If the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has the value 1, that is, if 2 ms has elapsed, the value of the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to 0 in step S547, and the external WDT 4120c is set to the external WDT 4120c in step S550. A WDT clear signal is output (ON), a port output process is performed in step S552, a port input process is performed in step S554, a timer update process is performed in step S556, a settlement machine communication process is performed in step S558, and a step S560 is performed. Command reception processing is performed, and command analysis processing is performed in step S562. The main operation setting process is performed in step S564, the LED display data creation process is performed in step S566, the command transmission process is performed in step S568, and the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116 is stopped (OFF) in step S570. And steps S544 to S570 are repeated. Note that the processing of steps S544 to S570 is referred to as “ball information control main processing”.

  On the other hand, when a power failure notice signal is input in step S544, interrupt disable setting is performed (step S572). By this setting, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt processing described later is not performed, writing to the sphere information control built-in RAM is prevented, and the sphere information rewriting described above is protected.

  Subsequent to step S572, a 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). Thus, the D-type flip-flop can release the latched state by outputting the power failure clear signal.

  Subsequent to step S574, the output of the drive signal to the firing solenoid 13 is stopped (step S576). Thereby, the launch of the game ball is stopped. Subsequent to step S576, the output of the drive signal to the ball feeding solenoid 31 is stopped (step S578). As a result, the feeding of the game ball to the hit ball launching device 29 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). Thereby, the external WDT 116 is cleared. Subsequent to step S580, the checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). This checksum is calculated by assuming that the ball information in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM is a numerical value, excluding the storage area of the value of the checksum calculated in step S528 and the value of the ball information backup flag HBK-FLG, as a numerical value. I do. Subsequent to step S582, the value 1 is set to the ball information backup flag (step S584). This completes the storage of the ball information backup information. Subsequent to step S584, prohibition of access to the ball information control built-in RAM is set (step S586). With this setting, access to the ball information control built-in RAM is prohibited, writing and reading are disabled, and the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM is protected.

  Subsequent to step S586, the process enters a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is performed. In this loop processing, the clear signal is not turned on / off to the external WDT 116. For this reason, the external WDT 116 outputs a reset signal to the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112 to perform reset. Thereafter, the ball information control MPU performs the ball information control-side power-on process again from the beginning. Note that the processing of step S572 to step S586 and the loop processing are referred to as “ball information control power-off processing”.

  The pachinko machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset when a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, and performs a ball information control-side power-on process by restoring power 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. Then, in step S532, the sphere information control unit power-off processing is normally terminated. Is being tested. As described above, by double checking the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM, it is checked whether or not the ball information backup information has been stored due to fraud.

[Sphere information control timer interrupt processing]
Next, the ball information control side timer interrupt processing will be described. This ball information control timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed at every interrupt cycle (2 ms in the present embodiment) set in step S540 of the ball information control power-on process shown in FIG.

  When the ball information control side timer interrupt process is started, the ball information control MPU of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 sets the timer interrupt to prohibition and switches the register (see FIG. 33). Evacuation) (step S590). Here, the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) used in the above-described ball information control unit main processing is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the ball information control side timer interrupt processing, the value of the general-purpose register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose registers used in the ball information control side main processing from being destroyed.

  Subsequent to step S590, the value 1 is set to the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S592). The 2 ms elapse flag HT-FLG is a flag that counts 2 ms every time the ball information control unit timer interrupt processing is performed, that is, every 2 ms, and has a value of 1 when 2 ms has elapsed and a value of 0 when 2 ms has not elapsed. Are set respectively. Subsequent to step S592, switching (restoring) of the register is performed (step S594). This return switches from the auxiliary register used in the sphere information control timer interrupt processing to a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register). By using this general-purpose register in the ball information control-side main processing, 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), and this routine ends.

[Each Process Executed in Ball Information Control Main Process]
Next, each process executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110 every 2 ms in the ball information control main process of FIG. 31 will be described. First, the ball lending process will be described, and subsequently, the hitting ball possible / impossible determination process, the held ball count process, the ball feeding / launch drive process, the launched ball detection process, and the held ball number subtraction process will be described. The hitting / non-hitting determination process, the held ball count process, the ball feed / launch drive process, the launched ball detection process, and the held ball number subtraction process are executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564. The processing is performed in the order of availability determination processing, held ball count processing, ball feed / launch drive processing, launched ball detection processing, and held ball number subtraction processing.

