JP2021045411A - Lottery device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lottery device that has enhanced amusement of a mode for moving a ball.SOLUTION: A game machine 1 includes: an inclined surface 12 arranged so that a ball can move; a storage part 14 arranged on a lower side in an inclination direction of the inclined surface 12 for storing a ball that has moved on the inclined surface 12; an obstruction protrusion 16 arranged above the storage part 14 in the inclination direction and provided so as to protrude from the inclined surface 12 for obstructing the movement of the ball moving on the inclined surface 12 toward the storage part 14; and arms 17 and 18 arranged in an upper side range in the inclination direction of the storage part 14 and provided so as to be rotatable on the inclined surface 12 for moving the ball obstructed by the obstruction protrusion 16 in a direction away from the obstruction protrusion 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a lottery device that draws lots using balls.

Conventionally, there has been a lottery machine provided in a medal game machine or the like and using a ball to draw a lottery (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2007-215650

However, the conventional lottery device has room for improvement.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the following forms are provided. Although the description will be given with reference numerals corresponding to the embodiments, the description is not limited to this. Further, the configurations described with reference numerals may be appropriately changed, or at least a part thereof may be replaced with other configurations.
The first form is a lottery device (10) that uses a moving ball (11) for a lottery, and has an inclined surface (12) on which the balls are movably arranged and a lower side in the inclined direction of the inclined surface. A ball accommodating portion (14) capable of accommodating balls that have moved on the inclined surface, and a ball accommodating portion (14) that is arranged above the ball accommodating portion in the inclined direction and is provided so as to project from the inclined surface. The lottery device is provided with an obstructing protrusion (16) that prevents the moving ball from moving toward the ball accommodating portion.
The second form is arranged in a range above the inclined direction of the ball accommodating portion, is rotatably provided on the inclined surface, and moves the ball obstructed by the obstructing protrusion in a direction away from the obstructing protrusion. It is a lottery apparatus of the first or second form characterized by including ball moving portions (17, 18).
The third aspect is characterized in that the height of the obstructing protrusion (16) is set to such an extent that the ball can get over the obstructing protrusion according to the moving speed of the ball. It is a lottery device of the second form.
In the fourth embodiment, the ball moving portion is an arm (17, 18) that comes into contact with the ball by rotating and moving, and the rotation range of the arm is the normal direction of the inclined surface (12). This is a third type of lottery device, which is a space above the obstructing protrusion (16) and overlaps the obstructing protrusion when viewed from the normal direction.
A fifth form is provided with a display unit (21) for displaying the roulette (20a), and the roulette is stopped in response to the ball (11) being accommodated in the ball accommodating unit (14), resulting in winning. The lottery apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, characterized in that it includes a lottery unit for determining the above.
The sixth embodiment is provided so as to be scattered on the inclined surface and project from the inclined surface, and a plurality of balls moving on the inclined surface are brought into contact with each other to irregularly change the moving direction of the balls. The lottery device according to any one of the first to fifth forms, characterized in that it includes scattered protrusions.
A seventh form is a lottery device (10) that uses a moving ball to generate a game event, and has an inclined surface (12) on which the ball (11) is movably arranged and the inclined surface. A ball accommodating portion (14) that is arranged on the lower side in the inclined direction and can accommodate a ball that has moved on the inclined surface, and is provided so as to be scattered on the inclined surface and project from the inclined surface. The lottery device is provided with a plurality of interspersed protrusions (15, 15A to 15D) that irregularly change the moving direction of the balls when the moving balls come into contact with each other.
In the eighth embodiment, at least a part (15A to 15D) of the plurality of the scattered protrusions is arranged on the same line with a gap (S15) through which the ball (11) can pass. It is a lottery apparatus of the sixth or seventh form characterized by the above.
A ninth form is a ball that is arranged below the scattered protrusions (15, 15A to 15D) in the inclination direction and moves a ball located below the scattered protrusions in the inclination direction upward in the inclination direction. A moving portion (17, 18) is provided, and the scattered protrusions are formed on the lower side in the inclination direction, and are provided with a slope (15b) that is separated from the inclined surface (12) toward the upper side in the inclination direction. It is a lottery apparatus of any form of 6-8.
A tenth embodiment includes a regulating portion (13) that regulates the movement range of the ball (11) on the inclined surface (12), and the ball moving portion (17, 18) makes the ball into the regulating portion. A ninth form of lottery device that is movable along and at least a portion (15A) of the interspersed protrusions is arranged along the restricting portion.
In the eleventh form, when the inclined surface (12) is viewed from above, the gap (S15) between the adjacent scattered protrusions (15A to 15D) becomes larger toward the lower side in the inclined direction. It is a lottery apparatus of any of the sixth to tenth features.

According to the present invention, for example, the following effects are obtained.
(1) The obstruction protrusion can prevent the ball rolling on the inclined surface from being accommodated in the ball accommodating portion.
(2) The ball may or may not get over the obstructive protrusion depending on the moving speed. Further, when the ball gets over the obstructing protrusion, the possibility of being accommodated in the ball accommodating hole increases, which is an opportunity for the player. Therefore, the movement mode of the ball can be made interesting, and the player's feeling of excitement at the time of lottery can be improved.
(3) Since the ball moving portion moves the disturbed ball away from the disturbing protrusion, the moved ball can be rolled on the inclined surface again in this way.
(4) The arm moves in the space above the obstruction protrusion, so the operation is interesting. Further, the arm can move the ball regardless of whether the ball is located on the upper side or the lower side in the inclination direction of the obstructing protrusion.
(5) A lottery using roulette can be performed.
(6) Since a plurality of scattered protrusions that irregularly change the moving direction of the ball are provided, it is possible to make it difficult to predict the occurrence timing of the event and to make the moving mode of the ball interesting.
(7) Since a game event is generated according to the ball being accommodated in the ball accommodating portion and a plurality of scattered protrusions that irregularly change the moving direction of the ball are provided, it is difficult to predict the event occurrence timing. Also, the movement mode of the ball can be made interesting.
(8) Since the plurality of scattered protrusions are arranged on the same line, the movement mode of the ball can be made interesting by allowing the ball to pass or not pass through the gap between the plurality of protrusions.
(9) The ball to which the ball moving portion moves can move over the slope and move upward in the inclination direction according to the moving speed.
(10) The ball moving along the regulation portion can be moved upward by overcoming the slope of the scattered protrusions.
(11) The frontage on the lower side in the inclination direction of the gap between the adjacent scattered protrusions can be increased. For this reason, a ball that has once moved downward in the inclined direction from the scattered protrusions easily passes through the gap when moving upward in the inclined direction, so that it is easy to move upward in the inclined direction again from the scattered protrusions. ..

It is a perspective view of the game machine 1 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which the game machine 1 of an embodiment is seen from the upper side Z2, and is the figure explaining the arrangement of a lottery device 10, a mass release device 25, and six stations St1 to St6. It is a perspective view of the structure in the vicinity of the inclined surface 12 of the embodiment. It is a figure which looked at the structure in the vicinity of the inclined surface 12 and the station St1 of an embodiment from the upper side Z2. It is a figure which shows typically the arrangement of each structure in the state which looked at the structure near the inclined surface 12 of embodiment from the right side X2. It is a figure explaining the roulette screen of the display part 21 of embodiment. It is a figure explaining the movement mode of the ball 11 in the ball game of embodiment. It is a figure which looked at the pusher stand 35 of the station St1 of embodiment and the vicinity of operation panel 2d from the upper side Z2. It is a figure explaining the main configuration about the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2 of the game machine 1 of embodiment, and is the figure explaining the flow of the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2. It is a perspective view of the structure in the vicinity of the recovery cylinder 36 of the embodiment seen from the back side Y2. It is a figure explaining the structure of the cylinder main body 55 of the collection cylinder 36 of embodiment. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the vicinity of the recovery cylinder 36 in the state where the recovery cylinder 36 of an embodiment is arranged in an inward rotation state and an outside rotation state. It is a figure explaining the mode in which the medal M of an embodiment is moved by a collection cylinder 36. It is a figure explaining the structure in the vicinity of the pusher stand 35 and the ball supply device 70 of the embodiment. It is a perspective view of the structure of the fixed table 35b and the vicinity of the ball supply device 70 of the embodiment seen from the upper right. It is a flowchart of the lottery process with the chucker prize of embodiment. It is a figure explaining the slot screen 80 of the display part 21 at the time of the slot lottery processing of embodiment. It is a figure explaining the slot screen 80 of the display part 21 at the time of the slot lottery processing of embodiment.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game machine 1 of the embodiment.
Note that FIG. 1 mainly illustrates the main configuration of station St1 among the six stations St1 to St6, and the other stations St are not shown. Further, the support columns 2b, the top plate 2c, etc. are shown by the alternate long and short dash lines, and the structures hidden by these members are transparently shown.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the game machine 1 of the embodiment is viewed from the upper side Z2, and is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the lottery device 10, the mass release device 25, and the six stations St1 to St6.
In the embodiments and drawings, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system (horizontal direction X, depth direction Y, vertical direction Z) is provided for convenience of explanation. The depth direction Y and the left-right direction X are on the horizontal plane in which the game machine 1 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (the station St1 side is arranged on the front side Y1 and the station St4 side is arranged on the back side Y2). The direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game machine 1 (medal pusher game machine) is a large-scale device mainly arranged in an amusement facility or the like.
The game machine 1 includes a storage unit 95 and a control unit 96.
The storage unit 95 stores various information, programs, and the like for operating the game machine 1.
The control unit 96 is a device for performing arithmetic processing necessary for the operation of the game machine 1 and for controlling the game machine 1 in an integrated manner. The control unit 96 controls each drive unit (motor, etc.) according to the output of each detection unit, and performs various arithmetic processes.
In the embodiment, an example in which one control unit 96 controls all stations St1 to St6 will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Each station St may be provided with a control unit for performing operations such as a pusher game, and may be provided with a control unit of one center that shares processing related to mass release of medals and the like. In this case, the control unit of each station and the control unit of the center may communicate with each other as necessary.

In the embodiment, the computer means an information processing device including a storage device, a control device, and the like, and the game machine 1 includes a storage unit 95 and a control unit 96, and is included in the concept of a computer.
The storage unit 95 is a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory element for storing programs, information, and the like necessary for the operation of each device. The control unit 96 is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. The control unit 96 realizes various functions of the embodiment by appropriately reading and executing various programs and various information stored in the storage unit 95.

[Outline of game machine 1]
The outline of the game machine 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the game machine 1 is a medal pusher game machine.
The game machine 1 includes six stations St1 to St6 (play unit). Stations St1 to St6 are arranged so as to surround the lottery device 10 and the mass release device 25. The mass release device 25 is equipped with a model 25a that imitates a dinosaur, and creates a Mesozoic atmosphere inhabited by dinosaurs.
As a result of the game of each station St, when the stage shifts to the stage of mass release of medals (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "mass release"), the lottery device 10 executes a lottery process related to mass release for the station St, and then the mass release device. 25 releases a large amount of medals according to the lottery result. As will be described later, the lottery process includes a lottery operation and processing using a ball game, roulette 20a, and the like.

The outer shape of the housing 2 of the game machine 1 is a polygonal column whose central axis is Z in the vertical direction.
The inside and outside of the housing 2 of the game machine 1 are partitioned by a transparent window 2a. The player can visually recognize the area F (F0 to F6) through the window 2a.
The area F is an area inside the game machine 1. Region F mainly includes regions F0 to F6.
Area F0 is an area where a lottery game using the lottery device 10 is played. The areas F1 to F6 are areas corresponding to the stations St1 to St6, respectively, and are areas in which the pusher game is played with the medals inserted by the player.

In the center of the game machine 1, a main part of the lottery device 10 and a main part of the mass release device 25 of medals are arranged.
Each station St is an independent device for six players to independently play a medal pusher game.
In the embodiment, the game machine 1 shows an example in which six stations St1 to St6 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the game machine 1 may be provided with stations St in addition to six. In this case, the shape of the game machine 1 may be appropriately changed according to the number of stations St.
In the embodiment, the configuration of the station St1 will be mainly described. The same applies to the configurations of the other stations St2 to St6.

[Lottery device 10, mass release device 25]
The lottery device 10 and the mass release device 25 will be described.
(Structure of lottery device 10 and mass release device 25)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the configuration in the vicinity of the inclined surface 12 of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a view of the configuration of the inclined surface 12 and the vicinity of the station St1 of the embodiment as viewed from the upper side Z2.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of each configuration in a state where the configuration near the inclined surface 12 of the embodiment is viewed from the right side X2.
3 to 5 show a state in which the direction A1 of the inclined surface 12 is directed to the station St1.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a roulette screen of the display unit 21 of the embodiment.

In the following description, the direction along the lower side of the inclined surface 12 in the inclined direction is the direction A1 (first direction), which is opposite to the direction A1 and is along the upper side in the inclined direction, as appropriate, when viewed from the upper side Z2. The direction is called direction A2 (second direction). The inclination angle of the inclined surface 12 with respect to the horizontal plane (that is, the angle formed by the normal direction of the inclined surface 12 and the vertical direction Z) is about 5 degrees, which is sufficiently small. Therefore, in the embodiment, the state viewed from the upper side Z2 in the vertical direction Z will be appropriately regarded as the state viewed from the normal direction of the inclined surface 12. Further, the direction A (direction A1, direction A2) is also described as the inclined direction of the inclined surface 12, and appropriately parenthesized, the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) and the direction A2 side (inclined direction). Also called (upper side).
The description of the left-right direction X of the inclined surface 12 describes a state in which the inclined surface 12 is arranged in the state of FIGS. 3 to 5 (a state in which the direction A1 is directed to the station St1 side) for convenience.

The lottery device 10 includes a ball 11, an inclined surface 12, a regulation rail 13 (regulation portion), an accommodation portion 14 (ball accommodation portion), scattered protrusions 15 (15A to 15D), obstruction protrusions 16, and a first arm 17 (ball movement). Section), a second arm 18 (ball moving section), a model stand 19 (installation section for the medal release section), and a lottery section 20 (event generation section).

(Ball 11)
The ball 11 is a sphere used for lottery. The surface layer of the ball 11 may be formed of an elastic body such as rubber or sponge.

(Inclined surface 12)
The inclined surface 12 is an upper surface of an inclined plate 12a (see FIG. 5) fixed to the rotating frame 12b. The inclined plate 12a is a disk-shaped plate material fixed to the rotating frame 12b.
The rotating frame 12b is a tubular member. The central axis C12 of the rotating frame 12b is concentric with the central axis of the game machine 1 and is in the vertical direction Z. Further, the central axis C12 coincides with the center of the inclined surface 12 when viewed from the upper side Z2.
The rotary frame 12b is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers 12e with the central axis C12 as the rotation axis (see the rotation direction θ12). The rotary frame 12b is rotationally driven by a drive unit 12d (see FIG. 5) including a motor or the like. The rotating frame 12b is provided with a detection unit (not shown) such as a rotary encoder that detects a rotation position and a rotation speed.

