JP2023158180A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an enclosed type game machine capable of actually shooting game balls for free for a predetermined period or the predetermined number of game balls before playing a game accompanied with winning balls.SOLUTION: A hall computer 700 includes an information input terminal 701 and an information management system control board 702. The information input terminal 701 receives game information 134a outputted from a game information external output terminal 134 of an external terminal board 133 of a pachinko machine 1, ball information 135a outputted from a ball information external output terminal 135 in the same manner, and the like. The information input terminal 701 also receives game medium number information from an adjustment device 4 (refer to Fig. 76). The information management system control board 702 includes a CPU, a ROM, an input/output processing circuit, and a communication control circuit as well as a RAM 703 which can store the game information 134a, the ball information 135a, and the number of game media.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 111

Description

The present invention relates to an enclosed game machine equipped with a practice mode for trial playing.

There is an enclosed game machine that allows players to play without directly touching pachinko balls (see Patent Document 1). In an enclosed game machine, a game can be played as long as the number of pachinko balls held is one or more. The number of balls held is related to value information, and is recorded as balance information on the card when the player is not playing a game. When a card is inserted into the slot of a card unit attached to an enclosed game machine, the balance information recorded on the card is read as the number of balls held. The number of balls read in this manner is stored in the memory within the enclosed gaming machine through the card unit. When the number of balls held is within a predetermined range, a pachinko game can be played, and the number of balls held increases or decreases depending on the game result of the pachinko game. When the game is finished and payment is made, the number of balls held at the time of payment is recorded as balance information on the card again through the card unit. In this way, in a gaming machine such as an enclosed gaming machine, a game can be played within the range of the number of balls held on the card.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-239183

By the way, before new gaming machines are installed in gaming halls, presentations for new gaming machine products are held in various parts of the country. It is limited in time and geographically, and it is difficult for many players to attend the recital.
As a result, players start playing games without having the opportunity to experience new gaming machines that have been introduced to the market in advance, and even in the case of gaming machines that are not new, they are not installed in gaming halls. People start playing games without experiencing the game machines beforehand.
Furthermore, those who have little or no experience of playing games with gaming machines are often unsure of how to start playing games with the gaming machines in a gaming machine hall. In particular, enclosed game machines do not have game balls exposed to the outside of the game machine, so players may be confused as to how to start the game. Therefore, these people are less motivated to visit gaming machine halls and play games.

The purpose of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to actually shoot a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of game balls free of charge before playing a game involving prize balls. , to provide an enclosed game machine.

The gaming machine according to claim 1 includes:
Accommodates a predetermined number of game balls,
a game board forming a game area in which the game ball rolls;
a firing device that fires the game ball;
a first display device disposed within the gaming area;
a second display device disposed outside the gaming area;
The game board includes a game ball collection port,
The game ball is fired into the game area by the firing device, and the fired game ball is collected from the game area through the game ball collection port after rolling in the game area,
In the enclosed game machine, the game balls collected from the game ball collection port are transported to the firing device, and the game balls are circulated and used to play a game,
means for enabling a game without prize balls to be executed for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of game balls;
Display control means capable of displaying performance explanation information on the second display device and changing a display range of the performance explanation information when the game without prize balls is being executed;
It is an enclosed game machine equipped with
Further, as another invention, the following means may be used.
Means 1:
Accommodates a predetermined number of game balls,
a game board forming a game area in which the game ball rolls;
A firing device that fires the game ball,
The game board includes a game ball collection port,
The game ball is fired into the game area by the firing device, and the fired game ball is collected from the game area through the game ball collection port after rolling in the game area, and is collected from the game ball collection port. The game ball is transported to the firing device, and the game ball is circulated and used to play a game, in an enclosed game machine,
This enclosed game machine is equipped with means for allowing games without prize balls to be played for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of game balls free of charge.
According to means 1, it is possible to provide an enclosed game machine that can actually shoot out a predetermined period or a predetermined number of game balls free of charge before playing a game involving prize balls.
Furthermore, in the gaming machine of Means 1, by acquiring time information or calendar information from the RTC and comparing it with a table stored in advance as the allowable trial mode time period, the game is executed for free for a predetermined period. (Measure 2).
According to means 2, by limiting the trial play mode to the time slot set by the hall side, it is possible to prevent the playing time of a player who wants to play a game for a fee from being excessively reduced.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an enclosed game machine that allows players to actually shoot prize balls free of charge before playing a game involving prize balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine that is an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention and a payment machine attached to the pachinko machine. It is a front view of the pachinko machine with the door frame removed. It is a front perspective view showing the main body frame which constitutes a pachinko machine. It is a rear perspective view showing the main body frame and game board that constitute the pachinko machine. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper firing device, a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit, and a sphere gathering section. It is a right view showing an upper firing device, a ball supply path member, and a ball lifting device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper firing device and the firing area when looking up at the upper part of the game board from the lower front of the game board. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the upper firing device (launch hammer hitting position). FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the front left. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the rear left. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the rear left with the ball feeding unit cover removed. It is a figure which shows the open state of the upper firing device in a pachinko machine with the door frame removed. It is a right side view showing a longitudinal section of the Pachinko machine with the door frame removed. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the joint portion of the upper firing device with the base plate is in contact with the protruding portion of the panel holder on the game board. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the front right side. It is a front view showing an upper firing device (launching hammer standby position). FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the upper firing device (the ball feeding solenoid is not energized, the ball feeding member is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position). 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device taken along the line BB in FIG. 10 (the ball feed solenoid is not energized, the ball feed member is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position). FIG. It is a perspective view showing a ball feeding member, a ball feeding shaft, and a ball feeding sheet metal in the ball feeding device from diagonally backward. FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the upper firing device (ball feeding solenoid energized, ball feeding member in supply position and allowable position). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device taken along line BB in FIG. 10 (ball feed solenoid energized, ball feed member in supply position and allowable position). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main body frame cut in the longitudinal direction to show the upper firing device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device. It is a time chart showing the drive timing of a ball feeding solenoid and a firing solenoid. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening/closing unit. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening/closing unit. It is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper firing unit and the ball outlet opening/closing unit in the main body frame. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge part cover separated and turned over in FIG. 28; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a base plate of a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharging unit separated into an irregular-shaped sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a path through which irregularly shaped spheres and magnetic spheres are discharged in the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the situation where a magnetic sphere is separated from a circulation route and is discharged. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic balls have reached the magnetic ball ejection slope. It is a front left perspective view of a ball collection part and a ball lifting device. It is a front view of a ball gathering part and a ball lifting device. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is removed from the ball collection section. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the case of the ball collecting section and the cover of the ball lifting device are removed. FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the ball gathering portion in FIG. 40; 42 is a further enlarged view of FIG. 41. FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sphere gathering portion with the case removed. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which an upper gearbox and a lower gearbox are removed. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the ball lifting device with the cover removed. 46 is an enlarged view of (A) in FIG. 45. FIG. It is a figure showing the state where a screw was disassembled. It is a perspective view showing the upper part of a ball lifting device. It is a figure which shows the fitted/unfitted state of a screw and a fitting member. It is a left side view showing a state where a ball polishing cartridge is installed. It is a perspective view explaining the mechanism which fixes a ball polishing cartridge. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of installing a ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view showing a state in which a game ball and a ball polishing cloth of a ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. It is a left side view showing a state where the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 55 is a left side view showing a state in which the left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 54 is removed. This is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a ball polishing cartridge is installed. FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover is removed in FIG. 57 for illustrative purposes. FIG. 59 is a top perspective view showing a state in which the right side cover is opened in FIG. 58; It is a perspective view of a ball polishing cartridge. It is a front view of a ball polishing cartridge. It is a side view of a ball polishing cartridge. 63 is a side view showing a state in which the left side cover is removed in FIG. 62. FIG. It is a perspective view of a ball polishing cartridge attachment part. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a ball polishing cartridge and a ball polishing cartridge mounting part. 40 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 39. FIG. It is a side view which shows the 2nd Example of a lifting slope member. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Example of a lifting slope member. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the lifting device with an upper gearbox removed. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a state in which the lifting section cover of the lifting device is removed. It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the number of game balls thrown in is less than a predetermined number when game balls are enclosed in an enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko machine). It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined number of game balls have been inserted when game balls are enclosed in an enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko machine). FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of game balls when the number of game balls inserted exceeds a predetermined number when the game balls are enclosed in an enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko machine). It is a perspective view showing a state in which a game ball introducing member in the game panel protrudes. It is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introducing member in the game panel is stored. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing essential parts in an embodiment of a main control board installed in an enclosed ball game machine (pachinko machine). FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a ball information control board installed in an enclosed ball game machine (pachinko machine). It is a block diagram showing each element connected to a payment machine. 3 is a flowchart showing main control side power-on processing executed by the main control MPU of the main control board. 80 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control side power-on processing of FIG. 79; 3 is a flowchart showing main control side timer interrupt processing executed by the main control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of power-on of the ball information control side which is executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board. 83 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control side power-on processing of FIG. 82; FIG. 84 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information payout control side power-on processing following FIG. 83. It is a flowchart which shows the ball information control power supply cut-off process performed by the ball information control MPU of a ball information control board. It is a flowchart which shows an example of ball information control side timer interruption processing. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball rental process which a ball information control MPU performs. 12 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a process for determining whether or not a ball can be hit, which is performed by the ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball count count process performed by ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball feeding and firing drive process performed by the ball information control MPU. This is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. 90. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the launched ball detection process performed by the ball information control MPU. It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of the number-of-balls subtraction processing which ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lift drive process which a ball information control MPU performs. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of ball jam notification processing performed by ball information control MPU. It is a figure which showed the cushion and following member provided on the back side of the door frame, and the cushion receiving plate provided in the upper firing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the main body frame from the front side (hereinafter referred to as Example 2). A front view of the game board. A perspective view showing a main body frame and a game board. (A) is a perspective view of the upper guide member seen from below, (B) is a perspective view of the lower guide member seen from above, and (C) is a perspective view of the slider. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the II-I line in FIG. 97, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the II-II line in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view to illustrate operation; (a) is a schematic plan view for explaining the mechanism, and (b) is an enlarged plan view of the main parts. A perspective view (partially disassembled) showing the connection point between the ball lifting device and the upper launch device. The perspective view which shows the state after the operation which removes a game board from a main body frame is started. A perspective view showing a state in which the game board is attached to the main body frame. (A), (B), and (C) are cross-sectional views showing the state of communication between the ball sending gutter and the lifting communication gutter. This is an example of a standby screen. It is a figure explaining the flow of processing of a trial mode selection flag. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process for determining whether or not a ball can be hit, including selection of a trial hitting mode. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a gaming system. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of information discrimination processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow for determining whether or not the trial mode permissible time zone is reached using time information obtained from the RTC control unit. This is an example of a table for setting allowable time periods for trial mode. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 1st liquid crystal display device and a 2nd liquid crystal display device in embodiment regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the performance information table which shows the correspondence of a performance display, performance explanation information, etc. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 1st liquid crystal display device and a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another embodiment regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 1st liquid crystal display device and a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another embodiment regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in the modification regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in the modification regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in the modification regarding production explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd liquid crystal display device in another modification regarding performance explanation information.

[Outline of gaming machine]
Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention will be described below, taking up an enclosed ball game machine (pachinko machine). Note that the present invention can also be implemented in gaming machines other than the enclosed ball type gaming machine.
[Example 1]
The pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment can be installed in the current island equipment in a hall (pachinko game hall), and the game content is the same as that of a well-known pachinko machine. However, this game machine does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island equipment. That is, in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a predetermined number of game balls made of non-magnetic material (for example, stainless steel) are accommodated in the game machine, and the predetermined number of game balls are delivered to the game area by a firing device. A game is played using game balls that have been sealed in the game machine in such a way that the game balls are played by firing them into the game machine, the game balls that have finished the game are collected, and the game balls are guided to the firing device and circulated for use. It looks like this. Game balls can then be fired in accordance with the number of game balls (data on the number of balls held) based on the data on the number of rented balls inputted from a storage medium such as a card via a payment system, etc., and the game balls are fired. Then, data on the number of balls held is subtracted in accordance with the number of game balls fired.

In addition, if the fired game ball enters the winning hole in the gaming area and a prize ball (game ball) is generated, the actual game ball will not be paid out, and the number of prize balls will be included in the data of the number of balls held. is added. Further, when the data of the number of balls held becomes "0", the game ball becomes unable to be fired. In this state, when a numerical value (number of balls rented) is added to the data on the number of balls held based on the amount data and ball storage data stored in a storage medium such as a card, the game ball can be fired again. becomes. Further, the fired game balls are collected within the game machine, sent to the firing position again, and circulated within the game machine. That is, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is an enclosed ball type game machine that collects game balls shot into the game area and supplies them again to the game.

First, the main body frame 2 (FIG. 3) and door frame 3 (FIG. 1) that constitute the pachinko machine 1 of the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Note that the pachinko machine 1 in FIG. 1 is also provided with a payment machine 4 as an external device.

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

[Door frame 3]
The door frame 3 includes a game window 9 through which the player can visually confirm the game area 8 into which the game ball is hit on the game board 5, and a game window 9 which is arranged below the game window 9 and which allows the player to enter the game area 8 based on the player's operation. It has a ball hitting handle 10 for hitting a game ball. A transparent plate 11 is attached to the game window 9 so that the front surface (play area 8) of the game board 5 mounted on the body frame 2 side can be visually recognized while the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the body frame 2. It is being The batting ball handle 10 drives a firing solenoid 13 (see FIG. 5) of a batting ball firing device (referred to as an upper firing device 12) attached to the upper left of the main body frame 2 based on the rotation operation of the player. A game ball is driven into the game area 8. The ball-hitting handle 10 includes a microswitch (not shown) that turns ON when rotated, a firing stop switch that turns OFF when pressed while the microswitch is turned on, and the ball-striking handle 10. The ball-hitting handle 10 is equipped with a touch switch that detects the player's contact with the ball-hitting handle 10 through conductive plating applied to the outer peripheral surface of the ball-hitting handle 10. The upper firing device 12 will be described later.

Note that the door frame 3 and the main body frame 2 can be opened by inserting a key into a key device placed in the lower right corner of the door frame 3 and rotating it in one direction. is now possible.

[Touch panel section 14]
The door frame 3 is provided with a horizontally elongated touch panel section 14 in the lower part of the game window 9 (a part corresponding to the upper plate of a well-known non-enclosed ball type pachinko machine). The touch panel section 14 displays the remaining power, the number of balls held by the gaming machine, and the number of balls in play.

Here, the number of remaining balls is the value equivalent to the amount stored on the card used in the payment machine 4, and the number of balls held by the player is the number of balls lent to the player by lending balls. This is the total of the number of balls and the number of prize balls won by the player as a result of playing the game.

The touch panel unit 14 displays a ball lending button as a ball lending command input means operable by the player, and a payment button as a payment command input means operable by the player. The ball rental button is used to instruct the player to rent out balls for playing a game. Further, the payment button is used to end the pachinko game and instruct payment.

Further, the touch panel section 14 further displays a number of end balls display button which can be operated by the player and serves as a means for inputting a command to display the number of end balls. Here, the number of odd balls is the number of remaining balls when the number of balls held by the player is divided by the number of balls corresponding to one special prize when exchanging prizes. The touch panel unit 14 can also display a message such as ``Do you want to hit only edge balls?'' when the edge ball number display button is used to instruct display of the edge ball number. A message in the form of an interactive question is displayed together with the edge ball count display button, and a YES button and a NO button are displayed, respectively, for the player to input a selection to respond with either yes or no.
Note that in the pachinko machine 1 having the trial mode, a screen shown in FIG. 108 is displayed on the display device as a standby screen waiting for a player. When a standby screen 690 displaying a trial mode 692 is displayed on the screen of the display device, a trial mode selection button is displayed on the touch panel section 14. The ball information control unit 118 can execute the ball hitting/unballing determination process shown in FIG. 110 by checking whether the trial hitting mode selection button has been pressed on the touch panel unit 14.

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

An irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere ejecting unit housing part 19 is formed below the housing opening 17, and an irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere ejecting unit 20 is disposed in the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere ejecting unit housing part 19. . As will be explained later, the ejected ball receiving box 234, which accommodates the irregularly shaped balls and magnetic balls that are smaller in diameter than the regular game balls ejected from the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball ejecting unit 20, is It can be attached and detached from the front.

Moreover, FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the main body frame 2 cut in the longitudinal direction so that the upper firing device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device are shown. As seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 23, the main body frame 2 is provided with an upper firing device 12, a ball gathering section 21, a ball lifting device 22, and a ball supply path member 24. The ball gathering section 21 is a section that receives the game balls that have passed through the irregularly shaped balls/magnetic ball discharge unit 20 and guides them to the base of the ball lifting device 22 (FIG. 5), and is equipped with a ball polishing device and the like.

A ball firing device 29 for firing game balls toward the game area 8 is arranged on one side (left side) of the front and upper part of the main body frame 2 (FIGS. 3 and 23). In addition, the ball feeding device 28 for feeding the game balls arranged and stored in the guide passage (ball feeding guide gutter 69 described later, see FIG. 11) one by one to the firing position of the hitting ball firing device 29 is connected to the hitting ball firing device 29. They are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction behind the (Fig. 6, Fig. 23). In this embodiment, the ball launcher 29 and the ball feeder 28 form the upper launcher 12 as an upper launcher unit.

In this embodiment, the ball lifting device 22 uses a screw 25 driven by a ball lifting motor 150 (see FIG. 24), and the game balls that have reached the base are rotated to reduce the distance between the game balls. It is opened and lifted to the upper part of the main body frame 2 from below. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface of the main body frame 2 behind the upper firing device 12, and the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is arranged above the ball feeding device 28 (Fig. 3, 4, Figure 23).

Between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper part of the upper firing device 12, there is a ball supply device extending in the front-rear direction for feeding the game balls lifted by the ball lifting device 22 to the ball feeding device 28 from above. A path member 24 is provided (FIGS. 3, 4, and 23). In addition, in this embodiment, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and has a gentle downward slope toward the front, so that the ball feeding path member 24 can move the lifted game balls forward from above. It is composed of a ball sending gutter 23 and a lifting communication gutter 65 formed at the rear upper part of the upper firing device 12, connected to the ball sending gutter 23, and sloped gently downward toward the front. Note that the game balls lifted by the ball lifting device 22 are sent out to the ball sending gutter 23. The ball sending gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 is provided with a launch standby ball detection switch 26 that detects the presence or absence of game balls flowing down the ball sending gutter 23 (see FIG. 6).

[Top launcher]
FIG. 8 is a front view of the upper firing device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the front left. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the rear left, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the upper firing device viewed from the rear left with the ball feeding unit cover removed.

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

The upper firing device 12 includes a metal plate-shaped base plate 39 for attaching and fixing the upper firing device 12 to the main body frame 2, and receives game balls arriving from the ball supply path member 24, and is used for firing by the batted ball firing device 29. A ball feeding device 28 that reliably feeds game balls one by one using a ball feeding solenoid 31 (FIG. 11) and a ball feeding member 32 to the ball firing position of the hammer 30 (FIG. 8), and a ball feeding device 28 that shoots the game balls toward the gaming area 8. (See FIGS. 8 to 11).

The ball sending device 28 receives the game balls arriving from the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6), and sends each game ball to the firing position of the firing hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the ball firing device 29 using the ball sending member 32. This is a device to ensure that each product is sent out one by one.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ball launcher 29 includes a launch hammer 30, a launch solenoid 13, a rail member 33, a launch stopper 34, a return stopper 35, a launch ball confirmation switch 36, an upper launcher hinge 37, and a launch port. It has 38. These members are attached to a base plate 39 (a metal plate in this embodiment) as a substrate. The firing port 38 is formed to face the tip of the firing hammer 30, and the rail member 33 is attached to this portion. The rail member 33 is a member that holds one game ball sent out to the shooting position (ball hitting position) by the ball sending member 32 using the rail portion 332. The game ball fired by the firing hammer 30 is fired into the game area 8 from the firing port 38.

The launched ball confirmation switch 36 is disposed with respect to the rail portion 332 of the rail member 33, and detects the presence or absence of a game ball that is hit by the firing hammer 30, and also changes the detection of a game ball by the launched ball confirmation switch 36 to non-detection. By switching, it is detected that one game ball is fired by the firing hammer 30.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the game ball circulation path includes the above-mentioned irregular-shaped ball/magnetic ball ejection unit 20, ball collection section 21, ball lifting device 22, ball supply path member 24, upper firing device 12, and game area 8. It is something to go through. The game balls fired from the upper firing device 12 to the firing area 40 (FIG. 7) of the gaming area 8 flow down the gaming area from above to the bottom, pass through the winning opening 41 or the out opening 42, and reach the irregular-shaped ball/magnetic ball ejection unit 20. Return to

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

The game board 5 is electrically connected to the main body frame 2 using a drawer connector. The game board 5 and the main body frame 2 are each provided with a drawer connector, and by fitting the game board 5 into the main body frame 2, the drawer connector on the game board side is inserted into the drawer connector on the main body frame side, and the electricity is connected. can be connected. This makes it possible to perform electrical communication between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2.

A notch 47 (FIG. 12) is formed in the upper left corner of the game board 5 to match the shape of the upper firing device 12. The notch 47 reaches a part of the transparent panel plate 44 of the gaming area 8 from the front component 45. The opening 38 of the upper firing device 12 faces the cutout of the transparent panel plate 44, and as shown in FIG. The game area 8 is the firing area 40. Therefore, the game ball fired by the firing hammer 30 of the upper firing device 12 is guided to the game ball running surface 46 of the front component 45 in the firing area 40.

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

As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, when the fixture 49 is attached to the screw receiving member 50 by passing through the upper firing device 12, the game board is fixed to the main body frame 2 by the base plate 39. At this time, the abutting part 39a (FIG. 13) of the base plate 39 abuts the protruding part 48 protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses the protruding part 48 toward the main body frame 2 side to fix it. do.

As a result, the positional relationship between the launch port 38 of the upper firing device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed without any play, and there is no difference in level between the launch port 38 and the game area 8 that becomes an obstacle when the game ball travels. Does not occur. Furthermore, by removing the fixture 49 from the screw receiving member 50, the base plate 39 can be opened toward the front centering on the upper firing device hinge 37, and when the game board 5 is fitted into the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. Don't get in the way. Furthermore, maintenance work such as ball tampering in the ball feeding device 28 and the ball firing device 29 can be easily performed.

As a method of fixing the upper firing device, it is also possible to arrange a cushion on the back side of the door frame, and to press and fix the game board and the upper firing device when closing the door frame. This will be explained below.
A cushion 51 is provided at a location on the back side of the door frame 3 that contacts the upper firing device 12, and by closing the door frame 3, the cushion 51 presses against the cushion receiving plate 52 arranged on the upper firing device 12, and the main body frame Fix it on the 2nd side. At this time, the plate 39 comes into contact with the protruding part 48 (see FIG. 12) protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses the protruding part 48 toward the main body frame 2 side to fix it. As a result, the positional relationship between the firing port 38 of the upper firing device 12 and the gaming area 8 is fixed without play. Furthermore, even if vibration occurs due to the firing operation of the firing hammer 30, the positional relationship between the firing port 38 and the game area 8 can be fixed without wobbling by pressing against the cushion 51.

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

As shown in FIG. 96, the back surface of the door frame 3 and the upper firing device 12 are connected by a follower member 500 (a spring in this embodiment). When the door frame 3 is opened when replacing the game board to install a new machine, the upper firing device 12 connected to the follower member 500 is pulled by the follower member 500 and rotates to follow the door frame 3. do. As a result, the upper firing device 12 moves from the same surface of the game board 5, so a wider space can be taken when the game board 5 is fitted into the main body frame 2, and the game board can be fitted easily. be able to. Furthermore, the possibility of damage to the game board 5 due to collision or the like between the game board 5 and the launch device can be reduced as much as possible.

Furthermore, even if the upper firing device 12 moves following the opening of the door frame 3 by the following member 500, since the cushion 51 is arranged on the back side of the door frame 3, the force of the following movement will cause the door frame 3 to move. Since there is no collision, damage to the door frame 3 and the following member 500 can be prevented.

In this embodiment, the following member 500 is a spring, but is not limited to this, and may be any member that moves the upper firing device 12 to follow the door frame 3. For example, various methods can be selected, such as elastic rubber (such as a rubber band), a string-like member, and an engaging and pulling member.

The game area 8 of the present embodiment is provided with a large number of obstacle nails (not shown) and various winning holes such as winning holes, and a predetermined number of prize balls are awarded according to winnings in the various winning holes. It looks like this. In addition, since this embodiment is an enclosed ball type game machine, "1" is subtracted from the data of the number of balls held according to the hitting of one game ball, while the number of prize balls corresponding to winnings in various winning holes is subtracted from the data of the number of balls held. is added to the data on the number of balls held, and the corresponding number of balls held is displayed on the touch panel section 14.

Furthermore, since it is an enclosed ball type pachinko machine, prize balls are not paid out, and the number of balls thrown, number of balls entered, number of differential balls, number of balls held, etc. are numerical values based on data rather than the actual number of game balls. That is, the number of game balls actually used is limited to a predetermined number (for example, 50 or 75) that are used cyclically, and the number of balls held is determined by, for example, detecting the game balls fired into the game area 8. The number of balls fired and counted, the number of recovered balls detected and counted by the game balls fired into the game area 8, the number of prize balls in the event of winning, the number of rental balls borrowed from the hall, etc. You can get the number of pitches in, number of pitches out, number of differential pitches, and number of balls held.

That is, unless there is a problem such as the game balls falling out when the door frame 3 is opened, the number of fired balls equals the number of collected balls. Then, the number of pitches entered = number of balls recovered = number of fired balls, number of pitches out = number of awarded pitches (accumulated value) = number of pitches entered - number of pitches lent (number of balls replayed) + number of pitches held, and number of pitches held = number of pitches pitched. Number of pitches (or number of replayed balls) + number of pitches out - number of pitches in, number of pitches out - number of pitches in = number of differential pitches, number of pitches in possession = number of pitches lent (or number of pitches in replay) + number of differential pitches becomes. In this way, games with the pachinko machine 1 are played completely based on numerical data, and there are no errors caused by spilling game balls or leaving game balls on the lower tray or upper tray. It can be reliably managed in integer units. Note that foul balls basically do not occur with the structure of the upper firing device 12, which will be described later.