  When the player inserts the card 403 into the card insertion slot, the payment machine 4 detects the insertion of the card 403, and reads data stored in the card 403 through the card processor 402. That is, the ID stored in the ID storage unit 404 of the card 403 of FIG. 25, the remaining number stored in the remaining number storage unit 405, and the number of held balls stored in the held ball number storage unit 406 are read into the RAM. Is stored in a predetermined storage area (ID storage area, remaining number storage area, held ball number storage area).

  Next, the checkout machine 4 determines whether the inserted card 403 is usable or unusable. In this embodiment, when the read residual count is 0 and the read ball count is 0, the card 403 is determined to be unusable, and the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot. For this reason, when it is determined that the card 403 cannot be used, the following processes of the held ball number counting process, the ball feeding / launch driving process, and the held ball number subtraction process described below are not executed.

  On the other hand, if the read residual count is not 0, or if the read residual count is not 0 but the read ball count is not 0, the settlement machine 4 determines that the card is usable and returns the ball information. The card usable information is transmitted to the control board 110.

  When the player presses the ball lending button to play a game, an operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the settlement machine 4. In response to the operation signal of the ball lending button, the settlement machine 4 performs a ball lending process, for example, transmits a prescribed number of balls to lend to the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110, and thereafter, from the ball information control MPU. Wait until the sent ball rental end is received.

[Rolling ball processing]
Here, the ball lending process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 34 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 that is executed every 2 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 settlement machine 4 is received (step S600). In step S600, when the card use information transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is received, the process proceeds to step S601, and the number of held balls counter (a game machine possession) which is a part of the storage area set in the built-in RAM. The ball number storage area) is cleared to 0 (step S601), and the process proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S600 that the card usable information transmitted from the settlement machine 4 has not been received, the process directly proceeds to step S602. Note that the initial value of the held ball counter is set to “0” due to the power recovery setting of the RAM work area in step S534.

  When the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S602, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the number of ball rentals transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received (step S602). In step S602, when the number of balls for rental transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received, the process proceeds to step S603, and the received number of balls for rental is added to the value of the held ball counter (step S603), and the ball The rental end is transmitted to the settlement machine 4 (step S604), and the process exits the subroutine of the ball lending process.

  On the other hand, in step S602, if the number of ball rentals transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is not received, the process does not proceed to step S603 and step S604, but directly exits the subroutine of the ball lending process.

  As described above, the card usable information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110 only when the newly usable card 303 is inserted into the checkout machine 4. Also, the ball lending number is transmitted to the ball information control MPU only when the ball lending button operation signal is input to the settlement machine 4 after the card usable information is received. Then, when the number of balls for rental is received, the number of balls for rental is first added to the value of the held ball counter and stored.

[Hitting ball impossibility judgment processing]
Next, the hitting ball possible / impossible determination process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of hitting ball possible / impossible determination processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The hitting / non-hitting determination process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the hitting possible / impossible determination process, it determines whether or not the number of held balls is 0, that is, whether or not the value of a held ball counter is 0 (step S710). If it is determined in step S710 that the value of the held ball counter is not 0, that is, if step S710 is determined as NO, the process proceeds to step S711, and the standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) ) Is turned on, that is, whether or not there is a waiting ball in the ball feeder 28 (step S711).

  If it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is ON, the launch enable flag is set to 1 (launch possible) (step S712), and the hitting availability determination process is performed. Exit the subroutine. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S710 that the value of the held ball counter is 0, and when it is determined in step S711 that the standby ball detection switch 70 is not on (off), the firing is performed. The possible flag is set to 0 (impossible to fire) (step S713), and the subroutine of the hitting possible / impossible determining process is exited.

  In this way, when the value of the held ball counter is not 0 and the ball feeder 28 has a standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 can be driven, and the game area 8 of the game ball is substantially Is in a playable state in which it is possible to drive the player. When the value of the held ball counter is 0 or when there is no standby ball in the ball feeder 28, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven, and the game ball is substantially driven into the game area 8. The game cannot be played. At the same time, the ball feed solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

[Counting the number of held balls]
Next, a description will be given of a held ball count process corresponding to ball information processing during a game assuming that the game is substantially enabled. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the held ball count processing performed by the ball information control MPU. Note that the held ball number counting process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 performed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  Upon starting the held ball count process, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not there is a winning ball command analyzed in the command analysis process of step S562 (step S720). That is, it is determined whether or not a prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area. If the winning ball command is stored, it is determined that step S720 is present, and the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning ball command stored in the received command information storage area is added to the value of the held ball counter and stored (step S722). ), Exit the subroutine of the held ball count processing. On the other hand, if there is no memorized prize ball command, it is determined that step S720 is absent, and the process exits the subroutine of the held ball count process.

