JP2024060396A - Enclosed gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] We propose a gaming machine that improves the work efficiency when inserting enclosed balls into the gaming machine. [Solution] By providing a storage means for receiving and storing the gaming balls enclosed in the gaming machine when the gaming balls are discharged, and providing a counting means for counting the number of gaming balls in the storage means, the storage means can be used not only as a tray for receiving the enclosed balls when they are discharged, but also as a counting means for counting the gaming balls when they are taken into the machine. This makes it possible to take into the machine the number of gaming balls that corresponds to the recommended number of enclosed balls, without having to count the gaming balls manually or prepare a dedicated counting means for counting. [Selected Figure] Figure 28

Description

The present invention relates to an enclosed gaming machine in which a certain number of game balls enclosed inside the machine are circulated to play the game.

In recent years, a so-called enclosed game machine has become known in which a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed inside the machine (hereinafter also referred to as enclosed balls) and launched into a game area, the launched game balls are collected through the game area, and the collected game balls are sent to a launching device and launched again, circulating a predetermined number of game balls to play the game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-290592

However, in the case of the enclosed game machines described above, the enclosed balls may need to be removed from the machine or loaded back into the machine when the machine is removed, installed, or maintained. In particular, when loading game balls into the machine, it was necessary to count and insert the game balls to match the recommended number of enclosed balls.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an enclosed game machine that allows for efficient operations when ejecting enclosed balls from the game machine and when loading enclosed balls into the game machine.

The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in the following forms.
In a gaming machine that contains a predetermined number of game balls and circulates game balls that have been shot into a game area and used in a game so that they can be shot again into the game area,
a game ball intake means for taking game balls into the machine;
a game ball discharge means for discharging the game balls enclosed within the machine to the outside of the machine;
A storage means for storing the game balls discharged outside the machine,
The storage means is provided in a box shape, and at least a bottom portion is provided with a slope.
The storage means is provided with a mark for indicating the number of game balls stored therein. (First Feature)

The game ball intake means may be a dedicated opening on the back of the game machine through which the game balls are inserted and enclosed, or it may be configured so that the game balls can be inserted directly from the back of the game machine onto the circulation path. Also, it may be configured so that the game balls are inserted from an outlet on the game board or from each winning port without providing a dedicated means.
The game ball discharge means refers to a means for removing the game balls sealed inside the machine, and one example of such a configuration may be one in which a ball removal lever is provided on the circulation path, and game balls are sequentially discharged from a discharge passage that is made open by operating the lever.
The storage means may be arranged as a box-shaped tray for the balls discharged from the machine to prevent them from scattering. The number of balls required to play a game may vary slightly depending on the game configuration, but if we assume that the number of balls is around 40, it is desirable for the storage means to have a space large enough to line up the balls without them overlapping. This is because it makes it easier to count them visually.

For example, if the storage space of the storage means is designed to be wide enough to accommodate 10 game balls and long enough to accommodate 5 game balls, the counting means may attach marks so that the locations of the game balls when lined up vertically can be known. In this way, when the game balls are lined up horizontally in the storage means with no gaps and there are three vertical rows, it becomes immediately clear that there are 30 game balls.
The marks may simply be black dots, or numbers such as "10" or "30" may be used. There are no particular limitations as long as they make counting easier.

The first feature of the enclosed game machine is that by providing a counting means for counting the number of game balls in the storage means which serves as a receptacle when the enclosed balls are discharged from the machine, the storage means can be used not only as a receptacle when the enclosed balls are discharged, but also as counting means for counting the game balls when they are taken into the machine.
In particular, since the storage means is box-shaped and has a slope at the bottom, when game balls are placed in the storage means, they flow to the lowest part of the bottom due to their own weight and form a uniform mass, so there is no need to take the trouble to line up the game balls. Also, since the game balls on the storage means are lined up in a uniform place, and marks are added accordingly, the number of game balls can be instantly grasped.
This makes it possible to take into the machine the number of game balls that corresponds to the recommended number of enclosed balls, without having to count the game balls manually or having a dedicated counting means for counting.

The storage means may be shaped like a coin box so that it can easily receive the game balls that are discharged. Considering that the estimated number of enclosed balls is about 40, and that the storage means serves as a counting means for counting the game balls that are inserted into the gaming machine, a shallow box shape is preferable so that the game balls can be easily removed.
In addition, when the bottom is inclined, if the bottom of the storage means is rectangular, it is desirable to incline only one side so that it is the lowest. For example, by making the left-hand side of the front side the lowest of the four sides when viewed from the back of the gaming machine, the game balls placed in the storage means will flow to the left side due to their own weight, and will be easier to line up horizontally and vertically starting from the leftmost game ball. In addition, by making the right-hand side of the front side the second lowest, the bottom as a whole will be inclined toward the front, and then inclined to the left, making it even easier to line up.

Furthermore, when providing a slope at the bottom, if the bottom of the storage means is rectangular, it is desirable to slope only one side so that it is the lowest. For example, by making the left-hand side at the front the lowest of the four sides when viewed from the back of the gaming machine, game balls placed in the storage means will flow to the left front due to their own weight, making it easier to line up in a row horizontally and vertically starting from the leftmost game ball at the front. Furthermore, by making the right-hand side at the front the second lowest, the bottom as a whole will slope towards the front and then slope to the left, making it even easier to line up.

[Third characteristic of the enclosed gaming machine]
In a gaming machine that contains a predetermined number of game balls and circulates game balls that have been shot into a game area and used in a game so that they can be shot again into the game area,
a fraudulent ball ejection means for ejecting a fraudulent ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball from the machine;
and a illegal ball storage means for storing the illegal ball discharged outside the machine,
The illegal ball storage means is characterized by being provided with a counting means for counting the number of legitimate game balls.

It is desirable for the illegal ball ejection means to be one that removes balls that do not meet the standard diameter (also referred to as illegal balls). In particular, balls that are smaller than the standard diameter (also referred to as small balls) can pass through gaps that regular balls cannot pass through, and are highly likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Moreover, once a illegal ball is trapped inside, it will circulate and be fired many times, causing serious damage.
Therefore, by providing a function for excluding game balls with non-standard diameters from the circulation path through which the enclosed balls always pass, it is possible to prevent illegal balls from circulating multiple times.
The illegal ball storage means may be arranged as a box-shaped tray for the illegal balls to fall into, in order to prevent them from scattering when they are discharged from the machine. The number of enclosed balls required to play a game varies slightly depending on the game configuration, but assuming that the number is around 40, it is desirable for the storage means to have a space large enough to line up the legitimate game balls without them overlapping. This is because it makes it easier to count them visually.
For example, if the width of the storage space of the illegal ball storage means is set to a width that can accommodate exactly 10 regular game balls and a length that can accommodate 5, the counting means can be thought of as providing marks so that it is possible to know where the regular game balls will be placed when they are lined up vertically. In this way, when the regular game balls are lined up horizontally with no gaps in the illegal ball storage means and there are three vertical rows, it becomes immediately clear that there are 30 balls.
The marks may simply be black dots, or numbers such as "10" or "30" may be used. There are no particular limitations as long as they make counting easier.

The third feature of the enclosed gaming machine is that by providing a counting means for counting the number of legitimate gaming balls in the illegal ball storing means which serves as a receptacle when illegal balls are discharged from the machine, the illegal ball storing means can be used not only as a receptacle when illegal balls are discharged, but also as a counting means for counting gaming balls when legitimate gaming balls are taken into the machine.
This makes it possible to take into the machine the number of game balls that corresponds to the recommended number of enclosed balls, without having to count the game balls manually or having a dedicated counting means for counting.

1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 1 according to the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the pachinko machine 1 and the CR unit 46 in an exploded view. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a power supply circuit 90. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a power-on process. 4 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of power interruption. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of a main routine. A flowchart showing the start winning confirmation process. 1 is a flowchart showing the correct/incorrect determination process. 2 is a flowchart showing the correct/incorrect determination process. 3 is a flowchart showing the correct/incorrect determination process. 4 is a flowchart showing the correct/incorrect determination process. 1 is a flowchart showing jackpot game processing. 2 is a flowchart showing the jackpot game processing. 3 is a flowchart showing the jackpot game processing. 11 is a flowchart 3 showing a state information output process. (A) is a diagram showing game status information for external output, and (B) is a diagram showing progress status information for detailed output. 11 is a table showing the contents of operational abnormalities. 1 is a flowchart 1 showing an operation abnormality handling process. 1 is a chart showing responses to operational abnormalities. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state on the display screen of the unit display device 47 under normal circumstances. FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode for notifying an operational abnormality in a unit display device 47. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode in which an operational abnormality is notified in the unit display device 47. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode in which an operational abnormality is notified in the unit display device 47. 11 is a table showing information transmitted from the CR unit 46. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a display mode for notifying an operational abnormality. FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the enclosed ball collection box.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various forms may be adopted as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 1 has a structure in which each component is held by an outer frame 51 that forms a vertically long fixed outer shell holding frame. An inner frame 70 (see Figure 3) is attached to the outer frame 51 via hinges provided on the top and bottom of the left side of the outer frame 51 so that it can be opened and closed relative to the outer frame 51. A front frame (glass frame) 52 is attached to the front of the inner frame 70 so that it can be opened relative to the inner frame 70, and a plate glass (not shown) is attached to the front frame 52 so that it can be removed. Furthermore, the game board 2 attached to the inner frame 70 is arranged on the back side (rear side) of this plate glass.

Speakers 66 are provided on the upper left and right sides of the front frame 52, and the game sounds and alarm sounds emitted from the speakers 66 enhance the entertainment value of the game and alert the player. The front frame 52 is also provided with a number of frame-side decorative lamps 65 that emit light according to the game status, and the light emitted enhances the entertainment value of the game. Furthermore, a mounting section 55 is provided in the lower center of the front frame 52 to which the unit display device 47 of the CR unit 46, which will be described later, is detachably attached. A launch handle 64 is provided to the right of the mounting section 55. The launch handle 64 is rotated clockwise by the player to move the launch device 31 (see FIG. 3) and launch the game balls toward the game area 3 of the game board 2.

In addition, directly above the mounting portion 55 (unit display device 47) on the front frame 52, there are provided a ball count display device 61 that displays the number of balls that can be played, and a counting switch 62 for transferring the ball count information held on the frame control device 81 side to the CR unit 46 side. Furthermore, to the left of the counting switch 62, there is provided an effect button 63 that can be operated by the player.

The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is a so-called sealed type gaming machine, and is adjacent to a card unit (CR unit) 46 that performs reading and writing of IC cards, etc. The CR unit 46 is provided with a card insertion port 49 into which an IC card can be inserted and removed, and a bill insertion port 48 into which bills can be inserted, and further, a unit display device 47 is provided so as to protrude rightward from the lower part of the CR unit 46.
The unit display device 47 is removably mounted on the mounting portion 55 of the front frame 52 described above, and is attached so as to cover the mounting portion 55 with the CR unit 46 adjacent to the left side of the pachinko machine 1.
The unit display device 47 is equipped with a touch panel type LCD screen, and displays the credit balance (or the number of game balls that can be lent out within the credit balance) stored in the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 49. The credit balance (or the number of game balls that can be lent out) is updated according to the lending and returning of game balls. The display mode of the unit display device 47 will be described in detail later.

The pachinko machine (enclosed gaming machine) 1 is also connected to the hall computer 87 via the CR unit 56, and is also connected to an external information management center and a management computer via a wide area network (not shown). As a result, each pachinko machine 1 has its shipping information from the manufacturer, information about the gaming parlor where it is installed, information about transfers between gaming parlors, disposal information, etc. managed based on its own authentication information, providing high security capabilities to prevent unauthorized use or unauthorized modification.

The game board 2 is provided with a roughly circular game area 3 surrounded by guide rails 3a, and a large number of game pegs (not shown) are planted in the game area 3. A center case (not shown) is disposed in the center of the game area 3, and an LCD screen of a performance pattern display device 6 (not shown in its entirety) is disposed in the center of the center case so that it can be seen from the front. This center case also includes a warp entrance, warp passage, stage, etc. (not shown).

A first starting hole 11 is disposed below the performance symbol display device 6 (directly below the center case), and a normal symbol activation gate 17 and a second starting hole 12 are disposed above and below to the right of the center case. The second starting hole 12 is configured as a normal electric device with openable and closable wings, and is configured so that game balls can only win when the wings are open. Furthermore, a large winning hole 14 is disposed directly below the first starting hole 11. Four general winning holes 15 are disposed to the left of the first starting hole 11. These general winning holes 15 are configured so that game balls can always win.