Further, in the above embodiment, the front component 45, the panel holder, and the transparent panel plate 44 are constructed as separate members, but they may be integrated, for example, by adhesive, or integrally molded to constitute a single member. You can also do that. In this way, when the front component 45, panel holder 43, etc. are integrally formed on the transparent panel plate 44, by providing the notch 47 in the game board 5, the front component 45 and the panel holder 43 have It is possible to prevent structural weakening of these members due to the frame structure (connected on all four sides) being cut.

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

[Battered ball launcher 29]
The ball firing device 29 is capable of driving the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 28 into the game area 8 of the game board 5 with a force corresponding to the rotational operation of the ball hitting handle 10. The ball launcher 29 includes a firing solenoid 13 attached to the upper rear surface of a base plate 39 so that a rotational drive shaft 60 protrudes forward, and a firing hammer 30 that is rotatably fixed to the rotational drive shaft 60 of the firing solenoid 13. A hammer tip 61 fixed to the tip of the firing hammer 30, a rail member 33 attached to the front surface of the base plate 39 with a predetermined position on the movement locus of the hammer tip 61 as the firing position, and a rail member 33 that sets the firing position to the firing position. A firing stopper 34 that restricts the hammer tip 61 from rotating counterclockwise beyond the ball hitting position where the parked game ball can be hit, and a firing hammer 30 placed in a standby position (initial position) during its rotational movement. a return stopper 35 for regulating the return time, a firing ball confirmation switch 36 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball parked at the firing position, a hinge 37 for the upper firing device, and a firing ball opening facing the game area 8. and a mouth 38 (see FIGS. 8, 9, 16, and 18).

Although detailed illustration of the firing solenoid 13 in the ball firing device 29 is omitted, a rotary drive shaft 60 rotates back and forth at a strength (speed) corresponding to the rotation angle of the ball hitting handle 10. The firing hammer 30 of the ball launcher 29 has a fixed part 301 fixed to the rotational drive shaft 60 of the firing solenoid 13, and extends from the fixed part 301 in a gentle arc shape, with its tip aligned with the axis of the rotational drive shaft 60. A rod portion 302 faces in the normal direction and has a hammer tip 61 fixed to its tip, and a stopper that extends to the opposite side of the rod portion 302 across the fixing portion 301 and can come into contact with the stopper 34 during firing. A contact portion 303 is provided. The stopper abutting portion 303 of the firing hammer 30 comes into contact with the firing stopper 34, thereby restricting rotation in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front (see FIG. 8).

Further, a ball supply port 63 formed in a ball feeding unit base (described later) of the ball feeding device 28 is arranged directly above the rail member 33 of the ball firing device 29. The rail member 33 stops one game ball sent out from the ball supply port 63 at the shooting position by the ball sending operation of the ball sending member 32 of the ball sending device 28, which will be described later.

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 16, the firing port decoration member 64 is arranged so that the right side portion and the lower side portion thereof face the game area 8 and are exposed. The face part and the lower side part are formed into a ball entry prevention wall 51 that prevents game balls launched into the game area 8 from entering the inside of the ball launcher 29. The launch port 38 is formed in a ball entry prevention wall 51 on the right side of the launch port decoration member 64, and the ball entry prevention wall 51 surrounds the launch port 38 and extends from approximately the same plane as the rear end surface of the game area 8. It has an arch shape that rises toward the front.

As understood with reference to FIGS. 8 and 16, the ejection port 38 is located diagonally above and to the right with respect to the rail portion 332 when viewed from the front. As understood from FIGS. 8 and 17, the distance between the rail portion 332 (launch position) and the launch port 38 is short (about twice the diameter of the game ball P), and therefore, the launch distance is short, It is possible to reliably hit the fired game ball into the game area 8 without generating foul balls.

The launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the presence or absence of a game ball that is parked at the launch position, and detects whether or not a game ball is detected by the game ball at the launch position being hit by the launch hammer 30 and fired. By switching to , it is detected that one game ball has been fired by the firing hammer 30.

The fired ball confirmation switch 36 is made of a transmission type photosensor, and has a light projecting part and a light receiving part arranged so as to straddle the rail part 332 that sets the firing position. The shot ball confirmation switch 36 is supported by a photo bracket 361 and positioned relative to the shooting position, and the photo bracket 361 is attached and fixed to the lower front surface of the base plate 39.

The ball launcher 29 includes a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the firing stopper 34 that can restrict the rotation end of the firing hammer 30 toward the ball hitting position, and a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the firing stopper 34 that can restrict the rotation end of the firing hammer 30 toward the ball hitting position. It is provided with a return stopper 35 for regulating the rotation end (the rotation end in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front). The surfaces of the stoppers 34 and 35 are covered with rubber, which can absorb the impact when the firing hammer 30 comes into contact with them, and can also suppress the generation of noise due to the contact. .

Further, in the batted ball firing device 29, a firing solenoid 13 is driven by a ball information control section (described later) with a drive strength corresponding to the rotational operation of the batting ball handle 10, and a ball feeding device 28 is configured to drive a firing solenoid 13 with a drive strength corresponding to the rotational operation of the batting ball handle 10. The solenoid 31 is driven to perform a ball-hitting operation according to the drive timing described later (see FIG. 24). Specifically, in the ball sending device 28 that supplies game balls to the ball launching device 29, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is activated (ON), the ball sending member 32 sends the received game ball to the ball launching device 29, and the state is changed. When the drive of the ball feeding solenoid 31 is released (OFF), the ball feeding member 32 receives the game ball.

In the batted ball firing device 29, when the batting ball handle 10 is operated for firing, the firing solenoid 13 is repeatedly energized and disconnected at a voltage corresponding to the amount of the operation. By energizing and de-energizing the firing solenoid 13, the firing hammer 30 rotates from the initial position (FIG. 17) in the firing direction (counterclockwise) to the firing position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 17. After launching the parked game ball with the mallet tip 61 (FIG. 8), the firing operation of rotating clockwise and returning to the initial position is repeated.

[Ball feeding device 28]
Next, the ball feeding device 28 will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the ball feeding device 28 is mainly constructed as a unit, and has a ball inlet 66 connected to the front end of the ball feeding gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 shown in FIG. The ball feeder is connected to the gutter 65 and the elevating communication gutter 65, and has a ball supply port 63 for supplying the game balls entering from the elevating communication gutter 65 to the batted ball launching device 29, and is open at the rear. A unit base 67, a ball feeding unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feeding unit base 67 and is open at the front, a ball feeding solenoid 31 disposed at the bottom of the ball feeding unit base 67, and a ball feeding solenoid 31. The ball-feeding member 32 is provided with a ball-feeding member 32 that simultaneously realizes a ball-feeding operation and a return-ball blocking operation, which will be described later, by driving the ball.

The lifting communication gutter 65 is sloped gently downward from the rear end where the ball inlet 66 is formed toward the front end. The ball feeding unit base 67 is attached to the left side of the rear surface of the base plate 39, and the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 is connected to the right side of the upper part, and is also connected to the front end of the lifting communication gutter 65 when viewed from the rear. A ball feed guide gutter 69 that slopes gently downward from the right side of the upper part to the center in the vertical direction toward the left in the left-right direction, and is bent downward in the middle, and the lower end of the ball feed guide gutter 69. It has a ball supply port 63 penetrating in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 11).

In addition, on the rear surface of the ball feeding unit cover 68, which is below the bent portion of the ball feeding guide gutter 69 and facing the upper portion of the ball supply port 63, there is a space for storing game balls waiting in the ball feeding guiding gutter 69. A launch standby ball detection switch 70 is provided to detect the presence or absence of the ball (see FIG. 10). The launch waiting ball detection switch 70 is composed of a flat type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by changing the impedance of a detection coil of a high frequency oscillation circuit.

The ball feed solenoid 31 of this embodiment is composed of an electromagnet, and is disposed at the lower part of the ball feed unit base 67 with a suction portion that exerts a suction function by energization facing downward. Further, the ball feeding member 32 is disposed adjacent to the left side of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and below the ball feeding unit base 67. The ball feeding member 32 in this embodiment is placed at an allowable position where the ball is allowed to pass through without interfering with the ball fired from the firing position by the ball hitting operation of the ball firing device 29, by energizing and de-energizing the ball feeding solenoid 31. and a return ball prevention part that is movable between the ball return ball and the return ball prevention position that prevents the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38.

[Ball feeding member 32]
The ball feeding member 32 will be explained below. FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper firing device 12 (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is de-energized and the ball feeding member 32 is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position), and FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device 12 taken along the line B (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is de-energized and the ball feeding member 32 is in the holding position and the return ball blocking position); FIG. It is a perspective view showing the ball feeding member 32, the ball feeding shaft, and the ball feeding sheet metal from diagonally backward.

21 is a right side view showing the upper firing device 12 (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is energized and the ball feeding member is in the supply position and the allowable position), and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper firing device shown broken away along lines (ball feed solenoid 31 is energized, ball feed member 32 is in the supply position and the allowable position).

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

Further, an arm portion 77 is formed extending rearward in the middle of the ball feeding member 32, and a lower end of the arm portion 77 is provided with an actuator extending downward from the ball feeding solenoid 31, as shown in FIG. A rod portion 72 is formed, a sheet metal accommodating portion 73 is formed in the operating rod portion 72, and a ball feeding sheet metal 71 made of a metal material that is attracted by a magnet is stored in the sheet metal accommodating portion 73.

A sheet metal locking pawl 78 is formed directly below the sheet metal accommodating portion 73 to protrude rearward and prevent the ball feeding sheet metal 71 from falling off. This prevents the ball feeding sheet metal 71 from falling off from the sheet metal accommodating portion 73.

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

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, a roof-shaped ball feeding portion 74 is formed above the shaft hole 75 of the ball feeding member 32 and integrally with the ball feeding member 32 toward the lower edge of the ball supply port 63. There is. The ball feeding part 74 is formed in a mountain shape with the center of the upper surface rising upward, and extends from the center toward the front, that is, in FIG. The ball feeding guide surface 80 is sloped downward toward the lower edge, and the arcuate convex surface extends backward from the center, that is, toward the ball feeding unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feeding guide gutter 69 in FIG. A ball holding surface 81 is provided with a downward slope. Furthermore, a hanging piece 82 that hangs downward is formed at the rear end of the ball holding surface 81 of the ball sending part 74.

Moreover, the upper part of the ball feeding member 32 in the vertical direction passes through the ball feeding unit base 67 toward the front, and as shown in FIGS. 18, 20, and 21, the rail portion 332 (launching position) A rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 is formed extending toward the ball hitting path from the center of the ball returning ball blocking portion 83, and a ball passing opening 85 having a rectangular opening is formed in the center of the returning ball blocking portion 83.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 formed integrally with the ball sending member 32 is arranged adjacent to the firing port 38 in the firing position direction. Further, a ball stopper part 84 is formed on the front side of the frame of the return ball preventer part 83 in the direction of the firing position, the ball stopper part 84 having a horizontal bottom part and protruding in a triangular shape toward the rail part 332. The ball stopping portion 84 is disposed in front of the ball sending portion 74 and facing the ball sending portion 74 at a distance above the firing position.

Further, on the ball feeding unit cover 68, a ball guide protrusion 54 whose longitudinal section is shaped like a dogleg toward the front is formed at a position facing the ball supply port 63 behind the ball supply port 63. A forward guiding surface 55 facing the ball supply port 63 and having an arcuate concave shape is formed on the upper part of the ball guide protrusion 54 facing forward. The lower part of the ball guide protrusion 54 is curved in a convex manner toward the rear, and the ball feed member 32 is rotated about the ball feed shaft 76 in the front-rear direction in a space below the lower part of the ball guide protrusion 54 . In the rotational movement, the ball feeding section 74 is capable of retracting. Further, a stopper piece 56 is formed at the lower end of the ball guide protrusion 54 so as to protrude toward the front.

[Ball feeding operation and return ball blocking operation of ball feeding member 32]
The ball sending operation and return ball preventing operation by the ball sending member 32 of the ball sending device 28 configured as above will be explained. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is in a non-energized state, it is engaged with a locking protrusion 79 at the end of the operating rod portion 72 of the ball feed member 32 and a spring locking portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feed unit base 67. Due to the tensile force of the stopped tension spring 52, the lower end of the ball feeding member 32 is pulled toward the ball feeding unit base 67.

As shown in FIG. 18, in a normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in a non-energized state), the ball feeding member 32 is in a rotational posture with the ball feeding shaft 76 as the rotation center. The blocking part 83 assumes a posture tilted toward the rear, and when viewed from the side from the gaming area 8, that is, the ball is immediately ejected from the ejection port 38 on the ball path from the ejection position of the ball ejection device 29 to the ejection port 38. In the position direction side, the portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located in front of the frame is in a posture that crosses the launch port 38, and the ball passing port 85 is in a position that crosses the launch port 38 in the ball batting path. is shifted to the rear, making it impossible for the ball to pass through the batted ball passage hole 85 on the batted ball path. That is, in this attitude, the return ball blocking portion 83 assumes a return ball blocking position that prevents the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 from entering.

After the ball is fired, the return ball blocking part 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the return ball blocking part 83 blocks the game ball shot into the game area 8 from becoming a return ball and entering the launch port 38. Since the ball can be prevented from returning, it is possible to prevent the player from losing interest in the game due to the ball returning.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 19, in the normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in a non-energized state), the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding section 74 of the ball feeding member 32 is attached to the ball guiding surface of the ball feeding unit cover 68. The hanging piece 82 formed at the lower end of the ball feeding part 74 comes into contact with the stopper piece 56, and the ball feeding member 32 is in a rotating position about the ball feeding shaft 76. , is restricted to the holding position during ball feeding operation.

In the holding position, the ball feeding guide surface 80 of the ball feeding section 74 is located in front of the lower end of the front guiding surface 55 of the ball guide protrusion 54, and is located on an extension line in the tangential direction of the front guiding surface 55. In addition, the ball stopper 84 approaches the ball supply port 63, the game ball P1 fits into the gap between the lower end of the ball supply port 63 and the ball stopper 84, and the game ball P1 remains. becomes.

[Excitation of ball feed solenoid 31]
When the ball feeding solenoid 31 is excited by energizing, the ball feeding sheet metal 71 is attracted upward by the electromagnetic function, and the operating rod portion 72 of the ball feeding member 32 moves upward against the tensile force of the tension spring 52. The ball feeding member 32 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 19 about the ball feeding shaft 76, and as shown in FIGS. Move to a permissible position that allows.

As a result, the ball stopper 84 moves forward from the position close to the ball supply port 63, and at the same time, the ball feeder 74 moves forward and sends out the game ball P1 that has been staying at the holding position to the firing position (Fig. 22 reference).

As shown in FIG. 21, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the energized state, the rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 assumes an upright posture in a rotating posture about the ball feeding shaft 76, and the game area 8, that is, in the ball hitting path from the firing position of the ball launching device 29 to the firing port 38, at a position immediately on the firing position direction side of the firing port 38, with respect to the firing port 38 in the ball hitting path. The batted ball passage holes 85 are at the coincident position, and the ball is allowed to pass through the batted ball passage holes 85 on the batted ball path. That is, in this attitude, the return ball blocking portion 83 assumes a permissible position that allows the batted ball to pass without interfering with the batted ball fired from the firing position.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in an excited state, the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding section 74 is located in front of the ball guide protrusion 54 of the ball feeding unit cover 68 at the supply position in the ball feeding operation. However, the subsequent game ball P2 fits into the gap between the upper end of the ball supply port 63 and the ball holding surface 81 of the ball sending part 74, and the subsequent game ball P2 remains in a state. By the ball feeding operation described above, the ball feeding member 32 feeds the game balls aligned and stored in the ball feeding guide trough 69 one by one to the shooting position of the ball firing device 29.

Moreover, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when period A has elapsed from the time the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, and the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off when period B has elapsed from the time the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the ball is fed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off after a period C has elapsed from the time when the solenoid 31 was turned off.

In this embodiment, period A is 300 ms, period B is 30 ms, and period C is 50 ms. When the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the ball is sent to the shooting position (rail portion 332) by the ball feeding member 32. That is, the fired ball confirmation switch 36 detects the fired ball. In this embodiment, if a game ball that is stopped at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time (period D is 30 ms), it is determined that there is a firing ball. do.

In this way, when a game ball parked at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that there is a firing ball, so that firing due to noise can be avoided. Erroneous ball counting can be eliminated, and reliability in detecting shot balls can be increased.

According to the driving timing of the ball feeding solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13 shown in FIG. 24, operation control is performed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control section 118, which will be described later. That is, when the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball sending member 32 is in the permissible position, the ball firing device 29 is operated to cause the ball firing hammer 30 to perform a ball hitting operation, and the ball firing device 29 is activated in a manner determined in advance from the time of activation of the ball firing device 29. After the specified time (30 ms) has elapsed, the ball sending solenoid 31 is deenergized and the return ball blocking part 83 is moved to the returning ball blocking position, so that the returning ball is blocked by the returning ball blocking part 83. control.

According to this, when the return ball blocking portion 83 takes the permissible position, the ball is allowed to pass without interfering with the ball fired from the firing position, so there is no interference with the fired ball, so the game It is possible to prevent a player from feeling distrustful about hitting a ball at a targeted position, and it is possible to prevent a decline in interest in the game.

After the ball is fired, the return ball blocking part 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the return ball blocking part 83 blocks the game ball shot into the game area 8 from becoming a return ball and entering the launch port 38. Since the ball can be prevented from returning, it is possible to prevent the player from losing interest in the game due to the ball returning.

In this embodiment, since the return ball prevention part 83 is formed integrally with the ball sending member 32, the ball is sent to the firing position by energizing and de-energizing one electric drive source (ball feeding solenoid 31). and prevention of ball return can be achieved at the same time. That is, when the ball sending member 32 assumes the supply position, the ball passing port 85 is located on the ball path through which the game balls fired from the firing position pass, while when the ball sending member 32 takes the holding position, the ball passes through the ball path. A frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 is provided such that the ball passing opening 85 is located at the retracted position.

When the ball sending member 32 takes the supply position, the return ball blocking part 83 takes the permissible position and does not interfere with the ball fired from the firing position, which prevents the game ball from hitting the target position. It is possible to prevent the player from feeling distrustful, and it is possible to prevent the player from losing interest in the game.

Further, when the ball sending member 32 moves to the holding position, the return ball blocking part 83 simultaneously moves to the return ball blocking position, so that the game ball fired into the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the firing port 38. Since the ball can be blocked and the ball can be prevented from returning, it is possible to prevent the return ball from reducing interest in the game.

Furthermore, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above has a structure in which the ball is forcibly pried open by the ball to prevent a return ball blocking the ball opening, and the ball is shot or pushed out into the game area. For this reason, an electrical drive source to perform the ball-striking action must be of a size and power commensurate with the size and power, and it is necessary to supply a large current to obtain the ball-striking force, which consumes a large amount of power. be.

On the other hand, in the upper firing device 12 of this example, when the firing hammer 30 performs a ball-hitting operation, the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball sending member 32 is located at the permissible position (the ball passage opening 85) where the ball is allowed to pass through. Since the firing port 38 is in a state in which the ball is aligned with the ball hitting path, and there is no interference with the shot ball, it is sufficient to provide the ball hitting force sufficient to launch the ball into the game area 8, so the power is small. This can be adequately addressed by adopting an electric drive source. Therefore, the electric drive source can be made smaller and thinner, and the power consumption required for driving it can also be kept low.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the firing solenoid 13 is energized for a period C from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the hammer tip 61 penetrates and protrudes through the through hole 335 of the rail portion 332 (FIG. 9). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being stopped on the rail portion 332, and it is possible to prevent the ball from returning and to make the erroneous counting of the fired balls more reliable.

Although the return ball prevention portion 83 of this embodiment is shown as having a rectangular frame shape and having a batted ball passage hole 85 in the center, the shape of the return ball prevention portion 83 is not limited to this, and for example, , may be strip-shaped, or rod-shaped, and may not include the batted ball passage opening 85. That is, on the ball hitting path from the firing position to the firing port 38, the permissible position is provided adjacent to the firing position direction of the firing port 38 and allows the batted ball to pass through without interfering with the batted ball fired from the firing position. and a return ball blocking position that prevents the return ball from entering the firing port 38 from the game area 8.

In the enclosed ball game machine of the present embodiment described above, the ball lifting device 22 is installed on the rear surface of the main body frame 2 at the rear of the upper firing device 12 disposed at the front part and one side of the upper part of the main body frame 2. The upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is disposed above the ball feeding device 28, and the ball lifting device 22 is installed between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper part of the upper firing device 12. A ball supply path member 24 extending in the front-rear direction is provided for feeding the lifted game balls to the ball feeding device 28 from above.

With the above-described configuration, the ball supply path member 24 connects various members (movable body, power transmission mechanism for driving the movable body (for example, gear train), left and right) attached to the rear of the game board 5. The ball can be mounted at the rear of the gaming machine without interfering with the slide rail for guiding the direction, the drive motor as the drive source, the position detection sensor for detecting the position of the movable body, the LED board, the relay board, etc. The game ball lifted to the upper part of the main body frame 2 by the lifting device 22 can be smoothly sent to the upper firing device 12.

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

Further, the upper firing device 12 shown in FIG. 23 employs an electric drive source that is smaller and thinner than the conventional one for the reasons mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 23, the electric drive source (emission solenoid 13) of the batted ball launcher can be made smaller and thinner, so the electric drive source does not protrude behind the upper launcher 12. Accordingly, a wider arrangement space 57 for each member attached to the rear of the game board 5 can be secured.

In addition, the upper firing device 12 of this embodiment can be rotated by the upper firing device hinge 37 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12), so that when the game board is attached, the upper firing device 12 Since the upper firing unit can be rotated and placed at a position out of the movement path when inserting the game board, it is easy to attach the game board to the main body frame.

In this case, when the upper firing device 12 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2, even if there are game balls remaining in the ball sending gutter 23, the ball sending gutter 23 is installed so that the game balls do not spill out. It is preferable to provide a ball spill prevention means for blocking the ball outlet 58 of the ball.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the ball spill prevention means (ball outlet opening/closing unit) will be described. FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening/closing unit, and FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening/closing unit. Moreover, FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper firing unit and the ball outlet opening/closing unit.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and includes a ball sending gutter 23 that sends out the lifted game balls from above to the front, and an upper firing unit. 12 and a lifting communication gutter 65 that is connected to the ball sending gutter 23. When the upper firing unit 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 is By opening the ball outlet 58, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting and feeding communication gutter 65 are communicated with each other, and game balls can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

The ball feeding device of the upper firing device 12 includes an opening/closing actuating piece 426 on the right side of the ball feeding unit cover for operating the opening/closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 (FIG. 27). The opening/closing actuating piece 426 rotates the opening/closing crank 413 by contacting the spherical contact portion 424 of the opening/closing crank 413 in the ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 when the upper firing device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. This allows the opening/closing shutter 412 to be opened.

[Ball outlet opening/closing unit]
The ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 in the main body frame 2 of this embodiment is attached to the mounting member 407 attached to the lower surface of the ball sending gutter 23 of the ball lifting device 22, and is attached to the mounting member 407 attached to the lower surface of the ball sending gutter 23 of the ball lifting device 22. When the device 12 is opened, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 is closed to prevent the flow of game balls from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending device 28 of the upper firing device 12. It is something that can be blocked.

The ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 includes a shutter base 411 attached to a hanging wall 408 facing in the vertical direction of the mounting member 407, a plate-shaped opening/closing shutter 412 held slidably in the vertical direction by the shutter base 411, and a shutter base 412 that can be opened/closed. It includes an opening/closing crank 413 that slides the shutter 412 in the vertical direction, and an opening/closing spring 414 that urges the opening/closing shutter 412 to rise via the opening/closing crank 413.

The shutter base 411 of the ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 has a pair of slide grooves 415 extending in the vertical direction for holding the opening/closing shutter 412 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction so as to protrude upward from the upper end of the shutter base 411; A rectangular opening 416 that penetrates in the front-back direction between the pair of slide grooves 415, and a crank that is arranged at the front of the left end when viewed from the front and supports the opening/closing crank 413 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-back direction. It includes a support portion 417 and a spring locking portion 418 that locks one end (upper end) of the opening/closing spring 414. The crank support part 417 of the shutter base 411 is arranged on the left side of the opening 416 when viewed from the front, and the spring locking part 418 is arranged near the upper left side of the center in the left-right direction when seen from the front.

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

The opening/closing crank 413 of the ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 includes a shaft portion 421 that is rotatably supported by a crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411 around an axis extending in the front-rear direction, and a shaft portion 421 that is rotatably supported by a crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411, and a shaft portion 421 that is rotatably supported by a crank support portion 417 of a shutter base 411. A driving rod 422 that extends outward and whose tip extends to near the center in the left-right direction of the opening 416, and a driving rod 422 that protrudes rearward from the tip of the driving rod 422 and is slidably inserted into the driving hole 412b of the opening/closing shutter 412. a driving pin 423 that extends downward from the lower outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 when viewed from the front and has a spherical tip; (lower end).

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

In this ball outlet opening/closing unit 410, when the upper firing device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the contact portion 424 of the opening/closing crank 413 contacts the opening/closing actuating piece 426 of the upper firing device 12, and the contact portion 424 rotates clockwise when viewed from the front against the biasing force of the opening/closing spring 414, and the drive pin 423 rotates together with the contact portion 424 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. , the opening/closing shutter 412 can be lowered to open the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23. That is, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting and feeding communication gutter 65 are communicated with each other, so that game balls can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

When the upper firing device 12 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2 from this state, the contact portion 424 of the opening/closing crank 413 and the opening/closing actuating piece 426 of the upper firing device 12 are released, and the opening/closing crank 413 is moved by the opening/closing spring. At the same time as the opening/closing shutter 412 is rotated counterclockwise in the front view by the biasing force of the ball 414, the opening/closing shutter 412 is raised to close the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending trough 23 (Fig. 27 ).

In this way, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 can be automatically opened and closed by the ball outlet opening/closing unit 410 in accordance with the opening and closing of the upper firing device 12 with respect to the main body frame 2. Even if the upper firing device 12 is opened with game balls remaining in the ball sending gutter 23, the game balls can be prevented from spilling out from the ball outlet 58.