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

[Ball feed / launch drive processing]
Next, the ball feeding / firing drive processing will be described. FIGS. 37 to 38 are flowcharts showing an example of a subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball feeding / firing drive process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  FIG. 41 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. When the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the firing solenoid 13 is turned on when a period A has elapsed, and when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when a period B has elapsed, and the ball feeding is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when a period C has elapsed since the solenoid 31 was turned off.

  In the present embodiment, the period A is 300 ms, the period B is 30 ms, and the period C is 50 ms. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the shot ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the shooting sphere is detected by the shooting sphere confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a shooting ball when a shooting ball stopped at the shooting position is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time period (the period D is set to 30 ms). I do.

  As described above, when the game ball stopped at the firing position by the fire ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a fire ball. The erroneous ball count of the ball can be eliminated, and the certainty in detecting the fired ball can be increased.

  When the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball stopped at the firing position by the firing hammer 30 is launched into the game area 8 and the fired ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. As a result, the number of held balls is reduced by one.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the ball feeding / firing drive process, first, it determines whether or not the fireable flag is 1 (fireable) (step S730). If it is determined in the hitting possible / impossible determination processing that the shooting is possible, the firing possible flag is set to 1 (fireable). In step S730, if it is determined that the firing enable flag is not 1 (fire is possible), that is, if the fire enable flag is 0 (fire is impossible), the process exits the subroutine of the ball feed / fire drive process. In this case, the substantial ball feeding / firing drive processing is not executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S730 that the firing enable flag is 1 (fire is possible), the flow shifts to step S731 to determine whether the processing flag is 0 (step S731).

  Here, the processing flag is a flag for identifying whether the ball information control MPU branches to any one of the processes in the ball feeding / firing driving process described later, in other words, the control in the ball feeding / firing driving process. A flag for identifying the state, "0" means an initial setting, and "1" defines a period from turning on the ball feeding solenoid 31 to turning on the firing solenoid 13. Yes, it defines the period from turning on the firing solenoid 13 at "2" to turning off the ball feeding solenoid 31, and turning off the firing solenoid 13 after turning off the ball feeding solenoid 31 at "3". It defines the period up to.

  At the time when the ball feeding / firing drive process is started, the value of the process flag is set to 0. Therefore, it is determined YES in step S731, and the process proceeds to step S732 to set a timer value corresponding to the period A (see FIG. 39, 300 ms) in the timer (step S732), and turn on the ball feeding solenoid 31 (step S733). , The processing flag is set to 1 (step S734), and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited. It should be noted that the timer value set in the timer is decremented by one at a cycle of 2 ms in the timer updating process of step S556 in FIG.

  The next processing cycle of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is after 2 ms. As a result of the processing flag being set to 1, in the ball feeding / firing drive processing in the next cycle, it is determined that the step S730 is YES, the step S731 is NO, and the process proceeds to the step S735. In step S735, it is determined whether the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S735). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 1, the determination in step S735 is YES, and the flow advances to step S736 to determine whether the timer has expired (step S736). If the timer has not expired, step S736 is determined to be NO, and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited.

  Hereinafter, until the timer set for the period A expires, based on the value of the processing flag, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, and step S735 is determined to be YES. The processing routine for determining S736 as NO is repeated.

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined as YES in step S736, and it is determined that the period A has elapsed, and the process advances to step S737 to set a timer value corresponding to the period B (see FIG. 41, 30 ms) in the timer. (Step S737), the firing solenoid 13 is turned on (Step S738), the processing flag is set to 2 (Step S739), and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited.

  As a result of the processing flag being set to 2, in the ball feeding / firing drive processing in the next cycle, step S730 is determined as YES, step S731 is determined as NO, step S735 is determined as NO, and the process proceeds to step S740. . In step S740, it is determined whether the value of the processing flag is 2 (step S740). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 2, the determination in step S740 is YES, and the flow advances to step S741 to determine whether the timer has expired (step S741). If the timer has not expired, step S741 is determined as NO, and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited.

  Hereafter, until the timer that sets the period B expires, based on the value of the processing flag 2, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, and step S735 is determined to be NO. The processing routine in which S740 is determined as YES and step S741 is determined as NO is repeated.

