JP2519684B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique suitable for use in a ball-ball game machine using a game ball such as a pachinko game machine or an arrangement ball machine, and in particular, a prize ball to be discharged. The present invention relates to a technique effectively used for a ball game machine equipped with a ball discharge control device having a variable number of balls.

[Prior Art] In the field of pachinko gaming machines, in order to prevent players from leaving due to the monotony of the game, replace the game board with a different game configuration or design within a relatively short period, that is, before each component reaches the end of its life. To be done. In that case, if the configuration of the game board, that is, the arrangement of the winning device and the obstacle member, the type of the winning device and the number thereof are different, the winning ball occurrence rate of the entire gaming machine also becomes different. Therefore, it is necessary to balance the profits of the game player and the game shop by making the payout rate of the game machine substantially constant regardless of the configuration of the game board.
Therefore, conventionally, the number of prize balls to be paid out per winning ball is changed according to the type of game board.

By the way, when the game board replacement cycle is short, it is advantageous in terms of cost to replace only the game board and use the conventional back mechanism board including the prize ball discharging device as it is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of a pachinko game machine equipped with a conventional mechanical prize ball discharging device, for example, a prize ball discharging device using a ball sheath case, etc. In order to change the number of prize balls, it is necessary to change the position of the claws provided in the ball sheath case, which is not only a troublesome task, but sometimes the number of prize balls is mistakenly recognized in the hall. If you forget to change the position of, or change the position of the nail, you may put the nail in the wrong position, in which case either the player or the amusement store There was a problem that it gave an unreasonable profit and, on the other hand, a disadvantage.

Moreover, in the conventional gaming machine, since the control of the entire gaming machine is configured to be performed by one control device, the contents of the game often change when the game machine is replaced with a new model. There is a problem in that it is necessary to replace the control device in addition to the game board, which imposes extra expense on the game store. Also, if the control device is integrated, even if a failure occurs on the control system side of the game or if a failure occurs on the control system side of the ball discharging device, the entire control device must be replaced, so maintenance costs There is a problem that is high.

Furthermore, in recent years, since the electronic components that make up the game section have become diversified, the size of the control device has increased, which causes a problem of installation space, and the handling becomes complicated and the wiring becomes complicated. In this case, there is a problem that other electronic parts are likely to be damaged or an accident such as disconnection of wiring is likely to occur, and wiring is disconnected and connection is complicated due to replacement work.

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide a ball-and-ball game machine capable of avoiding troubles caused by the number of prize balls being set when the game board is replaced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of reducing the cost associated with the replacement of the game board.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a ball discharging device capable of discharging a required number of balls based on the winning of a hit ball, and a game section in which a game device is arranged. In a ball-and-ball game machine comprising a game board and the game board being configured to be attachable to and detachable from the game machine main body, a game content control device for electrically controlling game control including the game device, and the ball discharging device. The discharge control device that electrically controls the discharge control is provided as a separate device, and the discharge control device controls the discharge of the ball resulting from the hitting of the hit ball to the winning opening in the game part to the game content control device. According to the prize ball number information stored in the storage means on the side, the control is performed based on the prize ball number signal input from the game content control device.

[Operation] According to the above-described means, when the game board in use is replaced with a new game board having different game contents and the number of prize balls, only the game board and the game content control device for controlling the game contents are replaced. The discharge control device does not need to be replaced and can be left as it is, and the troublesome setting work of the number of prize balls is unnecessary even if the number of prize balls changes.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a back mechanism of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

A reserve tank 2 for storing spare balls is arranged above the back mechanism board 1, and a guide gutter 11 for automatically aligning and guiding the spare balls inside is connected to one end of the reserve tank 2. The guide gutter 11 has two passages, is gently inclined, and is provided with a pendulum type ball seal 3 and a pressing type ball seal 4 in the middle thereof, whereby the spare ball is guided by the guide gutter 11. It is aligned in two rows while flowing down.

At the lower end of the guide gutter 11, a stopper type prize ball discharging device 20 as a game ball discharging device (see FIG. 4)
Is provided. Pachinko machine 100 (see Figure 2)
The hit balls that have won the winning opening provided in the game board on the front of the are collected on the back and collected in one place by the collecting shelf 10, and separated one by one by the winning ball processing device 40 and by the winning ball detector 91. Detected and as a result an emission command signal is formed. Then, the prize ball discharge device 20 is operated only once, and a predetermined number (for example, 13) of prize balls are discharged. The winning balls separated and detected by the winning ball processing device 40 are discharged to a collecting gutter (not shown) at the rear of the game machine through the derivation gutter 12. When the prize ball discharging device 20 finishes discharging the prize balls, the winning ball processing device 40 receives the discharge completion signal and separates and detects the next winning ball.

On the other hand, the prize balls discharged by the prize ball discharging device 20 flow out through the prize ball discharge trough 13 to the supply tray 101 (see FIG. 2) on the front surface of the game machine through the supply port 14. When the supply tray 101 is full, the prize balls are discharged to the tray 102 under the front of the gaming machine through the branch gutter 15. When the saucer 102 is full,
This is detected by an overflow detector 92 provided in the middle of the diversion gutter 15, and for example, the driving of the hit ball launching device 103 is stopped.

An overflow indicator 113 is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine to notify the player when the overflow state of the tray is detected by the overflow detector 92.

On the front of the gaming machine 100, the overflow indicator 113
In addition, a prize ball lamp 111 that is lit every time a prize ball is discharged according to the occurrence of a winning ball, the storage tank 2 is emptied, or the discharged prize balls have a predetermined number. The completion lamp 112 which is turned on when reaching, the fraud warning display lamp 114 which is turned on or blinks when there is a fraudulently operating the prize ball discharging device 20 by inserting a piano wire or the like, and the prize ball discharging device A malfunction indicator lamp 115 that lights up or blinks when a ball clogging in 20, etc., a discharge solenoid, a discharge sensor, etc. malfunctions, and a prize ball number indicator that displays the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to one winning ball 116, various display devices such as a pilot lamp 117 that is turned on while the firing motor of the hitting ball launch device 103 is driven are provided. The prize ball number display device 116 includes, for example, a transparent plate on which three types of prize ball numbers are described and three lamps arranged behind the transparent plate, and a lamp corresponding to the number of prize balls to be discharged is provided. The display is performed by selectively turning on the light.

