JP2023158181A - gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an enclosed ball type game machine capable of preventing return balls for causing an erroneous ball count of shot balls without especially providing a return ball prevention valve that interferes with the shot balls.SOLUTION: An enclosed ball type game machine includes a hit ball shooting device 29 and a return ball prevention member (ball feed member 32). The hit ball shooting device 29 includes: a rail member 33 for stopping a game ball in a shooting position; and a shooting hammer 30 that performs ball hitting operation based on drive of an electrical drive source, and shoots the game ball stopped in the shooting position toward a game area 8. The return ball prevention member can be moved between an allowed position (Fig.21) for permitting passage of a hit ball without interfering with the hit ball shot from the shooting position and a return ball prevention position (Fig.18) for preventing entry of a return ball returning from a shooting port 38 from the game area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

The present invention accommodates a predetermined number of game balls in a game machine, plays a game by firing the predetermined number of game balls into a game area with a ball launcher, collects the game balls after playing, and runs the inside of the game machine. The present invention relates to an enclosed ball game machine in which the predetermined number of game balls are circulated and used by firing the game balls from a ball firing device into the game area in a closed manner, and in particular, The present invention relates to an enclosed ball game machine in which a ball firing device for firing game balls is placed at the top of the game machine.

A game machine has been proposed in which a ball firing device that fires game balls into a game area defined on the game board surface is placed on the upper left side of the game machine (diagonally upper left with respect to the center of the game area) (for example, , Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3).

The game machine described in Patent Document 1 performs a game by firing a predetermined number of game balls sealed in the game machine main body into a game area of a game board using a firing device, and collects the game balls that have passed through the game area through a circulation path. This is an enclosed ball game machine that circulates the game balls by guiding them to a firing device.

In an enclosed ball game machine that has a circulation path through which game balls used in a pachinko game circulate, the game is played with a certain number of game balls sealed inside the game machine. 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 way, games with the enclosed ball type gaming machine are played entirely based on numerical data. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately detect the shot game balls and to manage the number of shot game balls.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-676 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-346067 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-200268

The gaming machines described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are those in which a shooting ball sensor is arranged at a position in front of the shooting position of a guide path that sends game balls to the shooting position, and in reality, the game balls sent to the shooting position are is regarded as a shot ball, and the game ball actually shot from the shooting position by the shooting device is not detected. For this reason, it cannot be said that the number of fired balls is counted accurately, and there is a possibility that the number of fired balls may be counted incorrectly.

The gaming machine described in Patent Document 3 has a firing device placed on the upper left side of the gaming machine for the purpose of expanding the gaming area and making it possible to hit the gaming ball into a targeted position with high accuracy. It is. In addition, this gaming machine is designed to prevent the ball from returning to a position that blocks the launch port (inside the game ball passage 33) so that the game ball that is shot into the gaming area from the launch port does not return to the launch port (inside the game ball passage 33) as a return ball. It is equipped with a valve, and a shot ball sensor is placed in front of the shooting port to detect the passage of the game ball shot by the shooting device. The game machine described in Patent Document 3 detects a fired ball on the premise that foul balls and returned balls do not occur, and compared to the game machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the game machine detects the fired ball on the premise that foul balls and returned balls do not occur. The game ball is accurately detected.

However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 3, the fired ball pushes open the return ball prevention valve that blocks the launch port and launches the ball into the game area, so the fired ball always collides with the return ball prevention valve. For this reason, some players may feel distrustful of hitting the game ball into a targeted position, which may reduce their interest in the game.

Therefore, the present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent the incorrect ball count of fired balls without providing a special ball return prevention valve that interferes with the fired balls. To provide a game machine that can prevent balls from returning.

Means 1 to 5 are available as means for solving the above problems of the present invention.
The enclosed ball game machine according to claim 1 includes:
A game board in which a game area is divided into sections,
a main body frame into which the game board is fitted and housed;
a ball launcher that is disposed on the top of the main body frame and launches a game ball at a launch position toward the game area;
a circulation path for collecting the game balls fired by the batted ball firing device as enclosed balls on the back side of the game board and supplying them again to the batting ball firing device;
a launch port for directly sending a game ball fired from the launch position into the game area by a ball-hitting operation of the batted-ball launcher;
Equipped with
The batted ball launching device includes:
a launch rail for stopping the game ball at the launch position;
a firing member that performs the ball hitting operation based on the drive of an electric drive source and fires the game ball stopped at the firing position toward the game area;
Equipped with
In order to solve the above problem, the game is played by circulating a predetermined number of game balls in a closed manner without paying out the game balls.
between an allowable position that allows the batted ball to pass 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 from the gaming area; a return ball prevention member that is movable at
[Means 1]

According to the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 1], the return ball prevention member has a permissible position that allows the passage of a batted ball without interfering with the batted ball fired from the firing position, and a position that allows the ball to pass from the gaming area to the firing port. Since it is movable between the return ball prevention position and the return ball prevention position that prevents the return ball from entering, there is no need to provide a return ball prevention valve that interferes with the fired balls, and it is possible to eliminate the cause of erroneous ball counting of the fired balls. It is possible to prevent the ball from returning.

The enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 2] is:
In the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 1],
The return ball prevention member is
movable between the allowable position and the return ball blocking position based on driving of an electric drive source;
When the return ball blocking member is in the permissible position, actuate the ball launcher to cause the ball launcher to perform the ball hitting operation, and after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of activation of the ball launcher. , comprising control means for controlling the return ball to be blocked by the return ball blocking member by moving the return ball blocking member to the return ball blocking position;
It is characterized by this.

According to the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 2], when the return ball prevention member takes the permissible position, the ball is allowed to pass without interfering with the ball fired from the firing position, so that the ball is not allowed to pass. Since there is no interference with the player, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling distrustful of hitting the game ball into the desired position, and it is possible to prevent the player from losing interest in the game.

After the ball is fired, the return ball blocking member takes the return ball blocking position, so that the return ball blocking member blocks the game ball fired into the gaming area from becoming a return ball and entering the launch port, thereby preventing the return ball from entering the shooting port. Since this can be prevented, it is possible to prevent the return ball from reducing interest in the game.

The enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 3] is:
In the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 1] or [Means 2],
A ball having a ball feeding member that feeds the game balls arranged and stored in an arrangement path formed in a part of the circulation path one by one to the shooting position of the batted ball shooting device based on the drive of an electric drive source. Equipped with a feeding device,
The return ball blocking member is movable between the allowable position and the return ball blocking position in conjunction with the ball sending operation of the ball sending member.
It is characterized by this.

According to the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 3], the movement of the return ball blocking member between the allowable position and the return ball blocking position is linked to the ball feeding operation of the ball sending member, so that the ball does not return. The movement timing between the allowable position of the blocking member and the return ball blocking position can be easily created.

The enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 4] is:
In the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 3],
The return ball blocking member is integrally formed with the ball sending member.
It is characterized by this.

According to the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 4], it is possible to simultaneously realize sending the ball to the firing position and preventing the ball from returning based on the drive of one electric drive source.

The enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 5] is:
In the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 4],
The ball feeding member is
Rotatable between a holding position for receiving and holding a game ball and a supplying position for sending the game ball held at the holding position from the ball supply port to the firing position,
When the ball sending member is in the supply position, the return ball blocking member takes the allowable position, and when the ball sending member is moved to the holding position, the return ball blocking member simultaneously moves to the return ball blocking position. do,
It is characterized by this.

According to the enclosed ball game machine according to [Means 5], when the ball sending member takes the supply position, the return ball preventing member does not interfere with the ball fired from the firing position, so that the player can aim at the game ball. It is possible to prevent the player from feeling distrustful about hitting the ball in the correct position, and it is possible to prevent the player from losing interest in the game.

In addition, when the ball sending member moves to the holding position, the return ball blocking member simultaneously moves to the return ball blocking position, thereby blocking the game balls fired into the gaming area from becoming return balls and entering the firing port. 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.

According to the enclosed ball game machine of the present invention, the return ball blocking member has a permissible position where the ball is allowed to pass without interfering with the ball fired from the firing position, and a position where the ball returns from the gaming area to the firing port. Since it is movable between the return ball prevention position and the return ball prevention position that prevents the return ball from entering, there is no need to provide a special return ball prevention valve that would interfere with the fired ball, and the return ball that would cause the erroneous ball count of the fired ball. can be prevented.

It is a front view showing a pachinko machine and a payment machine attached to the pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the gaming 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 which constitutes a 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, an arrangement passage, a ball pool, 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 diagram showing an open state of the upper firing device in the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed. It is a right side view showing a vertical section of the gaming 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 block diagram showing main parts in an embodiment of a main control board installed in an enclosed ball type pachinko machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a ball information control board installed in the enclosed ball type 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. 27 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control side power-on processing of FIG. 26. FIG. 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. 30 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control side power-on processing of FIG. 29; FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information payout control side power-on processing following FIG. 30; FIG. 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. 37. 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 time chart showing the drive timing of a ball feeding solenoid and a firing solenoid. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit. FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge part cover separated and turned over in FIG. 42; 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.