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined as YES in step S741, and it is determined that the period B has elapsed, and the process advances to step S742 to set a timer value corresponding to the period C (see FIG. 41, 50 ms) in the timer. (Step S742), the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off (Step S743), the processing flag is set to 3 (Step S744), and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive process is exited.

  As a result of the processing flag being set to 3, in the ball feeding / firing drive processing in the next cycle, step S730 is determined as YES, step S731 is determined as NO, step S735 is determined as NO, and step S740 is determined as NO. Then, the process proceeds to step S745. In step S745, it is determined whether or not the timer has expired (step S745). If the timer has not expired, step S745 is determined to be NO, and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited.

  Hereinafter, until the timer that sets the period C expires, based on the value of the processing flag 3, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, and step S735 is determined to be NO. The processing routine of determining NO in S740 and determining NO in step S745 is repeated.

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined as YES in step S745, and it is determined that the period C has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S746, the firing solenoid 13 is turned off (step S746), and the processing flag is set to 0. The value is returned to the initial value (step S747), and the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing is exited.

[Launch sphere detection processing]
Next, the shooting ball detection processing will be described. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a fired ball detection process performed by the ball information control MPU. The shooting sphere detection process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 performed every 2 ms in the sphere information control main process.

  When starting the launching ball detection process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not the launching ball confirmation switch 36 is on (step S750). As described above, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the shot ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the shooting sphere is detected by the shooting sphere confirmation switch 36.

  When it is determined that the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is on, the value of a time counter, which is a counter for counting the time during which the shooting ball is on, is incremented by 1 (step S751), and the process proceeds to step S753.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is not on, that is, if the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is off, 0 is set in the time counter (step S752), and the process proceeds to step S753.

  When the process proceeds to step S753, it is determined whether the value of the time counter has reached a predetermined time D (30 ms in this example) (step S753). If the value of the time counter has not reached the predetermined time D, the determination in step S753 is NO, and the process exits the subroutine of the shooting ball detection process.

  Since the launching ball detection process is executed every 2 ms, if the game ball stopped at the launching position is continuously detected by the launching ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time D, the time counter of the time counter is set every 2 ms. The value is incremented by one, and the value of the time counter reaches a predetermined time D (30 ms, count value 15 in this example). In this case, YES is determined in the step S753, it is considered that the shooting sphere is detected, the shooting sphere detection flag is set to 1 (detected) (step S754), and the subroutine of the shooting sphere detection processing is exited.

  On the other hand, when noise enters the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is momentarily turned on, but thereafter, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. Accordingly, the value of the time counter is set to 0 in response to the firing ball confirmation switch 36 being turned off, and the value of the time counter is set to the predetermined specified time D (30 ms, count value 15 in this example). Never reach.

  As described above, when the game ball stopped at the firing position by the fire ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a fire ball. The erroneous ball count of the ball can be eliminated, and the certainty in detecting the fired ball can be increased.

[Number of held balls subtraction process]
Next, the held ball number subtraction process will be described. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the held ball number subtraction process performed by the ball information control MPU. Note that the held ball number subtraction process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564 performed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the held ball number subtraction process, it first determines whether or not the fired ball detection flag is 1 (detected) (step S760). If it is determined that the fired ball detection flag is not 1 (detected), that is, if NO is determined in step S760, the process exits the subroutine of the held ball number subtraction process. In this case, the number of held balls is not subtracted.

  If it is determined in step S760 that the launching ball detection flag is 1 (detected), that is, if step S760 is determined as YES, the process proceeds to step S761 to determine whether the launching ball confirmation switch 36 is off. It is determined whether or not it is (step S761). If it is determined in step S761 that the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is not turned off, that is, if step S761 is determined as NO, the subroutine of the held ball number subtraction process is exited.

  As described above, when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball parked at the firing position is launched into the game area 8 by the firing hammer 30, and the fire ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. Thereby, the number of held balls is decremented by one. If it is determined in step S761 that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off, that is, if the determination in step S761 is YES, the value of the number of held balls counter is decremented by one (step S762), and the launched ball detection flag is set. 0 (no detection) is set (step S763), and the process exits the subroutine of the held ball number subtraction process.

  In this manner, when a game ball stopped at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time period, it is determined that there is a firing ball, and it is determined that there is a firing ball. In the case where no game ball is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36, it is determined that the game ball parked at the launch position has been launched, and the number of held balls is reduced by one. When noise enters 36, the erroneous ball count of the shooting sphere due to the noise can be eliminated, and the certainty in the detection of the shooting sphere can be increased.

[Deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit]
FIG. 42 is a view for explaining a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge unit cover separated and turned upside down in FIG. 41. FIG. 44 is a plan view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 45 is a rear view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 46 is a view for explaining the base plate of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 47 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separately from the deformed sphere discharging unit and the magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating a path through which the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere are discharged in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 49 is a view for explaining a situation where the magnetic sphere is separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic sphere has reached the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface.

  As shown in FIG. 42, the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 has a deformed sphere discharging function and a magnetic sphere discharging function. The deformed sphere is a spherical object such as a bearing having a smaller diameter than a regular game sphere. The deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 is a transparent resin molded product, is disposed at the lower part of the game machine main body (the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit accommodating portion 19), and has a front plate (not shown) on the front side, The side is covered with a rear plate (ball trough base 201). In the upper part, as a safe ball that has flown out of the various prize ports (special variable prize device, general prize port, normal variable prize device) and various prize ports, and has flowed down the safe ball discharge path. A collection port 202 for collecting game balls is provided. The out ball flows into the recovery port 202 through the out port 42 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The safe ball flows into the collection port 202 via the winning port 41 (see FIG. 5).

  The circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 communicating with the collection port 202 is formed by meandering left and right in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 so as to be folded up and down. The apparatus includes a detection switch 203, a deformed sphere discharging unit 204, a magnetic sphere discharging unit 205, a full ball path detecting switch 206, and a proper ball detecting switch 207. The game balls that have flowed into the collection port 202 move in a line in the circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 to reach the ball collecting unit 21 connected to the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20. However, the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere are separated from the circulation path of the regular game sphere in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 and discharged out of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 so as not to move to the ball collecting part 21. You.

  Next, the movement of the game balls collected in the collection port 202 in the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 will be described in order. The number of game balls collected in the collection port 202 is counted one by one by the collected ball detection switch 203. The game ball that has passed through the collected ball detection switch 203 reaches a deformed ball discharging unit 204. When the difference between the number of game balls detected by the recovered ball detection switch 203 and the shooting ball detection means increases, it can be detected that an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

  The deformed sphere discharge unit 204 includes a deformed sphere discharge unit base 208 fixed to a deformed sphere discharge unit base mounting unit 212 provided on the ball trough base 201 and two fixed sphere discharge unit bases 208 fixed to the deformed sphere discharge unit base 208. It is composed of deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, the deformed ball discharge base mounting portion 212 is a rectangular opening provided in the ball trough base 201. As shown in FIG. 42, the deformed sphere discharging portion base mounting portion 212 is provided with the ball receiving gutter base 201 inclined so that the side on the collection port 202 side becomes higher. As a result, the deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 are arranged obliquely, so that the game sphere can move from the upstream side 213 (see FIG. 44) to the downstream side 214.

  FIG. 47 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separately from the deformed sphere discharging unit and the magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 47A shows the deformed sphere discharge unit 204. FIG. 47B shows the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205.

  The deformed sphere discharging unit 204 uses the difference in diameter between the legitimate game ball and the fraudulent ball to exclude a fraudulent ball having a diameter smaller than the legitimate game ball from the circulation path in the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. . As shown in FIG. 44, the deformed sphere discharge unit 204 includes two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 having a circular cross section arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side of the circulation path. In order to exclude a deformed sphere, that is, an inactive sphere having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball, from the circulation path in which the regular game ball circulates, the gap distance between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 is increased in the upstream side 213. The deformed sphere separation shaft is formed so as to be smaller than the diameter of the regular game ball and to be wider on the downstream side 214 than the diameter of the regular game ball, that is, the distance between the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 is gradually increased. 209 and 210 are fixed to the modified sphere discharging portion base 208.

  The game balls that flow down one by one to the deformed sphere discharge unit 204 via the collection port 202 and the recovered ball detection switch 203 flow down while rolling over the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210. I do. On the upstream side, the gap distance between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 is smaller than the diameter of the regular game balls, so that the regular game balls do not fall from between the deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210.

  On the other hand, an irregular ball, which is a deformed ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball, falls from between the two deformed ball separating shafts 209 and 210. The dropped deformed sphere is discharged to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the deformed sphere discharge port 216 through the deformed sphere discharge path 215 as shown in FIG. The deformed sphere discharge path 215 is formed by a deformed sphere discharge path forming member 217 attached to the front side of the ball receiving gutter base 201 and below the deformed sphere discharge section base 208. Note that the deformed ball discharge path forming member 217 is also provided integrally with a communication path 218 for guiding a ball having the same diameter as a regular game ball to the magnetic ball discharge section 205.