At the most downstream part of the play area 3, an outlet 16 is provided, and if a game ball shot into the play area 3 does not enter any of the winning holes 14, 15 or the starting holes 11, 12, the ball will enter the outlet 16.

At the bottom right of the game board 2, there are arranged a normal symbol display device 7 consisting of multiple LEDs, a normal symbol reserved number display device 8, a first special symbol reserved number display device 18, a second special symbol reserved number display device 19, and a first special symbol display device 9 and a second special symbol display device 10 consisting of 7-segment displays.

3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 1. On the rear side of the pachinko machine 1, an inner frame 70 to which the game board 2 is detachably attached is housed in an outer frame 51. A launching device 31 that launches game balls into the game area 3 is disposed on the upper part of the inner frame 70. The game balls launched by the launching device 31 fly out from the upper left part of the game area 3 into the game area 3 and flow down the game area 3.
A grinding device 35 is installed at the bottom of the inner frame 70 to collect game balls launched into the game area 3 and grind the collected game balls. This grinding device 35 is connected to the above-mentioned starting holes 11 and 12, the big prize hole 14, the general prize holes 15, and the outlet hole 16 via a recovery path (not shown), and game balls that enter the starting holes 11 and 12, the big prize hole 14, the general prize holes 15, and the outlet hole 16 are sent through the recovery path.
In addition, a lifting device 33 that sends the game balls polished by the polishing device 35 to the launching device 31 is disposed in the vertical direction in the inner frame 70. A configuration for circulating game balls is provided by the launching device 31, the recovery path, the polishing device 35, and the lifting device 33. That is, the game balls launched from the launching device 31 into the game area 3 enter either the starting holes 11, 12 or the outlet 16, and are then sent from the recovery path to the polishing device 35, and are further supplied again to the launching device 31 via the lifting device 33.

Although not shown in detail, there are an intake port 20 for taking in game balls into the machine, a ball removal lever (game ball discharge means) 21 for discharging the taken-in game balls (hereinafter also referred to as enclosed balls) outside the machine, and an enclosed ball recovery box (storage means) 22 for collecting the game balls discharged by operating the ball removal lever.
Also provided is a means for removing illegal balls 23 for removing illegal balls (small balls) that are smaller in diameter than the regular game balls. An opening with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the regular game balls is provided at the bottom of the circulation path for the enclosed balls, and the regular game balls pass through as is, but game balls smaller than the diameter of the opening drop there and are removed from the circulation path. The reason why game balls smaller than the regular game balls are removed is because they may be able to pass through nail spaces that regular game balls cannot pass through, which could result in a higher than expected rate of winning into the prize hole.
The game balls that fall from the opening are discharged outside the machine, and the discharged game balls are guided to a wrong ball recovery box (wrong ball storage means) 24.

In addition, a main control device 80, a frame control device 81, a performance symbol control device 82, a sub-integrated control device 83, and a power supply device 85 (see FIG. 5) are arranged on the back side of the pachinko machine 1. The main control device 80, the performance symbol control device 82, and the sub-integrated control device 83 are provided on the game board 2, and the frame control device 81 and the power supply device 85 are provided on the inner frame 70.

4 is a block diagram showing the electrical wiring of the pachinko machine 1. Note that this block diagram does not show relay boards or power boards that simply relay signals. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the main control device 80, frame control device 81, performance symbol control device 82, and sub-integrated control device 83 all have a CPU, ROM, RAM, input ports, output ports, etc.
Then, the CPU of each of these control devices starts the programs loaded in each ROM by an interrupt signal with a 2 ms cycle, and executes various controls. As described later, the frame control device 81 handles information on the performance display device 60, information on the number of balls held by the player, and information related to the credit balance, so non-volatile memory (such as flash memory or non-volatile RAM) can be preferably used so that this information can be retained even in the event that the power supply is cut off. This reduces the possibility that the player will suffer a disadvantage even if the power supply is cut off.

The main control device 80 receives detection signals from the first start port switch 11a, which detects game balls that have entered the first start port 11, the second start port switch 12a, which detects game balls that have entered the second start port 12, the normal symbol activation switch 17a, which detects game balls that have passed through the normal symbol activation gate 17, the count switch 14a, which counts game balls that have entered the big prize port 14, each general prize port switch 15a, which detects game balls that have entered each general prize port 15, a magnet sensor that detects magnetism, a radio wave sensor that detects radio waves, etc., via the game board relay terminal board 74.

The main control device 80 operates according to a program loaded in its ROM, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above-mentioned detection signals, etc., and outputs the commands to the frame control device 81 and the sub-integrated control device 83.
In addition, the main control device 80 controls the display of the first special pattern display device 9, the second special pattern display device 10, and the ordinary pattern display device 7 via the pattern display device relay terminal board 71, and also controls the lighting of the first special pattern reserved number display device 18, the second special pattern reserved number display device 19, and the ordinary pattern reserved number display device 8.
Furthermore, the main control device 80 is also connected to the large prize opening solenoid 14b and the normal electric accessory solenoid 12b via the game board relay terminal board 74. The main control device 80 controls the opening and closing of the large prize opening 14 by controlling the large prize opening solenoid 14b, and controls the opening and closing of the second starting opening 12 by controlling the normal electric accessory solenoid 12b.
The main control device 80 also outputs signals for managing the pattern changes and big wins, and these output signals are sent from the frame control device 81 to the hall computer via the CR unit 46. Furthermore, the main control device 80 is connected to a prize ball number display device 99, which controls the display of the number of prize balls. This prize ball number display device 99 makes it easy for players to grasp the number of prize balls generated by winning in each winning hole (starting hole, general winning hole, big winning hole, etc.). However, since the enclosed type gaming machine is equipped with a ball number display device 61 whose display is controlled by the frame control device 81, and the number of prize balls can also be grasped by the ball number display device 61, the prize ball number display device 99 is not essential.

The main control device 80 and the frame control device 81 are connected to enable two-way communication from the main control device 80 to the frame control device 81. The main control device 80 mainly takes charge of control related to the game, and the frame control device 81 mainly takes charge of control related to the game balls (number of shots, number of winning balls, number of balls held, etc.).
It is also possible to configure the main control device 80 to communicate in one direction with the frame control device 81. This can eliminate the situation where an instruction signal is input to the main control device 80, making the gaming machine more resistant to fraud.

The frame control device 81 is communicably connected to the CR unit 46 via the game ball lending device 75. It is also communicably connected to the unit display device 47 of the CR unit 46, and the frame control device 81 receives signals from the lending switch 58 and the return switch 59 provided on the unit display device 47. The frame control device 81 performs the following operations: grasping the credit balance and the number of balls held stored in the IC card inserted in the CR unit 46; setting the number of balls held according to the lending signal received from the lending switch 58; returning the credit balance according to the return signal received from the return switch 59; and transferring the number of balls held, which is managed by the frame control device 81 and stored in the IC card according to the operation of the counting switch 62.
In addition, the frame control device 81 is communicably connected to a hall computer 87 via the CR unit 46 , and transmits game information of the pachinko machine 1 to the hall computer 87 .

Furthermore, the frame control device 81 receives, via the firing operation unit relay terminal board 76, a rotation amount signal of the firing handle 64 from the handle volume 101, a firing stop signal from the firing stop switch 103, and a touch signal from the touch switch 102. The rotation amount signal is output when the player rotates the firing handle 64, the touch signal is output when the player touches the firing handle 64, and the firing stop signal is output when the player presses the firing stop switch 103.
If a touch signal is not input, the game ball cannot be launched, and when a launch stop switch signal is input, the game ball cannot be launched even if the player is touching the launch handle 64.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned counting switch 62 and ball holding number display device 61 are connected via the firing operation unit relay terminal board 76 and the operation unit relay terminal board 73, and the frame control device 81 receives an operation signal from the counting switch 62 and controls the display of the ball holding number display device 61.
The ball count display device 61 displays the number of balls held by the player on the frame control device 81 side (the number of game balls the player can use for play), and displays the number of balls held in real time, which is updated at any time by subtraction upon firing by the firing device 31 or detection by the winning ball sensor 120 and the out ball sensor 121, and by addition of the number of prize balls resulting from winning at the start holes 11 and 12, the general winning hole 15, and the large winning hole 14.

In addition, the frame control device 81 is connected to the ball feed sensor 104, launch inlet sensor 105, launch motor 106, and ball feed solenoid 107 of the launch device 31 via the launch device relay terminal board 77.
The ball sending sensor 104 detects the game ball sent to the launch position of the launching device 31, and outputs a detection vibration of the game ball. The launch entrance sensor 105 detects the game ball supplied from the above-mentioned lifting device 33 to the launching device 31, and outputs a detection signal of the game ball.
The frame control device 81 drives and controls the launch motor 106 and the ball feed solenoid 107 based on the signals transmitted from the handle volume 101, the launch stop switch 103, the touch switch 102, the ball feed sensor 104, and the launch inlet sensor 105 to launch or stop the game ball.

Furthermore, the frame control device 81 is connected to a cassette switch 108, a polishing motor sensor 109, a cassette motor 110, and a polishing motor 111 via a polishing device relay terminal board 78, and drives the above-mentioned polishing device 35 by controlling the drive of the cassette motor 110 and the polishing motor 111 based on detection signals from the cassette switch 108 and the polishing motor sensor 109. Since the polishing device 35 is a consumable item, it has a cassette type structure to make it easy to replace.
In addition, the frame control device 81 is connected to a lifting inlet sensor 113, a lifting motor monitoring sensor 114, and a lifting motor 112 via a lifting relay terminal board 79, and drives the above-mentioned lifting device 33 by controlling the drive of the lifting motor 112 based on detection signals from the lifting inlet sensor 113 and the lifting motor monitoring sensor 114.

Furthermore, the frame control device 81 is connected to a winning ball sensor 120, an out ball sensor 121, an appropriate amount sensor 122, a full tank sensor 123, and a nighttime monitoring switch 124 via the inner frame relay terminal board 72, and receives signals from these sensors and switches. The winning ball sensor 120 is disposed in a recovery path that connects each of the winning ports, the start ports 11 and 12, the big winning port 14, and the general winning port 15, with the grinding device 35, and detects game balls that have entered each of these winning ports.
In addition, the out ball sensor 121 is disposed in a recovery path that connects the outlet 16 with the polishing device 35 and detects a game ball that has entered the outlet 16 .
The proper amount sensor 122 detects the proper amount of game balls to be circulated inside the machine. Furthermore, the frame control device 81 is also connected to a glass frame opening switch 125 and an inner frame opening switch 126, and receives detection signals from these switches.

The frame control device 81 is also connected to a performance display device 60. The performance display device 60 is provided to prevent the performance of the machine from being changed by unauthorized adjustment of the gaming nails, and displays a base value in a normal state.
The base value for the normal state is obtained by confirming the number of game balls that have been shot by detecting the game balls with the ball sending sensor 104 that sends game balls to the shooting device 31 or by detecting the game balls with the winning ball sensor 120 and the out ball sensor 121 when the main control device 80 indicates that the state is normal (when a signal indicating the normal state is received), and calculating the number of returned balls from this number of shots and the number of winning balls indicated in the winning ball number information sent from the main control device 80. Here, since the number of shots is approximately 100 balls per minute, for example, the base value when 60,000 balls are shot in about 10 hours can be used as the determined value.

The sub-integrated control device 83 receives data and commands sent from the main control device 80, sorts these into data for performance display control, sound control, and lamp control, sends commands for performance display control, etc. to the performance pattern control device 82, and distributes the data for sound control and lamp control to each control part contained within it (functional components such as a sound control device and a lamp control device).
The functional unit as a voice control device operates the sound LSI based on the voice control data to control the output of voice from the speaker 66, and the functional unit as a lamp control device operates the lamp driver based on the lamp control data to control the emission of various LEDs and lamps 65. Note that the circuit between the sub-integrated control device 83 and the main control device 80 is configured as a one-way communication circuit only from the main control device 80 to the sub-integrated control device 83.

In addition, switches that detect the operation of the performance buttons 63, jog dial, etc. are connected to the sub-integrated control device 83, and when each switch detects an operation by the player, the corresponding signal is input.