The ball 11 is movably arranged on the inclined surface 12.
As described above, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 12 is gentle, for example, about 5 degrees.
With the above configuration, the inclined surface 12 can rotate around the central axis C12. Further, the inclined surface 12 is inclined so as to reach the lower side Z1 of the vertical direction Z toward the direction A1.

(Regulatory rail 13)
The regulation rail 13 is a fence provided on a circumference that is one size smaller than the outer circumference of the inclined surface 12. As a result, the regulation rail 13 regulates the movement range of the ball 11 on the inclined surface 12 within this circumference.
A wall portion 13a (see FIG. 3) is also provided on the outer periphery of the inclined surface 12. The wall portion 13a is for preventing the ball 11 from falling from the inclined surface 12 when the ball 11 unexpectedly gets over the regulation rail 13 and deviates from the regulation rail 13. During normal operation of the game machine 1, the ball 11 does not deviate from the regulation rail 13.
The bottom of the regulation rail 13 is provided with an opening 13b (see FIG. 3) that is slightly wider than the diameter of the ball 11.

(Accommodation unit 14)
The accommodating portion 14 is arranged on the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) in the inclined surface 12, and is arranged at the portion of the opening 13b of the regulation rail 13. Therefore, the ball 11 on the inclined surface 12 is guided to the accommodating portion 14 by the action of gravity.
The accommodating unit 14 includes a first opening / closing arm 14a, a second opening / closing arm 14b, and a ball detection unit 14c.

The first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b are rotated by a motor (not shown) around the axis in the vertical direction Z (to be exact, the axis around the normal direction of the inclined surface 12) between the open position and the closed position. ) Is rotated and moved. The rotation axis of the first opening / closing arm 14a is arranged on the right side X2 of the opening 13b. The rotation axis of the second opening / closing arm 14b is arranged on the left side X1 of the opening 13b.
Two first opening / closing arms 14a are provided at positions where the heights of the vertical directions Z are different.
The second opening / closing arm 14b is arranged between the two first opening / closing arms 14a in the vertical direction Z.
Therefore, in the vertical direction Z, the rotation range of the first opening / closing arm 14a and the rotation range of the second opening / closing arm 14b do not overlap. As a result, the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b can rotate and move without interfering with each other.

In the state of being arranged in the open position (open state), the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b are arranged in a V shape forming the opening 13b on the direction A2 side. As a result, the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b form a wall portion of the accommodating portion 14, and the accommodating portion 14 is in a state where the ball 11 can be accommodated.

As shown in the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3, the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b close the opening 13b in the closed position (closed state). Further, when viewed from the upper side Z2, the outer shapes of the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b have an arc shape that bulges in the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) as if the regulation rail 13 was extended. Therefore, in the state of being arranged in the closed position, the ball 11 is stably arranged on the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b by the action of gravity.
The position of the ball 11 shown in the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3 is the position at the time of launching the ball 11, as will be described later.

The ball detection unit 14c is a detection unit that detects the balls 11 housed in the storage unit 14. The ball detection unit 14c is, for example, an optical sensor or the like.

(Spotted protrusions 15 (15A to 15D))
Four scattered protrusions 15 are provided and have the same shape.
The scattered protrusions 15 are fixed to the inclined surface 12 so as to protrude from the inclined surface 12. The scattered protrusions 15 are arranged so as to be scattered on the inclined surface 12. As will be described later, the scattered protrusions 15 irregularly change the moving direction of the ball 11 moving on the inclined surface 12, for example.
Of the surfaces of the scattered protrusions 15, the surface on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction) is a flat surface, and is an upright surface 15a that is upright with respect to the inclined surface 12. The normal direction of the upright surface 15a faces the direction A2 side.
Of the surfaces of the scattered protrusions 15, the surface on the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) is the slope 15b. The slope 15b is a flat surface, and is displaced toward the upper side Z2 in the vertical direction Z (that is, the normal direction of the slope 12 and away from the slope 12) toward the direction A2 side (upper side in the slope direction).

As shown in FIG. 4, three scattered protrusions 15A to 15C are arranged in the region X2 on the right side of the disturbing protrusion 16 when viewed from the upper side Z2, and one scattered protrusion 15A to 15C is arranged in the region on the left side X1. The protrusion 15D is arranged. Further, when viewed from the upper side Z2, the shape of each dotted protrusion 15 is substantially triangular. The scattered protrusions 15 are arranged in a substantially inverted triangular shape, that is, the vertices face the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction), and the bottom side (upright surface 15a side) faces the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction). Is placed in. Therefore, the gap S15 between the adjacent scattered protrusions increases toward the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction).

The three scattered protrusions 15A to 15C are arranged on the same line at equal intervals. The size of the gap S15 between the adjacent scattered protrusions 15 is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 11. The gap between the interspersed protrusions 15C arranged inside and the interfering protrusions 16 is also slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 11.
The three upright surfaces 15a of these scattered protrusions 15A to 15C are arranged on the same surface. Further, when the three upright surfaces 15a are extended inward, they just intersect the interfering protrusions 16 (see the alternate long and short dash line L15 shown in FIG. 4).
Further, the scattered protrusions 15A at the right end are arranged along the regulation rail 13, that is, are arranged so as to be in contact with the inner circumference of the regulation rail 13.

The gap between the interspersed protrusions 15D and the interfering protrusions 16 on the left side X1 is also slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 11. Further, the distance between the scattered protrusions 15D and the regulation rail 13 is larger than the diameter of the ball 11. That is, while the scattered protrusions 15A are arranged so as to be in contact with the regulation rail 13, the scattered protrusions 15D are arranged sufficiently away from the regulation rail 13.

(Interfering protrusion 16)
The obstruction protrusion 16 is arranged in the vicinity of the accommodating portion 14 on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction).
Like the scattered protrusions 15, the obstructing protrusions 16 are fixed to the inclined surface 12 so as to protrude from the inclined surface 12. As will be described later, the obstruction projection 16 prevents the ball 11 moving on the inclined surface 12 from moving toward the accommodating portion 14.
When viewed from the upper side Z2, the outer shape of the obstruction protrusion 16 is an arc shape that is elongated in the left-right direction X and bulges in the direction A1 side.
The interfering protrusions 16 have a slope 16b similar to the scattered protrusions 15. Further, the surface of the obstruction projection 16 on the direction A2 side is an upright surface that is upright with respect to the inclined surface 12, and is a curved surface 16a that is recessed in the direction A1 side according to the outer shape of the obstruction projection 16.

(1st arm 17, 2nd arm 18)
The first arm 17 and the second arm 18 are members that move the ball 11 in a manner of hitting the ball 11 by contacting the ball 11 while rotating.
The first arm 17 and the second arm 18 are rotatably provided around the rotation axes C17 and C18 orthogonal to the inclined surface 12, respectively. The rotation shafts C17 and C18 are located on the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) with respect to the obstruction projection 16. The first arm 17 and the second arm 18 are rotationally driven by motors (not shown), respectively. Further, each of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 is provided with a detection unit (not shown) such as a rotary encoder that detects a rotation position and a rotation speed, respectively.

The first arm 17 is rotationally driven clockwise (see FIG. 4).
The rotation range A17 (see FIG. 4) of the first arm 17 overlaps with the obstruction projection 16 when viewed from the upper side Z2. However, in the vertical direction Z, the rotation range A17 (see FIG. 5) of the first arm 17 is the space above Z2 above the obstruction projection 16. The position of the first arm 17 from the inclined surface 12 is about the radius of the ball 11. As a result, the first arm 17 can rotate and move without interfering with the interfering protrusion 16. Then, the first arm 17 can come into contact with the ball 11 regardless of whether the ball 11 is located in the directions A1 and A2 as long as it is in the vicinity of the obstruction protrusion 16.

The second arm 18 has a configuration substantially symmetrical with respect to the first arm 17 in the left-right direction X. The second arm 18 is rotationally driven counterclockwise (see FIG. 4). As a result, the second arm 18 can rotate and move without interfering with the obstructing protrusion 16 and can come into contact with the ball 11 located in the vicinity of the obstructing protrusion 16, similarly to the first arm 17.
The rotation range A17 of the first arm 17 and the rotation range A18 of the second arm 18 are sufficiently close to each other in the range of the accommodating portion 14 on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction).

(Model stand 19)
The model stand 19 is a platform for attaching the model 25a of the mass release device 25 to the inclined surface 12. The shape of the model base 19 is a columnar shape having a low height, and the central axis is in a direction orthogonal to the inclined surface 12. Since the model base 19 is fixed to the inclined surface 12, the model base 19 and the model 25a can rotate around the central axis C12 integrally with the inclined surface 12.
The model base 19 is arranged in the inclined surface 12 and in the regulation rail 13 when viewed from the upper side Z2. The center of the model base 19 is arranged on the direction A2 side of the center of the inclined surface (central axis C12), that is, the model base 19 is arranged on the circular inclined surface 12 eccentrically on the direction A2 side.
With the above configuration, the region S12a (first region) in the direction A1 (lower side in the tilting direction) of the inclined surface 12 can secure a large exposed area as a region used in the ball game. Further, the region S12b (second region) on the direction A2 side of the inclined surface 12 is on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction) with respect to the model table 19 and is continuous by the narrow passage S12c. Further, the region S12 in which the regions S12a and S12b are combined is continuous in an annular shape so as to surround the model stand 19. As a result, the ball 11 can move in the area S12, that is, the area surrounding the model table 19.

(Lottery section 20)
The lottery unit 20 is a device that performs a lottery process when the balls 11 are housed in the storage unit 14.
As shown in FIG. 6, the lottery unit 20 includes a display unit 21.
The display unit 21 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The display unit 21 is provided at each station St (see FIG. 1). The display unit 21 is arranged so that the display screen faces the player playing at each station St.
The display unit 21 is mainly used to display various information when playing a medal pusher game at each station St, but in the embodiment, it is also used as a part of the lottery device 10.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the storage unit 95 of the game machine 1 stores information about the roulette 20a for lottery, and the display unit 21 displays the roulette 20a.
In the roulette 20a, a plurality of symbols on which hit information is displayed are arranged on the circumference.
The winning information is role information such as the number of medals released at the time of mass release, JP (jackpot), and NEXT.

The JP combination is determined by the total number of medals (or the product of the total number of medals and the coefficient (for example, 0.8)) inserted at all stations St1 to St6 after the JP combination was won at any station St last time. It is a role to release the number of medals obtained by adding the number of medals (for example, the maximum number of ejected 300 medals of a normal symbol). This total number of medals is reset each time the JP role is won. The JP role is the role in which the most medals are released, and is the most profitable role for the player.

The NEXT combination is a combination of adding a predetermined number of sheets (for example, 50 sheets) to the large number of sheets released for all the winning combinations to increase the number of sheets released in large quantities and perform a re-lottery. When the NEXT combination is won, the control unit 96 adds a predetermined number (for example, 50) to, for example, a large number of 300 released sheets, and then performs a re-lottery process. The lottery time (described later) is reset. Therefore, the NEXT role is a role that is highly profitable for the player.
The NEXT combination can be appropriately set according to the specifications of the game. For example, the large number of all winning combinations may be doubled.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the display unit 21 rotates the roulette 20a and displays only the portion arranged above the roulette 20a. When the rotated roulette 20a is stopped, the symbol arranged at the top is the winning symbol, and the winning combination displayed on the symbol is the winning combination. When the roulette wheel 20a is rotated and stopped, the symbol arranged at the top is enlarged and displayed.

(Mass release device 25)
The mass release device 25 is a device that discharges a large number of medals to the pusher stand of each station St.
The mass discharge device 25 includes a model 25a and a mass discharge port 25b.
The model 25a is provided on the model stand 19. The model 25a is arranged so that the head of the dinosaur faces the direction A2 and the tail faces the direction A1.
The mass discharge port 25b is a portion that actually discharges medals. The mass discharge port 25b is attached to the head. Therefore, the mass discharge port 25b discharges the medal toward the direction A2.
Although detailed description will be omitted, the medal to be released is housed in the hopper and is sent from the hopper to the mass discharge port 25b through a medal transport path such as a rail.

[Operation during mass release stage]
The mass release stage transitions from the normal stage.
The normal stage is a state in which the medal pusher game can be executed at all stations St1 to St6. The inclined surface 12, the lottery device 10, and the mass release device 25 are integrally rotationally moved around the central axis C12. As a result, the model 25a is produced so as to face each station St in sequence. Further, in the normal stage, the accommodating portion 14 is controlled to be in an open state (see FIG. 3), and accommodates the ball 11. The first arm 17 and the second arm 18 are not rotationally driven and are controlled in a stopped state.

Then, when the stage shifts to the mass release stage at any of the stations St, the control unit 96 processes the station St for the mass release stage.
The condition for shifting to the mass release stage may be set such that a specified number (for example, 7) of balls 38 fall into the acquisition hole 37 (see FIG. 8 and the like). In this case, the control unit 96 may count the number of balls 38 dropped based on the output of an optical sensor or the like (not shown) that detects the balls 38 that have fallen into the acquisition hole 37.
The mass release stage mainly includes ball launch, ball game, roulette lottery, and mass release processing, and the processing is performed in this order.
After shifting to the mass release stage, the lottery device 10 and the mass release device 25 are controlled by the control unit 96 as follows.
Here, an example in which the station St1 shifts to the mass release stage will be described.

(Ball launch)
(1) The inclined surface 12 is rotationally driven so that the direction A1 of the inclined surface 12 faces the station St1 side.
As a result, the player playing at the station St1 can easily see the area S12a. Further, the station St1 that has shifted to the ball game can use such an easily visible area for playing the ball game.

(2) The ball 11 is arranged at the launch position by controlling the accommodating portion 14 in the closed state (see the inside of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3). By deforming the accommodating portion 14 in this way, the ball 11 can be arranged at the launch position in an interesting manner.
The ball launch position is located within the rotation range A17 of the first arm 17 (see FIG. 4).

(3) The ball 11 is launched by rotationally driving the first arm 17 (upward movement operation).
The launch position of the ball 11 is a position where the first arm 17 launches the ball 11 on the left side X1. Therefore, the launched ball 11 moves clockwise while being inscribed in the regulation rail 13. As a result, the ball 11 is moved on the inclined surface 12 in the range from the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) to the direction A2 side (lower side in the inclined direction).
The rotation speed of the first arm 17 is faster than that during the ball game. Therefore, when the ball 11 is launched, the first arm 17 can surely move the ball 11 within the range of the inclined surface 12 on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction).

The ball 11 moves further clockwise while being inscribed in the regulation rail 13 or away from the regulation rail 13 by the action of gravity, and reaches the range of the region S12b. As a result, the ball 11 passes through the narrow passage S12c on the direction A2 side of the model table 19 and then moves while rolling due to the action of gravity.
In this way, at the time of launching, the ball 11 can be moved around the model base 19, so that the movement mode of the ball 11 is interesting.