  A regular-sized game ball that rolls down and flows down the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 falls from between the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 on the downstream side 214 and passes through the communication path 218. After that, it reaches a circulation path 219 formed in the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205.

  The magnetic ball discharge unit 205 is fixed to the ball trough base 201 as shown in FIG. FIG. 47 shows a state in which the magnetic ball discharge unit 205 is removed from the ball trough base 201. An inclined surface 220 connected to the communication path 218 is formed in the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205, and a falling surface 221 that descends steeply is connected to the downstream side of the inclined surface 220. , A magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 is formed. A gap between the discontinuous portions 223 is provided so that the inclined surface 220 and the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 are not continuous. In the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205, at least one of the side wall 224 and the ceiling wall 225 has a magnet attached to at least one of the front surface, the rear surface, and the inside thereof.

  FIG. 49 shows an example in which a magnet 229 is mounted in the magnet housing space 230 on the back surface of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet accommodating space 230 is formed as a rectangular space having a cross section disposed along the back side of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet 229 is a plate-shaped magnet, and is a permanent magnet having an N pole or S pole on one side and an S pole or N pole on the other side. The magnetic force of the magnet is not so strong that the game ball (magnetic ball 232) made of a magnetic material is attracted and the rolling is hindered, and flows down the area of the inclined surface 220 and falls from the discontinuous portion 223. Instead, it is sufficient that the magnetic ball can reach the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222. The attached magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

  The regular game ball 233 flowing from the connection path 218 rolls down the inclined surface 220 and flows down while rolling down the falling surface 221 from the inclined surface 220. The non-magnetic regular game ball 233 falls down the discontinuous portion 223 and passes through the circulation path 219 to reach the ball collecting section 21 connected to the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20.

  On the other hand, the illegal sphere (magnetic sphere 232) made of a magnetic material is attached to the inner wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 by the attraction of the magnet 229 accommodated in the magnet accommodation space 230, and the circulation path 219 flows upstream of the inclined surface 220. It flows down while rolling by the action of gravity from the side to the downstream side. Then, as shown in FIG. 49, the magnetic sphere 232 does not fall from the discontinuous portion 223 and reaches the region of the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222 (see FIG. 42) as shown in FIG. The illegal sphere made of a magnetic material that has reached the region of the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222 is discharged through the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 to the magnetic sphere discharge port 227 and the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 (see FIG. 48). ).

  The portion of the ceiling wall 225 above the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 is configured as a magnetic force adjusting unit 231. The magnetic force adjusting section 231 is formed such that the distance between the magnet housing space 230 and the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 increases as it goes downstream of the magnetic sphere discharge path 226. In FIG. 49, the magnetic ball discharge path 226 has a curved portion, and the curved portion functions as the magnetic force adjusting unit 231. As a result, the distance between the magnetic ball 232 and the magnet 229 becomes longer toward the downstream of the magnetic ball discharge path 226. Then, the magnetic force (attraction) of the magnet 229 acting on the magnetic sphere 232 gradually decreases. For this reason, the magnetic spheres 232 sticking to the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and moving in the downstream direction are separated from the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and fall on the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222. Then, it is discharged from the magnetic ball discharge port 227 via the magnetic ball discharge path 226.

  The deformed sphere and the magnetic illicit sphere are discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the deformed sphere discharge port 216 and the magnetic sphere discharge port 227, respectively (FIG. 48). The deformed sphere or magnetic sphere discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 is collected in the discharge sphere receiving box 234 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). In this way, using the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20, an illegal sphere composed of a deformed sphere and a magnetic material can be eliminated from the circulation path 219 of the regular game sphere. In the present embodiment, the configuration can be simplified by using gravity to discharge the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20. The deformed sphere discharge path 215 is arranged along the side surface of the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205, and the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 can be configured compactly.

  In addition, during the game using the gaming machine, or when the power of the gaming machine is turned off, so that a stagnant state in which the regular gaming ball reaches the discontinuous portion 223 in the circulation path 219 does not occur, The gaming machine is configured. If the game ball reaches the discontinuous portion 223, the number of circulating game balls is excessive, so that the discontinuous portion 223 is filled with the game balls, and the game balls flowing down thereafter flow down the magnetic ball discharge path 226. No problem.