The performance pattern control device 82 performs control based on data and commands sent from the sub-integrated control device 83 (those sent from the main control device 80 and those generated by the sub-integrated control device 83 based on input from the main control device 80 and input from the performance buttons, etc.), and displays performance images such as pseudo patterns on the screen of the performance pattern display device 6.

The CR unit 46 performs processing to read and write information, such as the credit balance and the number of balls held by the IC card, from the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 49 .
The information read from the IC card is then transmitted to the frame control device 81. As a result, the frame control device 81 appropriately updates and manages information such as the credit balance and the number of balls that can be loaned as the game progresses, and displays the credit balance and the number of balls that can be loaned on the unit display device 47.
Furthermore, when the game ends, the settled number of balls is transmitted from the frame control device 81 to the CR unit 46, and the information on the IC card is updated.

5 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the power supply circuit 90 of the pachinko machine 1. The power supply device 85 is configured as a DC power supply that generates a DC voltage from power supplied from an external AC power supply, and supplies power to each part that constitutes the pachinko machine 1.
Although not shown, the power supply device 85 is provided with a main switch for switching between supplying and not supplying power to each part of the pachinko machine 1, a 5V power generation circuit, a 12V power generation circuit, a 24V power generation circuit, a power interruption detection circuit (power failure monitoring circuit), etc. The power generated by each of these generation circuits is supplied to the frame control device 81 and the sub-integrated control device 83, etc., via a power supply relay board 91.
In addition, when the power supply voltage drops to a predetermined lower limit voltage, the power interruption detection circuit determines that the main switch is turned off or a power outage has occurred, and sends a signal indicating the voltage drop to a power supply relay board 91 described below.

The power supply relay board 91 is equipped with a backup power supply circuit 92 consisting of a capacitor and the like, and generates a backup power supply from the 5V power supply supplied from the power supply unit 85. When the power supply relay board 91 receives a voltage drop signal from the power interruption detection circuit described above, it supplies the backup power generated by the backup power supply circuit 92 to the frame control unit 81 and the sub-integrated control unit 83, respectively.
Furthermore, the backup power supply, 5V power supply, 12V power supply, and 24V power supply are supplied to the main control device 80 via the frame control device 81. Similarly, the backup power supply, 5V power supply, 12V power supply, and 24V power supply are supplied to the performance pattern control device 82 via the sub-integrated control device 83.
This backup power supply is supplied to the main control device 80, frame control device 81, sub integrated control device 83, and performance pattern control device 82, so that when the power supply is stopped during a power outage or other reason, the contents stored in the RAM, which is the storage means of each of these control devices 80 to 83, are retained for a certain period of time.
In addition, in this embodiment, as described below, even if the frame control device 81 forcibly stops the power supply (5 V power supply, 12 V power supply, and 24 V power supply) to the main control device 80, backup power is supplied to the main control device 80 from the backup power supply circuit 92.

The frame control device 81 of this embodiment is also provided with a changeover switch 95 that switches between a supply state in which the 5V power source, 12V power source, and 24V power source supplied from the power supply relay board 91 are supplied to the main control device 80, and a non-supply state in which the supply is stopped. This changeover switch 95 is operated by a signal from the CPU of the frame control device 81, and is switched between the supply state and the non-supply state.
Moreover, the backup power is supplied to the main control device 80 without passing through the changeover switch 95. Therefore, regardless of whether the changeover switch 95 is in the supply state or non-supply state, the backup power supplied from the power supply relay board 91 is supplied to the main control device 80 via the frame control device 81.
In this way, the frame control device 81 can stop the game in progress by the main control device 80 by stopping the power supply by the changeover switch 95. That is, the frame control device 81 has a function of forcibly stopping the progress of the game by driving control of the changeover switch 95.
Furthermore, in the frame control device 81 of this embodiment, a delay circuit 96 is disposed between the CPU and the changeover switch 95. This delay circuit 96 has a function of delaying a signal sent from the CPU to the changeover switch 95 by a predetermined time. Therefore, in the frame control device 81, the signal sent from the CPU to the changeover switch 95 (a signal that changes the changeover switch to a non-supply state) is delayed by the delay circuit 96 by the predetermined time before being received by the changeover switch 95.
The drive control of the changeover switch 95 is related to the essential part of the present invention and will be described in detail later. The delay circuit 96 may have a conventionally known configuration and will not be described in detail.

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described.
The pachinko machine 1 is configured to enclose a predetermined number of game balls inside the machine base and circulate the enclosed game balls to play the game, so it only manages data indicating the number of game balls used in the game by increasing or decreasing the number as the game progresses, and does not lend out actual game balls or pay out game balls as prize balls.

When a player starts playing, an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 49 of the CR unit 46, and the credit balance or number of balls held is read from the IC card and displayed on the unit display device 47. When the player operates the lending operation area 158 (see FIG. 22) of the unit display device 47, the lending switch 58 is turned ON, and the credit balance is converted into the number of balls held in response to the operation, and as the credit balance decreases, the number of balls held on the frame control device 81 side increases.
On the other hand, if the player has balls in hand, they can be added to the number of balls held by the frame control device 81 by operating the loan operation area 158 (or a separate operation area for balls in hand can be set up so that loans can be selectively operated in conjunction with loans based on credit balances. When loaning balls in hand, a process is performed to transfer a predetermined unit (e.g. 125 balls) of the number of balls held on the IC card to the frame control device 81). In this way, the player can play within the range of the number of balls held by the frame control device 81. The number of balls held by the frame control device 81 is displayed on the ball number display device 61.

When the game is started by the player operating the launch handle, the balls held are consumed with each launch of a game ball, and the number of balls held increases with the prize balls generated each time a ball enters the starting hole 11, 12 or the general winning hole 15. During the game, the number of balls held increases and decreases in this way, and the display on the ball number display device 61 is updated according to this increase or decrease.

When the game ball released into the game area passes through the normal symbol activation gate 17 (the normal symbol activation switch 17a in Figure 4 detects the game ball), the normal symbol begins to be displayed in a variable manner on the normal symbol display device 7, and if the normal symbol that has stopped after a predetermined time is in a predetermined winning state, the wing member of the normal electric device is driven, making it possible for the game ball to enter the second starting hole 12.
Here, the vane member of the normal electric device opens once for 0.2 seconds in the normal state when a normal pattern is hit once, and opens three times for 1 second in the time-saving state. The opening operation of the normal electric device in such a time-saving state is called the opening extension function of the normal electric device.

When a gaming ball enters the first start hole 11 (the first start hole switch 11a in Figure 4 detects the gaming ball), the first special pattern on the first special pattern display device 9 begins to change and stops after a predetermined time.
In addition, when a game ball enters the second start hole 12 (the second start hole switch 12a in FIG. 4 detects the game ball), the second special symbol starts to change on the second special symbol display device 10 and stops after a predetermined time. While the first special symbol and the second special symbol are changing, the effect symbol display device 6 displays the effect change of the pseudo symbol linked to the change of each special symbol. The display of the pseudo symbol on the effect symbol display device 6 allows the player to recognize the change of each special symbol and whether it is a win or a miss.
Here, the first special symbol and the second special symbol are changed with priority, regardless of the order of winning into the first start hole 11 and the second start hole 12. Specifically, when the first special symbol is reserved, the change of the second special symbol stops and the reserved memory of the second special symbol is no longer available, and the change of the reserved first special symbol starts. Note that this is merely one form, and the change may be made in the order of winning, or the change of the first special symbol may be made with priority.

When the first special pattern stopped on the first special pattern display device 9 and the second special pattern stopped on the second special pattern display device 10 are in a predetermined jackpot form, a jackpot game is executed in which a jackpot opening 14 is opened and closed.
In addition, the performance symbol display device 6 displays pseudo symbols in a manner corresponding to the winning manner of the first special symbol and the second special symbol.

In a jackpot game, an opening and closing round in which the large prize opening 14 is opened and closed is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times). The large prize opening 14 is provided with a door member that opens and closes when driven by the large prize opening solenoid 14b described below, and the opening and closing operation of the door member converts the state into an open state in which game balls can enter and a closed state in which balls cannot enter. Then, one opening and closing round is executed by the predetermined opening and closing operation of the door member, and in a jackpot game, this opening and closing round is executed repeatedly 16 times.

The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is configured as a probability fluctuation machine. That is, the game by this configuration is roughly divided into a game in which the big prize opening 14 is closed and the big win game in which the big prize opening 14 is opened, and in the game in which the big prize opening 14 is closed, a normal probability state (hereinafter referred to as a normal state) and a high probability state (hereinafter referred to as a probability fluctuation state) in which the probability of hitting a special symbol is higher than in the normal state are set, and after the big win game ends, the machine transitions to either the normal state or the probability fluctuation state.
Here, in the normal state, the probability of winning the special symbol is set to 1/220, and in the probability varying state, the probability of winning the special symbol is set to 1/30.

Furthermore, in the normal state, after the transition from the big win game, the time-saving state is entered for a specified number of times (for example, 100 times). In this time-saving state, the variation time of the special and normal symbols is shortened, and the opening time and number of times of the normal electric role are increased by the operation of the opening extension function.
In the probability variation state, the variation time of the special and normal symbols is shortened and the opening time and the number of openings of the normal electric role are increased, similar to the time-saving state. The opening extension function may increase only the opening time of the normal electric role, or may increase only the number of openings.

In addition, while the game is proceeding in this manner, the game ball shot by the shot device 31 enters either the start hole 11, 12, the general winning hole 15, or the out hole 16. During a big win game, the ball further enters the big winning hole 14.
The game balls thus entered are sent to the grinding device 35 via the above-mentioned recovery path, and then are supplied again to the launching device 31 via the lifting device 33. In this way, a predetermined number of game balls sealed inside the machine are circulated, and the above-mentioned game progresses.

Next, the processing of various programs executed by the main control device 80 and the frame control device 81 will be described.
6 shows a flowchart of the power-on process executed by the main control device 80. This power-on process is the process from power-on to the main routine described later, and is executed when the power is turned on when the game center opens, when power is restored after a power outage, when power is restored after a forced power cut by the frame control device 81 described later, etc.

In the power-on process, when the power is turned on, access to the RAM is permitted (S10), and the power-off flag is cleared (S15).
Next, in S20, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear signal is ON, and if the determination is positive (S20: Yes), the process proceeds to S30, and if the determination is negative (S20: No), the process proceeds to S25. In S25, it is determined whether or not the backup flag is ON, and if the determination is negative (S25: No), the process proceeds to S30, and if the determination is positive (S25: Yes), the process proceeds to S60. Here, if the backup flag is OFF, the process continues from S30 to start from the initial state. On the other hand, if the backup flag is ON, the process restarts from the state before the power was cut off.

S30 is a process that follows from the positive determination of S20 or the positive determination of S25, and performs stack setting processing. Next, a process of clearing the working area of the RAM (S35) and a process of initializing the working area of the RAM (S40) are performed. Furthermore, a process of sending a command to the sub-integrated control device 83 to perform an initial performance (S45) and a process of sending a command to the frame control device 81 to perform an initial setting (S50) are performed. After that, the process proceeds to the main routine described below.

On the other hand, in S60 following the negative determination in S25, a power recovery process is performed. In this power recovery process, the game information stored in the RAM before the power cut is read, and a process of resuming the game is performed in accordance with the game information.
Here, the game information before the power is cut off is information that indicates the state of the game that was in progress before the power was cut off, and includes the number of winnings, the number of reserved winnings, information on the big win game, information on the small win game, etc. After S60, the backup signal is turned OFF (S65), and the process proceeds to the main routine described later.

Next, the power interruption process executed by the main control device 80 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
This power-off processing is executed when the main power supply is turned off, when there is a power outage, or when the power supply is forcibly stopped by the frame control device 81 described later, and is executed by a non-maskable interrupt that occurs when a power cut occurs due to any of these reasons.

In the power cut-off process, a process of setting a power cut flag is performed in S70. Next, in S75, it is determined whether or not to execute a backup process. If the determination is affirmative (S75: Yes), the process proceeds to S80, and if the determination is negative (S75: No), the process proceeds to S85. In S80, a process of storing and saving game information indicating the game state before the power cut-off in the RAM is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S85. In S85, a process of prohibiting access to the RAM is performed, and the system waits in preparation for a power cut-off.
It should be noted that the game information stored in S80 is the information necessary to resume gameplay from the state before power was cut off when power is restored, and as described above, information regarding the number of wins and jackpot gameplay is set.