[Irregular sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit]
FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge part cover separated from FIG. 28 and turned over. FIG. 30 is a plan view of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 31 is a rear view of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating the base plate of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharging unit separated into the irregular-shaped sphere discharging unit and the magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a path through which irregularly shaped spheres and magnetic spheres are discharged in the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the magnetic sphere is separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic balls have reached the magnetic ball ejection slope.

As shown in FIG. 28, the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit 20 has an irregular-shaped sphere ejection function and a magnetic sphere ejection function. Note that the irregularly shaped ball is a spherical object such as a bearing that has a smaller diameter than a regular game ball. The irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball ejecting unit 20 is a transparent resin molded product, and is arranged at the lower part of the game machine main body (the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball ejecting unit accommodating section 19). It has a configuration in which the sides are covered with a rear plate (ball receiving gutter base 201). At the top, there are out balls that flowed down without winning in various winning holes (special variable winning device, general winning hole, normal variable winning device) and safe balls that entered various winning holes and flowed down the safe ball ejection route. A collection port 202 for collecting game balls is provided. The out ball flows into the collection port 202 via the out port 42 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). The safe ball flows into the collection port 202 via the winning port 41 (see FIG. 5).

A circulation path within the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 that communicates with the collection port 202 is formed by meandering left and right inside the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 and folding up and down. It is equipped with a detection switch 203, a deformed ball ejection section 204, a magnetic ball ejection section 205, a ball path full detection switch 206, and a ball appropriate amount detection switch 207. The game balls that have flowed into the collection port 202 form a line and move along a circulation path within the irregularly shaped balls/magnetic spheres discharge unit 20, reaching the ball collection section 21 connected to the irregularly shaped balls/magnetic spheres discharge unit 20. However, in order to prevent the irregularly shaped balls and magnetic balls from moving to the ball collecting section 21, they are separated from the regular game ball circulation path within the irregularly shaped balls/magnetic ball ejecting unit 20 and are discharged outside the irregularly shaped balls/magnetic ball discharging unit 20. Ru.

Next, the movement of the game balls collected into the collection port 202 within the odd-shaped ball/magnetic ball discharge unit 20 will be explained in order. The number of game balls collected in the collection port 202 is counted one by one by a collected ball detection switch 203. The game balls that have passed through the recovered ball detection switch 203 reach the irregularly shaped ball discharge section 204. When the difference between the number of game balls detected by the recovered ball detection switch 203 and the fired ball detection means increases, it can be detected that an abnormality has occurred in the gaming machine.

The irregularly shaped ball ejector 204 includes an irregularly shaped ball ejector base 208 fixed to an irregularly shaped ball ejector base attachment part 212 provided on the ball receiving gutter base 201 and two bases fixed to the irregularly shaped ball ejector base 208. It is composed of deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the irregularly shaped ball ejector base mounting portion 212 is a rectangular opening provided in the ball receiving gutter base 201. As shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 28, the irregularly shaped ball ejector base attachment part 212 is provided at an angle to the ball receiving gutter base 201 so that the side on the collection port 202 side is higher. As a result, the irregularly shaped ball separating shafts 209 and 210 are arranged at an angle, so that the game ball can move from the upstream side 213 (see FIG. 30) toward the downstream side 214.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharging unit separated into the irregular-shaped sphere discharging unit and the magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33(a) shows the irregularly shaped ball ejecting section 204. FIG. 33(b) shows the magnetic ball ejecting section 205.

The irregularly shaped ball ejecting unit 204 utilizes the difference in diameter between regular game balls and irregular balls to eliminate irregular balls with a smaller diameter than the regular game balls from the circulation path within the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball discharging unit 20. . As shown in FIG. 30, the irregular sphere discharge section 204 includes two irregular sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 having circular cross sections and arranged in parallel from the upstream side 213 to the downstream side 214 of the circulation path. In order to exclude irregularly shaped balls, that is, inert balls with a smaller diameter than regular game balls, from the circulation path in which regular game balls circulate, the gap distance between the two irregularly shaped ball separating shafts 209 and 210 is set on the upstream side 213. The irregularly shaped ball separating shaft is designed so that it is narrower than the diameter of a regular game ball and wider than the diameter of a regular game ball on the downstream side 214, that is, so that the distance between both irregularly shaped ball separating shafts 209, 210 gradually increases. 209 and 210 are fixed to the base 208 of the irregular-shaped ball ejector.

The game balls that flow down one by one into the irregular-shaped ball discharge section 204 via the collection port 202 and the collected-ball detection switch 203 are rolled down as they straddle the two irregular-shaped ball separation shafts 209 and 210. do. On the upstream side, the gap distance between the two irregular ball separation shafts 209, 210 is narrower than the diameter of the regular game balls, so the regular game balls do not fall from between the irregular ball separation shafts 209, 210.

On the other hand, the irregular ball, which is an irregularly shaped ball with a smaller diameter than the regular game ball, falls from between the two irregularly shaped ball separation shafts 209 and 210. The fallen irregular spheres are discharged to the outside of the irregular sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the irregular sphere discharge port 216 via the irregular sphere discharge path 215, as shown in FIG. 33(a). The irregular-shaped ball discharge path 215 is formed by the irregular-shaped ball discharge route forming member 217 attached to the front side of the ball receiving gutter base 201 and below the irregular-shaped ball discharge unit base 208. Note that the irregular-shaped ball ejection path forming member 217 is also integrally provided with a communication path 218 that guides balls having the same diameter as regular game balls to the magnetic ball ejection section 205.

A game ball of regular size that rolls down the two irregularly shaped ball separating shafts 209, 210 falls from between the two irregularly shaped ball separating shafts 209, 210 on the downstream side 214, and passes through the communication path 218. Then, it reaches a circulation path 219 formed in the magnetic ball discharge section 205.

The magnetic ball discharge part 205 is fixed to the ball receiving gutter base 201 as shown in FIG. FIG. 33 shows a state in which the magnetic ball ejection part 205 is removed from the ball receiving gutter base 201. A slope 220 connected to the communication path 218 is formed in the magnetic ball ejecting section 205. A falling surface 221 that descends steeply is connected to the downstream side of the slope 220, and a drop surface 221 that descends steeply is connected to the downstream side of the slope 220. , a magnetic ball ejection inclined surface 222 is formed. A gap between the discontinuous portions 223 is provided so that the inclined surface 220 and the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 are not continuous. In the magnetic ball ejecting section 205, a magnet is attached to at least one of the side wall 224 and the ceiling wall 225 on the front surface, the back surface thereof, or the interior thereof.

FIG. 35 shows an example in which a magnet 229 is attached to a magnet housing space 230 on the back side of a ceiling wall 225. The magnet housing space 230 is formed as a space arranged along the back side of the ceiling wall 225 and has a rectangular cross section. The magnet 229 is a flat magnet, and is a permanent magnet having an N pole or an S pole on one side and an S pole or an N pole on the other side. The magnetic force of the magnet is not so strong that the game balls (magnetic balls 232) made of magnetic material are attracted and their rolling is inhibited, but they flow down the area of the slope 220 and fall from the discontinuous portion 223. It is sufficient that the magnetic ball can reach the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222. Note that the attached magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

The regular game balls 233 flowing from the communication path 218 roll down the slope 220, and flow down from the slope 220 while rolling on the falling surface 221. The regular non-magnetic game balls 233 fall through the discontinuous portion 223 and pass through the circulation path 219 to reach the ball gathering section 21 connected to the irregular ball/magnetic ball discharge unit 20.

On the other hand, the irregular sphere (magnetic sphere 232 ) made of a magnetic material sticks to the inner wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 due to the attractive force of the magnet 229 housed in the magnet housing space 230 , and moves along the circulation path 219 upstream of the inclined surface 220 . It flows down from the side to the downstream side while rolling due to the action of gravity. Then, as shown in FIG. 35, the magnetic balls 232 reach the area of the magnetic ball discharge slope 222 (see FIG. 28) as shown in FIG. 36 without falling from the discontinuous portion 223. Irregular balls made of magnetic material that have reached the region of the magnetic ball ejection slope 222 are ejected to the outside of the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic ball ejection unit 20 from the magnetic ball ejection port 227 via the magnetic ball ejection path 226 (see FIG. 34). ).

A portion of the ceiling wall 225 above the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 is configured as a magnetic force adjustment section 231. The magnetic force adjustment section 231 is formed such that the distance between the magnet housing space 230 and the magnetic ball ejection path 226 increases as the magnetic ball ejection path 226 goes downstream. In FIG. 35, the magnetic ball ejection path 226 has a curved portion, and this curved portion functions as the magnetic force adjustment section 231. As a result, the distance between the magnetic balls 232 and the magnets 229 becomes longer as it goes downstream of the magnetic ball discharge path 226. Then, the magnetic force (attractive force) of the magnet 229 acting on the magnetic ball 232 gradually decreases. Therefore, the magnetic balls 232 that were stuck to the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and were moving in the downstream direction separate from the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and fall onto the magnetic ball ejection slope 222. The magnetic ball is then discharged from the magnetic ball discharge port 227 via the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 .

The irregular spheres and the irregular magnetic spheres are discharged to the outside of the irregular sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the irregular sphere discharge port 216 and the magnetic sphere discharge port 227, respectively (FIG. 34). The irregularly shaped spheres or magnetic spheres discharged from the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 are collected in the discharged ball receiving box 234 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). In this way, by using the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball discharge unit 20, irregular balls made of irregularly shaped balls and magnetic substances can be removed from the regular game ball circulation path 219. In this embodiment, the configuration can be simplified by using gravity to discharge the irregular shaped spheres and magnetic spheres to the outside of the irregular shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20. The irregular-shaped sphere discharge path 215 is arranged along the side surface of the magnetic sphere discharge section 205, and the irregular-shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 can be configured compactly.

The irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball ejection unit 20 can remove irregularly shaped balls or irregular balls made of magnetic material from the regular game ball circulation path 219 without stopping the game, thereby preventing a decrease in player interest. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the chances that game hall employees will be called to each game machine to handle illegal balls and deal with malfunctions of the game machines. Note that the irregularly shaped ball ejecting section 204 and the magnetic ball ejecting section 205 may each be configured independently. That is, when ejecting the irregularly shaped balls is performed by other components within the gaming machine, the magnetic ball ejecting section 205 may be configured independently.

An embodiment of the enclosed ball game machine of the present invention includes a game board in which a game area is partitioned, a main body frame into which the game board is fitted and housed, and a main body frame arranged on the upper part of the main body frame, a batted ball firing device that fires a game ball toward the gaming area; and a batted ball firing device that collects the game balls fired by the batted ball firing device as enclosed balls on the back side of the game board, removes illegal balls, and returns the batted ball firing device to the game board. In order to supply to A ball feeding device that feeds balls one by one to the firing position of the batted ball launching device, a main control board that performs game control processing related to pachinko games, and a main control board that is connected to the main control board so as to be able to perform bidirectional data communication, and the game control processing control to increase or decrease the number of balls held based on a prize ball command transmitted from the main control board and information on the number of launched balls fired by the batted ball launcher; and control to launch game balls by the batted ball launcher. and a ball information control board for controlling feeding of game balls to the shooting position by the ball feeding device, and circulating a predetermined number of game balls in a closed manner without paying out the game balls. The ball firing device is configured to perform a ball hitting operation based on the driving of a firing rail for stopping a game ball at the firing position and an electric drive source, and the ball firing device performs a ball hitting operation based on driving of an electric drive source, The ball information control board includes a firing member that fires a game ball that is parked at the firing position, and a firing ball confirmation device that detects the game ball that is parked at the firing position, and the ball information control board is configured to fire the ball at a predetermined time. The launched ball detection and determination means determines that a launched ball is present when the launched ball confirmation means detects a game ball parked at the firing position, and the launched ball detection and determination means determines that a launched ball is present. Subtracting the number of held balls by determining that the game ball parked at the firing position has been fired and subtracting the number of held balls by one when the game ball is not detected by the fired ball confirmation means, on the condition that the determination has been made. It is composed of means and.

According to the above embodiment, the launched ball detection and determination means determines that there is a launched ball when the launched ball confirmation means detects a game ball that is stationary at the firing position for a predetermined period of time. On the condition that the shot ball detection and determination means has determined that there is a shot ball, if the shot ball confirmation means does not detect a game ball, it is determined that the game ball that was parked at the firing position has been fired, and the number of balls held is determined. is decremented by one, so if noise enters the shot ball confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate incorrect ball counts due to noise, increase the reliability of shot ball detection, and detect irregularly shaped balls. and magnetic balls can be excluded from the circulation path where regular game balls circulate.

[Sphere gathering part 21]
FIG. 37 is a front left perspective view of the ball collecting section and the ball lifting device, FIG. 38 is a front view of the ball collecting section and the ball lifting device, and FIG. 39 is a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is removed from the ball collecting section. FIG. Moreover, FIG. 40 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the case of the ball collecting section and the cover of the ball lifting device are removed, FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the ball collecting section in FIG. 40, and FIG. is a further enlarged view of FIG. 41, and FIG. 43 is a plan view of the sphere gathering portion with the case removed.

The ball collecting section 21 (FIG. 41) includes a ball feeding passage 275, a ball polishing cartridge 251, a ball polishing cartridge mounting section 273 (FIG. 39), and a lifting/feeding inlet switch 156. The ball feeding passage 275 has a groove structure with walls on both sides disposed at the lower part of the entire ball collecting section 21, and includes a ball receiving port 275a connected to a ball outlet (not shown) of the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball ejecting unit 20. It has a ball feeding port 275b that opens into the ball feeding rotating body 350 (described later) (FIGS. 41, 42, and 43).

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

[Ball lifting device 22]
FIG. 44 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the upper gearbox and the lower gearbox are removed. FIG. 45 is a right side view showing the ball lifting device with the cover removed, and FIG. 46 is an enlarged view of section (A) in FIG. 45. Moreover, FIG. 47 is a diagram showing the disassembled state of the screw, FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the ball lifting device, and FIG. 49 is a diagram showing the fitted and unfitted states of the screw and the fitting member. FIG.

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

The spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 are cover members 368 arranged to surround the screw 25, and are made of transparent resin (acrylic resin). The spiral base cover 352 has an opening 281 diagonally provided in a portion of the ball gathering portion 21 that opposes the ball polishing cartridge 251 (FIG. 39).
Further, the upper surface of the cover member 368 is formed with a protrusion on which the lower surface of an upper gearbox 356 (described later) is installed (FIG. 69).

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

The small pitch protrusion member 25b is composed of a cylindrical portion 25e and a spiral protrusion 25d (FIG. 45). As shown in FIG. 47, the small pitch protrusion member 25b is assembled by assembling a half-split body 25bR and a half-split body 25bL, which are divided into two on a vertical plane including the screw shaft 25a, with the screw shaft 25a in between. considered to be one. A pair of a concave portion 25g and a convex portion 25h are formed above and below on the cut surface of the cylindrical portion 25e, which is used to assemble the halves 25bR and 25bL on both sides, so that they can be integrated into one body. can.

Further, an upper edge recess 25j that opens upward is formed on the upper edge 25i of the half bodies 25bR and 25bL, and a lower edge convex portion 25m that projects downward is formed on the lower edge 25k. These upper edge concave portion 25j and lower edge convex portion 25m are for vertically connecting the small pitch protruding member 25b and the large pitch protruding member 25c, and transmitting rotation to each other.

The same applies to the large-pitch protruding member 25c, which is given the same reference numeral and a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the pitch of the spiral protruding member 25d is larger than that of the small-pitch protruding member 25b. Although the pitch changes in the part where the spiral protrusion 25d of the small pitch protrusion member 25b and the spiral protrusion 25d of the large pitch protrusion member 25c are continuous, they are smoothly continuous. The large pitch protrusion member 25c is composed of a half-split body 25cR and a half-split body 25cL.

Note that the pitch is the interval between the spiral protrusions 25d along a straight line. The pitch of the spiral protrusions 25d of the small pitch protrusion member 25b is smaller than that of the helical protrusion 25d of the large pitch protrusion member 25c. For example, the pitch of the small pitch protruding member 25b is 25 mm, and the pitch of the large pitch protruding member 25c is 43.2 mm.

Note that the screw shaft 25a shown in FIG. 47 is a rotating shaft of the screw 25, and as shown in FIG. (spur gear) is fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 49, the lower edge convex portion 25m of the small pitch protrusion member 25b at the lower part of the screw 25 is connected to the fitting recess 366a of the fitting member 366 integrally formed with the lower lifting gear 362. They are fitted using concave-convex fitting, and driven and rotated together with the screw shaft 25a and the lower lifting gear 362.

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

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

The lower gear box 357 is disposed from the lower end of the ball lifting device 22 to the lower end of the ball gathering section 21, and houses and pivotally supports a lower lifting gear 362 and a ball feeding rotor gear 363 (Fig. 44). The lower lifting gear 362 is fixed to the lower end of the screw shaft 25a and meshes with the ball feeding rotor gear 363. The gear ratio between the ball feeding rotating body gear 363 and the lower lifting gear 362 is 2:1.

The ball feeding rotating body 350 is fixed to the gear shaft 363a of the ball feeding rotating body gear 363, and the ball feeding rotating body 350 is driven and rotated by the ball feeding rotating body gear 363. The ball feeding rotary body 350 is a low cylindrical member disposed corresponding to the ball feeding port 275b of the ball feeding passage 275 in the ball gathering section 21, and in this embodiment, the ball feeding rotary body 350 is a low cylindrical member, and in this embodiment, the ball feeding rotary body 350 is arranged so as to correspond to the ball feeding port 275b of the ball feeding passage 275 in the ball collecting section 21. A ball engaging recess 350a is provided to accommodate the ball. The ball engaging recess 350a has a depth that accommodates approximately half of the game ball (FIG. 43).

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

As described above, this ball feeding inclined portion 351 has an arc shape along the outer periphery of the ball feeding rotating body 350 from the ball feeding port 275b to the delivery position, and extends 7 mm (approximately 5 to 8 mm) upward from the position of the ball feeding port 275b. ) It has a sloped surface 351a that rises to a high delivery position, and a top sloped part 351b that projects from the top toward the screw 25 and slopes downward. The width of the inclined surface 351a is 4 mm (approximately 3 to 5 mm), and the top inclined surface 351b is formed in a range larger than the diameter of the game ball before and after the delivery position in the rotational direction of the ball feeding rotary body 350.

The positional relationship between the ball feeding rotary body 350 and the screw 25 in a plan view is such that the game ball that has fallen from the top inclined surface 351b can be received between the pitches of the spiral protrusion 25d. A cover member 368 (not shown) is disposed along the outer periphery of the ball feeding slope 351 up to the vicinity of the delivery position to prevent the game ball from falling from the slope 351a.

A guide block 365 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is disposed on the upper surface of the lower gear box 357 in close proximity to the lower front side of the screw 25. The guide block 365 has an arcuate spherical guide surface 365a close to the helical protrusion 25d of the screw 25, and a stopper surface 365b following this. The ball guide surface 365a is formed from the vicinity of the top inclined surface 351b to the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352, and the tip thereof becomes a stopper surface 365b (FIG. 43).

Two lifting guide rails 282 are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel with the screw 25, and have a diameter of approximately 5 mm and serve as guides to guide the game balls lifted and transported by the screw 25 upward in a straight line. This is a round bar-shaped guide member. The lifting guide rail 282 is located on the almost opposite side to the ball feeding rotating body 350 with respect to the rotational direction of the screw 25, and extends from a position corresponding to the upper end of the opening 281 (FIG. 39) provided diagonally in the helical base cover 352. It is arranged vertically upward, and its upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the upper gearbox 356. The interval between two adjacent lifting guide rails 282 is such a width that a game ball (diameter 11 mm) cannot pass through (5 to 8 mm at the inner interval of the lifting guide rails 282).
In addition, when the game ball is lifted, it is lifted while being in contact with the guide rail 282, so the lifting guide rail 282 has a low friction coefficient and is a guide from the game ball generated by the rotation of the screw 25. It is assumed that the rail 282 has enough rigidity not to be deformed by the pressure applied to the rail 282. It is preferable to use stainless steel as the material.

The support member 367 is a cushion member that prevents deformation of the lifting guide rail 282 and absorbs vibrations transmitted between the game balls and the lifting guide rail 282 and to the upper firing device 12. 282 in its original position, and has a thickness that is sufficient to fit between the cover member 368 consisting of the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282. It is a plate-shaped block member, and has a flat surface on the side that contacts the cover member 368 and a recessed portion on the side that supports the lifting guide rail 282.
The lifting guide rail 282 has enough rigidity to not be deformed by the pressing force from the game balls to the guide rail 282 caused by the rotation of the screw 25, but the pressing force from the game balls is applied over a long period of time. Then, the lifting guide rail 282 gradually deforms in the pressing direction, and there is a risk that the game ball will come off from being guided by the lifting guide rail 282, so the deformation is regulated.

Furthermore, since the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are designed with clearance in the parts where the game balls mainly pass, the vibrations generated when the ball lifting motor 150 is driven, for example, are 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, and abnormal noise may occur between the lifting guide rail 282 and the game ball.Furthermore, the lifting device 22 has a cover member 368 that prevents the screw 25, the lifting guide rail 282, etc. is surrounded, so if any abnormal noise occurs within the lifting device 22, it will resonate and the sound will become louder. However, by arranging the support member 367, it is possible to absorb the vibrations generated in the game machine and suppress the generation of abnormal noise.
Note that the number of support members 367 is arranged between the cover member 368 and the lifting guide rail 282 so that deformation of the guide rail 282 can be restricted and no abnormal noise is generated due to vibration.

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

The ball sending gutter 23 is provided at the upper end of the spiral base cover 352 and is a path having an inclination for feeding the game balls guided from the lifting slope member 354 to the upper firing device 12. Further, a side surface of the ball sending gutter 23 is provided with a ball removing member 355 that discharges the game balls inside the game machine to the outside of the game machine (FIGS. 44 and 48). The ball removal member 355 is a removable lid member, and can be removed from the side wall of the ball delivery gutter 23 by operating a knob at the bottom to open an opening provided in the side wall. The ball sending gutter 23 has a diagonal section, and a ball extracting member 355 is arranged on the wall on the tip side of the diagonal section (FIG. 44).

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

[Operation of ball collecting section 21 and ball lifting device 22]
The game balls sent from the odd-shaped ball/magnetic ball discharge unit 20 that forms part of the circulation route are sent to the ball sending rotary body 350 in the ball lifting device 22 through the ball sending passage 275 of the ball collecting section 21. It will be done. On the other hand, the screw 25 is rotated by the drive of the ball lifting motor 150 via the gear trains 358, 359, and 360, and the ball feeding rotating body 350 is rotated via the screw shaft 25a and the lower gear trains 362, 363. Since the gear ratio between the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feeding rotary body gear 363 is 2:1, the ball feeding rotary body 350 rotates once for every two rotations of the screw 25. The ball feeding rotary body 350 receives game balls one by one from the ball feeding passage 275 into the ball engaging recess 350a and rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 43).

Thereafter, by the rotation of the ball feeding rotary body 350, the game ball is engaged with the ball engaging recess 350a and moves, and the remaining outer half moves along the slope 351a of the ball feeding slope 351, and the top slope 351b is reached. Since the top inclined surface 351b is inclined downward, the game ball is sent from that position to the spiral protrusion 25d of the small pitch protrusion member 25b. At this time, the game balls sent in from the top inclined surface 351b, which is slightly higher, have a larger distance from the following game balls, and are reliably separated one by one.
In order to stably feed the game balls, it is conceivable to make the terminal end of the top slope 351b and the game ball delivery position of the small pitch protrusion member 25b approximately at the same height.
Further, when feeding the game ball from the top slope 351b to the small pitch protrusion member 25d, the method is not limited to using a downward slope, but may also be configured to use a rail to guide the game ball to the small pitch protrusion member 25d, for example. .
In addition, if the difference in level between the end of the inclined surface 351a and the small pitch protruding member 25d at the bottom of the screw 25 that receives the game ball is small, the game ball may be dropped directly from the inclined surface 351a to the small pitch protruding member 25d. It is possible.

Next, the game ball moves along the ball guide surface 365a of the guide block 365 as the small pitch protrusion member 25b rotates and collides with the stopper surface 365b. During this time, the game ball rises as the screw 25 rotates and reaches the lower end of the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352. In this case, as described above, the ball feeding rotary body 350 is provided with ball engaging recesses 350a every 180 degrees, and rotates at half the speed of the screw 25, so one ball is rotated every half rotation. Game balls will be supplied to the screw 25. Since one half rotation of the ball feeding rotary body corresponds to one pitch of the small pitch protruding member 25b, the game ball sent from the ball feeding rotating body 350 is always one ball between the pitches of the small pitch protruding member 25b. It is sent one by one and continuously. (Figure 41).
In other words, the game balls are prevented from being tied together in the ball transport device 22.

It comes into contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 through the opening 281 . That is, as the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22, the game ball is rubbed against the ball polishing cloth 263 through the opening 281, thereby cleaning and polishing the game ball (FIG. 39). By being guided obliquely upward, the area of the ball polishing cloth 263 can be effectively utilized.

After passing through the opening 281, the game ball is lifted to the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 as the screw 25 rotates, but at this time, the game ball is moved to the lifting guide rail 282 arranged in parallel. Guided and moved in a straight line. The guide rail 282 allows the game balls lifted and transported by the screw 25 to move in the vertical direction, and restricts the movement in the left and right directions. During this time, the game ball is lifted and transported relatively slowly due to the small pitch at the lower small pitch protrusion member 25a, so that there is no problem in receiving the ball from the ball feeding rotary body 350. There is. Furthermore, since the pitch of the small pitch protrusion member 25b on the upper part is small, the movement of the game ball is relatively slow, so that there is no problem in feeding the ball to the upper firing device 12.
On the other hand, in the middle part of the screw 25, there is no particular problem even if the lifting speed of the game ball is increased, so a large pitch protrusion member with a large pitch is used. The number of game balls circulated within the ball transport device 22 can be reduced. Furthermore, this makes it possible to reduce the burden caused by the weight of the game ball on the screw 25 (FIG. 45).
Furthermore, the term "lifting" in this embodiment is used to mean that the game balls are continuously carried up from the lower part of the gaming machine to the upper part.