(4) At the time when the first arm 17 launches the ball 11, the second arm 18 is arranged at a position retracted from the movement path of the ball 11 immediately after the launch. As a result, the launched ball 11 can move while being inscribed in the regulation rail 13 without being disturbed by the second arm 18. Further, the first arm 17 can surely move the ball 11 above the inclined surface 12.
The second arm 18 may be controlled to either a rotationally driven state or a stopped state as long as it is arranged at the retracted position in this way.

(Ball game)
When the launch of the ball 11 is completed, the processing of the ball game is started.
The ball game is played by rotating the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 for a time limit (for example, 60 seconds), and the ball 11 is housed in the accommodating portion 14 even within the time limit. It ends by.
(1) When the launch of the ball 11 is completed, the accommodating portion 14 is controlled to be in an open state (that is, a state in which the first opening / closing arm 14a and the second opening / closing arm 14b are arranged in the open position).
(2) The first arm 17 is rotationally driven at a constant rotational speed during the ball game after the ball is launched. As described above, this rotation speed is slower than the rotation speed at the time of launch. Similarly, the second arm 18 is rotationally driven at a constant rotational speed.
The rotation speeds of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 may be the same or different. In the embodiment, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 rotate in synchronization with each other, or only one arm temporarily (for example, several seconds) is stopped in an irregular rotation motion.

(3) The display unit 21 displays a roulette screen (see FIG. 6) in response to the shift to the ball game.

(Movement mode of the ball 11 during the ball game)
As described above, the launched ball 11 usually goes around the model base 19 and moves to X2 on the right side of the model base 19.
Since the inclined surface 12 is inclined, the ball 11 moves toward the inclined surface 12 toward the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) by the action of gravity, and moves toward the accommodating portion 14. Further, since the accommodating portion 14 is provided at the lowermost portion of the inclined surface 12, the ball 11 moves toward the accommodating portion 14 by rolling while abutting against the regulation rail 13 due to the action of gravity. ..
However, the inclined surface 12 includes a first arm 17 and a second arm 18 that are rotationally driven, in addition to the scattered protrusions 15 and the disturbing protrusions 16. Therefore, the ball 11 on the inclined surface 12 not only moves by the action of gravity but also moves very irregularly.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a movement mode of the ball 11 in the ball game of the embodiment.
A typical example of the movement mode of the ball 11 will be described.
-Movement mode of FIG. 7A The balls 11 that have passed through the passage S12c immediately after launching move the region of the right side X2 of the inclined surface 12 toward the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) and then are scattered. From the gap S15 between the protrusions 15, the interspersed protrusions 15 and the obstruction protrusion 16, the movement moves to the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) (see arrows a1 and a2), or stays on the obstruction protrusion 16.
For example, the ball 11 that comes into contact with the upright surface 15a of the scattered protrusions 15 cannot reach the adjacent scattered protrusions 15 and the interfering protrusions 16 and moves from the gap S15 to the direction A1 side. .. Further, the ball 11 that has reached the scattered protrusions 15 bounces on the upright surface 15a and reaches the scattered protrusions 15 next to the ball 11.
As described above, the moving direction of the ball 11 after reaching the scattered protrusions 15 is irregular.
Further, the game machine 1 can make the movement mode of the ball 11 interesting by allowing the ball 11 to pass or not pass through the gap S15 between the scattered protrusions 15.

-Movement mode of FIG. 7 (B) In the scene of FIG. 7 (A), when the ball 11 does not move in the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction), the ball 11 moves in the left-right direction on the obstruction projection 16. It swings to X (see arrow b1) or stays on the obstruction projection 16.
When viewed from the upper side Z2, the rotation range A17 of the first arm 17 and the obstruction protrusion 16 overlap, and similarly, the rotation range A18 of the second arm 18 and the obstruction protrusion 16 overlap. ing. Therefore, the ball 11 swinging on the obstruction projection 16 comes into contact with the first arm 17 or the second arm 18.
Since the outer shape of the obstruction protrusion 16 is curved so as to bulge in the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction), the ball 11 swinging on the obstruction protrusion 16 is at the most bulging position of the obstruction protrusion 16 ( It tries to stop by being guided to the position shown in FIG. 7B). The ball 11 arranged at this position and the rotation range A17 of the first arm 17 overlap.
Therefore, the ball 11 guided on the obstruction projection 16 always comes into contact with the first arm 17 or the second arm 18, and is moved in an irregular direction (arrow b2, etc.). Therefore, the ball 11 is not left on the obstruction protrusion 16.

7 (C) to 7 (E) show that the ball 11 is located on the A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) of the obstructing protrusions 16 and the scattered protrusions 15 and moves so as to approach the accommodating portion 14. This is an example in which the ball 11 is moved to the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction) from the obstructing protrusions 16 and the scattered protrusions 15 again in such a state.
-Movement mode of FIG. 7C The ball 11 traveling on the inclined surface 12 in the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) moves the obstruction projection 16 toward the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) when the moving speed is high. I may get over it.
That is, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 rotate and move in the space of the upper side Z2 of the obstruction projection 16. Further, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 hit the ball 11 from the lateral direction (AX plane direction) toward the center of the ball 11. Therefore, the height of the obstruction protrusion 16 from the inclined surface 12 needs to be lower than the installation height of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18, and is set to be equal to or less than the radius of the ball 11.
As a result, the ball 11 may or may not be able to get over the obstruction protrusion 16 depending on the speed and the moving direction when it reaches the obstruction protrusion 16.
Although not shown, the ball 11 may also get over the scattered protrusions 15.
As described above, the obstructing protrusions 16 and the interspersed protrusions 15 are set at a height such that the balls 11 can get over the obstructing protrusions 16 when the moving speed of the balls 11 is high.

If the ball 11 can get over the obstruction protrusion 16 and the like, the ball 11 is more likely to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 14. On the other hand, when the ball 11 cannot get over the obstruction protrusion 16 (in the case of FIG. 7B or the like), the ball 11 hits the first arm 17 or the second arm 18 in order to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 14. By touching, it is necessary to temporarily separate from the obstructing protrusion 16. In this way, the obstruction protrusion 16 prevents the ball 11 from being accommodated in the accommodating portion 14, and the first arm 17 or the second arm 18 prevents the ball 11 thus obstructed by the obstruction projection 16. , Can move away from the obstruction projection 16. In this case, the ball 11 can move in the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction) and then move so as to roll the inclined surface 12 toward the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclined direction) again.

When the ball 11 gets over the gap S15 between the scattered protrusions 15 or the obstructing protrusion 16, the ball 11 rolls on the inclined surface 12, moves along the regulation rail 13, and moves toward the accommodating portion 14. become.
The first arm 17 or the second arm 18 is provided in the vicinity of the accommodating portion 14 and on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction) of the accommodating portion 14.
Therefore, the first arm 17 or the second arm 18 can prevent the ball 11 from entering the accommodating portion 14 by abutting on the ball 11 moving toward the accommodating portion 14. The moving direction of the ball 11 after contacting the first arm 17 or the second arm 18 is the moving direction and position of the ball 11 immediately before the contact, the rotation angle of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18, and the contact. It depends on the position and so on. Therefore, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 can move the ball 11 in an irregular direction that is difficult for the player to predict.

As described above, in addition to the state where the ball 11 is located on the direction A2 side (inclination direction upper side) of the obstruction protrusion 16, the first arm is also in the state where the ball 11 is located on the direction A1 side (inclination direction lower side) of the obstruction protrusion 16. 17, abuts on the second arm 18. As a result, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 can move the ball 11 even when the ball 11 is located on the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) of the obstruction projection 16.

When the ball 11 comes into contact with the first arm 17, it tends to move clockwise along the regulation rail 13 (see arrow c1). After that, depending on the moving speed, the passage S12c may be passed (see arrow c2) as in the case of launching (see FIG. 4), or if the passage S12c cannot be reached, the direction A1 side (see the direction A1) from the middle of the inclined surface 12 (see FIG. 4). It moves toward the lower side in the inclination direction (see arrow c3).

-Movement mode of FIG. 7 (D) When the ball 11 comes into contact with the second arm 18 in the vicinity of the accommodating portion 14, the ball 11 is likely to move counterclockwise along the regulation rail 13, for example (). See arrow d1).
After that, the ball 11 can get over the scattered protrusions 15A as long as it has a speed enough to get over the scattered protrusions 15A (see arrow d2). Since the scattered protrusions 15A include the slope 15b, the ball 11 moving along the regulation rail 13 can easily get over the ball 11. Further, although the ball 11 that has been overcome in this way moves toward the direction A2 side, it is difficult to predict the exact direction.
That is, in the embodiment, the scattered protrusions 15A are arranged on the moving path of the ball 11 by utilizing the property that the ball 11 easily moves along the regulation rail 13. Further, the scattered protrusions 15A are formed in a shape that makes it easy for the ball 11 that moves in the direction A2 side to get over, and the moving direction of the ball 11 that has passed over can be made irregular.

The ball 11 may move toward the other interspersed protrusions 15B to 15D when it does not move along the regulation rail 13. Even in such a case, the ball 11 can easily get over the other scattered protrusions 15B to 15D due to the slope 15b (see arrow d3 and the like). Further, since the obstruction protrusion 16 also has a slope, the ball 11 can get over the obstruction protrusion 16 in the same manner as the scattered protrusions 15 (see arrow d4).

Even if the ball 11 does not get over the scattered protrusions 15, it may move from the scattered protrusions 15 to the direction A2 side (upward in the inclined direction) through the gap S15 (see arrow d5 and the like).
Since the scattered protrusions 15 are arranged in an inverted triangular shape, the frontage on the direction A1 side (lower side in the inclination direction) of the gap S15 becomes large. Further, the ball 11 is guided in the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclined direction) by the side portions of the scattered protrusions 15. Therefore, the ball 11 easily moves on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction) through the gap S15.
Although not shown, in the same manner, the ball 11 easily moves toward the direction A2 through the gap between the interspersed protrusions 15 and the interfering protrusions 16.

-Movement mode of FIG. 7 (E) When the ball 11 comes into contact with the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 in a state of being located in the middle of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 The second arm 18 moves so as to be lifted in the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction). As a result, the ball 11 can get over the obstruction projection 16 on the direction A2 side (upper side in the inclination direction). After that, the ball 11 moves away from the obstructing protrusion 16 by abutting on the first arm 17 or the like.

As described above with reference to FIG. 7 and the like, the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 abut on the ball 11 moving on the inclined surface 12, so that the moving direction of the ball 11 is irregular. Performs a changing operation (irregular movement operation).
Further, the rotation speed of the first arm 17 during the ball game is slower than that at the time of launch. Therefore, the player can carefully observe how the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 move in contact with the ball 11, and can enjoy the ball game.

(4) When the ball 11 is housed in the housing unit 14 (see FIG. 3 and the like), the ball detecting unit 14c outputs the detection information of the ball 11 to the control unit 96.
When the ball 11 is accommodated within the time limit, the control unit 96 stops the rotation of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 at that time.
If the ball 11 is not accommodated within the time limit, the control unit 96 stops the rotation of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 according to the elapse of the time limit. As a result, the ball 11 can move toward the accommodating portion 14 without being disturbed by the first arm 17 and the second arm 18, and is accommodated in the accommodating portion 14.
The control unit 96 may make it easier for the ball 11 to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 by slowing the rotation speed of the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 according to the elapse of the time limit. Further, the control unit 96 may control the rotation so that the distance between the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 becomes wide, so that the ball 11 can be easily accommodated in the accommodating unit 14.
Here, if the ball 11 is not accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 even after a predetermined time (for example, within 10 seconds) has elapsed after the first arm 17 and the second arm 18 are stopped, the ball 11 is placed on the obstruction projection 16. May stay in. In such a case, the control unit 96 may move the ball 11 from above the obstruction projection 16 by rotating the first arm 17 several times.
As a result, the ball game using the inclined surface 12 ends.

(Roulette lottery)
When the control unit 96 receives the output of the detection information of the ball 11, the control unit 96 stops the rotation of the roulette 20a of the display unit 21. Then, the control unit 96 determines the symbol located at the uppermost portion of the roulette 20a as the winning symbol when the roulette 20a is stopped. For example, when the roulette 20a is stopped in the scene of FIG. 6B, the winning symbols are 150 symbols.
As described above, the winning symbol is determined at the timing when the ball 11 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 by the ball game. As described above, the movement mode of the ball 11 on the inclined surface 12 is irregular, and the timing of being accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 is difficult for the player to predict.
As a result, the game machine 1 can improve the player's feeling of excitement in the ball game and the roulette lottery.
The control unit 96 may change the time limit, for example, when another station Sr is waiting for the start of the game of the mass release stage, or before the closing time of the store. Good.

(Large amount of medals released)
(1) After determining the winning symbol, the control unit 96 rotates the inclined surface 12 180 degrees around the central axis C12 to direct the head of the model 25a, that is, the mass discharge port 25b toward the station St1. (See Fig. 1 etc.). As a result, the direction A2 side of the inclined surface 12 faces the station St1.
As a result, the normal direction of the inclined surface 12 faces the side opposite to the station St1, and the area S12a is arranged on the side opposite to the station St1, but after the end of the ball game. Therefore, there is no hindrance to the progress of the series of games.

(2) The control unit 96 drives a medal delivery device (not shown) of the hopper that stores medals to release a number of medals corresponding to the winning symbols onto the pusher stand of the station St1.

In this way, the game machine 1 arranges the model base 19 eccentrically on the inclined surface 12, thereby securing a large area of the main area S12a used in the ball game, and then during the execution of the ball game. Can direct this major area S12a to station St1. As a result, the limited space inside the game machine 1 can be effectively used. Further, when a large amount of medals are released, the model stand 19 approaches the station St, so that the medal transfer route can be shortened.

As described above, the game machine 1 can make the lottery using the ball 11 interesting and make it difficult to predict the timing when the winning symbol is determined. Further, in the game machine 1, the mass release device 25 is installed on the inclined surface 12, and by rotating the mass release device 25, the internal space can be effectively used.

[Structure of external medal M1 and internal medal M2 at each station St]
The configurations related to the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2 at each station St (compositions related to medal insertion, medal ejection, payout, medal circulation, etc.) will be described.
The medals M that the player inserts into the slotes 31L and 31R and are paid out to the payout ports 39 and the medals M that are supplied to the pusher stand 35 and used in the play areas F1 to F6 and the like have different flows. That is, the medal M that the player actually touches and the medal M that is used only inside the game machine are operated differently.
In this description, in order to clearly distinguish both medals M, the former is also referred to as an external medal M1 and the latter is also referred to as an internal medal M2, as appropriate. The external medal M1 and the internal medal M2 may be of different types such as size, material, and shape, or may be of the same type. In the embodiment, an example in which both are of the same type will be described.
Further, the insertion and supply of the internal medal M2 from the injection devices 34L and 34R of each station St to the pusher base 35 of each play area F1 to F6 is also appropriately referred to as “injection”.