105 is an out hole for collecting the hit ball which did not win in the winning opening out of the hitting holes into the winning board out of the hitting hole on the back of the game board, and 93 is when there is no spare ball in the storage tank 2.
This is a ball shortage detector for detecting this.

A ball drain gutter 16 is provided below the prize ball discharge device 20 in parallel with the prize ball discharge gutter 13, and is switched to an entrance of the ball drain gutter 16, that is, a branch point with the prize ball discharge gutter 13. A ball removing device 60 having a gate is provided. The ball removing device 60 has an operation hole 1 formed on the front surface of a holding frame 104 of a ball game machine.
Since 06, the gate can be operated by inserting a tool such as a pin or wire. When the switching gate is switched to the ball drain gutter 16 side, the ball drain switch 84 is turned on.

In the conventional pachinko game machine using the ball sheath case, the ball removal gate was arranged on the upstream side of the prize ball discharging device 20, so the ball remained in the middle even after removing the ball. In this embodiment, the ball removing device 60 is the prize ball discharging device 20.
Because it is on the downstream side, all balls can be pulled out, and the data of pachinko parlors can be collected accurately.

The lower end of the ball drain gutter 16 is joined with the out ball lead-out gutter 17 for guiding the out ball collected from the out hole 105, and is collected toward a collection gutter (not shown) arranged below the island facility of the pachinko parlor. It is designed to drain the ball.

Further, the back mechanism board 1 is a control device for electrically controlling the entire pachinko gaming machine, such as stopping the firing of hit balls according to detection signals from the prize ball discharging device 20 and the overflow detector 92, driving various display devices, and the like. There is provided a game content control device 210 for controlling the game operation based on signals from detectors incorporated in 200 and various variable winning devices on the front of the game board, variable display type auxiliary game devices and the like.

In the field of pachinko machines, in order to prevent game players from leaving due to monotonization of game contents, they are exchanged for new game boards with different game contents and design configurations, but in that case also excluding game boards The pachinko machine main unit and the back mechanism panel are almost the same. However, it is very uneconomical to replace such an invariant part together with the game board before reaching the end of its life.

In the above embodiment, when the game board is replaced, only the game board and its game content control device 210 need to be replaced. That is, the game content control device 210 is fixed to the back surface of the removable game board, and the prize ball discharge device 20, the prize ball processing device 40, and their control devices 200 are used for the spare ball storage tank 2 and various guide troughs 10. It is fixed to the back mechanism board 1 which is integrated with the main body of the gaming machine together with -17. Therefore, even when the game board is replaced, most of the main body and the back mechanism board can be left as they are and can be continuously used, which is very economical.

In addition, on the upper part of the back mechanism board 1,
A manual switch (hereinafter referred to as a memory discharge switch) 83 for discharging the prize balls on the collecting rack 10 without operating the prize ball discharge device 20 is provided. That is,
The memory discharge switch 83 gives a pseudo discharge end signal instead of the discharge sensor 25 in the prize ball discharge device 20 described later.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the reserve ball storage tank 2, the guide gutter 11, and the prize ball discharging device 20, and the connection state thereof.

The storage tank 2 is mounted so as to be placed in a storage recess formed in the upper part of the back mechanism panel 1. Although not shown, an opening is formed at one end (the left end in the figure) of the bottom wall of the storage tank 2, and a guide gutter 11 is attached so as to face this opening. A tread plate is rotatably disposed on the bottom wall of the guide gutter 11, and the tread plate rises when there is no more reserve ball in the storage tank 2. The ball shortage detector 93 detects this and forms a ball replenishment request signal.

A flow dividing wall 11a is provided in the middle of the guide gutter 11, and separates and aligns a flowing ball into two lines. The ball seal 3 is suspended by a pin 3a on a support portion 11b formed on the upper part of the guide gutter 11,
The spheres that flow vertically over the guide gutter 11 are broken up and aligned. The ball seal 4 is rotatably supported by the support pieces 4a fixed to both sides of the guide trough 11 by pins 4b, and prevents the balls flowing down on the guide trough 11 from overlapping.

Further, a flow-down control member 7 rotatable around the pin 4b is provided in the guide gutter 11, preferably immediately before the prize ball discharging device 20. The bent piece at the front end of the flow-down control member 7 is divided into two pieces, and when the bent piece 7c, 7d is rotated as indicated by the broken line a in the figure, each bent piece 7c, 7d corresponds to the two guiding paths and is guided by the guide gutter 11. By entering into the long holes 11c, 11d formed in the upper wall of the guide wall, it is possible to prevent the ball from flowing down in the guide trough 11 and manually stop the supply to the prize ball discharging device 20.

As a result, the maintenance and inspection of the prize ball discharging device 20 and the replacement operation in the case of failure can be easily performed.

An operation piece 7b is provided on one side of the flow-down control member 7 so as to protrude laterally, so that the flow-down control member 7 can be easily rotated manually. Further, a spring 9 is provided between the operation piece 7b and the pin 8 provided on the side wall of the guide gutter 11.
Is suspended, and the flow-down control member 7 is
State can be maintained stably.

Further, a prize ball discharge device 20 having a flow-down path 30 is provided at the lower end of the guide gutter 11. In this case, a locking piece 11e is provided on the side of the gutter at the lower end of the guide gutter 11,
Further, a guide piece 30a projecting forward is provided at an upper portion and a lower portion of the start end of the flow-down path 30 on the prize ball discharging device side,
The guide gutter 11 and the flow-down path 30 can be connected to each other by the lock piece 11e.

4 to 6 show details of the prize ball discharging device 20.
The prize ball discharging device 20 comprises a downflow path 30, a downflow blocking member 22 that enters the downflow path 30 to control the downflow of a ball, and a solenoid 21 that is a driving means thereof.