  The deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 can eliminate irregular balls made of deformed spheres or magnetic materials from the circulation path 219 of regular game balls without stopping the game, thereby reducing the interest of the player. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the chance that employees of the gaming hall are called to each gaming machine for processing illegal balls and deal with malfunctions of the gaming machine. The deformed sphere discharge unit 204 and the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205 may be configured independently. That is, when discharging the deformed ball by another component in the gaming machine, the magnetic ball discharging unit 205 may be configured alone.

One embodiment of the enclosed gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming board in which a gaming area is defined and formed, a main body frame in which the gaming board is fitted and accommodated, and an upper part of the main body frame, A hitting ball firing device that fires a game ball toward a game area, and a game ball fired by the hitting ball firing device is collected as an enclosed ball on the back side of the game board, an illegal ball is eliminated, and the hitting ball firing device is again used. In order to supply, one circulating path including a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging means, and one enclosing sphere arranged and stored in an arranging passage formed in a part of the circulating path based on driving of an electric driving source. A ball feeding device that sends the ball to the firing position of the hitting ball firing device, a main control board that performs a game control process related to a pachinko game, and a bidirectional data communication with the main control substrate are connected, and in the game control process, Main control A prize ball command transmitted from a board, and ball number information of the number of shot balls fired by the hitting ball firing device, increase / decrease control of the number of held balls, launch control of a game ball by the hitting ball firing device, and the ball A ball information control board for controlling the feeding of the game balls to the firing position by the feeding device, and performing a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls in a closed manner without paying out the game balls. The hitting ball launching device performs a hitting operation based on driving of a firing rail for stopping a game ball at the firing position and an electric drive source, and is stopped at the firing position. A launching member that launches a game ball, and a launching ball confirmation unit that detects a playing ball parked at the launching position are provided, and the ball information control board is provided for a predetermined time period. Launch ball confirmation means Therefore, when a game ball parked at the launch position is detected, a launch sphere detection determination unit that determines that there is a launch sphere, and the condition that the launch sphere detection determination unit determines that there is a launch sphere, When the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation means, it is determined that the game ball parked at the launch position has been fired, and the held ball number subtraction means for reducing the held ball number by one is provided. You.
According to the above-described embodiment, for a predetermined time period, when a game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation unit, a launch ball detection determination unit that determines that there is a launch ball, On the condition that the launching ball detection determining unit determines that there is a launching ball, if no launching ball is detected by the launching ball confirmation unit, it is determined that the playing ball parked at the launching position has been launched, and the number of possessed balls is determined. Is reduced by one, so that if noise enters the launching ball confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate the erroneous ball count of the launching ball due to the noise, and to increase the certainty in the detection of the launching ball. And magnetic balls can be excluded from the circulation path through which regular game balls circulate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 1a Outer frame 2 Main frame 3 Door frame 4 Checkout machine 5 Game board 6 Decorative cover 7 Hinge 8 Game area 9 Game window 10 Hitting handle 11 Transparent plate 12 Upper firing device (upper firing unit)
13 Launching Solenoid 14 Touch Panel 15 Fitting Frame 16 Peripheral Wall 17 Housing Opening 18 Overhanging Wall 19 Deformed Ball / Magnetic Ball Ejection Unit Housing 20 Deformed Ball / Magnetic Sphere Ejection Unit 21 Ball Collecting Unit 22 Ball Lifting Device 23 Ball Outgoing gutter 24 Ball supply path member 25 Screw 26 Launch standby ball detection switch 28 Ball feeder 29 Hitting and launching device 30 Hammer for launching (member for launching)
