JP2020058951A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of detecting whether a shooting device is set to a correct position relative to a game board in the game machine in which the shooting device is disposed at an upper portion of a body frame.SOLUTION: A game machine includes: a game board 5 in which a game area is sectioned and formed; a body frame 2 to which the game board 5 is embedded and housed; and a shooting device 12 disposed at an upper portion of the body frame 2 and shooting game balls to the game area. The shooting device 12 includes: a position detection sensor 180 that is movably provided relative to the body frame 2 and detects that the shooting device 12 is in a regular position to the game board; and a ball information control board 110 for controlling operation of the shooting device 12. A ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 permits operation of the shooting device 12 on condition of detection that the shooting position 12 is in a regular position to the game board 5 via the position detection sensor 180.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 on an upper portion of the gaming machine.

  As a conventional technique, a pachinko game machine in which a game ball launching device is arranged on the upper part of the game machine for the purpose of enlarging the game board surface and preventing foul balls has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the bullet launching device of the pachinko machine described in Patent Document 1 is arranged such that the launching device is arranged on the upper part of the game machine, and it is possible to reliably shoot the game balls one by one.

JP, 2002-346067, A

  However, unlike a pachinko gaming machine that has a launching device at the bottom of a conventionally known gaming machine, the launching device described in Patent Document 1 is arranged at a portion of the main body frame where the gaming board is fitted, When installing the game board into the main frame when installing a new stand, etc., you have to avoid the launch device and insert it. However, since the launch device is arranged on the same surface where the game board is fitted, it is difficult to fit the game board, or when the game board is fitted, the game board is accidentally collided with the launch device, and the launch device and the game There is a risk that the board may be damaged.

  Therefore, if the structure is such that the launching device is movably (manually movable) with respect to the main body frame, when the game board is fitted into the main body frame, it is out of the movement path when the left side portion of the game board is inserted. By moving the launching device to the position, the launching device does not get in the way when the game board is fitted into the main body frame, the work of fitting the game board into the main body frame can be done easily, and the game board and the launching device collide. It is considered possible to reduce the possibility of causing damage by doing so. Then, after the game board is fitted into the main body frame, the launching device is moved to the original position, whereby the work of fitting the game board into the main body frame is completed.

  However, when the launching device is returned to its original position, if the positional relationship between the launching device and the game board is not in the correct position (referred to as a regular position), for example, a deviation occurs at the boundary between the launching device and the game board. If so, there is a risk that the travel of the ball hit from the launching port of the launching device will be obstructed, and the ball may not be properly hit at a position intended by the player with respect to the game area partitioned by the game board. In that case, the interest of the game of the player will be spoiled.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and detects whether or not the launching device is set at the correct position with respect to the game board in the gaming machine in which the launching device is arranged in the upper portion of the main body frame. It is to provide a game machine capable of playing.

The gaming machine according to claim 1,
A game board in which a game area is defined,
A main body frame in which the game board is fitted and housed,
A launching device that is placed on the upper part of the main body frame and launches a game ball to the game area,
In order to solve the above problems,
The launching device is movably provided with respect to the main body frame,
Position detecting means for detecting that the position of the launching device is in a regular position with respect to the game board,
Firing control means for controlling the operation of the firing device,
The firing control means permits the operation of the launching device on condition that the launching device is detected to be in a regular position with respect to the game board through the position detecting means,
[Means 1].

  According to the game machine of [Means 1], since the position detecting means for detecting that the position of the launching device is in the normal position with respect to the game board is provided, the launching device movably arranged in the upper portion of the main frame is , It is possible to detect whether the game board fitted in the main body frame is set in the correct position.

  The launch control means for controlling the operation of the launch apparatus permits the launch apparatus to operate on the condition that the launch apparatus is detected to be in the regular position with respect to the game board through the position detecting means. If the positional relationship between the game board and the game board is not in the correct position (regular position), for example, if the boundary between the launcher and the game board is misaligned, the operation of the launcher is not permitted and the ball is shot. Because it is not played, the game itself is not played. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from spoiling the interest of the game due to the fact that the player does not hit the area appropriately intended by the player with respect to the game area partitioned by the game board.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the launch control means for controlling the operation of the launching device is conditioned that the launching device is detected to be in the regular position with respect to the game board through the position detecting means. Since the operation of the launching device is permitted, if the positional relationship between the launching device and the game board is not in a correct position (referred to as a regular position), for example, if the boundary between the launching device and the playing board is misaligned, Since the operation is not permitted and the hit ball is not shot, the game itself is not played. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from spoiling the interest of the game due to the fact that the player does not hit the area appropriately intended by the player with respect to the game area partitioned by the game board.

1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention and a payment machine installed in the pachinko machine. It is a front view of the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed. It is a front perspective view which shows the main body frame which comprises a pachinko machine. It is a rear perspective view which shows the main body frame which comprises a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view showing an upper launching device, a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit, and a sphere collecting portion. It is a right view which shows an upper launching device, a ball supply path member, and a ball lifting device. It is a 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 which shows an upper launching device and a launch area. It is a front view which shows an upper launching device (a hammer striking position for launching). It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching device from the front left side. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching device from the rear left side. It is a perspective view which removes a ball feeding unit cover and shows an upper launching device, as seen from the left rear side. It is a figure which shows the open state of the upper launching device in the game machine shown with the door frame removed. It is a right side view showing a longitudinal section of a game machine shown with a door frame removed. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view showing a state in which a joint portion with a base plate in the upper launching device and an extending portion of a panel holder in the game board are in contact with each other. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching device from the front right side. It is a front view which shows an upper launch device (a hammer standby position for launch). It is a right view which shows an upper launching device (ball feed solenoid non-excitation, a ball feed member is a holding position and a return ball blocking position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper launching device cut along the line BB in FIG. 10 (ball feed solenoid de-excitation, ball feed member holding position and 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 launching device (ball feed solenoid excitation, a ball feed member is a supply position and an allowance position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper launching device cut along the line BB in FIG. 10 (ball feed solenoid excitation, ball feed member is in supply position and allowable position). It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the main body frame in the longitudinal direction so that the upper launching 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 sending solenoid and a firing solenoid. It is a front perspective view of a ball outlet opening and closing unit. It is a rear perspective view of a ball outlet opening / closing unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a relationship between an upper firing unit and a ball outlet opening / closing unit in a main body frame. It is an external appearance perspective view explaining a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a magnetic sphere discharging portion cover separated and turned over in FIG. 28 for explanation. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging 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 / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the irregular shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit by separating it into a irregular shaped sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. It is a figure explaining the path | route which a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere are discharged | emitted in a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the situation where a magnetic ball is separated from a circulation route and 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 collecting part and a ball lifting device. It is a front view of a ball collecting 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 removing the case of the ball collecting part and the cover of the ball lifting device. It is a rear perspective view which expanded the sphere assembly part in FIG. FIG. 42 is an enlarged view of FIG. 41. It is a top view which removed the case of a sphere collection part. It is a rear perspective view which shows the state which removed the upper gearbox and the lower gearbox. It is a right side 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 decomposed | disassembled the screw. It is a perspective view showing 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 side view showing a state where a ball-polishing cartridge is mounted. It is a perspective view explaining the mechanism which fixes a ball-polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view showing the state at the time of mounting the ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view showing the state where the ball-polishing cloth of the game ball and the ball-polishing cartridge is pressed. It is a left side view showing the state where the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 55 is a left side view showing a state where the left side cover of the ball-polishing cartridge is removed in FIG. 54. FIG. 55 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball-polishing cartridge in FIG. 55. It is a perspective view showing a state where a ball-polishing cartridge is mounted. FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover is removed for explanation in FIG. 57. FIG. 59 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 the left side cover is removed in FIG. 62. It is a perspective view of a ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion. 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 of the vicinity of the ball-polishing cartridge of FIG. 39. It is a side view which shows the 2nd Example in the lifting slope member. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Example in the lifting slope member. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the upper gearbox in the lifting 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 the number of inserted game balls is less than a predetermined number when the game balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined number of game balls are inserted when the game balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. It is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the game balls when the number of inserted game balls exceeds a predetermined number when the game balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. It is a perspective view showing a state in which a game ball introducing member in the game panel is projected. It is a perspective view showing a state where a game ball introduction member in a game panel is stored. It is a block diagram showing a main part in an embodiment of a main control board arranged in a sealed ball type pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the ball information control board provided in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine. It is a block diagram showing each element connected to a settlement machine. It is a flowchart which shows the main control side power-on process which the main control MPU of a main control board performs. FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control-side power-on process in FIG. 79. FIG. 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 the power supply of the ball information control side which is executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board. FIG. 83 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the sphere information control side power-on process in FIG. 82. FIG. FIG. 84 is a flowchart illustrating a continuation of the sphere information payout control side power-on process following FIG. 83. It is a flow chart which shows processing at the time of power-off of ball information control which a ball information control MPU of a ball information control board performs. It is a flow chart which shows an example of a sphere information control side timer interruption processing. It is a flow chart which shows a subroutine of sphere rental processing which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the hit possibility determination processing which a ball information control MPU performs. It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of the number-of-balls counting process which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flow chart which shows a subroutine of ball sending / launch drive processing which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of the emitted ball detection processing which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of the number-of-balls subtraction processing which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of the pumping drive processing which sphere information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball clogging alerting | reporting process which sphere 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 launching device. It is the block diagram which showed the game board and the main body frame which were connected using the drawer connector. In an embodiment employing a position detection sensor, it is a perspective view showing the upper launching device in an open state with respect to the game board. In an embodiment employing a position detection sensor, it is a perspective view showing the upper launching device in a closed state with respect to the game board. It is a flow chart which shows a subroutine of a hitting possibility judgment processing which ball information control MPU in an embodiment which adopted a position detection sensor which detects whether an upper launching device is set to a regular position to a game board.

[Outline of gaming machines]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The pachinko machine 1 (enclosed ball type game machine) according to the present embodiment can be installed in the current island facility in the hall (pachinko game hall), and the contents of the game are the same as those of known pachinko machines. However, the game machine does not use the ball supply mechanism or 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 played by the launch device in the game area. Play a game by playing the game ball, collect the game ball that has finished the game, guide it to the launching device, and circulate and use the game ball, and play the game using the game ball previously enclosed in the game machine. It is like this. Then, it becomes possible to shoot the game balls in correspondence with the number of game balls (data of the number of balls held) based on the data of the number of balls to be rented input from the storage medium such as a card through the settlement system or the like, and the game balls are shot. Then, the data of the number of held balls is subtracted corresponding to the number of game balls shot.

  In addition, when the launched game ball wins the prize hole in the game area and a prize ball (game ball) occurs, the actual game ball is not paid out, and the number of prize balls is recorded in the number of balls held. Is added. Moreover, when the data of the number of possessed balls becomes "0", the game balls cannot be fired. In this state, based on the data of the amount of money stored in the storage medium such as the card and the data of the stored balls, when the numerical value (the number of lent balls) is added to the data of the number of balls held, the game balls can be launched again Becomes Further, the game balls that have been launched are collected in the game machine, sent to the launch position again, and circulated in the game machine. That is, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is an enclosed ball type game machine that collects the game balls shot in the game area and supplies them to the game again.

  First, the main body frame 2 (FIG. 3) and the door frame 3 (FIG. 1) that configure the pachinko machine 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The pachinko machine 1 of FIG. 1 is provided with a settlement machine 4 as an external device.

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

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

  It should be noted that the door frame 3 and the main body frame 2 are opened with respect to the main body frame 2 by inserting a key into a key device arranged at a lower right corner of the door frame 3 and rotating the key device to one side. You can do it.

[Touch panel 14]
The door frame 3 is provided with a horizontally long touch panel portion 14 in a lower portion of the game window 9 (a portion corresponding to the upper plate of a well-known non-enclosed sphere type pachinko machine). On the touch panel unit 14, the remaining number, the number of gaming machine balls, 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 by the settlement machine 4, and the player's ball count is lent to the player by lending the ball. It is the total of the number of balls and the number of prize balls that the player has acquired as a result of playing the game.

  On the touch panel portion 14, a ball lending button as a ball lending command input means that can be operated by the player and a settlement button as a settlement command input means that can be operated by the player are displayed. The ball lending button is an instruction for lending a ball to play a game. The payment button is used to end the pachinko game and instruct payment.

  Further, the touch panel portion 14 further displays an edge number display button as an edge number display command input means operable by the player. Here, the number of end balls is the number of surplus balls when the number of balls possessed by the player is divided by the number of balls corresponding to one special prize when exchanging prizes. The touch panel unit 14 can also display a message such as “Do you hit only the edge ball?” When the edge number display button is instructed to display the edge number. A dialog question type message is displayed together with the edge count display button, and a YES button and a NO button for the player to make a selection input to respond with either yes or no are displayed.

[Body frame 2]
The main body frame 2 is a box shape having a frame-shaped fitting frame 15 and a peripheral wall portion 16 so that the main frame 2 can be exactly accommodated in the rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 1a (FIGS. 3 and 4). The fitting frame 15 has a rectangular accommodation opening 17 for fitting and accommodating the game board 5 on the front side thereof. A projecting wall 18 projecting inward is integrally formed at the back of the accommodation 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 housed in the main body frame 2 can be seen through the game window 9 of the door frame 3.

  A deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit accommodating portion 19 is formed below the accommodating opening 17, and a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 is disposed in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit accommodating portion 19. . Then, as will be described later, the discharge ball receiving box 234 for accommodating the deformed sphere or the magnetic sphere having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game sphere discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 is of the gaming machine. It can be attached and removed from the front.

  Further, FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view in which the main body frame is broken in the longitudinal direction to show the upper launching device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 23, the main body frame 2 is provided with an upper launch device 12, a ball collecting portion 21, a ball lifting device 22, and a ball supply path member 24. The ball collecting portion 21 is a portion that receives the game balls that have passed through the irregular-shaped / 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 hitting ball launching device 29 for launching a game ball toward the game area 8 is arranged at the front part and one side part (left part) of the upper part of the main body frame 2 (FIGS. 3 and 23). Further, the ball feeding device 28 for feeding the game balls, which are arrayed and stored in the guiding passage (a ball feeding guiding trough 69, which will be described later, see FIG. 11) to the launching position of the ball launching device 29, is a ball launching device 29. Is arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear (FIGS. 6 and 23). In this embodiment, the hitting ball launching device 29 and the ball feeding device 28 form an upper launching device 12 as an upper launching unit.

  The ball lifting device 22 uses a screw 25 driven by a ball lifting motor 150 (see FIG. 24) in this embodiment, and the game balls that have reached the base part are separated from each other by the rotation of the screw 25. After being opened, it is lifted from the lower part to the upper part of the main body frame 2. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface of the body frame 2 behind the upper launching device 12, and the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is disposed above the ball feeding device 28 (FIG. 3, FIG. 3). 4, FIG. 23).

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

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

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

  The upper launcher 12 receives a metal plate-shaped base plate 39 for mounting and fixing the upper launcher 12 to the main body frame 2 and a game ball reaching from the ball supply path member 24, and launches the hitting ball launcher 29. A ball feed device 28 that reliably sends the game balls one by one with a ball feed solenoid 31 (FIG. 11) and a ball feed member 32 to a hitting ball firing position of a hammer 30 (FIG. 8), and shoots the game ball toward the game area 8. And a hitting ball launching device 29 (see FIGS. 8 to 11).

  The ball feeding device 28 receives the game ball that has arrived from the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6), and moves the game ball 1 ball to the firing position of the hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the hitting ball launching device 29 by the ball feeding member 32. It is a device for surely sending each.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching hammer 30, a launching solenoid 13, a rail member 33, a launching stopper 34, a return stopper 35, a launching ball confirmation switch 36, an upper launching device hinge 37 and a launching opening. 38. These members are attached to 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 firing hammer 30, 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 that has been sent to the firing position (hit position) by the ball feeding member 32. The game ball shot by the launch hammer 30 is shot from the launch port 38 to the game area 8.

  The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is arranged with respect to the rail portion 332 of the rail member 33, detects the presence or absence of a game ball hit by the launch hammer 30, and the detection of the game ball by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is not detected. By switching, it is detected that one game ball has been launched by the launch hammer 30.

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

  In addition, the arrangement position of the upper launching device hinge 37 is set when the game board 5 is attached to or detached from the main body frame 2 with respect to the hinge 7 that rotatably connects the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3. The upper launching device 12 is in a position where the game board 5 can be opened to an angle that does not interfere with the insertion (for example, 120 degrees).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the circulation route of the game sphere includes the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20, the sphere collecting portion 21, the sphere lifting device 22, the sphere supply route member 24, the upper launch device 12, and the game area 8. It is through. The game ball shot from the upper launch device 12 to the launch area 40 (FIG. 7) of the game area 8 flows down from the upper part to the lower part of the game area, and passes through the winning opening 41 or the out opening 42 and the deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. Return to.

[Game board]
The game board 5 is attached to the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. In this embodiment, the game board 5 has a structure in which the transparent panel plate 44 is attached to the panel holder 43, and the front component member 45 is attached to the front surface of the panel holder 43 to fix the transparent panel plate 44 (FIG. 12). There is no equivalent to the conventional inner rail in this game board 5, and the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the front component member 45 is used as the game ball running surface 46 (FIG. 7).

  As will be described later, the game board 5 is electrically connected to the main body frame 2 by a drawer connector. Drawer connectors are provided on the game board 5 and the main body frame 2, respectively. 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, and the electric Can be connected to each other. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform electrical communication 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 launching device 12. The notch 47 extends from the front component member 45 to a part of the transparent panel plate 44 in the game area 8. The opening 38 of the upper launching device 12 faces the cutout portion of the transparent panel plate 44, and the vicinity of the opening 38 along the game ball running surface 46 above the launching hole 38 as shown in FIG. The game area 8 is the launch area 40. Therefore, the game ball shot by the launch hammer 30 of the upper launcher 12 is guided to the game ball running surface 46 of the front component 45 in the launch area 40.

  In the cutout 47, the cutout of the panel holder 43 is smaller than the cutout of the front component member, and a part of the panel holder 43 when viewed from the front serves as the protruding portion 48 that protrudes into the cutout 47. (FIGS. 12 and 15). A fixture 49 is attached to the base plate 39 of the upper launcher 12 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction, and the tip of the fixture 49 is the projecting wall 18 of the body frame 2 when the upper launcher 12 is closed. It is removably mounted on the screw receiving member 50 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 15). The fixture 49 has a screw at the tip and a relatively large head, so that the fixture 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 flat plate, and is fixed to the overhanging wall 18 with a screw 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 launching device 12, the game board is fixed to the main body frame 2 by the base plate 39. At this time, the contact portion 39a (FIG. 13) of the base plate 39 contacts the protruding portion 48 protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses and fixes the protruding portion 48 toward the main body frame 2 side. To do.

  As a result, the positional relationship between the launch opening 38 of the upper launch device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed without any rattling, and there is a step or the like between the launch opening 38 and the game area 8 which is an obstacle when the game ball travels. Does not happen. Further, by removing the fixture 49 from the screw receiving member 50, the base plate 39 can be opened to the front around the upper launcher hinge 37, and when the game board 5 is fitted into the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. Does not get in the way. Further, maintenance work such as ball gamming in the ball feeding device 28 and the hitting ball launching device 29 can be easily performed.

As a method of fixing the upper launching device, a cushion may be arranged on the back side of the door frame, and when the door frame is closed, the game board and the upper launching device may be pressed and fixed. This will be described below.
A cushion 501 is provided at a position on the back surface side of the door frame 3 where it abuts the upper launching device 12, and the door frame 3 is closed to press the cushion receiving plate 502 arranged on the upper launching device 12 with the cushion 501 to press the main body frame. Fix on the 2 side. At this time, the plate 39 comes into contact with the protruding portion 48 (see FIG. 12) protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5 to press and fix the protruding portion 48 toward the main body frame 2 side. As a result, the positional relationship between the launch port 38 of the upper launching device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed and fixed. Further, even if vibration occurs due to the launching operation of the launching hammer 30, the positional relationship between the launching port 38 and the game area 8 is fixed without being rattled by pressing the cushion 501 against each other.