The flow-down path 30 includes an alignment gutter 31 that is gently inclined,
A flow control gutter 33 extending substantially vertically downward from the lower end of the alignment gutter 31; and an adjustment unit for changing the direction of the flowing ball at the connection between the alignment gutter 31 and the flow gutter 33 by about 90 degrees. 32, a guiding gutter 34 extending obliquely downward about 45 degrees from the lower end of the flow control gutter 33, and a discharge gutter 35 extending substantially vertically downward from the end of the guiding gutter 34. ing.

Near the boundary between the guide gutter 34 and the discharge gutter 35, a pair of support pieces 36 protrude from the outer wall of the flow-down path 30, and the support shaft 24 is suspended between the support pieces 36.

Further, two flow-down paths 30 are formed corresponding to the guide gutters 11, and a pair of fan-shaped flow-down preventing members 22 are rotatable about the support shaft 24 in correspondence with the two flow-down paths 30. It is installed. A pair of solenoids 21 are provided corresponding to the flow-down preventing members 22. Then, the tip end portion of the flow-down prevention member 22 enters through a slit provided in the inner wall portion of the flow-down path 30 and is projected into the guide gutter 34. The rear end of the falling-off preventing member 22 is connected to the leading end of the plunger 21a of the solenoid 21 via a link member 23, and the falling-off preventing member 22 moves around the support shaft 24 as the plunger 21a expands and contracts. The tip is reciprocated, and the leading end enters or retracts in the guide gutter 34. As a result, the flow of the balls is allowed or blocked, and a predetermined number of discharges are performed.

Further, the side wall of the guide gutter 34 swells to the outside, and the storage portion 37
The discharge ball detector 25, which is a transmission type optical sensor, is inserted into the storage portion 37.

The solenoid 21 is provided above the solenoid 21.
A connector 26 is provided for concentrating the lead wires drawn from the discharge ball detector 21 and the discharge ball detector 25 at one location, and for connecting the wiring for connecting to the control device 200 collectively from the front. ing. Then, the engaging portion 13a formed at the starting end of the prize ball outlet gutter 13 is engaged with the lower end of the flow-down path 30 for connection.

Furthermore, on the bottom surface of the alignment gutter 31 at the entrance of the downflow path 30,
As shown in FIG. 5, a conductive sheet 38 such as a metal plate is attached, and one end of the conductive sheet 38 is grounded to a frame or the like. As a result, the static electricity charged on the falling sphere can be released, and the discharge sphere detector 25 can be prevented from being destroyed by static electricity. In other words, it is possible to use a mechanical device such as a micro switch as the detector, but the micro switch has a slow recovery action, so if the sphere continuously flows down, it may be turned on It is also easy to cause chattering. In addition, contact failure is likely to occur due to long-term use. Therefore, the microswitch is not suitable as a detector for detecting a continuous ball like a prize ball discharging device. Therefore, in the above embodiment, an optical sensor is used as the ejected ball detector 25. However, since the optical sensor is formed of an IC, it is susceptible to static electricity, and furthermore, while the discharge sphere flows down in the guide gutter 11, the sensor is susceptible to static electricity due to friction with the gutter, and the static electricity tends to damage the sensor. There is an inconvenience. In the above embodiment, the inconvenience is avoided by discharging the conductive sheet 38 attached to the bottom surface of the alignment gutter 31. Further, by selecting the material of the conductive sheet 38, the frictional force between the ball and the gutter can be reduced and the flow of the ball can be made smooth.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, slits 31a and 33a are provided on the upper wall of the flow control gutter 31 and the outer wall of the flow control gutter 33, which constitute the flow path of the prize ball discharging device 20, respectively. As a result, foreign matter and the like enter the downflow path and the prize ball discharge device
In the case where a ball is clogged in the inside of 20 or a smooth flow is obstructed, maintenance can be facilitated, for example, by inserting a tool such as a pin from the slit 31a or 33a to remove foreign matter. The slits 31a and 33a have a lid member 3 having a step 39a having substantially the same size as the slit.
9 is engaged and fixed to a screw or the like so as to be closed.

Next, the operation of the flow-down path (30) and the flow-down control device 20 configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The above-mentioned prize ball discharging device 20 is configured such that the flow-down preventing member 22 enters the guiding path 34 as shown by a solid line in FIG.
The pachinko balls B lined up in the downflow path 30 are the most advanced balls.
B ₁ is stopped by coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flow-down prevention member 22. At this time, two balls B ₁ and B ₂ are housed in the guide trough 34, and _three balls B ₃ , B ₄ and B ₅ are housed in the adjusting trough 33. The dimensions of the diversion gutter 33 are determined.
Moreover, the uppermost ball B ₅ in the adjusting gutter 33 is a ball in the alignment gutter 31.
It is adapted to be pressed by B ₆ , B ₇ ... And come into contact with the tapered adjusting portion 32. The ball B ₅ receives a repulsive force from the adjusting unit 32 by being pressed toward the adjusting unit 32, and the repulsive force is transmitted to the ball B ₅ and the balls B ₄ , B ₃ ... Acts like pushing up. As a result, when the downflow prevention member 22 is retracted from inside the guide gutter 34 as shown by the broken line C in FIG. 6, the repulsive force from the adjusting portion 32 and the weight of the ball cause the flow control gutter 33 and the guide gutter 34 to move. The spheres B _{1 to} B ₅ start to flow down quickly.

When the spheres B _{1 to} B ₅ flow down, the spheres B ₆ , B ₇ ... In the alignment gutter 31 subsequently start to flow down. Then, at the exit of the alignment gutter 31, first, it collides with the adjusting section 32 to reduce the downflow speed, and the downflow direction is converted from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction by approximately 90 °, and the flow adjusting section 33
to go into. Here, since acceleration is performed by its own weight, a ball interval is secured between the ball and a subsequent ball that is decelerated by the adjustment unit 32. Therefore, for example, when the solenoid 21 is demagnetized when the ball B ₇ is detected, even if there is a delay in the operation of the flow-down preventing member 22, it is possible to prevent the flow-down before the ball B ₇ passes. By increasing the distance between the balls in this way, it becomes easy to control the downflow prevention member. However, to detect B ₇ prize balls to be discharged when the solenoid is switched to the OFF 21 is six.

