JP2020014896A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of fitting a game board to a body frame easily and surely, in the game machine in which a launcher is arranged on an upper part of the game machine.SOLUTION: A game machine is provided with a followup member for moving an upper shooting device by following movement of a door frame, and with a hook mechanism for fixing the upper shooting device to a position set to a body frame. The hook mechanism 390 engages a part of the upper shooting device 12, draws it to the body frame 2 side, to thereby fix the upper shooting device 12 to a set position, when closing the door frame 3, and when opening the door frame 3, relieves engagement with the upper shooting device 12, and can open it by following the door frame 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 97

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a launching device for launching a hit ball is arranged above a gaming machine.

  As a prior art, there is a pachinko game machine in which a game ball launching device is arranged above a game machine for the purpose of expanding a game board surface, preventing a foul ball, and the like.

JP-A-2002-346067

The pachinko machine described in Patent Literature 1 has a launching device arranged above a gaming machine (upper launching device).
Since such an upper launch device is attached to the main body frame and is disposed at a place where the game board is fitted, when the game board is fitted to the main body frame in a new stand installation or the like, it must be fitted avoiding the launch device. . However, since the upper firing device is arranged in the same region as the region where the game board is fitted, it is difficult to fit the game board, or the game board accidentally collides with the upper firing device when fitting the game board, There is a problem that the launching device and the game board are damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a gaming machine having an upper launching device, it is possible to easily and reliably insert a game board into a main body frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of returning to an accurate position with respect to a gaming board.

  Means 1: a game machine including a game board in which a game area is sectioned, a main body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated, and a door frame, which is disposed above the game machine, An upper firing device that shoots a game ball into the game area, a follower member that retreats the upper firing device from the approach area of the game board following the movement of the door frame when the door frame is opened, and the door frame. When the is closed, the upper firing device closes following the movement of the door frame, and further includes a pulling mechanism for pulling the firing device toward the game board.

  According to the configuration of the means 1, in the gaming machine, by providing a follow-up member that follows the movement of the door frame and retracts, the upper firing device of the gaming machine is moved from the entry area of the gaming board with the opening operation of the door frame. Since the game board is retracted, it is possible to prevent an accident such as colliding the game board with the launching device and causing damage when the game board is attached to the main body frame. Also, when the door frame is closed, the upper firing device closes following the movement of the door frame, and the upper firing device is fixed in a correct position in relation to the game board, so that the game board is fixed by the upper firing device. And the situation in which the game balls are launched from the upper firing device to the game board does not change.

  In a gaming machine provided with an upper launch device, collision between the gaming board and the upper launch device can be prevented when the game board is detached from the main frame. When the mounting of the game board is completed and the door frame is closed, the upper firing device is closed and closed, and the gaming board and the upper firing device are set in a set positional relationship.

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. It is a front view of the gaming machine which shows and removes a door frame. It is a front perspective view showing a 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 position for firing). It is a perspective view which shows an upper firing apparatus seen from the front left side. It is a perspective view which shows an upper firing device seen from the rear left side. It is a perspective view which removes a ball feed unit cover, and shows an 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 and shows the upper firing apparatus 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 rear. 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 sectional drawing which fractured | ruptured the main body frame in the longitudinal direction so that the upper firing device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device may be shown. It is a time chart which shows the drive timing of a ball feed solenoid and a firing solenoid. 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. It is an external appearance perspective view explaining a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a state where the magnetic ball discharge unit cover is separated and turned over in FIG. 28. 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 sphere and a magnetic sphere 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 from a circulating route, and is discharged. It is a figure explaining the state where the magnetic sphere reached the magnetic sphere discharge slope. It is a front left perspective view of a ball collection part and a ball lifting device. It is a front view of a ball collection part and a ball lifting device. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the ball polishing cartridge in a ball collection part. It is a rear perspective view which shows the state of the case of the ball collection part, and the cover of the ball lifting device removed. FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the sphere assembly in FIG. 40. FIG. 42 is an enlarged view of FIG. 41. It is the top view which removed the case of the ball collection part. It is a rear perspective view showing the state where an upper gear box and a lower gear box were removed. It is a right view which shows the state which removed the cover of the ball lifting device. It is an enlarged view of (A) in FIG. It is a figure showing the state which disassembled the screw. It is a perspective view which shows the upper part of a ball lifting device. It is a figure which shows the fitting / non-fitting state of a screw and a fitting member. It is a left view which shows the state in which the ball polishing cartridge was mounted. It is a perspective view explaining the mechanism which fixes a ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of mounting a ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the ball and the ball polishing cloth of a ball polishing cartridge are pressed against a game ball. It is a left view which shows the state in which the ball | ball polishing cloth of a game ball and a ball polishing cartridge is pressed. FIG. 55 is a left side view showing the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 54 with the left side cover removed. FIG. 55 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55. It is a perspective view showing the state where the ball polishing cartridge was attached. FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover is removed in FIG. 57 for explanation. FIG. 58 is an upper perspective view showing a state where the right side cover is opened in FIG. 58; It is a perspective view of a ball polishing cartridge. It is a front view of a ball polishing cartridge. It is a side view of a ball polishing cartridge. FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state where a left side cover is removed in FIG. 62. It is a perspective view of a ball polishing cartridge mounting part. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a ball polishing cartridge and a ball polishing cartridge mounting part. FIG. 40 is an enlarged view in which the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge of FIG. 39 is enlarged. It is a side view which shows 2nd Example in a lifting slope member. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Example in a lifting slope member. It is a top view showing the state where an upper gear box was removed in a hoisting device. It is a rear view which shows the state which removed the lifting part cover in the lifting device. It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which less than a predetermined number of game balls have been inserted when a game ball is sealed in a sealed ball game machine. It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined number of game balls have been inserted when the game balls are sealed in a sealed ball game machine. It is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of a game ball when the number of the game balls inserted exceeds a predetermined number when the game balls are sealed in a sealed ball type game machine. It is a perspective view showing the state where the game ball introduction member in the game panel protruded. It is a perspective view showing the state where the game ball introduction member in the game panel was stored. 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 sealed 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. FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the main control-side power-on processing in FIG. 79. 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. FIG. 83 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information control-side power-on processing in FIG. 82. 84 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information payout control-side power-on process following FIG. 83. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the sphere information control power supply cutoff which the sphere information control MPU of a sphere 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 a ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the hitting 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 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the shooting ball detection process 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 flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lifting drive process which the ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball clogging notification process which a ball information control MPU performs. It is the figure which showed the cushion and the following member provided in the back side of the door frame, and the cushion receiving plate provided in the upper firing device. Initial state of hook mechanism Hook mechanism maintenance state

[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 contents of the game are the same as those 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 ball-type 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 the game machine, and the predetermined number of game balls are transmitted to the game area by the shooting device. To play the game, collect the game ball that has finished the game, play the game using the game ball pre-enclosed in the game machine so as to guide the launching device to use the game ball in circulation. It has become. Then, the game balls can be fired in accordance with the number of game balls (data on the number of held balls) based on the data on 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 a 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 prize balls. Is added. Further, when the data of the number of held balls becomes “0”, the game balls cannot be fired. In this state, when a numerical value (the number of rented 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 a storage medium such as a card, the game balls can be fired again. 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 includes an upper firing device, collects game balls fired in the game area, and supplies the game balls to the game again.

  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. 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 pivotally supported by the main body frame 2 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 pins, 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 8 disposed below the game window 9 and based on an operation of 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 face (game area 8) of the game board 5 mounted on the main body frame 2 side with the door frame 3 closed with respect to the main 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 has 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 for detecting 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. Is available.

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

  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. This 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.

  On the touch panel section 14, a ball lending button as a ball lending command input device operable by the player and a settlement button as a settlement command input device operable by the player are displayed. 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 end ball number display button as an end ball number display command input means that can be operated by the player. Here, the end ball number is the surplus ball number when the player's ball number is divided by the ball number 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 either yes or 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 accommodation opening 17 for fitting the game board 5 into the front side thereof. A projecting wall 18 projecting inward is integrally formed behind 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 body frame 2, the front surface (game area 8) of the game board 5 accommodated in the main body 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. . And, as will be described later, the discharge ball receiving box 234 for accommodating 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 for the gaming machine. It can be attached and detached from the front.

  FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the main body frame 2 cut in the vertical direction so as to show the upper firing device 12, the ball supply path member 24, and the ball lifting device 22. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 23, the main body frame 2 is provided with the upper firing device 12, the ball collecting unit 21, the ball lifting device 22, and the ball supply path member 24. . The ball collecting unit 21 is a part 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 23). In addition, the ball feeding device 28 for sending game balls arranged and stored in a guiding path (a ball feeding guiding gutter 69 described later, see FIG. 11) to the firing position of the hit ball firing device 29 one by one includes a hit ball firing device 29. Are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction (FIGS. 6, 23). 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 from below to the upper part of the main body frame 2. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface of the main body 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. 23).

  Between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper part of the upper firing device 12, a ball supply in the front-rear direction for feeding the 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 23). In the present embodiment, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end portion 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 at the rear upper portion of the upper firing device 12 and connected to the ball sending gutter 23 and having a gentle downward slope. The game balls lifted by the ball lifting device 22 are sent to the ball sending gutter 23. The ball sending gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 is provided with a launch standby ball detecting switch 26 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball flowing down the ball sending gutter 23 (see FIG. 6).

[Upper firing device]
8 is a front view showing the upper firing device 12, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device 12 as viewed from the front left side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device 12 as viewed from the rear left, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the upper firing device 12 as viewed from the rear left with the ball feed unit cover 68 removed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an open state of the upper firing device 12 in the gaming machine shown with the door frame 3 removed, and FIG. 13 is a right side view showing a longitudinal section of the gaming machine shown with the door frame 3 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 between the upper firing device 12 and the base plate 39 is in contact with the projecting portion of the panel holder 43 in the game board 5.

  The upper firing device 12 receives a base plate 39 having a metal plate shape for attaching and fixing the upper firing device 12 to the main body frame 2, and a game ball reaching from the ball supply path member 24, and is used for firing of the hit ball firing device 29. A ball feeding device 28 that reliably sends game balls one by one to a hammer 30 (FIG. 8) and a ball feeding solenoid 32 (FIG. 11) and a ball feeding 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 that arrives 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 hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the hitting ball firing device 29. This is a device for sending out each one surely.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hitting ball firing device 29 includes a firing hammer 30, a firing solenoid 13, a rail member 33, a firing stopper 34, a returning stopper 35, a firing ball confirmation switch 36, an upper firing device hinge 37, and a firing port. 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 to face the tip of the hammer 30 for firing, and the rail member 33 is attached to this portion. The rail member 33 is a member that holds, by the rail portion 332, one game ball sent to the firing position (ball hitting position) by the ball feeding member 32. 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 left side of the front surface of the base plate 39 so as to make the upper firing device 12 movable. The base plate 39 can be opened with the upper firing device hinge 37 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 or detached from the body frame 2 with respect to the hinge 7 that rotatably connects the body frame 2 and the door frame 3. The upper launching device 12 is located at a position where the upper launching device 12 can be opened to an angle that does not interfere with the insertion and mounting of the game board 5 (for example, 120 degrees).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the circulation path of the game ball includes the above-mentioned irregular ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20, the ball collecting section 21, the ball lifting device 22, the ball supply path member 24, the upper firing device 12, and the 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. Is gathered.

[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).

  The game board 5 is electrically connected to the main frame 2 by a drawer connector (not shown). A drawer connector is provided on each of the game board 5 and the main body frame 2, and by inserting the game board 5 into the main body frame 2, the drawer connector on the game board side is inserted into the drawer connector on the main body frame side. Can be connected. As a result, electrical communication can be performed between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2.

  A notch 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 the notch 47, the notch of the panel holder 43 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 mounted on the base plate 39 of the upper firing device 12 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. 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 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 fixture 49 is attached to 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 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 tool 49 is removed from the screw receiving member 50, the base plate 39 can be opened toward the front centering on the upper firing device hinge 37, 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. Further, maintenance work such as ball contamination in the ball feeding device 28 and the hit ball firing device 29 can be easily performed.

As a method of fixing the upper firing device, a cushion may be arranged on the back surface side of the door frame, and the game board and the upper firing device may be pressed and fixed when the door frame is closed. This will be described below.
A cushion 51 is provided on the back side of the door frame 3 at a position where the cushion 51 is in contact with the upper firing device 12, and the door frame 3 is closed, so that the cushion receiving plate 52 disposed on the upper firing device 12 is pressed by the cushion 51 and the main body frame is pressed. Fix to two sides. At this time, the base plate 39 abuts on the protruding portion 48 (see FIG. 12) protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5 and presses the protruding portion 48 toward the main body frame 2 to fix it. Thereby, the positional relationship between the firing port 38 of the upper firing device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed without any play. Further, even if vibration occurs due to the launching operation of the hammer 30 for firing, the positional relationship between the firing port 38 and the game area 8 is fixed without play by pressing the cushion 51.

  As described above, by adopting a fixing method using a cushion instead of the screw type, the game board 5 can be easily mounted on the main body frame 2. The details will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 96, the back surface of the door frame 3 and the upper firing device 12 are connected by a follower member 500 (a spring in this embodiment). When the door frame 3 is opened when exchanging the game board by setting up a new stand or the like, when the door frame 3 is opened, the upper firing device 12 connected to the following member 500 is pulled by the following member 500 and rotated to follow the door frame 3. I do. As a result, since the upper firing device 12 moves from the same plane of the game board 5, a large space can be provided when the game board 5 is fitted to the main body frame 2, and the game board is easily fitted. be able to. Further, it is possible to reduce as much as possible the possibility that the game board 5 and the launching device may be damaged by collision or the like.