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

  As shown in FIG. 96, the back surface of the door frame 3 and the upper launching device 12 are connected by a follow-up member 500 (a spring in this embodiment). When the game board is replaced by installing a new stand, when the door frame 3 is opened, the upper launching device 12 connected to the follower member 500 is pulled by the follower member 500 and rotated so as to follow the door frame 3. To do. As a result, the upper launching device 12 moves from the same surface of the game board 5, so that a large space can be secured when the game board 5 is fitted into the main body frame 2, and the game board is easily fitted. be able to. In addition, it is possible to reduce the possibility of damaging the game board 5 and the launching device by colliding with each other as much as possible.

  Furthermore, since the cushion 501 is arranged on the back surface of the door frame 3 even if the upper launching device 12 moves following the opening of the door frame 3 by the follow-up member 500, the cushion 501 is arranged on the back surface of the door frame 3 to move with the momentum of the door frame 3. Since there is no collision, damage to the door frame 3 and the follower member 500 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the follow-up member 500 is a spring, but the follow-up member 500 is not limited to this and may be any one that moves the upper launching device 12 following the door frame 3. For example, it is possible to select various methods such as elastic rubber (e.g., rubber band), a string-shaped member, and an engaging pulling member.

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

  Also, since it is an enclosed ball type pachinko machine, prize balls are not paid out, and the number of outgoing balls, the number of incoming balls, the number of differential balls, the number of balls held, etc. are numerical values on the data, not the actual number of game balls. That is, the number of game balls actually used is only a limited number (for example, 50 or 75) that is circulated and used, and the number of balls held is, for example, the number of game balls that are shot in the game area 8. From the number of shot balls counted and counted, the number of collected balls that are detected by counting the game balls that are launched and collected in the game area 8, the number of prize balls when winning, the number of balls lent from the hall side, etc. The number of incoming balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of differential balls, and the number of possessed balls can be obtained.

  That is, as long as there is no trouble such as opening the door frame 3 and the game balls going out, the number of shot balls = the number of collected balls. Then, the number of balls entered = the number of balls collected = the number of balls launched, the number of balls released = the number of prize balls (integrated value) = the number of balls entered-the number of balls lent (the number of replay balls) + the number of balls held, and the number of balls held = loan Number of balls (or number of replay balls) + number of balls-number of balls entered, number of balls-number of balls entered = number of balls lost, number of balls held = number of balls lent (or number of balls replayed) + number of balls lost Becomes In this way, the game by the pachinko machine 1 is completely performed as a numerical value on the data, and there is no error caused by spilling the game ball or leaving the game ball on the lower plate or the upper plate. It can be managed reliably in integer units. It should be noted that the structure of the upper launching device 12, which will be described later, basically causes no foul ball.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the front component member 45, the panel holder and the transparent panel plate 44 are formed as separate members, but they are integrated by, for example, bonding, or integrally formed to form one member. You can also In this way, when the transparent panel plate 44 is integrally formed with the front component member 45, the panel holder 43, and the like, the front component member 45 and the panel holder 43 have the notches 47 in the game board 5. It is possible to prevent structural weakening of these members due to cutting of the frame structure (the four sides are connected).

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

[Striking ball launcher 29]
The hitting ball launching device 29 is capable of driving the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 28 into the game area 8 of the game board 5 with the strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the hitting ball handle 10. The hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching solenoid 13 mounted on a rear surface of an upper portion of a base plate 39 such that a 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 mallet 61 fixed to the tip of the firing hammer 30, a rail member 33 attached to the front surface of the base plate 39 with a predetermined position on the movement path of the mallet 61 as a firing position, and a rail member 33 at the firing position. A start-up stopper 34 for restricting the hammer 61 from rotating counterclockwise relative to a hitting position at which a stopped game ball can be hit, and a waiting position (initial position) in the turning operation of the shooting hammer 30. A return stopper 35 that regulates to, a launch ball confirmation switch 36 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball staying at the launch position, and an upper part 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 hitting ball launching device 29 is configured such that the rotary drive shaft 60 reciprocally rotates at a strength (speed) corresponding to the rotational operation angle of the ball hitting handle 10. The firing 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 thereof is on the axis of the rotary drive shaft 60. On the other hand, a rod portion 302 facing the normal direction and having a mallet tip 61 fixed at its tip, and a stopper extending toward the opposite side of the rod portion 302 with the fixed portion 301 sandwiched therebetween and capable of contacting the stopper 34 during firing. And a contact portion 303. The stopper abutment portion 303 of the firing hammer 30 abuts the stopper 34 at the time of firing, thereby restricting rotation in the counterclockwise direction in front view (see FIG. 8).

  Further, a ball supply port 63 formed in a ball feeding unit base (described later) of the ball feeding device 28 is arranged immediately above the rail member 33 of the hitting ball launching device 29. The rail member 33 retains 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 later at the launch position.

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

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

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 16, the launch port decoration member 64 is arranged so that the right side surface portion and the lower side surface portion are exposed to face the game area 8, and therefore the right side of the launch port decoration member 64. The surface portion and the lower side surface portion are formed on a ball entry prevention wall 51 that prevents a game ball hit in the game area 8 from entering the inside of the hit ball launching device 29. The launch port 38 is formed on a ball entry prevention wall 51 on the right side surface of the launch port decoration member 64. The ball entry prevention wall 51 surrounds the launch port 38 and is substantially flush with the rear end surface of the game area 8. It is shaped like an arch that stands up toward the front.

  As will be understood with reference to FIGS. 8 and 16, the firing port 38 is located diagonally to the upper right of the rail portion 332. As understood from FIGS. 8 and 17, the distance between the rail portion 332 (launching position) and the launching port 38 is short (about twice the diameter of the game ball P), and therefore the launch distance is short. It is possible to drive the fired game ball into the game area 8 without generating a foul ball.

  The launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the presence or absence of the game ball staying in the launch position, and the detection of the game ball is not detected by the launch of the game ball in the launch position by the hammer 30 for launching. By switching to, the fact that one gaming ball has been launched by the launch hammer 30 is detected.

  The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is composed of a transmissive photosensor, and a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit are arranged so as to straddle the rail portion 332 that sets the launch position in the front-rear direction. The shooting ball confirmation switch 36 is supported by the photo bracket 361 and is arranged with respect to the shooting position. The photo bracket 361 is attached and fixed to the lower part of the front surface of the base plate 39.

  The hitting ball launching device 29 is provided with a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the launching stopper 34 that can regulate the pivotal end of the launching hammer 30 toward the ball hitting position, and a position apart from the hitting position of the launching hammer 30. A return-time stopper 35 for restricting a rotation end (a rotation end in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front) is provided. The surfaces of the stoppers 34 and 35 are covered with rubber, so that the impact when the firing hammer 30 comes into contact can be absorbed and the generation of noise due to the contact can be suppressed. .

  In addition, in the hit ball launching device 29, the launch solenoid 13 is driven by a ball information control unit, which will be described later, with a driving strength according to the rotation operation of the hit ball handle 10, and the ball feeding device 28 feeds the ball. With respect to the drive timing of the solenoid 31, it can be driven so as to perform a ball hitting operation at a drive timing described later (see FIG. 24). Specifically, in the ball feeding device 28 that supplies the game ball to the hitting ball launching device 29, when the ball sending solenoid 31 is driven (ON), the game ball received by the ball sending member 32 is sent to the hitting ball launching device 29, and in that state. When the drive of the ball feed solenoid 31 is released (OFF), the ball feed member 32 receives the game ball.

  In the hitting ball launching device 29, when the hitting ball handle 10 is launched, the launching solenoid 13 is repeatedly energized and disconnected with a voltage according to the manipulated value. As a result of this excitation / non-excitation of the firing solenoid 13, the firing hammer 30 is rotated from the initial position (FIG. 17) in the firing direction (counterclockwise) to the firing position, as shown in FIGS. After the stopped game ball is hit by the mallet 61 (FIG. 8), the shooting operation is repeated by rotating clockwise and returning to the initial position.

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

  The lifting communication gutter 65 is gently inclined downward from the rear end where the ball inlet 66 is formed toward the front end. The ball feeding unit base 67 is attached to the left side of the rear surface of the base plate 39, the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 is connected to the upper right side thereof, and is connected to the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 in rear view. From the right side of the upper part to the center in the up-down direction, a gentle downward slope is applied to the left in the left-right direction, and the ball-feeding guide trough 69 is bent and formed downward in the middle, and the lower end of the ball-feeding guide trough 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 facing the upper side of the ball supply port 63 below the bent portion of the ball feed guide trough 69, there is a game ball waiting in the ball feed guide trough 69. A launch standby ball detection switch 70 for detecting the presence or absence is provided (see FIG. 10). The launch standby ball detection switch 70 is composed of a flat type 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 feeding solenoid 31 of the present embodiment is composed of an electromagnet, and is disposed below the ball feeding unit base 67 in a posture in which a suction portion that exhibits a suction function by excitation is directed downward. The ball feeding member 32 is arranged below the ball feeding unit base 67 adjacent to the left side of the ball feeding solenoid 31. The ball feed member 32 in the present embodiment is a permissible position that allows the ball to pass therethrough without interfering with the ball hit from the launch position by the ball hitting operation of the ball hitting launcher 29 by the excitation / non-excitation of the ball feed solenoid 31. And a return ball blocking portion that is movable between a return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of a return ball that returns from the game area 8 to the launch port 38.

[Ball feed member 32]
The ball feeding member 32 will be described below. 18 is a right side view showing the upper launching device 12 (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is not excited, the ball feeding member 32 is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position), and FIG. 19 is a view B of FIG. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the upper launching device 12 taken along the line B (ball feeding solenoid 31 is de-excited, ball feeding member 32 assumes a holding position and a return ball blocking position), and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the ball feeding member 32, the ball feeding shaft, and the ball feeding sheet metal in FIG.

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

  As shown in FIG. 20, a shaft hole 75 is formed in the horizontal direction at the middle of the ball feeding member 32 in the vertical direction. The ball feed shaft 76 is inserted into the shaft hole 75 with both ends protruding, and both ends of the ball feed shaft 76 in the left-right direction are supported by the ball feed unit base 67. As a result, the ball feeding member 32 is supported rotatably in the front-rear direction with the ball feeding shaft 76 as the center of rotation.

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

  Immediately below the sheet metal accommodating portion 73, there is formed a sheet metal locking claw 78 that protrudes rearward to prevent the ball feeding sheet metal 71 from falling off, so that when the ball feeding member 32 operates, it unexpectedly occurs. The ball feed sheet metal 71 is prevented from falling off the sheet metal housing portion 73.

  As shown in FIG. 20, a latching projection 79 is formed on the end of the operating rod 72, and one end of the tension spring 52 shown in FIG. 19 is latched to the latching projection 79. Further, 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 feeding unit base 67, as shown in FIG.

  In addition, 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 toward the lower edge of the ball feed port 63 integrally with the ball feed member 32. There is. The ball feeding portion 74 is formed in a mountain shape in which the center of the upper surface rises upward, and extends from the center to the front, that is, of the ball feeding port 63 formed at the lower end of the ball feeding guide trough 69 in FIG. A sphere feed guide surface 80 inclined downward toward the lower edge and an arc convex toward the rear from the center, that is, toward the sphere feed unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feed guide trough 69 in FIG. And a sphere holding surface 81 inclined downwardly. Further, at the rear end of the sphere holding surface 81 of the sphere feeding portion 74, a hanging piece 82 that hangs downward is formed.

  Further, the upper portion in the vertical direction of the ball feeding member 32 penetrates the ball feeding unit base 67 toward the front, and as shown in FIGS. 18, 20, and 21, the rail portion 332 (launching position) in a side view. A return ball blocking portion 83 having a rectangular frame shape extending toward the ball hitting path is formed, and a ball hitting opening 85 having a rectangular opening is formed in the center of the return ball blocking portion 83.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 to 17, the frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 formed integrally with the ball feeding member 32 is arranged adjacent to the firing port 38 in the firing position direction. Further, a ball stopper portion 84 is formed on the front side of the frame of the return ball blocking portion 83 on the firing position side, the base portion of which is horizontal and protrudes in a triangular shape toward the rail portion 332. The ball stopping portion 84 is arranged in front of the ball feeding portion 74 and facing the ball feeding portion 74 with a space above the firing position.

  Further, on the ball feeding unit cover 68, a ball guide protrusion 54 having a V-shaped vertical cross section is formed toward the front at a position facing the ball supply port 63 behind the ball supply port 63. A front guiding surface 55 facing the sphere supply port 63 and having an arcuate concave shape is formed on an upper portion of the sphere guide protrusion 54 facing forward. A lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54 is formed to be convexly curved rearward, and in a space below the lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54, the front and rear direction of the ball feed member 32 with the ball feed shaft 76 as a rotation center. In the pivoting operation, the ball feeding portion 74 can be retracted. Further, a stopper piece 56 is formed at the lower end of the ball guide protrusion 54 so as to project forward.

[Ball feeding operation and return ball blocking operation of the ball feeding member 32]
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 feeding solenoid 31 is in the non-excited state, it is hooked on the latching projection 79 at the end of the operating rod 72 of the ball feeding member 32 and the spring locking portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feeding unit base 67. Due to the tensile force of the tension spring 52 that is stopped, the lower end portion of the ball feeding member 32 is in a posture of being pulled 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 has a rectangular frame-shaped return ball in a rotation posture with the ball feeding shaft 76 as a rotation center. The blocking portion 83 takes a posture inclined rearward, and in the side view seen from the game area 8, that is, in the hitting path from the launching position of the hitting ball launching device 29 to the launching opening 38, the launching opening 38 is immediately launched. At the position on the position direction side, the portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located in front of the frame is in a posture intersecting with the launch port 38, and the hit ball passage port 85 with respect to the launch port 38 in the ball hitting path. Is a position displaced to the rear, and it is impossible for the ball to pass through the hit ball passage opening 85 in the hit ball path. That is, the return ball blocking portion 83 takes the return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 in this posture.

  After the hit ball is fired, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, and thus the return ball blocking unit 83 blocks the game ball shot in the game area 8 from entering the launch port 38 as a return ball. Since the return ball can be blocked, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, in the normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in a non-excited state), the ball feeding member 32 has the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding portion 74 and the ball guiding protrusion of the ball feeding unit cover 68. In the pivoting posture in which the hanging piece 82 formed at the lower end of the ball feeding portion 74 abuts on the stopper piece 56 and moves back to the space below the portion 54, and the ball feeding shaft 76 of the ball feeding member 32 is the center of rotation. , The holding position in the ball feeding operation is restricted.

  In the holding position, the ball feed guide surface 80 of the ball feed portion 74 is located in front of the lower end of the front guide surface 55 of the ball guide protrusion 54, and on the extension line in the tangential direction of the front guide surface 55. Also, the ball stopper 84 approaches toward the ball supply port 63, the game ball P1 is fitted in the gap between the lower end of the ball supply port 63 and the ball stopper 84, and the game ball P1 remains. Becomes

[Excitation of ball feed solenoid 31]
When excited 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, and as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the ball feed member 32 causes the ball feed member 32 to pass the supply position and the hitting ball in the ball feed operation. Move to the allowable position.

  As a result, the ball stopper 84 moves forward from the position close to the ball supply port 63, and at the same time, the ball feeder 74 moves forward to send the game ball P1 remaining in the holding position to the launch position (FIG. 22). reference).

  As shown in FIG. 21, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 takes an upright posture in a rotation posture with the ball feed shaft 76 as the rotation center, and the game area. 8 in the side view, that is, at a position on the side of the launch path immediately from the launch opening 38 in the launch path from the launch position of the ball launching device 29 to the launch opening 38, with respect to the launch opening 38 in the shot path. The hitting ball passing port 85 is located at the matched position, and is a position that allows the ball to pass through the hitting ball passing port 85 in the hitting path. That is, in this posture, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes a permissible position that allows the ball to pass therethrough without interfering with the ball hit from the launch 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 portion 74 is located in front of the ball guide protrusion 54 of the ball feed unit cover 68 at the supply position in the ball feed operation. Then, the subsequent game ball P2 is fitted into the gap between the upper end of the ball supply port 63 and the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feed portion 74, and the subsequent game ball P2 is in a state of remaining. By the ball feeding operation described above, the ball feeding member 32 feeds the game balls lined up and stored in the ball feeding guide trough 69 one by one to the firing position of the hitting ball launching device 29.

  Further, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timings of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when a period A has passed from the time when the ball feed solenoid 31 was turned on, and the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off when a period B has passed from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on and a ball feed is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when a 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 feed member 32 brings the launch ball into the launch position (rail portion 332). That is, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the launch ball. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a launch ball when the launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects a game ball stopped at the launch position over a predetermined time period (30 ms as the period D). To do.

  In this way, when the game ball stopped at the launch position by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a launch ball. Erroneous ball counts on the ball can be eliminated and the certainty in detecting the launch ball can be increased.

  The operation control is performed by the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control unit 118, which will be described later, according to the drive timings of the sphere feed solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13 shown in FIG. That is, when the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 is in the allowable position, the ball striking device 29 is actuated to perform the ball striking operation by the firing hammer 30, and the ball striking device 29 is preliminarily determined from the time of operation. After the specified time has elapsed (after 30 ms has elapsed), the excitation of the ball feed solenoid 31 is released and the return ball blocking unit 83 is moved to the return ball blocking position, so that the return ball is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83. Control.

  According to this, when the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the allowance position, since the passing of the hit ball is allowed without interfering with the hit ball fired from the launch position, the hit ball does not interfere, so that the game is played. It is possible to prevent the player from feeling distrustful of hitting the ball at the target position, and to prevent a decrease in interest in the game.

  After the hit ball is fired, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, and thus the return ball blocking unit 83 blocks the game ball shot in the game area 8 from entering the launch port 38 as a return ball. Since the return ball can be blocked, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

  In the present embodiment, since the return ball blocking portion 83 is formed integrally with the ball feeding member 32, the ball feeding to the firing position is performed by the excitation / non-excitation of one electric drive source (ball feeding solenoid 31). And it is possible to realize the return ball prevention simultaneously. That is, when the ball feed member 32 takes the supply position, the hit ball passage port 85 is located on the hit ball path through which the game ball shot from the launch position passes, while when the holding position is taken, the ball feed member 32 deviates from the hit ball path. It has a frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 formed so that the hit ball passing port 85 is located at the retracted position.

  When the ball feeding member 32 takes the supply position, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the allowable position and does not interfere with the hit ball fired from the firing position. Therefore, for hitting the game ball at the aimed position. It is possible to prevent distrust and prevent a decrease in interest in the game.

  Further, when the ball feeding 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 shot in the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the launch port 38. Since it can be blocked by blocking the return ball, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

  Further, the above-mentioned gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the return ball prevention valve that closes the launch port is forcibly opened by the launch ball and launched or pushed into the game area. For this reason, an electric drive source for performing a ball hitting action needs to have a size and power commensurate with it, and it is necessary to supply a large current in order to obtain a hitting force. is there.

  On the other hand, in the upper launching device 12 of the present example, when the launching hammer 30 performs a ball hitting operation, the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 allows the launch ball to pass (the ball hitting opening 85 and Since it does not interfere with the launch ball in the state where both the launch port 38 and the launch path match each other, it suffices to provide a hitting force sufficient to launch the hit ball in the game area 8, and thus the power is small. Adopting an electric drive source is sufficient. Therefore, the electric drive source can be made smaller and thinner, and the power consumption required for the drive can be suppressed low.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, the firing solenoid 13 is excited for a period C from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the hammer 61 is projected through the through hole 335 of the rail portion 332 (FIG. 9). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being stopped at the rail portion 332, prevent the return ball, and make the error count of the launch ball more reliable.

  The return ball blocking portion 83 of the present embodiment is shown to have a rectangular frame shape and is provided with a hitting ball passage opening 85 in the center, but the shape of the return ball blocking portion 83 is not limited to this, and for example, It may be in the shape of a strip, a rod, or may not be provided with the hit ball passage opening 85. That is, on the hitting ball path from the launching position to the launching hole 38, it is provided adjacent to the launching position direction of the launching hole 38, and is an allowance position that allows the hitting ball to pass without interfering with the hitting ball launched from the launching position. And a return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of a return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38.