Next, a main routine executed by the main control device 80 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The main routine is made up of the main process from S100 to S160 and the residual process of S170 which is repeated as long as time permits within the time remaining after executing the main process, and is executed periodically by a hardware interrupt every 2 ms. When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not it is a normal interrupt (S100).
This judgment process is performed by determining whether the value in a specified area of the RAM as memory is a specified value, and is intended to determine whether normal processing can be executed when the processing executed by the microcontroller transitions to this processing.

If a negative determination is made (i.e., it is determined that the interrupt is not normal) (S100: No), the initial setting (S105) is executed, and the process proceeds to the remaining process (S170).
In this initial setting, for example, predetermined values are written to a predetermined area of the RAM, and initial values such as setting the special and normal symbols as the initial symbols are written to the working area of the RAM.
On the other hand, if a positive judgment is made (i.e., it is judged to be a normal interrupt) (S100: Yes), the following processes are performed: update process of the initial value random number (S110), update process of the random number for determining a jackpot (S115), update process of the random number for determining a jackpot pattern (S120), update process of the random number for determining a win (S125), update process of the random number for determining a reach (S130), update process of the random number for determining a fluctuation pattern (S135), win confirmation process (S140), win/lose determination process (S145), special game process (S150), fraud monitoring process (S155), and various output processes (S160) for transmitting various information to the frame control device 81, etc., and the update process of the initial value random number (S170) is looped within the remaining time until the next interrupt signal is input.

Next, the start winning confirmation process executed by the main control unit 80 will be explained using the flowchart of FIG.
This start winning confirmation process is one of the subroutines called in the winning confirmation process (S140) of the main routine described above.

In the start winning confirmation process, it is determined whether or not the first start port switch 11a has detected a game ball (S200), and if the determination is negative (S200: No), the process proceeds to S220.
If S200 is judged as positive (S200: Yes), it is judged whether the number of first reserved memories has reached an upper limit (e.g., four) (S205).
If the determination at S205 is positive (S205: Yes), the process proceeds to S220. If the determination is negative (S205: No), the first extracted random number reservation storage process (S210) is executed.
In the first extracted random number reserve memory process (S210), random numbers for determining a jackpot, random numbers for determining a jackpot pattern, random numbers for reaching a reach, random numbers for determining a fluctuation pattern, etc. are extracted and stored as the first reserve memory, and the first reserve number counter indicating the number of first reserve memories is incremented by 1, and the information of the first reserve number counter is transmitted to the sub-integrated control device 83.

S220 is a process executed following a negative determination in S210 or S200, or a positive determination in S205, and determines whether or not the first start switch 11a has detected a game ball. If the determination is negative (S220: No), the start winning confirmation process is terminated, and if the determination is positive (S220: Yes), it is determined whether or not the number of second reserved memories has reached an upper limit (for example, 4) (S225).
If the result of S225 is positive (S225: Yes), the start winning confirmation process is terminated, and if the result of S225 is negative (S225: No), the second extracted random number reserve storage process (S230) is executed.
In the second extracted random number reserve memory process (S230), random numbers for determining a jackpot, random numbers for determining a jackpot pattern, random numbers for reaching a reach, random numbers for determining a fluctuation pattern, etc. are extracted and stored as a second reserve memory, and one is added to a second reserve number counter indicating the number of second reserve memories, and the information of the second reserve number counter is transmitted to the sub-integrated control device 83.

When the sub-integrated control device 83 receives information from the first reserved number counter and the second reserved number counter, it performs the necessary processing to light up the first special pattern reserved number display device 18 and the second special pattern reserved number display device 19 in accordance with the information.

Next, the correct/incorrect determination process executed by the main control unit 80 will be explained using the flowcharts in Figures 10 to 13. The correct/incorrect determination process is executed from the main routine.

In the win/loss determination process, as shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the special electric device is in operation (i.e., whether or not a big win game or a small win game is being played) (S250).
If the result is positive (S250: Yes), the winning/losing determination process is terminated, and if the result is negative (S250: No), the process proceeds to S255. In S255, it is determined whether the first and second special symbols are being displayed in a variable manner. If the result is positive (S255: Yes), the process proceeds to S400 in FIG. 12, and if the result is negative (S255: No), the process proceeds to S260.
In S260, it is determined whether the first and second special symbols are being displayed. If the result is positive (S260: Yes), the process proceeds to S450 in FIG. 13, and if the result is negative (S260: No), the process proceeds to S265.

In S265, it is determined whether or not there is a second pending memory, and if the determination is positive (S265: Yes), the process proceeds to S270, and if the determination is negative (S265: No), the process proceeds to S275.
In S270, the number of second reserved memories is decremented, the oldest second reserved memory is selected, and the information (numeric data such as random numbers) stored in the second reserved memory is moved to a predetermined buffer for jackpot judgment. Then, the process proceeds to S285.

In S275, it is determined whether or not there is a first reserved memory, and if the determination is positive (S275: Yes), the process proceeds to S280, and if the determination is negative (S275: No), the correct/incorrect determination process is terminated.
In S280, the number of first reserved memories is decremented and the oldest first reserved memory is selected. As in S270 above, the information stored in that first reserved memory is moved to a designated buffer for determining whether or not there is a jackpot, and then the process proceeds to S285.
In the process of determining whether or not the second reserved memory is the target of the determination of whether or not the first reserved memory is the target of the determination of ...

In S285, it is determined whether the probability change flag, which indicates that the probability change state is in progress, is 1 or not. If the determination is positive (S285: Yes), the process proceeds to S290. If the determination is negative (S285: No), the process proceeds to S295.

In S290, a win/loss determination table (probability variable table) for the probability fluctuating state is selected, and based on the selected probability variable table, the random number for determining a jackpot that has been moved to the buffer for determining a jackpot is determined to be a jackpot or not, and the reserved memory related to the random number for determining a jackpot is consumed.
Here, in this embodiment, it is also determined whether the random number for determining a big win is a small win or not based on the selected probability table. After the processing of S290, the process proceeds to S300 in FIG.

On the other hand, in S295, a win/loss determination table for the normal state (normal table) is selected, and based on the selected normal table, the random number for jackpot determination moved to the buffer for jackpot determination is determined to be a jackpot or not, and the reserved memory related to the random number for jackpot determination is consumed.
Here, in this embodiment, it is also determined whether the random number for determining a big win is a small win or not based on the selected normal table. After the process of S295, the process proceeds to S300 in FIG.

In S300 of FIG. 11, a determination is made as to whether or not a jackpot has been reached based on the determination results of S290 or S295. If the determination is positive (S300: Yes), the process proceeds to S305, and if the determination is negative (S300: No), the process proceeds to S320.

In S305, the jackpot symbol is determined based on the random number for determining the jackpot symbol related to the reserved memory that has been consumed. Then, the process proceeds to S310. In S310, the variation time of the special symbol is determined based on the random number for determining the variation pattern related to the reserved memory that has been consumed, and the process proceeds to S315.
In S315, the number of rounds of the jackpot game, the opening pattern of the jackpot opening, the presentation time for the jackpot game, the interval time, and the presentation mode of the jackpot game, etc. are set, and the process proceeds to S350.

On the other hand, in S320, which follows the negative judgment in S300, it is judged whether or not there is a small win based on the judgment result of S290 or S295. If the judgment is positive (S320: Yes), the process proceeds to S325, and if the judgment is negative (S320: No), the process proceeds to S340.

In S325, the small win symbol is determined based on the random number for determining the big win symbol related to the consumed reserved memory, and the process proceeds to S330. In S330, the variation time of the special symbol is determined based on the random number for determining the variation pattern related to the consumed reserved memory, and the process proceeds to S335.
In S335, the opening pattern of the large prize opening in the small win game, the presentation time for the small win game, and the presentation mode for the small win game are set, and the process proceeds to S350.
In addition, in S335, similar to S345 described later, a counter indicating the remaining number of jackpot draws that can be executed during the special mode and a counter indicating the remaining number of jackpot draws that can be executed during the time-saving mode are also updated.

Furthermore, in S340 following the negative judgment in S320, the variation time of the special symbols is determined based on the variation pattern determination random numbers related to the reserved memory that has been consumed, and prior to this, a process of determining a losing symbol is performed. After this S340, the process proceeds to S345.
In S345, a counter indicating the remaining number of jackpot lotteries that can be executed during the high probability mode and a counter indicating the remaining number of jackpot lotteries that can be executed during the time-saving mode are updated, etc. Then, the process proceeds to S350.
In this embodiment, the process of determining the losing symbol is performed in S340. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a process of determining the losing symbol may be performed before S340.

In S350, a reserved number command indicating the number of reserved memories decremented in S270 and S280 described above is sent to the sub-integrated control device 83. Furthermore, a variation start command indicating the variation time of the special symbols and the result of the big win lottery is sent to the sub-integrated control device 83, the variation of the special symbols is started, and the win/loss determination process is terminated.
In addition, the sub-integrated control device 83 that has received the variation start command selects a pseudo-effect to be displayed on the effect pattern display device 6 from among the effects having the same duration as the variation time of the special pattern based on the result of the jackpot lottery and the variation time of the special pattern, and displays the selected pseudo-effect.

In S400 of FIG. 12, which follows the positive judgment of S255 described above, it is judged whether the time for changing the special pattern has elapsed. If the judgment is positive (S400: Yes), the process proceeds to S405. If the judgment is negative (S400: No), the win/loss judgment process is terminated.
In S405, the varying display of the special pattern is terminated, the confirmed special pattern (i.e., the big win pattern determined in S405, the small win pattern determined in S325, or the losing pattern determined in S340) is displayed, and a pattern confirmation command is sent to the sub-integrated control device 83 to execute the confirmed display of the performance pattern, and the win/lose determination process is terminated.

In addition, in S450 of FIG. 13, which follows the positive judgment of S260 described above, it is judged whether or not the duration of the confirmed display of the special pattern has ended, and if the judgment is positive (S450: Yes), the process proceeds to S455, and if the judgment is negative (S450: No), the win/loss judgment process is terminated.
In S455, the display of the confirmed special symbol is terminated, and the process proceeds to S460. In S460, it is determined whether the confirmed special symbol is a symbol that will result in a big win, and if the result is positive (S460: Yes), the process proceeds to S465, and if the result is negative (S460: No), the process proceeds to S510.
In S465, the probability variable flag indicating that the probability variable state is in progress is referenced, and if the probability variable flag = 1, the probability variable flag is cleared (S470), and the process proceeds to S475.
In S475, the time-saving flag indicating the time-saving state is referenced, and if the time-saving flag = 1, the time-saving flag is cleared (S480), and the process proceeds to S490.
Thereafter, by sequentially executing a state designation command transmission process (S490), a condition device operation start process (S495), a role continuous operation device operation start process (S500), and a jackpot start performance process (S505), a command indicating the state of the jackpot game or a command instructing the start of the jackpot game is sent to the sub-integrated control device 83, thereby starting the jackpot game and completing the win/lose determination process.

On the other hand, in S510 following the negative judgment of S460, the probability variation flag is referenced, and if the flag is 1 (S510: Yes), the remaining number of jackpot lotteries that can be executed during the probability variation mode (probability variation number of times) is referenced (S515). Then, if the probability variation number is 0 (S515: Yes), the probability variation flag is cleared (S520) and the process proceeds to S525.
In S525, the time-saving flag is referenced, and if the flag is 1 (S525: Yes), the remaining number of jackpot draws that can be executed during the time-saving mode (time-saving count) is referenced (S530). If the time-saving count is 0 (S530: Yes), the time-saving flag is cleared (S535) and the process proceeds to S540. In S540, a state designation command transmission process is executed, and the process proceeds to S545.

In S545, it is determined whether the confirmed special pattern is a pattern that will result in a small win, and if the determination is positive (S545: Yes), the process proceeds to S550, where the special electric device activation start process (S550) and the small win start performance process (S555) are executed in sequence, thereby starting the small win game by sending commands indicating the mode of the small win game and commands to start the small win game to the sub-integrated control device 83, and the win/loss determination process ends. Also, if the determination is negative in S545 (S545: No), the win/loss determination process ends.

Next, the big win game processing executed by the main control device 80 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
This jackpot game processing is executed by the main control device 80 when the hit/miss determination processing described above results in a jackpot.

In the jackpot game process, as shown in FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the continuous operation device of the role is in operation (i.e., whether or not the jackpot game is being played) (S600). If the determination is positive (S600: Yes), the process proceeds to S605, and if the determination is negative (S600: No), the jackpot game process is terminated.