Further, in the flow-down path 30, the center O ₅ of the sphere B ₅ located at the uppermost position of the flow control trough 32 is aligned in the alignment gutter 31 in a state where the flow-down prevention member 22 blocks the flow of the sphere. Sphere
The dimensions of the guide gutter 34 and the diversion gutter 33 are determined so as to be positioned below the extension line of the center line connecting the centers O ₆ , O ₇ ... Of B ₆ , B ₇ ...

Therefore, the pressure transmitted from the waiting balls B ₆ , B ₇ ... To B ₅ produces a component force that pushes down the ball B ₅ . by this,
When the downflow prevention member 22 is retracted, the flow control gutter 33 is the uppermost ball.
B ₅ is not sandwiched between the following ball B ₆ and the outer wall 33a of the diversion gutter 33, and does not prevent the balls B _{1 to} B ₄ from flowing down following the flow.

The discharge ball detector 25 provided in the middle of the guiding gutter 34,
The detection optical axis F is arranged so as to come to a position slightly deviated from the center of the sphere flowing down in the trough. When the detection optical axis F is positioned so as to pass through the center of the sphere, when a plurality of spheres continuously flow down, the pulse interval of the detection signal becomes narrow and accurate counting may not be possible. . However, in this embodiment, accurate counting can be performed by shifting the detection optical axis F from the center of the sphere as described above.

Further, the flow-down preventing member 22 is attached so that the rotation surface of the fan-shaped flow-down preventing member 22 coincides with the flow-down trajectory at the center of the flowing sphere, so that the flow-down prevention member 22 enters the gutter from above the guide gutter 34 downward. To stop the falling ball. Therefore, the impact force acting on the flow-down preventing member 22 when the flowing-down ball stops is received by the stopper portion (for example, the slit end of the guide gutter 34 into which the flow-down prevention member 22 enters). Therefore, it is possible to easily provide a strength capable of withstanding an impact acting at the time of stopping.

Moreover, since the ball B ₁ the lowermost is stopped in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fan-shaped flow-down preventing member 22, while ball B ₁ the lowermost of the outer peripheral surface and the wall surface of the induction gutter 34 falling blocking member 22 It is stopped by the bite such forms also, when the falling preventing member 22 is retracted moves away while allowing to rotate the ball B ₁ at its outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the downflow prevention member 22 can be retracted with a comparatively small force, and the sphere is not caught between the downflow prevention member 22 and the wall surface of the guide gutter 34 and does not become stuck.

Further, the line connecting the rotation center of the flow-down prevention member 22 and the center O ₁ of the lowermost sphere B ₁ in the guide trough 34 is arranged so as to be horizontal. Therefore, immediately ball B ₁ is enabled under a stream when the end of the falling-blocking member 22 is disengaged from the outer periphery of the ball B _1, blocking force from ball B ₁ is lowered slightly shear with the rotation of the flow-down preventing member 22 is outside And there is no such thing as starting the flow.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the angle α formed between the flow control gutter 33 and the guide flow gutter 34 may be in the range of 0 to 90 °, but when the angle α is set to about 45 °, the flow is accelerated in the flow control gutter 33. The speed of the falling ball is not significantly reduced, and the load applied to the falling prevention member 22 when stopped can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in a state in which a stream of the sphere by the falling preventing member 22 is prevented, one diameter of the sphere from the point of contact with the ball B ₁ of the lowermost end of the induction gutter 34 and flows down blocking member 22 away The guiding gutter 34 such that the distance d between the vertical line G passing through the set point and the wall surface 35a of the discharge gutter 35 is smaller than the radius r of the sphere and larger than r-rcosα (r-rcosα <d <r). End of
The position of 34a has been determined. Thereby, when the flow-down preventing member 22 enters the guide gutter 34 and prevents the ball from flowing down, when the ball discharged at the end is discharged by being pushed by the end face 22a of the flow-down preventing member 22 When it reaches the end 34a of the guide gutter 34, it flows down into the discharge gutter 35 and the downflow prevention member 22
You can escape from. For this reason, the final discharge ball remains in the guide gutter forever and does not hinder the entry of the flow-down preventing member 22, and the discharge can be stopped quickly.

 FIG. 7 shows details of an embodiment of the winning ball processing apparatus 40.

An assembly shelf 10 provided on the back surface of the back mechanism panel 1 is inclined downward toward the center, and a flow path conversion unit 10C is provided at the center. This flow path conversion unit 10C is for changing the direction of the vertical wall 10a that causes a step between the left and right collecting shelves 10A and 10B and the winning balls that are fixed to the vertical wall 10a and have flowed down from the right collecting shelf 10A. A guide piece whose front end is formed in an arc shape.
10b, a tapered portion 10c formed so as to be gently downwardly inclined forward at the terminal end of the collecting shelf 10A below the guiding piece 10b.
It is composed of

Corresponding to the flow path conversion section 10C, an inlet 41a through which one sphere can pass is formed in a holding frame 41 integrated with a panel attached so as to cover the collecting shelf 10, and one side of this outlet 41a and An L-shaped winning ball guide plate 42 is provided along the lower side,
The inflowing winning balls are turned 90 degrees.

The ball processing device is located on the side of the winning ball guide plate 42
43 is pivotally mounted by a support shaft 44. On the side of the ball processor 43 facing the prize ball guide plate 42,
A concave ball receiving portion 43a is formed, and a weight 45 is attached to the opposite side thereof.
The mounting side of is lowered by its weight. The lower side of the ball receiving portion 43a on the opposite side is the winning ball guide plate 42.
And further rotation is prevented by contacting the lower surface of the, and the balance is maintained. In this state, when a winning ball flows down from the winning ball guide plate 42 to the ball receiving portion 43a as shown in FIG. 8 (A),
The weight of the weight 45 is determined so that the ball processor 43 rotates clockwise by the weight of the ball. The sphere processing device 43 rotated by the weight of the inflowing sphere is stopped when its lower side comes into contact with the holding frame 41.