  In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine of the present embodiment described above, the ball lifting device 22 has the body frame 2 behind the upper launching device 12 arranged at the front part and one side part of the upper part of the body frame 2. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface, and the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is disposed above the ball feeding device 28. The ball lifting device 22 is provided between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper part of the upper launching device 12. It is configured to have a ball supply path member 24 extending in the front-rear direction for feeding the game balls that have been pumped up in above into the ball feeding device 28 from above.

  Because of the above-mentioned configuration, the sphere supply path member 24 is attached to the rear portion of the game board 5 for various members (movable body, power transmission mechanism (eg, gear train) for driving the movable body, left and right). The slide rail for guiding in the direction, the drive motor as the drive source, the position detection sensor for detecting the position of the movable body, the LED board, the relay board, etc. do not become an obstacle, and the ball at the rear of the gaming machine. It is possible to smoothly feed the game balls that have been lifted to the upper portion of the main body frame 2 by the lifting device 22 to the upper launch device 12.

  Further, since the ball supply path member does not interfere with various members attached to the rear portion of the game board, the space formed behind the upper launching device 12 can be secured to the rear portion of the game board 5. It can be applied to the arrangement space of each member.

  Further, the upper launching device 12 shown in FIG. 23 employs an electric drive source that is smaller and thinner than the conventional one for the reasons described above. As shown in FIG. 23, the electric drive source (launching solenoid 13) of the hitting ball launching device can be made smaller and thinner, so that the electrical drive source does not extend behind the upper launching device 12. Therefore, the arrangement space 57 for each member attached to the rear portion of the game board 5 can be widely ensured accordingly.

  Further, the upper launcher 12 of the present embodiment can be rotated by the upper launcher hinge 37 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12), so that the left end of the game board when the game board is mounted. Since the upper firing unit can be pivotally arranged at a position deviating from the movement path when inserting the parts, the operation of attaching the game board to the main body frame is easy.

  In this case, when the upper launching 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 gutter 23 is prevented from spilling out. It is advisable to provide a spilling ball prevention means for blocking the ball outlet 58.

  Hereinafter, one embodiment of the spill ball preventing means (ball outlet opening / closing unit) will be described. 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 FIG. 6 and FIG. 23, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and a ball sending trough 23 that sends the pumped game balls forward from above, and an upper launch unit. 12 is formed on the upper rear portion of the ball 12 and is composed of a lifting communication gutter 65 connected to the ball delivery gutter 23. When the upper firing unit 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 is By opening the ball outlet 58, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting communication gutter 65 are communicated with each other, and the ball can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

  The ball feeding device of the upper launcher 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). The opening / closing operation piece 426 contacts the spherical contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 in the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 when the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, thereby rotating the opening / closing crank 413. The open / close shutter 412 can be opened.

[Ball exit opening / closing unit]
The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 in the main body frame 2 of the present embodiment is attached to the mounting member 407 attached to the lower surface of the ball delivery trough 23 of the ball lifting and lowering 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 delivery gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 is closed to allow the flow of the game balls from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball feeding device 28 of the upper launching device 12. It can be blocked.

  The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 includes a shutter base 411 attached to a vertically extending hanging wall 408 of the attachment member 407, a plate-like opening / closing shutter 412 held by the shutter base 411 so as to be vertically slidable, and an opening / closing unit. An opening / closing crank 413 that slides the shutter 412 in the vertical direction and an opening / closing spring 414 that biases the opening / closing shutter 412 so as to rise through the opening / closing crank 413 are provided.

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

  Further, the opening / closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 has a flat plate-shaped shutter main body 419 and a pair of sliding protrusions (not shown) that protrude from the front surface of the shutter main body 419 and slide in the slide groove 415 of the shutter base 411. ) And a drive hole 420 which is disposed between the pair of sliding protrusions and faces the opening 416 of the shutter base 411 and which has a horizontally long rectangular shape 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 rotatably supported by a crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction, and a right outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 from the right outer periphery. A drive rod 422 that extends outward and has a tip that extends to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the opening 416, and projects rearward from the tip of the drive rod 422 and is slidably inserted into the drive hole 412b of the opening / closing shutter 412. Drive pin 423, an abutting portion 424 that extends downward from the outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 on the lower side in a front view, and has a spherical tip end, and the other end of the opening / closing spring 414 that is formed on the intermediate upper surface of the drive rod 422. And a spring locking portion 425 that locks the (lower end).

  In the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, when the opening / closing crank 413 rotates about an axis extending in the front-rear direction, the drive pin 423 of the opening / closing crank 413 rotates in an up-down direction in an arc shape, and at the same time, the drive pin 423 is inserted. The open / close shutter 412 slides in the vertical direction through the driving hole 420.

  In the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, the contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 abuts on the opening / closing operation piece 426 of the upper launching device 12 in a state where the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. 424 is rotated clockwise in a front view against the urging force of the opening / closing spring 414, and the drive pin 423 is rotated clockwise in a front view together with the contact portion 424. The opening / closing shutter 412 is lowered so that the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 can be opened. That is, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting communication gutter 65 are communicated with each other so that the game ball can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

  When the upper launching 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 launching device 12 is released, and the opening / closing crank 413 opens and closes. The urging force of 414 rotates counterclockwise in a front view, and at the same time, the opening / closing shutter 412 rises to close the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 (FIG. 27). ).

  In this way, the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 can automatically open / close the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery trough 23 in the ball lifting / lowering device 22 in response to opening / closing of the upper launching device 12 with respect to the main body frame 2. Even if the upper launching device 12 is opened with the game ball remaining in the ball delivery gutter 23, it is possible to prevent the game ball from spilling from the ball outlet 58.

[Distorted sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit]
FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 29 is a view for explaining the magnetic ball discharging portion cover in FIG. 28 by separating it and turning it over. 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 view for explaining the base plate of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit by separating it into a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining a path through which the irregular-shaped sphere and the magnetic sphere are ejected in the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere ejection unit. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the magnetic balls are separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic sphere has reached 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 the regular game sphere. The deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 is a transparent resin molded product, and is disposed in the lower portion of the gaming machine body (the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit housing portion 19), and the front side is a front plate (not shown) It has a structure in which the side is covered with a rear face plate (ball gutter base 201). In the upper part, as a safe ball that has flown out without winning the various winning holes (special variable winning device, general winning device, ordinary variable winning device) and various winning holes and has flown into the safe ball discharging route. A collecting port 202 for collecting the game balls is provided. The out ball flows into the recovery port 202 through the out port 42 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). The safe ball flows into the recovery port 202 via the winning opening 41 (see FIG. 5).

  The circulation path in the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 communicating with the recovery port 202 is formed by meandering left and right in the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20, and is folded up and down. A detection switch 203, a deformed sphere ejection portion 204, a magnetic sphere ejection portion 205, a sphere path full tank detection switch 206, and a sphere proper amount detection switch 207 are provided. The game balls that have flowed into the recovery port 202 move in a line along the circulation path in the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20, and reach the sphere collecting portion 21 connected to the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20. However, the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere are discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 while being separated from the regular game ball circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 so as not to move to the sphere collecting portion 21. It

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

  The deformed sphere discharging part 204 is fixed to a deformed sphere discharging part base mounting part 212 provided on the sphere receiving trough base 201, and to the deformed sphere discharging part base 208 and two deformed sphere discharging part bases 208. It is composed of deformed spherical separation shafts 209 and 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the irregular-shaped sphere discharging portion base mounting portion 212 is a rectangular opening provided in the sphere receiving trough base 201. As shown in FIG. 28, the irregularly shaped sphere discharge portion base mounting portion 212 is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the sphere receiving base 201 so that the side of the recovery port 202 side becomes higher. As a result, the irregular shaped ball separating shafts 209 and 210 are arranged so as to be inclined, so that the game ball can move from the upstream side 213 (see FIG. 30) toward the downstream side 214.

  FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit by separating it into a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33 (a) shows the deformed sphere discharging portion 204. FIG. 33B shows the magnetic sphere ejecting portion 205.

  The irregular-shaped ball discharging unit 204 uses the difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball to eliminate an illegal ball having a diameter smaller than the regular game ball from the circulation path in the irregular-shaped ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. . As shown in FIG. 30, the deformed sphere discharging portion 204 includes two deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 having a circular cross section, which are arranged in parallel from the upstream side 213 to the downstream side 214 of the circulation path. In order to exclude an irregular sphere, that is, an inferior sphere having a smaller diameter than the regular game ball from the circulation path in which the regular game sphere circulates, the gap distance between the two irregular sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 is The diameter of the regular game ball is narrower and the diameter of the downstream side 214 is wider than the diameter of the regular game ball, that is, the distance between the two variant ball separation shafts 209 and 210 is gradually increased. 209 and 210 are fixed to the deformed sphere discharging portion base 208.

  The game balls that flow down one by one to the irregular shaped ball discharge section 204 via the recovery port 202 and the collected spherical shape detection switch 203 flow down while rolling over the two irregular shaped ball separation shafts 209 and 210. To do. On the upstream side, since the gap distance between the two irregular shaped ball separating shafts 209 and 210 is smaller than the diameter of the regular gaming balls, the regular gaming balls do not fall from between the irregular shaped ball separating shafts 209 and 210.

  On the other hand, an irregular sphere having a smaller diameter than the regular game sphere falls from between the two irregular sphere separation shafts 209 and 210. As shown in FIG. 33 (a), the deformed sphere that has fallen is discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 through the deformed sphere discharge path 215 from the deformed sphere outlet 216. The deformed sphere discharge path 215 is formed by a deformed sphere discharge path forming member 217 attached to the front side of the sphere gutter base 201 and below the deformed sphere discharge portion base 208. In addition, the deformed sphere discharge path forming member 217 is also integrally provided with a communication path 218 for guiding a sphere having the same diameter as a regular game sphere to the magnetic sphere discharge portion 205.

  A game ball of a regular size that rolls down and flows down the two modified sphere separation shafts 209, 210 falls from between the two modified sphere separation shafts 209, 210 on the downstream side 214, and the communication path 218 is formed. After that, it reaches the circulation path 219 formed in the magnetic sphere discharge part 205.

  The magnetic ball discharging unit 205 is fixed to the ball receiving trough base 201 as shown in FIG. FIG. 33 shows a state in which the magnetic ball discharging portion 205 is removed from the ball receiving trough base 201. An inclined surface 220 connected to the communication path 218 is formed in the magnetic sphere discharging portion 205, and a falling surface 221 that steeply descends is connected to the downstream side of the inclined surface 220, and a portion extending from the inclined surface 220 A magnetic ball discharging inclined surface 222 is formed. The gap of the discontinuous portion 223 is provided so that the inclined surface 220 and the magnetic sphere discharging inclined surface 222 are not continuous. In the magnetic sphere discharging portion 205, a magnet is attached to at least one of the side wall 224 and the ceiling wall 225 on at least one of the front surface, the back surface, and the inside.

  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 housing space 230 is formed as a space having a rectangular cross section arranged along the back surface side of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet 229 is a flat-plate 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 adsorbed and the rolling is hindered, and it flows down the area of the inclined surface 220 and falls from the discontinuous portion 223. Instead, it is only necessary to reach the magnetic sphere discharging 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 descends, and flows down while rolling on the falling surface 221 from the inclined surface 220. The non-magnetic regular game ball 233 drops the discontinuous portion 223 and goes through the circulation path 219 to reach the ball collecting portion 21 connected to the irregular-shaped ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20.

  On the other hand, the illegal sphere (magnetic sphere 232) made of a magnetic material is attached to the inner wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 by the attractive force of the magnet 229 housed in the magnet housing space 230, and the circulation path 219 upstream of the inclined surface 220. From the side to the downstream side while rolling down due to the action of gravity. Then, as shown in FIG. 35, the magnetic sphere 232 reaches the region of the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222 (see FIG. 28) as shown in FIG. 36 without dropping from the discontinuous portion 223. The illegal sphere made of a magnetic material that has reached the region of the magnetic sphere discharging inclined surface 222 is discharged from the irregular sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 through the magnetic sphere discharging path 226 to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 (see FIG. 34). ).

  A portion of the ceiling wall 225 on the upper side of the magnetic sphere discharging inclined surface 222 is configured as a magnetic force adjusting portion 231. The magnetic force adjustment unit 231 is formed so that the gap between the magnet housing space 230 and the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 becomes larger as it goes downstream of the magnetic sphere discharge path 226. In FIG. 35, the magnetic sphere 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 side of the magnetic sphere discharge path 226. Then, the magnetic force (attractive force) of the magnet 229 acting on the magnetic ball 232 gradually decreases. Therefore, the magnetic spheres 232 that have been attached to the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and moved in the downstream direction are separated from the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and fall onto 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 irregular-shaped sphere and the irregular magnetic sphere are ejected to the outside of the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere ejection unit 20 through the irregular-shaped sphere outlet 216 and the magnetic sphere outlet 227, respectively (FIG. 34). The deformed spheres or magnetic spheres discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 are collected in the discharged sphere receiving box 234 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). In this way, the irregular sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 can be used to eliminate an illegal sphere composed of the irregular sphere and the magnetic material from the regular game ball circulation path 219. In the present embodiment, the structure can be simplified by using gravity to discharge the irregularly shaped spheres and the magnetic spheres to the outside of the irregularly shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20. The deformed sphere discharging path 215 is arranged along the side surface of the magnetic sphere discharging portion 205, so that the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 can be configured compactly.

  The irregular sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 can eliminate the irregular sphere or the illegal sphere made of a magnetic material from the circulation path 219 of the regular game sphere without stopping the game, which reduces the interest of the player. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the chance that the employee of the gaming hall is called by each gaming machine to handle the illegal ball and deals with the malfunction of the gaming machine. The deformed sphere ejecting section 204 and the magnetic sphere ejecting section 205 may be configured separately. That is, when discharging the irregular-shaped sphere by another component in the game machine, the magnetic sphere discharging unit 205 may be configured independently.

  And one embodiment of the enclosed ball type game machine of the present invention, a game board in which a game area is defined and formed, a main body frame in which the game board is fitted and accommodated, and arranged on an upper part of the main body frame, A hitting ball launching device for shooting a game ball toward the game area, and a playing ball launched by the hitting ball launching device is collected as an enclosed ball on the back side of the game board to eliminate an illegal ball and the hitting ball launching device again. In order to supply the enclosed spheres which are arranged and stored in an arrangement passage formed in a part of the circulation passage based on the drive of an electric drive source The ball feeding device for feeding the ball to the firing position of the hitting ball launching device one by one, the main control board for performing the game control processing related to the pachinko game, and the main control board are connected to enable bidirectional data communication, and the game control processing In said mastery Increase / decrease control of the number of balls held based on the prize ball command transmitted from the board and information on the number of balls to be launched by the hitting ball launching device, control of launching a game ball by the hitting ball launching device, and the ball It is provided with 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. The hitting ball launching device performs a hitting ball operation based on the driving of the launch rail for stopping the game ball at the launching position and the electric drive source, and is held at the launching position. A launching member for launching a game ball and a launch ball confirmation means for detecting the game ball stopped at the launch position are provided, and the ball information control board is for a predetermined prescribed time, Launch ball confirmation hand When a game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball detection determining means for determining that there is a launch ball and the launch ball detection determining means determines that there is a launch ball, When the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation means, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of held balls subtracting means for reducing the number of held balls by 1 is provided. It

  According to the above-described embodiment, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation unit for a predetermined time, the launch ball detection determination unit determines that there is a launch ball. If the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation means, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of balls held is provided, provided that the launch ball detection determination means determines that there is a launch ball. Since one is reduced, when noise enters the launch ball confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate false ball count of the launch ball due to noise, increase the certainty in detection of the launch ball, The magnetic balls can be eliminated from the circulation path through which the regular game balls circulate.

[Sphere collecting section 21]
FIG. 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 in which the ball polishing cartridge in the ball collecting unit is removed. FIG. FIG. 40 is a rear perspective view showing a state where the case of the ball collecting portion and the cover of the ball lifting device are removed, and FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the ball collecting portion in FIG. 41 is a further enlarged view of FIG. 41, and FIG. 43 is a plan view with the case of the ball collecting portion removed.

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

  The ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 is an opening provided in the ball collecting portion 21 for attaching and detaching the ball-polishing cartridge 251 described later (FIG. 39). The ball-polishing cartridge 251 is detachable from the front side of the gaming machine to the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 273, and the ball-polishing cloth 263 is provided at a portion of the ball-polishing cartridge 251 facing the ball lifting device 22 described later. It is located (Fig. 41). The lift inlet / outlet switch 156 is provided outside one of the walls forming the ball feed passage 275 and detects the presence or absence of a game ball passing through the ball feed passage 275 (FIG. 41).

[Ball lifting device 22]
FIG. 44 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the upper gearbox and the lower gearbox 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 part (A) in FIG. Further, FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a state in which the screw is disassembled, FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing an upper part of the ball lifting device, and FIG. 49 is a state in which the screw and the fitting member are fitted / unfitted. FIG.

  The ball lifting device 22 includes a screw 25 (Fig. 40), a ball lifting motor 150 (Figs. 38, 48), a lifting guide rail 282 (Figs. 40, 44), and an upper gear box 356 (Fig. 37). 40), the lower gear box 357 (FIGS. 37 and 40), the ball feeding rotary body 350 (FIG. 40), the ball feeding inclined portion 351 (FIGS. 40 and 41), and the lifting portion cover 353 ( 37), a spiral base cover 352 (FIG. 37), a lifting ramp member 354 (FIG. 46), and a ball delivery trough 23 (FIGS. 44, 46, 48).

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

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

  The small-pitch ridge member 25b is composed of 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 the half-split body 25bR and the half-split body 25bL, which are bisected on 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-divided bodies 25bR and 25bL on both sides is vertically formed on the cut surface of the cylindrical portion 25e, which can be integrated with each other. it can.

  Further, an upper edge recess 25j opening upward is formed at an upper edge 25i of each of the halves 25bR and 25bL, and a lower edge projection 25m protruding downward is formed at a lower edge 25k. The upper edge concave portion 25j and the lower edge convex portion 25m are for connecting the small-pitch projecting ridge member 25b and the large-pitch projecting ridge member 25c in the up-down direction and transmitting the rotation to each other.

  The same applies to the large-pitch ridge member 25c, the same reference numerals are given, and a detailed description thereof 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 portion where the spiral ridge 25d of the small-pitch ridge member 25b and the spiral ridge 25d of the large-pitch ridge member 25c are continuous changes smoothly. The large-pitch ridge member 25c is composed of a half body 25cR and a half body 25cL.

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

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

  Further, as shown in FIG. 49, in the small-pitch ridge member 25b at the lower portion of the screw 25, the lower edge convex portion 25m and the fitting concave portion 366a of the fitting member 366 integrally formed with the lower lifting gear 362 are formed. It is fitted using 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 in the ball lifting device 22 (FIGS. 38 and 48).

  The upper gear box 356 is arranged at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and accommodates 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 in which an upper gear having a large number of teeth and a lower gear having a small number of teeth on the lower surface thereof are integrally formed. The idle gear 359 meshes with the ball lifting motor gear 358 and the upper gear to form a lower gear. It meshes with the upper lifting gear 360. These gears are spur gears and the vertical dimension of the upper gearbox is low. 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 arranged from the lower end of the ball lifting device 22 to the lower end of the ball collecting portion 21, and accommodates and pivotally supports the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feeding rotary body 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 feeding rotary body gear 363. The gear ratio of the ball feeding rotary body gear 363 and the lower lifting gear 362 is 2: 1.

  The ball feed rotator 350 is fixed to the gear shaft 363a of the ball feed rotator gear 363, and the ball feed rotator gear 363 drives and rotates the ball feed rotator 350. The ball feed rotating body 350 is a low columnar member which is arranged corresponding to the ball feed port 275b of the ball feed passage 275 in the ball collecting portion 21 and is a peripheral member at the 180 ° intervals in this embodiment. A ball engaging recess 350a for accommodating a ball is provided. The ball engagement recess 350a has a depth that accommodates about half of the game ball (FIG. 43).

  The ball feeding inclined portion 351 (FIG. 42) is a member which is formed around the ball feeding rotating body 350 and has an inclined surface for lifting a game ball. The range in which the ball feeding inclined portion 351 exists is that the ball feeding rotating body 350 screws the game ball from the position of the ball feeding opening 275b which is the ball feeding rotating body side outlet of the ball feeding passage 275 with respect to the rotation direction of the ball feeding rotating body 350. It is the range up to the transfer position to 25.