In S605, it is determined whether the big prize opening 14 is open or not, and if the determination is affirmative (S605: Yes), the process proceeds to S650 in Fig. 15, and if the determination is negative (S605: No), the process proceeds to S610. In S610, it is determined whether the time is during an interval between opening and closing rounds in the big prize game.
If the result is positive (S610: Yes), the process proceeds to S670 in Fig. 15, and if the result is negative (S610: No), the process proceeds to S615. In S615, it is determined whether or not the end of the big win game is in progress. If the result is positive (S615: Yes), the process proceeds to S700 in Fig. 16, and if the result is negative (S615: No), the process proceeds to S620.

In S620, it is determined whether the start presentation time for the jackpot game has elapsed. If the determination is positive (S620: Yes), the process proceeds to S625, and if the determination is negative (S620: No), the jackpot game process ends. In S625, the jackpot opening process is executed to open the jackpot opening 14, and the jackpot game process ends.

15, which follows the positive determination in S605, it is determined whether or not the number of game balls that have entered the large prize opening 14 has reached 10. If the determination is positive (S650: Yes), the process proceeds to S660, and if the determination is negative (S650: No), the process proceeds to S655. In S655, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the large prize opening 14 has ended.
If the answer is yes (S655: Yes), the process proceeds to S660, whereas if the answer is no (S655: No), the jackpot game process is terminated. In S660, a jackpot opening closing process is executed to close the jackpot opening 14, and the process proceeds to S665. In S665, a jackpot interval process is executed to set an interval between each round of the jackpot game, and the jackpot game process is terminated.

On the other hand, in S670 following the positive determination in S610, it is determined whether or not the interval time for the big win game has elapsed. If the determination is positive (S670: Yes), the process proceeds to S675, and if the determination is negative (S670: No), the big win game process is terminated.
In S675, it is determined whether the final round (16 rounds) has ended, and if the result is positive (S675: Yes), the process proceeds to S680, and if the result is negative (S675: No), the process proceeds to S685. In S680, a jackpot end effect process is executed to effect the end of the jackpot game, and the jackpot game process is terminated. In the jackpot opening process of S685, a process is executed to open the jackpot opening 14, and the jackpot game process is terminated.

In addition, in S700 in Fig. 16 following the positive judgment of S615, it is judged whether the time for the end performance has ended. In the case of a positive judgment (S700: Yes), the process proceeds to S705, and S705 and S710 are executed in sequence, while in the case of a negative judgment (S700: No), the big win game process is terminated. In S705 and S710, the consecutive operation device of the accessory and the condition device are stopped, and the process proceeds to S715.
In S715, it is determined whether or not to transition to a probability variable state after the big win game. If the determination is positive (S715: Yes), the number of big win lotteries (number of probability variable times) that will continue the probability variable state is set (S720), the probability variable flag is set (S725), and the process proceeds to S730.
In S730, it is determined whether or not to enter a time-saving state after the jackpot game, and if the determination is positive (S730: Yes), the number of jackpot lotteries (time-saving number) for continuing the time-saving state is set (S735), and the time-saving flag is set (S740), and the process proceeds to S745. In S745 and S750, a process of transmitting a jackpot end command to the sub-integrated control device 83 to end the presentation related to the jackpot game and a state designation command transmission process are executed, and the jackpot game process is terminated.

Next, the status information output process executed by the main control device 80 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This state information output process is one of the subroutines called in the output process (S160) of the main routine described above.

The status information output process transmits two types of information to the frame control device 81: game status information for external output sent to the hall computer, and progress status information for detailed output showing the progress of the player's game in detail.

The game status information for external output is composed of first game status information, second game status information, and third game status information, as shown in Fig. 18 (A). The first game status information is information indicating the content of the big win or small win won in the hit/miss determination process described above, and the content of the big win includes information according to the type of the big win won (for example, a sure-win or a normal big win).
The second game status information is information indicating whether a big win game is in progress, a small win game is in progress, a probability changing state is in progress, a time-saving state is in progress, or a special pattern is changing, and can be confirmed by referring to the flags set according to each of these pieces of information.
The third game status information is information indicating fraudulent acts performed on the game board 2, and includes the contents of the fraudulent acts detected in the fraud monitoring process (S112) of the main routine described above. Specifically, there is information that a radio wave sensor detects fraudulent radio waves, information that a magnetic sensor detects fraudulent magnetism, and information that the count switch 14a of the big prize opening 14 detects a fraudulent win during normal play. These pieces of fraudulent act detection information are made valid when each fraudulent act is detected, and are made invalid by a cancellation process by the manager of the game establishment.

The progress status information for detailed output is composed of a plurality of pieces of information as shown in Fig. 18(B) . Specifically, the information includes details of the progress status in the jackpot game, such as during the opening, during the 1st to 16th opening and closing rounds, the number of winnings in the jackpot slots in the opening and closing rounds, during the ending, during the round interval, etc.
In addition, the information content includes information showing the progress of the small win game in detail, information showing the presence or absence of the opening extension function in the probability variable state and the normal state, information showing the reserved number of the first and second reserved memories, etc. Each of these information contents can be confirmed by referring to the contents generated or changed by each process in the main routine described above (start winning confirmation process, big win game process, etc.).
Although not shown, other information such as the number of wins at the general winning port 15, the first and second reserved numbers, the number of regular reserved numbers, and V-confirmed wins are also output as the progress status information.

17, the status information output process refers to the flags indicating the respective information contents of the first to third game status information, and performs a process of confirming the information contents (S800). Then, in S805, a status information transmission process is performed to transmit each confirmed information content to the frame control device 81.
As a result, each of the above information contents contained in the first to third game status information is sent to the frame control device 81. When the frame control device 81 receives the first to third game status information sent from the main control device 80, it transmits it to the hall computer 87 via the CR unit 46 together with information on the number of balls held, information on the base value, and error information (information output when an operational abnormality occurs).

Following S805, S810 is executed to confirm the contents of each piece of progress status information. Then, in S815, progress information transmission processing is executed to transmit each piece of confirmed information content to the frame control device 81.
As a result, the above-mentioned information contents contained in the progress status information are sent to the frame control device 81.

In addition, in the enclosed type pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the main control device 80 is configured so that no signals are input from other control devices.
This configuration makes it difficult to commit fraud against the main control device 80, providing high security. Since communication with external control devices such as the hall computer 87 is performed via the frame control device 81, the main control device 80 transmits each piece of information to the frame control device 81 through the above-mentioned status information output process.

Next, the main part of the present invention will be described.
As described above, the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is of an enclosed type in which a predetermined number of game balls enclosed inside the machine are circulated, and the frame control device 81 controls the drive of each device (launching device 31, lifting device 33, grinding device 35, etc.) that circulates the game balls, and manages the increase and decrease in the number of balls held due to loaned balls, prize balls, etc. When the frame control device 81 detects an operational abnormality in the machine, it performs processing corresponding to the operational abnormality.
In addition, the frame control device 81 in this embodiment has the function of receiving signals from the main control device 80, the CR unit 46, and the hall computer 87, and the function of transmitting signals to the CR unit 46 and the hall computer 87, and is therefore a control device that plays the important role of connecting the pachinko machine 1 with an external control device.

Here, the operational abnormalities handled by the frame control device 81 are shown in Fig. 19. The operational abnormalities are broadly classified into device abnormalities, ball jamming abnormalities, various other abnormalities, and illegal abnormalities, and are detected based on signals input from each sensor connected to the frame control device 81.
Specifically, abnormalities in the display device for the number of game balls, etc., which are abnormalities in the device, are operation errors (such as switch malfunction or display malfunction) that occur in the counting switch 62 or the ball count display device 61, and are detected based on the signals (information) output from the counting switch 62 and the ball count display device 61.
The ball polishing device abnormality is an operation error that occurs in the polishing device 35, and is detected based on a signal output from the polishing motor sensor 109. The ball circulation device abnormality is an operation error that occurs in the lifting device 33, and is detected based on a signal output from the lifting motor monitoring sensor 114.
The out ball recovery abnormality due to ball jamming is a ball jamming error that occurs in the recovery path from the out port 16 to the polishing device 35, and is detected by the out ball sensor 121. The winning ball recovery abnormality is a ball jamming error that occurs in the recovery path from the start ports 11 and 12, the big winning port 14, and the general winning port 15 to the polishing device 35, and is detected by the winning ball sensor 120.
The grinding device passage abnormality is a ball jam error that occurs inside the grinding device 35, and is detected based on the failure of the delivery inlet sensor 113 to detect game balls.
The lifting device passage abnormality is a ball jam error that occurs inside the lifting device 33, and is detected based on the failure of the launch inlet sensor 105 to detect a game ball.
Furthermore, various abnormalities such as cassette not being installed are errors indicating that the grinding device 35 is not properly installed, and are detected by the cassette switch 108. Game ball display overflow is an error that occurs when the number of balls held is greater than the number of balls that can be displayed by the ball number display device 61, and is detected based on the signal output from the ball number display device 61.
A decrease in the number of game balls and an increase in the number of game balls are errors that occur when the number of circulating game balls is less or more than a predetermined appropriate amount, and are detected based on the signal output from the appropriate amount sensor 122.
A communication error and a disconnection error are errors that cause communication to be interrupted with each sensor, switch, relay terminal board, and each device, and are detected based on the presence or absence of communication with each device.
In addition, the front frame opening detection fraudulent abnormality is an abnormality indicating that the front frame 52 has been opened, and is detected by the glass frame opening switch 125.
Inner frame open detection is an abnormality indicating that the inner frame 70 has been opened, and is detected by the inner frame open switch 126.
The iron ball detection is an abnormality that indicates that an iron ball different from the enclosed stainless steel game ball has been used, and is detected by a detection sensor (not shown). By using stainless steel game balls, it is possible to prevent fraud using magnets.
However, if an iron ball is mixed in, such fraudulent activity becomes possible, so by incorporating the above-mentioned iron ball detection function, fraudulent activity resulting from the mixing of iron balls can be prevented.
Small ball detection is an abnormality that indicates that a ball smaller than the enclosed game ball has been used, and is detected by a detection sensor not shown.
In addition, an unauthorized electromagnetic wave abnormality is an abnormality that indicates the detection of unauthorized radio waves or magnets, and is detected by the main control unit 80 based on a signal output from a magnet sensor or a radio wave sensor, and is acquired by the frame control unit 81 based on the detection signal transmitted from the main control unit 80.
The detection of an open nighttime slot is an abnormality detected by the nighttime monitoring switch 124.
The detection of a game board replacement is an abnormality in which a game board ID different from the one received before power was cut off is received during the authentication process when power is restored, and is detected by a device (not shown) that receives game board IDs.
A winning ball abnormality is an abnormality that occurs when a ball enters the large winning port 14 during normal play, and is detected by the main control device 80 based on the signal output from the count switch 14a and acquired by the frame control device 81.
The illegal ball lending abnormality is an abnormality detected by the CR unit 46, and is acquired by the frame control device 81 via a signal transmitted from the CR unit 46.
The authentication inconsistency detection is an abnormality indicating that the authentication ID is inconsistent during the authentication process between the game board 2 and the CR unit 46, and is detected by an authentication device (not shown).

The frame control device 81 performs an operation abnormality response process to deal with such an operation abnormality. This operation abnormality response process is a process that is executed periodically (for example, a timer interrupt process with a 2 ms cycle) by the frame control device 81.
The operation abnormality handling process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the operation abnormality response process, in S1000, it is determined whether an operation abnormality has been detected. Here, the detection of an operation abnormality indicates that, as described above, the operation abnormality is detected based on detection signals from the sensors and the like connected to the frame control device 81 via the relay board, and that detection signals indicating an operation abnormality are received from the main control device 80 and the CR unit 46.
If an operational abnormality is detected (S1000: Yes), the process proceeds to S1005, and if no operational abnormality is detected (S1000: No), the operational abnormality response process ends.