In this stopped state, the prize ball guide plate 42
A blocking piece 43b is protrudingly provided at a position opposing to the above. As a result, if two or more winning balls are generated consecutively, 2
As shown in FIG. 8 (B), the second and subsequent winning balls are blocked from flowing down by the blocking piece 43b, and are made to stand by on the winning ball guide plate 42. Although the mounting position is not limited, for example, a detection piece 43c is provided on the upper part of the sphere processing device 43, and a pair of a projector and a light receiver are provided in the holding frame 41 corresponding to the detection piece 43c. A safe sensor 91 such as an optical sensor arranged opposite to each other is attached.

Further, a solenoid 48 is disposed on the side of the ball processing device 43, and a position facing the lower side of the ball receiving part of the ball processing device 43 rotated by the winning ball flowing into the ball receiving part 43a. The stopper 47 fixed to the tip of the plunger 46a of the solenoid 46 is exposed. This solenoid 46 is a stopper at the plunger tip in the demagnetized state.
47 is pulled downward by the spring 48, is held by the ball receiving portion 43a, and comes into contact with the winning ball that is about to flow down toward the winning ball outflow gutter 12 below to prevent the falling (the first (See FIG. 8B). When the solenoid 46 is excited, the plunger 46a contracts, the stopper 47 is raised, and the winning ball held in the ball receiving portion 43a flows down to the outlet gutter 12. The stopper 47
Is provided with an operation piece 47a, so that a staff member of a pachinko parlor can manually move the stopper 47 to discharge a winning ball when a ball is clogged or a solenoid fails.

The solenoid 46 is operated, for example, in response to a discharge completion signal from the prize ball discharging device 20. solenoid
When 46 is excited and the winning ball flows down, the ball processor 43
Is rotated counterclockwise by the weight of the weight 45, and the blocking piece 43b is raised. Therefore, the next winning balls that are continuously generated and kept waiting on the winning ball guide plate 42 are the ball receiving portions 43.
Then, the ball processing device 43 flows in a, and the ball processing device 43 is again rotated clockwise. In this way, by repeating the above-described operation, a large number of winning balls generated in a short time can be promptly separated and detected and processed.

As described above, as the prize ball discharging device 20, if a stopper type device that controls the discharge of the prize ball by using the solenoid to move the flow-down preventing member 22 into or from the flow-down path 30 to control the discharge of the prize ball, By installing a safe sensor in the middle of the lead-out gutter to detect a winning ball and electrically storing it, it is possible to perform high-speed discharge control.

On the other hand, in the winning ball processing device 40 of the above-described embodiment, since the winning ball is separated and detected one by one by the ball processor 43, a detection interval between the previous winning ball and the next winning ball is required, and We can take enough. Therefore, it is possible to more accurately detect the winning balls successively generated. In a conventional gaming machine using a ball-sheath case-type prize ball discharge device, the prize ball is controlled to be discharged by separating the prize balls one by one, but in the conventional prize ball processing device, the separation is performed. Move the lever with the winning ball, remove the stopper of the ball sheath case with that movement, tilt it and discharge it, furthermore, physically transmit the tilt of this ball sheath case to the ball processor and allow the next winning ball to flow down Therefore, the response speed is lower than that of the winning ball processing apparatus of the above embodiment, and it is not suitable for processing a large amount of winning balls in a short time.

Further, in the winning ball processing device 40 of the above embodiment, after confirming the end of the discharge in the prize ball discharging device 20, the solenoid 46
Is activated to eject the previous winning ball and control to proceed to the detection of the next winning ball, so that a prize ball is not paid out even if a winning ball is generated, such that a communication between the player and the game store can be performed. It is possible to prevent troubles occurring between them. In other words, if the prize balls are not discharged, the prize balls are left at the stopper, and it is immediately apparent whether the player's claim is correct or not by looking there. Moreover, because the winning balls and the prize balls are discharged in a one-to-one relationship, the processing of the winning balls is interrupted while the discharging is stopped, and the winning balls that have not been discharged are put on standby. Is unnecessary. In other words, if the winning balls are detected in advance and electrically stored in a memory or counter, it is necessary to take measures against power failure such as backup by a battery in order to prevent the number of stored data from being lost at the time of power failure, The use of the winning ball processing apparatus of the above embodiment eliminates the necessity.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the winning ball is detected by the indirect method of detecting the rotation of the ball processor 43, malfunction of the safe sensor 91 due to static electricity charged on the pachinko ball is prevented. . In other words, in the case of the above embodiment, it is possible to directly detect the winning ball by putting the sensor 91 in the path of the winning ball, but in such a case, the sensor malfunctions due to static electricity charged on the winning ball. However, erroneous operation of the sensor can be prevented by indirect detection.

In the above embodiment, the winning ball processing apparatus is configured as shown in FIG. 7, and accordingly, the right collecting rack 10A is provided with an inclination angle α of 6 to 8 ° and the left collecting rack 10B is provided. Is an inclination angle β of 14 to 16 °, and the left and right shelves 10
Differentiate the speed of the winning ball flowing down A and 10B,
The height h of the vertical wall 10a is set to 12 mm or more. Thereby, even if a plurality of winning balls are generated and the winning balls flow down simultaneously from the left and right, it is possible to prevent the clogging of the balls in the flow path conversion unit 10C beforehand.

Next, a control device 200 that controls the prize ball discharging device 20 to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls and control the hit ball launching device 103 and the like.
One embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, control of the prize ball discharging device 20 and the like is performed by the CPU.
(Microcomputer) 200 '.

The CPU 200 'is provided with the memory discharge switch in the above embodiment.
Signals from 83, ball removal switch 84, safe sensor 91, overflow detector 92, and ball shortage detector 93 are input. Further, a discharge ball detection signal from a pair of discharge ball detectors (hereinafter referred to as discharge sensors) 25 provided in the flow path 30 of the prize ball discharge device 20 is input to the CPU 200 '. ing.

Further, a stop command signal from a central management device of a pachinko parlor (not shown) is input to the CPU 200 '.

The CPU 200 'has a ROM 201, which is a read-only memory, and a RAM 202, which is a memory that can be read and written at any time. Among them, the ROM 201 stores fixed data such as a program to be executed by the CPU 200 'for controlling the prize ball discharging device 20 and the driving time of the safe solenoid 46 and a wait time (discharge interval).