  As described above, the ball feeding inclined portion 351 has an arc shape along the outer periphery of the ball feeding rotating body 350 from the ball feeding port 275b to the delivery position, and is 7 mm (about 5 to 8 mm) upward from the position of the ball feeding port 275b. ) It has an inclined surface 351a that rises to a high transfer position, and an apex inclined portion 351b that protrudes from the apex in the direction of the screw 25 and inclines 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 with respect to the rotation direction of the ball feeding rotor 350.

  The positional relationship between the ball-sending rotator 350 and the screw 25 in a plan view is a positional relationship capable of accepting the game ball dropped from the apex inclined surface 351b between the pitches of the spiral protrusions 25d. A cover member 368 (not shown) is arranged along the outer circumference of the ball feeding inclined portion 351 up to the vicinity of the transfer position to prevent the game ball from falling from the inclined surface 351a.

  A guide block 365 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is arranged on the upper surface of the lower gear box 357 in proximity to the lower front surface side of the screw 25. The guide block 365 has an arc-shaped sphere guide surface 365a adjacent to the spiral protrusion 25d of the screw 25, 365a, and a stopper surface 365b following the spherical guide surface. The ball 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 thereof is a stopper surface 365b (FIG. 43).

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

The support member 367 is a cushion member that prevents the deformation of the lifting guide rail 282 and absorbs the vibration transmitted between the game ball and the lifting guide rail 282 and to the upper launching device 12. 282 is provided with a portion for maintaining the original position, and has a thickness enough to be inserted between the cover member 368 including the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282. The plate-shaped block member has a flat surface on the side in contact with the cover member 368, and has a recess on the side supporting the lifting guide rail 282.
The lifting guide rail 282 has rigidity such 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 risk that the game ball will be deviated from the guidance by the lifting guide rail 282. Therefore, the deformation is restricted.

Further, since the clearance is mainly designed in the portion where the game balls pass, such as the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, the vibration generated by the driving of the ball lifting motor 150 is, for example, the screw. 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, and noise may occur between the lifting guide rail 282 and the game ball. Further, the lifting device 22 uses the cover member 368 for the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282. Since the noise is enclosed, when an abnormal sound is generated in the pumping device 22, the sound resonates and the sound becomes loud. However, by disposing the support member 367, it is possible to absorb the vibration generated in the gaming machine and suppress the generation of abnormal noise.
In addition, the support members 367 are arranged between the cover member 368 and the lifting guide rails 282 in a number such that deformation of the guide rails 282 can be restricted and 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 balls are sent up. The game balls are vertically arranged by the screw 25, and the moving direction of the game balls is turned to the horizontal direction to guide them to the ball sending gutter 23.

  The ball delivery gutter 23 is a passage provided at the upper end of the spiral base cover 352 and having an inclination for feeding the game ball guided from the lifting ramp member 354 to the upper launcher 12. Further, on the side surface of the ball delivery gutter 23, there is provided a ball removing member 355 that discharges the game ball inside the game machine to the outside of the game machine (FIGS. 44 and 48). The ball removing member 355 is a removable lid member, and a lower knob can be operated to remove the ball removing member 355 from the side wall of the ball sending trough 23, thereby opening the opening provided in the side wall. The ball delivery gutter 23 has an oblique portion, and a ball removing member 355 is arranged on a wall on the front end side of the oblique 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 delivery gutter 23 (FIG. 45). When the launch standby ball detection switch 26 does not detect a game ball, the screw 25 is driven and a new game ball is supplied from the ball lifting device 22 to the upper launch device 12 one by one.

[Operation of the ball collecting unit 21 and the ball lifting device 22]
The game sphere sent from the irregular-shaped sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit 20 forming a part of the circulation path is sent to the sphere feed rotating body 350 in the sphere lifting device 22 through the sphere feed passage 275 of the sphere collecting portion 21. To be On the other hand, the screw 25 is rotated by driving the ball lifting motor 150 via the gear trains 358, 359, 360, and the ball feeding rotating body 350 is rotated by the screw shaft 25a and the lower gear trains 362, 363. Since the gear ratio of the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feeding rotator gear 363 is 2: 1, the ball feeding rotator 350 makes one rotation by two rotations of the screw 25. The ball feeding rotator 350 receives the game balls one by one from the ball feeding passage 275 into the ball engaging recess 350a and rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 43).

After that, the game ball is rotated by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 350 while being engaged with the ball engaging recess 350a, and the remaining outer half moves along the inclined surface 351a of the ball feed inclined portion 351 to obtain the top inclined surface. 351b is reached. Since the top inclined surface 351b is inclined downward, the game ball is fed from that position into the spiral protrusion 25d of the small pitch protrusion member 25b. At this time, the game balls fed from the apex inclined surface 351b, which is slightly higher, have a larger distance from the following game balls and are reliably separated one by one.
In order to carry out stable feeding of the game balls, it is conceivable that the terminal end of the apex inclined surface 351b and the delivery position of the game balls of the small pitch projecting member 25b are set to substantially the same height.
Further, when feeding the game ball from the top inclined surface 351b to the small-pitch ridge member 25d, it is not limited to using the downward inclination, and for example, a configuration may be used in which the game ball is guided to the small-pitch ridge member 25d using a rail. .
Further, if the step between the end of the inclined surface 351a and the small pitch projecting strip member 25d below the screw 25 that receives the game ball is small, the gaming ball may be dropped directly from the slanting surface 351a to the small pitch projecting strip member 25d. It is possible.

Next, the game ball moves along the ball guide surface 365a of the guide block 365 along with the rotation of the small pitch projection member 25b and collides with the stopper surface 365b. During this time, the game ball rises as the screw 25 rotates, and reaches the lower end of the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352. In this case, the sphere feed rotating body 350 is provided with the sphere engaging concave portions 350a at every 180 degrees as described above, and rotates at a speed of ½ with respect to the screw 25. The game ball will be supplied to the screw 25. Since one half rotation of the ball feed rotating body corresponds to one pitch of the small pitch protruding member 25b, the game ball fed from the ball feeding rotating member 350 is always one ball between the pitches of the small pitch protruding member 25b. It is sent continuously one by one. (FIG. 41).
That is, it is possible to prevent the game balls from connecting in a row within the ball lifting device 22.

  The ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is brought into contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 through the opening 281. That is, the game ball is rubbed against the ball polishing cloth 263 through the opening 281 as the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22, and the game ball is cleaned and polished (FIG. 39). 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 balls are hoisted to the upper end of the ball hoisting device 22 with the rotation of the screw 25. At that time, the game balls are guided to the hoisting guide rails 282 arranged in parallel. Guided to move in a straight line. The guide rails 282 allow the game balls to be lifted by the screw 25 to move in the vertical direction and regulate the movement in the horizontal direction. During this period, the game balls are lifted up so that the pitch of the lower small pitch projecting strip members 25a is small, so the movement of the game balls is relatively slow, and there is no hindrance to the ball receiving from the ball sending rotary body 350. There is. Further, the small pitch projecting ridge member 25b at the upper portion also has a small pitch to relatively slow the movement of the game ball, so that there is no hindrance to the ball feeding to the upper launching device 12.
On the other hand, in the middle part of the screw 25, there is no particular problem even if the speed of pumping the game balls is increased, so a large pitch ridge member with a large pitch is used. The number of game balls circulated in the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced. Furthermore, this can reduce the load due to the weight of the game ball hanging on the screw 25 (FIG. 45).
In addition, the lifting in the present embodiment is used to mean that the game ball is continuously carried from the lower part to the upper part of the gaming machine.

The game ball that has reached 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 that is 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 sent from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. Then, the game ball sent to the ball sending gutter 23 rolls on a gentle slope of the ball sending gutter 23 and is sent to the upper launcher 12 (FIG. 46).
In this case, when the pumped game ball comes into contact with the sloped portion of the lifted slope member 354, it is removed from the guide of the lift guide rail 282 and naturally flows down to the floor surface of the ball discharge gutter 23. It is possible to smoothly feed the lifting guide rail 282 and the screw 25 without applying a ball pressure.

  When it is necessary to take out the circulating game ball from the game machine for maintenance or the like, the ball removing member 355 provided on the outer surface of the ball delivery gutter 23 can be operated to easily discharge the game ball out of the game machine ( 37, 48).

  In this embodiment, the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion 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 feeding section cover 353 may be made of an opaque resin, metal, or the like.

  Further, although the small-pitch ridge member 25b and the large-pitch ridge member 25c are configured to be joined in half, they may be integrally formed from the beginning to have a cylindrical shape. Further, by making full use of the molding technique of synthetic resin, the entire screw 25 except 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 sliding property, and having rigidity such that the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are not deformed by the pressing force applied to the lifting guide rail 282 from the game ball generated by the rotation of the screw 25. Preferably, a metal such as aluminum or a synthetic resin may be used. Further, it is conceivable that the spiral ridge 25d uses a hardened silicon material or the like at least in the portion that receives the game ball from the ball feed rotating body 350. As a result, it is possible to absorb the shock generated when the game ball falls on the spiral projection 25d.

  Further, the lifting guide rail 282 in the present embodiment guides the game ball in the vertical direction by the two rails, but it is not limited to the two rails, and for example, the lifting guide rail 282 is one and 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 in parallel to guide the game ball.

  Further, although the support member 367 is arranged between the cover member 368 including the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282, the cover member 368 is not limited as long as it absorbs vibration. Not limited to the member 368, for example, as shown in FIG. 70, the support members 367 may be arranged so as to cover both ends of the lifting guide rail 282. As a result, the player operates the touch panel portion 14 arranged on the door frame 3 and 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. Various vibrations generated in the game machine, such as vibrations caused by shocks that occur when the game ball is absorbed, cause a situation in which the game ball comes off the guide of the guide rail and cannot be lifted, or the game ball is launched due to vibration. Instability can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the game balls are continuously sent out at a pitch of the spiral projection 25d over the entire length of the screw 25 one by one, and the game balls are lifted at all pitches of the screw 25. The present invention is not limited to this as long as the game balls are continuously pumped up without being sent.

  The lifting slope member 354 may be any structure as long as it can smoothly feed the game ball vertically lifted by the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 to the ball sending trough 23, and is integrally formed with the upper gear box 356. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 67 and FIG. 68, the upper surface of the ball delivery path 23 may be extended to above the hoisting path of the game balls, 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 by using the screw 25, but if the game ball is vertically guided and lifted, the screw is screwed. Not limited to this, various methods such as a belt conveyor that can continuously carry up the game ball can be selected.

[Ball polisher]
Next, a ball polishing device for cleaning and polishing the game balls enclosed in the game machine will be described. FIG. 38 described above is a front view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is attached to the ball polishing device, and FIG. 39 described above is a front view showing that the ball polishing cartridge is removed from the ball polishing device. It is a front view which shows the state.

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

  53 and 54 are diagrams showing a state in which the game balls and the ball-polishing cloth of the ball-polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 53 is a state in which 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 polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge is pressed against the game ball, and FIG. 55 is the left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge removed in FIG. 54. It is a left side view showing the state where it did. Further, FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55.

  Next, FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which a ball polishing cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which the right outer side cover is removed to explain the inside of the right side cover in FIG. FIG. 59 and FIG. 59 are top perspective views showing a state in which the right side cover is opened in FIG. FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the ball-polishing cartridge, FIG. 61 is the same front view, FIG. 62 is the same side view, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state in which the left side cover is removed in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 38 and 50, a ball collecting section 21 is provided in the lower portion of the ball lifting and lowering device 22, and a ball polishing cartridge 251 is provided in a ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270 of a part of the ball collecting section 21. Can be installed. Here, the outside of the ball lifting device 22 is formed of a transparent plastic member, and even if a game ball is clogged in the ball lifting device 22, the location of the clog can be easily visually recognized. It is like this. As shown in FIG. 51, the ball polishing cartridge 251 mounted on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 is provided on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, one end of which is supported on the shaft and the other end of which is rotated. The other end of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 made possible is hooked on the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272, which is also provided on the ball collecting portion 21, to press the ball polishing cartridge 251 in the depth direction and the left direction. It has a structure. Note that, in FIG. 51, both the open state and the closed state of the ball-polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 are shown together in order to facilitate understanding of the movement mode of the ball-polishing cartridge fixing lever 271.

  FIG. 39 is a front view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed. As shown in FIG. 39, the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 has a ball-polishing cartridge mounting port 273 formed of a hollow portion so that the ball-polishing cartridge 251 can be mounted therein. Note that, in FIG. 39, the mounting sensor 291 and the drive shaft 290, which are provided inside the ball-polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 and the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 and are visible from the ball-polishing cartridge mounting port 273, are shown for easy viewing. 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. Inside the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, below the surface on the right side, behind the ball-polishing cartridge mounting opening 273, coaxial with the second drive gear 257 shown in FIG. A drive shaft 290 is fitted into the first gear shaft 261 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. A specific mode of the mounting operation will be described later.

  In addition, in the portion of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 facing the ball lifting device 22 at the innermost portion, the ball lifting device 22 has a long side, and the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 advances. An opening 281 having an angle different from the direction is provided. As a result, a deviation occurs between the direction in which the game balls are lifted up and the traveling direction of the ball-polishing cloth 263. Therefore, it is not necessary to use only a part of the ball-polishing cloth 263 having a predetermined width in the width direction. It is possible to effectively utilize 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 peripheral edge of the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device 22 can project to the outside of the ball lifting device 22 at the opening position. The width is smaller than the diameter of the game ball. In this embodiment, the width of the long sides of the openings 281 is set to 8.4 mm with respect to the diameter of the game ball of 11 mm. As a result, a game ball of about 1.5 mm projects from the opening 281 toward the ball polishing cloth 263.

  As a result, during the game period, the game balls that are being pumped in the ball lifting device 22 have a portion of the peripheral edge at the position of the opening 281 protruding outside the ball lifting device 22 and polishing the balls. The ball polishing cloth 263 of the cartridge 251 and the game ball can come into contact with each other. 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 surely brought into contact with the game ball, and It enables reliable ball polishing.

  Further, even when the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed while the game ball remains in the ball lifting device 22 during the time period other than the game period, the width of the opening 281 is smaller than the diameter of the game ball. With this configuration, the game balls remaining in the ball lifting device 22 do not spill onto the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 side of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

  FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of mounting the ball polishing cartridge 251 from the state of FIG. 39. 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.

  FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the ball-polishing cartridge 251, FIG. 61 is the same front view, FIG. 62 is the same side view, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state in which the 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, 262 is a second gear shaft, and the first gear shaft 261 is the take-up roller 259 and a second gear shaft to be described later. The drive gear 257 is coaxial with the second gear shaft 262, and the driven roller 260 is coaxial with the driven roller 260. In addition, 268 is a game ball contact mark, and as shown in FIG. 39, the direction in which the game balls are lifted by the ball lifting device 22 and the direction in which the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is wound up are Since the angles are different from the vertical direction, the game ball contact mark 268 is formed with an inclination with respect to the long side direction of the ball polishing cloth 263.

  53 and 54 are diagrams showing a state in which the game balls and the ball-polishing cloth of the ball-polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 53 is a state in which 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 game ball and the ball-polishing cloth of the ball-polishing cartridge are pressed against each other.

  As shown in FIG. 53 and FIG. 54, the game balls are hoisted by the screw 25 provided in the ball hoisting device 22, and the ball hoisting device 22 and the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 are At the opposite 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. Thus, it is rubbed against the ball-polishing cloth 263, and the game balls are cleaned and polished.

  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 portion and the lower portion and the intermediate portion. In the upper part and the lower part, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw 25 (spiral protrusion 25d in FIG. 47) is reduced to narrow the pitch, while in the middle part, the inclination angle of the screw spiral is increased to increase the pitch. Is also wide. In the middle part, it is not necessary to spend time for lifting, so by increasing the inclination angle of the spiral and increasing the lifting speed, it is possible to lift the game ball in a short time, and the middle part It is possible to reduce the number of game balls included in, and it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed in the game machine.

  Further, by narrowing the pitch interval at the lower portion, the game ball and the ball-polishing cloth 263 are reduced by lowering the speed at which the game ball is pumped at the portion where the game ball faces the ball-polishing cloth 263 of the ball-polishing cartridge 251. By lengthening the contact time with, it is possible to reliably clean and polish the game balls. Furthermore, by narrowing the pitch interval in the upper part, the hoisting speed of the game sphere at the hoisting end portion of the ball hoisting device 22 can be reduced, and the ball is hoisted from the ball hoisting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. It is possible to eliminate troubles such as ball catching at the time of delivery and smoothly send the game ball to the ball delivery 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 both guide rails is set to be approximately the same as the diameter of the game ball, but some adjustments are made to stabilize it by narrowing it somewhat where the behavior of the game ball being pumped may become severe. be able to. In this way, the game balls are hoisted in the ball hoisting device 22 while being supported by both guide rails on both sides.

  FIG. 55 is a left side view showing a state in which the left side cover of the ball-polishing cartridge is removed from FIG. 54. Further, FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55. 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, which will be described later, is transmitted. The take-up roller 259 is rotated by the rotation of the second drive gear 257 configured to be coaxial with the take-up roller 259, and the friction force between the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 causes a ball-polishing cloth. 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, 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 are provided. Further, behind the ball-polishing cloth pressing spring 264, a spring retainer 266 that supports the ball-polishing cloth retaining spring 264 is provided. Further, a leaf spring 265 is provided on the upper portion of the ball-polishing cartridge, and the leaf-spring 265 slightly presses the ball-polishing cloth 263 to align the ball-polishing cloth 263 with a portion facing the ball-lifting device 22. It plays a role of aligning before sending.

  The ball-polishing cloth 263 wound up by the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 is housed in the ball-polishing cartridge 251. In FIGS. 55 and 56, the ball-polishing cloth 263 is removed by the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260. The description of the ball-polishing cloth 263 inside the ball-polishing cartridge after being wound up is omitted.

  FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state where the ball-polishing cartridge is mounted, and 253 is a right side cover, which is composed of a right outer side cover 253a and a right inner side cover 253b and is integrated. A second drive gear case 258 covers a second drive gear 257 described later. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which 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. It is a feed motor and serves as a drive 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 the rear end of the right side cover 253, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable about the hinge 255 as a fulcrum. In the present embodiment, the ball-polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is a stepping motor. A 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 in which the right side cover 253 is opened in FIG. 58, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable about a hinge 255 that engages 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 rotary shaft (not shown) that is coaxial with the rotation axis of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 and is driven by the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is driven. A drive gear is provided, and a gear having 16 teeth is used in this embodiment. A second drive gear that is coaxial with the drive shaft 290 and meshes with the first drive gear is also provided between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b. In the present embodiment, the number of teeth is 32. Using gears.

  Next, the mounting operation and mounting detection of the ball-polishing cartridge 251 will be described. FIG. 64 is a perspective view of the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, and FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the ball-polishing cartridge 251 and the ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270. The ball-polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 is configured such that the right-side cover 253 is rotated about the hinge 255 as a fulcrum so that the ball-polishing cartridge mounting port 273 expands around the hinge portion as a fulcrum (direction A in FIG. 64). There is.

  In that state, as shown in FIG. 65, the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is inserted into the ball-polishing cartridge mounting opening 273 from the front direction. 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 interfere with the insertion. After inserting the ball-polishing cartridge 251, the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction A in FIG. 64 to return the ball-polishing cartridge mounting opening 273 to the original width, and then the ball-polishing cartridge fixing lever. By engaging 271 with the ball-polishing cartridge fixing stop 272, 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 in. It is detected that it is attached.

  When the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pressed while the power of the game machine is turned on, it is detected that the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is normally mounted and no notification is given, but it is when the power is turned on. Nevertheless, when the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is not pushed in, a notification is given that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not normally mounted. As a mode of notification, a notification can be made 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. . Further, as another notification mode, it is also possible to perform notification by lighting or blinking a decorative lamp for performance or a dedicated lamp indicating the mounting state of the ball-polishing cartridge 251 in a predetermined mode.