[Outline of gaming machine]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The pachinko machine 1 (enclosed ball game machine) 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 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 ejected into the game area by a firing device. A game is played using game balls pre-enclosed in a game machine, such that the game balls are fired to play a game, the game balls that have finished playing are collected, and the game balls are guided to the firing device and circulated for use. It has become. 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.

[Outline of gaming machine]
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 a rectangular frame shape and is installed on an island facility on the hall side, and a game board 5 (Fig. 2) that is pivotably supported by the outer frame so as to be openable and closable. The door frame 2 is configured to include a main body frame 2 that can be opened and closed, 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.

[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.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the main body frame 2 is provided with an upper firing device 12, a ball gathering section 21, a ball lifting device 22, a ball storage section 23, and an arrangement passage 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.

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 ball that has reached the base is lifted upward by the screw 25. A ball storage section 23 is arranged at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and temporarily stores game balls sent out from the ball lifting device 22. The ball reservoir 23 functions as a buffer to prevent the supply of game balls to the upper firing device 12 from being insufficient even if the ball lifting device 22 irregularly sends up the game balls.

Following the ball reservoir 23, an arrangement passage 24 is provided between the ball reservoir 23 and the upper firing device 12. The arrangement passage 24 has a structure in which the game balls sent from the ball reservoir 23 are arranged so that the game balls are continuously supplied to the upper firing device 12. The arrangement passage 24 is provided with a launch waiting ball detection switch 26 that detects the presence or absence of game balls waiting in line in the arrangement passage 24 (see FIG. 6).

Note that the ball lifting device 22 is not limited to a screw, but may also employ a belt mechanism. The game balls sent from the ball collection section 21 by the belt mechanism are sent to the upper firing device 12 through the game balls in the ball storage section 23. The ball lifting motor 150 is disposed with a gear provided at the lower center in the left-right direction of the belt mechanism, and the belt mechanism is operated by the drive of the ball lifting motor 150, and the ball is delivered one ball at a time to the ball pool 23. It is designed to transport game balls.

[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-like base plate 39 for attaching and fixing the upper firing device 12 to the main body frame 2, and a firing hammer 30 of the ball firing device 29 that receives game balls arriving from the arrangement passage 24. A ball sending device 28 that reliably sends out game balls one by one using a ball sending solenoid 31 (FIG. 11) and a ball sending member 32 to the hitting ball firing position (FIG. 8), and a hitting ball that fires game balls toward the game area 8. and a firing device 29 (see FIGS. 8 to 11).

The ball feeding device 28 receives the game balls arriving from the arrangement passage 24 (FIG. 6), and uses the ball feeding member 32 to securely send the game balls one by one to the firing position of the firing hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the ball firing device 29. This is a device for sending out.

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 using a vertical hinge 37 for the upper firing device. 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 circulation path of the game balls includes the above-mentioned irregular-shaped ball/magnetic ball ejection unit 20, the ball collection section 21, the ball lifting device 22, the ball storage section 23, the arrangement passage 24, the upper firing device 12, the game ball It passes through area 8. 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).

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.

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 positioned relative to the shooting position by being supported by a photo bracket 361, 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. 41). 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 configured as a unit, and includes a lifting communication gutter 65 having an inlet 66 connected to the front end of the arrangement passage 24 shown in FIG. A ball feeding unit base 67 which is connected to the gutter 65 and has a ball supply port 63 for supplying the game balls entering from the lifting communication gutter 65 to the batted ball launcher 29 and is open at the rear; A ball feeding unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the 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 operation by driving the ball feeding solenoid 31. It also includes a ball feeding member 32 that simultaneously realizes a ball return prevention operation, which will be described later.

The lifting/transporting communication gutter 65 is sloped gently downward from the rear end where the 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, by energizing and de-energizing the ball feeding solenoid 31, does not interfere with the batted ball fired from the firing position by the ball hitting operation of the batted ball firing device 29 described in claim 1. A return ball blocking part is integrally provided which is movable between a permissible position that allows the passage of a batted ball and a return ball blocking position that prevents the return ball from entering from the game area 8 to the launch port 38. It has become a thing.

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. 41 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feeding 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. 41, 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 3 mentioned above has a structure in which the ball is forcibly pried open by the ball to prevent the return of the ball blocking the ball opening, and the ball is shot or pushed out into the game area. For this reason, an electromagnetic drive source to perform the ball-striking motion 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 electromagnetic drive source. Therefore, the electromagnetic 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. 41, the firing solenoid 13 is exemplified for a period C from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the hammer tip 61 is projected through the through hole 335 of the rail portion 332 (FIG. 9). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being stopped 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.