  Further, when the door frame 3 is opened by the following member 500 and the upper firing device 12 moves following the door frame 3, the cushion 51 is disposed on the back surface of the door frame 3, so that the door frame 3 is moved by the following movement. Since there is no collision, breakage of the door frame 3 and the follow-up member 500 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the follower member 500 is a spring, but is not limited to this, and may be any member that allows the upper firing device 12 to follow the door frame 3. For example, various methods such as rubber having elasticity (such as rubber bands), a string-shaped member, and an engagement pulling member can be selected.

The above-described fixing structure of the upper firing device 12 is stabilized when the door frame 3 is locked on the left side of the main body frame 2, but may be loosened when the cushion material is deteriorated. In this regard, the above-mentioned screw type is more reliable, but requires manual operation every time the game board is attached or detached.
In the next embodiment, the upper firing device 12 opens and closes following the opening and closing of the door frame 3, and when the door frame 3 is closed, the upper firing device 12 is pulled toward the main body frame 2 and locked at a set position. It is a structure that is performed. This is a structure in which a hook mechanism 390 is added to the above embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, the hook mechanism 390 is arranged by utilizing a space formed behind the upper firing device 12. As shown in FIGS. 97 and 98, the hook mechanism 390 includes a horizontal board 391 fixed to the main body frame 2 side, a rotary engagement body 392 having a hook 392a on the upper surface thereof, a winding drum 393, a motor 394, and a hook. It comprises a position stopper 395, a retracted position stopper 395b, and a U-shaped or L-shaped engaged portion 396 having a U-shaped or an upwardly rising side fixed to the rear surface of the central portion on the left side of the upper firing device 12. The engaged portion 396 is arranged to intersect the trajectory of the rotary engagement body 392 when the upper firing device 12 is in the closed position (FIG. 97).

The rotation engagement body 392 is rotatably supported by a shaft 392b perpendicular to the horizontal board 391, has a hook 392a and a lever 392c protruding from a substantially opposite side, and is always rotated in the B direction by a spring. Is being urged to do so. One end of a wire 392d is connected to the tip of the lever 392c. When the wire 392d is pulled, the rotation engagement body 392 rotates in the A direction.
The winding drum 393 is rotatably supported by an axis perpendicular to the horizontal substrate 391, and is driven by a motor 394 via a transmission mechanism 394a. The winding drum 393 has a latch gear that rotates in one direction, and pulls the wire 392 d when rotated by the driving of the motor 394. However, when the driving force of the motor 394 stops, the urging force of the spring provided in the rotation engagement body 392 is provided. Is rotated in reverse.

In this embodiment, the hook position stopper 395 projects upward from below the horizontal substrate 391 and engages with the lever 392c of the rotary engagement member 392, or sinks downward to release the engagement. The spring provided in the stopper solenoid 395a itself is constantly urged in a direction to protrude upward. Then, it is structured to be pulled downward only when power is supplied to the stopper solenoid 395a. The position where the hook position stopper 395 protrudes upward and engages with the lever 392c is on the return blocking side at the end of the rotation of the lever 392c in the A direction (FIG. 97).
The retreat position stopper 395b is a cut-and-raised portion formed on the horizontal substrate 391.

The hook 392a has a length a at which the tip can be engaged with the rising portion of the engaged body 396 from the vertical shaft 392b, and the dimension b from the upper firing device 12 is such that the hook 392a is When the end of the A-direction rotation is reached (the line connecting the vertical axis 392b and the hook tip is substantially in the left-right direction), the upper firing device 12 is set to have a size and an arrangement capable of being set to the set pulling position.
A switch or a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the door frame 3 is disposed between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 2, and a switch ON / OFF or a detection signal of the sensor is used to drive and stop the motor 394 and a stopper. 395 in and out operation. A well-known switching circuit can be used for this purpose.

In this embodiment, when the door frame 3 is closed, the upper firing device 12 is pushed by the cushion 51 and the upper firing device 12 is also rotated about the upper firing device hinge 37 to be in the closed position (the position fixed to the main body frame 2). . At this time, since the door frame 3 has been closed from the open state, the hook mechanism 390 is in the initial state shown in FIG. In the hook mechanism 390 in the initial state, the motor 394 is not driven, the stopper solenoid 395a is not driven, and the hook position stopper 395 is in a protruding state. However, the movement of the wire 392d is not affected. For this reason, the rotation engagement body 392 is rotated in the direction B by its own spring and is at its end position. In this position, the hook 392b of the rotation engagement body 392 is at a position retracted from the entrance path of the engaged portion 396.
As described above, when the hook mechanism 390 is in the initial state (FIG. 98), the upper firing device 12 is closed, and the engaged portion 396 is located inside the main body frame 2 without being disturbed by the hook mechanism 390. Can invade. When in the initial state, the hook mechanism 390 does not consume power.

  When the upper firing device 12 is further pressed by the cushion 51 of the door frame 3, the base plate 39 of the upper firing device 12 presses the protruding portion 48 on the game board 5 side, and the upper firing device 12 is moved to the game board 5. At the same time, it is fixed (fixed) to the main body frame 2. At this time, the completion of the closing operation by the door frame 3 is detected by the above-mentioned switch or sensor, and the motor 394 of the hook mechanism 390 is driven based on this signal, the hook 392a rotates in the direction A, and the tip end of the upper firing device The engaged portion 396 on the 12 side is engaged and pulled toward the inside of the main body frame 2. That is, the upper firing device 12 is further drawn to the main body frame 2 side together with the game board 5, and is set to the set position. When the rotation position reaches the set position, the rotation engagement body 392 reaches the end position of the rotation in the A direction. Shortly before the end position, the hook position stopper 395 is retracted downward by the stopper solenoid 395a, and the excitation is interrupted when the lever 392c crosses over the hook position stopper 395. The stopper 395 projects. The timing of exciting the stopper solenoid 395a or cutting off the excitation is detected by the switch or the sensor.

  When the excitation of the stopper solenoid 395a is released, the motor 394 is also stopped. However, since the lever 392c is engaged with the hook position stopper 395, the rotation engagement body 392 cannot return, and the upper firing device 12 and the game board 5 are maintained at the proper positions. Even in this maintenance state (FIG. 98), the motor 394 and the stopper solenoid 395a are stopped, and the hook mechanism 390 does not consume power.

When the door frame 3 is opened, that is, when the switch or the sensor detects that the door frame 3 is opened, the stopper solenoid 395a is excited in the state (maintenance state) of FIG. 97, and the hook position stopper 395 is moved downward. Then, the engagement with the lever 392c is released. Then, the rotation engagement body 392 rotates and stops in the direction B with its own spring until it comes into contact with the retreat position stopper 392b (FIG. 98). At this time, the wire 392d is pulled, but since the winding drum 393 is a one-way rotating ratchet, there is no resistance when the wire 392d is pulled in this direction. Further, the stopper solenoid 395a is demagnetized when the lever 392c comes into contact with the retreat position stopper 392b, and assumes a position protruding upward by its own spring.
In this state (initial state), when the engaged body 396 moves forward, there is nothing that hinders the movement, so that the upper firing device 12 is obstructed by members on the main body frame 2 side such as the hook mechanism 390. Can be opened without. Then, if a follow-up member (FIG. 96) exists between the upper firing device 12 and the door frame 3, the upper firing device 12 opens and closes following the opening and closing of the door frame 3.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, the upper firing device 12 opens and closes following the opening and closing of the door frame 3, and further, when the door frame 3 is closed, the upper firing device 12 is pulled toward the main body frame 2 and set. A structure that is locked in position is achieved.

  In the embodiment described above, the front component 45 and the panel holder and the transparent panel plate 44 are formed as separate members. However, these are integrated as one member by, for example, bonding or integrally formed to form a single 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 launching hammer standby position), and FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper firing device. It is.

[Ball launcher 29]
The hitting ball firing 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 rotating operation of the hitting 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 such that the rotary drive shaft 60 projects forward, and a launching hammer 30 fixed to the rotary drive shaft 60 of the launching solenoid 13 so as to be integrally rotatable. A hammer tip 61 fixed to the tip of the launching hammer 30; 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 tip 61 as a launch position; The launching stopper 34 for restricting the rotation of the hammer tip 61 in the counterclockwise direction from the hitting position at which the stopped game ball can be hit, and the firing hammer 30 at the standby position (initial position) in the turning operation. A return-time stopper 35 for restricting the game ball, a launch-ball confirmation switch 36 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball parked at the launch 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 in 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 a tip 61 fixed to the tip thereof, and a stopper extending to the opposite side with respect to the rod portion 302 with the fixing portion 301 interposed therebetween, and capable of contacting the stopper 34 at the time of firing. A contact portion 303. When the stopper abutment portion 303 of the firing hammer 30 abuts the stopper 34 at the time of firing, rotation in a 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. (See FIG. 8). The left rail plate 333 has 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 FIG. 7 and FIG. 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, a discharge port decoration member 64 is disposed on the front right side of the base plate 39, and the discharge port decoration member 64 is attached to the base plate 39 and a ball feed unit base 67 described later. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the opening decoration member 64 is arranged such that the right side surface and the lower side surface are exposed to face the game area 8. The face portion and the lower side surface portion are formed on a ball entry prevention wall 51 for preventing a game ball launched 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 opening 38 is positioned obliquely rightward and upward with respect to the rail portion 332 in a front view. As can be understood from FIGS. 8 and 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 by the launch of the game ball at the launch position by the hammer 30 for launch. , 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 supported by the photo bracket 361 and is arranged at the firing position, and the photo bracket 361 is attached and fixed to the lower front surface of the base plate 39.

  The hitting ball firing device 29 includes a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the firing-time stopper 34 that can regulate the rotation end of the firing hammer 30 toward the hitting ball position, and a position that is separated from the hitting position of the firing hammer 30. A return stopper 35 is provided for restricting 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 it is possible to absorb the impact when the firing hammer 30 abuts and to suppress the generation of noise due to the abutment. .

  Further, 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 according to the rotation operation of the hitting ball handle 10 and the ball feeding device 28 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. 24). Specifically, in the ball feeding device 28 that supplies game balls to the hit ball launching device 29, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is driven (ON), the game ball received by the ball feeding member 32 is sent to the hit ball firing 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. 8 and 17, the firing hammer 30 rotates from the initial position (FIG. 17) in the firing direction (counterclockwise) to the firing position, as shown in FIGS. After hitting 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 which is connected to the gutter 65 and the lifting communication gutter 65 and has a ball supply port 63 for supplying a game ball 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 to be described later.

  The lifting communication gutter 65 is gently inclined 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 discharge communication gutter 65 is connected to the upper right portion, and is connected to the front end of the discharge 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 and formed halfway, 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 that is 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 / absence is provided (see FIG. 10). The launch-standby-ball detection switches 70 are each composed of 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 in a posture in which a suction part that exerts a suction function by excitation is directed 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 a ball to pass through. And a return ball blocking portion that is movable between a return ball blocking position for blocking the entry of a return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38.

[Ball feed member 32]
Hereinafter, the ball feeding 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), and FIG. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device 12 cut along the line B (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is not excited, and the ball feeding member 32 takes the holding position and the return ball blocking position). FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a ball feed member 32, a ball feed shaft, and a ball feed 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). 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 broken along a line (the ball feed solenoid 31 is excited, and the ball feed member 32 is in 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. Both ends of the ball feed shaft 76 in the left-right direction 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 about the ball feed shaft 76 as a rotation center.

  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, 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 engaging 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 dropping from the sheet metal housing 73.

  As shown in FIG. 20, a locking projection 79 is formed at an end of the operating rod 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 locking 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 chevron 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 convex toward the lower edge, and toward the ball feeding unit cover 68 that blocks the rear end of the ball feeding guiding 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 return ball blocking portion 83 in the form of a rectangular frame is formed extending toward the hitting ball path from the ball, and a hit ball passage opening 85 opened in a rectangular shape is formed in 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. Further, a ball stopper 84 whose base is horizontal and protrudes in a triangular shape toward the rail part 332 is formed on the side of the part of the return ball blocking part 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 at the rear of 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 arc concave shape facing the ball supply port 63 is formed. The lower part of the ball guide protrusion 54 is formed to be curved convexly rearward, and is provided in a space below the lower part 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 31 is hooked on the locking projection 79 on the end of the operating rod 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 portion of the ball feeding member 32 is brought into a posture of being drawn toward the ball feeding unit base 67.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in a normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in a non-excited state), the ball feeding member 32 is a rectangular frame-shaped return ball in a rotating posture about the ball feeding shaft 76. The blocking portion 83 assumes a posture inclined backward, and the launching of the firing opening 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 opening 38. At the position on the position direction side, the portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located in front of the frame has a posture intersecting with the firing opening 38, and the 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 passing port 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.

  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 unit 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 against the stopper piece 56, and in a rotating posture about the ball feeding shaft 76 of the ball feeding member 32 as a rotation center. And the holding position in the ball feeding operation.

  In the holding position, the ball feeding guide 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 toward the ball supply port 63, and the game ball P1 fits in a gap between the lower end portion of the ball supply port 63 and the ball stopping portion 84, and the game ball P1 stays. 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 permissible position.

  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 out the game ball P1 remaining at the holding position to the firing position (FIG. 22). reference).

  As shown in FIG. 21, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 takes an upright posture in a rotating posture about the ball feeding shaft 76, and the game area 8, that is, at a position immediately in the direction of the firing position of the firing port 38 in the hitting path from the firing position of the hitting ball firing device 29 to the firing port 38, with respect to the firing port 38 in the hitting path. The hitting hole passages 85 are located at the same positions, and are positions where the passing of the ball to the hitting ball passage openings 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 gutter 69 one by one to the firing position of the hitting ball firing device 29.