The game ball that has reached the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 contacts the slope of the lifting slope member 354 from below, thereby changing the moving direction of the game ball lifted by the screw 25 from the vertical direction to the approximately horizontal direction. The game balls are turned and smoothly sent from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. Then, the game ball sent into the ball sending gutter 23 rolls on the gentle slope of the ball sending gutter 23 and is fed into the upper firing device 12 (FIG. 46).
In this case, when the lifted game ball comes into contact with the slope portion of the lifting slope member 354, it is configured to come off the guide of the lifting guide rail 282 and naturally flow down to the floor surface of the ball sending gutter 23. No ball pressure is applied to the lifting guide rail 282 or the screw 25, making it possible to feed the ball smoothly.

When it is necessary to take out the circulating game balls from the game machine for maintenance or the like, they can be easily ejected from the game machine by operating the ball extracting member 355 provided on the outer surface of the ball sending gutter 23 ( Figure 37, Figure 48).

In this embodiment, the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 are made of transparent resin (acrylic resin), and by using transparent resin in this way, the state inside the ball lifting device 22 can be controlled. This is preferable because it can be easily visually confirmed without disassembling the material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting section cover 353 may be made of opaque resin, metal, or the like.

Moreover, although the small pitch protruding member 25b and the large pitch protruding member 25c are configured to be joined in half, they may be cylindrical members that are integrally formed from the beginning. Furthermore, by making full use of synthetic resin molding technology, the entire screw 25 except for the screw shaft 25a can be integrally molded.

In addition, the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are made of materials that have good sliding properties and are rigid enough not to be deformed by the pressing force from the game ball to the lifting guide rail 282 caused by the rotation of the screw 25. Preferably, metal such as aluminum or synthetic resin may be used. Further, it is conceivable that the spiral protrusion 25d is made of a hard silicone material or the like at least in the portion that receives the game ball from the ball feeding rotary body 350. Thereby, the impact generated when the game ball falls onto the spiral protrusion 25d can be absorbed.

Although the lifting guide rail 282 in this embodiment uses two rails to guide the game balls in the vertical direction, the number of rails is not limited to two. For example, the lifting guide rail 282 may be one rail, and the other rail may be The other guide may have a configuration in which the inner wall of the cover member 368 extends parallel to and adjacent to the transport guide rail 282 to guide the game ball.

Further, the support member 367 is disposed between the cover member 368 consisting of the spiral base cover 352 and the lift section cover 353 and the lift guide rail 282, but if the support member 367 is limited to absorbing vibrations, the support member 367 In addition to the member 368, for example, as shown in FIG. 70, a support member 367 may be placed over both ends of the lifting guide rail 282. This eliminates vibrations generated by the operation of movable accessories (not shown) placed on the game board and electric drive sources such as motors, and the player's operation of the touch panel section 14 placed on the door frame 3. Various vibrations that occur in the game machine, such as vibrations caused by the impact that occurs when playing, are absorbed, so there may be situations where the game ball comes off the guide of the guide rail and cannot be lifted, or the game ball is not released due to vibration. It is possible to suppress instability.

In addition, in this embodiment, the game ball is continuously sent out and conveyed one pitch at a time on the spiral protrusion 25d over the entire length of the screw 25, but the game ball is lifted at all pitches of the screw 25. The configuration is not limited to this, as long as the game balls are continuously lifted and transported even if the game balls are not transported.

The lifting slope member 354 may have any structure as long as it can smoothly send the game balls vertically lifted by the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 to the ball sending gutter 23, and it may be molded integrally with the upper gear box 356. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, the upper surface of the ball delivery path 23 may be extended onto the game ball transport path, and a slope may be formed on the lower surface of the extended portion.

In addition, the ball lifting device 22 of the present invention is configured to lift and transport game balls using a screw 25, but if the game ball is lifted by vertically guiding and conveying it, the screw 25 is used. However, various methods can be selected, such as a belt conveyor that can continuously transport game balls.

[Ball polishing device]
Next, a description will be given of a ball polishing device that cleans and polishes game balls enclosed within a game machine. FIG. 38 described earlier is a front view of the ball polishing device with the ball polishing cartridge installed, and FIG. 39 described earlier is a front view of the ball polishing device with the ball polishing cartridge removed. FIG.

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

53 and 54 are diagrams showing a state in which the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 53 shows a state in which the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other. FIG. 54 is a left side view showing a game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge being pressed against each other, and FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge shown in FIG. 54 with the left side cover removed. FIG. Moreover, FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55.

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

As shown in FIGS. 38 and 50, a ball collecting section 21 is provided at the lower part of the ball lifting device 22, and a ball polishing cartridge 251 is installed in a ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270 of a part of the ball collecting section 21. is said to be able to be installed. Here, the outside of the ball lifting device 22 is made of a transparent plastic member, so that even if a game ball becomes clogged within the ball lifting device 22, the location where the jam occurs can be easily seen. It looks like this. As shown in FIG. 51, the ball polishing cartridge 251 attached to the ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270 is supported at one end on a shaft and rotating at the other end. By hooking the other end of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 to the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272 also provided in the ball collecting section 21, the ball polishing cartridge 251 can be pressed inward and leftward. It has a structure. In addition, in FIG. 51, in order to make it easy to understand the movement mode of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271, both the open state and the closed state of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 are shown.

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

FIG. 66 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 in FIG. 39. At the back of the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 inside the ball polishing cartridge mounting section 270, below the right side surface, there is a second drive gear of the ball polishing cartridge 251, which is coaxial with the second drive gear 257 shown in FIG. A drive shaft 290 that fits into the gear shaft 261 of the first embodiment is provided, and an attachment sensor 291 including a pushable button 292 is provided above the right side surface. As a result of a series of mounting operations for the ball polishing cartridge 251, the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pressed, and thus mounting of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is detected. Specific aspects of the mounting operation will be described later.

In addition, in the innermost part of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 facing the ball lifting device 22, the ball lifting device 22 has a long side that is used to advance the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, which will be described later. An opening 281 having a different angle from the direction is provided. As a result, a deviation occurs between the direction in which the game balls are lifted and the direction in which the ball polishing cloth 263 travels, so that only a part of the ball polishing cloth 263 having a predetermined width in the width direction is not used. It becomes possible to clean and polish game balls by effectively utilizing the width of 263 mm.

Furthermore, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 is such that at least a part of the peripheral edge of the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device 22 can protrude to the outside of the ball lifting device 22 at the opening position. In this embodiment, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 is set to 8.4 mm for the diameter of the game ball of 11 mm. The game ball is configured to protrude from the opening 281 toward the ball polishing cloth 263 by about 1.5 mm.

As a result, during the game period, a part of the peripheral edge of the game ball being lifted in the ball lifting device 22 protrudes outside the ball lifting device 22 at the position of the opening 281, and the ball is polished. The ball polishing cloth 263 of the cartridge 251 and the game ball can come into contact with each other. In particular, if the ball polishing cartridge 251 has an elastic member and is configured to press the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game balls, the ball polishing cloth 263 can be brought into contact with the game balls more reliably, and Reliable ball polishing is possible.

Furthermore, even if the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed with the game ball remaining in the ball transport device 22 during a time outside the gaming period, the width of the opening 281 will be smaller than the diameter of the game ball. With this structure, the game balls remaining in the ball lifting device 22 will not spill onto the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 side of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

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

60 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge 251, FIG. 61 is a front view thereof, FIG. 62 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 63 is a side view of FIG. 62 with the left side cover removed. Here, 259 is a take-up roller, 260 is a driven roller, 261 is a first gear shaft, and 262 is a second gear shaft. The second gear shaft 262 is configured to be coaxial with the drive gear 257, and the second gear shaft 262 is configured to be coaxial with the driven roller 260. Further, 268 is a game ball contact trace, and as shown in FIG. Since they are at different angles with respect to the vertical direction, the game ball contact traces 268 are formed with an inclination with respect to the long side direction of the ball polishing cloth 263.

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

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

Further, as shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the screw 25 in the ball lifting device 22 has different shapes at the upper and lower portions and at the middle portion. In the upper and lower parts, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw 25 (the spiral protrusion 25d in FIG. 47) is made smaller to narrow the pitch, whereas in the middle part, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw is increased to narrow the pitch. It is also wide. Since there is no need to spend time lifting the intermediate part, by increasing the inclination angle of the spiral and increasing the lifting speed, the game balls can be lifted in a short time. It is possible to reduce the number of game balls included in the game machine, and it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed inside the game machine.

In addition, by narrowing the pitch interval at the lower part, the lifting speed of the game ball at the part where the game ball faces the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is reduced, so that the pitch between the game ball and the ball polishing cloth 263 is reduced. To reliably clean and polish a game ball by increasing the contact time with the ball. Furthermore, by narrowing the pitch interval in the upper part, the lifting speed of game balls at the lifting end of the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced, and the balls are transferred from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. The occurrence of troubles such as ball biting during delivery can be eliminated, and game balls can be smoothly sent to the ball sending gutter 23.

Further, as shown in FIG. 54, the ball lifting device 22 is equipped with two guide rails 282 that guide the lifting and feeding of game balls. The spacing between both guide rails is set to be approximately the same as the diameter of the game ball, but adjustments are made to make it somewhat narrower for stability in areas where the movement of the game ball being lifted may be violent. be able to. In this way, the game ball is lifted within the ball lifting device 22 while being supported on both sides by both guide rails.

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

Further, a ball polishing cloth 263 is arranged in a portion of the ball polishing cartridge 251 facing the ball lifting device 22, and a tensioner 267 having a function of pressing down the ball polishing cloth 263 is provided behind the ball polishing cloth 263. Behind the tensioner 267, two coiled ball polishing cloth pressing springs 264 are provided which have the function of pressing the tensioner 267 and the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball. Furthermore, a spring presser 266 that supports the ball polishing cloth presser spring 264 is provided behind the ball polishing cloth presser spring 264. Further, a leaf spring 265 is provided at the top of the ball polishing cartridge, and the leaf spring 265 lightly presses and aligns the ball polishing cloth 263, so that the ball polishing cloth 263 is placed in the portion facing the ball lifting device 22. It plays the role of arranging them before sending them in.

Note that the ball polishing cloth 263 wound up by the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 is stored in the ball polishing cartridge 251, but in FIGS. The description of the ball polishing cloth 263 inside the ball polishing cartridge after being wound up is omitted.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is installed, and 253 is a right side cover, which is composed of an outer right side cover 253a and an inner right side cover 253b, which are integrated. 258 is a second drive gear case that covers a second drive gear 257, which will be described later. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover 253a of the right side cover 253 is removed in FIG. 57 for explanation, 253b is the right inner side cover, and 155 is a ball polishing ribbon. This is a feed motor and serves as a driving source for winding up the ball polishing cloth 263 in the ball polishing cartridge 251 . Further, the right side cover 253 is provided with a hinge 255 at the rear end thereof that engages with the hinge receiving portion 254, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable about the hinge 255 as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 consists of a stepping motor. A specific driving mode of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 will be described later.

59 is a top perspective view showing the right side cover 253 in an open state in FIG. 58, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable about the hinge 255 that engages with the hinge receiving portion 254 as a fulcrum. . Between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b of the right side cover 253, there is a first (not shown) shaft which is coaxial with the rotation axis of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 and rotated by the drive of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. A drive gear is provided, and in this embodiment, a gear with 16 teeth is used. Further, a second drive gear that is coaxial with the drive shaft 290 and meshes with the first drive gear is also provided between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b, and in this embodiment, the number of teeth is 32. gear is used.

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

In this state, as shown in FIG. 65, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is inserted into the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 from the front. At the time of insertion, the ball polishing cartridge mounting opening 273 is widened by the rotation of the right side cover 253, so that the drive shaft 290 and the mounting sensor 291 do not get in the way of insertion. After inserting the ball polishing cartridge 251, rotate the ball polishing cartridge 251 in the direction opposite to A in FIG. 271 to the ball polishing cartridge fixing stop 272, the drive shaft 290 engages with the first gear shaft 261 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pushed in, and the ball polishing cartridge 251 is activated. It is detected that it is attached.

When the button 292 of the installation sensor 291 is pressed while the power is being turned on to the game machine, it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is correctly installed and no notification is made, but when the power is turned on. Nevertheless, when the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is not pressed, a notification is given that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not properly mounted. The notification can be made by displaying that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not installed on a display device (not shown) that is normally included in the game machine and displays effects according to the game mode. . In addition, as another notification mode, the notification can be made by lighting or blinking a decorative lamp for presentation or a dedicated lamp indicating the attachment state of the ball polishing cartridge 251 in a predetermined manner.

In addition, in an enclosed ball type game machine like this embodiment, since the game is played by circulating the game balls enclosed in the game machine, the game can be continued for a long time without cleaning the game balls. This may cause dirt to accumulate on the game balls and cause the balls to roll poorly, so it is preferable to clean the game balls using a ball polishing device somewhere along the circulation path of the game balls. However, it is not impossible to play the game without the ball polishing device, so even if it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge is not installed, the display device or lamp will only notify you and you will not be able to continue playing the game. can.

Furthermore, the playing time of the player is detected by a touch switch 87 provided on the handle, and cumulatively measured by a measuring means (not shown). In this embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is moved one step every time the cumulative measurement time by the measuring means reaches one minute. In this embodiment, since the winding roller 259 has a diameter of 25 mm, the circumference length is approximately 78.5 mm (=25 x 3.14), and the first drive gear 256 and the second drive gear 257 Considering that the gear ratio of is 1/2, the feed amount of the ball polishing cloth 263 per step is 0.11 mm (=78.5/360/2).

In this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is pressed down and fixed by hanging the lever on the stopper, but the method of fixing is not limited to this method, and other fixing methods can be used. A method can also be used.
In addition, in this embodiment, a coiled ball polishing cloth pressing spring 264 is used as a means for pressing the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball, but the pressing means is not limited to this. It is also possible to use shaped springs or other elastic members.

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

In addition, in this embodiment, as a method of differentiating the direction in which the game balls are lifted by the ball lifting device 22 and the direction in which the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is wound, the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is The game balls are conveyed in the vertical direction, and the lifting direction of the ball lifting device 22 in the portion facing the ball polishing cloth 263 is tilted from the vertical direction. However, the conveyance direction of the game balls of the ball lifting device 22 may be vertical, and the conveyance direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 may be tilted from the vertical direction, or both may be tilted. Various methods can be selected, such as the direction.

Further, in this embodiment, a pushable button 292 is provided as the mounting sensor 291 of the ball polishing cartridge 251, and when the button 292 is pushed in by the mounting operation of the ball polishing cartridge 251, the mounting of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is detected. However, the mounting sensor 291 is not limited to these sensors, and other types of sensors such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor can also be used.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the mounting sensor 291 detects that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, the game can be continued by simply providing a notification. If it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not installed correctly, it is also possible to disable the game.

[Game ball enclosing operation]
Next, we will explain the filling operation of enclosing a predetermined number of game balls into a sealed ball game machine, such as when a new sealed ball game machine is installed or when dirty game balls are taken out and cleaned. do. The enclosing operation is performed while the enclosed ball game machine is not powered on. Therefore, the ball lifting device 22 and various sensors in the enclosed ball game machine are not operating.

In the enclosed ball type game machine, the game ball is fired into the game area by the firing device, and after rolling around the game area, it either enters the winning device or is collected from the outlet 42, and the collected game ball is It is transported again to the firing device, where it is fired again into the game area, and a game is played. In other words, a circulation path for game balls is formed as a whole.
To introduce the game ball in the enclosing operation, the game ball may be introduced into this circulation path, and in this embodiment, the game ball is introduced from the outlet 42. Thereby, there is no need to separately provide a charging port for encapsulating game balls in the sealed ball game machine, and the configuration of the sealed ball game machine can be simplified. Further, instead of the out port 42, the game balls may be introduced through the winning port 41 of the winning device. The game ball that entered the winning opening 41 of the winning device also merges with the gaming ball that entered the out opening 42, and is then conveyed to the firing device, so the game ball enters the winning opening 41 of the winning device. Even if a game ball is introduced into the outlet 42, the game ball can be put into the circulation path in the same way as when the game ball is introduced into the outlet 42. In either case, when introducing the game ball, care must be taken to prevent the game ball, hand, or other objects from hitting the nail. When introducing a game ball into the out port 42, by providing a game ball introduction member 427, which will be described later, it is possible to prevent the game ball from hitting a nail during insertion. In addition, the out opening 42 and the winning opening 41 correspond to a game ball collection opening.

FIG. 71 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the number of game balls is less than a predetermined number when the game balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball type game machine. As described above, during the game ball loading operation, the ball lifting device 22 is not driven because the power is not yet turned on to the sealed ball game machine. Therefore, the game balls thrown in from the out port 42 or the winning port 41 enter from the collection port 202, and after passing through the irregularly shaped ball/magnetic ball discharge unit 20, are lined up with the front of the ball lifting device 22 at the head.

FIG. 72 shows a state in which game balls are further thrown in from the state shown in FIG. 71 and a predetermined number of game balls has been reached. As shown in FIG. 72, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the last game ball 233 inserted is located at a discontinuous portion 222 where the magnetic ball ejection path 226 and the regular game ball path diverge. and is configured to seal off the discontinuous portion 223.

FIG. 73 shows a state in which more game balls have been thrown in from the state shown in FIG. 72, and more than a predetermined number of game balls have been thrown in. As mentioned above, when a predetermined number of game balls have been sealed, the last game ball 233 thrown in is configured to close off the discontinuous portion 223, so that the game balls 233 that are further thrown in are sealed in a predetermined number. The game ball 235 exceeds the normal game ball 233 from the discontinuous portion 223, and is guided to the magnetic ball discharge chest 227 from the magnetic ball discharge path 226 and collected.

In addition, in this embodiment, in the magnetic ball ejecting section, the discontinuous portion 223 to which the regular game balls 233 are guided when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is sealed, and a predetermined number or more of game balls are removed from the magnetic balls. Although it is configured to be collected at the discharge section, similarly, in the irregular ball discharge route, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the path through which the regular game balls 233 are guided is blocked, and the irregular shaped ball discharge route is collected. You can also do it like this.

In addition, in order to improve efficiency when throwing game balls into the out port 42, a game ball introducing member 427 is provided on the rail portion of the front component 45 located at the lower edge of the out port 42 (Fig. 74, 75). Since the structure is such that when a game ball is placed on the upper surface of the game ball introduction member 427, the game ball is poured toward the out port 42, the game ball can be efficiently enclosed. Moreover, the game ball can be thrown in without hitting a nearby nail.

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

FIG. 75 is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introducing member 427 is stored. Since it can be stored by pushing the game ball introduction member 427 deep from the state shown in FIG. 74, it does not interfere with the game.

In addition, in this embodiment, the game ball introduction member 427 has a structure that allows it to move forward and backward by manually sliding it, but the method is not limited to the above method. Various methods can be selected, such as automatically moving forward and backward by opening and closing 3.

Next, an outline of control of the pachinko machine 1 and the payment machine 4 as an external device arranged adjacent to one side thereof will be explained. FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing essential parts in an embodiment of a main control board equipped with an RTC and installed in an enclosed ball type pachinko machine. The control of the pachinko machine 1 is broadly divided into a main board group and a peripheral board group. Of these, the main board group controls the game operations, and the peripheral board group controls the production operations (liquid crystal display panel, lamps, etc.). , body frame lamp, door frame lamp, sound). The main board group is made up of a main control board 100 and a sphere information control board 110, and the peripheral board group is made up of a peripheral control board 130.

[Main control board 100]
The main control board 100 controls the pachinko game. The main control board 100 and a ball information control board 110, which will be described later, are connected to enable bidirectional data communication. As shown in FIG. 76, the main control board 100 that controls the progress of the game includes a main control MPU 101, which is a microprocessor that has a built-in ROM that stores various processing programs and commands, and a RAM that temporarily stores data. , a main control I/O port 102 as an input/output device (I/O device), a main control input circuit 103 into which detection signals from various detection switches are input, and a main control solenoid for driving various solenoids. It includes a drive circuit 104 and a RAM clear switch 105 for completely erasing information stored in a RAM built into the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in RAM").

In addition to its built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in ROM") and main control built-in RAM, the main control MPU 101 also has a watchdog timer to monitor its operation (system) and a watchdog timer to prevent fraud. It also has built-in functions. In addition, the main control MPU 101 has a built-in non-volatile RAM, and this non-volatile RAM contains a unique code (a code that exists only once in the world) to identify the individual by the manufacturer that manufactured the main control MPU 101. ) is stored in advance. This ID code once assigned is stored in non-volatile RAM and cannot be rewritten even using an external device. The main control MPU 101 can retrieve the ID code from the nonvolatile RAM and refer to it.

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

The RTC 107 has a clock/calendar function. The clock/calendar function is a timekeeping function that counts the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. Moreover, if necessary, a device that counts the days of the week may be used. The RTC control unit 106 is provided with an RTC 107 and a battery 108 for driving the RTC 107. By including the battery 108, the RTC 107 does not interrupt its timekeeping and calendar functions even when the power to a power supply board (not shown) is cut off.

The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery) or a rechargeable secondary battery, which eliminates the need to provide a backup power source and avoids complicating the configuration of the main control board 100. I can do it. Note that the battery 108 is also used as a backup power source for the RAM 109.

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

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

In addition, a gate switch 92 that detects game balls that have passed through a gate section (not shown), a general winning hole detection switch 94 that detects game balls that have entered a general winning hole (not shown), and a grand winning hole (not shown). The detection signal from the count switch 98 that detects winning game balls is first input to the main control input circuit 103 via the panel relay terminal board 140 attached to the game board 5, and then sent to the main control I/O port. It is input to the main control MPU 101 via 102.

The main control MPU 101 outputs a control signal from the main control I/O port 102 to the main control solenoid drive circuit 104 based on these detection signals, thereby controlling the starting port solenoid 96 and the main control via the panel relay terminal board 140. A drive signal is output to the winning opening solenoid 97, and the upper special symbol display 142, the lower special symbol display 143, and the upper special symbol are output from the main control I/O port 102 to the panel relay terminal board 140 and the function display board 141. A drive signal is output to the symbol memory display 144, the lower special symbol memory display 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol memory display 147, the game status display 148, and the round display 149.

In addition, the main control MPU 101 serially transmits various information related to games (gaming information) and various commands related to prize balls according to winnings to the ball information control board 110, and controls the pachinko game from this ball information control board 110. Various commands regarding the status of the machine 1 are received in a serial manner. Further, the main control MPU 101 transmits various commands related to control of game performance and various commands related to the status of the pachinko machine 1 to the peripheral control board 130.

[Sphere information control board 110]
FIG. 77 is a block diagram mainly showing the main parts of the ball information control board 110 installed in the enclosed ball type pachinko machine. The ball information control board 110 includes a ball information control section 118 that performs various controls related to the management of held balls, the ball lifting device 22, the firing solenoid 13, the ball feeding solenoid 31, the ball polishing ribbon feeding motor 155, and the like. Further, the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 are connected to enable bidirectional data communication.

[Sphere information control unit 118]
As shown in FIG. 77, the ball information control unit 118 includes a ball information control MPU 111, which is a microprocessor that has a built-in ROM that stores various processing programs and various commands, a RAM that temporarily stores data, and the like, and an I/ A ball information control I/O port 112 as an O device, an external watchdog timer 116 (hereinafter referred to as "external WDT 116") for monitoring whether or not the ball information control MPU 111 is operating normally. , a ball lifting motor drive circuit 114 for outputting a drive signal to the ball lifting motor 150 of the ball lifting device 22 that carries out ball lifting, and a ball information control input circuit into which detection signals from various detection switches are input. 113, a CR unit input/output circuit 115 for exchanging various signals with the payment machine 4, and a ball polishing ribbon feed motor drive circuit 119 for outputting a drive signal to the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. There is. The ball information control MPU 111 has a built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in ROM") and RAM (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in RAM"), as well as a built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in RAM"). There are also built-in functions to prevent this.

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

Detection signals from the door frame release switch 131 that detects the opening of the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2 and the main body frame release switch 132 that detects the release of the main body frame 2 with respect to the outer frame are first input to the sphere information control input circuit 113. and is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I/O port 112. Furthermore, a touch detection signal (ON signal) from the touch switch 87 that detects whether or not the palm or fingers are touching the ball batting handle 10 is input to the ball information control board 110 via the handle relay terminal board 123, and The detection signal is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I/O port 112.

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

Further, a touch panel section 14 is connected to the ball information control MPU 111 so as to be displayable by control output from the ball information control I/O port 112. In addition to relaying electrical connections between the main control board 100 and the external terminal board 133, the ball information control board 110 also connects the door frame release switch 131, the main body frame release switch 132, and the external terminal board 133. It relays electrical connections between Note that the external terminal board 133 is electrically connected to a hall computer installed in a game hall (hall).

Detection signals from a touch switch 87 that detects whether the palm or fingers are touching the ball hitting handle 10, and a firing stop switch 86 that detects whether or not the firing of the game ball is forcibly stopped according to the player's will. is first input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the handle relay terminal board 123. Further, when the payment machine 4 and the ball information control board 110 are electrically connected, the signal is input to the CR unit input/output circuit 115 as a CR connection signal.

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

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

[Payment machine 4]
FIG. 78 is a block diagram mainly showing each element connected to the payment machine 4. As shown in FIG. The payment machine 4 and the ball information control board 110 are connected to enable bidirectional data communication. Although not shown, the control unit of the payment machine 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input/output interface, a communication interface, and the like.

The adjustment machine 4 is connected to the operation input signals of the ball rental button and the adjustment button provided on the touch panel section 14 of the enclosed ball game machine 1 so that they can be inputted, for example, through an interface. Further, a remaining power display section and an operable notification lamp provided on the touch panel section 14 of the enclosed ball type Pachinko machine 1 are connected so as to be displayable by the control output from the payment machine 4. Further, the payment machine 4 is provided with a card processing machine 402 at the back of the card insertion slot shown in FIG.