In S1005, an abnormality response classification process is executed, and based on the information of the detected operational abnormality and the contents of the progress status information input from the main control unit 80 by the above-mentioned status information output process, the combination is classified into two types: a first type of combination that involves a response that requires a power cut-off, and a second type of combination that does not involve a power cut-off.
Here, classification into the first or second category is performed based on a combination of the information on the operational abnormality (the content of the operational abnormality described above) and the information content shown in the progress status information. The first category of combinations that result in a power cut-off are combinations in which the player will be disadvantaged if he continues playing after the occurrence of an operational abnormality, while the second category of combinations that do not result in a power cut-off are combinations in which the player will not be disadvantaged if he continues playing after the occurrence of an operational abnormality.
In addition to the first and second classifications, other classifications (such as a third class and a fourth class) can be set. For example, a third class that cuts off the power supply but has different other response contents (such as notification contents) and a fourth class that does not cut off the power supply but has different other response contents can be set.
In addition, by setting multiple response contents other than power shutoff, it is possible to set even more categories (such as category 5 and category 6). In this way, the number of categories and the way of dividing them can be determined arbitrarily.

A specific example is shown in Figure 21. When the information on the operational abnormality is any of the above-mentioned ball jam abnormalities (out ball recovery abnormality, winning ball recovery abnormality, grinding device passage abnormality, lifting device passage abnormality), if the information content of the progress status information is any of the following: during the opening of a big win, during the interval between rounds of a big win game, during the 1st to 16th opening and closing rounds, during the opening of a small win game, and during the opening of a small win game, it is classified as the first type.
On the other hand, in the case of the ball jamming abnormality, if the information content of the progress status information is during a big win ending, during a small win ending, during probability changing state/open extension function, during probability changing state without open extension function, during normal state/open extension function, during normal state without open extension function, or during the condition device operation, it is classified as the second type.
Furthermore, if the information on the operational abnormality is a decrease in the number of game balls or an increase in the number of game balls, it is classified into the second category regardless of the content of the progress status information.
Moreover, if the operational abnormality information is a disconnection error, it is classified into the first category regardless of the content of the progress status information.
Furthermore, if the information on the operational abnormality is a ball jamming abnormality that occurred during closing time, it is classified as the second type regardless of the information content of the progress status information. In this way, depending on the content of the operational abnormality, it is possible to classify it as the first or second type without referring to the progress status information. Note that a ball jamming abnormality during closing time is a ball jamming that occurs during maintenance that is performed during closing time.
Although not shown in the figure, if the information on operational abnormalities is an irregular electromagnetic wave abnormality (or detection of an abnormality in a winning ball) obtained from the main control unit 80, it is determined to be fraudulent activity and is classified as Type 1 regardless of the content of the progress status information.

After the above-described anomaly response classification process, step S1010 is performed. In step S1010, the classification result of the anomaly response classification process is referenced to determine whether or not the combination has been classified into the first type.
If the determination is affirmative (S1010: Yes), the process proceeds to S1015, and if the determination is negative (S1010: No), the process proceeds to S1025.

In S1015, a power supply stop process is performed, in which the changeover switch 95 is switched from a power supply state to a power non-supply state, and the power supply to the main control device 80 is stopped.
Here, the conversion operation of the changeover switch 95 by the power supply stop processing is controlled through the above-mentioned delay circuit 96 (see FIG. 5). The timing at which the changeover switch 95 is converted to the non-power supply state by this delay circuit 96 occurs after a sufficient time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed from the timing at which the operational abnormality is detected for the game ball shot into the game area 3 to enter one of the winning holes or the out hole.
Therefore, after the unit display device 47 starts to notify of an operational abnormality through the abnormality notification process described below, the changeover switch 95 is switched to the non-powered state, and power supply to the main control device 80 is stopped. The frame control device 81 also transmits a signal to the power supply relay board 91 described above, indicating that the changeover switch 95 should be switched to the non-powered state.
When the power supply relay board 91 receives this signal, it supplies the backup power generated by the backup power supply circuit 92 to the main control device 80 .
When the power supply from the frame control device 81 is stopped, the main control device 80 performs the above-mentioned power interruption process (FIG. 6) and stores and preserves in RAM the game information indicating the game status before the power interruption. Even if the power supply is stopped as described above, the backup power is supplied as described above, so the stored contents in the RAM are preserved.

In the next step S1020, a ball lending invalidation process is performed. The ball lending invalidation process is a process for invalidating the operation of the lending operation area 158 of the unit display device 47, which will be described later. This makes it impossible to lend balls from the credit balance to the owned balls.
The ball lending disabled state caused by this ball lending suspension process is released when power supply to the main control device 80 is resumed. By disabling the ball lending operation in this way, it is possible to prevent the player from suffering unexpected losses after an operational abnormality occurs. In more detail, depending on the nature of the operational abnormality, it is assumed that the ball count information on the frame control device 81 side cannot be transferred to the ball count information on the CR unit 46 side even if the counting switch 62 is operated, and it is also conceivable that it may take a long time to resolve the operational abnormality, so by disabling the ball lending operation, it is possible to prevent unexpected losses that may arise from such situations.

In S1025, an abnormality notification process is performed. In the abnormality notification process, the occurrence of an operational abnormality is notified by the unit display device 47. Here, the notification by the unit display device 47 is based on whether or not power supply has been stopped and on information about the operational abnormality.
Therefore, in addition to displaying information about the operational abnormality, in the case of the first pattern, a message also appears stating that power supply will be stopped. After execution of S1025, the operational abnormality response process ends.

On the other hand, the changeover switch 95 of the frame control device 81 is adapted to be changed from a non-powered state to a powered state when the main switch of the power supply device 85 is turned on.
Therefore, when the frame control device 81 sets the changeover switch 95 to the non-powered state due to the power supply stop processing of the operation abnormality response processing described above, an attendant at the game arcade (a so-called pachinko machine manager) can eliminate the operation abnormality and turn on the main switch, thereby changing the changeover switch 95 to the power supply state and resuming power supply to the main control device 80. Then, when power supply to the main control device 80 is thus resumed, the main control device 80 executes the above-mentioned power-on processing (FIG. 5), and thus the game is resumed from the game state before power supply was stopped in the above-mentioned abnormality notification processing.
In addition, by turning the main switch ON, the above-mentioned ball lending invalid state is also cancelled.
Here, the power supply to the main control device 80 can be resumed not only by turning on the main switch, but also by operating a dedicated error reset switch. For example, an error reset switch can be provided in the frame control device 81, and the power supply to the main control device 80 can be resumed by operating the switch after the operational abnormality is eliminated.
With this configuration, there is no need to stop power supply to the frame control device 81, and it can also be used as a trigger for release from operational abnormalities classified as the second type.

Next, examples of displays on the unit display device 47 in the abnormality notification process of the above-mentioned operational abnormality response process will be described with reference to FIGS.
The unit display device 47 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display, and as shown in Fig. 22, has a lending operation area 158 and a return operation area 159 on its display screen. When the player touches this lending operation area 158, the lending switch 58 is turned ON, and the signal is transmitted to the frame control device 81.
Similarly, when the player touches the return operation area 159 , the return switch 59 is turned ON and the signal is sent to the frame control device 81 .
Also, a balance pattern 157 showing the credit balance that can be exchanged for the balls held is displayed on the display screen of the unit display device 47. The display content of this balance pattern 157 is updated by the frame control device 81 every time the credit balance increases or decreases in response to the operation of the lending operation area 158 and the return operation area 159. Note that FIG. 22 is an example under normal circumstances (normal state without any operational abnormalities).

Furthermore, the unit display device 47 is equipped with abnormality information symbols 161a to 161d that indicate information about operational abnormalities, a cut-off information symbol 162 that notifies of a power cut, an explanation symbol 163 that explains the power cut, and a corresponding symbol 164 that prompts the player to take action, and the like, which are appropriately selected and displayed in accordance with commands transmitted from the frame control device 81.
These abnormality information symbols 161a to 161d, interruption information symbol 162, explanation symbol 163, and corresponding symbol 164 are character symbols indicating their respective contents, so that the player can relatively easily recognize the contents indicated by each symbol.
In addition, the frame control device 81 instructs the various patterns to be displayed on the unit display device 47 by sending commands in response to the operational abnormality information and combinations of first and second classes, etc., through the abnormality notification process of the above-mentioned operational abnormality response process.

23(A) is an example of an error displayed by the abnormality notification process when the power supply stop process is executed in the operation abnormality response process. Specifically, when a ball jam error is detected during a big win game (during the opening, interval, or opening and closing round), the error is classified as the first type by the abnormality response classification process, and the frame control device 81 operates to switch the changeover switch 95 to the non-power supply state by the power supply stop process.
In response to this, the frame control device 81 executes the abnormality notification process, and displays on the display screen of the unit display device 47 an abnormality information pattern (text pattern of "Ball jamming abnormality occurred!") 161a notifying the occurrence of a ball jamming error, a cutoff information pattern (text pattern of "The power to the game board has been turned off!") 162, and an explanation pattern (text pattern indicating that the game status has been saved, etc.) 163.
Furthermore, since the ball lending invalidation process is also executed when the power supply stop process is executed, an "X" symbol indicating an invalid operation is displayed in the lending operation area 158 to inform the player that ball lending is not possible. Furthermore, a predetermined character symbol (Tatsuyoshi the bear) 167 is displayed on the display screen of the unit display device 47. By displaying this character symbol 167, the player can easily notice the abnormality notification on the unit display device 47.
In this embodiment, the character design 167 is provided with two types of designs of "Tatsukichi the bear" with different facial expressions, and one of them is selectively displayed depending on whether or not the power supply is to be stopped. When the power supply is to be stopped, the "Tatsukichi the bear" design with a troubled facial expression is displayed, and when the power supply is not to be stopped, the "Tatsukichi the bear" design with an impatient facial expression is displayed.

As described above, the display on the unit display device 47 ends when the main switch is turned ON. The display then returns to the normal display shown in FIG. 22. This indicates to the player that the operational abnormality has been resolved and that play can be resumed.

FIG. 23B shows an example of a display by the abnormality notification process when the power supply stop process is not executed in the operational abnormality response process.
Specifically, when a ball jam error is detected during play in the normal state or the probability variable state, it is classified as the second type by the abnormality response classification process, so that the abnormality notification process is executed without executing the power supply cut process and the ball lending invalidation process. As a result, the abnormality information pattern 161a notifying the occurrence of the ball jam error and the corresponding pattern (the character pattern of "Please call an attendant") 164 are displayed on the display screen of the unit display device 47.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned character design ("Tatsuyoshi the Bear" with an anxious expression) 167 is displayed. Furthermore, if the power supply cut is not executed, the call operation area 160 provided in advance in the unit display device 47 is enabled, and a design (the word "Call") urging the player to operate is displayed in the call operation area 160. When the player operates this call operation area 160, a predetermined call sound is generated from the speaker and a predetermined call light is emitted from a lamp, thereby notifying the occurrence of an operational abnormality to a staff member at the game facility.
In addition, such a display will end and return to the normal display when the operational abnormality is resolved. Also, the call operation area 160 can be configured to be electrically connected to a call switch of the island equipment of the game arcade via the CR unit 46.
Generally, the call switch is located on an information display device installed above the machine base, and some players have to stop playing and stand up to operate the call switch. In contrast, if the call operation area 160 is configured to allow calling on the unit display device 47, it is possible to call an attendant without having to stop playing and stand up as described above.