  FIG. 24 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 the period A has elapsed, and when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when the period B has elapsed, and the ball feeding is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when the period C has elapsed since the solenoid 31 was turned off.

  In this 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 ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the shooting ball is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a shooting ball when a shooting ball stopped at the firing position is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time (a 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.

  Operation control is performed by a ball information control MPU 111 of a ball information control unit 118 described below 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 the hitting operation by the firing hammer 30, and the hitting motion is predetermined from the time of the 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 unit 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 feed member 32 is located on the hitting path through which a game ball fired from the firing position passes when the supply position is taken, 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 so that the hit ball passage opening 85 is located at the retracted position.

  When the ball feeding 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.

  Further, 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 it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

  Further, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above has a structure in which a return ball preventing valve closing a firing port is forcibly opened with a launching ball 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, in the upper firing device 12 of this example, when the firing hammer 30 performs a hitting operation, the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 allows the hitting ball to pass through the hitting ball (the hitting hole 85 and the hitting ball passing port 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. 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 reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, 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 hammer tip 61 penetrates 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 is provided with 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 a hitting path from the firing position to the firing port 38, an allowable position that is provided adjacent to the firing position direction of the firing port 38 and allows the passing of the hit ball without interfering with the hit ball fired from the firing 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 firing 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 at the front of the main frame 2 and behind the upper firing device 12 disposed on one side of the upper portion of the main frame 2. 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 pumped in the above into 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 for driving the movable body (for example, gear train)) attached to the rear of the game board 5, Slide rail for guiding in the direction, a drive motor as a drive source, a position detection sensor for detecting the position of the movable body, an LED board, a relay board, etc.), and the ball is provided at the rear of the gaming machine. The game balls pumped to the upper portion of the main body frame 2 by the pumping device 22 can be smoothly fed into the upper firing device 12.

  Also, since the ball supply path member 24 does not obstruct various members attached to the rear of the game board, the space formed behind the upper firing device 12 can be provided at the rear of the game board 5. It can be applied to the arrangement space of each of the members.

  Further, the upper firing device 12 shown in FIG. 23 employs an electric drive source that is smaller and thinner than the conventional one for the reason described above. As shown in FIG. 23, since the electric drive source (launch solenoid 13) of the hit ball launching device can be reduced in size and thickness, 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.

  Further, since the upper firing device 12 of the present 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), the left end of the game board when the game board is mounted. Since the upper firing unit can be rotated and arranged at a position outside the moving area 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 body frame 2, even if the game balls remain in the ball sending gutter 23, the ball sending 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. 25 is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit, and FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit. FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper firing unit and the ball outlet opening / closing unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and sends the lifted game balls forward from above to a ball delivery gutter 23, and an upper firing unit. 12 is formed at the upper rear part of the rear part 12 and is connected to the ball discharge gutter 23 and a 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. 27). 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 and 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 discharge 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 includes a pair of vertically extending slide grooves 415 for holding the opening / closing shutter 412 slidably in the up / down direction so as to protrude above 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 when viewed from the front, 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 protrusions (not shown) that project from the front surface of the shutter body 419 and slide in the slide 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 in a front view to the right. A driving rod 422 extending outward and having a distal end extending to near the center in the left-right direction of the opening 416, and protruding rearward from the distal end of the driving rod 422 and slidably inserted into a driving hole 412 b of the opening / closing shutter 412. A drive pin 423, a contact portion 424 extending downward from the lower outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 in a front view and having a spherical tip, and a drive pin 422 formed on the upper surface in the middle of the drive rod 422, and the other end of the open / close spring 414. (A lower end).

  The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 is inserted into the driving pin 423 at the same time as the driving pin 423 of the opening / closing crank 413 is rotated in the vertical direction in an arc by rotating the opening / closing crank 413 about an axis extending in the front-back direction. 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 contact portion 424 The rotation of the drive pin 424 in the clockwise direction in the front view against the urging force of the opening / closing spring 414 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 passage 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 rotating counterclockwise in front view 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 (FIG. 27). ).

  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 from the ball outlet 58.

[Deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit]
FIG. 28 is a view for explaining a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge unit cover separated and turned upside down in FIG. FIG. 30 is a plan view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 31 is a rear view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a base plate of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separated into a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 34 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. 35 is a view for explaining a situation where the magnetic sphere is separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic sphere reaches the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface.

  As shown in FIG. 28, 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 discharge unit 20 is a transparent resin molded product, is disposed in the lower part of the game machine main body (deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit accommodation portion 19), and has a front plate (not shown) on the front side and a rear side. The side is covered with a rear plate (ball trough base 201). In the upper part, there are out balls that have flowed down without winning any of the various winning ports (special variable winning device, general winning port, ordinary variable winning device) and safe balls that have flowed into the various winning ports and have flowed down the safe ball discharge path. Is provided with a collection port 202 for collecting game balls. The out ball flows into the recovery port 202 via the out port 42 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). The safe ball flows into the collection port 202 via the winning port 41 (see FIG. 5).

  A 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 and folding up and down. The apparatus includes a detection switch 203, a deformed sphere discharge unit 204, a magnetic sphere discharge unit 205, a full ball path detection switch 206, and a proper ball quantity detection switch 207. The game balls that have flowed into the recovery port 202 move in a line along the circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 to reach the ball collecting part 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 balls 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 unit 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 step by step. The number of game balls collected in the collecting 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 unit increases, it is possible to detect 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. 31 and 32, the deformed sphere discharge base mounting portion 212 is a rectangular opening provided in the ball trough base 201. As shown in FIG. 28, the deformed sphere discharging portion base mounting portion 212 is provided to be inclined to the ball receiving gutter base 201 such that the side on the collection port 202 side is higher. As a result, the deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 are arranged at an angle, so that the game balls can move from the upstream side 213 (see FIG. 30) to the downstream side 214.

  FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separated into a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33A shows the deformed sphere discharging section 204. FIG. 33B shows the magnetic sphere discharging unit 205.

  The deformed sphere discharging unit 204 uses the difference in diameter between the legitimate game ball and the illegal 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. 30, 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 213 to the downstream side 214 of the circulation path. In order to exclude a deformed sphere, that is, an inactive sphere having a smaller diameter than a regular game sphere, from the circulation path in which the regular game sphere circulates, the gap distance between the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 increases in the upstream side 213. The deformed sphere separation shaft is formed so as to be smaller than the diameter of the regular game sphere and wider on the downstream side 214 than the diameter of the regular game sphere, that is, so that the distance between the two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 gradually increases. 209 and 210 are fixed to the deformed sphere discharging portion base 208.

  The game balls flowing down one by one to the deformed sphere discharge unit 204 via the collecting port 202 and the collected 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 from the deformed sphere discharge port 216 to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 via the deformed sphere discharge path 215 as shown in FIG. The modified sphere discharge path 215 is formed by a modified sphere discharge path forming member 217 attached to the front side of the ball receiving gutter base 201 and below the modified 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 unit 205.

  A regular-sized game ball that rolls down and flows down the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 falls from the space between the two deformed ball 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. 33 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 sharply is connected downstream of the inclined surface 220, and a portion where the inclined surface 220 is extended is provided at a location where the inclined surface 220 is extended. , 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. 35 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 arranged along the back surface of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet 229 is a plate-like magnet, and is a permanent magnet having one side having an N pole or S pole and the other side having an S pole or N pole. 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 only necessary that it 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 connecting 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 sticks 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 moves the circulation path 219 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. 35, 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. 28) 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 from the magnetic sphere discharge port 227 to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 via the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 (see FIG. 34). ).

  The portion of the ceiling wall 225 above the magnetic sphere 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. 35, the magnetic ball discharge path 226 has a curved portion, and this curved portion functions as the magnetic force adjusting unit 231. As a result, the distance between the magnetic sphere 232 and the magnet 229 becomes longer toward the downstream of the magnetic sphere 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 sphere 232 sticking to the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and moving in the downstream direction separates from the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and falls on the magnetic sphere 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 irregular magnetic sphere are discharged out of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the deformed sphere outlet 216 and the magnetic sphere outlet 227, respectively (FIG. 34). The deformed sphere or magnetic sphere discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 is collected in the discharged sphere receiving box 234 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). In this way, using the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20, the irregular sphere composed of the deformed sphere and the 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.

  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. Note that the deformed sphere discharging unit 204 and the magnetic sphere discharging unit 205 may be configured independently. In other words, when discharging the deformed ball by another component in the gaming machine, the magnetic ball discharging unit 205 may be configured alone.

  And one embodiment of the enclosed ball-type gaming machine of the present invention, a game board in which a game area is sectioned and formed, a main body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated, and an upper part of the main body frame, A hitting ball firing device that shoots a game ball toward the 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 the encapsulating spheres, the circulating path including the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging means and the enclosing spheres arranged and stored in an arranging passage formed in a part of the circulating path based on the driving of the electric drive source A ball feeder that feeds 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 board, the game control process being performed. In the said mastery Prize ball command transmitted from the board, the increase and decrease control of the number of holding balls based on the ball number information of the shooting ball fired by the hitting ball firing device, launch control of the game ball by the hitting ball firing device, the ball A ball information control board for performing feeding control 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. Wherein the hitting ball launching device performs a hitting ball 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 for launching a game ball, and a launching ball confirming means for detecting a playing ball parked at the launching position, wherein the ball information control board is provided for a predetermined time period. Launch ball confirmation hand When a game ball parked at the launch position is detected, a launching ball detection determining unit that determines that there is a launching ball, and on the condition that the launching ball detection determining unit determines that there is a launching ball, 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 means determines that there is a launching ball, if no launching ball is detected by the launching ball confirmation means, it is determined that the playing ball parked at the launching position has been launched, and the number of held balls is determined. Is reduced by one, so that if noise enters the launching ball confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate the erroneous launching ball count due to the noise, to increase the certainty in the detection of the launching ball, and to improve the odd-shaped ball. And magnetic balls can be excluded from the circulation path through which regular game balls circulate.

[Spherical assembly 21]
37 is a front left perspective view of the ball collecting unit and the ball lifting device, FIG. 38 is a front view of the ball collecting unit and the ball lifting device, and FIG. 39 is a state where the ball polishing cartridge in the ball collecting unit is removed. FIG. Also, FIG. 40 is a rear perspective view showing a state of a ball collecting part and a cover of the ball lifting device removed, and FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the ball collecting part in FIG. FIG. 43 is a further enlarged view of FIG. 41, and FIG. 43 is a plan view of the sphere collecting part with the case removed.

  The ball collecting section 21 (FIG. 41) has a ball feed passage 275, a ball polishing cartridge 251, a ball polishing cartridge mounting section 273 (FIG. 39), and a lifting inlet switch 156. The ball feed passage 275 has a groove structure having walls on both sides arranged at a lower portion of the whole ball collecting portion 21, and a ball receiving port 275 a connected to a ball outlet (not shown) of the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. It has a ball feed port 275b that opens to a ball feed rotating body 350 (described later) (FIGS. 41, 42, and 43).

  The ball polishing cartridge mounting section 273 is an opening provided in the ball collecting section 21 for attaching and detaching a ball polishing cartridge 251 described later (FIG. 39). The ball polishing cartridge 251 can be attached to and detached from the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 from the front side of the gaming machine. A ball polishing cloth 263 is provided on a portion of the ball polishing cartridge 251 facing a ball lifting device 22 described later. (FIG. 41). The lifting entrance switch 156 is provided outside one wall constituting the ball feeding passage 275, and detects the presence or absence of a game ball passing through the ball feeding passage 275 (FIG. 41).

[Ball lifting device 22]
FIG. 44 is a rear perspective view showing a state where the upper gear box and the lower gear box are removed. FIG. 45 is a right side view showing a state where the cover of the ball lifting device is removed, and FIG. 46 is an enlarged view of a portion (A) in FIG. FIG. 47 is a view showing a state in which the screw is disassembled, FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the ball lifting device, and FIG. 49 is a view showing a fitted state and a non-fitted state of the screw and the fitting member. FIG.

  The ball lifting device 22 includes a screw 25 (FIG. 40), a ball lifting motor 150 (FIGS. 38 and 48), a lifting guide rail 282 (FIGS. 40 and 44), and an upper gear box 356 (FIG. 37). 40, a lower gear box 357 (FIGS. 37 and 40), a ball feed rotating body 350 (FIG. 40), a ball feed inclined portion 351 (FIGS. 40 and 41), and a lifting portion cover 353 (FIG. 40). 37), a spiral base cover 352 (FIG. 37), a lifting slope member 354 (FIG. 46), and a ball discharge gutter 23 (FIGS. 44, 46, and 48).

The spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 are cover members 368 arranged so as to surround the screw 25, and are formed of a transparent resin (acrylic resin). In the spiral base cover 352, an opening 281 is provided obliquely in a portion of the ball collecting portion 21 opposed to the ball polishing cartridge 251 (FIG. 39).
In addition, a projection is provided on the upper surface of the cover member 368 to install the lower surface of an upper gear box 356 described later (FIG. 69).

  The screw 25 is disposed vertically from the base to the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 inside the rectangular tubular cover member 368. The cover member 368 is disposed so as to surround the screw 25 by assembling the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353. The screw 25 is composed of a screw shaft 25a, two small pitch ridge members 25b positioned vertically, and four large pitch ridge members 25c positioned at the center (FIG. 45). . These are fitted on the screw shaft 25a.

  The small pitch ridge member 25b includes a cylindrical portion 25e and a spiral ridge 25d (FIG. 45). As shown in FIG. 47, the small pitch ridge member 25b is obtained by assembling a half body 25bR and a half body 25bL that are entirely divided into two by a vertical plane including the screw shaft 25a with the screw shaft 25a interposed therebetween. It is one. A pair of a concave portion 25g and a convex portion 25h for assembling the half portions 25bR and 25bL on both sides are formed vertically on the cut surface of the cylindrical portion 25e which is divided in half. it can.