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. 23 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. 23, the main control board 100 that controls the progress of the game includes a main control MPU 101 that is a microprocessor that has a built-in ROM that stores various processing programs and various 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. 24 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. 24, the ball information control unit 118 includes a ball information control MPU 111, which is a microprocessor that includes a ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and an I/O. A ball information control I/O port 112 as an O device, 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. 25 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. 25, 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 fluctuation information output signal), special symbol design fluctuation (special symbol display information output signal), state where there is reservation based on starting opening winning ( starting gate 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. 23 in accordance with the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 26 to 28. 26 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. 27 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the main control side power-on process of FIG. 26, 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 a main control side power-on process, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. 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. 23) 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 processing is repeatedly performed at every interrupt period (4 ms in this embodiment) set in the main control side power-on processing shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.

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. 28 (step S70). At this time, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value A set in step S54 of the main control side main loop processing.

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. 24 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 28 to 33. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the ball information control side power-on process executed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110, and FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the ball information control side power-on process of FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information control side power-on processing following FIG. 30, and FIG. 32 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. 33 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 the ball information control MPU) of the ball information control section 118 in the ball information control board 110, as shown in FIGS. 29 to 30, 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. 24 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). With this setting, access to the RAM with built-in ball information control is prohibited, making writing and reading impossible, and the ball information backup information stored in the RAM with built-in ball information control is protected.

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 that the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110 executes every 2 ms in the ball information control main process of FIG. 31 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 bat a ball, the process of counting the number of balls held, the ball feeding/emission driving process, the process of detecting shot balls, and the process of subtracting the number of balls held are executed as one of the main operation setting processes in step S564, The pass/fail determination process, the process to count the number of held balls, the ball feeding/shooting drive process, the launched ball detection process, and the process to subtract the number of held balls are executed in this order.

When the player inserts the card 403 into the card insertion slot, the payment machine 4 detects the insertion of the card 403, and the 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 described. FIG. 34 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 processing]
Next, a description will be given of the ball hitting/unballing determination process executed by the ball information control MPU. FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating 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 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. 36 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. 37 and 38 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. 41 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feeding 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 as YES in step S731, the process proceeds to step S732, a timer value corresponding to period A (see FIG. 39, 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. 29.

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, the determination in step S736 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S737, assuming that period A has elapsed, and sets the timer value corresponding to period B (see FIG. 41, 30 ms) in the timer. (Step S737), the firing solenoid 13 is turned on (Step S738), the processing flag is set to 2 (Step S739), and the subroutine of the ball feeding 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, it is determined as YES in step S741, 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. 41, 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. 39 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. 40 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.

[Irregular sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit]
FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball ejecting part cover separated from FIG. 41 and turned over. FIG. 44 is a plan view of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 45 is a rear view of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating the base plate of the deformed sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 47 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. 48 is a diagram illustrating the path through which irregularly shaped spheres and magnetic spheres are discharged in the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the magnetic sphere is separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic balls have reached the magnetic ball ejection slope.

As shown in FIG. 42, 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). On the top are out balls that flowed down without winning in various winning slots (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. 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. 45 and 46, the irregular-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. 42, the irregular-shaped ball ejector base attachment part 212 is provided with a ball receiving gutter base 201 inclined 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. 44) toward the downstream side 214.

FIG. 47 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. 47(a) shows the irregularly shaped ball ejecting section 204. FIG. 47(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. 44, the irregular sphere discharge section 204 includes two irregular sphere separation shafts 209 and 210, each having a circular cross section and arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side 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 separating 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. 47(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 section 205 is fixed to the ball receiving gutter base 201 as shown in FIG. 42. FIG. 47 shows a state in which the magnetic ball discharge 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. 49 shows an example in which a magnet 229 is mounted in a magnet accommodating 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. 49, the magnetic balls 232 reach the area of the magnetic ball discharge slope 222 (see FIG. 42) as shown in FIG. 50 without falling from the discontinuous portion 223. Irregular balls made of magnetic material that have reached the area of the magnetic ball ejection slope 222 are ejected through the magnetic ball ejection path 226 to the magnetic ball ejection port 227 and outside of the irregularly shaped sphere/magnetic ball ejection unit 20 (see FIG. 48). ).

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. 49 , 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. 48). 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.

In addition, during a game using the game machine or when the power of the game machine is turned off, in order to prevent a stagnation state in which the regular game balls reach the discontinuous portion 223 in the circulation path 219, The gaming machine is configured. If it reaches the discontinuous part 223, the number of circulating game balls is too large, so the discontinuous part 223 is filled with game balls, and the game balls flowing down after that will flow down the magnetic ball discharge path 226. Even if you do, there is no problem.