FIG. 8 is a view of the vicinity of the pusher base 35 and the operation panel 2d of the station St1 of the embodiment as viewed from the upper side Z2.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the main configurations of the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2 of the game machine 1 of the embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the flow of the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the station St1 will be mainly described, but the other stations St2 to St6 also have the same configuration.

(Station St)
Station St1 has a left insertion slot 31L (external medal insertion section), a right insertion slot 31R (external medal insertion section), a left lever 32L (first lever), a right lever 32R (second lever), a payout button 33, and a left ejection. Device 34L (1st medal injection device, internal medal insertion part), right injection device 34R (2nd medal injection device, internal medal insertion part), pusher stand 35, left collection cylinder 36L, right collection cylinder 36R, acquisition hole 37, It is provided with a payout port 39 (external medal payout section), a left hopper 40L, a right hopper 40R, an external medal hopper 41 (external medal storage section), and an internal medal hopper 42 (internal medal storage section).
The left inlet 31L, the left lever 32L, the left injection device 34L, and the left recovery cylinder 36L, and the right inlet 31R, the right lever 32R, the right injection device 34R, and the right collection cylinder 36R are symmetrical in the left-right direction X, respectively. It is a composition. Hereinafter, the configuration of the left side X1 will be mainly described, and the description of the configuration of the right side X2 will be omitted as appropriate.

The left input port 31L, the right input port 31R, the left lever 32L, the right lever 32R, and the payout button 33 are provided on the operation panel 2d provided on the front side Y1 of the outer surface of the housing 2.
The left input port 31L and the left lever 32L are a set of operation units provided on the left side X1 of the operation panel 2d, and the right input port 31R and the right lever 32R are provided on the right side X2 of the operation panel 2d. It is a set of operation units. These two operation units may be operated by one player or two players. The payout button 33 is provided between the two operation units and is shared by the two operation units.
As described above, the station St1 has a configuration in which one player may play or two players may share the play area F1 and play.
By providing two payout buttons 33 on the left and right, two players may be able to operate each payout button 33.

The left slot 31L is a slot for the player to insert the external medal M1. The inside of the left insertion port 31L is provided with a detection unit 31a (optical sensor or the like) for detecting the inserted external medal M1.

The left lever 32L is an operation unit for operating the left injection device 34L and the mass release device 25. The left lever 32L is provided so as to protrude from the operation panel 2d. The left lever 32L is tilted in different directions, left side X1 (first direction), right side X2 (second direction), front side Y1 (third direction), and back side Y2 (third direction). Is possible.
The payout button 33 is a button that accepts an operation for paying out the acquired medals (described later) acquired by the player to the payout port 39 as the external medals M1.

The left injection device 34L is a device for injecting the internal medal M2 onto the pusher stand 35. The left injection device 34L sets the internal medal M2 into the play area F1 according to the fact that the external medal M1 is inserted into the left insertion slot 31L, the left lever 32L is operated, the small hit is won in the game, and the like. Eject.
The left injection device 34L includes an injection cylinder 34a, an injection port 34b, and a motor 34c.
The injection cylinder 34a is in the range of the inner side Y2 of the side wall 34d surrounding the play area F1 and is provided near the upper side of the reciprocating table 35a of the pusher table 35. The injection cylinder 34a is rotatably supported around the axis in the vertical direction Z.
The ejection port 34b is a portion that actually ejects the internal medal M2. The injection port 34b is provided at the tip of the injection cylinder 34a.

The motor 34c is a drive unit that rotates the injection cylinder 34a. The rotation of the injection cylinder 34a by the motor 34c changes the injection direction of the internal medal M2 ejected from the injection port 34b.
The motor 34c rotates the injection cylinder 34a counterclockwise (the direction corresponding to the first direction) in response to the tilting operation of the left lever 32L to the left side X1, and changes the injection direction to the back side Y2. On the other hand, the motor 34c rotates the injection cylinder 34a clockwise (direction corresponding to the second direction) in response to the tilting operation of the left lever 32L to the right side X2, and changes the injection direction to the front side Y1. As a result, the player can change the position where the ejected internal medal M2 is placed on the pusher stand 35.

The range in which the injection cylinder 34a can be rotationally driven is such that the injection range A34 (the range in which the injected internal medal M2 is placed) of the internal medal M2 ejected from the injection port 34b is about the entire upper surface of the reciprocating table 35a. Is set up.

The pusher stand 35 gradually moves the internal medal M2 placed on the reciprocating table 35a and the fixed table 35b to the front side Y1 by the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating table 35a.
The left collection cylinder 36L and the right collection cylinder 36R are provided on the left and right sides of the front side edge portion of the fixed table 35b, respectively.
A detailed description of the pusher stand 35, the left collection cylinder 36L, and the right collection cylinder 36R will be described later.
The acquisition hole 37 is an opening at the center of the front side edge portion of the fixed table 35b.

With such a configuration, the internal medal M2 placed on the fixed table 35b moves to the front side Y1 and finally any one of the left collection cylinder 36L, the right collection cylinder 36R, and the acquisition hole 37. Fall into.
The left collection cylinder 36L and the right collection cylinder 36R are provided with a detection unit 36a (optical sensor or the like) for detecting the dropped internal medal M2. Similarly, the acquisition hole 37 is provided with a detection unit 37a for detecting the dropped internal medal M2. In the embodiment, the detection unit 36a also detects the internal medal M2 that has fallen on the collection cylinders 36L and 36R, but the collection cylinders 36L and 36R are provided with independent detection units. It may have been.
The storage unit 95 stores the number of medals dropped into the acquisition hole 37 as the number of medals acquired by the player. The acquired medals stored in the storage unit 95 in this way are also referred to as credit medals. Further, the storage unit 95 stores the number of medals dropped on the collection cylinders 36L and 36R as the number of collected medals.

Further, the balls 38 are supplied from the ball supply device onto the fixed table 35b according to the progress of the game. The ball 38 is a game medium different from the internal medal M2 and the ball 11 described above.
The ball 38 rides directly on the fixed table 35b or on the internal medal M2 on the fixed table 35b. Therefore, when the internal medal M2 moves on the fixed table 35b, the ball 38 also moves on the fixed table 35b.

The payout port 39 is a payout port for paying out the medals acquired by the player in the game as an external medal M1 to the outside. The payout port 39 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2 (see FIG. 1).

The left hopper 40L is a container for storing the internal medal M2 ejected from the left injection device 34L. The left hopper 40L includes a sending device 40a for sending the internal medal M2 to the left injection device 34L.
Similarly, the right hopper 40R includes a delivery device 40a for storing the internal medal M2 ejected from the right injection device 34R and sending the internal medal M2 to the right injection device 34R.

The external medal hopper 41 is a container for storing the external medals M1 inserted into the insertion ports 31L and 31R and the external medals M1 to be paid out to the payout port 39. The manager (clerk or the like) of the game machine 1 can replenish or reduce the weight of the external medal M1 of the external medal hopper 41 by opening and closing the opening 2h for maintenance (see FIG. 1).
The external medal hopper 41 is provided with a sending device 41a for sending the external medal M1 to the payout port 39.

The internal medal hopper 42 stores the internal medals M2 (that is, the internal medals that have moved out of the play area) that have fallen from the fixed table 35b according to the result of the game, and also stores them in the left hopper 40L, the right hopper 40R, and the release hopper 43b. It is a container for storing the internal medal M2 before it is used.
The internal medal hopper 42 is provided with a sending device 42a for sending the internal medal M2 to the left hopper 40L, the right hopper 40R, and the discharging hopper 43b. The sending device 42a may be configured such that one sending device selects and sends the internal medal M2 from the three hoppers 40L, 40R, 43b, or is composed of three devices corresponding to the three hoppers 40L, 40R, 43b. It may have been done.

(Mass release device 25)
The mass release device 25 includes a release hopper 43b and a motor 43c.
The discharge hopper 43b is a container for storing the internal medal M2 discharged from the mass discharge port 25b. Unlike the above hopper, the release hopper 43b is not provided for each station St, and only one is provided. That is, the release hopper 43b is also used between all stations St1 to St6.
The discharge hopper 43b is provided with a delivery device 43a for sending the internal medal M2 to the mass discharge port 25b.
The motor 43c is a drive device that rotates the head of the model 25a around the axis in the vertical direction Z. As a result, the motor 43c is rotationally driven so as to reciprocate the mass discharge port 25b from side to side (see the direction X25b shown in FIG. 8).

In a state where a large amount of the internal medal M2 is discharged, the large amount discharge port 25b is located substantially in the center of the pusher stand 35 when viewed from the upper side Z2 (see FIG. 8), and the height from the large amount discharge port 25b to the pusher stand 35. Is sufficiently high, for example, about 1 m.
Therefore, the internal medal M2 discharged from the mass discharge port 25b is discharged so as to fall in the left-right direction X in a range substantially in the center of the depth direction Y on the pusher stand 35. Further, the internal medal M2 released to the pusher stand 35 bounces on the pusher stand 35. Therefore, the emission range A25b of the internal medal M2 is almost the entire upper surface of the pusher table 35 (reciprocating table 35a and fixed table 35b).
On the other hand, as described above, the injection range A34 of the injection devices 34L and 34R is only on the reciprocating table 35a.

Here, the moving range of the ball 38 is on the fixed table 35b. Therefore, on the pusher table 35, the region where the discharge range A25b and the moving range of the ball 38 overlap is almost the entire range on the fixed table 35b. Further, in principle, there is no region where the injection range A34 and the moving range of the ball 38 overlap. Therefore, the former range is wider than the latter range.

[Flow of external medal M1 and internal medal M2]
The flow of the external medal M1 and the internal medal M2 will be described while explaining the game playing method and the like.
(Supply of internal medals M2 to pusher stand 35 according to the insertion of medals into the insertion ports 31L and 31R)
When the player wants to eject the internal medal M2 onto the pusher stand 35, the player tilts the left lever 32L in the left-right direction X (left side X1, right side X2) to determine the direction of the ejection port 34b and determines the direction of the external medal M1. Should be set to the left input port 31L.
The control unit 96 rotationally drives the injection cylinder 34a in the depth direction Y (front side Y1, back side Y2) by controlling the left injection device 34L in response to the tilting operation of the left lever 32L in the left-right direction X. The direction of the injection port 34b, that is, the injection direction of the internal medal M2 is changed. Further, the external medal M1 inserted into the left insertion port 31L is detected by the detection unit 31a and stored in the external medal hopper 41. The control unit 96 drives the delivery device 40a of the left hopper 40L in response to the detection of the detection unit 31a.
As a result, the control unit 96 supplies the internal medal M2 stored in the left hopper 40L to the pusher stand 35 from the ejection port 34b in response to the medal insertion of the external medal M1 into the left insertion port 31L. Further, the control unit 96 executes the medal ejection without accepting the tilting operation of the left lever 32L in the depth direction Y.
Although detailed description is omitted, similarly, the control unit 96 transfers the internal medal M2 stored in the right hopper 40R from the right injection device 34R to the pusher stand 35 in response to the insertion of the right insertion port 31R of the external medal M1. Supply.

(Supply of internal medals M2 to pusher stand 35 by consuming acquired medals)
As the game progresses, the internal medals M2 on the pusher stand 35 fall into the acquisition holes 37 and the collection cylinders 36L and 36R.
The internal medal M2 that has fallen into the acquisition hole 37 is detected by the detection unit 37a and stored in the internal medal hopper 42. The control unit 96 counts the internal medals M2 that have fallen into the acquisition hole 37 each time the detection unit 37a detects the internal medal M2, and adds the number of acquired medals of the storage unit 95. Further, the control unit 96 does not pay out the external medal M1 even if the internal medal M2 falls into the acquisition hole 37.
Similarly, the control unit 96 counts the internal medals M2 that have fallen into the collection cylinders 36L and 36R according to the output of the detection unit 36a, and adds the number of collected medals.

When the player wants to eject the internal medal M2 to the pusher stand 35 by using the number of acquired medals, the player tilts the left lever 32L in the left-right direction X (left side X1, right side X2) to direct the ejection port 34b. The left lever 32L may be tilted in the depth direction Y (back side Y2 or front side Y1).
The control unit 96 changes the insertion direction of the internal medal M2 of the left injection device 34L in response to the tilting operation of the left lever 32L in the left-right direction X, similarly to the insertion of the external medal M1 described above. The control unit 96 consumes the acquired medals by subtracting the number of acquired medals of the storage unit 95 in response to the tilting operation of the left lever 32L in the depth direction Y, and similarly to the insertion of the external medal M1 described above. , The internal medal M2 stored in the left hopper 40L is supplied to the pusher stand 35 from the ejection port 34b. The control unit 96 continuously supplies a plurality of internal medals M2 to the pusher stand 35 one by one while the left lever 32L is continuously tilted in the depth direction Y.

Although detailed description will be omitted, similarly, the control unit 96 controls the right injection device 34R in response to the tilting operation of the right lever 32R in the left-right direction X and the depth direction Y, and stores the right injection device 34R in the right hopper 40R. The internal medal M2 is supplied to the pusher stand 35.
The medals won by the station St1 are not distinguished in the left and right areas, and the storage unit 95 stores the number of medals won by the entire station St1. Therefore, regardless of whether the left lever 32L or the right lever 32R is operated, the control unit 96 consumes the acquired medals of the station St1 and ejects the internal medals M2 from the left injection device 34L and the right injection device 34R, respectively. .. That is, the control unit 96 shares the number of acquired medals stored in the storage unit 95 with respect to the internal medals M2 that the two injection devices 34L and 34R each insert into the play area F1 in response to the operation of the levers 32L and 32R.
In the embodiment, the control unit 96 tilts the levers 32L and 32R in the oblique direction in order to suppress an erroneous operation such as inserting a medal while changing the direction of the injection port 34b. Is configured not to be accepted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 96 may be configured so that the medal can be inserted while changing the direction of the injection port 34b by accepting the tilting operation in the oblique direction.

(Payout of external medal M1)
The player may operate the payout button 33 when ending the game or the like.
The control unit 96 controls the external medal hopper 41 in response to the operation of the payout button 33, and pays out the external medals M1 corresponding to the number of acquired medals stored in the storage unit 95 to the payout port 39.
As a result, the player can pay out the external medals M1 corresponding to the number of acquired medals acquired in the game to the outside.

In this way, the player inserts the external medals M1 that can be actually touched into the insertion slots 31L and 31R, so that the player feels as if the medals are directly inserted into the play area F as in the conventional case. You can play with.

Further, the player can play by consuming the acquired medals acquired in the game by operating the levers 32L and 32R in the depth direction Y. Therefore, when the external medal M1 is used up, the player can consume the acquired medals acquired so far to play.
In this case, the player can operate the left injection device 34L to change the injection direction and execute the injection by operating only the left hand of the left lever 32L. Similarly, the player can operate the right injection device 34R to change the injection direction and execute the injection by operating only the right hand of the right lever 32R. As a result, the player can operate both the left injection device 34L and the right injection device 34R at the same time by operating the lever with both hands, and can play while sharing and consuming the acquired medals by both injection devices.
As described above, the game machine 1 has much better operability than the conventional game machine.