  The upper edge 25i of the half body 25bR, 25bL is formed with an upper edge recess 25j that is open upward, and the lower edge 25k is formed with a lower edge protrusion 25m that projects downward. The upper edge concave portion 25j and the lower edge convex portion 25m are for connecting the small pitch ridge member 25b and the large pitch ridge member 25c in the vertical direction and transmitting rotation to each other.

  The same applies to the large pitch ridge member 25c, and the same reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted, but the pitch of the spiral ridge 25d is larger than that of the small pitch ridge member 25b. The pitch of the continuous portion of the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b and the spiral ridge 25d of the large pitch ridge member 25c changes, but is smoothly continued. The large pitch ridge member 25c includes a half-split body 25cR and a half-split body 25cL.

  The pitch is the interval between the spiral ridges 25d along a straight line. The pitch of the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b is smaller than the spiral ridge 25d of the large pitch ridge member 25c. For example, the pitch of the small pitch ridge member 25b is 25 mm, and the pitch of the large pitch ridge member 25c is 43.2 mm.

  The screw shaft 25a shown in FIG. 47 is a rotating shaft of the screw 25. As shown in FIG. 44, the upper lifting gear 360 (spur gear) is fixed to the upper end and the lower lifting gear 362 ( Spur gear) is fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 49, the small pitch ridge member 25b at the lower portion of the screw 25 has a lower edge convex portion 25m and a fitting concave portion 366a of a fitting member 366 formed integrally with the lower lifting gear 362. It is fitted using the concave and convex fitting, and is driven and rotated integrally with the screw shaft 25a and the lower lifting gear 362.

  The ball lifting motor 150 is a motor that drives the screw 25, and is attached to the lower surface of the upper gear box 356 of the ball lifting device 22 (FIGS. 38 and 48).

  The upper gear box 356 is disposed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and houses and supports the ball lifting motor gear 358, the idle gear 359, and the upper lifting gear 360 (FIGS. 40 and 44). . The ball lifting motor gear 358 is fixed to the drive shaft of the ball lifting motor 150 and meshes with the idle gear 359. The idle gear 359 is a two-stage gear formed by integrating an upper gear having a large number of teeth and a lower gear having a small number of teeth on the lower surface thereof. The idle gear 359 meshes with the ball lifting motor gear 358 by the upper gear. It is in mesh with the upper lifting gear 360. These gears are spur gears and the upper gearbox has a reduced vertical dimension. The upper lifting gear 360 is fixed to the upper end of the screw shaft 25a. With these gear configurations, the screw 25 is driven and rotated by the ball lifting motor 150.

  The lower gear box 357 is disposed from the lower end of the ball lifting device 22 to the lower end of the ball collecting unit 21, and houses and supports the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feed rotating gear 363 (FIG. 44). The lower lifting gear 362 is fixed to the lower end of the screw shaft 25a, and meshes with the ball-feed rotating body gear 363. The gear ratio between the ball feed rotating body gear 363 and the lower lifting gear 362 is 2: 1.

  The ball feed rotator 350 is fixed to the gear shaft 363 a of the ball feed rotator gear 363, and the ball feed rotator 350 is driven and rotated by the ball feed rotator gear 363. The ball feed rotator 350 is disposed corresponding to the ball feed port 275b of the ball feed passage 275 in the ball collecting part 21 and is a low columnar member. A ball engaging recess 350a for accommodating a ball is provided. The ball engaging recess 350a has a depth that accommodates about half of a game ball (FIG. 43).

  The ball feeding inclined portion 351 (FIG. 42) is a member formed around the ball feeding rotating body 350 and having a slope for lifting a game ball. The range in which the ball feed inclined portion 351 exists is such that the ball feed rotator 350 screwes the game ball from the position of the ball feed port 275b which is the ball feed rotator side exit of the ball feed passage 275 with respect to the rotation direction of the ball feed rotator 350. 25 to the delivery position.

  The ball feeding inclined portion 351 has an arc shape along the outer circumference of the ball feeding rotating body 350 from the ball feeding port 275b to the delivery position as described above, and also moves upward 7 mm (about 5 to 8 mm) from the position of the ball feeding port 275b. ) An inclined surface 351a that rises to a high transfer position, and a top inclined portion 351b that projects from the top toward the screw 25 and that slopes downward. The width of the inclined surface 351a is 4 mm (about 3 to 5 mm), and the top inclined surface 351b is formed in a range larger than the diameter of the game ball before and after the transfer position in the rotation direction of the ball feeding rotary body 350.

  The positional relationship between the ball feed rotator 350 and the screw 25 in a plan view is a positional relationship in which a game ball dropped from the top inclined surface 351b can be received between the pitches of the spiral ridge 25d. Note that a cover member 368 (not shown) is arranged along the outer periphery of the ball-feeding inclined portion 351 up to the vicinity of the delivery position, and prevents a game ball from dropping from the inclined surface 351a.

  A guide block 365 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is disposed on the upper surface of the lower gear box 357 near the lower front side of the screw 25. The guide block 365 has an arc-shaped spherical guide surface near the spiral ridge 25d of the screw 25, 365a, and a stopper surface 365b following the spherical guide surface. The spherical guide surface 365a is formed from the vicinity of the top inclined surface 351b to the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352, and the tip is a stopper surface 365b (FIG. 43).

Two lifting guide rails 282 are arranged in parallel with and adjacent to the screw 25, and have a role of a guide for guiding a game ball lifted by the screw 25 linearly upward, and have a diameter of about 5 mm. Is a round bar-shaped guide member. The lifting guide rail 282 is located on a side substantially opposite to the ball feeding rotating body 350 with respect to the rotation direction of the screw 25, and is located at a position corresponding to the upper end of an opening 281 (FIG. 39) provided obliquely in the spiral base cover 352. The upper gear box 356 is arranged vertically upward, and the upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the upper gear box 356. The interval between two adjacent lifting guide rails 282 is a width (5 to 8 mm inside the lifting guide rail 282) through which a game ball (diameter 11 mm) cannot pass.
Further, when the game balls are lifted, they are lifted while being in contact with the guide rails 282. Therefore, the lift guide rails 282 have a low coefficient of friction and guide the game balls from the game balls generated by the rotation of the screw 25. It is assumed that it has such a rigidity that it is not deformed by the pressing force on the rail 282. It is preferable to use stainless steel as a material.

The support member 367 is a cushion member that prevents deformation of the lifting guide rail 282 and absorbs vibration transmitted between the game ball and the lifting guide rail 282 and to the upper firing device 12. 282 in a proper position, and has a thickness enough to enter between the cover member 368 composed of the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282. The plate-like block member has a flat surface on the side in contact with the cover member 368, and has a concave portion on the side supporting the lifting guide rail 282.
The lifting guide rail 282 has such a rigidity that it is not deformed by the pressing force from the game ball to the guide rail 282 generated by the rotation of the screw 25, but the pressing force from the game ball is applied over a long period of time. Then, the lifting guide rail 282 is gradually deformed in the pressing direction, and there is a possibility that the game ball may deviate from the guidance by the lifting guide rail 282, so that the deformation is restricted.

Furthermore, since a design is made with a clearance in a portion where game balls pass, such as the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, vibration generated by driving the ball lifting motor 150 is generated by the screw. 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, which may cause abnormal noise between the lifting guide rail 282 and the game ball. Further, the lifting device 22 includes a cover member 368 with the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282. Is enclosed, when an abnormal noise is generated in the lifting device 22, the sound resonates and becomes loud. However, by arranging the support member 367, vibration generated in the gaming machine can be absorbed, and generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.
The number of the support members 367 is arranged between the cover member 368 and the lifting guide rail 282 such that the deformation of the guide rail 282 can be restricted and an abnormal noise due to vibration does not occur.

  The lifting slope member 354 shown in FIG. 46 is a block member having a slope formed on the lower surface of the upper gear box 356 facing the upper end of the screw 25, and the slope intersects the path along which the game ball is fed up. The game ball, which is vertically arranged by the screw 25, is turned in the horizontal direction, and is guided to the ball discharge gutter 23.

  The ball discharge gutter 23 is provided at the upper end of the spiral base cover 352 and is a passage having an inclination for sending game balls guided from the lifting slope member 354 to the upper firing device 12. Further, a ball removing member 355 for discharging a game ball inside the gaming machine to the outside of the gaming machine is provided on a side surface of the ball sending gutter 23 (FIGS. 44 and 48). The ball removing member 355 is a detachable lid member, and can be removed from the side wall of the ball delivery gutter 23 by operating a lower knob to open an opening provided in the side wall. The ball discharge gutter 23 has a sloping portion, and a ball removing member 355 is disposed on a wall on the tip side of the sloping portion (FIG. 44).

  Further, a launch ball standby ball detection switch 26 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball is arranged on the outer surface of the ball sending gutter 23 (FIG. 45). When the standby ball detection switch 26 does not detect a game ball, the screw 25 is driven and new game balls are supplied from the ball lifting device 22 to the upper firing device 12 one by one.

[Operation of ball collecting unit 21 and ball lifting device 22]
The game sphere sent from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 which forms a part of the circulation path passes through the sphere feed passage 275 of the sphere collecting part 21 and is sent to the sphere feed rotator 350 in the ball lifting device 22. Can be On the other hand, the driving of the ball lifting motor 150 causes the screw 25 to rotate via the gear trains 358, 359, 360, and the ball feed rotary body 350 to rotate via the screw shaft 25a and the lower gear trains 362, 363. Since the gear ratio between the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feed rotator gear 363 is 2: 1, two rotations of the screw 25 rotate the ball feed rotator 350 once. The ball feed rotator 350 receives game balls one by one from the ball feed passage 275 into the ball engaging recess 350a and rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 43).

Thereafter, the game ball is engaged with the ball engaging concave portion 350a by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 350 and moves, and the other outer half moves along the inclined surface 351a of the ball feed inclined portion 351. 351b. Since the top slope 351b is inclined downward, the game ball is fed from that position into the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b. At this time, the game balls fed from the slightly inclined top inclined surface 351b have a large interval with the subsequent game balls and are surely separated one by one.
In addition, in order to carry out the feeding of the game balls in a stable manner, it is conceivable that the end of the top inclined surface 351b and the delivery position of the game balls of the small pitch ridge member 25b are made substantially the same height.
Further, when sending game balls from the top inclined surface 351b to the small pitch ridge member 25d, the configuration is not limited to using the downward inclination, and for example, a configuration in which the game balls are guided to the small pitch ridge member 25d using rails may be used. .
Also, when the step between the end of the inclined surface 351a and the small pitch ridge member 25d below the screw 25 that receives the game ball is small, the game ball may be directly dropped from the inclined surface 351a to the small pitch ridge member 25d. It is possible.

Next, the game ball moves along the ball guide surface 365a of the guide block 365 with the rotation of the small pitch ridge member 25b and collides with the stopper surface 365b. During this time, the game ball rises with the rotation of the screw 25 and reaches the lower end of the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352. In this case, as described above, the ball feed rotating body 350 has the ball engaging recesses 350a every 180 degrees, and rotates at a half speed with respect to the screw 25, so that one ball every half rotation Game balls are supplied to the screw 25. Since one-half turn of the ball feed rotator is equivalent to one pitch of the small pitch ridge member 25b, the game ball fed from the ball feed rotator 350 always moves one ball between the pitches of the small pitch ridge member 25b. It is sent one by one and continuously. (FIG. 41).
That is, it is possible to prevent the game balls from being linked together in the ball lifting device 22.

  The opening 281 is in contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251. That is, as the game balls are lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22, the game balls are rubbed against the ball polishing cloth 263 through the openings 281 to perform cleaning and ball polishing of the game balls (FIG. 39). And the area of the ball polishing cloth 263 can be effectively utilized by being guided obliquely upward.

After passing through the opening 281, the game ball is lifted to the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 with the rotation of the screw 25, and at this time, the game ball is moved to the lifting guide rail 282 arranged in parallel. It is guided and moves in a straight line. The guide rail 282 permits the vertical movement of the game ball lifted by the screw 25 and restricts the movement in the left and right direction. During this time, the lifting of the game ball is performed so that the movement of the game ball is relatively slow due to the small pitch at the small pitch ridge member 25a at the lower portion so that the ball receiving from the ball feed rotating body 350 is not hindered. I have. Also, the small pitch at the upper small pitch ridge member 25b makes the movement of the game ball relatively slow due to the small pitch, so that there is no problem in sending the ball to the upper firing device 12.
On the other hand, in the middle portion of the screw 25, there is no particular problem even if the lifting speed of the game ball is increased. The number of game balls circulated in the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced. Further, this can reduce the load due to the weight of the game ball applied to the screw 25 (FIG. 45).
In addition, the term “lifting” in the present embodiment is used to mean that game balls are continuously carried from the lower part to the upper part of the gaming machine.

The game ball reaching the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 contacts the slope of the lifting slope member 354 from below, so that the moving direction of the game ball lifted by the screw 25 changes from the vertical direction to the substantially horizontal direction. The ball is turned, and the game ball is smoothly fed from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. The game balls sent into the ball sending gutter 23 roll on the gentle slope of the ball sending gutter 23 and are sent to the upper firing device 12 (FIG. 46).
In this case, when the lifted game balls come into contact with the slope portion of the lifting slope member 354, the game balls are released from the guide of the lifting guide rail 282 and naturally flow down to the floor surface of the ball discharge gutter 23. Thus, it is possible to smoothly feed the guide rail 282 and the screw 25 without applying a spherical pressure.