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 game machine of the present invention includes a game board in which a game area is partitioned, a main body frame in which the game board is fitted and housed, and a main body frame arranged on the upper part of the main body frame, a ball launcher that fires game balls toward a gaming area; a ball launcher that collects the game balls fired by the ball launcher as enclosed balls on the back side of the game board; removes illegal balls; and then returns the game balls to the ball launcher. In order to supply one of the enclosed balls arranged and stored in a circulation path including a deformed sphere/magnetic ball discharge means and an array passage formed in a part of the circulation path based on the drive of an electric drive source. A ball feeding device that feeds each batted ball to the firing position of the ball launching device, a main control board that performs game control processing related to a pachinko game, and a main control board that is connected to the main control board so that bidirectional data communication is possible, and in 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 balls fired by the batted ball launcher; and control to launch game balls by the batted ball launcher; , 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 game, and the ball firing device performs 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 moves the ball to the firing position. The ball information control board includes a shooting member that shoots the parked game ball, and a shot ball confirmation device that detects the game ball parked at the shooting position, and the ball information control board is configured to fire the game ball at the shooting position for a predetermined period of time. a launched ball detection/judgment means for determining 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/judgment means determines that a launched ball is present. on the condition that the game ball is not detected by the shot ball confirmation means, it is determined that the game ball parked at the shooting position has been fired, and the number of held balls is subtracted by one from the number of held balls. It is composed of 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.

1 Pachinko machine 1a Outer frame 2 Main body frame 3 Door frame 4 Adjustment machine 5 Game board 6 Decorative cover 7 Hinge 8 Game area 9 Game window 10 Ball batting handle 11 Transparent plate 12 Upper firing device 13 Firing solenoid 14 Touch panel section 15 Fitting frame 16 Peripheral wall 17 Accommodation opening 18 Overhanging wall 19 Irregular sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit accommodating part 20 Irregular sphere/magnetic sphere ejection unit 21 Ball collecting section 22 Ball lifting device 23 Ball reservoir 24 Arranging passage 25 Screw 26 Balls waiting to be launched Detection switch 28 Ball feeder 29 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 guiding surface 56 Stopper piece 60 Rotation drive shaft 61 Hammer tip 62 Stopper cover 63 Ball supply port 64 Launch port decoration member 65 Lifting communication gutter 66 Entry port 67 Ball feeding unit base 68 Ball feeding unit cover 69 Ball feeding guide gutter 70 Launch standby ball detection switch 71 Ball feeding sheet metal 72 Operating rod portion 73 Sheet metal storage portion 74 Ball feeding portion 75 Shaft hole 76 Ball feed shaft 77 Arm portion 78 Sheet metal locking claw 79 Locking protrusion 80 Ball feed guide surface 81 Ball holding surface 82 Hanging piece 83 Return ball prevention portion 84 Ball stop portion 85 Ball passing port 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 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 Container 148 Game status indicator 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 shape Ball ejection 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 unit base attachment part 213 Upstream side 214 Downstream side 215 Irregular ball ejection path 216 Irregular ball ejection port 217 Irregular ball ejection path forming member 218 Communication path 219 Circulation path 220 Inclined surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic ball ejection inclined surface 223 Discontinuous portion 224 Side wall 225 Ceiling wall 226 Magnetic ball ejection path 227 Magnetic ball ejection port 228 Magnetic ball ejection part cover 229 Magnet 230 Magnet housing space 231 Magnetic force adjustment section 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Ejected ball receiving box

402 Card processing machine 403 Card 404 ID storage section 405 Remaining power storage section 406 Number of balls held storage section

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is divided into sections,
a main body frame into which the game board is fitted and housed;
a ball launcher that is disposed on the upper part of the main body frame and launches a game ball at a launch position toward the game area;
a circulation path for collecting the game balls fired by the batted ball firing device as enclosed balls on the back side of the game board and supplying them again to the batting ball firing device;
a launch port for directly sending a game ball fired from the launch position into the game area by a ball-hitting operation of the batted-ball launcher;
Equipped with
The batted ball launching device includes:
a launch rail for stopping the game ball at the launch position;
a firing member that performs the ball hitting operation based on the drive of an electric drive source and fires the game ball stopped at the firing position toward the game area;
Equipped with
In an enclosed ball game machine that plays a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls in a closed manner without dispensing the game balls,
between an allowable position that allows the batted ball to pass 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 from the gaming area; It is equipped with a return ball prevention member that is movable at
An enclosed ball game machine characterized by:

Images