(Circulation of internal medal M2)
The control unit 96 controls the sending device 42a to control the internal medal M2 that has fallen into the acquisition hole 37, the collection cylinders 36L, and 36R and is housed in the internal medal hopper 42, so that the left hopper 40L, the right hopper 40R, and the discharge hopper 43b It is sent as if it is distributed to.
The internal medal hopper 42 has the largest number of medals, for example, several hundred. The control unit 96 sends out to the left hopper 40L, the right hopper 40R, and the discharge hopper 43b, if necessary.
When the internal medal M2 is ejected from the left injection device 34L, it means that the medal is inserted into the left insertion slot 31L by the player, or the left lever 32L is operated. Similarly, when the internal medal M2 is ejected from the right injection device 34R, it is the case where the player inserts the medal into the right insertion slot 31R and the right lever 32R is operated. Also, even if a small hit is won in the game, the internal medal M2 is ejected from the ejection devices 34L and 34R.
Therefore, in the control unit 96, for example, about 100 internal medals M2 are accommodated in the left hopper 40L and the right hopper 40R, respectively, as the quantity required for inputting from the left injection device 34L and the right injection device 34R. , Controls the sending device 42a of the internal medal hopper 42.

On the other hand, the control unit 96 does not store the internal medal M2 in the release hopper 43b during the normal stage. The control unit 96 processes a large amount of release only at each station St (that is, each station St determined to perform a large amount of release) that has shifted from the stations St1 to St6 to the large amount release stage according to the progress of the game. The internal medal M2 of each station St is controlled to be sent to the discharge hopper 43b.
For example, when the control unit 96 shifts to the mass release stage at the station St1 and processes the mass release, the control unit 96 sends out the number of internal medals M2 won by the roulette lottery from the internal medal hopper 42 of the station St1 to the release hopper 43b. To do. Further, the internal medal hoppers 42 of the other stations St2 to St6 different from the stations St1 are not driven, and the internal medals M2 are not sent from these internal medal hoppers 42 to the release hopper 43b. Then, the control unit 96 supplies the internal medal M2 sent to the release hopper 43b from the mass discharge port 25b to the pusher base 35 of the station St1 by further controlling the release hopper 43b.
Therefore, in the processing of mass release of station St1, only the internal medal M2 of the internal medal hopper 42 of station St1 is used, and the internal medal M2 of the internal medal hopper 42 of other stations St2 to St6 is not used.

As described above, the internal medal M2 of each station St is completely separated from the flow path of the external medal M1 and is not mixed with the internal medal M2 of the other station St. Therefore, the internal medal M2 of each station St does not move from each station St to another station St, and circulates only in each station St. Therefore, the number of internal medals M2 held by each station St is constant and does not change as the game progresses.
As a result, it is possible to prevent a shortage of internal medals M2 (so-called medal out) at each station St. Further, since the manager of the game machine 1 only needs to pay attention to the excess or deficiency of the number of external medals M1 and replenish or reduce the amount, it is easy to manage the medals.

(Operation of mass discharge port 25b at the time of mass release)
When a large amount of discharge is performed at each station St, the control unit 96 does not accept the operation of the injection devices 34L, 34R by the levers 32L, 32R of the station St. That is, even if the levers 32L and 32R are tilted, the control unit 96 is not controlled by the injection devices 34L and 34R to change the injection direction of the internal medal M2 and to execute the injection.
Then, when performing a large amount of discharge at each station St, the control unit 96 changes the direction of the large amount of discharge port 25b by controlling the motor 43c according to the operation of the levers 32L and 32R in the left-right direction X. As a result, the control unit 96 changes the discharge direction of the large amount of internal medals M2 to the left-right direction X (see the direction X25b shown in FIG. 8).
In this case, when both levers 32L and 32R are operated, the control unit 96 may, for example, follow the operation of the last operated lever.

When the levers 32L and 32R are tilted to the left side X1, the control unit 96 accepts this operation and moves the mass discharge port 25b to the left side X1. When the levers 32L and 32R are tilted to the right side X2, the control unit 96 accepts this operation and moves the injection port 34b to the right side X2.

In this way, the control unit 96 switches the operation target of the lever operation from the injection devices 34L and 34R to the mass release device 25 in response to the mass release device 25 discharging the internal medal M2 to the play area F1. As a result, the levers 32L and 32R can be used as both the operating device of the injection device 34L and 34R and the operating device of the mass release device 25.
Further, the control unit 96 can change the discharge direction of the internal medal M2 to the play area F1 by the mass release device 25 by accepting only the lever operation of the station St that performs mass discharge.

Since the player can control the discharge direction of the internal medal M2 from the mass discharge device 25 at the time of mass discharge, it is possible to control the position of the internal medal M2 to be discharged from the pusher stand 35.
The ball 38 is placed on the fixed table 35b.
Therefore, the player can play so as to hit the ball 38 with the internal medal M2 by manipulating the discharge direction of the internal medal M2. The ball 38 moves on the fixed table 35b by hitting the released internal medal M2. Further, since the emission range A25b of the internal medal M2 includes the entire surface on the fixed table 35b, which is the movement range of the ball 38, the player has a chance to move the ball 38 advantageously.
In addition, when the ball 38 falls into the acquisition hole 37 during the mass release, for example, the player is provided with a benefit such as processing that two balls 38 are dropped in response to the fall of one ball 38. It may be given.

That is, during the normal stage, the internal medal M2 ejected from the ejection devices 34L and 34R cannot be directly hit against the ball 38. During the normal stage, the internal medal M2 moves with the reciprocating operation of the reciprocating table 35a, and the ball 38 moves little by little on the fixed table 35b with the movement of the internal medal M2.
On the other hand, at the time of mass release, the internal medal M2 from the mass release device 25 can be directly applied to the ball 38, so that the ball 38 can be moved significantly. Further, since the release range A25b is the entire surface on the fixed table 35b, if the internal medal M2 hits the ball 38 so that the ball 38 moves to the front side Y1, the ball 38 moves in the direction of the acquisition hole 37. Can be done.

When the mass release stage of station St1 is completed, the control unit 96 shifts to the normal stage and restarts the normal stage. Along with this, the control unit 96 switches the operation target of the lever operation of the station St1 from the mass release device 25 to the injection devices 34L and 34R and returns. The injection devices 34L and 34R are in an uncontrolled state during the mass release stage. Therefore, when the normal stage is restarted, the state before the transition of the mass release stage is maintained, so that the injection direction is maintained.
Therefore, when the normal stage is restarted, the player can eject the internal medal M2 in the target direction before the mass release.

[Structure related to pusher stand 35 and collection cylinder 36]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the configuration in the vicinity of the recovery cylinder 36 of the embodiment as viewed from the back side Y2.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cylinder body 55 of the collection cylinder 36 of the embodiment.
FIG. 11A is a view of the cylinder body 55 as viewed from the upper side Z2.
FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view (BB cross-sectional view) of the cylinder body 55 as viewed from the right side X2.
FIG. 11C is a right side view of the cylinder body 55.
FIG. 11D is a view of the cylinder body 55 as viewed from the back side Y2.
FIG. 11 (E) is a perspective view of the cylinder body 55.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of the recovery cylinder 36 in a state in which the recovery cylinder 36 of the embodiment is arranged in the inward rotation state and the outer rotation state.
In FIG. 12, the ball guard 56 is not shown in order to explain the movement mode of the medal M in an easy-to-understand manner.

In the game machine 1, the configurations of the pusher stand 35 and the two collection cylinders 36L and 36R are substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction X. Hereinafter, the left collection cylinder 36L of the left side X1 will be mainly described, and the collection cylinders 36L and 36R will also be referred to as a collection cylinder 36.
The game machine 1 includes a pusher stand 35, a collection cylinder 36 (medal collection unit), a peripheral wall 58, and a drive unit 59.
The pusher table 35 includes a reciprocating table 35a and a fixed table 35b.
The upper surfaces of the reciprocating table 35a and the fixed table 35b are horizontal surfaces, and the medal M can be placed movably. A side wall 34d is provided on the outside of the reciprocating table 35a and the fixed table 35b in the left-right direction X (the direction orthogonal to the medal moving direction).

The reciprocating table 35a is driven by a drive unit (not shown) including a motor or the like so as to reciprocate on the fixed table 35b in the depth direction Y. The state shown in FIG. 10 is a state in which the reciprocating table 35a is arranged on the frontmost side Y1.
The medal M supplied from the injection device 34 or the like onto the reciprocating table 35a comes into contact with the back wall 50 (see FIG. 1) by the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating table 35a. Therefore, the plurality of medals M placed on the reciprocating table 35a gradually move to the front side Y1 like a billiard phenomenon. As a result, a part of the plurality of medals M falls from the inclined surface 35c on the front side Y1 onto the fixed table 35b.

The fixed table 35b is fixed to the housing 2. The shape of the fixed table 35b seen from the upper side Z2 is rectangular in the embodiment, but it may be changed as appropriate according to the specifications of the game machine and the like.
On the fixed table 35b, the medals M and the like that have fallen from the reciprocating table 35a in this way are placed. Further, the medal M that has fallen from the reciprocating table 35a comes into contact with the front wall portion of the reciprocating table 35a due to the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating table 35a. Therefore, the plurality of medals M placed on the fixed table gradually move toward the front side Y1 (medal moving direction) like a billiard phenomenon. As a result, a part of the plurality of medals M falls from the front edge of the fixed table 35b into the acquisition hole 37 or is collected in the collection cylinder 36.

The corners (that is, the left and right ends of the front edge) of the front side Y1 of the fixed table 35b are provided with notches 52.
The notch 52 is a portion of the fixed table 35b in which the corner portion is cut out in an arc shape. The radius of this arc is equivalent to the radius of the cylinder of the recovery cylinder 36. As described above, the notch 52 has a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the recovery cylinder 36.
Therefore, the recovery cylinder 36 and the fixed table 35b are continuously arranged in the play area F1, and the recovery cylinder 36 can be rotationally driven without interfering with the fixed table 35b.

The side wall 34d is not provided with a drop hole (also referred to as a parent drop hole) for the medal M, unlike a conventional game machine. Therefore, the medal M placed in the vicinity of the side wall 34d of the fixed table 35b can easily move to the front side Y1 along the side wall 34d. Further, as will be described later, the vicinity of the side wall 34d on the fixed table 35b is an easily moving region 61b (see FIG. 14A) where the medal M can easily move.
Since the collection cylinder 36 is provided so as to be continuous with the side wall 34d, the medal M moving along the side wall 34d in the vicinity of the side wall 34d can be efficiently guided to the collection cylinder 36.

A ball 38, which is a game medium different from the medal M, is supplied on the fixed table 35b. The ball 38 moves on the fixed table 35b in response to the movement of the medal M on the fixed table 35b. The diameter of the ball 38 is larger than the diameter of the medal M.

The collection cylinder 36 is a member that collects the medals M that have moved on the fixed table 35b.
A part of the collection cylinder 36 is arranged so as to be housed in the notch 52 of the fixed table 35b. That is, the two collection cylinders 36 are front edges of the fixed table 35b and are provided on the left side X1 and the right side X2 in the left-right direction X (orthogonal direction), respectively (see FIG. 8). Further, the recovery cylinder 36 is provided on the front side Y1 of the side wall 34d so as to be continuous with the side wall 34d.
The game machine 1 is not provided with a member for blindfolding the collection cylinder 36. Therefore, unlike the drop hole of the conventional game machine, the collection cylinder 36 is exposed to the upper side Z2 in the play area F1 and is arranged so as to be clearly visible to the player.
A ball guard 56 (ball movement suppressing member) is fixed to the upper Z2 of the recovery cylinder 36.

The shape of the cylinder body 55 of the collection cylinder 36 will be described with reference to FIG. In the description of the cylinder body 55, for convenience, the central axis C35 of the cylinder is set to the vertical direction Z, and the flat surface 55b is arranged toward the back side Y2.
The table arrangement line 55i shown in FIG. 11 indicates the position of the surface of the fixed table 35b in the vertical direction Z in a state where the cylinder body 55 is attached to the game machine 1.
The cylinder body 55 has a shape as if a part of the upper part of the cylindrical member is scraped off so as to have an opening 55j that opens toward the back side Y2. Further, the hollow portion of the cylinder forms a recovery hole 55h into which the medal M falls. The diameter of the recovery hole 55h is larger than the diameter of the medal M.

The cylinder body 55 includes a falling surface 55a, a flat surface 55b (easy falling surface), a raised surface 55c (difficult to fall surface), an upright surface 55d, an inner side wall 55e, and a top surface 55f.
The falling surface 55a leads to the recovery hole 55h by sliding down the medal M that has moved from the flat surface 55b, the raised surface 55c, and the like. The falling surface 55a is inclined toward the lower side Z1 toward the recovery hole 55h.

The flat surface 55b and the raised surface 55c are formed on the upper surface of the cylinder body 55.
The flat surface 55b is a surface formed on the outer edge of the cylinder body 55 and surrounded by an arc and strings on the outer circumference of the cylinder body 55. The flat surface 55b is a flat surface and is a horizontal surface. In the vertical direction Z, the flat surface 55b is arranged at the same position as the surface of the fixed table 35b. Further, the outer edge portion of the flat surface 55b coincides with the table arrangement line 55i.
The raised surface 55c is a surface formed on the outer edge of the cylinder body 55. The raised surface 55c is provided on each of the left and right outer portions of the flat surface 55b.
The raised surface 55c extends from the table arrangement line 55i toward the recovery hole 55h (that is, the direction of the central axis C35 of the cylinder) so as to reach the upper side Z2 (that is, protrudes toward the upper side Z2 from the surface of the fixed table 35b). ), Is formed.

The upright surface 55d is a wall surface extending from the side portion of the front side Y1 of the raised surface 55c to the top surface 55f. The upright surface 55d is a surface substantially parallel to the vertical plane (XZ plane).
The inner side wall 55e is a side wall extending from the left and right outer side portions of the falling surface 55a to the raised surface 55c.
The top surface 55f is a surface forming the uppermost portion of the cylinder body 55. The top surface 55f is a horizontal plane.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the collection cylinder 36 is attached to the game machine 1, the flat surface 55b is arranged so as to be continuous with the surface of the fixed table 35b. Further, the flat surface 55b forms a surface continuous with the recovery hole 55h without protruding from the surface of the fixed table 35b. Therefore, the flat surface 55b can easily guide the medal M that has moved the fixed table 35b to the collection hole 55h, that is, can form a portion that makes it easy to collect the medal M.
The raised surface 55c is arranged so as to be continuous with the surface of the fixed table 35b and to form a surface protruding from the surface of the fixed table 35b. Therefore, the raised surface 55c can form a portion in which the medal M that has moved the fixed table 35b is less likely to be guided to the collection hole 55h than the flat surface 55b, that is, the medal M is more difficult to collect.