  When it is necessary to take out the circulating game balls from the game machine at the time of maintenance or the like, the ball can be easily discharged to the outside of the game machine by operating the ball removing member 355 provided on the outer surface of the ball delivery gutter 23 ( 37 and 48).

  In the present embodiment, the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 are made of a transparent resin (acrylic resin). By using such a transparent resin, the state inside the ball lifting device 22 can be improved. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 may be made of an opaque resin, metal, or the like.

  Further, the small pitch ridge member 25b and the large pitch ridge member 25c are configured to be joined in a half-split manner, but may be a cylindrical member integrally formed from the beginning. Further, if the molding technique of the synthetic resin is fully utilized, the entire screw 25 except for the screw shaft 25a can be integrally molded.

  In addition, the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are made of a material having good slip and having such a rigidity that the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are not deformed by the pressing force from the game ball to the lifting guide rail 282 generated by the rotation of the screw 25. Preferably, a metal such as aluminum or a synthetic resin may be used. In addition, it is conceivable that the spiral ridge 25d uses a hardened silicon material or the like at least in a portion for receiving the game ball from the ball feed rotating body 350. Thereby, it is possible to absorb an impact generated when the game ball falls on the spiral ridge 25d.

  The lifting guide rail 282 in the present embodiment guides the game ball vertically by two rails, but is not limited to the two rails. For example, one lifting guide rail 282 is used and another is used. One of the guides may be configured to extend the inner wall of the cover member 368 so as to be adjacent to the lifting guide rail 282 and to guide the game ball.

  Further, the support member 367 is disposed between the cover member 368 composed of the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282. The support member 367 may be disposed so as to cover not only the member 368 but also both ends of the lifting guide rail 282 as shown in FIG. 70, for example. Thereby, the player operates the vibration generated by the operation of an electric drive source such as a movable accessory (not shown) or a motor arranged on the game board, and the touch panel unit 14 arranged on the door frame 3. Various vibrations that occur in the gaming machine, such as vibrations due to the shocks that occur when the game is played, are absorbed, so that the game balls may not be able to be lifted off the guide rail guide, or the launch of the game balls may be Instability can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the game balls are sent out one by one at a pitch of the spiral ridge 25d continuously over the entire length of the screw 25, and the game balls are pumped. The configuration is not limited to this as long as the game balls are continuously lifted without being sent.

  In addition, the lifting slope member 354 may have a structure in which game balls vertically lifted by the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 can be smoothly fed into the ball discharge gutter 23, and are formed integrally with the upper gear box 356. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, the upper surface of the ball delivery path 23 may be extended to the lifting path of the game ball, and a slope may be formed on the lower surface of the extended portion.

  Further, the ball lifting device 22 of the present invention is configured to lift the game ball using the screw 25, but if the device is to lift the game ball so as to be guided and carried vertically, the screw is used. Not limited thereto, various methods can be selected, such as a belt conveyor that can continuously carry game balls.

[Ball polishing device]
Next, a description will be given of a ball polishing apparatus for cleaning and polishing a game ball enclosed in a gaming machine. FIG. 38 described above is a front view showing a state in which a ball polishing cartridge is attached to the ball polishing apparatus, and FIG. 39 described above is a view in which the ball polishing cartridge is removed for the ball polishing apparatus. It is a front view showing the state where it did.

  FIG. 50 is a left side view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 51 is a perspective view for explaining a mechanism for fixing the ball polishing cartridge. FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state at the time of mounting the ball polishing cartridge.

  53 and FIG. 54 are views showing a state where the ball for polishing the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 53 shows a state where the ball for polishing the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. 54 is a left side view showing a state in which the ball for polishing the game ball and the ball polishing cartridge of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 55 is a view in which the left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge is removed in FIG. It is a left view which shows the state which performed. FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG.

  Next, FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which the right outer side cover is removed for explaining the inside of the right side cover in FIG. FIG. 59 is a top perspective view showing a state where the right side cover is opened in FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge, FIG. 61 is a front view thereof, FIG. 62 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state where a left side cover is removed in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 38 and 50, a ball collecting unit 21 is provided below the ball lifting device 22, and a ball polishing cartridge 251 is attached to a ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 of a part of the ball collecting unit 21. Can be attached. Here, the outside of the ball lifting device 22 is formed of a transparent plastic member, so that even if a game ball is clogged in the ball lifting device 22, the clogging location can be easily visually recognized. It has become. As shown in FIG. 51, the ball polishing cartridge 251 mounted on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 has one end supported on the shaft and the other end pivotally provided on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270. The other end of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 which has been enabled is hung on the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272 also provided in the ball collecting portion 21 so as to press the ball polishing cartridge 251 in the depth direction and left direction. It has a structure. In FIG. 51, both the open state and the closed state of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 are illustrated in order to make the movement mode of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 easy to understand.

  FIG. 39 is a front view showing a state where the ball polishing cartridge 251 has been removed. As shown in FIG. 39, the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 has a ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 having a hollow portion into which the ball polishing cartridge 251 can be mounted. In FIG. 39, the mounting sensor 291 and the drive shaft 290 are provided inside the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 and the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 for easy viewing, and are visible from the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273. The description is omitted.

  FIG. 66 is an enlarged view in which the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 of FIG. 39 is enlarged. Behind the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 inside the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, below the right side, and coaxial with the second drive gear 257 shown in FIG. A drive shaft 290 that fits into one gear shaft 261 is provided, and a mounting sensor 291 having a pushable button 292 is provided above the right side surface. When the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pressed by a series of mounting operations of the ball polishing cartridge 251, the mounting of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is detected. The specific mode of the mounting operation will be described later.

  In addition, in a portion of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 which is the deepest portion and faces the ball lifting device 22, the ball lifting device 22 has a long side whose ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 described later advances. An opening 281 having an angle different from the direction is provided. As a result, a deviation occurs between the lifting direction of the game ball and the traveling direction of the ball polishing cloth 263, so that only a part of the ball polishing cloth 263 having a predetermined width in the width direction is used, and the ball polishing cloth is not used. It is possible to effectively use the width of 263 to clean and polish the game balls.

  Further, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 is such that at least a part of the periphery of the game ball pumped by the ball lifting device 22 can protrude outside the ball lifting device 22 at the opening position. In this embodiment, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 is set to 8.4 mm with respect to the diameter of the game ball of 11 mm. The game balls are configured to protrude from the opening 281 toward the ball polishing cloth 263 by about 1.5 mm.

  As a result, during the game period, the game balls to be pumped in the ball lifting device 22 have a part of the peripheral edge projecting to the outside of the ball lifting device 22 at the position of the opening 281 to polish the ball. The ball polishing cloth 263 of the cartridge 251 can be in contact with the game ball. In particular, when the ball polishing cartridge 251 has an elastic member and is configured to press the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball, the ball polishing cloth 263 can be more reliably brought into contact with the game ball. Reliable ball polishing becomes possible.

  In addition, even if the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed in a state where the game balls remain in the ball lifting device 22 during a time period outside the game period, the width of the opening 281 is smaller than the diameter of the game balls. In this configuration, the game balls remaining in the ball lifting device 22 do not spill to the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

  FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state at the time of mounting the ball polishing cartridge 251 from the state of FIG. As can be seen from FIGS. 39 and 52, in this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is configured to be inserted and mounted from the front of the main body frame 2.

  60 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge 251, FIG. 61 is a front view thereof, FIG. 62 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state where a left side cover is removed in FIG. Here, 259 is a take-up roller, 260 is a driven roller, 261 is a first gear shaft, and 262 is a second gear shaft. The first gear shaft 261 is a take-up roller 259, and the second gear shaft is a second gear shaft. It is configured to be coaxial with the drive gear 257, and the second gear shaft 262 is configured to be coaxial with the driven roller 260. Further, reference numeral 268 denotes a game ball contact mark. As shown in FIG. 39, the lifting direction of the game ball by the ball lifting device 22 and the winding direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 are: Since the angle is different from the vertical direction, the game ball contact mark 268 is formed to be inclined with respect to the long side direction of the ball polishing cloth 263.

  53 and FIG. 54 are views showing a state where the ball for polishing the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 53 shows a state where the ball for polishing the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 54 is a left side view showing a state in which a game ball and a ball polishing cloth of a ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other.

  As shown in FIG. 53 and FIG. 54, the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 provided in the ball lifting device 22, and the ball lifting device 22 and the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 are moved. At the opposing position, the game ball comes into contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 through the opening 281 of the ball lifting device 22, and the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22. As a result, the ball is rubbed with the ball polishing cloth 263, and the cleaning and ball polishing of the game ball are performed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the shape of the screw 25 in the ball lifting device 22 is different between the upper part, the lower part, and the middle part. In the upper part and the lower part, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw 25 (spiral ridge 25d in FIG. 47) is made smaller to make the pitch narrower, whereas in the middle part, the inclination angle of the screw spiral is made larger to make the pitch smaller. Also wide. In the middle part, since it is not necessary to spend time for lifting, by increasing the inclination angle of the spiral and raising the lifting speed, it is possible to lift the game ball in a short time, and , It is possible to reduce the number of game balls included in the game machine, and it is possible to reduce the number of game balls sealed inside the gaming machine.

  Further, by reducing the pitch interval in the lower portion, the lifting speed of the game ball in a portion where the game ball faces the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is reduced, so that the game ball and the ball polishing cloth 263 are reduced. The contact time with the ball can be lengthened to reliably perform the cleaning and polishing of the game ball. Furthermore, by narrowing the pitch interval at the upper part, the lifting speed of the game ball at the lifting end portion of the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced, and the ball is transferred from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. It is possible to eliminate the occurrence of trouble such as biting of the ball at the time of delivery, and to smoothly send the game ball to the ball sending gutter 23.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 54, the ball lifting device 22 is provided with two guide rails 282 for guiding the lifting of the game balls. The distance between the two guide rails is set to be substantially the same as the diameter of the game ball, but adjustment is also made to make the portion of the game ball to be transported that may be severely narrower and more stable. be able to. In this way, the game balls are lifted in the ball lifting device 22 so that both guide rails can support both sides.

  FIG. 55 is a left side view showing the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 54 with the left side cover removed. FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. Here, 259 is a take-up roller, and 260 is a driven roller, to which a driving force from a ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 described later is transmitted. The rotation of the second drive gear 257 that is configured to be coaxial with the take-up roller 259 causes the take-up roller 259 to rotate, and the frictional force between the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 causes the ball polishing cloth to rotate. 263 is wound up.

  Further, a ball polishing cloth 263 is arranged in a portion of the ball polishing cartridge 251 facing the ball lifting device 22, and a tensioner 267 having a function of pressing the ball polishing cloth 263 is provided behind the ball polishing cloth 263. Behind the tensioner 267, there are provided two coil-shaped ball polishing cloth pressing springs 264 having a function of pressing the tensioner 267 and the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball. Further, a spring retainer 266 that supports the ball polishing cloth presser spring 264 is provided behind the ball polishing cloth presser spring 264. Further, a leaf spring 265 is provided at the upper part of the ball polishing cartridge. The leaf spring 265 presses the ball polishing cloth 263 lightly to align the ball polishing cloth 263, and places the ball polishing cloth 263 on a portion facing the ball lifting device 22. It plays a role of aligning before sending.

  The ball polishing cloth 263 wound by the winding roller 259 and the driven roller 260 is stored in the ball polishing cartridge 251. In FIGS. 55 and 56, the ball polishing cloth 263 is moved by the winding roller 259 and the driven roller 260. The illustration of the ball polishing cloth 263 inside the ball polishing cartridge after being wound is omitted.

  FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is mounted. Reference numeral 253 denotes a right side cover, which is composed of a right outer side cover 253a and a right inner side cover 253b, and is integrated. Reference numeral 258 denotes a second drive gear case that covers a second drive gear 257 described later. FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state where only the right outer side cover 253a is removed from the right side cover 253 in FIG. 57 for the purpose of explanation, 253b is a right inner side cover, and 155 is a ball polishing ribbon. The feed motor is a driving source for winding the ball polishing cloth 263 in the ball polishing cartridge 251. Further, a hinge 255 that engages with the hinge receiving portion 254 is provided at a rear end of the right side cover 253, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable around the hinge 255 as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is a stepping motor. The specific driving mode of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 will be described later.

  FIG. 59 is an upper perspective view showing a state where the right side cover 253 is opened in FIG. 58, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable around a hinge 255 engaged with the hinge receiving portion 254 as a fulcrum. . Between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b of the right side cover 253, a first shaft (not shown) rotated by driving the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 coaxially with the rotation axis of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. A drive gear is provided, and in this embodiment, a gear having 16 teeth is used. Similarly, a second drive gear coaxial with the drive shaft 290 and meshing with the first drive gear is provided between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b. Use the gear.

  Next, the mounting operation and the mounting detection of the ball polishing cartridge 251 will be described. FIG. 64 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270, and FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the ball polishing cartridge 251 and the ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270. The ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 is configured such that the ball polishing cartridge mounting opening 273 is expanded with the hinge portion as a fulcrum when the right side cover 253 is rotated about the hinge 255 (direction A in FIG. 64). I have.

  In this state, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is inserted into the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 from the front as shown in FIG. At the time of insertion, since the ball polishing cartridge mounting opening 273 is widened by the rotation of the right side cover 253, the drive shaft 290 and the mounting sensor 291 do not hinder the insertion. After the ball polishing cartridge 251 is inserted, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction of A in FIG. 64 so that the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 returns to the original width, and then the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever By engaging the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272 with the ball polishing cartridge 271, the drive shaft 290 engages with the first gear shaft 261 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, and the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pushed, so that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is moved. The attachment is detected.