  In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine as in this embodiment, since the gaming ball enclosed in the gaming machine is circulated to play the game, the game is continued for too long without cleaning the gaming ball. Then, the game ball may become dirty and the rolling of the game ball may worsen. Therefore, it is preferable to clean the game ball with a ball polishing device at any point along the circulation path of the game ball. However, it does not mean that the game cannot be played without the ball polishing device, so even if it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge is not installed, only the notification is given by the display device or the lamp, and the game can be continued. it can.

  Further, the game time by the player is accumulated and measured by the measuring means (not shown) by the detection by the touch switch 87 provided on the handle. In this embodiment, the ball-polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is fed by one step every one minute of the cumulative measurement time of the measuring means. In this embodiment, since the winding roller 259 has a diameter of 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 are Considering that the gear ratio of 1 is 1/2, the feed amount of the ball polishing cloth 263 per step is 0.11 mm (= 78.5 / 360/2).

In the present embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is pressed and fixed by hanging the lever on the stopper, but the fixing method is not limited to this method, and other fixing methods are possible. Methods can also be used.
Further, in the present embodiment, the 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, and other means. It is also possible to use shaped springs or other elastic members.

  In this embodiment, the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is arranged at the bottom of the gaming machine, but the arrangement position of the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is not limited to this position, but may be arranged in the middle or upper part of the gaming machine. It can also be arranged. In that case, the opening provided in the portion of the ball lifting and lowering device 22 that faces the ball polishing cartridge 251 may be changed to a location corresponding to the arrangement position of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as a method of changing the direction in which the game balls are lifted by the ball lifting device 22 and the winding direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is used. Is conveyed 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 carried in a direction inclined from the vertical direction. It is not limited to this, the transportation direction of the game balls of the ball lifting device 22 is set to the vertical direction, and the transportation direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is inclined from the vertical direction, or both are inclined. Various methods such as the direction can be selected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as the mounting sensor 291 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, a pushable button 292 is provided, and the button 292 is pushed by the mounting operation of the ball polishing cartridge 251, thereby mounting the ball polishing cartridge 251. Although detected, the mounting sensor 291 is not limited to these sensors, and other types of sensors such as an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even if the mounting sensor 291 detects that the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is not mounted correctly, the game can be continued by only issuing a notification. When it is detected that the ball-polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, it is possible to prevent the game from being played.

[Game ball enclosing operation]
Next, description will be made regarding the enclosing operation of enclosing a predetermined number of game balls in the enclosed ball type gaming machine when a new enclosed ball type gaming machine is newly installed or when a dirty gaming ball is taken out and cleaned. To do. The enclosing operation is performed in a state where the enclosed ball type gaming machine is not powered on. Therefore, the ball lifting device 22 and various sensors in the enclosed ball game machine are not operating.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine, the game balls are launched into the game area by the launching device, and after rolling in the game area, the game balls are won by the winning device or collected from the outlet 42, and the collected game balls are The game is conveyed to the launch device again, and is launched into the game area again in the launch device to play a game. That is, the circulation route of the game ball is formed as a whole.
The introduction of the game ball in the enclosing operation may be performed by inserting the game ball into this circulation path, and in the present embodiment, the game ball is introduced from the outlet 42. Thereby, it is not necessary to separately provide an enclosing port for enclosing the game ball in the enclosed ball type gaming machine, and the configuration of the enclosed ball type gaming machine can be simplified. Further, instead of the outlet 42, a game ball may be introduced from the winning opening 41 of the winning device. The game ball that has entered the winning opening 41 of the winning device also merges with the game ball that has entered the out opening 42, and is then transported to the launching device. Therefore, the gaming ball from the winning opening 41 of the winning device. Even if the game ball is introduced, the game ball can be put into the circulation path as in the case where the game ball is introduced into the outlet 42. In any case, when introducing the game ball, care must be taken so that the game ball, hand, etc. do not hit the nail. When a game ball is introduced into the outlet 42, a game ball introducing member 427, which will be described later, is provided to prevent the game ball from hitting a nail at the time of insertion. The outlet 42 and the winning opening 41 correspond to the game ball collection opening.

  FIG. 71 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the number of game balls is less than a predetermined number when the game balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. As described above, when the game ball is enclosed, the enclosed ball type gaming machine is not powered on yet, so the ball lifting device 22 is not driven. Therefore, the game balls thrown in through the outlet 42 and the prize winning port 41 enter through the recovery port 202, pass through the irregular shaped ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20, and are aligned with the front side of the ball lifting device 22 as the head.

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

  FIG. 73 shows a state in which the game balls are further thrown in from the state of FIG. 72, and more than a predetermined number of game balls have been thrown. As described above, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the last inserted game ball 233 is configured to block the discontinuous portion 223, so that the further inserted game balls are the predetermined number. It becomes a game ball 235 beyond, and cannot enter the path of the regular game ball 233 from the discontinuous portion 223, and is guided from the magnetic ball discharge path 226 to the magnetic ball discharge chest 227 and collected.

  In the present embodiment, in the magnetic ball discharging portion, the discontinuous portion 223 to which the regular game ball 233 is guided when the predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is blocked, and the predetermined number or more of the game balls are magnetic balls. Although it is configured to collect in the discharge section, similarly in the irregular shaped ball discharge path, the path in which the regular game ball 233 is guided when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is blocked and recovered in the irregular shaped ball discharge section. You can also do so.

  In addition, in order to improve the efficiency when throwing the game ball into the outlet 42, the rail portion of the front component member 45 located at the lower edge of the outlet 42 is provided with a game ball introducing member 427 (FIG. 74, FIG. 74). 75). When the game ball is placed on the upper surface of the game ball introducing member 427, the game ball is poured toward the outlet 42, so that the game ball can be efficiently enclosed. In addition, it is possible to throw the game ball without hitting the nail in the vicinity.

  FIG. 74 is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introducing member 427 is projected. The game ball introducing member 427 can be projected by opening the door frame 3 and sliding it toward you.

  FIG. 75 is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introducing 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 it does not hinder the game.

  In this embodiment, the game ball introducing member 427 has a structure that can be moved forward and backward by sliding manually, but the present invention is not limited to the method described above, and a biasing member such as a spring spring is used to open the door frame. It is possible to select various methods such as automatically opening and closing by opening and closing 3.

  Next, an outline of the control of the pachinko machine 1 and the settlement machine 4 as an external device arranged adjacent to the pachinko machine 1 will be described. FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing a main part in an embodiment of a main control board provided in an enclosed ball type pachinko machine and provided with an RTC. The control of the pachinko machine 1 is roughly divided into a main board group and a peripheral board group. Of these, the main board group controls the game operation, and the peripheral board group has a performance operation (liquid crystal display panel, lamp). , Body frame lamp, door frame lamp, sound) are controlled. The main board group is composed of a main control board 100 and a sphere information control board 110, and the peripheral board group is composed of 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 sphere information control board 110, which will be described later, are connected so that bidirectional data communication is possible. The main control board 100 for controlling the progress of the game is, as shown in FIG. 76, a main control MPU 101 which is a microprocessor having a built-in ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and the like. , 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 built in the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter, referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) are provided.

  The main control MPU 101 has a built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in ROM”) and a main control built-in RAM, as well as a watchdog timer for monitoring its operation (system) and for preventing fraud. The functions of are also built in. Further, the main control MPU 101 has a built-in non-volatile RAM, and this non-volatile RAM has a unique code (only one code exists in the world) for identifying an individual by the manufacturer of the main control MPU 101. ) Is added to the unique ID code stored in advance. Since the ID code once assigned is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, it cannot be rewritten even if an external device is used. The main control MPU 101 can retrieve the ID code from the nonvolatile RAM and refer to it.

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

  The RTC 107 has a clock / calendar function. The clock / calendar function is a function for counting time by counting years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Moreover, you may use what counts to the day of the week as needed. The RTC control unit 106 is provided with an RTC 107 and a battery 108 for driving the RTC 107. By providing the battery 108, the RTC 107 does not interrupt the timekeeping and the calendar function even when the power supply of the power supply board (not shown) is cut off.

  The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery), or a rechargeable secondary battery, which avoids complicating the configuration of the main control board 100 without the need for a backup power supply. You can The battery 108 is also used as a backup power source for the RAM 109.

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

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

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

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

  In addition, the main control MPU 101 serially transmits various kinds of information regarding games (game information) and various commands regarding prize balls according to winnings to the ball information control board 110, and pachinko games from this ball information control board 110. It receives various commands related to the status of the machine 1 in a serial manner. The main control MPU 101 also transmits various commands related to control of game effects 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 ball information control board 110 is provided with a ball information control unit 118 that manages balls and performs various controls relating to the ball lifting device 22, the firing solenoid 13, the ball feeding solenoid 31, the ball polishing ribbon feeding 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 an I / O A ball 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 ball information control MPU 111 is operating normally. , A ball-lifting motor drive circuit 114 for outputting a drive signal to the ball-lifting motor 150 of the ball-lifting device 22 for performing ball-lifting, and a ball information control input circuit to which detection signals from various detection switches are input. A drive signal is output to a CR unit input / output circuit 115 for exchanging various signals with 113 and the settlement machine 4, and a ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. A spherical polish ribbon feeding motor driving circuit 119 for, and a. In addition to its built-in ROM (hereinafter, referred to as “sphere information control built-in ROM”) and RAM (hereinafter, referred to as “sphere information control built-in RAM”), the sphere information control MPU 111 is tampered with. Functions are also built in to prevent this.

  The ball information control MPU 111 receives various kinds of information (game information) about a game from the main control board 100 and various commands about prize balls in a serial manner via the ball information control I / O port 112, or 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.

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

  Further, the ball information control MPU 111 is connected to the firing solenoid 13 through the firing solenoid drive circuit 120 and connected to the ball feed solenoid 31 through the ball feed solenoid drive circuit 122, and the firing solenoid 13 is connected according to the control output from the ball information control MPU 111. The ball feeding solenoid 31 is driven. Also, the presence or absence of game balls to be supplied to the launch standby ball detection switches 26, 70, the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the collected ball detection switch 203, the ball path full tank detection switch 206, the ball proper amount detection switch 207, and the ball lifting device 22. The lifting / lowering inlet switch 156 for detecting the rotation, the lifting / lowering motor sensor (photo sensor) 157 for detecting the number of rotations of the ball lifting / lowering motor 150, and the ball polishing cartridge containing the ball polishing cloth ribbon are mounted. The detection signal from the cassette detection switch 158 for detecting the sphere is input to the sphere information control input circuit 113 via the sensor relay board 124 and to the sphere information control MPU 111 via the sphere information control I / O port 112. There is. The sphere information control MPU 111 outputs drive signals for driving the sphere lifting motor 150, the sphere polishing ribbon feed motor 155, the firing solenoid 13 and the sphere feed solenoid 31 via the sphere information control I / O port 112. Output to.

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

  A detection signal from a touch switch 87 for detecting whether or not the palm or finger is touching the hitting ball handle 10 and a firing stop switch 86 for detecting whether or not the launching of the game ball is forcibly stopped by the intention of the player. Is first input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the handle relay terminal plate 123. Further, when the settlement machine 4 and the sphere information control board 110 are electrically connected, they are input to the CR unit input / output circuit 115 as a CR connection signal.

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

  The power failure monitoring circuit 117 compares and monitors the voltage V1 based on + 24V and the reference voltage, and the voltage V2 based on + 12V and the reference voltage, respectively, and detects a sign of power failure or momentary power failure, that is, the voltage V1 or V2 is the reference voltage. When the voltage becomes lower than the voltage, a power failure warning signal is output as a power failure warning. The power failure notice signal output from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is supplied to the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere 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.

[Payment machine 4]
FIG. 78 is a block diagram mainly showing each element connected to the settlement 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 control unit of the settlement machine 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and the like.

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

[Card 403]
The card 403 used in the embodiment is composed of, for example, a magnetic card or an IC card, and when a player pays a predetermined amount, the card is issued by a card issuing machine (not shown) and provided to the player. In FIG. 78, a data structure stored in the card 403 is shown.

  The card 403 stores an ID number (hereinafter simply referred to as an ID) as identification information individually assigned to the card 403, which corresponds to the amount paid when the card 403 is purchased. The remaining number storage unit 305 in which the remaining number as the valuable value information is stored, and the number-of-balls storage unit 406 in which the number of balls held by the player (the number of balls held by the gaming machine) is stored as a result of the game played. Is set. Note that when the card 403 is issued, the ID is stored in the ID storage unit 404, and the remaining count corresponding to the amount paid when the card 403 is purchased in the remaining count storage unit 405 (for example, the paid amount is 5000 yen). In that case, "5000") is stored as the remaining number, but "0" is stored as the initial value of the number of held balls in the number of held balls storage unit 406.

  The card processor 402 is well known in the art, and includes a card sensor that detects the card 403, a card reader / writer that reads data stored in the card 403, and writes data to the card 403, and data reading of the card 403. It is provided with a card carrying means for feeding the card 403 to the writing position and discharging the card 403 to the card insertion slot. When the card 403 is inserted into the card insertion slot, the card processor 402 sends the card 403 to a predetermined data reading / writing position, and the card reader / writer stores the stored data, that is, the ID, the remaining number and The number of balls is read and output to the settlement machine 4. Further, in response to a write command from the settlement machine 4, the ID, the number of remaining balls, and the number of balls held are written (stored) in each of the storage units described above.

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

[Ball lending by card 403]
When the settlement machine 4 reads the data of the card 403, it displays the remaining number stored in the RAM on the remaining number display section. When the card 403 can be used, the settlement machine 4 lends a ball according to the operation of the ball lending button. In this ball lending, for example, a ball lending number of 125 (the unit price of the ball is 4 yen) is lent for each operation of the ball lending button. In the ball lending, when the number of balls held is less than 125 and the number of balls held is less than 125, the total number of balls held is loaned to the player. The settlement machine 4 transmits the number of lent balls to the sphere information control board 110. Further, the settlement machine 4 obtains the consideration for the ball lending by multiplying the set ball unit price by the number of lent balls, and subtracts the obtained consideration (the consideration corresponding to the ball lending is the remaining number) from the current remaining number. If there is a number of balls to be held and a ball is loaned from the number of balls to be held, the number of balls to be loaned is subtracted from the current number of balls to be held. The settlement machine 4 displays this result on the remaining frequency display section. In addition, the residual frequency is written in the residual frequency storage unit 405 of the card 403.

[Game start]
When the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110 receives the number of lent balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4, the sphere information control MPU 111 adds the number of balls to the game machine and displays the addition result on the touch panel unit 14. The upper launching device 12 can be launched and the game is ready.

[Playing]
When the player operates the hit ball handle 10, the hit ball launching device 29 is actuated, and when the launching hammer 30 launches the game ball at the ball launch position into the game area 8, this is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. Based on this, the driving of one game ball into the game area 8 is detected. Then, the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110 sequentially outputs “1” from the gaming machine possession ball number data stored in the gaming machine possession ball number storage area in response to such a hit detection of each gaming sphere. Is subtracted and the number of balls held 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 arranged at a gate (not shown) that allows the game balls to pass through on the surface of the game board 5, a normal winning opening (not shown). General winning hole detection switches 93, 94 arranged for, a count switch 98 arranged for a large winning hole (not shown), and a starting opening (not shown) serving as an upper starting opening. Also, based on the detection signal from the lower start opening detection switch 90, 91, processing related to the game is performed, and the command or signal as the processing result is the ball information control board 110, the peripheral control board 130, the upper and lower special symbols. It outputs to the display devices 142, 143, upper and lower special symbol memory indicators 144, 145, normal symbol indicator 146, normal symbol memory indicator 147, starting opening solenoid 96, special winning opening solenoid 97, etc.

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

  The main control MPU 101 responds to detection signals of detection switches (general winning port detection switches 93, 94, count switch 98, upper and lower starting port detection switches 90, 91) provided for each winning port. , A prize ball command for instructing 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 game state is, for example, a lottery for missed hits due to a winning on the starting mouth and the starting mouth is performed, and the symbols are variably displayed based on the lottery result to stop the symbols, and the lottery result is hit. In the case of a first-class pachinko gaming machine that shifts to a special game state (big hit game state) in the case of normal game state (probability of winning by lottery is normal probability, and time for variable display of normal symbols is normal), time saving Gaming state (variable symbol display time is shorter than normal, time output information output signal), big hit game state (15 round big hit information output signal, or 2 round big hit information output signal), high probability game State (state that the probability of winning by lottery is higher than normal, probability output information output signal), special symbol changing (special symbol display information output signal), hold based on starting mouth winning There are certain conditions (starting opening winning information output signal) and the like.

  The peripheral control board 130 may include a liquid crystal display panel (not shown), a 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 the sound (voice, sound, sound effect, etc.) output from a speaker (not shown) is also controlled. , Controls the symbols to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel (not shown).

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

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

  In response to receiving such a prize ball command, the ball information control MPU 111 sets the value of the number of prize balls preset for each winning port in the game machine ball count data stored in the game machine ball count storage area. Is added and displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

[End of game, settlement]
After that, when the player operates the settlement button to end the game, the settlement machine 4 sends a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

  In response to the operation of the settlement button, the settlement machine 4 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111, so that the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game finish command sent from the settlement machine 4, and the ball information control The MPU 111 transmits “end permitted” to the settlement machine 4. Next, the ball information control MPU 111 stops the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 to stop the game. The current number of gaming machine balls held in the gaming machine ball storage area is transmitted to the settlement machine 4.

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

  On the other hand, the payment machine 4 receives the "end permitted" as a response to the end condition to the game end command, and then the ball information control MPU 111 transmits the number of balls held by the game machine to the payment machine 4, so that the payment machine 4 is operated. When the number of balls in possession is received, the number of balls in possession of the game machine received is added to the number of balls in possession of the game machine stored in the RAM when the card is inserted and the addition result is stored as the number of balls in possession of the adjustment machine. As a result, all the number of balls held as a result of the game played by the player is stored as the number of balls held by the settlement machine. Then, the end of processing is transmitted to the ball information control MPU 111, the number of balls held by the settlement machine is written in the number of held balls storage section 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 that has been rewritten by adding the number of balls possessed by the game machine as the result of the game 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. 79 to 81. 79 is a flow chart showing a main control side power-on process executed by the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100, and FIG. 80 is a flow chart showing the main control side power-on process of FIG. 79. 4 is a flowchart showing main control timer interrupt processing executed by the main control MPU 101.

[Processing at power-on of main control side]
When the pachinko machine 1 is powered on, the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter, simply referred to as main control MPU) of the main control board 100 performs the main control side power-on process as shown in FIGS. 79 and 80. When this main control side power-on process is started, the main control MPU sets the stack pointer (step S10). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address stacked on the stack to temporarily store the contents of the storage element (register) being used, or the return address of this routine when exiting the subroutine and returning to this routine. It also indicates the address stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S10, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from the initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the stack stacked last to the stack stacked first.

  After step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether a power failure advance notice signal is input (step S14). The voltage does not rise immediately after the power is turned on until it reaches the specified voltage. On the other hand, when there is a power failure or an instantaneous power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped), the voltage drops, and when it becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110 notifies the power failure as a power failure warning. A signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, when the voltage becomes smaller than the power failure warning voltage from the time the power is turned on to the predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110.

  Therefore, the wait timer process 1 of step S12 is a process for waiting until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable after the power is turned on. In this embodiment, the wait time (wait timer) is 200 milliseconds ( ms) is set. The determination in step S14 is performed based on the 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 larger than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 outputs no power failure warning signal, and the main control MPU proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the main control MPU determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 (FIG. 76) is operated (step S16). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and the operation signal (detection signal) is input to the main control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is being operated, while when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not being operated.

  When it is determined in step S16 that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, the value 1 is set in the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S30, while the RAM clear switch 105 is operated in step S16. When it is determined that the RAM has not been operated, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to the value 0 (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S30.

  This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is a game relating to games such as probability fluctuations, unpaid prize balls, etc. stored in a RAM (hereinafter referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101. It is a flag indicating whether or not to erase the information, and is set to a value 1 when the game information is erased and a value 0 when the game information is not erased. The value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in steps S18 and S19 is stored in the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

  When the main control MPU proceeds to step S30, it performs wait timer processing 2 (step S30). In the wait timer processing 2, the system for controlling the drawing control of the liquid crystal display device (not shown) by the liquid crystal control unit of the peripheral control board 130 is waited until it is booted. In this embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as the time until booting (boot timer).