On the other hand, the RAM 202 sets a memory area for storing the cumulative number of balls discharged from each downflow path 30 or the number of discharged balls in each downflow path based on the discharged ball detection signal from the above discharge sensor 25, or software. Register area and CP that make up the timer
It provides a work area for the U200 '.

Further, the CPU 200 ′ has a pair of solenoids (hereinafter referred to as discharge solenoids) 21 in the prize ball discharging device 20 and a solenoid (hereinafter referred to as safe solenoid) 46 in the winning ball processing device 40 via the driver 220, and Award ball lamp
Display devices such as 111, completion lamp 112, overflow lamp 113, injustice warning display lamp 114, malfunction indicator lamp 115, prize ball number indicator 116, pilot lamp 117 (all see FIG. 2), speaker 120, ball hitting The device 103 and the like are connected. The CPU 200 'drives the prize ball discharging device 20, various display lamps, a ball hitting device 103, etc. based on signals from the setting device, various detectors and switches according to a program in the ROM 201.

The main processes of the CPU 200 'are an overflow process, a tank process, a ball removing process, a winning ball detecting process, and a prize ball discharging process. However, the procedure of the process is not limited to the above order, and any process may be performed first. The pachinko gaming machine is controlled by repeatedly executing the above processing by a timer interrupt or the like.

Here, the overflow processing detects the detection signal from the overflow detector 92, and turns on or blinks the overflow lamp 113 for a predetermined time (10 to 20 seconds), for example, when the overflow state is not released. Means that the launching operation by the hit ball launching device 103 is stopped. As a result, the prize ball outlet gutter 13
The inside is filled with prize balls up to near the prize ball discharge device 20,
It is possible to avoid adversely affecting the discharging operation.

When the tank processing detects that the storage tank 2 is empty and the ball shortage detector 93 is turned off, for example, a ball supply request is sent to the central control room and the completion lamp 112 is turned on, and at the same time or After that, when the ballless state is detected based on the signal of the discharge sensor 25 in the prize ball discharging device 20, the hitting ball launching device 103 is stopped. When a ball supply request signal is sent to the central control room, a supply device (not shown) above the tank is operated by a command from the central control quality,
Supply to the storage tank 2 is performed. In this example,
Even if the state of the ball in the tank is detected by the signal from the ball shortage detector 93, the discharge of the prize balls is not immediately restarted.
As shown in the figure, the operation is restarted after waiting for elapse of a delay time td of, for example, 2 seconds. The delay time is set in consideration of the time difference between when the tank is replenished and when the guide gutter 11 is filled with the spare ball, thereby preventing the prize ball discharging device 20 from being discharged empty.

Based on the signal from the ball removal switch 84, the ball removal processing is switched to the direction in which the switching gate of the ball removal device 60 is opened in the direction of opening the entrance of the ball removal trough 16 and closing the entrance of the prize ball derivation trough 13. When detected, the solenoid 21 in the prize ball discharge device 20
Is operated to continuously discharge the reserve sphere through the two flow-down paths 30 to empty the storage tank 2.

The winning ball detection process and the prize ball discharging device are related to each other and become complicated. Therefore, a detailed processing procedure is shown in FIG. 11 and will be described below based on this.

When the processing is started by turning on the power or generating an interrupt, first, a safe memory for storing the number of winning balls and various registers are initialized before detecting a winning ball (routine R1). The number of discharge spheres (hereinafter, referred to as radix base) for each downflow path in 20 is determined (routine R2).

In the gaming machine of the above embodiment, the number of discharged balls is input from the game content control device 210, and the CPU 200 'determines the number of discharged bases 1 and 2 according to the input number of discharged balls, for example, as shown in the following table. , Display the total prize balls on the front of the gaming machine 11
Display on 6. Here, as an example, a case where the total number of prize balls is set to 11, 13, or 15 is shown.

In Table 1 above, the term “discharge solenoid 1 side” refers to a solenoid provided on a path closer to the mounting board among the two flow-down paths, and in Table 1 above, the discharge solenoid 1
The number of discharge bases on the side is always determined to be larger than that on the discharge solenoid 2 side. The reason for setting such a relationship is that when the flow-down route is set to two lines, the storage tank 2
The flow of the spheres flowing down to the prize ball discharge device 20 through the guide gutter 11 is smoother on the flow path on the side closer to the substrate, and the sphere tends to be always short on the far side. This is because it became clear experimentally. Therefore, by always increasing the number of discharge bases on the side of the discharge solenoid 1 as shown in Table 1, it becomes possible to balance the supply of the balls to the two flow paths.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a more specific processing procedure of the discharge base number setting processing routine R2.

The setting processing procedure shown in FIG. 12 is to input the signal indicating the number of prize balls to the CPU 200 ′ from the game content control device 210 for controlling the game operation by the various prize winning devices on the game board to determine the number of prize balls. An example of the flow in the case of controlling is shown. In other words, this flow is the game board and game content control device 21
The number of prize balls to be discharged at one time may be changed by exchanging 0, and in that case, the game content control device 210
Since information about the number of prize balls may be stored in the ROM or the like, the information is used.

In the flow of FIG. 12, first, in routine R301, the number of prize balls is read from the game content control device (denoted as a control board in the figure), and then in routine R302 it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls is “11”. If YES, the routine jumps to routine R311 to set "6" in the discharge radix number register 1 on the discharge solenoid 1 side, and sets "5" to the discharge radix number register 2 on the discharge solenoid 2 side in the next routine R312. . Then, after the lamp corresponding to the number of prize balls "11" on the prize ball number display 116 is turned on in the routine R313, the process proceeds to the next routine (routine R3 in FIG. 11).

In addition, in the above routine R302, no, that is, the number of prize balls is "1.
If it is determined not to be "1", the routine proceeds to routine R303, where it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls is "13". as a result,
If yes, the routine jumps to the routine R321, first sets "7" in the discharge radix register 1, and then sets "6" in the discharge radix register 2 (routine R322). After a while
In routine R323, after the lamp corresponding to the number of prize balls "13" on the prize ball number display 116 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next routine (R3).