The portion where the medal M can be easily collected (the easily falling portion) is not only composed of the flat surface 55b, but may be composed of the flat surface 55b and other surfaces in combination. Similarly, the portion where the medal M is difficult to collect (difficult to drop portion) may be formed by combining the raised surface 55c and other surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 10, the ball guard 56 is a member that prevents the ball 38 on the fixed table 35b from entering the recovery hole 55h. The ball guard 56 is fixed to the top surface 55f of the cylinder body 55. Therefore, the ball guard 56 is arranged on the flat surface 55b and the raised surface 55c on the upper side Z2.
The ball guard 56 is an annular plate material. When viewed from the upper side Z2, the outer diameter of the ball guard 56 is equal to the outer diameter of the cylinder body 55. Further, the height from the fixed table 35b to the ball guard 56 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 38. In the embodiment, this height is equal to the radius of the ball 38. The ball 38 that has moved on the fixed table 35b comes into contact with the ball guard 56 before coming into contact with the cylinder body 55. As a result, the ball guard 56 can prevent the ball 38 from reaching the flat surface 55b and the raised surface 55c.

The diameter of the inner diameter of the ball guard 56 is larger than the diameter of the medal M.
Here, for example, the medal M released when a large amount of the medal M is released may bounce on the pusher stand 35 or the like and fall from the upper side Z2 toward the collection cylinder 36. Such a medal M passes through the inner diameter portion of the ball guard 56 and falls into the recovery hole 55h.
In this way, the ball guard 56 can prevent the ball 38 from reaching the cylinder body 55, and can pass the ball 38 even if the medal M moves in a mode different from the usual one.

As shown in FIG. 10, the side wall 34d is provided with a ball guide plate 57 that guides the ball 38 on the pusher base 35 so as not to move in the direction of the collection cylinder 36.
The ball guide plate 57 is provided so as to project inward from the side wall 34d to the left and right.
However, in order to prevent the balls 38 from reaching the collection cylinder 36, it is necessary to make the ball guide plate 57 larger and to install the ball guide plate 57 close to the collection cylinder 36. In this case, the ball guide plate 57 hides many medals M on the fixed table 35b, and it is difficult to observe the movement of the medals M in the vicinity of the collection cylinder 36. Therefore, the game machine 1 is configured so that the ball 38 may reach the collection cylinder 36 even if the ball guide plate 57 is provided.

The peripheral wall 58 is a wall portion that surrounds the front side Y1 and the left and right outer portions of the collection cylinder 36. In the left-right direction X, the inner portion 58a of the peripheral wall 58 is located between the collection cylinder 36 and the fixed table 35b.
The drive unit 59 is a device that rotates the recovery cylinder 36 about an axis in the vertical direction Z, and includes, for example, a motor or the like. The recovery cylinder 36 is rotationally driven by the drive unit 59 so as to reciprocate around the central axis C35 within a range of about 90 degrees.

Therefore, in the depth direction Y, the portion of the collection cylinder 36 that is continuous with the notch 52 of the fixed table 35b (that is, the edge of the tip of the fixed table 35b in the medal moving direction) is changed between the flat surface 55b and the raised surface 55c. Will be done.
As a result, the state of ease of dropping the medal M changes between an easy-falling state (state of FIG. 12A) and a difficult-to-fall state (state of FIG. 12B).

(Movement of medal M reaching the collection cylinder 36)
As shown in FIG. 12A, in the easy-fall state, the portion of the opening 55j in which the flat surface 55b is formed is arranged so as to face the back side Y2, and thus moves on the fixed table 35b to the front side Y1. It is placed so as to face the incoming medal M. Further, in the left-right direction X, the outer end portion 55k (shown by a black circle) of the flat surface 55b is arranged at the same position as the side wall 34d. Therefore, the medal M that has moved on the fixed table 35b can easily move so as to move onto the flat surface 55b. As a result, the medal M on the fixed table 35b is easily collected in the collection cylinder 36 in the easy drop state.

As shown in FIG. 12B, the flat surface 55b is arranged so as to face the right side X2 (left and right inside) in the difficult-to-fall state. Therefore, the portion of the opening 55j in which the flat surface 55b is formed is arranged so as to face the right side X2 (that is, the direction orthogonal to the front side Y1 which is the medal moving direction). Further, the portion where the raised surface 55c is formed is arranged so as to face the back side Y2. Further, a part 55 m of the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 55 is also arranged so as to face the back side Y2.
Therefore, the medal M that has moved on the fixed table 35b rides on the raised surface 55c, moves along the hem portion of the raised surface 55c, and is difficult to move on the flat surface 55b. Further, the medal M that comes into contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface 55 m of the cylinder body 55 cannot enter the recovery hole 55h. As a result, the medal M on the fixed table 35b is difficult to be collected in the collection cylinder 36 in the difficult-to-fall state.

Here, the medal M that has reached the collection cylinder 36 is further moved by rotationally driving the collection cylinder 36.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a mode in which the medal M of the embodiment is moved by the collection cylinder 36.
The mode in which the medal M moves is complicated because it depends on the number of medals M, the moving state of the medal M accompanying the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating table 35a, and the like. FIG. 13 shows a typical example of the mode in which the medal M moves.
As shown in FIG. 13A, the medal M located on the flat surface 55b in the easy-fall state falls into the recovery hole 55h if it is further moved to the front side Y1 as it is. However, when the recovery cylinder 36 rotates clockwise in order to change from this state to the difficult-to-fall state, the medal M may come into contact with the inner side wall 55e. As shown in FIG. 13B, for this reason, the medal M may be moved inward in accordance with the rotation of the collection cylinder 36. Therefore, the medal M that the player expected to be collected in the collection cylinder 36 may not be collected.

As shown in FIG. 13C, the medal M located on the raised surface 55c in the easy-fall state is returned to the fixed table 35b when the collection cylinder 36 rotates clockwise from this state. However, when the collection cylinder 36 rotates clockwise in the same manner as described above, the medal M may be caught in the inner portion 58a of the peripheral wall 58. Then, when the medal M is rotated in such a hooked state, as shown in FIG. 13D, the medal M may get over the raised surface 55c and fall into the recovery hole 55h. Therefore, the medal M that the player expected not to be collected in the collection cylinder 36 may be collected.

As shown in FIG. 13 (E), the medal M that rides on the raised surface 55c in a difficult-to-fall state is temporarily maintained in a state where it does not fall into the recovery hole 55h. When the collection cylinder 36 rotates counterclockwise in order to change from this state to the easy drop state, the medal M that rides on the raised surface 55c rotates and moves as it is, as shown in FIG. 13 (F). It may come into contact with the side wall 34d, move to the flat surface 55b, and then fall into the recovery hole 55h. In this way, the mode in which the medal M falls into the collection hole 55h can be made interesting.

Since the collection cylinder 36 is exposed, the player can observe such movement of the medal M in an interesting manner. The player can also observe the medal M falling into the recovery hole 55h through the inner diameter portion of the ball guard 56.

(Operation after collecting medals in the collection cylinder 36)
As described above, the medal M collected in the collection cylinder 36 is detected by the detection unit 36a (see FIG. 9).
Here, since the game machine 1 can efficiently guide the medal M on the fixed table 35b to the collection cylinder 36 as described above, the opening area of the collection hole 55h can be changed to the opening of the parent drop hole of the conventional game machine. It can be smaller than the area. Therefore, the area through which the collected medals M pass through the collection cylinder 36 can be made a small space. As a result, the detection unit 36a can easily detect the collected medal M.

The control unit 96 drives the ball supply device 70 in response to the output of the detection unit 36a to raise the ball 38 of the ball raising device 71. The ball supply device 70 supplies the ball 38 to the fixed table 35b, and the ball 38 drops from the fixed table 35b into the acquisition hole 37 leads to a transition to the mass release stage.
As described above, the game machine 1 of the embodiment has a configuration in which the collected medals M can be easily detected, unlike the parent pitfalls of the conventional game machine, and the mode in which the collected medals M are collected is positively arranged. It is configured to be shown to the player. Therefore, in the game machine 1 of the embodiment, not only the collection cylinder 36 can be used as a substitute for the parent pit, but also the collected medal M can be used for the progress of the game.
Further, in the conventional game machine, in order to collect medals and make it difficult for the player to understand the collected amount, a blindfold for hiding the parent pitfall is provided on the pusher table. On the other hand, since the game machine 1 has a configuration showing that the medal M is being collected, this blindfold is unnecessary. As a result, the game machine 1 can give the player a sense of security.

The rotation cycle of the recovery cylinder 36 does not have to be constant. For example, the control unit 96 may calculate the payout rate based on the number of medals inserted and the number of medals paid out, and may change the rotation cycle of the collection cylinder 36 based on the calculation result. In this case, the control unit 96 can increase the payout rate by lengthening the time for the collection cylinder 36 to be placed in the easy-to-fall state, while the time for the collection cylinder 36 to be placed in the difficult-to-fall state. The longer the, the lower the payout rate can be adjusted.
Further, for example, when the reciprocating table 35a is moving to the front side Y1, the medal M on the fixed table 35b is likely to move to the front side Y1. Therefore, the control unit 96 can raise the payout rate by controlling the collection cylinder 36 to be in an easy-to-fall state while the reciprocating table 35a is moving to the front side Y1, while the collection cylinder 36 can increase the payout rate. The payout rate can be adjusted to be lower by controlling the table so that it is difficult to drop.

[Configuration related to pusher stand 35 and ball supply device 70]
The configuration related to the pusher base 35 and the ball supply device 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 14, 15, and the like.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of the pusher stand 35 and the ball supply device 70 of the embodiment.
FIG. 14A is a view of the configuration in the vicinity of the fixed table 35b as viewed from the upper side Z2.
FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the fixed table 35b, the side structure 65, the ball lowering device 73, the ball supply port 75, etc. when viewed from the front side Y1, and FIG. 14A is a diagram. It is a figure corresponding to the BB sectional view of.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the configuration in the vicinity of the fixed table 35b and the ball supply device 70 of the embodiment as viewed from the upper right.
Note that FIG. 15 shows a state in which the transparent cover 71e of the ball raising device 71, the transparent cover 73e of the ball lowering device 73, the blind cover 74e, and the like are removed.

The game machine 1 includes a fixed table 35b, a ball supply device 70 (ball supply unit), and the like as a configuration related to the ball 38.
As shown in FIG. 10, the ball supply device 70 is provided on the side structure 65 located on the left side X1 of the fixed table 35b. The side structure 65 is a structure arranged on the left side X1 of the play area F1. The right side surface of the side structure 65 is a side wall 34d.

(Easy movement area 61, difficult movement area 62 of the fixed table 35b)
As shown in FIG. 14, the fixing table 35b includes a plurality of screws 60 (resistance imparting members).
The screw 60 is fixed to the stepped hole in the fixing table 35b. The screw 60 is a screw type having a gently curved surface (that is, a large radius of curvature) on the head surface, and is, for example, a truss screw, a bind screw, or the like.
Only the upper part of the curved surface of the head of the screw 60 projects from the surface of the fixing table 35b. The edge of the curved surface is located on the lower side Z1 of the surface of the fixed table 35b, and the outer peripheral surface of the head is also located on the lower side Z1 of the surface of the fixed table 35b.
Therefore, the medal M that moves on the fixed table 35b is made difficult to move by riding on the curved surface without being caught on the outer peripheral surface of the head of the screw 60 when passing through the installation portion of the screw 60. Resistance is given.
At the time of play, the screw 60 is covered with the medal M and cannot be visually recognized. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable.

The installation range of the screw 60 is a region substantially in the center of the fixed table 35b. The outer shape of the installation range of the screw 60 is an isosceles trapezoidal shape having an upper base on the back side Y2 and a lower side on the front side Y1. Further, within this isosceles trapezoidal region, there is a range in which the screw 60 is not installed in a smaller isosceles trapezoidal range.
Of the surface of the fixed table 35b, the region inside the small isosceles trapezoid and the region outside the large isosceles trapezoid are the easily moving regions 61 in which the medal M can easily move.
In the embodiment, the small isosceles trapezoid of the easy-moving area 61 is also referred to as an easy-moving area 61a, and the area along the side wall 34d is also referred to as an easy-moving area 61b. The ball stop range (described later) is located in the easy movement area 61a.
The range obtained by removing the small isosceles trapezoid from the large isosceles trapezoid is the difficult movement area 62 in which the medal M is more difficult to move than the easy movement area 61.

In the easy-to-move region 61, the movement speed of the medal M is increased because the resistance to the movement of the medal M is small. On the other hand, in the difficult-to-move area 62, the movement resistance of the medal M is larger than that of the easy-moving area 61, so that the moving speed of the medal M is slower than that of the easy-moving area 61. Therefore, in the difficult-to-move area 62, the medal M is more likely to stagnate than the easy-to-move area 61.
As shown in FIG. 14B, for this reason, the height of the medals M loaded on the fixed table 35b is higher in the difficult-to-move area 62 and lower in the easy-to-move area 61. Further, the surface shape on which the medal M is loaded has a shape like a caldera in which the easy-to-move region 61a has a recess and the difficult-to-move region 62 projects and surrounds the recess.

(Ball supply device 70)
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 15, the ball supply device 70 is a device that supplies the balls 38 onto the fixed table 35b. The surface layer of the ball 38 may be formed of an elastic body such as rubber or sponge.
The ball supply device 70 includes a ball raising device 71, a bridge rail 72, a ball lowering device 73 (ball moving unit), a deceleration unit 74, and a ball supply port 75.
The movement path of the ball 38 in the ball supply device 70 is in this order, that is, the ball 38 moves from the ball raising device 71 toward the ball supply port 75. The ball raising device 71 side is the upstream side, and the ball supply port 75 is the downstream side.

(Ball raising device 71)
The ball raising device 71 is a device for raising the balls 38 from the ball container (not shown) to the upper side Z2 of the side structure 65. The ball raising device 71 is provided on the upstream side of the ball moving path with respect to the ball lowering device 73.
The ball raising device 71 includes a raising guide rail 71a, a spiral screw 71b, and a transparent cover 71e.

The ascending guide rail 71a is a member that guides the ascending ball 38. The ascending guide rail 71a includes two rods extending from the ball container toward the upper side Z2. Since the upper configuration of the ascending guide rail 71a is located on the upper side Z2 of the side structure 65, it is exposed to the play area F1.
The spiral screw 71b includes a rod member and a rising blade 71c (contact portion) which is a spiral blade attached around the rod member. The direction of the central axis C71b of the spiral screw 71b is the vertical direction Z. The spiral screw 71b is rotationally driven around the central axis C71b.
The transparent cover 71e (see FIG. 10) is a transparent cover that covers the spiral screw 71b from the outside. The transparent cover 71e prevents the medal M from entering the inside of the ball raising device 71.