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

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

  When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S38, that is, when the main-control-side power-off processing is normally completed, the work area of the main-control-internal RAM is set as the power recovery (step S40). In this setting, the value 0 is set in the backup flag BK-FLG, and the power recovery information is read from the ROM built in the main control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in ROM"), and this power recovery is performed. The time information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. The term "power recovery" means that the power is turned on from the power-off state, the power is restored from a power failure or momentary interruption, and the high frequency is detected and reset. It also includes the state of returning after that.

  Subsequent to step S40, power-on command creation processing is performed (step S42). In the power-on command creation processing, the 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 0 (value 1), that is, when the game information is erased, or the checksum value (sum value) is matched in step S36. If the backup flag BK-FLG is not 1 (value 0) in step S38, that is, if the power-off process on the main control side has not been normally terminated, the main control internal RAM All areas are cleared (step S44). Specifically, the value 0 is written in the main control built-in RAM (note that a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM as an initial value and set). In addition, the random number for determining the initial value of the jackpot determination random number is used when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase the game information, when the thumb values do not match, or When the power-off process on the main control side is not normally completed, the unique ID code stored in advance in the non-volatile RAM of the main control MPU is retrieved, and the big hit determination random number is updated based on the retrieved ID code. The initial value derivation process for always deriving the same fixed value from the fixed numerical value range of the counter is performed, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

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

  Following step S46, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing is performed (step S48). In this RAM clear notification and test command creation processing, a power-on command classified into power-on for clearing the main control built-in RAM and notifying that initialization has been performed is created, and various types of peripheral control board 130 are also created. A test command divided into test-related items for the inspection is created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main control internal RAM.

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

  Following step S50, interrupt permission setting is performed. (Step S52). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process is repeated every 4 ms, ie, the interrupt period set in step S50. The process of steps S10 to S52 is referred to as "main control side power-on process".

  Following step S52, the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S54). The watchdog timer is cleared and set by sequentially setting the value A, the value B, and the value C in the watchdog timer clear register WCL.

  Subsequent to step S54, it is determined whether or not a power failure advance notice signal is input (step S56). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or when the power is interrupted or momentarily stopped, when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the power failure notification voltage, the power failure notification signal is a power failure monitoring circuit of the ball information control board 110 as a power failure notification. It is input from 117. The determination in step S56 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

  When no power failure notice signal is input in step S56, a non-winning random number updating process is performed (step S58). In this non-win / win random number updating process, for example, a reach determination random number, a variable display pattern random number, a big hit symbol initial value determination random number, a small hit symbol initial value determination random number, and the like are updated. In this way, in the non-winning random number updating process, the random numbers that are not involved in the winning / judging determination (big hit determination) are updated. Incidentally, the random number for normal symbol hit determination, the random number for initial value determination for normal symbol hit determination, the random number for normal symbol variation display pattern, etc. are also updated by this non-win / win random number updating process.

  After step S58, the process returns to step S54 again, the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, and it is determined in step S56 whether or not the power failure warning signal is input, and the power failure warning signal must be input. For example, the non-winning random number updating process is performed in step S58, and steps S54 to S58 are repeated. The processing of steps S54 to S58 is referred to as "main control side main loop processing".

  On the other hand, when the power failure notice signal is input in step S56, the interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S60). By this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process described later is not performed, writing to the main control internal RAM is prevented, and rewriting of game information is protected.

  Following step S60, the starting opening solenoid 96, the special winning opening solenoid 97, the upper special symbol display 142, the lower special symbol display 143, the upper special symbol memory display 144, the lower special symbol memory display shown in FIG. The drive signal output to the device 145, the normal symbol display device 146, the normal symbol memory display device 147, the game state display device 148, the round display device 149, etc. is stopped (step S62).

  Following step S62, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S64). This checksum regards the game information in the work area of the main control internal RAM as a numerical value, excluding the storage area of the above-mentioned checksum value (sum value) and the value of the backup flag BK-FLG, and calculates the total thereof.

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

  Following 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.

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

  The pachinko machine 1 (main control MPU 101) is reset when a power failure or momentary power failure occurs, and the main control side power-on processing is performed by subsequent power restoration.

  In step S36, it is checked whether or not the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal, and then in step S38, it is checked whether or not the main control side power-off process is normally ended. Inspecting. In this way, by double checking the backup information stored in the RAM with built-in main control, it is inspected whether the backup information is stored due to an illegal act.

[Main control timer interrupt processing]
Next, the main control side timer interrupt process will be described. This main control side timer interrupt process is repeated every interrupt period (4 ms in this embodiment) set in the main control side power-on process shown in FIGS. 79 and 80.

  When the main control side 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.

  Following step S70, the interrupt flag is cleared (step S72). The interrupt cycle is initialized by clearing this interrupt flag, and the next interrupt cycle is clocked from its 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 internal RAM.

  Subsequent to step S74, timer subtraction processing is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction process, for example, the time when the upper special symbol display device 142 and the lower special symbol display device 143 are turned on according to the variable display pattern determined by the special symbol and special electric auditors product control process described later, the ordinary symbol described below, and In addition to the time when the normal symbol display 146 lights up according to the normal symbol variation display pattern determined by the normal electric accessory control process, the ball information control substrate 110 transmits various commands transmitted by the main control substrate 100 (main control MPU). When determining whether or not the sphere information main ACK signal indicating that the signal has been normally received is input, time management such as the ACK signal input determination time set as the determination condition is performed. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, the timer interruption period is set to 4 ms, so the fluctuation time is decremented by 4 ms every time this timer subtraction process is performed. Then, the variation time of the variable display pattern or the normal symbol variable display pattern is accurately measured when the subtraction result becomes the value 0.

  In this embodiment, the ACK signal input determination time is set to 100 ms. The ACK signal input determination time is subtracted by 4 ms each time this timer subtraction process is performed, and the ACK signal input determination time is accurately measured because the subtraction result becomes the value 0. 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 random number updating process is performed (step S78). In this winning random number update processing, the above-described big 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 jackpot symbol initial value determination, which is updated in the non-winning random number updating process of step S58 in the main control side power-on process (main control side main process) shown in FIG. 80, Also, the random number for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol is updated. The random numbers for determining the initial value for the big hit symbol and the random numbers for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol are respectively updated in the main control side main process and the main control side timer interrupt process to further enhance the randomness. . On the other hand, the big hit determination random number, the big hit symbol random number, and the small hit symbol random number are random numbers related to the winning determination (big hit determination), so each time the winning random number update process is performed, each counter Will count up. For example, the counter that updates the big hit determination random number is an initial value update type counter, as described above, and has a predetermined fixed numerical value range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in the present embodiment, the value is set as the minimum value. The value is updated within the value 32767) as 0 to the maximum value, and the range from the minimum value to the maximum value is incremented by incrementing the value by one each time the main control timer interrupt processing is performed. The random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is counted up toward the maximum value (value 32767), and then the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is counted up. When the counter for updating the big hit judging random number finishes counting up the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the big hit judging random number, the big hit judging initial value determining random number is updated by the hit random number updating process. At this time, the updated value is always the same from the fixed numerical value range of the counter in which the main control MPU fetches the ID code from the built-in nonvolatile RAM and updates the big hit determination random number based on the fetched ID code. An initial value derivation process for deriving a fixed value of is executed, and the derived fixed value is set as an initial value. That is, the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is always overwritten and updated with the same fixed value derived based on the ID code by executing the initial value derivation process. In addition, the above-mentioned normal symbol per determination random number, normal symbol per determination initial value determination random number are also updated by this winning random number update process. Ordinary symbol hitting determination random numbers and the like are the same as the above-described large hitting determination random number updating method, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Following step S78, prize ball control processing is performed (step S80). In this award ball control processing, the award ball command for reading the input information from the above-mentioned input information storage area and transmitting it to the sphere information control board 110 based on this input information, or the main control board 100 and the sphere information is transmitted. A self-check command for confirming the connection state between the control board 110 and the board is created. Then, the created prize ball command and self-check command are transmitted to the ball information control board 110 as main ball information serial data. For example, when one game ball enters the special winning opening, a prize ball command representing 15 balls as the number of prize balls is created and transmitted to the ball information control board 110, or this prize ball command is sent to the ball information control board. When the ball information main ACK signal indicating that 110 has been normally received 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. It is transmitted to the ball information control board 110.

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

  Subsequent to step S82, fraudulent activity detection processing is performed (step S84). In this fraudulent activity detection process, an abnormal state regarding the prize ball is confirmed. For example, when the input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area and the detection signal from the count switch 98 is input when the jackpot is not in the gaming state (when the game ball enters the special winning opening), A winning anomaly display command classified into notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

  Following step S84, special symbol and special electric auditors product control processing is performed (step S86). In this special symbol and special electric auditors product control processing, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter for updating the above-mentioned random number for jackpot determination is extracted and coincides with the jackpot determination value stored in the main control built-in ROM (big hit). Whether or not to generate a game state is determined (referred to as "special lottery")), and the value of the counter for updating the big hit symbol random number is taken out and the probability variation hit determination value stored in advance in the main control ROM. It is determined whether or not they match (determination as to whether or not a probability change occurs). Here, the “probability change” means that the probability of a big hit changes to a high probability (probability change time) that is set higher than in a normal time (low probability). In the present embodiment, as the range of the above-mentioned big hit judgment value (big hit judgment range), the values 32668 to 32767 are set in the low probability, and the values are read from the normal time judgment table, whereas the value 32438 is set in the high probability. The value 32767 is set, and it is read from the probability change time determination table. As described above, in the special symbol and special electric auditors product control processing of step S86, whether or not the value of the counter for updating the big hit determination random number and the big hit determination value stored in the main control built-in ROM in advance match each other. When determining whether or not, the value of the counter that updates the random number for jackpot determination is included in the jackpot determination range.

  When these determination results are based on the upper starting opening detection switch 90, various commands related to special figure 1 tuning effect are created, while when the lottery result is based on the lower starting opening detection switch 91, Figure 2 Create various commands related to tuning effect, and store it in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, and turn on the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 according to the determined variable display pattern of the special symbol. Thus, 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 in the above-mentioned output information storage area as output information.

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

  Following step S86, normal symbol and normal electric auditors product control processing is performed (step S88). In this normal symbol and normal electric auditors product control processing, the input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area, and the gate winning processing is performed based on this input information. In the gate winning process, it is determined from the input information whether the detection signal from the gate switch 92 has been input to the input terminal. Based on this determination result, when the detection signal is input to the input terminal, the value of the counter for updating the above-mentioned random number for normal symbol determination is extracted and the gate information is stored in the gate information storage area of the main control RAM. Remember.

  Subsequent to step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In this port output processing, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102, and various signals are output based on this 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. In the jackpot gaming state, a drive signal is output to the special winning opening solenoid 97 that opens and closes the opening and closing member of the special winning opening, and a drive signal is output to the starting opening solenoid 96 that opens and closes the movable piece. In addition, 15 round big hit information output signal, 2 round big hit information output signal, probability fluctuation information output signal, special symbol display information output signal, normal symbol display information output signal, time saving medium information output information, starting mouth winning information output signal Various information (game information) signals relating to games such as are output to the ball information control board 110.

  Subsequent to step S90, peripheral control board command transmission processing is performed (step S92). In this peripheral control board command transmission processing, the transmission information is read from the above-mentioned transmission information storage area, and this transmission information is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main-circle serial data. In this transmission information, various commands created in the main control timer interrupt process of this routine are classified into special figure 1 tuning effect related, various commands classified into special figure 2 tuning effect related, and classified into jackpot related. Various commands that are displayed, various commands that are classified as power-on, various commands that are classified as general figure tuning performance related, various commands that are classified as normal electric role performance related, various commands that are classified as notification display, status display Various commands that are classified, various commands that are related to tests, and various other commands that are classified are stored. One packet of the main serial data is composed of 3 bytes.

  Specifically, the main circumference serial data has a status indicating the type of command having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), a mode indicating a variation of the effect having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), and a status. And a sum value calculated by summing the mode as a numerical value, and the sum value is created at the time of transmission. The processing of steps S74 to S92 will be referred to as "game control processing".

  Following 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 be cleared.

  Following step S94, the register is switched (restored) (step S96), and this routine ends. Here, when the main control side timer interrupt process, which is this routine, is started, the main control MPU stacks the contents of the general-purpose registers in a hardware manner and saves them. 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 in the stack are read out and written in the original register. The main control MPU sets the interrupt permission after the return in step S96.

[Various control processing of sphere information control board]
Next, various control processes performed by the sphere information control board 110 shown in FIG. 77 will be described with reference to FIGS. 81 to 86. FIG. 82 is a flowchart showing the sphere information control side power-on process executed by the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110, and FIG. 83 is a flowchart showing the sphere information control side power-on process of FIG. FIG. 84 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the power-on process on the sphere information control side subsequent to FIG. 83, and FIG. 85 shows the sphere information control power-off process executed by the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110. FIG. 86 is a flowchart showing one example of the sphere information control side timer interrupt processing.

[Ball information control side power-on processing]
When the pachinko game machine 1 is powered on, the sphere information control MPU 111 (hereinafter, simply referred to as sphere information control MPU) of the sphere information control unit 118 in the sphere information control board 110, as shown in FIGS. 82 to 83, Sphere information control side Performs processing when power is turned on. When the power-on process on the ball information control side is started, the ball information control MPU sets the interrupt mode (step S500). This interrupt mode sets the priority of interrupts of the sphere information control MPU. In this embodiment, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set as the highest priority, and when an interrupt of this sphere information control unit timer interrupt process occurs, the process is preferentially performed.

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

  Following 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 is composed of a voltage comparison circuit and a D-type flip-flop IC. The voltage comparison circuit outputs the comparison result by comparing the voltage between + 24V and the reference voltage or by comparing the voltage between + 12V and the reference voltage. This comparison result indicates that the logic becomes HI and is input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop, when the power failure or the momentary power failure does not occur, while the logic becomes HI when the power failure or the momentary power failure occurs. The logic becomes LOW and is input to the PR terminal which is the 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 this D type flip-flop is started. This power failure clear signal is input to the clear terminal via the ball information control I / O port 112 of the ball information control unit 118, with its logic being LOW. As a result, the sphere information control MPU can release the latched 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 latched state is set. Then, the output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal, can be set, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

  After step S504, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether a power failure advance notice signal is input (step S508). The voltage does not rise immediately after the power is turned on until it reaches the specified voltage. On the other hand, when there is a power outage or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the supply of power is temporarily stopped), the voltage drops, and when it becomes lower than the power failure notification voltage, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 inputs a power failure notification signal as a power failure notification. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage from the time when the power is turned on to the predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117. Therefore, the wait timer process 1 of step S506 is a process for waiting until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable after the power is turned on. In this 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 is input. This determination is performed based on the signal output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal of the D type flip-flop, as the power failure notice signal.

  Following 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 this power failure clear signal, the logic becomes HI via the ball information control I / O port 112 and the signal is input to the CLR terminal which is a clear terminal. As a result, the sphere information control MPU can set the D type flip-flop in the latched state. The D type flip-flop outputs a power failure notice signal from the 1Q terminal which is an output terminal when the state in which the logic is LOW and is input to the PR terminal which is the preset terminal is latched.

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

  When 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 the ball information RAM has not been set, the value 0 is set in the ball information RAM clear (step S516), and the process proceeds to step S518.

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

  Subsequent to step S514 or step S516, the setting for permitting access to the RAM with built-in sphere information control is performed (step S518). By this setting, the RAM with built-in ball information control can be accessed, and for example, the ball information can be written (stored) or read.

  Following step S518, the stack pointer is set (step S520). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address stacked on the stack for temporarily storing the contents of the storage element (register) in use, or the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after ending the subroutine. It also indicates the address stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S520, the stack pointer is set to the initial address, and the contents of the register, the return address, and the like are stacked on the stack from the initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the stack stacked last to the stack stacked first.

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

  When the sphere information RAM clear flag has a value of 0 in step S527, that is, when the sphere information is not erased, a checksum is calculated (step S528). This checksum regards the sphere information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculates the total thereof.

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

  If the sphere information backup flag has a value of 1 in step S532, that is, if the sphere information control unit power-off process is normally completed, the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM is set for power recovery (step S534). In this setting, in addition to setting the value 0 to the sphere information backup flag, the power recovery information is read from the ROM built in the sphere information control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "sphere information control built-in ROM"), Information upon power recovery is set in the work area of the RAM with built-in ball information control. As a result, information used for various processes is set based on various flags, various information stored in the various information storage areas, which are the above-mentioned spherical information backup information stored in the RAM for storing spherical information control. . It should be noted that the term "power recovery" includes not only a state in which the power is turned off and a state in which the power is turned on, but also a state in which the power is subsequently restored from a power failure or an instantaneous power failure.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S527 that the sphere information RAM clear flag is not 0 (value 1), or if the checksum values do not match in step S530, or the sphere information backup flag is set to value in step S532. If it is determined that the value is not 1 (value 0), that is, if the power-off processing of the ball information control unit has not been normally terminated, the entire area of the RAM for built-in ball information control is cleared (step S536). As a result, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is cleared.

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

  Following step S534 or step S538, interrupt initialization is performed (step S540). This setting is to set the interrupt cycle when the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process described later is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 2 ms.

  Following step S540, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S542). With this setting, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed at the interrupt period set at step S540, that is, every 2 ms.

  Subsequent to step S542, it is determined whether or not a power failure advance notice signal is input (step S544). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, or when the power is interrupted or momentarily stopped, when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the power failure notification voltage, the power failure notification signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as the power failure notification. The determination in step S540 is made based on this power failure notice signal.

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

  When it is determined in step S546 that the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 0, that is, when 2 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S544 and it is determined whether or not the power failure advance notice signal is 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 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to 0 (step S547), and the process proceeds to step S550. The external WDT clear signal is output to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (ON, step S550). The external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the ball information control MPU, and when the external WDT clear signal is not stopped during the clear signal release time, a reset signal is sent to the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112. Is output and reset is performed (the system of the sphere information control MPU is regularly diagnosed whether it is running out of control).

  Following step S550, port output processing is performed (step S552). In this port output processing, various kinds of information are 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 kinds of information.

  In the output information storage area, for example, the ball information main ACK information indicating that various commands (prize ball command or self-check command) related to the prize ball from the main control board 100 are normally received, Various information such as drive information for performing drive control is stored, and when the 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. It outputs a ball information main ACK signal to the main control board 100 and outputs a drive signal to the firing solenoid 13.

  Subsequent to step S552, port input processing is performed (step S554). In this port input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the sphere information control I / O port 112 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM. For example, the door frame opening switch 131, the body frame opening switch 132, the launch standby ball detection switches 26, 70, the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the collected ball detection switch 203, the ball path full tank detection switch 206, the ball proper amount detection switch 207, Lifting / inletting switch 156, lifting / driving motor sensor (photo sensor) 157, cassette detection switch 158, firing stop switch 86, touch switch 87, BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal from the settlement machine 4, command transmission processing described later. The main sphere information ACK signal and the like from the main control board 100, which informs that the main control board 100 has normally received the various commands transmitted in step 1, are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area.

  Following step S554, timer updating processing is performed (step S556). The various determination times are stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the sphere information control built-in RAM. 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 value is decremented by 1. For example, when "1000" is set to the timer as a value corresponding to 2 seconds (2000 ms), the timer interrupt period is set to 2 ms, so that the timer value is incremented by 1 each time the timer subtraction process is performed in the 2 ms period. Subtraction is performed, and the result of the subtraction becomes a value of 0, so the time is up and the time is accurately measured.

  Subsequent to step S556, settlement machine communication processing is performed (step S558). In the payment machine communication process, whether or not various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal) from the payment machine 4 are input based on the input information read from the above-mentioned input information storage area. To judge. The sphere information control MPU exchanges various signals with the settlement machine 4 based on various signals from the settlement machine 4. When the sphere information control MPU receives, for example, the number of lent balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4, the sphere information control MPU adds the number of lent balls to the gaming machine possessed sphere number data.

  Following step S558, command reception processing is performed (step S560). In this command reception processing, various commands (prize ball command and self-check command) related to prize balls are received from the main control board 100. When these various commands are normally received, the sphere information main ACK information to that effect is stored in the above-mentioned output information storage area. On the other hand, when various commands are not normally received, a connection for notifying that the connection between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 is abnormal (various command signals are abnormal) The abnormality information is stored in the above-mentioned state information storage area.