  If the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is depressed while the power of the gaming machine is turned on, it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is normally mounted and no notification is made, but the power is turned on. Nevertheless, when the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is not depressed, it is notified that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not properly mounted. As a mode of the notification, the display can be performed by displaying that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not mounted on a display device (not shown) that is normally provided in the gaming machine and performs an effect display according to the mode of the game. . In addition, as another notification mode, the notification can be performed by lighting or blinking a decorative lamp for production or a dedicated lamp indicating the mounted state of the ball polishing cartridge 251 in a predetermined mode.

  Also, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine as in the present embodiment, the game is performed by circulating the gaming ball enclosed in the gaming machine, so that the game is continued for an extremely long time without cleaning the gaming ball. Then, since the dirt on the game balls may accumulate and the rolling of the game balls may be deteriorated, it is preferable to perform the cleaning of the game balls by the ball polishing device in any part of the circulation path of the game balls. However, this does not mean that the game can not be played without the ball polishing device, so even if it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge is not installed, the game can be continued only by informing by the display device or lamp. it can.

  The game time of the player is cumulatively measured by measuring means (not shown) based on detection by the touch switch 87 provided on the steering wheel. In the present embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is fed one step each time the accumulated measurement time by the measuring means becomes one minute. In this embodiment, since the diameter of the winding roller 259 is 25 mm, the circumferential length is about 78.5 mm (= 25 × 3.14), and the first driving gear 256 and the second driving gear 257 Considering that the gear ratio is 1/2, the feed amount of the ball polishing cloth 263 per step is 0.11 mm (= 78.5 / 360/2).

In this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is fixed by pressing the ball polishing cartridge 251 by hanging the lever on the stopper. However, the fixing method is not limited to this method. A method can also be used.
In the present embodiment, a coil-shaped ball polishing cloth pressing spring 264 is used as a means for pressing the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball, but the pressing means is not limited to this. Shaped springs and other elastic members can also be used.

  In this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is arranged at the lowermost part of the game machine. However, the arrangement position of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not limited to this position. They can also be placed. In that case, the opening provided in the portion of the ball lifting device 22 facing the ball polishing cartridge 251 may be changed to a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as a method of making the lifting direction of the game ball by the ball lifting device 22 and the winding direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 different, the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is used. Is transported in the vertical direction, and the lifting direction of the game balls of the ball lifting device 22 in the portion facing the ball polishing cloth 263 is transported in a direction inclined from the vertical direction. The direction of conveyance of the game ball of the ball lifting device 22 is not limited to the vertical direction, and the direction of conveyance of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 may be a direction inclined from the vertical direction, or both may be inclined. Various methods such as a direction can be selected.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 has a pushable button 292 as a mounting sensor 291, and when the button 292 is pressed by the mounting operation of the ball polishing cartridge 251, the mounting of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is performed. Although detected, the mode of the mounting sensor 291 is not limited to these sensors, and other types of sensors such as an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor can be used.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, even if it is detected by the mounting sensor 291 that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, the game can be continuously performed only by making a notification, When it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, the game can be prevented from being performed.

[Gaming ball enclosing operation]
Next, a description will be given of an enclosing operation for enclosing a predetermined number of game balls in an enclosed ball-type game machine when a newly installed ball-type game machine is installed, or when a dirty ball is once removed and cleaned. I do. The enclosing operation is performed in a state where the power is not turned on to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine. Therefore, the ball lifting device 22 and the various sensors in the enclosed ball game machine are not operating.

In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine, the game ball is fired into the game area by the firing device, and after rolling in the game area, wins the prize device or is collected from the out port 42, and the collected game ball is It is conveyed again to the launching device, and is fired again in the game area in the launching device to play a game. That is, a circulation path of the game ball is formed as a whole.
The introduction of the game ball in the enclosing operation may be performed by putting the game ball in this circulation path. In this embodiment, the game ball is introduced from the out port 42. Thus, there is no need to separately provide a sealing port for sealing the game balls into the sealed ball game machine, and the configuration of the sealed ball game machine can be simplified. Further, instead of the out port 42, a game ball may be introduced from the prize port 41 of the prize device. The game balls that have entered the prize port 41 of the prize device also merge with the game balls that have entered the out port 42 and are then conveyed to the launching device. Even if the game ball is introduced, the game ball can be put into the circulation path in the same manner as when the game ball is introduced into the out port 42. In any case, when introducing the game ball, care must be taken so that the game ball, hand, and the like do not hit the nail. When a game ball is introduced into the out port 42, by providing a game ball introduction member 427 described later, it is possible to prevent the game ball from hitting the nail at the time of insertion. Note that the out port 42 and the winning port 41 correspond to a game ball collecting port.

  FIG. 71 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the number of game balls is less than a predetermined number when the game balls are sealed in the sealed ball game machine. As described above, at the time of the enclosing operation of the game balls, the power is not turned on to the enclosed ball-type gaming machine, so that the ball lifting device 22 is not driven. Therefore, the game balls inserted from the out port 42 or the winning port 41 enter through the collection port 202 and pass through the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 and are aligned with the front of the ball lifting device 22 as the head.

  FIG. 72 shows a state in which game balls are further inserted from the state of FIG. 71 to reach a predetermined number of game balls. As shown in FIG. 72, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the lastly inserted game ball 233 is a discontinuous portion 223 where the magnetic ball discharge path 226 and the path of the regular game ball are branched. , And is configured to block the discontinuous portion 223.

  FIG. 73 shows a state in which game balls are further inserted from the state of FIG. 72 and game balls exceeding a predetermined number are inserted. As described above, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the lastly inserted game ball 233 is configured to block the discontinuous portion 223. 235, and cannot enter the path of the regular game ball 233 from the discontinuous portion 223, but is guided to the magnetic ball discharge chest 227 from the magnetic ball discharge path 226 and collected.

  In the present embodiment, in the magnetic ball discharge section, the discontinuous portion 223 where the regular game balls 233 are guided when a predetermined number of game balls are sealed is closed, and a predetermined number or more of the game balls are removed. Although it is configured to be collected at the discharge section, similarly, in the deformed ball discharge path, the path where the regular game balls 233 are guided when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is closed and collected at the deformed ball discharge section. You can also do so.

  In addition, in order to increase the efficiency of inserting game balls into the out port 42, a game ball introduction member 427 is provided on the rail portion of the front component 45 located at the lower edge of the out port 42 (FIG. 74, FIG. 74). 75). When a game ball is placed on the upper surface of the game ball introduction member 427, the game ball is poured toward the out port 42, so that the game ball can be efficiently enclosed. Also, a game ball can be inserted without hitting a nearby nail.

  FIG. 74 is a perspective view showing a state where the game ball introduction member 427 is projected. The game ball introduction member 427 can be protruded by opening the door frame 3 and sliding it toward the user.

  FIG. 75 is a perspective view showing a state where the game ball introduction member 427 is stored. From the state of FIG. 74, the game ball introduction member 427 can be stored by pushing it inward, so that the game is not hindered.

  In the present embodiment, the game ball introduction member 427 has a structure in which it can advance and retreat by manually sliding, but the invention is not limited to the above-described method, and a door frame may be formed by using an urging member such as a spring. Various methods can be selected, such as automatically opening and closing by opening and closing the shutter 3.

  Next, an outline of control of the pachinko machine 1 and the payment machine 4 as an external device arranged adjacent to one side thereof will be described. FIG. 76 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 later-described ball information control board 110 are connected so that bidirectional data communication is possible. As shown in FIG. 76, 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 for preventing impropriety. And other functions are also built-in. Further, the main control MPU 101 has a built-in nonvolatile RAM. The nonvolatile RAM has a unique code (a code that exists only once in the world) for identifying an individual by a maker that manufactures 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 up to 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 of a power supply board (not shown) is shut off.

  The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery) or a rechargeable secondary battery, thereby avoiding the necessity of disposing a backup power supply and avoiding complicating the configuration of the main control board 100. 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 year / month / day / hour / minute / 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 gaming ball winning an upper starting port (not shown) arranged in the game area 8 of the game board 5, and detecting a gaming ball winning a lower starting port (not shown). A detection signal from the lower starting port detection switch 91 and a general winning port detection switch 93 for detecting a game ball that has won a general winning port (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 portion (not shown), a general winning opening detection switch 94 for detecting a game ball winning a general winning opening (not shown), a large winning opening (not shown). First, a detection signal from the count switch 98 for detecting a game ball which 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 is input to the main control I / O port. 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 through the panel relay terminal board 140 and the function display board 141. A drive signal is output to the symbol memory display 144, the lower special symbol memory display 145, the ordinary symbol indicator 146, the ordinary symbol memory display 147, the game state indicator 148, and the round indicator 149.

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

[Sphere information control board 110]
FIG. 77 is a block diagram mainly showing a main part of the ball information control board 110 provided in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine. The sphere information control board 110 includes a sphere 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. Further, 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. 77, 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 inputted. 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 can detect illegalities. 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 first input to the ball information control input circuit 113. 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) by the touch switch 87 for detecting whether a palm or a finger is touching the hitting ball 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. In addition, 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 detection switch 207, and the ball lifting device 22. 156, a lifting motor sensor (photosensor) 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

  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 sphere information control board 110 relays the electrical connection between the main control board 100 and the external terminal board 133, and furthermore, the door frame open switch 131, the body frame open switch 132, and the external terminal board 133. Relays the electrical connection between them. The external terminal plate 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 in contact with the hitting handle 10 and a firing stop switch 86 for detecting whether to forcibly stop launching a game ball by 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. In addition, 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 +24 V and the reference voltage, and monitors the voltage V2 based on +12 V and the reference voltage, respectively. 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 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. 78 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 unit 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. 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 composed of, 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. 78 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 given to the card 403 is stored, and corresponds to the amount paid when the card 403 is purchased. Remaining number storage unit 305 in which the remaining number as value information to be stored is stored, and the number of held balls 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). In this case, “5000” is stored as the remaining frequency, but “0” is stored in the held ball count storage unit 406 as an 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 read / write position, and 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 settlement machine 4, the ID, the remaining number, and the number of held balls are written (stored) in each of 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. In this ball lending, it is assumed that, for example, a ball lending number 125 (ball unit price is 4 yen) is lent by 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. In addition, 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. In addition, when there is a number of held balls and the ball lending is performed based on the number of held balls, the number of ball rentals is subtracted from the current number of held balls. The settlement machine 4 displays this result on the remaining frequency display unit. 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 settlement machine 4, adds the number to the number of balls held in 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 ball handle 10 to operate the hitting ball firing device 29, and the game ball at the ball firing position is launched into the game area 8 by the hammer 30 for firing, this is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36. Based on this, it is detected that each game ball is driven into the game area 8. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 sequentially detects “1” from the game machine possessed ball count data stored in the game machine possessed ball count storage area in response to the detection of the hitting of each game ball. 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 has a gate switch 92 disposed 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), and a count switch 98 disposed for a winning port (not shown), and a starting port (not shown) serving as an upper starting port. 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 the display units 142 and 143, upper and lower special symbol storage and display units 144 and 145, ordinary symbol display unit 146, ordinary symbol storage and display unit 147, starting port solenoid 96, and special winning opening solenoid 97.

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

  The main control MPU 101 responds to a detection signal of a detection switch (corresponding to a general winning opening detection switches 93 and 94, a count switch 98, and upper and lower starting opening detection switches 90 and 91) provided for each winning opening. 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 is, for example, a start-up opening and a winning lottery due to a winning in the starting-up 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 gaming machine which shifts to the special gaming state (big hit gaming state) in the case of, the normal gaming state (the probability of hitting by lottery is the normal probability, and the time of variable display of the ordinary symbols is usually), Game state (normal symbol variable display time is shorter than usual, information output signal during reduced hours), 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 fluctuation (special symbol display information output signal), hold based on starting opening winning There are certain conditions (starting opening winning information output signal) and the like.

  It should be noted that the peripheral control board 130 includes a liquid crystal display panel (not shown), an accessory decoration board (not shown), a board decoration board (not shown), and a frame decoration based on a command output from the main control board 100. 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 a symbol to be 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 launch 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 winning port 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.

  When the settlement machine 4 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 in response to the operation of the settlement button, the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game end 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 launch solenoid 13 and the ball feed 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 game machine possessed balls 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. Thus, the game machine possessed 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 game machine balls stored in the RAM when the card is inserted, and the addition result is stored as the number of cleared game 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. 76 according to the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 79 is a flowchart showing main control-side power-on processing executed by main control MPU 101 of main control board 100. FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing a continuation of main control-side power-on processing of FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing main-control-side timer interrupt processing executed by the main control MPU 101.

[Main control side power-on processing]
When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the main control MPU 101 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 for temporarily storing 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 the 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 after the power is turned on until the voltage reaches a predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power failure or momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is suddenly stopped temporarily), the voltage drops. When the voltage falls below the power failure warning voltage, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the sphere information control board 110 notifies the 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 when the power is turned on to a predetermined voltage, a power failure notice signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the sphere information control board 110.

  Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S12 is a process for waiting after the power is turned on until the voltage becomes higher than the power failure notice voltage and stabilizes. In the present embodiment, the waiting time (wait timer) is 200 milliseconds (wait timer). ms) is set. The determination in step S14 is performed based on a power failure notice 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. 76) 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 has been operated. On the other hand, when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 has not been 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 variation, 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 deleted. The flag is set to 1 when the game information is deleted, and to 0 when the game information is not deleted. The value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in steps S18 and S19 is stored in a 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 the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG has a value of 0 (step S32). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to the value 1 when the game information is erased, and the value 0 when the game information is not erased. 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 is to calculate the sum of 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). In the backup flag BK-FLG, backup information such as game information, a checksum value (sum value), and a value of the backup flag BK-FLG is stored and held in the main control built-in RAM in a later-described main control-side power-off process. 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 completed normally.