With the above configuration, the ball lifting device 71 is driven along the ascending guide rail 71a while the ball 38 housed in the ball container is brought into contact with the ascending blade 71c of the spiral screw 71b by rotationally driving the spiral screw 71b. Can be raised. The player can visually recognize the ball 38 ascending in this way through the transparent cover 71e.
A detection unit (optical sensor or the like) for detecting the raised ball 38 is provided above the rising guide rail 71a (near the upper end of the vertical movement range of the ball). The control unit 96 can confirm that the ball 38 has risen to the upper end of the ascending guide rail 71a and has moved to the bridge rail 72 in response to the detection of the detection unit.

(Bridge rail 72)
The bridge rail 72 is a rail that moves the ball 38 raised by the ball raising device 71 to the upper part of the ball lowering device 73. The bridge rail 72 is formed of a plurality of rod-shaped members, and is inclined toward the lower side Z1 from the ball raising device 71 toward the ball lowering device 73. As a result, the bridge rail 72 can move the ball 38 toward the ball lowering device 73 while rolling by the action of gravity so that the ball 38 can be visually recognized by the player.

(Ball descent device 73)
The ball lowering device 73 includes a lowering blade 73c and a transparent cover 73e.
The descent blade 73c is a spiral blade attached around the rod member. The axial direction of the rod member is the vertical direction Z. The shape of the descending blade 73c is the same as the shape of the ascending blade 71c of the spiral screw 71b, that is, both have corresponding shapes. Unlike the spiral screw 71b, the descent blade 73c is not rotationally driven.
The upper configuration of the descent blade 73c is located on the upper side Z2 of the side structure 65, while the lower configuration is housed in the side structure 65.
The transparent cover 73e (see FIG. 10) is a transparent cover that covers the descent blade 73c from the outside. The shape of the transparent cover 73e is a thin cylindrical shape.

With the above configuration, a spiral descent path 73d (ball descent path), which is a passage that changes spirally, is formed at the center of the rod member between the inner wall surface of the transparent cover 73e and the descent blade 73c. The ball 38 in the spiral descent path 73d abuts on the inner wall surface of the descent blade 73c and the transparent cover 73e, and moves while accelerating by the action of gravity while abutting on these.
In this way, the ball lowering device 73 receives the ball 38 that has moved from the bridge rail 72 and passes the ball 38 through the spiral descent path 73d to lower the ball 38 while turning it. Further, since the ball 38 is accelerated by the action of gravity, the ball lowering device 73 does not require a driving device including a motor or the like, and can be configured in a simple manner.

The ball 38 is guided to the deceleration section 74 through the spiral descent path 73d.
As shown in FIG. 15, the end of the spiral descent path 73d is arranged so that the tangential direction faces substantially the left-right direction X. The ball 38 advances from the end of the spiral descent path 73d toward the right side X2 substantially parallel to the left-right direction X.

As described above, the ball 38 makes a dynamic movement because it accelerates and descends at a high speed while turning, and the movement is interesting. The player can visually recognize the ball 38 through the transparent cover 73e at the portion of the ball lowering device 73 protruding from the side structure 65, and can observe the ball 38 in an interesting manner.
Further, the ball raising device 71 and the ball lowering device 73 have spiral blades having the same shape as each other, and are arranged in pairs in the depth direction Y so as to stand upright on the side structure 65. .. Therefore, both can be neatly arranged in the play area F1 and have a good appearance.

(Deceleration unit 74)
The deceleration unit 74 is a portion from the end of the spiral descent path 73d to the ball supply port 75, and is mainly a portion having a function of decelerating the ball 38 which has been accelerated in the spiral descent path 73d and has become high speed. is there.
The speed reduction unit 74 is provided inside the side structure 65.
The structure of the speed reducing portion 74 is blindfolded by a blindfold cover 74e (blindfolded portion) so as not to be exposed to the play area F1 (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the aesthetic appearance of the play area F1 is not impaired. The blind cover 74e constitutes a part of the top surface of the side structure 65.

The speed reduction unit 74 includes a speed reduction protrusion 74a and an inclined surface 74b.
The deceleration projection 74a is a member for decelerating the ball 38 by abutting on the ball 38 that has moved from the spiral descent path 73d. As described above, the ball 38 is accelerated by the spiral descent path 73d, and the speed is too fast to put it on the fixed table 35b as it is. Therefore, the deceleration projection 74a decelerates the ball 38.

The deceleration protrusion 74a is arranged on the movement locus of the ball 38 that has moved from the spiral descent path 73d. The deceleration projection 74a is fixed so as to project from the front inner side surface of the deceleration portion 74 to the back side Y2. The deceleration protrusion 74a may be formed of an elastic member (for example, sponge, rubber, spring, etc.) or the like so as to suppress damage to the ball 38.

The inclined surface 74b is a part of the bottom surface of the speed reduction unit 74. The inclined surface 74b is a surface connected to the ball supply port 75, and is located immediately inside the ball supply port 75. The inclined surface 74b is inclined so as to reach the lower side Z1 toward the ball supply port 75 so that the medal M slides down.
Here, when a large amount of medals M are released, the medals M bounced by the pusher stand 35 or the like may enter the inside of the ball supply port 75. The inclined surface 74b can slide down the medal M that has entered in this way and discharge it from the ball supply port 75 onto the fixed table 35b.

(Ball supply port 75)
The ball supply port 75 is provided on the side wall 34d and is an opening for directing the ball 38 onto the fixed table 35b.
As shown in FIG. 14A, the ball supply port 75 is arranged at the same position as the easy movement region 61a in the depth direction Y.

(Operation of the ball 38 coming out of the ball supply port 75)
As shown in FIG. 14B, the ball 38 advances from the end of the spiral descent path 73d toward the right side X2, and exits from the ball supply port 75 toward the right side X2. After falling on the fixed table 35b, the ball 38 moves while rolling to the right side X2 and stops in the easy-moving area 61a, or falls into the easy-moving area 61a and stops.
That is, the size, material, etc. of the deceleration protrusion 74a are such that the moving speed of the ball 38 that has moved on the spiral descent path 73d is set, and when the ball 38 is arranged on the fixed table 35b, the ball stop range is the easy moving region 61a. It is set to decelerate to the extent that it is within. The setting of the deceleration protrusion 74a may be appropriately changed according to the characteristics of the game machine such as the size of the ball 38 and the speed of the ball 38 when exiting the spiral descent path 73d.
When the game machine 1 was actually prototyped, it was confirmed that the ball 38 coming out of the ball supply port 75 had the effect of stopping in the easy-to-move region 61a by providing the deceleration protrusion 74a. Further, when the deceleration protrusion 74a is not provided, the ball 38 reaches the opposite wall of the side wall 34d of the left side X1 because the speed is increased by the spiral descent path 73d.

Further, the height from the fixed table 35b to the ball supply port 75 is set so that the falling speed of the ball 38 is within a range that allows the ball to stop within the ball stop range. The height H75 from the fixed table 35b to the lower part of the ball supply port 75 is, for example, 30 mm or more and 50 mm or less.
That is, if the position of the ball supply port 75 is too high, the ball 38 becomes too high speed again due to the action of gravity. Further, if the ball 38 falls on the medal M on the fixed table 35b in a state where the speed is too high, the ball 38 bounces in a direction that is too irregular, so that it becomes difficult to move in the direction of the easy movement region 61a. Further, if the position of the ball supply port 75 is too low, the medal M bounced on the fixed table 35b tends to easily enter the ball supply port 75, which is not preferable.

In this way, the game machine 1 of the embodiment can stop the ball 38 ejected from the ball supply port 75 of the side wall 34d within the easy-moving region 61a, which is a target position in the game specifications. Therefore, the game machine 1 does not have to provide a large arm, rail, or the like for guiding the ball 38 on the fixed table 35b. Therefore, the play area F1, which is an area for playing a game, can be made refreshed without being complicated.
As shown in FIG. 8, the mass release device 25 discharges a large amount of medals M from the upper side Z2 of the fixed table 35b to a range including the ball stop range on the upper surface of the fixed table 35b. Since the game machine 1 of the embodiment does not require the arm, rail, or the like, it does not interfere with the mass release of such medals M.
On the other hand, since the conventional game machine is provided with the above-mentioned arm, rail, etc., the play area F1 is complicated, and when a large amount of the medal M is released, the medal M hits the above-mentioned arm, rail, etc., which is an obstacle. It was.

(Timing of ball supply)
In the embodiment, when the number of medals collected in the collection cylinders 36L and 36R reaches a certain number (for example, about 100 medals), the control unit 96 rotates the spiral screw 71b to rotate one ball 38. It is supplied on the fixed table 35b. The display unit 20 may display the ratio of the collected amount of the medals M to the fixed number with a gauge or the like.
Further, the control unit 96 may play a game using the display unit 20 when the number of medals reaches a certain number, and supply the ball on condition that the player wins this game.
However, the ball supply method can be appropriately set according to the specifications of the game machine 1. For example, each time the medals M are collected one by one, the spiral screw 71b is rotated by a certain angle to enter the ball raising device 71. The ball 38 of the ball 38 may be raised little by little.
Further, the ball raising device 71 raises the ball 38 to the upper part of the raising guide rail 71a, holds the ball 38 so as not to move to the bridge rail 72 by the lock mechanism, and holds the lock mechanism when the ball is supplied. The ball 38 may be moved to the bridge rail 72 by releasing the ball 38.

[Lottery process for winning chukka]
The slot lottery process associated with winning a chukka boot will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 16 to 18, and the like.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the lottery process associated with the chucker winning of the embodiment.
17 and 18 are views for explaining the slot screen 80 of the display unit 21 during the slot lottery process of the embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 96 has three chukka 90R (first winning opening), chukka 90G (second winning opening), and chukka 90B (second winning opening) provided on the inclined surface 35c of the pusher base 35. ), The slot screen 80 (see FIG. 17) is displayed on the display unit 21 (see FIG. 1), and the slot lottery process (profit-giving lottery process) is performed. That is, the control unit 96 grants the player the right to execute the slot lottery according to the chukka winning. In embodiments, this right is also referred to as stock.
The edges of the chukka 90 are colored red (R), green (G), and blue (B), which indicate the attributes of the chukka 90G. In the embodiment, the color attribute of these chukka 90s is also referred to as a winning color.
Inside each chucker 90, a detection unit (optical sensor or the like) for detecting the winning medal M is provided.

The control unit 96 can determine which chucker 90 the medal M has won based on the output of these detection units. If the result of the slot lottery is a winning result, the control unit 96 ejects and supplies a number of medals M corresponding to the winning result from the injection devices 34L and 34R onto the pusher stand 35. The number of medals supplied is, for example, 50 when the variable symbol is "777", 30 when three odd-numbered identical numbers other than "7" are lined up, and three even-numbered identical numbers. When lined up, it is 10 sheets or the like.
When the medal M is supplied onto the pusher stand 35, the medal M (M2) or the ball 38 on the fixed table 35b is likely to fall into the acquisition hole 37. Therefore, it is profitable for the player to win in the slot lottery process.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the control unit 96 displays the slot screen 80 on the display unit 21 at the time of slot lottery.
The slot screen 80 includes a variable display unit 81, a stock display unit 82, and a lottery execution stock display unit 83.
The variable display unit 81 variablely displays the numbers 0 to 9 in the three display areas in order to display the lottery result. The winning combination of the slot lottery corresponds to the combination of these three numbers.

The stock display unit 82 displays the stock information owned by the player as stock figures 85 (85R, 85G, 85B). In the embodiment, the stock figure 85 is a circular figure having a color corresponding to the winning color. 17 and 18 show the color of the stock figure 85 by indicating the color of the letter "R, G, B" in the stock figure 85. The stock figures 85 are displayed side by side from the left side X1 to the right side X2 in the order of winning, and are drawn from the stock of the stock figure 85 arranged on the leftmost side X1. 17 and 18 show the stock acquisition order corresponding to each stock figure 85 by a branch number. The stock display unit 82 displays a maximum of 10 stock figures 85.
The lottery execution stock display unit 83 displays the stock figure 85 of the stock for which the lottery is currently being executed.

For example, FIG. 17A shows a scene in which a slot lottery is performed by consuming the stock corresponding to the stock figure 85R-0 from the state of having 10 stocks.
Therefore, the stock figure 85R-0 is displayed on the lottery execution stock display unit 83. Further, the number of stock figures 85 displayed on the stock display unit 82 has been reduced from 10 to 9.

(Flow of slot lottery process)
The flow of the slot lottery process will be described by taking the game progress of FIGS. 17 and 18 as an example.
As shown in FIG. 16, in S1, the control unit 96 determines whether or not the medal M has won a prize based on the output of the detection unit of the chukka 90. The control unit 96 proceeds to S2 when it is determined that the prize has been won (S1: YES), and proceeds to S1a when it is determined that the prize has not been won (S1: NO).
In S1a, the control unit 96 determines whether or not it has stock by referring to the storage unit 95. When it is determined that the control unit 96 has stock (S1a: YES), the process proceeds to S5, and when it is determined that the control unit 96 does not have stock (1a: NO), the process from S1 is repeated.

In S2, the control unit 96 determines the winning probability information corresponding to each winning by executing the lottery of the winning probability information. Information regarding the winning probability information is stored in the storage unit 95.
The winning probability information is information on the winning probability used in the slot lottery (S5 described later). The winning probability information has, for example, three types of information: high probability, medium probability, and low probability. The higher the probability, the easier it is to win a role with a large number of medals supplied, and the lower the probability of losing, which is advantageous for the player.

In S3, the control unit 96 associates the winning color with the winning probability information determined in S2 and stores it in the storage unit 95 as stock. As a result, each time the chukka 90 is won, a plurality of stocks are stored in the storage unit 95 in the order of winning. The maximum number of stocks of the storage unit 95 is 10, which is the number corresponding to the stock display unit 82, and the control unit 96 does not store 11 or more stocks in the storage unit 95. Therefore, even if a new prize is won when the stock is 10, it is not profitable for the player.

In S4, the control unit 96 displays the stock figure 85 corresponding to the stock in response to the stock being stored in the storage unit 95 in the storage unit 95. As a result, the stock figure 85 is displayed on the stock display unit 82 each time the chukka 90 is won. Further, the player can confirm that he / she has the stock (that is, that he / she has the stock in the storage unit 95) and the winning color thereof by confirming the stock figure 85.

In S5, the control unit 96 displays the stock figure 85 arranged on the leftmost side X1 so as to move to the lottery execution stock display unit 83, and also performs a slot lottery process for the stock corresponding to the stock figure 85. .. In the slot lottery process, the winning probability information (for example, high probability) associated with the stock is used. Further, the control unit 96 erases the lottery stock from the storage unit 95.
As a result, the stocks are consumed in the order of winning, and the slot lottery processing corresponding to each stock is sequentially performed.
As shown in FIG. 17B, the control unit 96 erases the stock figure 85R-0 in which the slot lottery has been performed from the lottery execution stock display unit 83 in response to displaying the lottery result on the variable display unit 81. To do. As a result, the player can confirm the information of the slots consumed for the slot lottery process.