Further, when it is determined in the routine R303 that the number of prize balls is not "13", the routine proceeds to the routine R304, and if the answer is YES, the routine jumps to the routine R331 and first sets "8" in the discharge radix register 1. After that, "7" is set in the discharge base number register 2 (routine R332). Then, in routine R333, the number of prize balls displayed on the prize ball number display 116 is "15".
After turning on the lamp corresponding to, the next routine (R3)
Proceed to.

When discharging the set n prize balls by the prize ball discharge device 20 shown in FIG. 3, the balls blocked by the flow-down preventing member 22 are located downstream of the mounting position of the discharge sensor 25. There is one, and the next discharge command is waited while the discharge sensor 25 is detecting the previous ball. Therefore, in actual control, n that is "1" less than the set number n
It is necessary to change the control signal for the solenoid 21 which operates the downflow prevention member 22 when the discharge sensor detects the -1st ball.

When the emission base setting process (routine R2) ends,
Wait for 2 seconds of idle time (Routine R
3), proceed to the next routine, and determine whether the safe sensor is on for a certain time R4). Where no (no)
If it is determined that the output of the safe sensor has risen in the next routine R5, if it is NO, the routine proceeds to the routine R7. On the other hand, if it is determined in any of the routines R4 and R5 that the answer is yes, that is, that there is a safe sphere, the routine proceeds to the routine R6 to increase the storage of the safe memory in the CPU by "1", and then proceeds to the routine R7.

In the routine R7, it is judged whether the number in the register in which the processing number is entered is "1".
Jump to the discharge ball detection process indicated by. Then
Since the process number register has been reset to "0" by the initial setting in the routine R1, no is determined in the first determination in the routine R7, and the process proceeds to the next routine R8. Here, it is determined whether or not the number in the processing number register is “2”,
If yes, the process jumps to the post-processing indicated by reference sign B, but in the first determination, it becomes "no" as in the routine R7 and the routine proceeds to the routine R9.

In the routine R9, it is judged whether or not the memory of the safe memory is "0", and if NO, that is, the winning memory is "0", the process returns to the routine R5. Then, when the prize memory is incremented in the routine R6 and then the routine R9 is reached, it is determined to be yes, and the routine proceeds to a series of processes including routines R11 to R15.

That is, if there is a winning memory, the safe lamp (prize ball lamp 111) is first turned on in routine R11, then the discharge register 1 is set in discharge register 1 in routine R12 (see Table 1), and again in routine R13. The load register 2 is loaded with the discharge base number 2 respectively. Then, after turning on the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 in routine R14, set "1" in the process number register in routine R15,
Return to routine R5. Then, the above processing is repeated again. This time, since the processing number register is set to "1", the determination is YES in the routine R7, and the routine jumps to the discharge ball detection processing A.

In the discharge ball detection processing A, first, it is determined whether or not the output of the discharge sensor 1 has risen (routine R2). If NO, the process directly proceeds to the routine R25, and it is determined whether or not the output of the discharge sensor 2 has risen. Then the routine
When the rise of the sensor output is detected in R21, the routine proceeds to the routine R22, where the content of the discharge register is decremented by "1", and then the value of the discharge register becomes "0" in the next routine R23. judge. If the determination is yes, the discharge solenoid is turned off (R24). Immediately after the discharge is started, the determination is NO in the routine R23, and the process proceeds to the routine R25.

In routines R25 to 28, the same processing as the processing (routines R21 to R24) related to the discharge system 1 is executed for the discharge system 2, and then the routine proceeds to routine R29. In the routine R29, it is determined whether or not the sum of the values of the discharge registers 1 and 2 is "0". If NO, that is, if it is not "0", the routine returns to the routine R5 and the above procedure is again performed. Then, routine R29
If YES, that is, if it is determined that the prize ball discharging device has finished discharging the predetermined number of prize balls, the routine proceeds to routine R31, and the safe solenoid is first turned on. This enables the winning ball processing device to capture the next winning ball. Routine R3 after turning on the safe solenoid
2 is for the safe solenoid timer (for example 100ms), and routine R33 is for the wait time timer (for example 600m).
s) are set respectively, then the contents of the process number register are changed to "2" by the routine R34, and the process returns to the routine R5.

Then, the routine jumps from the routine R7 to the post-processing B, and it is first determined in the routine R41 whether the safe timer has timed up. If it is no, the safe solenoid is turned off (routine R42), and then the routine R43. Go to. In Routine R43, it is determined whether or not the wait timer has timed out. If No, the process returns to Routine R5 and the above processes are repeated again. If YES, Routine R44 subtracts "1" from the winning memory in the safe memory, and then The processing number register is reset to "0" and the routine returns to the routine R5 (routine R45).

FIG. 13 shows the timings of various signals when the prize ball processing and the prize ball discharge processing are executed according to the above-described procedure.

That is, in response to the rise of the output of the safe sensor, the winning memory of the safe memory becomes "1", the safe lamp is turned on, and the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned on. Then, the discharge of the prize balls is started, the output of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 changes for each discharged ball, and a predetermined number (radix-1 in Table 1)
At the time point of reaching, the demagnetization command of the solenoid is issued, the corresponding discharge solenoid is turned off, and the safe lamp is turned off. At the same time, the safe solenoid is turned on for only about 100 msec to discharge the winning ball, and the next winning ball can be accepted. On the other hand, the discharge wait timer is turned on at the same time as the safe solenoid is turned on, and the start of the discharge of the next prize ball is waited until the time is up (600 ms).

Since the set time of the safe solenoid timer is set to 100 ms, the stopper 47 driven by the safe solenoid 46 is raised for 100 ms, and this stopper 4
The winning balls that have been blocked by 7 can be reliably discharged, and the winning ball that has flowed into the winning ball processing device 40 next can be swiftly moved to a standby state.

Also, since the discharge wait timer is set to 600 ms, it is possible to move to the next discharge after the ball in the guide gutter 11 is stable after the discharge is completed, and the discharge accuracy is guaranteed. .