301 Fixed part 302 Rod part 303 Stopper contact part 31 Ball feed solenoid 32 Ball feed member 33 Rail member 331 Mounting plate part 332 Rail part 333 Left rail plate 334 Right rail plate 335 Through hole 34 Stopper at launch 35 Stopper at return 36 Launch Ball confirmation switch 361 Photo bracket 37 Upper firing device hinge 38 Launch port 39 Base plate 39a Contact portion 40 Launch area 41 Winning port 42 Out port 43 Panel holder 44 Transparent panel plate 45 Front component member 46 Playing ball running surface 47 Notch 48 Protruding part 49 Fixing device 50 Screw receiving member 51 Ball entry prevention wall 52 Tension spring 53 Spring locking part 54 Ball guide protrusion 55 Front guiding surface 56 Stopper piece 57 Arrangement space 58 Ball outlet 60 Rotary drive shaft 61 Hammer tip 62 Stopper Cover 63 ball supply 64 Launching port decoration member 65 Lifting communication trough 66 Ball entrance 67 Ball feed unit base 68 Ball feed unit cover 69 Ball feed guide gutter 70 Launch standby ball detection switch 71 Ball feed sheet metal 72 Operating rod 73 Sheet metal container 74 Ball feed 75 Shaft hole 76 Ball feed shaft 77 Arm part 78 Sheet metal locking claw 79 Hanging protrusion 80 Ball feed guiding surface 81 Ball holding surface 82 Hanging piece 83 Return ball blocking part 84 Ball stopper 85 Hitting ball passage opening 86 Launch stop switch 87 Touch Switch 90 Upper starting opening detecting switch 91 Lower starting opening detecting switch 92 Gate switch 93 General winning opening detecting switch 94 General winning opening detecting switch 96 Starting 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 Ball information control board 111 Ball information control MPU
112 Ball information control I / O port 113 Ball information control input circuit 114 Ball lifting motor drive circuit 115 CR unit input / output circuit 116 External WDT
117 Power failure monitoring circuit 118 Ball information control unit 119 Ball polishing ribbon feed motor drive circuit 120 Launch solenoid drive circuit 122 Ball feed solenoid drive circuit 123 Handle relay terminal board 124 Sensor relay board 130 Peripheral control board 131 Door frame opening switch 132 Body frame opening Switch 133 External terminal board 140 Panel relay terminal board 141 Function display board 142 Upper special design display 143 Lower special design display 144 Upper special design storage display 145 Lower special design storage display 146 Normal design display 147 Normal design storage display 148 Game status indicator 149 Round indicator 150 Ball lifting motor 155 Ball polishing ribbon feed motor 156 Lifting inlet switch 157 Lifting motor sensor 158 Cassette detection switch 201 Ball receiving gutter base 202 Collection port 203 Osamudama detection switch 204 irregular ball discharging unit 205 magnetic ball discharging unit 206 ball path full detection switch 207 pitches proper amount detecting switch 208 irregular ball discharging unit base 209 irregular sphere separation shaft 210 irregular sphere separation shaft
212 Deformed ball discharge part base mounting part 213 Upstream side 214 Downstream side 215 Deformed ball discharge path 216 Deformed ball discharge port 217 Deformed ball discharge path forming member 218 Connection path 219 Circulation path 220 Inclined surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 223 Discontinuous part 224 Side wall 225 Ceiling wall 226 Magnetic ball discharge path 227 Magnetic ball discharge port 228 Magnetic ball discharge part cover 229 Magnet 230 Magnet accommodation space 231 Magnetic force adjustment unit 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Discharge ball receiving box 402 Card processing Machine 403 Card 404 ID storage unit 405 Remaining number storage unit 406 Number of held balls storage unit 407 Mounting member 408 Hanging wall 410 Ball exit opening / closing unit 411 Shutter base 412 Opening / closing shutter 413 Opening / closing crank 414 Opening / closing spring 415 Sliding groove 416 Opening 417 Crank support section 418 Spring locking section 419 Shutter body 420 Drive hole 421 Shaft section 422 Drive cam 423 Drive pin 424 Contact section 425 Spring locking section 426 Opening / closing operation piece

Claims (1)

Outer frame,
A game board in which a game area is sectioned,
A main body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated, and is rotatably supported by the outer frame;
A hitting ball firing device for firing a game ball toward the game area,
A circulation path for collecting the game balls fired by the hitting ball firing device on the back side of the game board as an enclosed ball and supplying the same again to the hitting ball firing device,
A ball lifting device that is a part of the circulation path, and lifts a game ball used for a game from below to an upper portion of the main body frame with an interval between the game balls,
With
In an enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which a predetermined number of game balls are closed and circulated to play a game,
The hit ball launching device is disposed at one side of a front part and an upper part of the main body frame,
The ball lifting device is attached to a rear surface of the main body frame to form an accommodation space capable of accommodating the game board and various members, behind the hitting ball firing device,
The upper end portion of the ball lifting device is disposed above the hitting ball launching device, and between the upper end portion of the ball lifting device and the upper portion of the hitting ball launching device, the ball is lifted by the ball lifting device. A ball supply path member extending in the front-rear direction for sending a game ball from above to the hitting ball firing device in a substantially linear manner was provided,
An enclosed ball-type game machine characterized by the above.

Images