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

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

The card processing machine 402 is conventionally known, and includes a card sensor that detects the card 403, a card reader/writer that reads data stored in the card 403 and writes data to the card 403, and a card reader/writer that reads data from the card 403. A card conveying means is provided for feeding the card 403 to the writing position and ejecting the card 403 to the card insertion slot. When the card 403 is inserted into the card insertion slot, the card processing machine 402 sends the card 403 to a predetermined data reading/writing position, and uses the card reader/writer to read the stored data, i.e., ID, remaining power, and remaining power. The number of pitches is read and output to the payment machine 4. In addition, in response to a write command from the payment machine 4, the ID, remaining power, and number of balls held are written (stored) in each of the aforementioned storage sections.

The payment machine 4 stores in the RAM the ID, remaining power, and number of balls that are read from the card 403 through the card processing machine 402.

[Ball lending using card 403]
When the payment machine 4 reads the data on the card 403, it displays the remaining points stored in the RAM on the remaining points display section. If the card 403 can be used, the payment machine 4 lends balls in response to the operation of the ball lending button. In this ball rental, for example, 125 balls (ball unit price: 4 yen) will be loaned for each operation of the ball rental button. In addition, when renting balls, if the number of balls held is less than 125, the total number of balls held is set as the number of balls loaned. The payment machine 4 transmits the number of rental balls to the ball information control board 110. In addition, the adjustment machine 4 calculates the compensation for renting balls by multiplying the set ball unit price by the number of pitches rented, and subtracts the determined compensation (the compensation corresponding to renting balls as the remaining score) from the current remaining score. Furthermore, if there is a number of balls in hand and balls are lent from the number of balls in hand, the number of balls to be lent is subtracted from the current number of balls in hand. The payment machine 4 displays this result on the remaining power display section. Further, the remaining power is written in the remaining power storage section 405 of the card 403.

[Start of game]
When the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 receives the number of rental balls transmitted from the adjustment machine 4, it adds it to the number of balls held by the gaming machine, and displays the addition result on the touch panel section 14. The upper firing device 12 is made ready to fire and the game becomes possible.

[While playing]
When the player operates the batting ball handle 10, the batting ball firing device 29 is activated, and when the game ball at the ball firing position is launched into the game area 8 by the firing hammer 30, this causes the ball detection switch 36 to detect the ball. Based on this, the hitting of each game ball into the game area 8 is detected. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 sequentially calculates "1" from the game machine ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area in response to the detection of hitting each game ball one by one. is subtracted, and the number of balls held is displayed on the touch panel section 14.

On the other hand, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 controls a gate switch 92 arranged at a gate (not shown) through which a game ball can enter and pass through on the 5th side of the game board, and a normal winning opening (not shown). General winning opening detection switches 93 and 94 arranged for the big winning opening (not shown), a count switch 98 arranged for the big winning opening (not shown), and a starting opening (not shown) arranged for the upper starting opening. In addition, processing related to the game is performed based on the detection signals from the lower starting port detection switches 90 and 91, and commands and signals as processing results are sent to the ball information control board 110, peripheral control board 130, upper and lower special symbols. It outputs to displays 142, 143, upper and lower special symbol memory displays 144, 145, normal symbol display 146, normal symbol memory display 147, starting opening solenoid 96, big winning opening solenoid 97, etc.

When the game ball launched by the upper firing device 12 enters any of the various winning holes (starting prize hole, big winning hole, etc.) in the gaming area 8, the game ball enters various winning detection switches provided for each winning hole. (Upper starting opening detection switch 90, lower starting opening detection switch 91, general winning opening detection switch 93, general winning opening detection switch 94, count switch 98).

The main control MPU 101 responds to detection signals from detection switches provided for each winning opening (general winning opening detection switches 93 and 94, count switch 98, and upper and lower starting opening detection switches 90 and 91 correspond). , outputs a prize ball command to the ball information control board 110 as necessary, instructing the number of prize balls set according to the winning hole in which the game ball has won.

Further, the main control MPU 101 periodically outputs a gaming state signal (status) indicating the type of the current gaming state to the peripheral control board 130. The gaming state is, for example, when a winning/losing lottery is performed due to winnings in the starting slot and the starting opening, and a special symbol is displayed variably based on the lottery result, the symbols are stopped, and the lottery result is a winning/losing lottery. In the case of the first type pachinko gaming machine, which shifts to a special gaming state (jackpot gaming state) in the case of , the normal gaming state (the probability of winning by lottery is normal probability, and the variable display time of normal symbols is normal), and the time saving Game state (state where the variable display time of normal symbols is shorter than usual, time saving information output signal), jackpot game state (15 round jackpot information output signal or 2 round jackpot information output signal), high probability game state (state where the probability of winning by lottery is higher than usual, probability changing information output signal), special symbol is changing (special symbol display information output signal), state where there is reservation based on starting opening winning (starting There is a winning information output signal), etc.

Note that the peripheral control board 130 controls a liquid crystal display panel (not shown), an accessory decoration board (not shown), a board decoration board (not shown), and a frame decoration based on commands output from the main control board 100. By outputting a control signal to a board (not shown), the lighting display of various decorative LEDs is controlled, and the sound (voice, sound, sound effect, etc.) output from a speaker (not shown) is controlled. , controls the symbols to be displayed on a liquid crystal display panel (not shown).

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

The ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 receives the game status signal and prize ball command output from the main control board 100.

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

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

When the payment machine 4 sends a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 in response to the operation of the payment button, the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game end command sent from the payment machine 4, and the ball information control The MPU 111 transmits “end possible” to the payment machine 4. Next, the ball information control MPU 111 stops the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 to stop the game. The current number of balls held by the game machine stored in the storage area for the number of balls held by the game machine is transmitted to the adjustment machine 4.

Then, when the processing of the payment machine 4 corresponding to the number of balls held by the game machine transmitted from the ball information control MPU 111 is completed, the payment machine 4 sends a notification that the processing has ended, so the ball information control MPU 111 receives the notification that the processing has completed. Then, the memory area for the number of balls held by the gaming machine in the RAM is cleared to 0, and the process ends.

On the other hand, after the payment machine 4 receives "end possible" as a reply regarding the end state to the game end command, the ball information control MPU 111 transmits the number of balls held by the game machine to the payment machine 4, so that the payment machine 4 When the number of balls held by the game machine is received, the received number of balls held by the game machine is added to the number of balls held by the payment machine stored in the RAM when the card is inserted, and the addition result is stored as the number of balls held by the payment machine. As a result, the total number of balls held by the player as a result of the game is stored as the number of balls held by the adjustment machine. Then, it transmits the completion of the process to the ball information control MPU 111, writes the number of balls held by the adjustment machine in the number of balls held memory section 406 of the card 403, ejects the card 403 from the card insertion slot, and ends the process. As a result, the card 403, which has been rewritten with the number of balls held by the gaming machine as a game result added thereto, is returned to the player.

[Various control processing of main control board]
First, various control processes performed by the main control board 100 shown in FIG. 76 in accordance with the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 79 to 81. FIG. 79 is a flowchart showing the main control side power-on process executed by the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100, FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control side power-on process of FIG. 79, and FIG. is a flowchart showing the main control side timer interrupt processing executed by the main control MPU 101.

[Main control side power-on processing]
When the power is turned on to the pachinko machine 1, the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter simply referred to as main control MPU) of the main control board 100 performs the main control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. 79 and 80. When this main control side power-on process is started, the main control MPU sets a stack pointer (step S10). For example, the stack pointer can indicate an address placed on the stack to temporarily store the contents of a storage element (register) in use, or it can temporarily indicate the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after exiting a subroutine. It indicates the address loaded onto the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is loaded. In step S10, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the register contents, return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. The stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the stack stacked last to the stack stacked first.

Following step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether a power outage warning signal has been input (step S14). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until it reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power outage or instantaneous power outage (a phenomenon in which the supply of power suddenly stops temporarily), the voltage drops and when it becomes lower than the power outage warning voltage, the power outage monitoring circuit 117 of the bulb information control board 110 issues a power outage warning as a power outage warning. A signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, if the voltage becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage during the period from when the power is turned on until the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the bulb information control board 110.

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

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

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

This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is used for games related to probability fluctuations, unpaid prize balls, etc. stored in the RAM built in the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in RAM"). This is a flag indicating whether or not to erase information, and is set to a value of 1 when gaming information is to be erased, and is set to a value of 0 when gaming information is not to be erased. Note that the value of the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG set in steps S18 and S19 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

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

Following step S30, it is determined whether the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0 (step S32). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to the value 1 when the gaming information is to be erased, and to the value 0 when the gaming information is not to be erased. If it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is 0, that is, if the gaming information is not to be erased, a checksum is calculated (step S34). This checksum is calculated by considering the game information stored in the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculating the total thereof.

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

When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S38, that is, when the main control side power-off processing is normally completed, a work area of the main control built-in RAM is set for when the power is restored (step S40). In addition to setting the backup flag BK-FLG to a value of 0, this setting reads out power recovery information from the ROM built in the main control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in ROM"), and Set the time information in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, "power restoration" refers to not only the state where the power is turned on from a state where the power was cut off, but also the state where power is restored after a power outage or momentary power outage, and the state where high frequency radiation is detected and reset. It also includes the state of return after that.

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

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not 0 (value 1), that is, when erasing gaming information, or if the checksum values (sum values) match in step S36, If the backup flag BK-FLG is not 1 (value 0) in step S38, that is, if the main control side power-off processing has not been completed normally, the main control built-in RAM is The entire area is cleared (step S44). Specifically, this is done by writing the value 0 to the main control built-in RAM (note that a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM and set as the initial value). In addition, the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination used for determining the initial value of the random number for determining jackpot is used when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase gaming information, when the sum values do not match, or when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase gaming information. If the main control side power-off processing has not been completed normally, the unique ID code stored in advance in the non-volatile RAM of the main control MPU is retrieved, and the random number for jackpot determination is updated based on the retrieved ID code. An initial value derivation process is executed to always derive the same fixed value from the fixed numerical value range of the counter, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

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

Following step S46, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing are performed (step S48). In this RAM clear notification and test command creation process, a power-on command classified as power-on to notify that the main control built-in RAM has been cleared and initial settings have been performed is created, and various types of peripheral control board 130 are Test commands classified into test-related items for performing inspections are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

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

Following step S50, interrupt permission settings are performed. (Step S52). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt processing is repeatedly performed at the interrupt cycle set in step S50, that is, every 4 ms. Note that the processing from step S10 to step S52 is referred to as "main control side power-on processing".

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

Following step S54, it is determined whether a power outage warning signal has been input (step S56). As described above, when the power to the pachinko game machine 1 is cut off or there is a power outage or instantaneous power outage, if the voltage drops below the power outage warning voltage, a power outage warning signal is sent to the power outage monitoring circuit of the ball information control board 110 as a power outage warning. It is input from 117. The determination in step S56 is made based on this power outage warning signal.

If no power outage warning signal is input in step S56, a non-winning random number update process is performed (step S58). In this non-winning/losing random number updating process, for example, the random numbers for reach determination, the random numbers for variable display patterns, the random numbers for determining initial values for jackpot symbols, the random numbers for determining initial values for small winning symbols, etc. are updated. In this way, in the non-winning random number updating process, random numbers that are not related to winning/losing determination (jackpot determining) are updated. In addition, the random number for normal symbol hit determination, the random number for determining the initial value for normal symbol hit determination, the random number for normal symbol fluctuation display pattern, etc. are also updated by this non-winning random number update process.

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

On the other hand, when a power outage warning signal is input in step S56, interrupt prohibition is set (step S60). This setting prevents the main control side timer interrupt processing, which will be described later, from being performed, prevents writing to the main control built-in RAM, and protects game information from being rewritten.

Following step S60, the starting opening solenoid 96, big winning opening solenoid 97, upper special symbol display 142, lower special symbol display 143, upper special symbol memory display 144, and lower special symbol memory display are shown in FIG. The driving signals output to the machine 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol memory display 147, the game status display 148, the round display 149, etc. are stopped (step S62).

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

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

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

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

The pachinko machine 1 (main control MPU 101) is reset when there is a power outage or instantaneous power outage, and after the power is restored, the main control side power-on process is performed.

In addition, in step S36, it is checked whether the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal or not, and then in step S38, it is checked whether the main control side power-off processing has been completed normally. It is being inspected. In this way, by double checking the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM, it is verified whether the backup information has been stored by fraudulent activity.

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

When the main control side timer interrupt processing is started, the main control MPU of the main control board 100 sets the value B in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, as shown in FIG. 81 (step S70). At this time, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value A set in step S54 of the main control side main loop processing.

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

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

Following step S74, timer subtraction processing is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction processing, for example, the time during which the upper special symbol display 142 and the lower special symbol display 143 are lit according to the variable display pattern determined by the special symbol and special electric accessory control processing described later, the normal symbol and In addition to the time when the normal symbol display 146 lights up according to the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern determined by the normal electric accessory control process, the ball information control board 110 receives various commands sent by the main control board 100 (main control MPU). Time management is performed such as the ACK signal input determination time set as a determination condition when determining whether or not a ball information main ACK signal indicating normal reception has been input. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, the timer interrupt cycle is set to 4ms, so every time this timer subtraction process is performed, the fluctuation time is subtracted by 4ms. However, when the result of the subtraction becomes 0, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is accurately measured.

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

Following step S76, a winning/losing random number update process is performed (step S78). In this win/loss random number update process, the above-mentioned random numbers for jackpot determination, random numbers for jackpot symbols, and random numbers for small win symbols are updated. In addition to these random numbers, a random number for determining the initial value for the jackpot symbol, which is updated in the non-winning random number update process of step S58 in the main control side power-on process (main control side main process) shown in FIG. And the random number for determining the initial value for small winning symbols is also updated. These random numbers for determining the initial value for the jackpot symbol and the random number for determining the initial value for the small winning symbol are updated in the main control side main processing and this main control side timer interrupt processing to further enhance randomness. . On the other hand, the random numbers for jackpot determination, the random numbers for jackpot symbols, and the random numbers for small win symbols are random numbers related to win/loss determination (jackpot determination), so each counter is updated only every time this win/loss random number update process is performed. counts up. For example, the counter that updates the random numbers for jackpot determination is, as mentioned above, an initial value update type counter, and has a predetermined fixed numerical range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in this embodiment, the minimum value is the value 0 to the maximum value (32767), and the range from this minimum value to the maximum value is counted up by adding 1 each time this main control side timer interrupt processing is performed. The random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is counted up toward the maximum value (value 32767), and then the count is counted up from the minimum value (value 0) toward the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination. When the counter for updating the random number for jackpot determination finishes counting up the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the random number for jackpot determination, the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is updated by this win/loss random number update process. At this time, the updated value is always the same from the fixed numerical range of the counter where the main control MPU retrieves the ID code from its built-in non-volatile RAM and updates the random number for jackpot determination based on the retrieved ID code. Initial value derivation processing is executed to derive a fixed value of , and this derived fixed value is set as the initial value. In other words, the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is always overwritten and updated as the initial value with the same fixed value derived based on the ID code by executing the initial value derivation process. In addition, the above-mentioned random numbers for normal symbol hit determination and initial value determination random numbers for normal symbol hit determination are also updated by this win/loss random number update process. The random numbers for normal symbol hit determination, etc. are the same as the method of updating the random numbers for jackpot determination described above, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Following step S78, prize ball control processing is performed (step S80). In this prize ball control process, input information is read from the input information storage area mentioned above, and based on this input information, a prize ball command is created to be sent to the ball information control board 110, and the ball information is communicated with the main control board 100. A self-check command for checking the connection state between the control board 110 and the board is created. The created prize ball command and self-check command are then transmitted to the ball information control board 110 as main ball information serial data. For example, when one game ball enters the big prize opening, a prize ball command representing 15 balls as the number of prize balls is created and sent to the ball information control board 110, or this prize ball command is sent to the ball information control board 110. If the ball information main ACK signal indicating that the ball information control board 110 has been successfully received is not input within a predetermined time, a self-check command is created to check the connection state between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110. It is also transmitted to the ball information control board 110.

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

Following step S82, fraud detection processing is performed (step S84). In this fraud detection process, an abnormal state regarding the prize ball is checked. For example, when input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area and the detection signal from the count switch 98 is input when the jackpot game state is not (when a game ball enters the jackpot hole), etc. A winning abnormality display command that is classified as a notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored in the transmission information storage area described above as transmission information.

Following step S84, special symbol and special electric accessory control processing is performed (step S86). In this special symbol and special electric accessory control process, the value of the counter that updates the random number for jackpot determination described above is taken out, and it is determined whether it matches the jackpot determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM (jackpot It determines whether or not to generate a gaming state (referred to as a "special lottery"), takes out the value of the counter that updates the random number for the jackpot symbol, and uses it as the probability variable hit determination value that is stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM. Determine whether or not they match (determine whether or not a probability fluctuation is generated). Here, "probability fluctuation" means that the probability of hitting the jackpot changes to a high probability (when the probability changes) that is set higher than when it is normal (low probability). In this embodiment, the above-mentioned jackpot judgment value range (jackpot judgment range) is set to a value of 32,668 to 32,767 for low probability, and is read from the normal judgment table, whereas for high probability, the value is 32,438. ~ value 32767 is set and read from the probability change time determination table. In this way, in the special symbol and special electric accessory control process of step S86, it is determined whether the value of the counter that updates the random number for jackpot judgment matches the jackpot judgment value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM. The determination is made based on whether the value of the counter that updates the jackpot determination random number is included in the jackpot determination range.

If these determination results are based on the upper starting port detection switch 90, various commands related to the special figure 1 synchronization effect are created, while if the lottery results are based on the lower starting port detection switch 91, special commands are created. Figure 2 Various commands related to synchronized production are created and stored in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, and the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 is turned on according to the variable display pattern of the determined special symbol. The output of the lighting signal to the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 is set and stored as output information in the output information storage area mentioned above.

In addition, depending on the gaming state to be generated, for example, when it becomes a jackpot gaming state, various commands classified as jackpot-related are created and stored in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, or commands such as commands to open and close the opening/closing member are created. If the output of the drive signal to the winning hole solenoid 97 is set and stored in the output information storage area as output information, or if the number of times (round) that the big winning hole changes from the closed state to the open state is 2, the round display is displayed. The output of the lighting signal to the 2nd round indicator lamp is set to light up the 2nd round indicator lamp of the round indicator 149, and is stored as output information in the output information storage area, and when the number of rounds is 15, the output of the lighting signal to the 2nd round indicator lamp of the round indicator 149 is set. Set the output of a lighting signal to the 15th round indicator lamp so that the 15th round indicator lamp lights up, store it in the output information storage area as output information, or set the game state to turn on the 15th round indicator lamp in a predetermined color to indicate whether a probability change has occurred. It sets the output of a lighting signal to the display 148 and stores it in the output information storage area as output information.

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

Following step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In this port output processing, output information is read from the output information storage area mentioned above from the output terminal of the main control I/O port 102, and various signals are output based on this output information. For example, when various commands from the ball information control board 110 are successfully received from the output terminal of the main control I/O port 102 based on the output information, a main ball information ACK signal is output to the ball information control board 110. When in the jackpot game state, it outputs a drive signal to the big winning opening solenoid 97 that opens and closes the opening and closing member of the big winning opening, and outputs a driving signal to the starting opening solenoid 96 that opens and closes the movable piece. In addition, 15 round jackpot information output signal, 2 round jackpot information output signal, probability fluctuation information output signal, special symbol display information output signal, normal symbol display information output signal, time saving information output information, starting opening winning information output signal Various information (game information) signals related to games such as the following are outputted to the ball information control board 110.

Following step S90, peripheral control board command transmission processing is performed (step S92). In this peripheral control board command transmission process, transmission information is read from the above-mentioned transmission information storage area and is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main serial data. This transmission information includes various commands classified as related to special figure 1 synchronized performance, various commands classified as related to special figure 2 synchronized performance, and various commands classified as related to jackpot created in the main control side timer interrupt processing of this routine. various commands categorized as power-on, various commands categorized as related to general figure synchronization effects, various commands categorized as related to ordinary electric role effects, various commands categorized as notification displays, various commands categorized as status display. Various commands that are classified, various commands that are classified as test-related, and various commands that are classified as others are stored. One packet of the main cycle serial data is composed of 3 bytes.

Specifically, the main cycle serial data includes a status that indicates the type of command that has a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), a mode that indicates a variation of the effect that has a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), and a status. and a sum value calculated by considering the mode as a numerical value and calculating the sum value, and this sum value is created at the time of transmission. Note that the processing from step S74 to step S92 will be referred to as "gaming control processing".

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

Following step S94, register switching (return) is performed (step S96), and this routine ends. Here, when the main control side timer interrupt processing, which is this routine, is started, the main control MPU stacks and saves the contents of the general-purpose register on the stack using hardware. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose registers used in the main processing on the main control side from being destroyed. In step S96, the contents saved on the stack are read and written to the original register. Note that the main control MPU sets interrupt permission after returning in step S96.

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

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

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

Following step S502, output of a power outage clear signal to the power outage monitoring circuit 117 shown in FIG. 77 is started (step S504). This power failure monitoring circuit 117 is composed of a voltage comparison circuit and a D-type flip-flop IC. The voltage comparison circuit compares the voltages between +24V and the reference voltage, or compares the voltages between +12V and the reference voltage, and outputs the comparison results. If a power outage or instantaneous power outage does not occur, the result of this comparison becomes HI and is input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. The logic becomes LOW and is input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop. In step S504, output of a power failure clear signal is started to the CLR terminal, which is the clear terminal of this D-type flip-flop. This power failure clear signal is input to the clear terminal via the ball information control I/O port 112 of the ball information control unit 118 with its logic set to LOW. As a result, the sphere information control MPU can release the latched state of the D-type flip-flop, and invert the logic input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop, until the latched state is set. It is possible to output from the 1Q terminal which is the output terminal, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

Following step S504, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether a power outage warning signal has been input (step S508). The voltage does not rise immediately from when the power is turned on until it reaches the predetermined voltage. On the other hand, in the event of a power outage or instantaneous power outage (a phenomenon in which power supply is suddenly temporarily stopped), the voltage drops and becomes lower than the power outage warning voltage, and a power outage warning signal is input from the power outage monitoring circuit 117 as a power outage warning. Similarly, when the voltage becomes lower than the power failure warning voltage during the period from when the power is turned on until the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117. Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S506 is a process for waiting after the power is turned on until the voltage becomes higher than the power failure warning voltage and becomes stable. In this embodiment, the wait time (wait timer) is 200 milliseconds ( ms) is set. In the determination at step S508, it is determined whether the power outage warning signal has been input. This determination is made based on the signal output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal of the above-mentioned D type flip-flop, as the power outage warning signal.

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

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

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

This ball information RAM clear flag is stored in, for example, various flags and various information storage areas stored in the RAM built into the ball information control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in RAM"). This is a flag indicating whether or not to delete various kinds of ball information.It is set to a value of 1 when the ball information is to be deleted, and to a value of 0 when the ball information is not to be deleted. Note that the ball information RAM clear flag set in steps S514 and S516 is stored in a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the ball information control MPU.

Following step S514 or step S516, settings are made to permit access to the ball information control built-in RAM (step S518). With this setting, the ball information control built-in RAM can be accessed, and, for example, ball information can be written (stored) or read.

Following step S518, a stack pointer is set (step S520). For example, the stack pointer can indicate an address placed on the stack to temporarily store the contents of a storage element (register) in use, or it can temporarily indicate the return address of this routine when returning to this routine after exiting a subroutine. It indicates the address loaded onto the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is loaded. In step S520, an initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the register contents, return address, etc. are stacked on the stack from this initial address. The stack pointer returns to the initial address by sequentially reading from the stack stacked last to the stack stacked first.

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

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

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

When the ball information backup flag has a value of 1 in step S532, that is, when the ball information control section power-off processing has been successfully completed, a work area of the ball information control built-in RAM is set for when the power is restored (step S534). In addition to setting the ball information backup flag to a value of 0, this setting reads the power recovery information from the ROM built into the ball information control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in ROM"), and Set power restoration information in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM. As a result, information used for various processes is set based on various flags, various information stored in various information storage areas, etc., which are the above-mentioned ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM. . Note that "power restoration" includes not only the state where the power is turned on after being cut off, but also the state where the power is restored after a power outage or instantaneous power outage.

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

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

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

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

Following step S542, it is determined whether a power outage warning signal has been input (step S544). As described above, when the power to the pachinko game machine 1 is cut off, or there is a power outage or instantaneous power outage, if the voltage falls below the power outage warning voltage, a power outage warning signal is input from the power outage monitoring circuit 117 as a power outage warning. The determination in step S540 is made based on this power outage warning signal.

If no power outage warning signal is input in step S544, it is determined whether the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1 (step S546). This 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that measures 2ms in the ball information control unit timer interrupt processing that is processed every 2ms, which will be described later.It takes a value of 1 when 2ms have elapsed, and a value of 0 when 2ms have not elapsed. Each is set.

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

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S546 that the 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 1, that is, when 2ms have elapsed, the 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to 0 (step S547), and the process proceeds to step S550. , outputs an external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (turns ON, step S550). This external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the ball information control MPU, and sends a reset signal to the ball information control MPU and ball information control I/O port 112 when the external WDT clear signal is not stopped within the clear signal release time. (The ball information control MPU system is periodically diagnosed to see if it is out of control.)

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

The output information storage area includes, for example, ball information main ACK information that indicates that various commands related to prize balls (prize ball commands and self-check commands) have been successfully received from the main control board 100, and information to the ball transport device 22. Various information such as drive information for drive control is stored, and when a prize ball command from the main control board 100 is normally received from the output terminal of the ball information control I/O port 112 based on this output information. It outputs a ball information main ACK signal to the main control board 100 and outputs a drive signal to the firing solenoid 13.

Following step S552, port input processing is performed (step S554). In this port input processing, various signals input to the input terminal of the ball information control I/O port 112 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM. For example, door frame release switch 131, main body frame release switch 132, launch standby ball detection switches 26, 70, launch ball confirmation switch 36, recovered ball detection switch 203, ball path full detection switch 206, ball appropriate amount detection switch 207, Lifting and feeding inlet switch 156, lifting motor sensor (photo sensor) 157, cassette detection switch 158, firing stop switch 86, touch switch 87, BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal from the payment machine 4, command transmission processing to be described later The main ball information ACK signal etc. from the main control board 100 that informs that the main control board 100 has successfully received the various commands sent by the controller 100 are read and stored in the input information storage area as input information.