If an operational abnormality occurs other than the ball jam error described above, the same is displayed on the unit display device 47.
For example, when a game ball count reduction error is detected, the error is classified as Type 2 by the abnormality response classification process regardless of the progress of the game, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 24 (A), an abnormality information pattern (text pattern of "Too few circulating balls") 161b notifying the occurrence of a game ball reduction error, a corresponding pattern (text pattern of "Please call an attendant") 164, and a character pattern ("Tatsuji the bear" with an anxious expression) 167 are displayed on the display screen of the unit display device 47, and the call operation area 160 is enabled.
In addition, when a disconnection error is detected, regardless of the progress of the game, it is classified as the first type by the anomaly response classification process, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 24 (B), an abnormality information symbol (text symbol of "Disconnection error occurred!") 161c notifying the occurrence of a disconnection error, a cutoff information symbol 162, an explanation symbol 163, and a character symbol ("Tatsuji the bear" with a troubled expression) 167 are displayed. Furthermore, an "x" symbol indicating an invalid operation is displayed in the lending operation area 158.
Furthermore, if a ball jam error is detected during closing time (during maintenance), it is classified as the second type by the abnormality classification process, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 25 (A), an abnormality information pattern 161a notifying the occurrence of a ball jam error, a pattern 165 indicating the location of the abnormality, and a character pattern 167 are displayed on the display screen of the unit display device 47. Here, during closing time, the pattern 165 indicating the location of the abnormality is displayed so that staff and workers can easily identify the location of the abnormality. Note that this pattern 165 indicating the location of the abnormality is selectively displayed depending on the information on the operational abnormality detected by the frame control device 81.
In addition, in the case of an error due to detection of unauthorized radio waves, since it is classified as the first type by the anomaly response classification process, as shown in Fig. 25 (B), an abnormality information pattern (text pattern of "Radio wave detected!") 161d notifying the occurrence of a radio wave error, a blocking information pattern 162, an explanation pattern 163, and a character pattern ("Tatsuji the bear" with a troubled expression) 167 are displayed. Furthermore, an "x" pattern indicating an invalid operation is displayed in the lending operation area 158.
23(A), 24(B), and 25(B) show an example of displaying the cutoff information symbol 162 indicating that the power supply cutoff process is in progress, but since the game board 2 cannot notify anything when the power supply to the main control device 80 is cut off, a different symbol indicating that the power supply is cut off can also be displayed on the unit display device 47. This unit display device 47 is located at the bottom center of the machine, so it is highly visible to the player and allows the player to relatively easily recognize that the power supply to the machine is cut off.
Also, the symbol 165 shown in Fig. 25(A) may be displayed in situations other than closing time, which allows staff or workers to quickly resolve operational abnormalities. Furthermore, during closing time, the character symbol 167 may be hidden, or the display contents may be different between opening time and closing time. This is because closing time is basically determined to be a situation in which the player is not operating.
It should be noted that opening and closing times may vary from one gaming establishment to another, and opening hours may also be specially different, so it is desirable to have a configuration in which these can be set by each gaming establishment.

As described above, in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, the frame control device 81 performs processing to respond to operational abnormalities, so that the frame control device 81, which controls the launch and circulation of game balls, can quickly respond to operational abnormalities such as ball jams, and the load on the main control device 80 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the main control device responds to operational abnormalities.
Furthermore, since the configuration allows communication in only one direction, from the main control device 80 to the frame control device 81 and the main control device 80 cannot be accessed from outside, unauthorized access from outside can be prevented.
It is also highly effective in preventing fraudulent activity (so-called "hanging fraud") of attaching an unauthorized circuit board between the main control device 80 and the frame control device 81.
Furthermore, since this embodiment is an enclosed type that circulates a predetermined number of game balls enclosed inside the machine, there is a risk of operational abnormalities such as ball clogging in the grinding device 35 and the hoisting device 33, which are not of the type that pay out game balls.However, by responding to such operational abnormalities using the frame control device 81 that controls the grinding device 35 and the hoisting device 33, a quick and appropriate response can be made as described above.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the combination of the detected operational abnormality information and the progress information received from the main control unit is one that would cause a disadvantage to the player, the power supply to the main control unit is cut off, thereby minimizing the disadvantage caused to the player due to the occurrence of an operational abnormality as much as possible.
Furthermore, when the power supply is stopped, the stop and the occurrence of an operational abnormality are notified, and even when the power supply is not stopped, the occurrence of an operational abnormality is notified, thereby reducing the distrust and anxiety that may be caused to the player by the occurrence of an operational abnormality.
In this way, when an operational abnormality occurs, a response appropriate to the operational abnormality and the progress of the game can be taken, thereby effectively reducing the disadvantage caused by the operational abnormality.
Furthermore, the main control device 80 backs up the data in the RAM when the power supply is stopped, and resumes the game according to the backed up data after the power is restored, so that it is possible to prevent the player from suffering any disadvantages due to a power outage caused by an operational abnormality as much as possible. Therefore, even if an operational abnormality occurs, the player can maintain his or her confidence in the pachinko game.

In this embodiment, a power supply circuit 90 is provided that supplies power to the main control device 80 via the frame control device 81, and the frame control device 81 is provided with a changeover switch 95 that can forcibly stop the power supply. This configuration allows the frame control device 81 to stably and reliably execute the operation of forcibly stopping the power supply to the main control device 80 when the above-mentioned operational abnormality occurs.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the frame control device 81 is provided with a delay circuit 96 between the CPU and the changeover switch 95 (see Figure 5), and the delay circuit 96 stops the power supply to the main control device 80 a predetermined time after the timing of the occurrence of the operational abnormality, so that the progress of the game is forcibly stopped after the fate of the game ball that was launched into the game area 3 at the time the operational abnormality occurred has been determined.
Therefore, the player can obtain the profits generated by winning the starting holes 11, 12 or the big winning hole 14 after the occurrence of the operational abnormality after the power is restored, and the player's profits are properly maintained.
Furthermore, by delaying the cutoff of the power supply by the delay circuit 96, the occurrence of an operational abnormality is notified by the unit display device 47 before the game is stopped due to the cutoff of the power supply. Therefore, there is an advantage that the player can know in advance that the game will be stopped and can prepare for the game stop.

[Ball collection box]
In this embodiment, a game ball discharge path that is opened by operating a ball removal lever (game ball discharge means) 21 is provided at a predetermined position on the circulation path of the enclosed balls (such as the polishing device 35, the lifting device 33, and the recovery path).
It is desirable to provide a passage for the game ball discharge path perpendicular to the ground in order to utilize the weight of the game balls. In this way, no electricity is used, so the enclosed balls can be discharged whether the power is on or off to the pachinko machine 1. Of course, there is no problem with a configuration in which the enclosed balls are discharged electrically.
The game balls discharged from the game ball discharge passage to the outside of the machine are stored in the enclosed ball recovery box 22 located immediately below the game ball discharge passage, as shown in Fig. 28(a). The enclosed ball recovery box is a box-shaped box with an open top, and receives and stores the game balls that have fallen from the game ball discharge passage.
In addition, there is a recommended number of balls for the enclosed type game. If there are fewer balls than this number, there is a risk that the circulation of the game balls will not be able to keep up and the launch will be interrupted, and if there are more balls than this number, there is a risk that the game balls will overflow from the outlet 16 on the game board. Also, in a game configuration equipped with a storage device, the recommended number of balls may be greater than in a game configuration without a storage device. In the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, 30 to 39 balls are recommended.
In this way, when a new pachinko machine 1 is installed or when the game board is replaced with a new game board, it is necessary to adjust the number of enclosed balls to the recommended number.

At that time, it is conceivable to count the number of enclosed balls manually or to prepare a dedicated ball counting tray and count the number, but the enclosed ball recovery box 22 of this embodiment is provided with a counting means so that the number of game balls can be easily grasped visually, like a ball counting tray.
The enclosed ball recovery box of this embodiment is formed to be large enough to hold 10 game balls in a row, and large enough to hold more than 5 game balls in a column, so that it can count up to 50 balls (10 x 5).
Also, at a position slightly away from the position where the game balls are stored, dots and numbers of marks 25 are added to the horizontal rows in units of five game balls, and dots and numbers of marks 26 are added to the vertical rows in units of one game ball. In Fig. 28(a), since the game balls are lined up to the horizontal position "10" at the vertical position "30", it is possible to instantly grasp that there are 30 game balls, and since the vertical position "40" is one more ball than the horizontal position "5", it is possible to grasp that there are six balls lined up in this vertical position, and it is possible to recognize that there are a total of 36 game balls.
In this way, by indicating with the marks 25, 26 how many game balls can be lined up in each row and column, it becomes easy to count by eye.
While the advantages of inserting enclosed balls into the machine have been mentioned above, there are also advantages when removing them. If you know how many balls have been enclosed, you can use the enclosed ball recovery box 22 to determine whether all of the balls have been removed at the time of removal, which is useful both when inserting balls into the machine and when removing them from the machine.

In addition, the enclosed ball recovery box 22 shown in Figure 28 (a) has a slanted bottom surface to eliminate the need to hand-level the stored game balls to make them easier to count.
Specifically, the left side of the bottom is set to be the lowest of the four sides. This allows the game balls placed in the enclosed ball recovery box 22 to flow to the left side due to their own weight, making it easier to align horizontally and vertically with the game ball at the leftmost side as the starting point. In addition, by inclining the right side of the bottom to be the second lowest, the bottom is inclined toward the front and also to the left, making it even easier to align the balls.
Also, as shown in Figure 28 (b), in addition to tilting the bottom surface, the surface on which the game balls can be aligned can be designed so that the game ball in the front left is at the deepest position, with the horizontal row angled diagonally upwards from there, and the vertical row angled so that the game balls are aligned diagonally to the right from the deepest position.
In this way, the game balls lined up in a vertical row fall between the game balls in the row below and are positioned so that they come into contact with the two game balls, making it easier to align the game balls by utilizing their own weight and making them less likely to collapse even with a slight impact.
In addition, it is possible to provide spherical recesses at the alignment positions on the bottom surface so that the game balls can fit into them. In this case, it is easy to count the number of game balls by writing numbers on the recesses. In this way, the enclosed ball recovery box, which was originally only used to eject the enclosed balls outside the machine, can also be used to count the number of game balls.
Considering that hundreds of pachinko machines 1 are generally installed in a gaming parlor, it is hoped that the time required for inserting the enclosed balls can be significantly reduced.

[Foul ball recovery box]
Although a configuration in which the game ball counting means is provided in the sealed ball recovery box 22 has been described above, a configuration in which the game ball counting means is provided in the illegal ball recovery box 24 is also conceivable.
In Fig. 3, the illegal ball recovery box 24 is shown as a box with a smaller capacity than the enclosed ball recovery box, taking into consideration the intended use of the box, but if it is to have a function for counting the number of balls thrown into the machine, it should be a box of the same size as the enclosed ball recovery box.
The illegal ball recovery box 24 stores the illegal balls that have been removed from the machine by the illegal ball removal means 23. The illegal ball removal means 23 in this embodiment is provided to remove game balls whose diameter is smaller than the standard. In particular, game balls whose diameter is smaller than the standard can pass through gaps that regular game balls cannot pass through, and are highly likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Moreover, once illegal balls are trapped, they will circulate and be fired many times, so if they cannot be removed, the damage will be enormous.
Therefore, an opening is provided at the bottom of the circulation path through which the enclosed balls always pass, as the illegal ball discharge means 23. Even if a regular game ball reaches the opening, it passes through as it is because the opening width is narrow, but when a small ball with a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball reaches the opening, it cannot pass through the opening because the opening is wider than the diameter of the ball, and is simply removed from the circulation path.
The machine also has a small ball detection function, but the small ball detection is provided for the purpose of quickly notifying the occurrence of fraudulent play and is not related to the illegal ball discharge means 23. However, the small ball detection and the illegal ball discharge means 23 may be operated in association with each other. Specifically, when the small ball detection detects a small ball, an opening that is usually closed is opened to remove the small ball.
Of course, the illegal ball discharge means 23 may be provided to deal with not only small balls but also large balls. In that case, it is possible to provide an opening for large balls in addition to an opening for small balls. However, it is possible to configure the opening so that only game balls with a diameter smaller than that of the large balls can pass through, and to remove game balls that cannot pass through the opening from the circulation path.

The illegal ball recovery box is intended to store game balls that are different in diameter from regular game balls, but the counting means is provided solely for the purpose of counting regular game balls. Therefore, the counting means may have the same structure as the enclosed ball recovery box.
As a result, it no longer functions to accurately count the number of illegal balls that have been discharged.
In this way, the illegal ball recovery box, which has no opportunity to be used unless illegal balls are inserted, can be used to measure the recommended number of game balls when inserting game balls into the machine.

In the above-described embodiment, the pachinko machine 1 corresponds to the gaming machine according to the present invention.
The polishing device 35, the lifting device 33, and the recovery path correspond to the ball circulating means according to the present invention.
The ball removal lever 21 corresponds to the game ball ejection means of the present invention.
The enclosed ball recovery box 22 corresponds to the storage means according to the present invention.
The illegal ball ejection means 23 corresponds to the illegal ball ejection means according to the present invention.
The illegal ball recovery box 24 corresponds to the illegal ball storage means according to the present invention.