  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, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as power recovery (step S40). This setting includes setting a value 0 to the backup flag BK-FLG, reading power recovery time information from a ROM (hereinafter, referred to as “main control built-in ROM”) built in the main control MPU, and reading the power recovery time. The time information is set in a work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, `` power recovery '' means, in addition to 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 a power failure or momentary power failure, the fact that high frequency has been irradiated, 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). In addition, 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 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 processing has not been completed normally, the unique ID code stored in advance 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 executed 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 this RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a power-on command classified to power-on for notifying that the main control built-in RAM has been cleared and the initial setting has been performed is created. 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 for setting an interrupt cycle when a main control timer interrupt process to be 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 processing is repeatedly performed at the interrupt cycle set in step S50, that is, every 4 ms. The processing in steps S10 to S52 is referred to as "main control-side power-on processing".

  Subsequent to step S52, 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 becomes equal to or lower than the power failure warning voltage, the power failure monitoring signal of the ball information control board 110 is output as the power failure warning signal as the power failure warning. 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 this non-hit random number update process.

  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 disable setting is performed (step S60). With this setting, the main control timer interrupt process 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 driving signals 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 are stopped (step S62).

  After step S62, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S64). This checksum is calculated assuming that the game information in the work area of the main control built-in RAM, excluding the storage area of the above-mentioned checksum value (sum value) and the value of the backup flag BK-FLG, is regarded as a numerical value.

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

  Subsequent to step S66, clear setting of the watchdog timer is performed (step S68). 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, as described above.

  Subsequent to step S68, the process enters a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is executed. Note that the processing of step S60 to step S68 and the loop processing are referred to as “main control-side power-off processing”. In this loop processing, since the value A, the value B, and the value C are not sequentially set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, the watchdog timer is not set to be 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 outage or a momentary power outage occurs, and performs power-on processing on the main control side by restoring power thereafter.

  In step S36, it is checked whether or not the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal. Then, in step S38, it is determined whether or not the main control-side power-off process has been completed normally. 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 timer interrupt processing]
Next, the main control timer interrupt processing will be described. This main-control-side timer interrupt processing is repeatedly performed at an interrupt cycle (4 ms in the present embodiment) set in the main-control-side power-on processing shown in FIGS. 79 and 80.

  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. 81 (step S70). At this time, a 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 process, various signals input to the input terminal of the main control I / O port 102 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S74, a timer subtraction process is performed (step S76). In the timer subtraction process, for example, the time during which the upper special symbol display 142 and the lower special symbol indicator 143 are turned on in accordance with the variable display pattern determined in the later-described special symbol and special electric accessory control process, the normal symbol and the later-described symbols 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 judging whether or not the ball information main ACK signal indicating normal reception has been input, time management such as an ACK signal input judgment time set as the judgment condition is performed. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the ordinary symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, the timer interruption cycle is set to 4 ms. Therefore, every time this timer subtraction processing is performed, the fluctuation time is reduced by 4 ms. When the result of the subtraction becomes 0, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is accurately measured.

  In the present 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 large hit determination random number, big hit symbol random number, and small hit symbol random number are updated. In addition to these random numbers, the random number for initial value determination for a jackpot symbol, 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. The random number for determining the initial value for the big hit symbol and the random number for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol are updated in the main control-side main process and the main control-side timer interrupt process, respectively, to further enhance the randomness. . On the other hand, the random number for the big hit 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, as described above, the counter for updating the jackpot determination random number is an initial value update type counter, and a predetermined fixed numerical value range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in this embodiment, the 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 adding 1 to the value 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 for updating the big hit determination random number finishes counting up the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the big hit determination random number, the big hit determination initial value determining random number is updated by this hit random number update processing. At this time, the value to be updated is always the same from the fixed numerical value range of the counter that retrieves the ID code from the built-in nonvolatile RAM by the main control MPU and updates the random number for jackpot determination 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 in the random number for initial value determination for jackpot determination. The above-described random number for determining a normal symbol hit and the random number for determining an initial value for determining normal symbol hit are also updated by the hit random number updating process. The normal symbol hit determination random numbers and the like are the same as the above-described method of updating the big hit determination random numbers, and the 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-mentioned input information storage area, and based on the input information, a prize ball command for transmitting to the sphere information control board 110 is created. 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 and enters, a prize ball command representing 15 balls as the number of prize balls is created and transmitted to the ball information control board 110, or the prize 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 ball information main serial data, information for notifying the command to the ball information control board 110 is output 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 transmission information in the above-mentioned transmission information storage area.

  Subsequent to step S82, a fraud detection process is performed (step S84). In this cheating detection processing, an abnormal state relating 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 abnormality display command classified as a notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

  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 random number for determining the big hit described above is taken out, and it is determined whether or not the value matches the big hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM (big hit). It is determined whether or not a game state is to be generated (referred to as "special lottery"), and a value of a counter for updating the random number for the big hit symbol is taken out, and a probability change hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM is determined. 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) that is set higher than that at a normal time (a low probability). In the present embodiment, the value 32668 to the value 32767 are set in the low probability as a range of the big hit determination value (big hit determination range), and are read from the normal time determination table, whereas the value 32438 is read in the high probability. ３32767 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, it is determined whether the value of the counter for updating the random number for big hit determination matches the big hit determination value stored in the main control built-in ROM in advance. 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, while 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 is stored as output information in the output information storage area described above.

  In addition, when a big hit game state is set, for example, according to the game state to be generated, various commands classified into big hit relations 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) in which 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 is stored in the output information storage area as 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 the 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. When the detection signal is input to the input terminal based on the result of the determination, the value of the counter for updating the random number for the normal symbol hit determination described above is extracted, and the gate information storage area of the main control built-in RAM is extracted as gate information. To memorize.

  Subsequent to step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In the port output processing, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102, and various signals are output based on 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, the main ball information ACK signal is output to the ball information control board 110 or the like. 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, starting opening winning information output signal For example, various information (game information) signals relating to the game, such as the game information, are output to the ball information control board 110.

  Subsequent to step S90, a peripheral control board command transmission process is performed (step S92). In the peripheral control board command transmission processing, the transmission information is read from the transmission information storage area described above, and the transmission information is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main circumference serial data. This transmission information includes various commands that are created in the main control timer interrupt process 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. Command, various commands classified for power-on, various commands classified for general drawing synchronizing effects, various commands for normal electric production effects, various commands for information display, status display Various commands to be classified, various commands to be related to the test, and various commands to be classified are stored. In the main circumference serial data, one packet is composed of three bytes.

  Specifically, the main serial data has a status indicating a type of command 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 calculated by assuming the mode as a numerical value, 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 timer interrupt process of the present routine is started, the main control MPU saves the contents of the general-purpose registers on the stack by hardware. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose registers used in the main processing on the main control side from being destroyed. In step S96, the contents saved on the stack are read and written to the original register. Note that the main control MPU sets 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. 77 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 82 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. 83 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the sphere information control side power-on processing of FIG. 82. FIG. 84 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information control-side power-on process following FIG. 83. FIG. 85 shows the ball information control power-off process executed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110. FIG. 86 is a flowchart showing an example of the ball information control side timer interrupt processing.

[Processing when turning on the ball information control side]
When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on, the ball information control MPU 111 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the ball information control MPU) of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110, as shown in FIGS. The process 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 sets the priority of the interrupt of the ball information control MPU. In the present embodiment, the ball information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority, and when an interrupt of this ball information control unit timer interrupt process occurs, that process is performed with priority.

  Subsequent to 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. 77 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. The result of this comparison is 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. This allows the ball information control MPU to 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 1Q terminal which is the output terminal, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

  Subsequent to step S504, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether a power failure notice signal is input (step S508). The voltage does not rise immediately after the power is turned on until the voltage reaches a predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power failure or momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is suddenly stopped temporarily), the voltage drops, and when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. Similarly, during the period from when the power is turned on until the voltage rises to the predetermined voltage, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure notice voltage, a power failure notice 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 higher 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 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 above-described 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 as LOW.

  Subsequent to step S510, it is determined whether 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 is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 has been operated, and when the detection signal is not 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 for permitting access to the ball information control built-in RAM is performed (step S518). This setting allows 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 a value of 1 when the ball information is deleted, and to a value of 0 when the ball information is not deleted.

  If the sphere information RAM clear flag has the value 0 in step S527, that is, if the sphere information is not to be erased, a 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 a value of 1 (step S532). The ball information backup flag is a flag indicating whether or not ball information backup information such as ball information and a checksum value has been stored and held in the ball information control built-in RAM in a later-described ball information control unit power-off process. The value is set to 1 when the processing for powering off the ball information control unit is normally completed, and to 0 when the processing for powering off the ball information control unit is not 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. As a result, 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 the state where the power is turned on after the power is turned off, but also the state where the power is restored after the power failure or the 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 processing at the time of powering off the ball information control unit is not 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, a 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 the initial information is set in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM.

  Subsequent to step S534 or step S538, interrupt initialization 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 becomes equal to or lower than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. 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 elapse flag HT-FLG is a flag for measuring 2 ms in a sphere information control unit timer interrupt process which is performed every 2 ms, which will be described later. The value is set to 1 when 2 ms has elapsed and to 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, when it is determined in step S546 that the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has the value 1, that is, when 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. The external WDT clear signal is output to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (turned 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 to reset (the system of the ball information control MPU is periodically diagnosed whether or not it runs away).

  Subsequent to step S550, port output processing is performed (step S552). In this port output process, various information is read from the output information storage area of the 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.

  In the output information storage area, for example, ball information main ACK information for notifying that various commands (prize ball command or 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, and when a prize ball command from the main control board 100 is normally received from the output terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 based on this output information. The ball information main ACK signal is output to the main control board 100, 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 collection 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 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 in a normal state. The main sphere information ACK signal and the like from the main control board 100 are read and stored 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 the 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 every time the timer subtraction processing is performed in the 2 ms cycle. The time is up when the subtraction results in the value 0, 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, it is determined whether various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal, and CR connection signal) from the checkout machine 4 have been 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 balls to be transmitted transmitted from the settlement machine 4, adds the number of balls to the game machine to the data on the number of balls to be retained.

  Subsequent to step S558, command reception processing 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 informs that the connection between the main control board 100 and the sphere 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 the 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 (ball lifting motor 150), the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. Further, 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 gaming 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, command transmission processing is performed (step S568). In this command transmission processing, various types of information are read from the above-described status information storage area, various types of commands classified into status display are created based on the various types 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 the 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 0 is set to the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG in step S547, and the external WDT 4120c is set in 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. In step S564, main operation setting processing is performed, in step S566, LED display data creation processing is performed, in step S568, command transmission processing is performed, and in step S570, output of the external WDT clear signal to the external WDT 116 is stopped (OFF). Steps S544 to S570 are repeatedly performed. 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 prohibition setting is performed (step S572). With 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 above-described sphere information rewriting 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). Thus, 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). Thereby, 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). As a result, the external WDT 116 is cleared. After step S580, the checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). This checksum is calculated assuming that the ball information in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM is a numerical value except for the storage area of the value of the checksum calculated in step S528 and the value of the ball information backup flag HBK-FLG, and calculates the sum thereof. I do. Subsequent to step S582, the value 1 is set to the ball information backup flag (step S584). Thereby, the storage of the ball information backup information is completed. Subsequent to step S584, prohibition setting of access to the ball information control built-in RAM is performed (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 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 the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is normal or not. 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 side 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 side 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. 86). 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, 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. 84 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. It should be noted that the hitting possible / impossible determination processing, the held ball count processing, the ball feeding / launch driving processing, the launched ball detection processing, the held ball number subtraction processing, and the lifting driving processing are one of the main operation setting processing in step S564. The processing is executed in the order of hitting possible / impossible determination processing, held ball count processing, ball feed / launch drive processing, launched ball detection processing, held ball number subtraction processing, and lifting drive 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 the data stored in the card 403 is read through the card processor 402. That is, the ID stored in the ID storage unit 404 of the card 403 of FIG. 78, 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 is unusable, the following processes of the held ball count processing, the ball feeding / launch drive processing, and the held ball number subtraction processing described below are not executed.

  On the other hand, if the read remaining number is not 0, or if the read remaining number is 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 use information is transmitted to the control board 110.

  When the player presses the ball lending button to perform 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 ball lending 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.

[Rental processing]
Here, the ball lending process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 87 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 the ball information control MPU starts the ball lending process, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the card usable information transmitted from the payment machine 4 is received (step S600). In step S600, if 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 the card usable information transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is not received in step S600, 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 proceeding 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 lending 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 balls to be transmitted transmitted from the settlement machine 4 has not been received, the process does not proceed to steps S603 and S604, but directly exits the subroutine of the ball lending process.

  As described above, only when the newly usable card 303 is inserted into the checkout machine 4, the card usable information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110. Further, only when the operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the settlement machine 4 after the card usable information is received, the ball lending number is transmitted to the ball information control MPU. Then, when the number of available balls is received, the number of available balls 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. 88 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the hitting ball possible / impossible determination process 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 to be 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 feeding device 28 (step S711).

  If it is determined in step S711 that the standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is on, the firing enable flag is set to 1 (fire possible) (step S712), and the hitting availability determination processing 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 process exits the subroutine of hitting possible / impossible determination.

  As described above, when the value of the held ball counter is not 0 and there is a standby ball in the ball feeder 28, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 can be driven, and the game area 8 of the game ball is substantially The game is in a playable state in which the player can be driven. When the value of the held ball number 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 number counting process corresponding to ball information processing during a game assuming that the game is substantially enabled. FIG. 89 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 of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  Upon starting the held ball count processing, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not there is a winning ball command analyzed in the command analysis processing 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. 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. FIG. 90 to FIG. 91 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. 24 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 the period A has elapsed, and when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when the period B has elapsed, and the ball feeding is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when the period C has elapsed since the solenoid 31 was turned off.