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

  Following step S562, main operation setting processing is performed (step S564). In this main operation setting processing, the ball information control MPU sets the operation of the firing solenoid 13, the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball lifting device 22 (ball lifting motor 150), the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. In addition, the ball information control MPU sequentially detects "1" from the game machine possession ball number data stored in the game machine possession ball number storage area in response to the detection of each one of the game balls based on the detection of the ball by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. Is subtracted. Further, when the 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 gaming machine possessed ball number data stored in the gaming machine possessed ball number data.

  Following step S564, LED display data creation processing is performed (step S566). In this LED display data creation processing, for example, the gaming machine possession ball number data stored in the above-mentioned gaming machine possession ball number storage area is read out, and the display data for displaying the number of possession balls on the touch panel portion 14 is prepared to generate an LED. The display information is stored in the output information storage area described above.

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

  Following step S568, the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 is stopped (OFF, step S570). This clears the external WDT 116 so that the sphere information control MPU and the sphere 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.

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

  On the other hand, when the power failure notice signal is input in step S544, the interrupt prohibition setting is performed (step S572). By this setting, the sphere information control unit timer interrupt processing, which will be described later, is not performed, writing to the RAM for incorporating sphere information control is prevented, and rewriting of the sphere information described above is protected.

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

  Following step S574, the output of the drive signal to the firing solenoid 13 is stopped (step S576). Thereby, the launch of the game ball is stopped. Following 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 hitting ball launching device 29 side is stopped.

  Following step S578, the external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S580). This clears the external WDT 116. Following step S580, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). This checksum is calculated by considering the ball information in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM as a numerical value, excluding the storage area of the checksum value calculated in step S528 and the value of the ball information backup flag HBK-FLG. To do. Following step S582, the sphere information backup flag is set to the value 1 (step S584). This completes the storage of the ball information backup information. Subsequent to step S584, the setting for prohibiting access to the ball information control built-in RAM is performed (step S586). By this setting, access to the RAM with built-in sphere information control is prohibited, writing and reading cannot be performed, and the sphere information backup information stored in the RAM with sphere information control is protected.

  Following step S586, a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is performed is entered. In this loop processing, the clear signal is not turned ON / OFF to the external WDT 116. Therefore, the external WDT 116 outputs a reset signal to the sphere information control MPU and the sphere information control I / O port 112 to reset it. After that, the sphere information control MPU performs the sphere information control side power-on process again from the beginning. The processing and loop processing in steps S572 to S586 are referred to as "sphere information control power-off processing".

  The pachinko machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset at the time of a power failure or a momentary power failure, and performs power-on processing on the ball information control side due to subsequent power restoration.

  In step S530, it is checked whether or not the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is normal, and in step S532, the sphere information control unit power-off processing is normally terminated. Inspecting whether or not In this way, the sphere information backup information stored in the sphere information control built-in RAM is double checked to check whether or not the sphere information backup information is stored due to an illegal act.

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

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

  Following step S590, the value 1 is set to the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S592). The 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that measures 2 ms every time the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process is performed, that is, every 2 ms, and has a value of 1 when 2 ms has elapsed and a value of 0 when 2 ms has not elapsed. Is set to each. Following step S592, register switching (return) is performed (step S594). This return switches from the auxiliary register used in the sphere information control side timer interrupt processing to the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register). By using this general-purpose register in the main processing on the sphere information control side, the value of the auxiliary register will not be overwritten. This prevents destruction of the contents of the auxiliary register used in the sphere information control unit timer interrupt process. Following step S594, interrupt permission is set (step S596), and this routine ends.

[Each process executed in the sphere information control main process]
Next, each process executed by the sphere information control MPU of the sphere information control board 110 every 2 ms in the sphere information control main process of FIG. 84 will be described. First, the ball lending process will be described, and subsequently, the hitting possibility determination process, the number of held balls counting process, the ball feeding / launching drive process, the shot ball detection process, and the number of held balls subtracting process will be described. It should be noted that the hitting possibility determination process, the number of held balls counting process, the ball feeding / launching driving process, the shot ball detecting process, the number of held balls subtracting process, and the lifting driving process are one of the main operation setting processes of step S564. The ball hit possibility determination process, the number of held balls count process, the ball feed / launch drive process, the shot ball detection process, the number of held balls subtraction process, and the lifting drive process are executed in this order.

  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 balls held in the number of held balls storage unit 406 are read and RAM is read. In a predetermined storage area (ID storage area, remaining number storage area, ball possession storage area).

  Next, the settlement machine 4 determines whether the inserted card 403 is usable or unusable. In this embodiment, when the read remaining number is 0 and the read ball count is 0, it is determined that the card 403 cannot be used, and the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot. Therefore, when it is determined that the card 403 is unusable, each of the ball holding count processing, the ball feeding / launch drive processing, and the ball holding subtraction processing described below is not executed.

  On the other hand, when the read remaining count is not 0, or when the read remaining count is 0 but the read number of holding balls is not 0, the settlement machine 4 determines that the card is usable, and the ball information The card availability information is transmitted to the control board 110.

  When the player presses the ball lending button to play a game, an operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the settlement machine 4. According 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 lent balls to the sphere information control MPU of the sphere information control board 110, and then from the sphere information control MPU. Wait until you receive the end of the ball lending that has been sent.

[Ball rental processing]
Here, the ball rental process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 87 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a ball rental process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball lending process is executed as one of the payment machine communication processes in step S558 executed every 2 ms in the sphere information control main process.

  When the ball lending process is started, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the card availability information transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received (step S600). In step S600, when the card availability information transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received, the process proceeds to step S601, and the number-of-balls-holding counter (game machine holding) which is a part of the storage area set in the built-in RAM. The sphere number storage area) is cleared to 0 (step S601), and the process proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, if the card availability information transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is not received in step S600, the process directly proceeds to step S602. It should be noted that the initial value of the number-of-balls-holding counter is set to "0" by the power recovery setting of the RAM work area in step S534.

  When proceeding to step S602, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not the number of lent balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received (step S602). When the number of lent balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is received in step S602, the process proceeds to step S603, and the received number of lent balls is added to the value of the sphere number counter (step S603). The end of lending is transmitted to the settlement machine 4 (step S604), and the subroutine of the ball lending process is exited.

  On the other hand, in step S602, if the number of lent balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4 is not received, the process does not proceed to steps S603 and S604, and the subroutine of the lent ball processing is directly exited.

  As described above, the card availability information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110 only when the newly usable card 303 is inserted into the settlement machine 4. Further, the number of lent balls is transmitted to the sphere information control MPU only when the operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the settlement machine 4 after the card availability information is received. Then, when the number of lent balls is received, the number of lent balls is first added and stored in the value of the number-of-balls-holding counter.

[Striking ball decision processing]
Next, the hitting possibility determination processing executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 88 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the hitting possibility determination processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The hitting availability determination processing is executed as one of the main operation setting processing of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main processing.

  The ball information control MPU, when starting the hitting possibility determination processing, determines whether or not the number of held balls is 0, that is, whether or not the value of the number of held balls counter is 0 (step S710). When it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number-of-balls-holding counter is not 0, that is, when NO is determined in step S710, the process proceeds to step S711, and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10). ) Is on, that is, whether there is a standby ball in the ball feeding device 28 (step S711).

  When it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is on, the launch flag is set to 1 (can be launched) (step S712), and the hitting availability determination process is performed. Exit the subroutine. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S710 that the value of the ball holding counter is 0, and when it is determined in step S711 that the firing standby ball detection switch 70 is not on (off), the firing is performed. The possibility flag is set to 0 (cannot be fired) (step S713), and the subroutine of the hitting possibility determination processing is exited.

  In this way, when the value of the ball holding counter is not 0 and the ball feeding device 28 has a standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 can be driven, and the game area 8 of the game ball is substantially. It is in a game-ready state where it can be driven into. Further, when the value of the ball holding counter is 0, or when the ball feeding device 28 has no standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven, and the game ball is substantially driven into the game area 8. You cannot play games. At the same time, the ball feeding solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

[Ball count processing]
Next, the number-of-balls-holding counting process corresponding to ball information processing during a game will be described assuming that the game is substantially enabled. FIG. 89 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of the ball holding count processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The number-of-balls 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.

  When the ball information control MPU starts the possessed ball count processing, it determines whether or not there is a prize ball command analyzed in the command analysis processing of step S562 (step S720). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a prize ball command stored in the received command information storage area. When the prize ball command is stored, it is determined that step S720 is present, and the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize ball command stored in the received command information storage area is added to the value of the ball number counter and stored (step S722). ), Exit the subroutine for counting the number of balls. On the other hand, when the prize ball command is not stored, it is determined that step S720 is not performed, and the subroutine of the ball holding count processing is exited.

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

[Ball feed and launch drive processing]
Next, the ball feeding / firing drive processing will be described. 90 to 91 are flowcharts showing an example of a subroutine of the ball feeding / launching drive process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball feeding / launching 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.

  Further, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timings of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when a period A has passed from the time when the ball feed solenoid 31 was turned on, and the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off when a period B has passed from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on and a ball feed is performed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when a 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 feed member 32 brings the launch ball into the launch position (rail portion 332). That is, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the launch ball. In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is a launch ball when the launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects a game ball stopped at the launch position over a predetermined time period (30 ms as the period D). To do.

  In this way, when the game ball stopped at the launch position by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a launch ball. Erroneous ball counts on the ball can be eliminated and the certainty in detecting the launch ball can be increased.

  Then, when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball stopped at the launch position is launched into the game area 8 by the launch hammer 30, and the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. As a result, the number of balls held is reduced by -1.

  When the sphere feed / launch drive process is started, the sphere information control MPU first determines whether or not the fireable flag is 1 (fireable) (step S730). When it is determined in the hit ball availability determination processing that the launch is possible, the launch enable flag is set to 1 (fireable). If it is determined in step S730 that the firing possible flag is not 1 (firing is possible), that is, if the firing possible flag is 0 (cannot be firing), the subroutine for ball feed / firing drive processing is exited. In this case, substantial ball feeding / launching drive processing is not executed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S730 that the firing flag is 1 (can fire), the process proceeds to step S731, and it is determined whether the processing flag is 0 (step S731).

  Here, the processing flag is a flag for identifying to which of the processes the sphere information control MPU branches in a sphere feed / launch drive process described later, in other words, control in sphere feed / launch drive. It is a flag for identifying the state, "0" means initial setting, and "1" defines the period until the firing solenoid 13 is turned on after the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on. Yes, it defines the period until the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off after the firing solenoid 13 is turned on in "2", and the firing solenoid 13 is turned off after the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off in "3". It defines the period until.

  The value of the processing flag is set to 0 when the ball feeding / launching driving processing is started. Therefore, it is determined YES in step S731, the process proceeds to step S732, the timer value corresponding to the period A (see FIG. 24, 300 ms) is set in the timer (step S732), and the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on (step S733). , 1 is set to the processing flag (step S734), and the processing for exiting the ball feeding / launching operation is exited. The timer value set in the timer is decremented by 1 in a 2 ms cycle in the timer updating process of step S556 in FIG.

  The next processing cycle of the ball feed / launch drive processing is 2 ms later. As a result of the processing flag being set to 1, in the ball feeding / launching driving process of the next cycle, it is determined as YES in step S730, NO is determined in step S731, and the process proceeds to step S735. In step S735, it is determined whether the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S735). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 1, step S735 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S736, and it is determined whether or not the timer has timed out (step S736). If the timer has not timed out, step S736 is determined to be NO, and the subroutine for ball feed / launch drive processing is exited.

  Hereinafter, until the timer that sets the period A expires, 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 based on the value 1 of the processing flag. The processing routine for determining NO in S736 is repeated.

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined as YES in step S736, it is determined that the period A has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S737, and the timer value corresponding to the period B (see FIG. 26, 30 ms) is set. (Step S737), the firing solenoid 13 is turned on (step S738), the processing flag is set to 2 (step S739), and the subroutine for ball feed / firing drive processing is exited.

  As a result of the process flag being set to 2, in the ball feeding / launching drive process of the next cycle, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S740. . In step S740, it is determined whether the value of the processing flag is 2 (step S740). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 2, step S740 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S741, and it is determined whether or not the timer has timed out (step S741). If the timer has not timed out, step S741 is determined to be NO and the subroutine for ball feed / launch drive processing is exited.

  Hereinafter, until the timer that sets the period B expires, 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 based on the value 2 of the processing flag. The processing routine of determining YES in step S740 and determining NO in step S741 is repeated.

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined that step S741 is YES, 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. (Step S742), the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off (step S743), the process flag is set to 3 (step S744), and the ball feed / launch drive process subroutine is exited.

  As a result of the process flag being set to 3, in the ball feeding / launching drive process 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. It is determined and the process proceeds to step S745. In step S745, it is determined whether or not the timer has timed out (step S745). If the timer has not timed out, step S745 is determined as NO, and the ball feeding / firing drive processing subroutine is exited.

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

  Then, when the timer times out, it is determined YES in step S745, 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 process flag is set to 0. It returns to the initial value (step S747), and exits the subroutine of ball feed / launch drive processing.

[Launch ball detection processing]
Next, the launch ball detection process 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 launch ball detection 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.

  When the launch ball detection process is started, the ball information control MPU first determines whether or not the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is on (step S750). As described above, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the ball feeding member 32 brings the launching ball into the firing position (rail portion 332). That is, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the launch ball.

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

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

  In step S753, it is determined whether or not the value of the clock counter has reached a predetermined specified time D (30 ms in this example) (step S753). If the value of the clock counter has not reached the preset specified time D, NO is determined in the step S753, and the firing ball detection processing subroutine is exited.

  Since the shot ball detection process is executed every 2 ms, when the game ball stopped at the launch position by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 continues to be detected for a predetermined time D, which is set in advance, The value is incremented by 1, and the value of the clock counter reaches the predetermined time D (30 ms, count value 15 in this example) which is set in advance. In this case, step S753 is determined to be YES, it is considered that a launch ball has been detected, the launch ball detection flag is set to 1 (detected) (step S754), and the launch ball detection process subroutine is exited.

  On the other hand, when noise enters the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 momentarily turns on, but thereafter the launch ball confirmation switch 36 turns off. Therefore, since the value of the time counting counter is set to 0 in response to the turning off of the firing ball confirmation switch 36, the value of the time counting counter is set to a predetermined prescribed time D (30 ms in this example, a count value of 15). Never reach.

  In this way, when the game ball stopped at the launch position by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a launch ball. Erroneous ball counts on the ball can be eliminated and the certainty in detecting the launch ball can be increased.

[Ball subtraction process]
Next, the number-of-balls subtraction process will be described. FIG. 93 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the number-of-balls subtraction process performed by the ball information control MPU. The number-of-balls subtraction process is executed as one of the main action setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the main sphere information control process.

  When the sphere information control MPU starts the number-of-balls subtraction process, first, the sphere information control MPU determines whether or not the launch ball detection flag is 1 (detected) (step S760). When it is determined that the shot ball detection flag is not 1 (detection is present), that is, when step S760 is NO, the subroutine for the number-of-balls subtraction process is exited. In this case, the number of balls held is not subtracted.

  If it is determined in step S760 that the launch ball detection flag is 1 (detected), that is, if step S760 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S761 and the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off. It is determined whether or not (step S761). When it is determined in step S761 that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is not off, that is, when NO is determined in step S761, the subroutine for the number-of-balls-holding subtraction process is exited.

  As described above, when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball retained at the launch position by the launch hammer 30 is launched into the game area 8 and the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. As a result, the number of balls held is reduced by -1. When it is determined in step S761 that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off, that is, when step S761 is determined to be YES, the value of the ball holding counter is decremented by 1 (step S762), and the launch ball detection flag is set. 0 (no detection) is set (step S763), and the subroutine for the number-of-balls subtraction process is exited.

  In this way, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a launch ball and that there is a launch ball. Under the condition, when the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of balls held is reduced by one. Therefore, the launch ball confirmation switch If noise enters the 36, it is possible to eliminate false ball count of the launch ball due to noise, and it is possible to increase the certainty in detecting the launch ball.

[Ball lifting drive processing]
Next, the lifting drive processing will be described. FIG. 94 is a flow chart showing a sub-routine of the pumping drive processing performed by the sphere information control MPU. The lifting 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.

  When 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). When it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, when step S770 is NO, the process proceeds to step S771 and it is determined whether or not the lift inlet / outlet switch 156 is on. (Step S771). If it is determined in step S771 that the lifting inlet switch 156 is ON, that is, if step S771 is YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S772), and the lifting driving processing subroutine is executed. Exit through.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on, that is, if step S770 is YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting driving process Exit the subroutine.
Also, when it is determined in step S771 that the lifting / inlet 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 Exit the subroutine.

  In this way, when the game ball is not detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26, it is determined that the number of game balls required in the ball supply path member 24 is not satisfied, and the ball feed passage is set by the lifting / inlet port switch 156. When a game ball waiting for alignment in 275 is detected, the ball hoisting motor is driven on condition that it is determined that there is a game ball, and the ball is fed into the ball supply path member 24 by the launch standby ball detection switch 26. On condition that a game ball waiting for alignment is detected, the ball hoisting device 22 is stopped to drive and the hoisting of the game ball is stopped. Therefore, the game ball is excessively hoisted in the ball supply path member 24. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of ball clogging. As a result, since the game balls are pumped, the game balls can be sent to the ball supply path member 24 without excess or deficiency.

Further, compared to the firing cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 in the upper launch unit 12 and the ball feeding cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28, the game to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22. The sending cycle of the sphere is set to be short. In the present embodiment, the pitch of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 and the pitch of the ball of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball feeding path member by the ball lifting device 22. The sending cycle of the game balls to 24 is 384 ms.
As a result, during the game, the upper launching unit 12 is operated to launch the game ball into the game area by the ball launch device 29 and send the game ball to the launch position by the ball feeder 28. Also, since the cycle of sending the game balls to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22 is shorter than the cycle of sending the game balls to the launch position, it waits before being lifted by the lifting entrance switch 156. When the state in which the game ball is being filled is maintained, the game ball in the ball supply path member 24 is not detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26 while the game ball is being driven. Then, the ball hoisting device 22 is driven to start hoisting the game balls, and the game balls to the ball supply path member 24 at a pace faster than the driving pace of the game balls. When the game ball which is being sent out and the waiting ball detection switch 26 detects a game ball waiting for alignment in the ball supply path member 24, the ball hoisting device 22 is stopped and the game ball is hoisted. Be stopped. That is, during the game, the ball lifting operation of the ball lifting device 22 is intermittently performed, and it is possible to prevent the ball clogging from occurring and to efficiently and stably lift the game ball to thereby play the game. The balls can be efficiently supplied to the upper launch unit with a stable number of game balls.

  In the present embodiment, the firing cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 and the ball feeding cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball feeding device 22 supplies the ball. Although the sending cycle of the game ball to the path member 24 is 384 ms, the method is not limited to this, and the shooting cycle of the game ball and the ball sending cycle, and the sending cycle of the game ball to the ball supply path member 24. Can be selected to be 600 ms with each other.

[Clogging notification processing]
Next, the ball clogging notification process 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 of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process. Further, the ball clogging notification process is performed subsequent to the hitting possibility determination process shown in FIG. 88. The launch standby ball detection switch 26 corresponds to the first launch standby ball detection means, and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 corresponds to the second launch standby ball detection means.

  When the ball clogging notification process is started, the ball information control MPU 111 first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S780). When it is determined in step S780 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on, that is, when step S780 is determined to be YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S782), and the process proceeds to step S786 to wait for launch. It is determined whether or not the ball detection switch is on (step S786). If it is determined in step S786 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is off, that is, if step S786 is NO, the abnormality detection flag is set to 1 (step S788) and the notification means 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 launch standby ball detection switch 70 is on, that is, if the determination in step S786 is YES, the process proceeds to step S787, and it is determined whether the abnormality detection flag is 1 ( Step S787). If the abnormality detection flag is determined to be 1 in step S787, that is, if the determination in step S787 is YES, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 (step S790), the abnormality notifying means is turned off (step S792), and the recovery notifying means. Is turned on (step S794), and the subroutine of the ball clogging notification processing is exited.