In S6, the control unit 96 determines whether or not the lottery result of S5 is a winning result. If the control unit 96 is won (S6: YES), the process proceeds to S7, while if it is determined that the player is not won but not won (S6: NO), the control unit 96 repeats the process from S1.
In S7, the control unit 96 performs the winning process. That is, the control unit 96 controls the injection devices 34L and 34R to supply the winning number of medals M onto the pusher stand 35.

In FIG. 17B, 50 pieces have been won in the slot lottery of the stock (each first lottery right) corresponding to the stock figure 85R-0 (the first right display of each first lottery right), so that the control unit 96 supplies 50 medals M onto the pusher stand 35.
In S8, whether or not the stock stored by the control unit 96 by referring to the storage unit 95 has a stock of the same winning color as the stock won in S6 (another first lottery right). To judge. If the control unit 96 determines that there is stock of the same winning color (S8: YES), the process proceeds to S9, while if it determines that there is no stock of the same winning color (S8: NO). , The next stock slot is drawn by repeating the process from S1.

In S9, the control unit 96 performs a combo process (collective profit grant process) for stocks of the same winning color. The combo process is performed in the following order.
(1) As shown in FIGS. 17C and 18A, the stock figure 85R-3 of the stock display unit 82 is moved to the lottery execution stock display unit 83. Further, the stock display unit 82 moves the stock figure 85 displayed on the right side X2 of the stock figure 85R-3 so as to fill the vacant space with the movement of the stock figure 85R-3.
Further, the stock corresponding to the stock figure 85R-3 is erased from the storage unit 95.
When this stock is erased, the number of stocks in the storage unit 95 decreases, and the number of stocks that can be newly stored increases.

(2) “Stock combo! 50 sheets × 2” is displayed on the display unit 21, and the stock corresponding to the stock figure 85R-3 moved to the lottery execution stock display unit 83 in the above (1) is the same as in S7. Perform a winning process. That is, the injection devices 34L and 34R are controlled to supply 50 medals M onto the pusher stand 35 as in the scene of FIG. 17B.
(3) The stock figure 85R-3 is deleted from the lottery execution stock display unit 83 according to the end of the medal supply.

As described above, when the lottery result for the stock figure 85R-0 is a winning result, the control unit 96 processes the lottery result for the stock figure 85R-3 as a winning without performing the slot lottery process for the stock figure 85R-3.
Further, in this case, the control unit 96 has the same number of medals M as the lottery result of the stock of the stock figure 85R-0 regardless of the winning probability information (for example, low probability) corresponding to the stock of the stock figure 85R-3. Is supplied onto the pusher stand 35. That is, even if the winning probability information corresponding to the stock of the stock figure 85R-3 is held, the lottery result of the stock of the stock figure 85R-0 is used as the stock of the stock figure 85R-3 without using this information. By reflecting this, it is possible to process the medal supply with respect to the stock of the stock figure 85R-3.
Further, the control unit 96 processes the display of the stock figure 85R-3 as described in (1) to (3) above, so that the medal supply related to the stock figure 85R-3 is supplied following the stock figure 85R-0. Can be notified to the player that the above has been performed.

(4) When the supply of medals related to the stock figure 85R-3 is completed, the control unit 96 determines whether or not there is a stock having the same winning color as the stock won in S6 by referring to the storage unit 95 again. To do. When the control unit 96 determines that there is a stock of the same winning color, the control unit 96 repeats the above processes (1) to (3) again.

In the example of FIG. 18A, the stock figure 85R-8 having the same color as the stock figure 85R-0 is displayed. Therefore, it has a stock of the same color as the stock won in S6.
As shown in FIG. 18B, for this reason, the control unit 96 processes the stock corresponding to the stock figure 85R-8 in the same manner as in the above (1) to (3).
In this way, in the combo process, when there are a plurality of stocks of the same winning color, the processes such as stock display and medal supply are sequentially performed, so that it can be produced as if it is linked to the first winning.

(5) After the medal supply processing of the stock figure 85R-8, there is no stock of the same winning color as the stock won in S6.
As shown in FIG. 18C, for this reason, the control unit 96 repeats the processing from S1 for the stock of the stock figure 85G-1.

Although the above processing has been described for the stock associated with the winning of the chukka 90R, the same processing is performed for the stock associated with the winning of the chukka 90G and the chukka 90B.

As described above, when the lottery result of the slot lottery is won, the game machine 1 collectively processes the stock of the same winning color as the winning stock as a winning without performing the slot lottery. This saves play time.
That is, unlike the embodiment, in the mode in which the batch processing is not performed, when the time until the slot is stopped in one lottery processing is, for example, 5 seconds, the stock figures 85R-3, 85R-8 of the above example are used. It takes an extra 10 seconds to process the above.
Further, even if the maximum number of stocks is 10, the batch processing causes a sufficient margin for the remaining number of stocks. This is beneficial to the player as it reduces the chances of wasting prizes.
Further, since the game machine 1 supplies the medals M for a plurality of winnings to the pusher stand 35 with the winning of one slot lottery, the player's motivation to play can be improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. is there. Moreover, the effects described in the embodiments are merely a list of the most preferable effects arising from the present invention, and the effects according to the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments. The configurations of the above-described embodiments may be used only in a part thereof or may be used in combination as appropriate, but detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Transformed form)
(1) In the embodiment, the lottery apparatus is used for lottery related to mass release, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lottery device may be used for a lottery (event type lottery, etc.) for generating various events of the game.

(2) In the embodiment, the lottery apparatus shows an example of using roulette for lottery, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lottery device may be such that the winning result is determined according to the timing when the ball is accommodated in the accommodating portion, and for example, the random number may be stopped at the timing when the ball is accommodated in the accommodating portion. Good.

(3) In the embodiment, the mass release device has shown an example of discharging medals, but the present invention is not limited to this. The mass release device may be a device (game medium release unit) that discharges a game medium (sphere such as a ball, a capsule, etc.) different from the medal.

(4) In the embodiment, the control unit has shown an example in which a medal is ejected from the injection device in the same manner regardless of whether the lever is tilted to the front side or the back side, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control unit may change the medal ejection time interval (that is, the number of medal ejections per unit time) according to the operation of the front side and the back side of the lever. In this case, the player can take a strategy such as changing the amount of medals supplied to the pusher stand according to the state of the medals placed on the pusher stand, for example. Further, the control unit may change the ejection speed of the medal according to the operation of the front side and the back side of the lever, for example. In this case, the speed at which the left hopper and the right hopper send out medals may be changed.
Further, the control unit makes it possible to select whether to eject the medal immediately or to store the medal in the storage unit as a credit medal when the medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot. In the latter case, the lever Credit medals may be consumed and medals may be ejected from the ejection device according to the operation. In this form, the player can select his / her favorite playing method.

(5) In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the medal discharge direction from the discharge port of the mass discharge device is moved to the left-right direction at the time of mass discharge, but the present invention is not limited to this. The discharge direction from the discharge port may be at least one in the left-right direction and the other direction. For example, the mass discharge device includes a motor that moves the discharge port in the vertical direction (the rotation axis is in the horizontal direction, etc.), and the control unit controls this motor according to the tilting operation in the depth direction of the lever to control the discharge port. May be moved up and down.

(6) In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the recovery cylinder is provided with a flat surface and a raised surface as an easy-to-fall portion and a difficult-to-fall portion, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The easy-to-fall portion and the difficult-to-fall portion may have a form in which the ease of collecting medals changes according to the rotational movement of the collection cylinder. The easy-falling portion may have, for example, a form in which the falling surface is not provided and the falling surface is extended to the outer circumference of the recovery cylinder. Further, the difficult-to-fall portion may be a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the collection cylinder above the fixed table.

(7) In the embodiment, the deceleration unit includes a deceleration protrusion for decelerating the ball, but the present invention is not limited to this. The speed reducing portion may be provided with other members as long as the ball can be decelerated. For example, a sheet material having a rough surface may be provided to increase the rolling resistance of the ball.

(8) In the embodiment, the resistance applying member is an example of a screw, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The resistance-imparting member may be any one that imparts resistance to the movement of the medal. A resistance-imparting member, for example, a sheet material having a part of the surface of a fixed table having a different surface roughness may be used.
Further, in the game machine, the easy-to-move area and the difficult-to-move area may be provided on the reciprocating table by providing the resistance-imparting member on the reciprocating table.

(9) In the embodiment, the control unit has shown an example in which a lottery is executed according to the winning of the chucker to determine the winning probability information (high probability, medium probability, low probability, etc.), but the present invention is not limited to this. .. In addition to this lottery, the control unit holds an additional right lottery to determine whether or not to grant additional rights (for example, the right to add 10 medals and supply them to the pusher stand when the slot lottery is won). You may do it. When the grant of the additional right is won, the control unit may store the additional right and the stock in the storage unit in association with each other.
This additional right may not be extinguished in the combo process. That is, in the example of the embodiment, when the stock of the stock figure 85R-3 and the additional right are related, the control unit relates to the stock of the stock figure 85R-3 at the time of combo processing based on the stock figure 85R-0. In addition to 150 medals, 10 medals for additional rights may be added and supplied to the pusher stand. As a result, the player does not lose the benefit related to the additional right.

(10) In the embodiment, in the combo processing, an example is shown in which processing such as movement of a stock figure and supply of medals is sequentially performed for each stock with respect to stocks of the same winning color, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the combo process, for stocks of the same winning color, all medals corresponding to all stocks of the same winning color may be simultaneously supplied without moving the stock figure. In this case, the processing time of the combo processing can be further shortened.

(11) In the embodiment, a game machine that performs combo processing of stocks of the same winning color is shown as an example of a medal pusher game machine, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in a game machine such as a pachinko machine, a combo process may be performed by giving a stock attribute for each prize. Further, it may be applied to an electronic game machine having a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device and having a game medium win a prize in a winning opening on the display unit.

1 ... Game machine 10 ... Lottery device 11 ... Ball 12 ... Inclined surface 14 ... Accommodating part 14a ... First opening / closing arm 14b ... Second opening / closing arm 14c ... Ball detection part 15, 15A to 15D ... Dotted protrusions 15a ... Upright surface 15b ... Slope 16 ... Interfering protrusion 16a ... Curved surface 16b ... Slope 17 ... First arm 18 ... Second arm 19 ... Model stand 20 ... Lottery section 20a ... Roulette 21 ... Display section 25 ... Mass release device 25b ... Mass release port 31L ... Left input port 31R ... Right input port 31a ... Detection unit 32L ... Left lever 32R ... Right lever 34L ... Left injection device 34R ... Right injection device 34b ... Injection port 34d ... Side wall 35 ... Pusher stand 35a ... Reciprocating table 35b ... Fixed table 36L ... Left collection cylinder 36R ... Right collection cylinder 37 ... Acquisition hole 37a ... Detection unit 38 ... Ball 39 ... Discharge port 41 ... External medal hopper 42 ... Internal medal hopper 43b ... Release hopper 52 ... Notch 55 ... Cylinder body 55a ... Falling surface 55b ... Flat surface 55c ... Raised surface 55h ... Recovery hole 56 ... Ball guard 59 ... Drive unit 60 ... Screws 61, 61a, 61b ... Easy movement area 62 ... Difficult to move area 70 ... Ball supply device 71 ... Ball lifting device 71a ... Lifting guide rail 71b ... Spiral screw 71c ... Rising blade 71e ... Transparent cover 72 ... Bridge rail 73 ... Ball descent device 73c ... Descent blade 73d ... Spiral descent path 74 ... Deceleration part 74a ... Deceleration protrusion 74b ... Inclined surface 75 ... Ball supply port 85 ... Stock Figures 90, 90R, 90G, 90B ... Chucker 95 ... Storage unit 96 ... Control unit F0 to F6 ... Play area M ... Medal M1 ... External medal M2 ... Internal medal S15 ... Gap St, St1 to St6 ... Station

Claims (11)

A lottery device that uses moving balls for lottery.
An inclined surface on which the ball is arranged so that it can move, and
A ball accommodating portion arranged below the inclined surface in the inclined direction and capable of accommodating a ball moving on the inclined surface, and a ball accommodating portion.
It is provided with an obstructing protrusion which is arranged on the upper side in the inclined direction with respect to the ball accommodating portion and is provided so as to project from the inclined surface and prevents the ball moving on the inclined surface from moving toward the ball accommodating portion. A lottery device characterized by. The lottery device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the obstructing protrusion is set to such an extent that the ball can get over the obstructing protrusion according to the moving speed of the ball. It is provided with a ball moving portion which is arranged in a range above the inclined direction of the ball accommodating portion, is rotatably provided on the inclined surface, and moves a ball obstructed by the obstructing protrusion in a direction away from the obstructing projection. The lottery device according to claim 1 or 2. The ball moving portion is an arm that comes into contact with the ball by rotating and moving.
The third aspect of claim 3, wherein the rotation range of the arm is a space above the obstructing protrusion in the normal direction of the inclined surface and overlaps the obstructing protrusion when viewed from the normal direction. Lottery device. Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a display unit for displaying a roulette wheel is provided, and a lottery unit for stopping the roulette wheel and determining a winning result when a ball is accommodated in the ball accommodating unit is provided. The lottery device described in Crab. It is provided with a plurality of scattered protrusions which are scattered on the inclined surface and project from the inclined surface and irregularly change the moving direction of the balls when the balls moving on the inclined surface come into contact with each other. The lottery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A lottery device that uses moving balls to generate game events.
An inclined surface on which the ball is arranged so that it can move, and
A ball accommodating portion arranged below the inclined surface in the inclined direction and capable of accommodating a ball moving on the inclined surface, and a ball accommodating portion.
It is provided with a plurality of scattered protrusions which are scattered on the inclined surface and project from the inclined surface and irregularly change the moving direction of the balls when the balls moving on the inclined surface come into contact with each other. A lottery device characterized by. The lottery device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein at least a part of the plurality of scattered protrusions is arranged on the same line with a gap through which the balls can pass. It is provided with a ball moving portion that is arranged on the lower side in the inclination direction with respect to the scattered protrusions and moves the ball located on the lower side in the inclination direction with respect to the scattered protrusions on the upper side in the inclination direction.
The lottery apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the scattered protrusions are formed on the lower side in the inclined direction and include a slope that is separated from the inclined surface toward the upper side in the inclined direction. A regulation part that regulates the movement range of the ball on the inclined surface is provided.
The ball moving portion is capable of moving the ball along the restricting portion.
The lottery device according to claim 9, wherein at least a part of the scattered protrusions is arranged along the regulation portion. The lottery apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the gap between the adjacent scattered protrusions becomes larger toward the lower side in the inclination direction when the inclined surface is viewed from above.

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