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine of the above embodiment, a special device is added to the drive circuit of the discharge solenoid 21 in the prize ball discharge device 20. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, various display lamps L, the discharge solenoid 21, and the safe solenoid 46 connected between the power supply voltage terminal VA and the ground point.
Is the switch transistor connected in series with them
It is designed to be driven by turning on / off Tr ₁ , Tr ₂ , Tr _3, etc., but in the above embodiment, in parallel with the discharge solenoid 21, higher than the peak value of the power supply voltage, for example,
Zener diode D with Zener voltage like 24V
z is connected.

Therefore, when a voltage of AC24V full-wave rectified is applied to the power supply voltage terminal VA, when the transistor Tr ₂ is turned off, normally the solenoid is completely demagnetized as shown in FIG. 15 (A). If the Zener diode Dz is connected in parallel with the coil of the solenoid, which has taken t ₁ hour, this acts as a means for forcibly releasing energy, and the demagnetization time of the solenoid is shortened. That is, the fifteenth
The time t _{2 at} which the areas S ₁ and S ₂ of the shaded areas in FIGS. 10A and 10B become equal to each other is the demagnetization time when the Zener diode Dz is inserted. As a result, the Zener voltage is 24V
In this case, the degaussing time is about half that of the case without the Zener diode, and the prize ball ejector 20
The response speed of the flow-down prevention member 22 at is fast.

Incidentally, in FIG. 14, the diode D ₁ connected in the reverse direction in series with the Zener diode Dz is for holding the transistor Tr ₂ from the counter electromotive force of the solenoid, and is connected to the switch transistor Tr ₃ of the safe solenoid 46. Is also provided with a similar protection diode D ₂ . However, since the safe solenoid 46 does not require a response that is so fast as the discharge solenoid 21, the Zener diode Dz is unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, the safe sensor (winning ball detector)
The detection piece 43c for activating 91 is provided in the swingable sphere processor 43, and the winning sphere is indirectly detected by detecting the swing of the sphere processor 43, but the invention is not limited thereto. You may make it provide the sensor or the micro switch which detects a winning ball directly.

Further, the discharge number setting process shown in FIGS. 12 (A) and 12 (B) may be performed when the power is turned on.
It may be performed every time the prize ball is discharged.

Alternatively, the prize ball discharging device may be used to discharge the rental ball.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes a ball discharging device capable of discharging a required number of balls based on the winning of a hit ball, and a game board having a game section in which a game device is arranged. In a ball game machine in which the game board is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the game machine main body, a game content control device that electrically controls game control including the game device and an ejection control of the ball ejection device are electrically operated. The discharge control device is provided as a separate device, and the discharge control device stores, in the storage means on the game content control device side, discharge of balls caused by winning a hit ball into a winning opening in the game section. Since it is configured to control based on the prize ball number signal input from the game content control device in accordance with the stored prize ball number information, the game board in use is newly played with different game contents and prize ball numbers. When changing to a board,
It is only necessary to replace the game board and the game content control device that controls the game content, the discharge control device does not need to be replaced and can be left as it is, and even if the number of prize balls changes, the prize ball is troublesome. Since it is not necessary to set the number, it is possible to reduce the cost associated with the replacement of the game board, and when a failure occurs on the side of the game content control device or on the side of the ball discharge device control device. Since only each control device needs to be replaced when it occurs, there is an effect that maintenance cost is low and labor is not required. Further, it is possible to avoid the problem that a trouble occurs due to the mistakenly setting the number of prize balls when exchanging the game board, and the profit of either the player or the game store is lost. .

Furthermore, each control device is compact and easy to handle, and it is only necessary to connect the control devices with one or several wires, and the number of connection wires for each control device is two. It is less and shorter than the case when the control device is replaced, and it is less likely to cause damage to other electronic components or disconnection of wiring when replacing the control device.In addition, disconnection of wiring and connection can be performed easily during replacement work. The effect is that Moreover, since the control device of the gaming machine is divided into a game content control device and a discharge control device and separately configured, the load on each control device is reduced, high-speed processing is possible, and more complicated game content It becomes possible to realize a highly entertaining ball game machine having the following.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a configuration example of the entire back mechanism board of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a storage tank, a guide gutter, and a prize ball discharging device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a prize ball discharging device, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional state of a downflow path of the prize ball discharging device. 6 is a perspective view showing the operation of the prize ball discharging device, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the winning ball processing device, and FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B) are FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the control system of the pachinko gaming machine, and FIG. 10 is a timing showing the timing of tank processing for replenishing the storage tank. Chart, Fig. 11 shows prize ball detection processing and prize ball discharge processing by CPU FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the discharge base number setting processing, FIG. 13 is a timing chart of the prize ball discharging processing according to the procedure of FIG. 11, FIG. FIG. 14 is a circuit explanatory view showing an example of a drive circuit for various lamps and a solenoid, and FIGS. 15A and 15B show characteristics when the solenoid is cut off by the solenoid drive circuit in the conventional example and the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a difference. 1 ... back mechanism panel, 2 ... storage tank, 10 ... collective shelf, 11
…… Guiding gutter, 12… Winning ball outlet gutter, 13 …… Prize ball outlet gutter, 20 …… Prize ball discharging device, 22 …… Downflow prevention member, 25…
… Ejection sensor, 30… Downward flow path, 40… Winning ball processing device, 43… Ball processing device, 45… Weight, 46… Safe solenoid, 47… Stopper, 91… Winning ball detector (safe Sensor), 92 ... Overflow detector, 60 ... Ball removal device, 81,82 ... Award ball number setting device, 100 ... Pachinko machine, 101 ... Supply plate, 102 ... Sink, 103 ... Striking ball Launching device, 200 ... Control device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball discharge device capable of discharging a required number of balls based on a winning of a hit ball, and a game board having a game section in which the game device is arranged, the game board being relative to the game machine main body. In a ball game machine configured to be detachable, a game content control device that electrically controls game control including the game device, and a discharge control device that electrically controls discharge control of the ball discharging device are separately provided. In addition to being provided as a device, the discharge control device discharges balls caused by winning a hit ball to a winning opening in the game unit according to prize ball number information stored in the storage means of the game content control device. A ball game machine characterized in that it is configured to be controlled based on a prize ball number signal input from a game content control device.