Following step S554, timer update processing is performed (step S556). The various judgment times are stored as time management information in the time management information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM. In the timer update process, it is determined whether or not the timer values of various timers are set, and if the timer values are set, the timer values are subtracted by 1. For example, if "1000" is set in the timer as a value equivalent to 2 seconds (2000ms), the timer interrupt cycle is set to 2ms, so each time the timer subtraction process is performed at the 2ms cycle, the timer value increases by 1. When the subtraction result becomes 0, the time is up and the time is accurately measured.

Following step S556, payment machine communication processing is performed (step S558). In the payment machine communication process, input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area, and based on this input information, it is determined whether various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal, and CR connection signal) from the payment machine 4 are being input. Determine. Based on various signals from the payment machine 4, the ball information control MPU exchanges various signals with the payment machine 4. For example, when the ball information control MPU receives the number of rental balls transmitted from the adjustment machine 4, it adds the number of rental balls to the gaming machine ball number data.

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

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

Following step S562, main operation setting processing is performed (step S564). In this main operation setting process, the ball information control MPU performs operation settings of the firing solenoid 13, the ball feeding solenoid 31, the ball lifting device 22 (ball lifting motor 150), the ball polishing ribbon feeding motor 155, etc. In addition, the ball information control MPU sequentially updates the game machine ball count data stored in the game machine ball count storage area with “1 ” is subtracted. Further, when a prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area, the number of prize balls corresponding to this prize ball command is added to the game machine ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area.

Following step S564, LED display data creation processing is performed (step S566). In this LED display data creation process, for example, the data on the number of balls held by the gaming machine stored in the above-mentioned storage area for the number of balls held by the gaming machine is read out, display data for displaying the number of balls held on the touch panel section 14 is created, and the LED display data is read out. It is stored in the output information storage area mentioned above as display information.

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

Following step S568, the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 is stopped (turned OFF, step S570). This clears the external WDT 116 and prevents the ball information control MPU and ball information control I/O port 112 from being reset. Furthermore, when the output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped, the external WDT 116 starts measuring the clear signal release time.

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

On the other hand, when a power outage warning signal is input in step S544, interrupt prohibition is set (step S572). With this setting, the ball information control section timer interrupt processing described later is not performed, preventing writing to the ball information control built-in RAM, and protecting the above-mentioned ball information from being rewritten.

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

Following step S574, the output of the drive signal to the firing solenoid 13 is stopped (step S576). This stops the game ball from being launched. Following step S576, the output of the drive signal to the ball feed solenoid 31 is stopped (step S578). As a result, feeding of game balls to the batted ball firing device 29 side is stopped.

Following step S578, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and its output is stopped (ON/OFF, step S580). This clears the external WDT 116. Following step S580, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). This checksum is calculated by considering the ball information in the work area of the built-in RAM for ball information control as a numerical value, excluding the storage area for the checksum value calculated in step S528 and the value of the ball information backup flag HBK-FLG. do. Following step S582, the ball information backup flag is set to a value of 1 (step S584). This completes the storage of the ball information backup information. Following step S584, prohibition of access to the ball information control built-in RAM is set (step S586). This setting prohibits access to the RAM with built-in ball information control, making writing and reading impossible, and protecting the ball information backup information stored in the RAM with built-in ball information control.

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

The pachinko machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset when there is a power outage or instantaneous power outage, and after the power is restored, the ball information control side power-on process is performed.

In addition, in step S530, it is checked whether the ball information backup information stored in the built-in RAM for ball information control is normal or not, and then in step S532, the ball information control section power-off processing is normally completed. We are checking to see if it is true or not. In this way, by double checking the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM, it is examined whether or not the ball information backup information has been stored by fraudulent activity.

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

When the timer interrupt processing on the ball information control side is started, the ball information control MPU of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 sets the timer interrupt to disabled and switches the register ( evacuation) (step S590). Here, the general-purpose memory element (general-purpose register) used in the above-mentioned ball information control section main processing is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the ball information control side timer interrupt processing, the value of the general-purpose register will not be overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main processing on the ball information control side from being destroyed.

Following step S590, the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is set to a value of 1 (step S592). This 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that measures 2ms each time this ball information control section timer interrupt processing is performed, that is, every 2ms, and the value is 1 when 2ms have passed, and the value is 0 when 2ms have not passed. are set respectively. Following step S592, register switching (return) is performed (step S594). In this return, the auxiliary register used in the ball information control side timer interrupt processing is switched to a general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register). By using this general-purpose register in the ball information control side main processing, the value of the auxiliary register will not be overwritten. This prevents the contents of the auxiliary register used in the ball information control section timer interrupt processing from being destroyed. Following step S594, interrupt permission is set (step S596), and this routine ends.

[Each process executed in the ball information control main process]
Next, each process executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110 every 2 ms in the ball information control main process of FIG. 84 will be described. First, the ball lending process will be explained, followed by the process of determining whether or not to hit a ball, the process of counting the number of held balls, the process of feeding/launching a ball, the process of detecting a shot ball, and the process of subtracting the number of balls held. Note that the process of determining whether or not to hit a ball, the process of counting the number of held balls, the ball feeding/launching drive process, the shot ball detection process, the process of subtracting the number of balls held, and the lifting drive process is one of the main operation setting processes in step S564. The process is executed in the following order: determining whether or not to hit a ball, counting the number of balls held, ball sending/launching drive process, shot ball detection process, subtracting the number of balls held, and lifting drive process.

When the player inserts the card 403 into the card insertion slot, the payment machine 4 detects the insertion of the card 403, and the card processing machine 402 reads the data stored on the card 403. That is, the ID stored in the ID storage section 404 of the card 403 in FIG. is stored in a predetermined storage area (ID storage area, remaining power storage area, number of balls held storage area).

Next, the payment machine 4 determines whether the inserted card 403 can be used or not. In this embodiment, when the read remaining power is 0 and the read number of balls held is 0, it is determined that the card 403 is unusable, and the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot. Therefore, if it is determined that the card 403 is unusable, the processes of counting the number of held balls, ball feeding/ejection driving process, and subtracting the number of held balls, which will be described below, are not executed.

On the other hand, if the read remaining power is not 0, or if the read remaining power is 0 but the read number of balls is not 0, the payment machine 4 determines that the card is usable and the ball information is Card usability information is transmitted to the control board 110.

When a player presses the ball rental button to play a game, an operation signal of the ball rental button is input to the payment machine 4. In response to the operation signal from the ball rental button, the payment machine 4 performs ball rental processing, for example, transmits the specified number of rental balls to the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110, and then sends the ball information control MPU to the ball information control MPU. Wait until you receive the sent ball rental end notice.

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

When starting the ball rental process, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the card usable information transmitted from the payment machine 4 is received (step S600). In step S600, if the card usage information transmitted from the payment machine 4 is received, the process advances to step S601, where the number of balls held counter (game machine The pitch count storage area) is cleared to 0 (step S601), and the process advances to step S602. On the other hand, if the card usability information transmitted from the payment machine 4 is not received in step S600, the process directly moves to step S602. Note that the initial value of the number-of-balls-held counter is set to "0" by setting the RAM work area at the time of power restoration in step S534.

Proceeding to step S602, the ball information control MPU determines whether or not the number of rental balls transmitted from the payment machine 4 is received (step S602). In step S602, if the number of rented balls transmitted from the payment machine 4 is received, the process advances to step S603, where the received number of rented balls is added to the value of the number of balls held counter (step S603), and The end of rental is transmitted to the payment machine 4 (step S604), and the ball rental processing subroutine is exited.

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

In this way, card usability information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110 only when a new usable card 303 is inserted into the payment machine 4. In addition, only when a ball rental button operation signal is input to the payment machine 4 after the card usage information is received, the number of rental balls is transmitted to the ball information control MPU. Then, when the number of pitches to be lent is received, the number of pitches to be lent is added to the value of the number-of-balls-held counter and stored for the first time.

[Ball hitability determination process]
Next, a description will be given of the ball hitting/unballing determination process executed by the ball information control MPU. FIG. 88 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of ball hitting/unball determination processing performed by the ball information control MPU. It should be noted that the ball-hittable/impossible-to-hit determination process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the process of determining whether or not a ball can be hit, it determines whether the number of balls held is 0, that is, whether the value of the number of balls held counter is 0 (step S710). If it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number of balls held counter is not 0, that is, if the determination in step S710 is NO, the process moves to step S711, and the firing waiting ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) ) is on, that is, whether there is a waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28 (step S711).

If it is determined in step S711 that the firing standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is on, the firing flag is set to 1 (launching possible) (step S712), and the ball hitting determination process is performed. Exit the subroutine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S710 that the value of the held balls counter is 0, and if it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is not on (off), The possible flag is set to 0 (unable to shoot) (step S713), and the process exits from the subroutine for determining whether or not the ball can be hit.

In this way, when the value of the held ball number counter is not 0 and there is a waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 can be driven, and the ball feeding area 8 of the game ball is substantially The game is in a playable state where you can type into the game. Further, when the value of the held ball number counter is 0 or when there is no waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven, and the ball is not actually driven into the game area 8. You are in a state where you cannot play the game. At the same time, the ball feed solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

[Counting the number of balls held]
Next, a process for counting the number of balls held, which corresponds to ball information processing during a game, will be explained assuming that the game has become substantially possible. FIG. 89 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for counting the number of balls held by the ball information control MPU. Note that the held ball count process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the process of counting the number of balls held, it determines whether or not there is a prize ball command analyzed in the command analysis process of step S562 (step S720). That is, it is determined whether or not the prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area. If the prize ball command is stored, step S720 is determined to be yes, and the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize ball command stored in the received command information storage area is added and stored to the value of the number of balls held counter (step S722 ), the subroutine for counting the number of balls held is exited. On the other hand, if there is no memory of the prize ball command, step S720 is determined to be none, and the process exits from the subroutine for counting the number of balls held.

For example, if a winning occurs in a winning slot set to the number of prize balls "4", the number of prize balls "4" is added to the value of the number of balls held counter and stored, and for example, the number of prize balls "15" is added. When a prize is won in the winning hole (big winning hole) set to , the number of prize balls "15" is added and stored to the value of the number of balls held counter.

[Ball feeding/launch drive processing]
Next, the ball feeding/shooting drive process will be explained. FIGS. 90 and 91 are flowcharts showing an example of a subroutine of ball feeding/emission drive processing performed by the ball information control MPU. Note that the ball feeding/launching drive process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

Moreover, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the firing solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when period A has elapsed from the time the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, and the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off when period B has elapsed from the time the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the ball is fed. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off after a period C has elapsed from the time when the solenoid 31 was turned off.

In this embodiment, period A is 300 ms, period B is 30 ms, and period C is 50 ms. When the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, the ball is sent to the shooting position (rail portion 332) by the ball feeding member 32. That is, the fired ball confirmation switch 36 detects the fired ball. In this embodiment, if a game ball that is stopped at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time (period D is 30 ms), it is determined that there is a firing ball. do.

In this way, when a game ball parked at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that there is a firing ball, so that firing due to noise can be avoided. Erroneous ball counting can be eliminated, and reliability in detecting shot balls can be increased.

When the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball held at the firing position is launched into the game area 8 by the firing hammer 30, and the firing ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. This reduces the number of balls held by -1.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball feeding/shooting drive process, it first determines whether or not the shooting enable flag is 1 (shooting possible) (step S730). When it is determined that the ball can be fired in the hittable/unavailable determination process described above, the firing flag is set to 1 (shottable). If it is determined in step S730 that the firing flag is not 1 (firing possible), that is, if the firing flag is 0 (firing not possible), the process exits from the subroutine of the ball feeding/firing drive process. In this case, the ball feeding/shooting driving process is not actually executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S730 that the firing flag is 1 (fireable), the process moves to step S731, and it is determined whether the processing flag is 0 (step S731).

Here, the processing flag is a flag for identifying whether the ball information control MPU branches to any one of the processes in the ball feeding/launching drive process described below.In other words, the control in the ball feeding/launching drive It is a flag for identifying the state, and "0" means initial setting, and "1" defines the period from turning on the ball feed solenoid 31 until turning on the firing solenoid 13. Yes, "2" defines the period from when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on until the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off, and when "3" is set, the firing solenoid 13 is turned off after the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off. This stipulates the period until.

At the time when the ball feeding/shooting drive process is started, the value of the process flag is set to 0. Therefore, it is determined YES in step S731, the process proceeds to step S732, a timer value corresponding to period A (see FIG. 24, 300 ms) is set in the timer (step S732), and the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on (step S733). , sets the processing flag to 1 (step S734), and exits from the subroutine of ball feeding/shooting drive processing. Note that the timer value set in the timer is subtracted by 1 at a 2 ms cycle in the timer update process of step S556 in FIG.

The next processing cycle of the ball feeding/shooting drive processing will be 2 ms later. As a result of the processing flag being set to 1, in the next cycle of ball feeding/ejection drive processing, it is determined YES in step S730, NO is determined in step S731, and the process moves to step S735. In step S735, it is determined whether the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S735). In this case, since the processing flag is set to 1, it is determined YES in step S735, and the process proceeds to step S736, where it is determined whether the timer has timed up (step S736). If the timer has not timed up, the determination in step S736 is NO, and the process exits from the subroutine of the ball feeding/shooting drive process.

Thereafter, until the timer that has set period A times up, based on the value 1 of the processing flag, step S730 is determined as YES, step S731 is determined as NO, step S735 is determined as YES, and step The processing routine in which S736 is determined to be NO is repeated.

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

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

Thereafter, until the timer that set period B times up, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, and step The processing routine of determining YES in S740 and NO in step S741 is repeated.

Then, when the timer times out, the determination in step S741 is YES, and it is assumed that period B has elapsed, and the process proceeds to step S742, where a timer value corresponding to period C (see FIG. 24, 50 ms) is set in the timer. (Step S742), the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off (Step S743), the processing flag is set to 3 (Step S744), and the subroutine of ball feeding/ejection drive processing is exited.

As a result of the processing flag being set to 3, in the next cycle of ball feeding and firing drive processing, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and step S740 is determined to be NO. It is determined, and the process moves to step S745. In step S745, it is determined whether the timer has timed up (step S745). If the timer has not timed up, the determination in step S745 is NO, and the process exits from the ball feeding/shooting drive process subroutine.

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

Then, when the timer times up, it is determined as YES in step S745, and it is assumed that period C has elapsed, and the process proceeds to step S746, where the firing solenoid 13 is turned off (step S746), and the processing flag is set to 0. It returns to the initial value (step S747) and exits from the subroutine for ball feeding and firing drive processing.

[Projected ball detection processing]
Next, the shot ball detection process will be explained. FIG. 92 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the launched ball detection process performed by the ball information control MPU. Note that the launched ball detection process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the shot ball detection process, it first determines whether the shot ball confirmation switch 36 is on (step S750). As described above, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the ball is sent to the shooting position (rail portion 332) by the ball sending member 32. That is, the fired ball confirmation switch 36 detects the fired ball.

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

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

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

Since the firing ball detection process is executed every 2 ms, if the game ball that is stopped at the firing position by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 continues to be detected for a predetermined period D, the timing counter will be activated every 2 ms. The value increases by 1 until the value of the time counter reaches a predetermined specified time D (in this example, 30 ms, count value 15). In this case, it is determined YES in step S753, it is assumed that a shot ball has been detected, the shot ball detection flag is set to 1 (detected) (step S754), and the subroutine of the shot ball detection process is exited.

On the other hand, when noise enters the launched ball confirmation switch 36, the launched ball confirmation switch 36 is momentarily turned on, but then the launched ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. Therefore, since the value of the time counter is set to 0 in response to the firing ball confirmation switch 36 being turned off, the value of the time counter is set to a predetermined period D (in this example, 30 ms, count value 15). will never reach.

In this way, when a game ball parked at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that there is a firing ball, so that firing due to noise can be avoided. Erroneous ball counting can be eliminated, and reliability in detecting shot balls can be increased.

[Ball count subtraction process]
Next, the process of subtracting the number of balls held will be explained. FIG. 93 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for subtracting the number of balls held by the ball information control MPU. Note that the holding ball number subtraction process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

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

If it is determined in step S760 that the launched ball detection flag is 1 (detected), that is, if it is determined as YES in step S760, the process proceeds to step S761, and whether the launched ball confirmation switch 36 is off or not is determined. It is determined whether or not (step S761). If it is determined in step S761 that the launched ball confirmation switch 36 is not off, that is, if the determination in step S761 is NO, the subroutine for subtracting the number of balls held is exited.

As described above, when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball parked at the firing position is launched into the game area 8 by the firing hammer 30, and the firing ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. This reduces the number of balls held by -1. In step S761, if it is determined that the launched ball confirmation switch 36 is off, that is, if it is determined as YES in step S761, the value of the number of held balls counter is -1 (step S762), and the value of the launched ball detection flag is set. 0 (no detection) is set (step S763), and the subroutine for subtracting the number of balls held is exited.

In this way, when a game ball that is stopped at the firing position is detected by the firing ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that there is a firing ball, and it is determined that there is a firing ball. If the game ball is not detected by the shot ball confirmation switch 36 under the condition that the game ball is not detected by the shot ball confirmation switch 36, it is determined that the game ball that was parked at the shooting position has been fired, and the number of balls held is reduced by one. 36, it is possible to eliminate incorrect ball counts of shot balls due to the noise, and it is possible to increase the reliability in detecting shot balls.

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

When the ball information control MPU starts the transport drive process, it first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S770). If it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is OFF, that is, if it is determined NO in step S770, the process proceeds to step S771, and it is determined whether or not the lifting/feeding inlet switch 156 is ON. (Step S771). In step S771, if it is determined that the lifting entrance switch 156 is on, that is, if it is determined as YES in step S771, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S772), and the subroutine of the lifting drive process is performed. Go through.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on, that is, if it is determined as YES in step S770, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting drive process is started. Exit the subroutine.
Also, if it is determined in step S771 that the lifting inlet switch 156 is off, that is, if it is determined NO in step S771, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting drive process is started. Exit the subroutine.

In this way, when no game ball is detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26, it is determined that the required number of game balls is not present in the ball supply path member 24, and the ball feeding path When game balls waiting in line are detected in the ball supply path member 275, the ball lifting motor is driven and the ball feeding motor is activated to send the balls into the ball supply path member 24 by the launch waiting ball detection switch 26. On the condition that game balls waiting in line are detected, the driving of the ball lifting device 22 is stopped and the lifting of game balls is stopped. This can prevent ball clogging from occurring. As a result, since the game balls are lifted and transported, the game balls can be sent to the ball supply path member 24 in just the right amount.

Furthermore, compared to the game ball firing cycle of the batted ball firing device 29 in the upper firing unit 12 and the ball feeding cycle of the game balls of the ball feeding device 28, the game ball feeding frequency of the ball feeding device 22 to the ball supply path member 24 is The ball delivery cycle is set short. In this embodiment, the game ball firing cycle of the batted ball firing device 29 and the game ball feeding cycle of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball feeding path member by the ball lifting device 22 The sending cycle of game balls to 24 is 384 ms.
As a result, during a game, the operation of the upper firing unit 12 causes the ball launcher 29 to launch the game ball into the gaming area, and the ball feeder 28 to send the game ball to the launch position. In addition, since the cycle of feeding the game balls to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22 is shorter than the cycle of feeding the game balls to the firing position, the ball is placed on standby before being lifted by the lifting/feeding inlet switch 156. If the state where the number of game balls is sufficient is maintained, the game balls in the ball supply path member 24 are no longer detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26 while the game balls are being driven. Then, the ball lifting device 22 is driven to start lifting and transporting game balls, and the game balls are sent out to the ball supply path member 24 at a faster pace than the driving pace of the game balls. When the detection switch 26 detects the game balls waiting in line within the ball supply path member 24, the ball lifting device 22 stops driving, and the lifting of the game balls is stopped. In other words, during the game, the ball lifting and feeding operation of the ball lifting device 22 is performed intermittently, which prevents ball clogging from occurring and also allows the game to be carried out efficiently and stably. To efficiently supply a stable number of game balls to an upper firing unit.

In this embodiment, the game ball firing cycle of the batted ball firing device 29 and the game ball feeding cycle of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots per minute), and the ball feeding device 22 has a ball feeding cycle of 600 ms (100 shots per minute). Although the feeding period of the game ball to the path member 24 is 384 ms, the method is not limited to this, and the shooting period of the game ball, the ball feeding period, and the feeding period of the game ball to the ball supply path member 24 are set as 384 ms. Various methods can be selected, such as setting the times to be 600 ms from each other.

[Ball jam notification process]
Next, the ball jamming notification process will be explained. FIG. 95 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of ball jam notification processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball jamming notification process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process. Further, the ball jam notification process is performed after the ball hitting/unball determination process shown in FIG. 88. Note that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 corresponds to a first launch standby ball detection means, and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 corresponds to a second launch standby ball detection means.

When the ball information control MPU 111 starts the ball jam notification process, it first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S780). If it is determined in step S780 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on, that is, if it is determined as YES in step S780, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S782), and the process proceeds to step S786, where the launch standby is performed. It is determined whether the ball detection switch is on (step S786). If it is determined in step S786 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is off, that is, if it is determined NO in step S786, the abnormality detection flag is set to 1 (step S788), and the notification means is turned on. (Step S789) The process exits from the subroutine for ball jamming notification processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S786 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is on, that is, if it is determined as YES in step S786, the process advances to step S787, and it is determined whether the abnormality detection flag is 1 ( Step S787). When the abnormality detection flag is determined to be 1 in step S787, that is, when it is determined as YES in step S787, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 (step S790), the abnormality notification means is turned off (step S792), and the recovery notification means is turned on (step S794), and the subroutine of the ball jamming notification process is exited.

Further, if it is determined in step S780 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, if it is determined NO in step S780, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S784), and the abnormality detection flag is set. It is determined whether or not it is 1 (step S787). When it is determined that the abnormality detection flag is 0 in step S787, that is, when it is determined that step S787 is NO, the subroutine of the ball clogging notification process is exited.

In this way, the ball supply path member 24 and the ball feeding device 28 are equipped with sensors for detecting game balls, so that the game balls in the ball feeding path member 24 are detected, and the game balls in the ball feeding device 28 are detected. On the condition that the ball is not jammed, it is determined that the abnormal state is due to ball clogging, and an abnormality notification means (not particularly shown, but for example, by displaying a message to the effect of ball clogging on the touch panel part 14) is used to notify. Thereby, for example, it is possible to reliably notify the staff at the game hall that the balls are jammed.

In addition, the upper firing device 12 of this embodiment can be rotated by the upper firing device hinge 37 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (Fig. 12), so that the staff member who receives the notification of ball jamming can After opening the door frame 3, the state of the upper firing device 12 can be immediately grasped, and ball jamming can be easily cleared. When the ball jam is cleared, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 and the abnormality notification means stops. After that, the recovery notification means will notify you (for example, by displaying on the touch panel 14 to the extent that the game hall staff can recognize that the ball has recovered from the jammed ball condition (for example, 5 to 10 seconds)), so It can be recognized that the ball blockage has been cleared.

Further, the firing standby ball detection switch 70 is installed so as to detect a game ball near the firing position on the path of the ball feeding device 28, but it detects a game ball passing through the path of the ball feeding device 28. Various arrangement positions can be selected as long as it is possible to do so.
[Example 2]

In the pachinko machine 1 of the first embodiment, the upper firing device 12 is opened and closed following the opening and closing of the door frame 3 in order to avoid collision between the game board 5 and the upper firing device 12 when the game board 5 is attached to and removed from the main body frame 2. However, in the second embodiment, unlike this, the upper firing device 12 is attached to the game board 5, and the upper firing device 12 is attached to and removed from the game board 5 together with the upper firing device. Avoid collision with 12.
The upper firing device 12 is a game ball firing device placed on the upper left side of the game board 5, and fires game balls into the game area of the game board 5.

[Game board 5]
The upper firing device 12 is fixed to the upper left of the game board 5 when viewed from the front of the game machine 1 (FIG. 98). A rectangular notch 47 is formed in the upper left corner of the game board 5 when viewed from the front, and the upper firing device 12 is attached to the rectangular notch 47. Although the attachment may be fixed or detachable, it must be securely attached to the game board 5 and not shaken.
The structure of the upper firing device 12 itself is the same as that in the first embodiment, and includes a ball sending device 28 and a ball firing device 29 (FIG. 6), and shoots game balls into the game area of the game board 5. Note that the ball feeding device 28 includes a lifting communication gutter 65 that receives game balls from the ball lifting device 22, as in the case of the first embodiment. The lifting communication gutter 65 is a part of the ball supply path member 24 together with the ball delivery gutter 23.

A firing device guard member 12a is attached to the outer shell of the upper firing device 12, that is, to the surface of the upper firing device 12 facing the inner surface of the main body frame when the game board 5 is attached to the main body frame 2. Figures 98, 99). In this embodiment, since it is the left side surface 12b and the upper surface 12c, the launch device guard member 12a constitutes a part of the game board outline (indicated by a chain line) as shown in FIG. 98 when the game board 5 is viewed from the front. The firing device guard member 12a securely fixes the lower end of the left side surface 12b and the right end of the upper surface 12c to the panel holder 43 of the game board 5 with screws, etc., and the corner where the left side surface 12b and the upper surface 12c connect is inside the upper firing device. It is supported by a stay 12d coupled to twelve base plates 39. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a cushion member 12e is attached to the outer surface of the left side surface 12b of the launcher guard member 12a, so that even if there is a collision, the impact can be further alleviated. Thereby, the firing mechanism located inside the firing device guard member 12a is protected from impact.

[Body frame 2]
The main body frame 2 (FIG. 97) is box-shaped and has a frame-shaped fitting frame 15 and a peripheral wall portion 16 so as to fit within the rectangular outer frame 1a (FIG. 99). Although the main body frame 2 has already been explained in detail using FIGS. 3 and 4, FIGS. 97 and 99 will be used again to make the main points of the second embodiment easier to understand.
The fitting frame 15 has a rectangular accommodation opening 17 on its front side for fitting and accommodating the game board 5. The part on the lower side of the front side of the housing opening 17 that has a constant width in the front-rear direction is the lower front edge 600b of the main body frame 2, and the part on the upper side opposite to this that has a constant width in the front-rear direction is the main body frame. 12 upper front edge 600a.