Next, another example of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described below.
In the embodiment described above, the power supply to the main control device 80 is stopped based on a combination of information on operational abnormalities and information on game progress, but the conditions for stopping the power supply are not limited to the combination in the embodiment and can be set in various ways.
For example, if a ball jam error occurs and if a game is being played, the power supply to the main control device 80 may be stopped, and the decision as to whether or not to stop the power supply may be made primarily based on information about the operational abnormality.
Also, the condition for stopping the power supply to the main control device 80 may be set based on the occurrence of an operational abnormality and the progress of the game, depending on whether or not the player is disadvantaged, instead of the above combination. For example, if a ball jam error occurs during a big win game, the operation is controlled to stop the power supply.
The frame control device 81 can also be configured to respond to an operational abnormality that occurs on the main control device 80 side. Specifically, the main control device 80 includes a board-side abnormality detection means for detecting an operational abnormality on the main control device 80 side, and a board-side abnormality information transmission means for transmitting information on the operational abnormality to the frame control device 81 when the board-side abnormality detection means detects an operational abnormality, and when the frame control device 81 receives the information on the operational abnormality, it refers to the situation on the frame control device 81 side (regardless of the situation on the frame control device 81 side depending on the content of the operational abnormality) and executes a predetermined abnormality response process.
Here, multiple anomaly response processes are set according to the type of operational abnormality, and one of them is selectively executed based on the information on the operational abnormality received from the main control device 80. In this configuration, the functions of responding to operational abnormalities occurring on the main control device 80 side and operational abnormalities occurring on the frame control device 81 side are concentrated in the frame control device 81, and the frame control device 81 can respond appropriately to either type of operational abnormality.
Furthermore, since the frame control device 81 can also receive information from the CR unit 46, when an operational abnormality occurs on the main control device 80 side, the frame control device 81 may refer to the information from the CR unit 46 and select and execute a corresponding process (abnormality response process). Alternatively, when an operational abnormality occurs on the CR unit 46 side, the frame control device 81 may refer to the game progress information received from the main control device 80 and select and execute a corresponding process. Here, as the information transmitted from the CR unit 46 to the frame control device 81, for example, each piece of information shown in FIG. 26 can be set.
In addition, in Figure 26, the counting possible state information is information indicating whether or not it is possible to execute a counting process that transfers the number of balls held information on the frame control device 81 side to the number of balls held information on the CR unit 46 side, and the ball lending instruction information is information that notifies the frame control device 81 that the lending operation area 158 (lending switch 58) has been operated.
Such a configuration can appropriately respond to an operational abnormality occurring in a device other than the frame control device 81 even when no operational abnormality occurs in the frame control device 81. And, according to the present invention, it is also possible to provide such a configuration.

In the above embodiment, when the power supply to the main control device 80 is stopped due to the occurrence of an operational abnormality, the launch of game balls by the launching device 31 may also be stopped. Specifically, a process of forcibly stopping the transmission of a signal to the launching motor 106 of the launching device 31 is performed in a power supply stop process or a ball lending stop process of the operational abnormality response process.
This makes it possible to forcibly stop the launch of game balls into the game area 3 before the power supply to the main control device 80 is cut off, thereby minimizing the increase in disadvantages caused by the occurrence of operational abnormalities.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the game progress information to be combined with the operational abnormality information is defined as the information content shown in FIG. 18(B), but it is not limited to this and other information content can also be used.
For example, in addition to the information content of FIG. 19(B), it is also possible to use information regarding the designation of the presentation content during a jackpot game, information regarding the fluctuation pattern, and information regarding the number of reserved memories.
As an example, in a configuration using information on a variation pattern, it is preferable to assign a variation pattern that selects a SP reach presentation to the first class, a variation pattern that selects a miss presentation to the second class, and a variation pattern that results in a big win to the first class. With such a configuration, the response to the operation abnormality changes depending on the expectation that the player gets from the variation presentation, so that a response that is in line with the player's psychology can be implemented.
In addition, in a configuration with a V-winning in a jackpot game, information on the opening and closing round in which a V-winning occurs and information on whether or not a V-winning has occurred can be used as game progress information. Here, the V-winning may be a specific area in the large winning opening 14 where a game ball enters the large winning game, and a specific area in the large winning opening where a game ball enters the large winning game during a jackpot game and the probability of winning the jackpot after the jackpot game changes to a high probability may be used as a V-winning in a game configuration with a probability change function. In either case, since it is important winning information that gives an advantageous state to the player, it is possible to classify it into the first type and the second type depending on the information content.
Also, in a configuration that can temporarily store game balls in the game area, such as a configuration called a pinball machine, whether or not the game balls are being stored can be used as game progress information. In such a configuration, in a configuration in which the storage of game balls is released by stopping the power supply, if the game balls are in a stored state, the game can be continued as the second type, and then the storage can be released and the game can be handled as the first type when a V is won, so that the player is less likely to suffer a disadvantage.
In this way, it is preferable to set game progress information according to the machine on which various games are played.

In addition, it is also possible to use the information transmitted to the hall computer 87 shown in FIG. 18(A) for game progress information that is combined with information on operational abnormalities. By using such information transmitted to the hall computer 87, the transmission load from the main control device 80 to the frame control device 81 can be reduced because the transmission information alone can be used to perform the process of transmitting information to the hall computer 87 and the process of selecting a response to operational abnormalities.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the operational abnormalities to be detected are the device abnormality shown in FIG. 19, ball jamming abnormality, various abnormalities, and unauthorized electromagnetic wave abnormality, but the present invention is not limited to these, and the configuration may be such that other operational abnormalities can be detected.
For example, a card ID reading error, a security error of the CR unit, etc. that can be detected by the CR unit are set, and when such an error is detected, an error detection signal is sent to the frame control device 81. As described above, even when such an operational abnormality occurs in the CR unit, an operation of cutting off the power supply to the main control device 80 or an operation of notifying the player can be selectively executed.
Incidentally, the frame control device can recognize the error information of the CR unit from the information transmitted from the CR unit to the frame control device (see FIG. 26).
Here, since the frame control device 81 can receive information from both the main control device 80 and the CR unit separately, it is possible to make a comprehensive judgment, including information that the frame control device 81 can obtain directly, and respond to operational abnormalities.
For example, when the frame control device 81 detects an operational abnormality of ball jamming and receives the progress information of the big win opening from the main control device 80, it performs an abnormality response process of determining whether or not to transfer the information on the number of balls held on the frame control device 81 side and executing the process depending on whether the information indicating the inserted state of the IC card is received from the CR unit 46 or whether the information indicating the non-inserted state of the IC card is received. Alternatively, when a card ID reading error occurs and the progress information of the big win opening is received, it performs an abnormality response process of executing the process of stopping the power supply to the main control device 80.
In this way, even if no operational abnormality occurs in the frame control device 81, if an operational abnormality occurs in the CR unit 46 or the main control device 80, the frame control device 81 can take appropriate action based on the information on each operational abnormality. This is a function that is only possible with a frame control device 81 that is configured to collect all information.
Also, a configuration may be possible in which information received from the CR unit 46 takes priority over information from the frame control device 81. For example, if a player removes his/her IC card and leaves his/her seat while the frame control device 81 retains the ball number information for a toilet break, etc., and another player inserts his/her own IC card without noticing that the ball number information remains, the frame control device 81 may be configured to compare the card ID stored therewith, and to notify the player that the game is suspended due to a mismatch, or to notify the player that the card ID does not match. With such a configuration, trouble between players can be prevented in advance.

In addition, the display mode for notifying the occurrence of an operational abnormality on the unit display device 47 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be set in various ways. For example, when the power supply stop process is not executed in the operational abnormality response process, as shown in Fig. 27, an abnormality information pattern 161a notifying the occurrence of a ball jam error, a pattern 165 indicating the location of the abnormality, and a pattern (text pattern of "Please take your card just in case") 168 prompting the operation of the return operation area are displayed.
Furthermore, the controller 160 activates an enlarged return operation area 169 provided in advance on the unit display device 47. By using such a display mode, the player may be prompted to return the card when an operational abnormality occurs.

In the above embodiment, the delay circuit 96 provided in the frame control device 81 is used to delay the conversion timing of the changeover switch 95 by a predetermined time, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured without a delay circuit. In a configuration without a delay circuit, the power supply to the main control device may be stopped immediately upon detection of an operational abnormality, or the conversion timing of the changeover switch may be delayed by program processing or the like.
Here, a configuration for delaying the conversion timing of the change-over switch without a delay circuit may be one in which the frame control device 81 performs the anomaly response classification process of the operation anomaly response process (Figure 20), and then notifies the main control device 80 that the power supply will be stopped after a predetermined time (how many seconds) or after all of the game balls fired into the game area have entered the game area, and further executes a process to stop the power supply (process to convert the change-over switch) in response to the notification.
Furthermore, it is possible to notify the power supply stop and to process the power supply stop in a shorter time by having the frame control device 81 forcibly stop the launching device 31. In any case, since the changeover switch is changed over after a certain period of time, the power supply can be stopped while preventing the player from becoming confused due to a sudden stop in play.

In the above embodiment, the unit display device 47 is configured to display the occurrence of an operational abnormality or a power outage, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured to display the occurrence of an operational abnormality or a power outage on the performance pattern display device 6. In this case, a command can be sent from the frame control device to the sub-integrated control device, and the above-mentioned abnormality information pattern, corresponding pattern, explanatory pattern, character pattern, etc. are displayed on the performance pattern display device 6. By reporting in this way on the performance pattern display device 6, the player can more easily recognize the occurrence of an operational abnormality, etc.
Naturally, it is also possible to notify such an operation abnormality in both the unit display device 47 and the performance pattern display device 6. In this configuration, when taking measures to stop the power supply to the main control device 80 (measures classified as the first type), since it is not possible to display on the performance pattern display device 6, the unit display device 47 notifies the abnormality.
On the other hand, when the power supply to the main control device 80 is not stopped (a second type of response), the abnormality is notified by the performance symbol display device 6. In this way, the abnormality can be notified at the location where the player pays the most attention.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a power supply relay board 91 is provided between the power supply device 85 and the frame control device 81, and a backup power supply circuit 92 is provided on the power supply relay board 91. However, this is not limited to this, and a circuit (device) that generates a backup power supply can also be provided separately from the power supply relay board 91.
For example, the backup power supply circuit may be provided in the power supply device 85, or the main control device 80 or the frame control device 81. Alternatively, a power supply relay board that relays between the main control device 80 and the frame control device 81 may be provided, and the backup power supply circuit may be provided on the power supply relay board.
Furthermore, a backup power supply circuit may be provided for all or a plurality of the power supply device 85, the power supply relay board 91, the main control device 80, the frame control device 81, and the power supply relay boards. In any case, as long as the information of the main control device 80 and the frame control device 81 can be backed up as described above, any of the above configurations can be adopted. Note that the power supply relay board that relays the main control device 80 and the frame control device 81 is provided in the case where the game board 2 is connected to the inner frame 70 via a drawer connector.
In addition, in a configuration in which backup power supply circuits are provided in the power supply unit 85, main control unit 80, and frame control unit 81, it is possible not to provide a power supply relay board.
In addition, it is also possible to provide a means (switch) for switching between a power supply state and a non-supply state to the main control device 80 in the power relay board 91 or the power supply device 85, rather than in the frame control device 81.
In this embodiment, a power interruption monitoring circuit (see FIG. 5) that monitors the main switch being turned off or power interruption due to a power failure is disposed in the power supply 85, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the power interruption monitoring circuit may be disposed in the power supply relay board 91, or in the main control device 80 or the frame control device 81. Alternatively, the power interruption monitoring circuit may be disposed in all or a plurality of the power supply 85, the power supply relay board 91, the main control device 80, and the frame control device 81. Either configuration can be used to implement this embodiment.

Of course, the above-mentioned alternative examples can be configured independently, or multiple alternative examples can be combined to form a configuration.

1. Pachinko machines (pinball machines)
2 Game board 3 Game area 11 First starting hole (winning hole)
12. Second starting gate (winning gate)
14. Grand Prize Winners' Entrance (Prize Winners' Entrance)
15 General prize entry (prize entry)
16 Outlet 22 Enclosed ball collection box
24. Illegal ball recovery box
31 Launching device 33 Lifting device 35 Polishing device 80 Main control device 81 Frame control device 85 Power supply device 90 Power supply circuit 95 Changeover switch

Claims (1)

In an enclosed game machine, a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed and the game balls that are launched into a game area and used in a game are circulated so that they can be launched again into the game area.
a game ball intake means for taking game balls into the machine;
a game ball discharge means for discharging the game balls enclosed within the machine to the outside of the machine;
A storage means for storing the game balls discharged outside the machine,
The storage means is provided in a box shape, and at least a bottom portion is provided with a slope.
An enclosed type gaming machine characterized in that a mark is provided to indicate the number of game balls stored in the storage means.

Images