  If it is determined in step S780 that the launch 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 the determination in step S787 is NO, the routine of the ball clogging notification processing is exited.

  In this way, the ball supply route member 24 and the ball feeding device 28 are provided with sensors for detecting the game balls, the game balls in the ball feeding route member 24 are detected, and the game balls in the ball feeding device 28 are detected. On the condition that the ball is not clogged, it is determined that the ball is in an abnormal state due to the ball clogging, and the abnormality is notified by an abnormality notifying unit (not shown, for example, the touch panel unit 14 indicates that the ball is clogged). As a result, for example, it is possible to reliably notify the staff of the game hall that the ball is clogged.

  Further, since the upper launching device 12 of the present embodiment can be rotated by the upper launching device hinge 37 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12), the staff member notified by the ball clogging After opening the door frame 3, the state of the upper launching device 12 can be immediately grasped, and the ball clogging can be easily eliminated. When the ball clogging is eliminated, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 and the abnormality notifying means is stopped. After that, by the recovery notifying means (for example, the touch panel unit 14 is displayed to such an extent that a clerk in the gaming hall can recognize that the ball has been recovered from the blocked state (for example, 5 seconds to 10 seconds)), and the notification is made surely. It is possible to recognize that the ball clogging has been resolved.

  The position of the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is attached so as to detect a game ball in the vicinity of the launch position in the path of the ball feeding device 28, but it detects a game ball passing through the path of the ball feeding device 28. Various arrangement positions can be selected as long as they can be arranged.

[Electrical connection between game board 5 and main frame 2]
The electrical connection of the game board 5 to the main body frame 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 97 is a block diagram showing a game board and a main frame connected by using a drawer connector. Mechanical and electrical connection between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2 is performed by connection with a drawer connector. The game board 5 is provided with a game board side main drawer connector and a game board side auxiliary drawer connector, and the main body frame 2 is provided with a main body frame side main drawer connector and a main body frame side auxiliary drawer connector. There is. By inserting the game board 5 into the body frame 2, the game board side main drawer connector and the body frame side main drawer connector, the game board side auxiliary drawer connector and the body frame side auxiliary drawer connector are connected, and the game board 5 And the body frame 2 are mechanically connected and at the same time electrically connected. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform electrical communication between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2.

[Authentication of main control board 100 and ball information control board 110]
When it becomes possible to perform electrical communication between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2 as described above, mutual authentication between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 is performed when the power is turned on. The authentication functions of the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Although it has been described that the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 described above stores the ID code in advance, the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110 also stores the above-mentioned ID code in advance. Hereinafter, the ID code stored in advance in the main control MPU 101 will be referred to as a first MPU identification number, and the ID code stored in advance in the ball information control MPU 111 will be referred to as a second MPU identification number.

  An example of wording in the present embodiment will be presented. The main control board 100 corresponds to the first control board, the sphere information control board 110 corresponds to the second control board, the main control MPU 101 corresponds to the first MPU, and the sphere information control MPU 111 corresponds to the second MPU.

  The main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 in the present embodiment are capable of bidirectional data communication, and by performing authentication processing between the boards when the power is turned on, each MPU is a legitimate one. It is configured so that it can be determined whether or not there is. The details will be described below.

  The main control board 100 includes at least a main control MPU 101, and whether the main control MPU 101 has a proper first MPU identification number storage unit 101a in which the first MPU identification number stored in advance and the second MPU identification number are appropriate. And a main encryption communication unit 160 that encrypts the information transmitted to the sphere information control MPU 111 and decrypts the information transmitted from the sphere information control MPU 111. Further, the first authentication unit 162 includes a second MPU identification number storage unit 161 that stores the second MPU identification number.

  Further, the sphere information control board 110 includes at least a sphere information control MPU 111, and the sphere information control MPU 111 has a second MPU identification number storage section 111a in which a second MPU identification number stored in advance is stored and a first MPU identification number. A second authentication unit 167 that performs an authentication process as to whether it is proper and a sphere information encryption communication unit 165 that encrypts information transmitted to the main control MPU 101 and decrypts information transmitted from the main control MPU 101. The second authentication unit 167 further includes a first MPU identification number storage unit 166 that stores the first MPU identification number.

  When the gaming machine is powered on, the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 bidirectionally communicate with each other, and the first MPU identification number from the first MPU identification number storage section 101a is encrypted by the main encryption communication section 160. Then, the second MPU identification number is transmitted from the sphere information control MPU 111 to the sphere information encryption communication unit 165, encrypted by the sphere information encryption communication unit 165, and then transmitted to the main encryption communication unit 160.

  Next, the main control MPU 101 decrypts the second MPU identification number transmitted from the sphere information encryption communication unit 165 from the sphere information control MPU 111 using the main encryption communication unit 160, and then the first authentication unit 162 The second MPU identification number storage unit 161 stores the first MPU identification number transmitted from the main control MPU 101 in the sphere information control MPU 111 by using the sphere information encryption communication unit 165, and then decrypts the first MPU identification number in the second authentication unit 167. It is stored in the 1MPU identification number storage unit 166.

  Next, the main control MPU 101 performs authentication processing in the first authentication unit 162 based on the second MPU identification number stored in the second MPU identification number storage unit 161, and determines whether the second MPU identification number is proper. To do.

  On the other hand, the sphere information control MPU 111 performs authentication processing by the second authentication unit 167 based on the first MPU identification number stored in the first MPU identification number storage unit 166, and the first MPU identification number is appropriate. To judge.

  When it is determined that the main control MPU 101 and the ball control MPU 111 are appropriate based on the results of authentication by the first authentication unit 162 and the second authentication unit 167, respectively, when the main control side power is turned on in FIG. 79. Processing and ball information control side power-on processing of FIG. 82 is permitted to start, and it becomes possible to start a game. On the other hand, when it is determined that the game is not appropriate, main control side power-on processing and ball information When the control side power is turned on, the start of processing is not permitted, and it becomes impossible to play a game.

  With these configurations, the main control MPU 101 and the sphere information control MPU 111 are caused to perform mutual authentication processing, and if such authentication processing is not appropriately performed, the game is not performed, It is possible to effectively prevent an illegal act such as the main control MPU 101 or the ball information control MPU 111 being replaced with a counterfeit chip.

  As described above, when the mutual authentication result between the main control MPU 101 and the sphere information control MPU 111 is determined to be appropriate, the main control side power-on process and FIG. The start of the process at the time of turning on the power of the ball information control side 82 is permitted. That is, the game board 5 is legally attached to the main body frame 2 on the condition that the mutual authentication result is determined to be appropriate in the authentication processing mutually performed between the main control MPU 101 and the ball information control MPU 111. It is guaranteed that the game board 5 is present.

[Position of the upper launcher 12 with respect to the game board 5]
As described above, in the upper launching device 12 of the present embodiment, the base plate 39 is disposed on the front left side of the base plate 39 with respect to the main body frame 2 in order to make the upper launching device 12 movable. It is attached so that it can be opened and closed by a hinge 37 for use. The base plate 39 is configured such that the base plate 39 can be opened to the front by using the hinge 37 for the upper launching device as an axis (FIGS. 9, 12, and 96). Then, after the game board 5 is fitted into the body frame 2, the upper launching device 12 is moved to the original position, whereby the work of fitting the game board 5 into the body frame 2 is completed.

  However, when the upper launching device 12 is returned to its original position, if the positional relationship between the upper launching device 12 and the game board 5 is not in a correct position (called a regular position), for example, the upper launching device 12 and the game board If a deviation occurs at the boundary with 5, the running of the ball hit from the launching hole 38 of the upper launching device 12 is obstructed, and the player intends for the game area 8 partitioned on the game board 5. There is a risk that the ball will not be properly hit in the area where it is hit. In that case, the interest of the game of the player will be spoiled.

[Position detection sensor]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the gaming machine in which the launching device (upper launching device 12) is arranged on the upper portion of the main body frame 2, the upper launching device 12 is set to the correct position (referred to as a regular position) with respect to the game board 5. A position detection sensor 180 for detecting whether or not the position is present is provided. 98 is a perspective view showing the upper launching device 12 in an open state with respect to the game board 5, and FIG. 99 is a perspective view showing the upper launching device 12 in a closed state with respect to the game board 5.

  In the present embodiment, the position detection sensor 180 includes a light projecting element 181 and a light receiving element 182. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 98, the light projecting element 181 is arranged on the side surface of the protruding portion 48 of the panel holder 43 of the game board 5. Further, when the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, a position corresponding to the light projecting element 181 arranged on the game board 5, that is, the upper launching device 12 corresponding to the light projecting element 181. The light receiving element 182 is arranged on the side portion on the open side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 97, when the game board 5 and the main body frame 2 are mechanically connected and electrically connected at the same time, power is supplied from the main body frame side to the game board side, A predetermined voltage generated by a power supply circuit (not shown) provided in the game board 5 is given to the light projecting element 181, and light (for example, infrared light) is projected regardless of control by the main control board 100. I shall.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 97, the light receiving element 182 is electrically connected to the sphere information control board 110. The detection signal from the light receiving element 182 is input to the sphere information control MPU 111 through the sphere information control I / O port 112 (see FIG. 77).

  When the upper launching device 12 is in the open state with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 98), or in the state where the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, it is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5. When there is no light, the light projected from the light projecting element 181 arranged on the game board 5 side is not received by the light receiving element 182 arranged on the upper launcher 12 side, and the light receiving element 182 is turned off.

  On the other hand, when the upper launching device 12 is in the closed state with respect to the main body frame 2 and is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5, the light projected from the light projecting element 181 arranged on the game board 5 side. However, the light is received by the light receiving element 182 arranged on the side of the upper launch device 12, and the light receiving element 182 is turned on.

  Then, in the present embodiment, the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110, in other words, on the condition that the upper launch device 12 is detected at the regular position with respect to the game board via the position detection sensor 180. Then, the operation of the upper launch device 12 is permitted on condition that the detection state of the light receiving element 182 of the position detection sensor 180 is ON.

[Striking ball decision processing]
FIG. 100 shows a subroutine of hitting possibility determination processing performed by the ball information control MPU in the embodiment that employs the position detection sensor 180 that detects whether the upper launching device 12 is set to the regular position with respect to the game board 5. It is a flowchart shown. The hitting possibility determination process is performed as one process of the main action setting process (FIG. 84) of step S564 performed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

  The ball information control MPU, when starting the hitting possibility determination processing, determines whether or not the position detection sensor is on (step S700). That is, it is determined whether or not the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2 and is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5.

  When it is determined in step S700 that the position detection sensor is on, the upper launching device 12 is in the closed state with respect to the main body frame 2, and is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5. , And step S700 is determined as YES and it progresses to step S710. That is, the operation of the upper launching device 12 is permitted on condition that the upper launching device 12 is detected to be in the regular position with respect to the game board 5 through the position detection sensor 180. In this case, there is no step or the like between the launch opening 38 of the upper launching device 12 and the game area 8 of the game board 5, which is an obstacle when the game ball travels.

  The processing after step S710 is similar to the hitting possibility determination processing (FIG. 88) described above, and when the value of the ball holding counter is not 0 and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is on, The firing possible flag is set to 1 (can be fired) (step S712), and the process exits from the subroutine of the hitting possibility determination processing.

  Thus, it is detected that the upper launching device 12 is in the closed state with respect to the main body frame 2 and is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5, and the value of the ball holding counter is not 0 When the feeding device 28 has a standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 can be driven, and the game ball can be driven into the game area 8 substantially in a playable state.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S700 that the position detection sensor is not on (when the position detection sensor is off), even if the upper launch device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. Since it is at a position displaced from the regular position with respect to the game board 5, it is determined to be NO in step S700, and the process proceeds to step S713. In step S713, the firing possible flag is set to 0 (cannot be fired) (step S713), and the subroutine of the hitting possibility determination processing is exited.

  In other words, if it is not detected that the upper launch device 12 is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5 via the position detection sensor 180, the operation of the upper launch device 12 is not permitted and disabled.

  It should be noted that, similarly to the hitting availability determination processing (FIG. 88) described above, when it is determined in step S710 that the value of the ball holding counter is 0, and in step S711, the launch standby ball detection switch When it is determined that 70 is not on (off), the firing possible flag is set to 0 (cannot be fired) (step S713), and the ball hitability determination processing subroutine is exited. That is, when the value of the number of held balls counter is 0, or when the ball feeding device 28 has no standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven, and the game ball is substantially driven into the game area 8. You cannot play games. At the same time, the ball feeding solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the embodiment, since the position detecting sensor 180 that detects that the position of the upper launching device 12 is in the regular position with respect to the game board 5 is provided, in the upper portion of the main body frame 2. It is possible to detect whether or not the upper launch device 12 movably arranged is set at the correct position with respect to the game board 5 fitted in the main body frame 2.

  Further, the sphere information control MPU 111 of the sphere information control board 110 that controls the operation of the upper launching device 12 has the upper launching device 12 in the regular position with respect to the game board 5 via the position detection sensor 180 (light receiving element 182). Since the operation of the upper launching device 12 is permitted on the condition that the above is detected, if the positional relationship between the upper launching device 12 and the game board 5 is not in the correct position (regular position), for example, the upper launching device 12 and When the boundary portion with the game board 5 is misaligned, the operation of the upper launching device 12 is not permitted, and the hit ball is not launched, so that the game itself is not played. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from spoiling the interest of the game due to the fact that the player does not properly hit the game area 8 divided into the game board 5 at a position intended by the player. it can.

1 Pachinko machine 1a Outer frame 2 Main body frame 3 Door frame 4 Adjustment machine 5 Game board 6 Decorative cover 7 Hinge 8 Game area 9 Game window 10 Hitting ball handle 11 Transparent plate 12 Top launching device (top launching unit)
13 Launching Solenoid 14 Touch Panel 15 Fitting Frame 16 Peripheral Wall 17 Housing Opening 18 Overhang Wall 19 Deformed Sphere / Magnetic Sphere Discharge Unit Storage 20 Deformed Sphere / Magnetic Sphere Discharge Unit 21 Sphere Collecting Unit 22 Sphere Lifting Device 23 Sphere Outlet gutter 24 Ball supply path member 25 Screw 25a Screw shaft 25b Small pitch projection member 25bL Half body 25bR Half body 25c Large pitch projection member 25cL Half body 25cR Half body 25d Spiral projection 25e Cylindrical portion 25g Recess 25h Convex portion 25i Upper edge 25j Upper edge concave portion 25k Lower edge 25m Lower edge convex portion 26 Launching standby ball detection switch 28 Ball feeding device 29 Hitting ball launching device 30 Launching hammer (launching member)
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 Fire stopper 35 Return stopper 36 Fire Ball confirmation switch 361 Photo bracket 37 Hinge for upper launching device 38 Launching port 39 Base plate 39a Abutting part 40 Launching area 41 Winning port 42 Out port 43 Panel holder 44 Transparent panel plate 45 Front component member 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 60 Rotation drive shaft 61 Hammer tip 62 Stopper Cover 63 ball supply 64 launching port decoration member 65 lifting communication gutter 66 ball inlet 67 ball feeding unit base 68 ball feeding unit cover 69 ball feeding guide gutter 70 launch standby ball detection switch 71 ball feeding sheet metal 72 actuating rod section 73 sheet metal accommodating section 74 ball feeding section 75 Shaft Hole 76 Ball Feeding Shaft 77 Arm Part 78 Metal Plate Locking Claw 79 Latching Protrusion 80 Ball Feeding Guide Surface 81 Ball Holding Surface 82 Hanging Piece 83 Return Ball Blocking Part 84 Ball Stopping Part 85 Hitting Ball Passage 86 Launch Stop Switch 87 Touch Switch 90 Upper starting opening detection switch 91 Lower starting opening detection switch 92 Gate switch 93 General winning opening detection switch 94 General winning opening detection switch 96 Starting opening solenoid 97 Large winning opening solenoid 98 Count switch 100 Main control board 101 Main control MPU
101a First MPU identification number storage unit 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
111a Second MPU identification number storage unit 112 Sphere information control I / O port 113 Sphere information control input circuit 114 Sphere lifting motor drive circuit 115 CR unit input / output circuit 116 External WDT
117 Blackout Monitoring Circuit 118 Ball Information Control Unit 119 Ball Polishing Ribbon Feed Motor Drive Circuit 120 Emitting Solenoid Drive Circuit 122 Ball Feed Solenoid Drive Circuit 123 Handle Relay Terminal Board 124 Sensor Relay Board 130 Peripheral Control Board 131 Door Frame Opening Switch 132 Body Frame Opening Switch 133 External terminal board 140 Panel relay terminal board 141 Function display board 142 Upper special symbol indicator 143 Lower special symbol indicator 144 Upper special symbol memory indicator 145 Lower special symbol memory indicator 146 Normal symbol indicator 147 Normal symbol memory indicator Vessel 148 Gaming status indicator 149 Round indicator 150 Ball lifting motor 155 Ball polishing ribbon feeding motor 156 Lifting inlet switch 157 Lifting motor sensor 158 Cassette detection switch 160 Main cipher communication section 161 Second MPU recognition Number storage unit 162 First authentication unit 165 Sphere information encryption / communication unit 166 First MPU identification number storage unit 167 Second authentication unit 180 Position detection sensor 181 Light emitting element 182 Light receiving element 201 Ball gutter base 202 Collection port 203 Collection ball detection switch 204 Deformed sphere discharge part 205 Magnetic sphere discharge part 206 Sphere path full tank 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 part base mounting part 213 Upstream side 214 Downstream side 215 Deformed sphere discharge path 216 Deformed sphere discharge port 217 Deformed sphere discharge path forming member 218 Communication path 219 Circulation path 220 Sloping surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic sphere discharging slope 223 Discontinuous portion 224 Side wall 225 Ceiling wall 226 Magnetic sphere Ejection path 227 Magnetic sphere Outlet 228 Magnetic ball discharge part cover 229 Magnet 230 Magnet housing space 231 Magnetic force adjustment part 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Discharge ball receiving box 251 Ball polishing cartridge 252 Left side cover 253 Right side cover 253a Right outer side cover 253b Right inside Side cover 254 Hinge receiving portion 255 Hinge 258 Second drive gear case 259 Winding roller 260 Followed roller 261 First gear shaft 262 Second gear shaft 263 Ball polishing cloth 264 Ball polishing cloth pressing spring 265 Leaf spring 266 Spring pressing 267 Tensioner 268 Game ball contact mark 270 Ball polishing cartridge mounting part 271 Ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 272 Ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 273 Ball polishing cartridge mounting port 275 Ball feeding passage 275a Ball receiving port 27 b Ball feed port 281 Opening 282 Lifting guide rail 290 Drive shaft 291 Mounting sensor 292 Button 350 Ball feed rotating body 350a Ball engaging recess 351 Ball feed slope 351a Sloping surface 351b Top slope surface 352 Spiral base cover 353 Lifting section Cover 354 Lifting ramp member 355 Ball removing 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 rotary gear 363a Gear shaft 365 Guide block 365a Ball Guide surface 365b Stopper surface 366 Fitting member 366a Fitting recess 367 Support member 368 Cover member 402 Card processing machine 403 Card 404 ID storage unit 405 Remaining number storage unit 406 Ball holding storage unit 407 Mounting member 40 8 Hanging wall 410 Ball outlet opening / closing unit 411 Shutter base 412 Opening / closing shutter 413 Opening / closing crank 414 Opening / closing spring 415 Slide groove 416 Opening part 417 Crank support part 418 Spring locking part 419 Shutter body 420 Driving hole 421 Shaft part 422 Driving shank 423 Driving pin 424 Contact part 425 Spring locking part 426 Opening / closing actuating piece 427 Game ball introducing member 500 Follower member 501 Cushion 502 Cushion receiving plate

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is defined,
A main body frame in which the game board is fitted and housed,
A launching device that is placed on the upper part of the main body frame and launches a game ball to the game area,
In a gaming machine equipped with
The launching device is movably provided with respect to the main body frame,
Position detecting means for detecting that the position of the launching device is in a regular position with respect to the game board,
Firing control means for controlling the operation of the firing device,
The firing control means permits the operation of the launching device on condition that the launching device is detected to be in a regular position with respect to the game board through the position detecting means,
A gaming machine characterized by that.

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