A lower guide member 601b is attached to the lower front edge 600b, and a slider A and a slider B are attached to this so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Slider A is placed to the left of slider B. Further, an upper guide member 601a is attached to the upper front edge 600a, and a slider C is attached to this so as to be movable in the left-right direction (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 97).

In this embodiment, the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b are strong members (FIG. 100B) made of molded steel plates and basically have a C-channel-shaped cross section. It is composed of rear rising parts 603a, 603b and front and rear ribs 604a, 604b which are folded back in opposite directions from the upper ends of these rising parts 603a, 603b (FIGS. 100B and 101).
The lower guide member 601b has approximately the same length as the lower front edge 600b of the housing opening 17 of the main body frame 2, and the upper guide member 601a has approximately the same dimension as the upper front edge 600a (FIG. 97). Further, stoppers 605a and 605b are attached to the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b at positions slightly to the left from a distance d1 corresponding to the left-right dimension of the upper firing device 12 from the left end. The stoppers 605a, 605b are fixed to the front ribs 604a of the upper and lower guide members 601a, 601b, and in this position, the game board 5 is gradually moved as shown as a-1, a-2, etc. in FIG. The arrangement is such that the tip of the game board 5 cannot be passed toward the left peripheral wall unless it is rotated in a direction parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2 (clockwise in the figure).

As shown in FIG. 100, sliders A, B, and C are all piece members, and are fitted between the front and rear rising walls 603a and 603b of the guide members 601a and 601b. The sliders A, B, and C are prevented from falling off the guide members 601a and 601b by front and rear ribs 604a and 604b (FIG. 101B) having a width d2, and can slide left and right on the guide members 601a and 601b. will be installed on the The width d2 is a dimension that can prevent the slider A from slipping out of the guide member 601b even when, for example, a large force is applied in the direction in which the slider A slips upward due to the weight of the game board 5. As shown in FIGS. 101(a) and 101(b), sliders A, B, and C are all equipped with sliding legs 606 to make sliding easier, and also have sliding legs 606 that are connected to the bottoms 602 of guide members 601a and 601b. A space 607 is provided in between. In order to make the sliding movement lighter, sliders A, B, and C should be made of synthetic resin that slides easily on steel surfaces, or sliders A, B, and C should be in contact with the bottoms 602 of guide members 601a and 601b. For example, install roller bearings to

A receiving hole 609 (FIG. 100B) is provided in the center of the slider A to receive a pivot shaft 608 (FIGS. 98 and 99) provided at the lower front portion of the game board 5. The depth of the receiving hole 609 from the surface of the slider A is d3 (FIG. 101A). Engaging protrusions 610b and 610a are formed on the upper surface of the slider B and the lower surface of the slider C in the upper guide member 601a, respectively. The engaging protrusions 610b and 610a, as shown in FIG. 101(b), are bolt-shaped and made sturdy with a head 610c projecting rearward. Relief recesses are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the game board 5 so that these heads 610c can be accommodated and do not interfere with the rotation of the game board 5.

The aforementioned pivot shaft 608 is fixed to the front part of the bottom surface of the game board 5 (FIG. 103A), and one end of the lower lever 611b is attached to a position a distance d4 (approximately 100 mm) from the pivot shaft 608 so that it can rotate horizontally around a shaft 612b. (Figure 103b). The length of the pivot shaft 608 is shorter than the depth d3 of the receiving hole 609 (FIG. 100). Further, a washer 608a having a thickness slightly larger than the thickness dimension d5 of the upper and lower levers 611a and 611b is fixed to the base of the pivot shaft 608. This is to create a gap of dimension d5 between the upper surface of the lower guide member 601b and the lower surface of the game board. The lower lever 611b has a hook recess 613b opened laterally at the other end, and the dimension between the center of the shaft 612b and the hook recess 613b is approximately equal to the dimension d4.
A shaft 612a is attached to the upper surface of the game board 5 at a position corresponding to the shaft 612b on the lower surface, and one end of the upper lever 611a is attached to the shaft 612a so as to be horizontally rotatable. The upper lever 611a has a hook recess 613a opened laterally at the other end, and the dimension between the center of the shaft 612a and the hook recess 613a is approximately equal to the dimension d4.

A ball lifting device 22 is arranged on the left side of the back side of the main body frame 2 (FIGS. 97, 99, and 5), and transports game balls from the ball collection section 21 at the bottom to the ball supply path member 24 at the top. It looks like this. As described above, the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6) consists of the lifting communication gutter 65 on the upper firing device 12 side and the ball sending gutter 23 on the ball lifting device side, and the game board 5 is attached to the main body frame 2. In this state, the ball outlet 23a of the ball sending gutter 23 and the ball receiving port 65a of the lifting communication gutter 65 are connected, and the ball passes through the gutter from the ball lifting device 22 side to the upper firing device 12 side. The ball can be moved.

At this time, the ball outlet 23a of the ball sending gutter 23 is provided with a receiving portion 23b on the outside in the left-right direction (FIG. 104), and a slide shutter 23c is disposed thereon so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The slide shutter 23c has a guide piece 23d on the lower surface side, which is fitted into a guide slit 23e provided in the receiving portion 23b and guided in the left-right direction. A spring 23f is attached to the guide piece 23d so as to bias the guide piece 23d to the right between the spring 23f and the receiving portion 23. When the guide piece 23d moves to the right end of the guide slit 23e, the slide shutter 23c blocks the ball outlet 23a of the ball sending gutter 23. When the ball moves to the left end, the ball outlet 23a is opened.

When the game board 5 is removed from the main body frame 2, as shown in FIG. 105 immediately after the operation, the lifting communication gutter 65 moves away from the ball sending gutter 23 to the right, so the slide shutter 23c is moved by the spring. 23f slides on the receiving portion 23b to the right end and blocks the ball outlet 23a. The slide shutter 23c corresponds to the opening/closing shutter 412 in the ball exit opening/closing unit 410 (FIG. 27) of the first embodiment.
Note that the lower side of the ball receiving port 65a of the lifting communication gutter 65 on the upper firing device 12 side is at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the receiving portion 23b on the ball lifting device 23 side.
In the work of mounting the game board 5 to the main body frame 2, when the game board 5 is moved to the left immediately before the end, the ball receiving opening 65a moves above the receiving part 23b, as shown in FIG. While pressing the slide shutter 23c, the player moves from right to left to open the ball outlet 23a of the ball outlet trough 23, and at the same time, the ball outlet 23 and the ball receiving opening 65a communicate with each other.

At this time, the floor surface 65b of the lifting device communication gutter 65 and the floor surface 23g of the ball sending gutter 23 are both inclined toward the launching device 28 side (FIG. 6), and as shown in FIG. The floor surface 65b is lower than the floor surface 23g, and at the end that becomes the ball outlet 23b, the floor surface 23g of the ball delivery gutter 23 is formed to be inclined or arcuate in cross section toward the floor surface 65b. Therefore, when the slide shutter 23c is opened and the ball sending port 23b and the ball receiving port 65a communicate with each other, the game balls in the ball sending gutter 23 are lifted as shown in FIGS. It moves smoothly to the feeding device communication gutter 65.

Furthermore, the ball receiving port 65a of the lifting device communication gutter 65 is formed larger than the ball sending port 23b of the ball sending gutter 23, and when the game board 5 is mounted on the main body frame 2, the ball receiving port 65a is Even if the ball receiving opening 65a is slightly shifted from left to right or up and down with respect to 23b, the game balls can be reliably delivered. The degree to which the ball receiving port 65a is formed larger than the ball sending port 23b is such that the gap created when the ball receiving port 65a and the ball sending port 23b communicate with each other is narrower than the diameter of the game ball.

[Accommodating game boards]
The door frame 3 is opened to expose the front side of the main body frame 2.
A rectangular housing opening 17 is visible on the front surface of the main body frame 2, and a lower guide member 601b is attached to its lower front edge 600b, and an upper guide member 601a is attached to its upper front edge 600a. Lift up the game board 5, maintain the board surface vertically, and vertically rotate it clockwise so that the left end of the game board 5 is at the rear, to take the a-1 position in FIG. 101. First, the left pivot shaft 608 is inserted into the receiving hole 609 of the slider A, and the load on the left side of the game board is supported by the main body frame 2 through the slider A. The length of the pivot shaft 608 is shorter than the depth d3 of the receiving hole 609, and the lower end does not reach the bottom 602 of the guide member. The slider A is moved to the right side of the lower guide member 601b in advance.

The game board 5 is rotated slightly to the left around the pivot shaft 608, and the right end of the game board 5 is brought closer to the main body frame 2 to take the a-2 posture in FIG. 101. Then, the lower lever 611b on the lower surface of the game board 5 is rotated to engage the hook recess 613b at the tip with the engagement protrusion 610b of the slider B. Similarly, the upper lever 611a on the upper surface of the game board 5 is rotated to engage the hook recess 613a at the tip with the engagement protrusion 610a of the slider C on the upper guide member 601a.

As a result, most of the load of the game board 5 is supported by the main body frame 2, so the operator, while supporting the right end of the game board 5, moves the pivot shaft 608 so that the left end of the game board 5 approaches the upper firing device 12. Move slider A to the inside left of body frame 2.
At this time, since the heads 610c and 610c (FIG. 100B) of the engaging protrusions 610b and 610a protrude rearward as described above, the front end sides of the lower lever 611b and upper lever 611a that engage with these are the game board. Even if the hook recess 613b and hook recess 613a of the lower lever 611b and upper lever 611a are pushed downward by the weight of It does not easily come off from the heads 610c, 610c, and the game board 5 can be moved stably.
Returning to the above, use the pivot shaft 608 to move the slider A to the left inside of the main body frame 2 so that the left end of the game board 5 approaches the left inside of the main body frame 2, and at the same time move the right end of the game board 5 toward the main body frame 2 side. Try to push it in. The degree of pushing is such that when the game board 5 rotates to the left around the pivot shaft 608, the control board box etc. attached to the back side of the game board 5 protrudes from the edge of the housing opening 17 of the main body frame 2. This is done while moving the pivot shaft 608 to the left along the lower guide member 601b in combination with rotation so as not to collide with the lower guide member 601b. When the game board 5 moves along the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b, the sliders A, B and C move the guide members 601a and 601b in the same direction, and when the game board 5 is rotated to the left, the sliders A, B and C move the guide members 601a and 601b in the same direction. The distance between A and B increases. That is, the triangle ABD changes to become flat, with the axis 612b of the lower lever 611b being the point D.

Note that when moving the game board 5 to the left, the game board 5 can be moved with the right end facing forward (for example, a-1) until the game board 5 contacts the stoppers 605a, 605b. However, after the game board 5 comes into contact with the stoppers 605a, 605b, it is not possible to move the game board 5 in that position. It is necessary to move by combining movement and rotation to the left.
Finally, as shown in a-3 of FIG. 102, the front surface of the game board 5 is brought into a position parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2, and is pushed to the left. The lower lever 611b fits into the gap between the game board 5 and the lower guide member 601b, and the upper lever 611a fits into the gap between the game board 5 and the upper guide member 601a.
The game board 5 pushed leftward is connected to the connector on the main body frame 2 side using a drawer type connector. The accommodated game board 5 is maintained in the accommodated state by a fixture 614 attached to the main body frame 2 side.

In this way, when the game board 5 is housed in the main body frame 2, the lower part of the game board 5 on the upper firing device 12 side is supported by the lower front edge of the main body frame 2 so as to be movable in the left and right direction and horizontally rotated. Most of the weight of the game board 5 is supported by the main body frame 2, and the operator can easily move the game board 5 relative to the main body frame 2 using the slider and pivot, so the operator can easily store the game board 5. It can be done carefully and with plenty of control.
In addition, since the stoppers 605a and 605b are provided, even if the game board 5 moves in a state that is not parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2, the game board 5 comes into contact with the stoppers 605a and 605b and is prevented from moving. Since the game board 5 cannot pass the positions of these stoppers 605a and 605b unless it is rotated in a direction parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2, the game board 5 is necessarily housed in the correct arrangement.
Then, when the game board 5 is moved to the left immediately before the end of the work of mounting the game board 5 on the main body frame 2, the ball receiving opening 65a moves over the receiving part 23b, as shown in FIG. While pressing the slide shutter 23c, move from right to left to open the ball sending port 23a of the ball sending gutter 23, and at the same time, communicate the ball sending gutter 23 and the ball receiving port 65a.
Even if the upper firing device 12 fixed to the game board 5 collides with the main body frame 2 during the process of attaching the game board 5 to the main body frame 2, the left side surface 12b of the upper firing device 12 Since the upper surface 12c is protected by the launcher guard member 12a and the cushion member 12e, the mechanism of the launcher will not be damaged.

[Removal of game board]
The door frame 3 is opened to expose the front side of the main body frame 2. The fixture 614 is operated to release the game board 5 from being fixed to the main body frame 2. The game board 5 is initially pulled out to the right, and then the right side of the game board 5 is pulled out toward the front, rotated to the right around the pivot shaft 608, and the game board 5 is pulled out from the main body frame 2. In this state, the hook recesses 613a, 613b at the tips of the upper and lower levers 611a, 611b are removed from the engagement protrusions 610a, 610b. Then, after moving the lower end of the game board 5 to the right along the guide member 601b, the game board 5 is lifted and the pivot shaft 608 is pulled out from the slider A. Thereby, the game board 5 can be separated from the main body frame 2 together with the upper firing device 12 and taken out.

By sliding the game board 5 in the housed state once to the right and pulling it out, the lifting communication gutter 65 on the upper firing device 12 side is separated from the ball sending gutter 23 on the ball lifting device 22 side, and then the game board 5 is removed. Take it out while rotating it to the right around the pivot shaft 608. When the lifting communication gutter 65 is separated from the ball sending gutter 23, the slide shutter 23c is closed by the spring 23f, so even if there are game balls in the ball feeding gutter 23, the ball supply path (ball feeding path member 24) It will not fall from the outside.
Since the upper firing device 12 is taken out together with the game board 5, no collision occurs with the upper firing device 12.

The second embodiment has been described above using a game machine equipped with the upper firing device 12 as an example, but in this invention, the firing device is not limited to the upper part, but can be placed on either side of the front surface of the main body frame in the left or right direction. It can be applied if it is placed.
Note that, regarding the second embodiment, since the other configurations are not particularly different from the first embodiment, the explanation of the first embodiment will be referred to.

[Trial mode]
Here, a trial play mode in the pachinko game machine 1 will be described, in which a predetermined period or a predetermined number of game balls can be actually shot free of charge before playing a game involving prize balls.

[Ball hitability determination process]
The ball information control MPU 111 executes the ball hitting/unhitting determination process, including the process of determining the trial hitting mode. FIG. 109 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing of the trial mode selection flag. FIG. 110 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process for determining whether or not a ball can be hit, including selection of a trial hitting mode. It should be noted that the ball-hittable/impossible-to-hit determination process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 109, the ball information control MPU 111 monitors whether or not the trial shot button on the touch panel section 14 is touched (S700), and if the trial shot mode switch is touched ( If YES), the trial mode selection flag FA is set (S701), and the time T of the timer that measures the trial mode execution time is reset to 0 (S702). The ball information control MPU 111 outputs a trial shot signal as one piece of ball information to the hall computer 700, which will be described later, over the period in which the trial shot mode selection flag FA is set.

As shown in FIG. 110, when the ball information control MPU 111 starts the ball hitting determination process, it determines whether the trial hitting mode selection flag FA is set (S706). If the trial mode selection flag FA is set (YES), the process moves to step S707. The time T of the timer that counts the trial execution time is updated (the control period is added each time) (S707).

It is determined whether or not the measured time T calculated in step S707 is greater than or equal to a set time preset as an executable time for the trial shot mode (S708), and the trial shot setting time is greater than or equal to the preset time. If this happens (YES), the process moves to step S709, and if the set time has not been reached (NO), the process moves to step S711. As a result, in the trial shot mode, regardless of the number of balls held, it is possible to proceed to the process of determining whether or not the firing standby ball switch is on.

In step S709, since the preset time for trial firing has elapsed, the trial firing mode selection flag FA is reset and the process moves to step S713 to disable firing. Note that instead of using a timer, a counter is used to count the number of game balls fired after the trial mode starts, and the set number is set in advance as the number of game balls that can be fired in the trial mode. It may also be a comparison process.

If it is determined in step S706 that the trial shot mode selection flag FA is not set (NO), it is determined whether the number of balls held is 0 or not, that is, whether the value of the number of balls held counter is 0. is determined (step S710). If it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number of balls held counter is not 0, that is, if the determination in step S710 is NO, the process moves to step S711, and the firing waiting ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) ) is on, that is, whether there is a waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28 (step S711).

If it is determined in step S711 that the firing standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is on, the firing flag is set to 1 (launching possible) (step S712), and the ball hitting determination process is performed. Exit the subroutine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S710 that the value of the held balls counter is 0, and if it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is not on (off), The possible flag is set to 0 (unable to shoot) (step S713), and the process exits from the subroutine for determining whether or not the ball can be hit.

In this way, when the value of the held ball number counter is not 0 and there is a waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28, the firing solenoid 13 and the ball feeding solenoid 31 can be driven, and the ball feeding area 8 of the game ball is substantially The game is in a playable state where you can type into the game. Further, when the value of the held ball number counter is 0 or when there is no waiting ball in the ball feeding device 28, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven, and the ball is not actually driven into the game area 8. You are in a state where you cannot play the game. At the same time, the ball feed solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

[Game system configuration]
FIG. 111 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the gaming system. The hall computer 700 includes an information input terminal 701 and an information management system control board 702. The information input terminal 701 receives game information 134a output from the game information external output terminal 134 of the external terminal board 133 of the pachinko machine 1, ball information 135a similarly output from the ball information external output terminal 135, and the like. Note that information on the number of game media is also input to the information input terminal 701 from the payment machine 4 (see FIG. 76). The information management system control board 702 includes a RAM 703 capable of storing game information 134a, ball information 135a, and the number of game media, and also includes a CPU, ROM, input/output processing circuit, and communication control circuit. In FIG. 111, the trial shot signal is input to the hall computer 700 as one of the ball information 135a.

Information processing in the gaming system shown in FIG. 111 will be explained using FIG. 112. FIG. 112 is a flowchart showing the procedure of information discrimination processing. Game information 134a and ball information 135a are acquired from RAM 703 (S800). It is determined whether or not there is a trial play signal in the acquired game information 135a (S801), and if there is no trial play signal (NO), the process moves to step S802, and if there is a trial play signal (YES), the process proceeds to step S802. Ends the process. In step S802, the number of game media is acquired.

In step S803, a predetermined calculation is performed based on the game medium number information and the ball information 135a. Predetermined calculations include, for example, sequentially updating the number of game media stored in the RAM 703 based on the ball information 135a such as the number of prize balls and the number of fired balls, or updating the number of game media and the number of media information (output from the payment machine 4). The rate of change per unit time is calculated for each number of game media based on the number of game media. The two numbers of game media thus obtained are the same or similar.

Then, when the determination timing is reached (YES in step S804), whether the difference between the number of game media updated based on the ball information 135a obtained in step S803 and the number of media information (output from the payment machine 4) is within the allowable range. It is determined whether or not (step S805). If the game is being played, the determination is made based on the updated number of game media and its rate of change based on the ball information 135a, and if the game is not being played, the determination is made based on the updated number of game media based on the ball information (output from the adjustment machine 4). Note that the number of game media, rate of change, determination result, trial play, etc. may be notified from a display or a speaker provided in the hall computer 700 or the like. In step S805, if the number of game media and the rate of change are within the permissible range, this process ends; if not within the permissible range (NO), an abnormality notification process is executed in step S806. For example, the target device is stopped.

When the game machine 1 that executes the trial play mode is installed in a game machine hall, there is a risk that the time for paid games will be shortened, and it is necessary to take measures to shorten the operating time of the game machine. The countermeasures will be explained below.

<Measures using RTC>
The number of players visiting the hall increases or decreases depending on the day of the week and time of day. If the trial play mode is executed on a day of the week or at a time when a large number of players visit the store, there is a problem in that the time for paid games is reduced. Furthermore, among the players visiting the store, the number of gaming machines that can be selected may decrease due to the execution of the trial mode for players who do not want to play the trial mode.
Therefore, using the time information acquired by the RTC provided in the pachinko machine 1, the display timing of the standby screen 690 displaying the trial play mode 692 on the display device as shown in FIG. 108 is controlled.
Note that in the pachinko machine 1 having the trial mode, a screen shown in FIG. 108 is displayed on the display device as a standby screen waiting for a player. When a standby screen 690 displaying a trial mode 692 is displayed on the screen of the display device, a trial mode selection button is displayed on the touch panel section 14. The ball information control unit 118 can execute the ball hitting/unballing determination process shown in FIG. 110 by checking whether the trial hitting mode selection button has been pressed on the touch panel unit 14.

FIG. 113 is a diagram illustrating a flow for determining whether or not it is a trial mode permissible time period using time information obtained from the RTC control unit. FIG. 114 is an example of a table for setting the allowable trial mode time period. Each step of the flowchart in FIG. 113 will be explained. Time information is acquired from the RTC control unit 106 (FIG. 76) (S810), and it is determined whether the time information acquired from the RTC control unit 106 is within a preset trial mode permissible time period (S811). If it is within the allowable time for trial mode (YES), a trial mode selection screen is displayed (S812), and if it is not within the allowable time for trial mode (NO), the process ends. Note that, in addition to the time information, calendar information obtained from the RTC control unit 106 may be used to set whether or not the trial mode can be selected on a monthly, weekly, or weekly basis.
As another measure, the permissible number of selections per day is set in advance for each gaming machine. Counts the number of trial mode selections. If the counted number of trial mode selections exceeds the permissible number of selections, the trial mode may not be selectable. Alternatively, an employee of the hall may input a password for allowing the trial mode from the touch panel.

By selecting a predetermined number of gaming machines from among the large number of gaming machines installed on the island facilities as gaming machines equipped with a trial playing mode, players who are running the trial playing mode can also play games for which they are playing for a fee. It is possible to make sure that there is no difference between the two. As a result, a player who selects the trial mode and plays a game can also blend in with the surrounding players and execute the trial mode without feeling uncomfortable. Furthermore, by displaying performance explanation information as described later, it is possible to adopt a configuration that makes it easier for those with little gaming experience to understand the content of the game.

[Embodiment regarding performance explanation information]
The performance explanation information will be explained. People who have no or little experience playing games with gaming machines are often unsure of how to start playing games with the gaming machines in a gaming machine hall. In recent years, there has been a tendency for a large number of new gaming machines to be provided in a short period of time, and it may become difficult for players to properly grasp the effects of each model and the meanings expressed by the effects. Therefore, players can read information magazines about the gaming machines in advance, or read pamphlets explaining the gaming machines that are placed in the hall where the gaming machines are installed, so that they can understand the production and its presentation. Sometimes players play games while understanding the meaning. However, since it takes time and effort to read information magazines etc. in advance, some players often find it bothersome and play games without reading information magazines etc. in advance.

In addition, cards that explain the game specifications and performances of the game machine may be installed in each game machine, and by looking through these cards while playing the game, the player can Information such as game specifications and performances may also be obtained. However, when trying to obtain information such as the game specifications and effects of a gaming machine from cards while playing a game, the player must take his eyes off the gaming machine to read the cards. There is a risk that you will miss it. Furthermore, since the cards contain explanations about the specifications and performances of the many games played on the gaming machine, it is difficult to find where on the card the information the player is looking for is written. This may take a long time, and some players may find it troublesome.

Therefore, some players may give up on obtaining information on game specifications, performance, etc. in advance and play the game. Even if you don't have accurate information about the game specifications and effects of the game machine, especially with modern game machines, it is possible to have some fun playing the game just by looking at the game specifications and effects. It goes without saying that you will enjoy the game more if you understand the meaning of each game specification and performance. However, it may be difficult, especially for those with little gaming experience, to grasp the meaning of the game specifications and performances simply by playing the game repeatedly without obtaining information from others. Therefore, the game may be played without the players fully understanding the new game specifications and effects.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the meaning of the performance information performed on the first liquid crystal display device is displayed on the second liquid crystal display device provided in the touch panel section 14 (see FIG. 77). . The following will explain based on the drawings.

FIG. 122 is a diagram showing an example of display on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 and the second liquid crystal display device 470 in this embodiment. The first liquid crystal display device 1900 displays an effect image in the middle of a wave change effect. However, some players may only be able to grasp the information of the symbol itself, that a large wave is occurring, even when looking at this effect image, and may not be able to grasp the meaning that this effect image represents. Therefore, in this embodiment, by displaying on the second liquid crystal display device 470 the message "We are displaying an effect to change the flow of the customer's game," this effect image can be used to improve the player's game flow. It becomes possible for the player to understand that the effect image is being displayed to change the flow of the game.

Further, the information displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 is displayed after a preset delay time after the effect image is displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900. As a result, when the player cannot understand the meaning of the effect image displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900, there is no need for the player to hastily shift his/her line of sight to the second liquid crystal display device 470, and the content of the effect information can be accurately confirmed. It becomes possible to confirm the following. Although the value of the delay time can be set as appropriate, it is preferably set within the range of about 2 to 5 seconds.

FIG. 115 is an example showing another display form. The first liquid crystal display device 1900 displays various effects that differ depending on the gaming machine during the game, but when it is difficult to understand the meaning of the effects displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 at that time. There is. Therefore, in this embodiment, as the meaning expressed by the effect displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900, by displaying “probability change expectation level 70%” on the second liquid crystal display device 470, It becomes possible for the player to grasp the expected value of the specific probability fluctuation, which is difficult to grasp just by looking at the effect display image displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900. In the case of this embodiment as well, the information displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 is displayed after a preset delay time after the effect is displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900. It is preferable.

FIG. 116 is a performance information table 4152 showing the correspondence between performance displays developed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 and other performance devices, and performance explanation information corresponding to the performance displays. Although not shown, it is stored in advance in the peripheral control ROM (not shown) of the peripheral control section of the peripheral control board 130 shown in FIG.