  In this 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 ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the shooting ball is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a shooting ball when a shooting ball stopped at the firing position is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time (a 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 starting the ball feeding / firing drive process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not the firing enable flag is 1 (fire is possible) (step S730). When it is determined in the hitting possible / impossible determination processing that the shooting is possible, the firing possible flag is set to 1 (fireable). If it is determined in step S730 that the fireable flag is not 1 (fireable), that is, if the fireable flag is 0 (no fireable), 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 enabled), 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" specifies a period from when the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on to when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on. 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". This 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. 24, 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 process exits the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive process. Note 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 or not 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 and firing drive processing is exited.

  Hereinafter, until the timer that sets 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, step S735 is determined to be YES, and step S735 is determined to be YES. The processing routine for determining NO in S736 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. 26, 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 or not 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 to be 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, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 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, the process proceeds to step S742, and the timer value corresponding to the period C (see FIG. 24, 50 ms) is set 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 processing is exited.

  As a result of the processing flag being set to 3, in the ball feeding / firing drive processing of 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. Judge, and proceed to step S745. In step S745, it is determined whether 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 set for 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. It returns to the initial value (step S747), and exits the subroutine of the ball feeding / firing drive processing.

[Launch sphere detection processing]
Next, the shooting ball detection processing will be described. FIG. 92 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a shot 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, which is executed every 2 ms in the sphere information control main process.

  Upon starting the fired ball detection process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether the fired ball confirmation switch 36 is on (step S750). As described above, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the shooting ball is sent to the firing position (rail section 332) by the ball feeding member 32. That is, the shooting ball is detected by the shooting ball confirmation switch 36.

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

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the fired ball confirmation switch 36 is not on, that is, when the fired 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 performed every 2 ms, if the game ball stopped at the launching position by the launching ball confirmation switch 36 is continuously detected for a predetermined specified time D, the time counter of the time counter is set every 2 ms. The value increases 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, step S753 is determined to be YES, it is considered that a shot ball has been detected, and a shot ball detection flag is set to 1 (detected) (step S754), and the subroutine of the shot ball detection process is exited.

  On the other hand, when noise enters the shooting ball confirmation switch 36, the shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is momentarily turned on, but thereafter, the shooting 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.

[Subtraction number subtraction process]
Next, the held ball number subtraction process will be described. FIG. 93 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 fired ball detection flag is 1 (detected), that is, if it is determined as YES in step S760, the process proceeds to step S761 to determine whether the fired 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 fired ball confirmation switch 36 is not off, that is, if it is determined in step S761 that the determination is 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 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. 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 held ball 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.

  As described above, when a game ball parked 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 shooting ball. If 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 balls held is reduced by one. When noise enters 36, it is possible to eliminate the erroneous ball count of the shooting sphere due to the noise, and it is possible to increase the certainty in detecting the shooting sphere.

[Ball lifting drive processing]
Next, the lifting drive processing will be described. FIG. 94 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the lifting drive process performed by the ball information control MPU. The lifting driving process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  Upon starting the lifting drive process, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S770). If it is determined in step S770 that the standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, if step S770 is NO, the process advances to step S771 to determine whether the unloading entrance switch 156 is on. (Step S771). If it is determined in step S771 that the lifting entrance switch 156 is ON, that is, if step S771 is determined to be YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S772), and a subroutine of the lifting driving process is performed. Through.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S770 that the standby ball detection switch 26 is ON, that is, if the determination in step S770 is YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting drive process is performed. Exit the subroutine.
Also, when it is determined in step S771 that the discharge entrance switch 156 is off, that is, when step S771 is determined to be NO, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting driving process is performed. Exit the subroutine.

  As described above, when a game ball is not detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26, it is determined that the required number of game balls is not satisfied in the ball supply path member 24, and the ball feeding path is determined by the lifting inlet switch 156. When a game ball waiting for alignment is detected in the ball 275, the ball lifting motor is driven on the condition that it is determined that there is a game ball, and the ball waiting path detection switch 26 sets the ball in the ball supply path member 24. On condition that the game balls waiting to be aligned are detected, the driving of the ball lifting device 22 is stopped, and the lifting of the game balls is stopped. As a result, the occurrence of clogging can be suppressed. Thus, since the configuration is such that the game balls are lifted, the game balls can be fed into the ball supply path member 24 without excess or shortage.

Also, compared to the firing cycle of the game balls of the hitting ball firing device 29 in the upper firing unit 12 and the ball feeding cycle of the game balls of the ball feeding device 28, the game to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22 is performed. The ball sending cycle is set short. In this embodiment, the launch cycle of the game ball of the hit ball launching device 29 and the ball sending period of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball supply path member by the ball lifting device 22. The sending cycle of the game balls to 24 is 384 ms.
Thereby, during the game, the operation of the upper firing unit 12 causes the hitting ball firing device 29 to launch the game ball into the game area and the ball feeding device 28 to feed the game ball to the firing position. In addition, since the sending period of the game balls to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22 is shorter than the sending period of the game balls to the firing position, the game device stands by before being pumped by the pumping inlet switch 156. In a case where the state in which the game balls are filled is maintained, while the game balls are being driven, the game balls in the ball supply path member 24 are no longer detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26. Then, the ball lifting device 22 is driven to start the lifting of the game ball, and the game ball to the ball supply path member 24 at a faster pace than the driving pace of the game ball. When the ball is sent out, and the waiting ball detection switch 26 detects a game ball that is aligned and waiting in the ball supply path member 24, the ball lifting device 22 stops driving and the lifting of the game ball is performed. Stopped. That is, during the game, the ball lifting operation of the ball lifting device 22 is performed intermittently, so that the occurrence of ball clogging can be suppressed and the game ball can be efficiently and stably lifted. It is possible to efficiently supply balls to the upper firing unit with a stable number of balls.

  In this embodiment, the launch cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 and the ball sending cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball supply by the ball lifting device 22 is performed. Although the sending cycle of the game ball to the path member 24 is set to 384 ms, the method is not limited to this, and the firing cycle and the ball sending cycle of the game ball, and the sending cycle of the game ball to the ball supply path member 24. Are set to 600 ms with each other, and various methods can be selected.

[Clogging notification processing]
Next, the ball clogging notification processing will be described. FIG. 95 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a ball clogging notification process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball clogging notification 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. In addition, the ball clogging notification processing is performed next to the hitting ball possible / impossible determination processing shown in FIG. 88. In addition, the standby ball detection switch 26 corresponds to a first standby ball detection unit, and the standby ball detection switch 70 corresponds to a second standby ball detection unit.

  When starting the ball clogging notification process, the ball information control MPU 111 first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S780). If it is determined in step S780 that the standby ball detection switch 26 is ON, that is, if the determination in step S780 is YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S782), and the flow advances to step S786 to wait for firing. It is determined whether or not the ball detection switch is on (step S786). If it is determined in step S786 that the standby ball detection switch 70 is off, that is, if step S786 is determined to be NO, the abnormality detection flag is set to 1 (step S788), and the notification unit is turned on. (Step S789) Exits the subroutine of the ball clogging notification process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S786 that the standby ball detection switch 70 is ON, that is, if step S786 is determined as YES, the process proceeds to step S787, and it is determined whether the abnormality detection flag is 1 (step S787). Step S787). When the abnormality detection flag is determined to be 1 in step S787, that is, when it is determined to be YES in step S787, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 (step S790), the abnormality notification unit is turned off (step S792), and the recovery notification unit is set. Is turned on (step S794), and the process exits the subroutine of the ball clogging notification process.

  If it is determined in step S780 that the standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, if step S780 is NO, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S784), and the abnormality detection flag is set. It is determined whether it is 1 (step S787). If the abnormality detection flag is determined to be 0 in step S787, that is, if step S787 is determined to be NO, the subroutine of the ball clogging notification process is exited.

  As described above, the ball supply path member 24 and the ball feeder 28 are provided with the sensors for detecting game balls, the game balls in the ball supply path member 24 are detected, and the game balls in the ball feeder 28 are detected. On the condition that the ball is not clogged, it is determined that the ball is clogged and an abnormal state is detected, and a notification is made by abnormality notification means (not shown, but, for example, notifying the touch panel unit 14 that the ball is clogged). Thus, for example, it is possible to reliably notify the staff of the game hall that the ball is clogged.

  The upper firing device 12 of the present 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). After the door frame 3 is opened, the state of the upper firing device 12 can be immediately grasped, and the clogging of the ball can be easily eliminated. When the clogging of the ball is eliminated, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0, and the abnormality notification means stops. Thereafter, the recovery notifying means (for example, on the touch panel unit 14 displays an indication to the effect that the staff of the game hall can recognize that the ball has been clogged from the clogged state (for example, 5 seconds to 10 seconds)). It is possible to recognize that the ball clog has been resolved.

  The position of the standby ball detection switch 70 is set so as to detect a game ball near the firing position in the path of the ball feeder 28, but to detect a game ball passing through the path of the ball feeder 28. Various arrangement positions can be selected as long as the arrangement can be performed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 1a Outer frame 2 Body 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 Discharge gutter 24 Ball supply path member 25 Screw 25a Screw shaft 25b Small pitch ridge member 25bL Half halves 25bR Half halves 25c Large pitch ridge members 25cL Half halves 25cR Half halves 25d Spiral ridges 25e Cylindrical portion 25g recess 25h Projection 25i Upper edge 25j Upper edge recess 25k Lower edge 25m Lower edge projection 26 Launch standby ball detection switch 28 Ball feeder 29 Hit ball launcher 30 Launch hammer (member for launch)
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 Sphere confirmation switch 361 Photo bracket 37 Upper firing device hinge 38 Fire opening 39 Base plate 390 Hook mechanism 391 Horizontal board 392 Rotary engagement body 392a Hook 392b Vertical axis 392c Lever 392d Wire 393 Winding drum 394 Motor 394a Transmission 395 Hook position stopper 395a Stopper solenoid 395b Retreat position stopper 396 Engaged part 39a Contact part 40 Launch area 41 Winning opening 42 Out opening 43 Panel holder 44 Transparent panel plate 45 Front component 46 Game 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 Reference Signs List 60 Rotation drive shaft 61 Hammer tip 62 Stopper cover 63 Ball supply port 64 Launch port decoration member 65 Lifting communication trough 66 Ball inlet 67 Ball feed unit base 68 Ball feed unit cover 69 Ball feed guide gutter 70 Launch standby ball detection switch 71 Ball Feeding sheet metal 72 Actuating rod part 73 Sheet metal receiving part 74 Ball feeding part 75 Shaft hole 76 Ball feeding shaft 77 Arm part 78 Sheet metal locking claw 79 Hanging projection 80 Ball feeding guiding surface 81 Ball holding surface 82 Hanging piece 83 Return ball blocking part 84 Ball stop part 85 Hitting hole passage 86 Launching stop switch 87 Touch switch 90 Upper starting opening detection Switch 91 under starting opening detection switch 92 gate switch 93 generally winning opening detection switch 94 generally winning opening detection switch 96 starting opening solenoid 97 special 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 open switch 132 Body frame open 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 Collected ball detection switch 204 Deformed sphere discharge part 205 Magnetic sphere discharge part 206 Sphere path full detection switch 207 Sphere proper amount detection switch 208 Deformed sphere discharge part base 209 Deformed sphere separation shaft 210 Deformed sphere separation shaft 212 Deformed sphere discharge 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 Communication path 219 Circulation path 220 Inclined surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 223 Discontinuous portion 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 adjusting part 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Discharge ball receiving box 251 Ball polishing cartridge 252 Left side cover 253 Right side Bar 253a Right outer side cover 253b Right inner side cover 254 Hinge receiver 255 Hinge 258 Second drive gear case 259 Take-up roller 260 Follower roller 261 First gear shaft 262 Second gear shaft 263 Ball polishing cloth 264 Ball polishing cloth Pressing spring 265 Leaf spring 266 Spring holding 267 Tensioner 268 Game ball contact mark 270 Ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 271 Ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 272 Ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 273 Ball polishing cartridge mounting opening 275 Ball feed passage 275a Ball receiving port 275b Ball Sending port 281 Opening section 282 Lifting guide rail 290 Drive shaft 291 Mounting sensor 292 Button 350 Ball feed rotating body 350a Ball engaging concave part 351 Ball feed slope 351a Slope 351b Top slope 352 Spiral base cover 353 Lifting section cover 354 Lifting slope member 355 Ball punching member 356 Upper gear box 357 Lower gear box 358 Ball lifting motor gear 359 Idle gear 360 Upper lifting gear 362 Lower lifting gear 363 Ball feeding rotator gear 363a Gear shaft 365 Guide block 365a Ball guide surface 365b Stopper surface 366 Fitting member 366a Fitting concave portion 367 Supporting member 368 Cover member 402 Card processor 403 Card 404 ID storage unit 405 Remaining number storage unit 406 Holding ball number storage unit 407 For mounting Member 408 Hanging wall 410 Ball outlet 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 418 Spring locking part 419 Jatter main body 420 Drive hole 421 Shaft 422 Drive cam 423 Drive pin 424 Contact part 425 Spring locking part 426 Opening / closing operation piece 427 Game ball introducing member 500 Following member

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is sectioned;
A body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated;
A game machine with a door frame,
A launching device arranged at an upper portion of the gaming machine, for launching a game ball into the gaming area;
When the door frame is opened, a following member that moves the firing device following the movement of the door frame,
When the door frame is closed, the gaming machine further comprises a hook mechanism for pulling the upper firing device toward the main frame and fixing the upper firing device at a set position.

Images