The performance information table 4152 is composed of six items, including performance information 4152a, performance 4152b, performance time 4152c, performance explanation information 4152d, performance explanation information display time 4152e, and delay time 4152f. The performance information 4152a stores a plurality of series of performance information included in each gaming machine. Here, the performance information 4152a may be completed by one action by one member, such as lighting a specific lamp, but, like the performance display on the first liquid crystal display device 1900, one performance information 4152a may be composed of a series of multiple effects 4152b. In this performance information table 4152, for example, A of the performance information 4152a indicates that it is composed of four performances 4152b, a1, a2, a3, and a4.

In the presentation time 4152c, the time during which each presentation 4152b is performed is set and stored in seconds.
The performance explanation information 4152d includes information corresponding to each performance information 4152a or 4152b prepared in advance and stored. Here, depending on the type of performance information 4152a, there are cases where each performance 4152b that makes up the performance information 4152a has a meaning of performance, such as A of the performance information 4152a, and a case where B of the performance information 4152a has a meaning of performance. In addition, there are cases where a plurality of performances 4152b constitute one performance information 4152a as a series, and the performance information 4152a as a whole has one meaning. Therefore, in the case of A of the performance information 4152a, performance explanation information 4152d, a1', a2', a3', a4' is set for each individual performance 4152b, a1, a2, a3, a4, and the performance information 4152a is In case B, one performance explanation information 4152d is set for the entire performance information 4152a.

The performance explanation information display time 4152e is set as the time for displaying each production explanation information 4152d. The production explanation information display time 4152e corresponds to the production explanation information 4152d, and if the production explanation information 4152d is set for each production 4152b, it is set accordingly, and the production explanation information 4152d corresponds to the production explanation information 4152a. is set accordingly. Further, the performance explanation information display time 4152e can be set to the same length as the performance time 4152c, or if the performance explanation information 4152d is set for each performance information 4152a, the performance time of the entire performance information 4152a is compared. Therefore, the performance explanation information display time 4152e may be set to a shorter time than the entire performance time of the performance information 4152a, or the performance explanation information 4152d may be changed from the display of the performance information 4152a to a predetermined time. Since it is displayed with a delay time, it is possible to set the performance explanation information display time 4152e to be shortened by the delay time, so that the display of the performance explanation information 4152d ends at the same time as the end of the performance information 4152a, and other settings can be made as appropriate. .

A delay time 4152f is set in each performance explanation information 4152d. The delay time 4152f is set in consideration of the time difference between when the player views the performance on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 etc. and then shifts his/her line of sight to the second liquid crystal display device 470 and reads the performance explanation information. It can be set appropriately in about 2 to 5 seconds depending on the type of performance information, etc.

In this embodiment, the presentation information 4152a displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 has been described as an example of the presentation information 4152a, but the presentation information 4152a is limited to the display on the first liquid crystal display device 1900. It also includes effects such as lighting of decorative lamps and sounds from speakers. Regarding these effects, it may be difficult to understand the intention of the effect based on the lighting of decorative lamps or sounds alone, so it is useful to explain the meaning using the effect explanation information 4152d.

In this embodiment, when the performance is performed, the second liquid crystal display device 470 is configured to display the performance explanation information 4152d. Since the performance explanation information 4152d is displayed on a display device different from the first liquid crystal display device 1900 where the performance is performed, the player only has to look at the second liquid crystal display device 470 as needed, but it is difficult for experienced players to For those who understand the contents of the performance in the gaming machine, it may feel troublesome to have the performance explanation information 4152d displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 every time. Therefore, the second liquid crystal display device 470 may be configured to switch so that the performance explanation information 4152d is not displayed by turning on/off a performance explanation information changeover switch (not shown).

Further, depending on the type of performance information 4152a, some players may not need the performance explanation information 4152d for all the performance information 4152a, but want to see only the performance explanation information 4152d for the expected value of probability fluctuation. There may be a request to see the performance explanation information 4152d. Therefore, the switching stages of the production explanation information changeover switch are set in more detail, and for example, in the production information table 4152, production explanation information 4152d is displayed for production information 4152a A, and production explanation information 4152d is displayed for production information 4152a B. The display/non-display of the performance explanation information 4152d may be switched depending on the type of the performance information 4152a or the performance 4152b, such as by hiding the performance explanation information 4152d.

[Another embodiment of performance explanation information]
In the previous embodiment, the performance explanation information 4152d was displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 when displayed. As a result, while enjoying the performance based on the performance information 4152a, the player can shift his/her line of sight to the second liquid crystal display device 470 as needed, so that the display of the performance information 4152a is not obstructed by the performance explanation information 4152d. The meaning of the performance information 4152a can be understood from the explanation information 4152d.

However, especially in the case of a person with little gaming experience or a beginner who has many unclear points in the performance information 4152a, it is necessary to always check the meaning of the performance information 4152a, so the performance explanation information 4152d is Sometimes you may find it troublesome to switch your line of sight every time you look at something.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the display of the performance explanation information 4152d can be switched between the first liquid crystal display device 1900 and the second liquid crystal display device 470 according to the player's operation settings. The description will be given below based on the drawings.

117 and 118 are diagrams showing examples of displays on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 and the second liquid crystal display device 470 in this embodiment, and FIG. 117 shows the presentation explanation information 4152d on the second liquid crystal display device 470. The displayed state, FIG. 118, shows an example in which the performance explanation information 4152d is displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900.

As shown in FIGS. 117 and 118, in the lower right corner of the second liquid crystal display device 470, an effect explanation information display switching icon 482 consisting of a circle and up and down arrows is displayed. This performance explanation information display switching icon 482 can be operated by a touch panel 480 provided overlappingly with the second liquid crystal display device 470.

Specifically, from the state shown in FIG. 117, when the performance explanation information display switching icon 482 is rubbed from bottom to top, the display of the performance explanation information 4152d changes from the second liquid crystal display device 470 to the first liquid crystal display. Moving to the device 1900 side, as shown in FIG. 118, the display of the performance explanation information 4152d disappears from the second liquid crystal display device 470, and the display of the performance explanation information 4152d disappears from the display on the performance explanation information display section 1900A at the lower right of the first liquid crystal display device 1900. From then on, the performance explanation information 4152d will be displayed on the performance explanation information display section 1900A of the first liquid crystal display device 1900.

Conversely, if you rub the performance explanation information display switching icon 482 from top to bottom from the state shown in FIG. , moving to the second liquid crystal display device 470 side, as shown in FIG. From then on, the performance explanation information 4152d will be displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470.

In this way, the display location of the performance explanation information 4152d can be switched between the second liquid crystal display device 470 and the first liquid crystal display device 1900 by operating the performance explanation information display switching icon 482. Thereby, it becomes possible to switch the display location of the performance explanation information 4152d according to the player's wishes, and it becomes possible to display the performance explanation information 4152d according to the player's preference.

In this embodiment, the effect explanation information switching icon 482 displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 is used as an operation unit for switching the effect explanation information 4152d, and switching is performed by operating the touch panel 480. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and a display switching switch or the like may be provided at a location other than the touch panel 480. Furthermore, similarly to the previous embodiment, the effect explanation information 4152d can be switched not to be displayed by operating a display changeover switch or a effect explanation information changeover switch different from the display changeover switch.

Furthermore, in displaying the performance explanation information 4152d, a performance information table 4152 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to use the same format as , or to prepare items related to the display location so that the display method etc. can be different between when displaying on the second liquid crystal display device 470 and when displaying on the first liquid crystal display device 1900. You can also make it possible to do so. For example, when displaying on the second liquid crystal display device 470, the delay time for display is set to 3 seconds, and when displaying the same content on the first liquid crystal display device 1900, the delay time is set to 3 seconds. It is possible to make settings such as making it somewhat shorter.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as an example of a change in the display mode by the player, by operating the performance explanation information switching icon 482, the display location of the performance explanation information 4152d can be changed between the second liquid crystal display device 470 and the first liquid crystal display device. 1900, but the display mode is not limited to this as an example of changing the display mode according to the player's operation. Other examples will be described below based on FIGS. 119 to 142.

FIG. 119 shows a state in which the effect explanation information 4152d is displayed approximately at the center of the second liquid crystal display device 470. Here, as shown in FIG. 119, when the player touches the performance explanation information 4152d with a finger or the like and slides it upward, as shown in FIG. 120, The display location of the performance explanation information 4152d is moved upward in the second liquid crystal display device 470. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 120, when the player touches the performance explanation information 4152d and performs an operation such as sliding it downward, the performance explanation information 4152d is displayed as shown in FIG. 121. It is also possible to return the display location to approximately the center within the second liquid crystal display device 470 or to move it downward as shown in FIG. 121.

In this modification, an example has been described in which the display position of the production explanation information 4152d on the second liquid crystal display device 470 is changed, but similarly, the display position of the production explanation information 4152d on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 is It can also be changed by operating. In addition, the display size of the display format of the performance explanation information 4152d and other displays when displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 or the first liquid crystal display device 1900 can be adjusted according to the player's preference. By setting the sheath, position, color, etc., it can be customized to the player's preference.

In particular, in the hall where the gaming machines are installed, the gaming machines are often arranged in rows, and the space between the rows where the gaming machines are installed is used as a passageway, allowing other players to It is allowed to pass freely. Therefore, some players may not be able to tell the players playing next to them or other players passing through the aisle about their game content or that they are looking at the performance explanation information 4152d of the game machine's performance. It is conceivable that there are players who do not want to be known, or conversely, there are players who want to proactively appeal to the players around them that they have high expectations for probability fluctuations in their games. In this embodiment and the modified example, when a player plays a game, it is not only possible to change the display position of the performance explanation information 4152d so that it is easy for the player to see it, but also to meet the needs of various types of players. For players who do not want other players to know, the display may be displayed in a small size in a place that is difficult for other players to see, and on the other hand, for players who want to appeal to others, the display may be displayed in a large size so that it can be easily seen by other players. It is also possible to customize the display.

[Embodiment regarding switching the display mode of performance explanation information]
In the previous embodiment and modification, the performance explanation information 4152d was displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470 and the first liquid crystal display device 1900 all at once. However, in cases where the performance explanation information 4152d cannot be displayed all at once on the second liquid crystal display device 470 or the first liquid crystal display device 1900 due to performance reasons or in the case of a complicated performance, etc. , the performance explanation information 4152d may be displayed so as to move sequentially. FIG. 122 is a diagram showing how the performance explanation information 4152d is sequentially displayed on the second liquid crystal display device 470, and the performance explanation information 4152d is displayed on the second liquid crystal display device in order from the beginning of the explanatory text. It is displayed as if it is flowing from the right side of 470 at a predetermined speed.

FIG. 123 shows a state in which the player touches the performance explanation information 4152d in the state of FIG. 122. As shown in FIG. 123, by touching the touch panel 480 at a position corresponding to the performance explanation information 4152d that is being moved and displayed sequentially, as shown in FIG. It is stopped and displayed in the state of the performance explanation information 4152d. As a result, the player can stop and display the performance explanation information 4152d that is sequentially moved and displayed at a desired position, and it is possible for the player to surely understand the content of the performance explanation information 4152d that the player thinks is necessary. Become.

Next, from the state shown in FIG. 124, if you touch the effect explanation information 4152d again as shown in FIG. As shown in , the display is moved until the end of the explanatory text of the performance explanatory information 4152d flows to the left side of the second liquid crystal display device 470.
Switching between the moving display and the stopped display of the performance explanation information 4152d is not limited to once, and the moving display and the stopped display can be repeated as many times as desired by the player.

Although the embodiment in which the display of the performance explanation information 4152d is switched between the moving display state and the stationary display state has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the display of the effect explanation information 4152d has been described as an example in which the display is sequentially moved from the right side to the left side of the second liquid crystal display device 470 in one line, but it may be sequentially moved in multiple columns of two or more lines, It is also possible to set a plurality of display rows on the second liquid crystal display device 470 and display the display moving sequentially from the bottom row to the top row. In addition, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the display of the performance explanation information 4152d is written horizontally and the display flows from right to left. It is possible to make changes as appropriate, such as configuring it so that it flows smoothly.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as a means for switching between a display in which the production explanation information 4152d moves sequentially and a display in a stopped state, switching is performed by touching the touch panel 480 provided on the second liquid crystal display device 470. The means for switching is not limited to this, and various methods can be used, such as using a button or switch provided at a location other than the second liquid crystal display device 470, for example.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the performance explanation information 4152d is switched from the moving display state to the stopped display state, the display is configured so that the state displayed in the moving display state is changed to the stopped display state. Regarding this, for example, when the display is in a moving display state, the display is displayed one line at a time, but when the display is in a stopped display state, a multi-line display is displayed that fills the entire display range of the second liquid crystal display device. It is also possible to change the display format of the effect explanation information 4152d between the moving display state and the stationary display state.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 118, even when the effect explanation information 4152d is displayed on the first liquid crystal display device 1900, this embodiment can be applied to change the display form between a moving display state and a stopped display state. It is also possible to switch between display states.

Note that in this embodiment, the display of the effect explanation information 4152d is switched from the moving display state to the stopped display state by operating the switching means such as touching the touch panel 480; Instead of this, the speed at which the sequential display flows in the moving display state may be set to be slow to make it easier for the player to read the performance explanation information 4152d. Even in this case, after the display state is set at a low speed, the speed can be returned to the original moving display state by operating the switching means, such as touching the touch panel 480 again.

In this embodiment, the display of the effect explanation information 4152d is switched from a moving display state to a stopped display state by an operation on the switching means, such as a touch on the touch panel 480, and the display is stopped until the next operation on the switching means is performed. The condition continues. Therefore, if the stopped display state continues for a long time, the display of the effect explanation information 4152d may end only partially even after the period in which the effect is performed ends. Therefore, in order to prevent this, a predetermined stop display state duration time is set in advance, and after switching from the moving display state to the stop display state, when the predetermined stop display state duration time has elapsed, the stop display state is switched from the stop display state to the stop display state. The display may be switched to a moving display state.

Furthermore, as another modification example, as shown in FIG. 127, when the stop display state passes a predetermined stop display duration time, the display of the first performance explanation information 4152d remains in the stop display state. , it is also possible to display the next performance explanation information 4152d in a moving display state at another location. Thereby, even if the stopped display state of the production explanation information 4152d continues for a long time, it is possible to avoid the production explanation information 4152d from not being displayed thereafter.

As described above, a player with little gaming experience actually hits a game ball in the trial play mode, and displays performance explanation information related to the performance executed accordingly on the first liquid crystal display device 1900 or the second liquid crystal display. By displaying the information on the device 470, the player with little gaming experience can deepen his/her understanding of the game played on the gaming machine.

Means 1:
a game board having a game area into which game media is inserted by a player's operation;
a main body frame that supports the game board;
door frame and
a production device including a first display device that displays production information to be produced according to a gaming state;
a second display device that displays information explaining the production;
Display mode switching means for switching the display mode of information explaining the performance;
In a gaming machine equipped with
The first display device and the second display device are arranged at predetermined locations of the gaming machine so as to be visible to the player,
The information explaining the performance can be switched between a static display and a moving display by switching by the display mode switching means.

According to the configuration of means 1, a display device for displaying performance information and a separate display device are provided, and information explaining the performance can be transferred between the stationary display and the moving display by switching by the display mode switching means. It is possible to switch. As a result, even if the information explaining the performance is set to be displayed normally, if the movement speed of the display is too fast, the player can stop the display at the desired position by operating the display mode switching means. Since the display can be switched, it is possible to set the display mode to match the player's preference.

Means 2:
In the above means 1, the display mode switching means is provided on the second display device.

According to the configuration of means 2, by providing the display mode switching means on the second display device, it becomes easier for the player to operate the display mode switching means. Further, by providing a display mode switching means on the second display device on which information explaining the performance is displayed, it becomes possible to intuitively understand switching of the display mode of the information explaining the performance.

Means 3:
In the above means 1 and 2, when the display mode of the information explaining the production is the moving display, the information explaining the production is displayed so as to move sequentially, and the operation by the display mode switching means is performed. At times, the display mode is characterized in that the display is stopped with information explaining the effect at the time when the operation by the display mode switching means is performed.

According to the configuration of means 3, when the information explaining the performance is displayed in a moving manner, the information explaining the performance being displayed at that time is stopped and displayed by the operation of the display mode switching means, so that the game Since the display can be stopped and displayed at a point desired by the player, by looking at the information explaining the effect that is stopped and displayed, it is possible for the player to reliably understand the content of the information explaining the effect. Become.

Means 4:
In means 3, when an operation is performed by the display mode switching means while the information explaining the production is displayed in a stopped state, the information explaining the production is displayed so as to move sequentially again. It is characterized by

According to the configuration of means 4, when the information explaining the performance is displayed in a stopped state, the information explaining the performance is displayed in a sequential manner again by the operation of the display mode switching means, so that the information explaining the performance is displayed in a stopped state. After the player grasps the content of the information explaining the performance, it becomes possible for the player to continue viewing the continuation of the information explaining the performance.

Means 5:
a game board having a game area into which game media is inserted by a player's operation;
a main body frame that supports the game board;
door frame and
a production device including a first display device that displays production information to be produced according to a gaming state;
a second display device that displays information explaining the production;
Display mode switching means for switching the display mode of information explaining the performance;
In a gaming machine equipped with
The first display device and the second display device are arranged at predetermined locations of the gaming machine so as to be visible to the player,
The information explaining the performance can be switched between a normal movement display and a low-speed movement display by switching by the display mode switching means.

According to the configuration of means 5, a display device for displaying performance information and a separate display device are provided, and information explaining the performance can be displayed between normal movement display and slow movement display by switching by the display mode switching means. It is possible to switch between. As a result, even if the information explaining the performance is set to be a normal movement display at a normal speed, if the movement speed of the display is too fast, the display mode switching means will be activated near the player's desired position. Since the display can be switched to a low-speed moving display by operation, it is possible to set the display mode to match the player's preference.

1 Pachinko machine 1a Outer frame 2 Main body frame 3 Door frame 4 Settlement machine 5 Game board 6 Decorative cover 7 Hinge 8 Play area 9 Game window 10 Ball hitting handle 11 Transparent plate 12 Upper firing device (upper firing unit)
12a Launcher guide member 12b Left side 12c Top surface 12d Stay 12e Cushion member 13 Launch solenoid 14 Touch panel section 15 Fitting frame 16 Surrounding wall section 17 Accommodation opening 18 Projection wall 19 Irregular ball/magnetic ball ejection unit accommodating section 20 Irregular ball/ Magnetic ball ejection unit 21 Ball gathering section 22 Ball lifting device 23 Ball sending gutter 23a Ball outlet 23b Receiving section 23c Slide shutter 23d Guide piece 23e Guide slit 23f Spring 23g Floor surface 24 Ball supply path member 25 Screw 25a Screw shaft 25b Small pitch Projection member 25bL Half body 25bR Half body 25c Large pitch projection member 25cL Half body 25cR Half body 25d Spiral projection 25e Cylindrical portion 25g Recessed portion 25h Convex portion 25i Upper edge 25j Upper edge recess 25k Lower edge 25m Lower edge Convex portion 26 Launch standby ball detection switch 28 Ball feeding device 29 Batting ball launcher 30 Launching hammer (launching member)
301 Fixed part 302 Rod part 303 Stopper contact part 31 Ball feeding solenoid 32 Ball feeding member 33 Rail member 331 Mounting plate part 332 Rail part 333 Left rail plate 334 Right rail plate 335 Through hole 34 Stopper when firing 35 Stopper when returning 36 Firing Ball confirmation switch 361 Photo bracket 37 Hinge for upper firing device 38 Launch port 39 Base plate 39a Contact part 40 Launch area 41 Winning port 42 Out port 43 Panel holder 44 Transparent panel board 45 Front component 46 Game ball running surface 47 Notch 48 Protrusion part 49 Fixture 50 Screw receiving member 51 Ball entry prevention wall 52 Tension spring 53 Spring locking part 54 Ball guide protrusion 55 Front guide surface 56 Stopper piece 57 Arrangement space 58 Ball outlet 60 Rotation drive shaft 61 Hammer tip 62 Stopper Cover 63 Ball supply port 64 Launch port decoration member 65 Lifting and feeding communication gutter 65a Ball receiving port 65b Floor surface 66 Ball inlet 67 Ball feeding unit base 68 Ball feeding unit cover 69 Ball feeding guide gutter 70 Launch standby ball detection switch 71 Ball feeding plate 72 Operating rod part 73 Sheet metal housing part 74 Ball feeding part 75 Shaft hole 76 Ball feeding shaft 77 Arm part 78 Sheet metal locking claw 79 Latching protrusion 80 Ball feeding guide surface 81 Ball holding surface 82 Hanging piece 83 Return ball prevention part 84 Ball Stop portion 85 Ball passage opening 86 Launch stop switch 87 Touch switch 90 Upper starting opening detection switch 91 Lower starting opening detection switch 92 Gate switch 93 General winning opening detection switch 94 General winning opening detection switch 96 Starting opening solenoid 97 Big winning opening solenoid 98 Count switch 100 Main control board 101 Main control MPU
102 Main control I/O port 103 Main control input circuit 104 Main control solenoid drive circuit 105 RAM clear switch 106 RTC control section 107 RTC
108 Battery 109 RAM
110 Ball information control board 111 Ball information control MPU
112 Ball information control I/O port 113 Ball information control input circuit 114 Ball lifting motor drive circuit 115 CR unit input/output circuit 116 External WDT
117 Power failure monitoring circuit 118 Ball information control unit 119 Ball polishing ribbon feed motor drive circuit 120 Firing solenoid drive circuit 122 Ball feed solenoid drive circuit 123 Handle relay terminal board 124 Sensor relay board 130 Peripheral control board 131 Door frame release switch 132 Main body frame release Switch 133 External terminal board 134 Game information external output terminal 134a Game information 135 Ball information external output terminal 135a Ball information

140 Panel relay terminal board 141 Function display board 142 Upper special symbol display 143 Lower special symbol display 144 Upper special symbol memory display 145 Lower special symbol memory display 146 Normal symbol display 147 Normal symbol memory display 148 Game status display Container 149 Round indicator 150 Ball lifting motor 155 Ball polishing ribbon feeding motor 156 Lifting and feeding inlet switch 157 Lifting motor sensor 158 Cassette detection switch 201 Ball receiving gutter base 202 Collection port 203 Collected ball detection switch 204 Irregular ball discharge section 205 Magnetic Ball ejection section 206 Ball path full detection switch 207 Proper amount of ball detection switch 208 Irregular ball ejection section base 209 Irregular ball separation shaft 210 Irregular ball separation shaft 212 Irregular ball ejection section base attachment section 213 Upstream side 214 Downstream side 215 Irregular ball ejection section Route 216 Irregular ball discharge port 217 Irregular ball discharge path forming member 218 Communication path 219 Circulation route 220 Inclined surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic ball discharge slope 223 Discontinuous portion 224 Side wall 225 Ceiling wall 226 Magnetic ball discharge path 227 Magnetic ball discharge port 228 Magnetic ball discharge part cover 229 Magnet 230 Magnet accommodation space 231 Magnetic force adjustment part 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Discharged ball receiving box 251 Ball polishing cartridge 252 Left side cover 253 Right side cover 253a Right outer side cover 253b Right inner side Cover 254 Hinge receiver 255 Hinge 258 Second drive gear case 259 Take-up roller 260 Followed roller 261 First gear shaft 262 Second gear shaft 263 Ball polishing cloth 264 Ball polishing cloth presser spring 265 Leaf spring 266 Spring presser 267 Tensioner 268 Game ball contact trace 270 Ball polishing cartridge mounting part 271 Ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 272 Ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 273 Ball polishing cartridge mounting port 275 Ball feeding passage 275a Ball receiving port 275b Ball feeding port 281 Opening 282 Lifting guide rail 290 Drive shaft 291 Attachment sensor 292 Button 350 Ball feeding rotor 350a Ball engaging recess 351 Ball feeding slope 351a Inclined surface 351b Top slope 352 Spiral base cover 353 Lifting section cover 354 Lifting slope member 355 Ball removal member 356 Upper part Gear box 357 Lower gear box 358 Ball lifting motor gear 359 Idle gear 360 Upper lifting gear 362 Lower lifting gear 363 Ball feeding rotating body gear 363a Gear shaft 365 Guide block 365a Ball guide surface 365b Stopper surface 366 Fitting member 366a Fitting Recess 367 Support member 368 Cover member 402 Card processing machine 403 Card 404 ID storage 405 Remaining power storage 406 Ball storage 407 Mounting member 408 Hanging wall 410 Ball outlet opening/closing unit 411 Shutter base 412 Opening/closing shutter 413 Opening/closing crank 414 Opening/closing spring 415 Slide groove 416 Opening portion 417 Crank support portion 418 Spring locking portion 419 Shutter body 420 Drive hole 421 Shaft portion 422 Drive rod 423 Drive pin 424 Contact portion 425 Spring locking portion 426 Opening/closing operating piece 427 Game ball introducing member

470 Second liquid crystal display device 480 Touch panel 490 Operation section light emitting device 492 Light emitting device 494 Touch panel section light emitting device

500 Following member 600a Upper front edge 600b Lower front edge 601a Upper guide member 601b Lower guide member 602 Bottom part 603a Front rising part 603b Rear rising part 604a Front rib 604b Rear rib 605a Stopper (top)
605b Stopper (bottom)
606 Sliding leg 607 Space 608 Pivot shaft 609 Receiving hole 610a Engaging protrusion (upper)
610b Engagement protrusion (bottom)
610c Head 611a Upper lever 611b Lower lever 612a Shaft (upper)
612b axis (bottom)
613a Hook recess (top)
613b Hook recess (bottom)
614 Fixtures

690 Standby screen 692 Trial mode display 700 Hall computer 701 Information input terminal 702 Information management system control board 703 RAM

1900 First liquid crystal display device 2150 Game board light emitting device 4152 Performance information table

Claims (1)

Accommodates a predetermined number of game balls,
a game board forming a game area in which the game ball rolls;
a firing device that fires the game ball;
a first display device disposed within the gaming area;
a second display device disposed outside the gaming area;
The game board includes a game ball collection port,
The game ball is fired into the game area by the firing device, and the fired game ball is collected from the game area through the game ball collection port after rolling in the game area,
In the enclosed game machine, the game balls collected from the game ball collection port are transported to the firing device, and the game balls are circulated and used to play a game,
means for enabling a game without prize balls to be executed for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of game balls;
Display control means capable of displaying performance explanation information on the second display device and changing a display range of the performance explanation information when the game without prize balls is being executed;
An enclosed game machine equipped with

Images