JP2657742B2 - Prize ball payout device for ball-and-ball game machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prize ball dispensing device for a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, and when a plurality of prize balls continuously enter a prize area of a game board, the prize balls are converted to prize balls. Storing in the tank, one prize ball from this prize ball tank
The prize balls are paid out each time while dropping one by one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a ball-and-ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, when a hit ball enters a prize area of a game board, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out by a prize ball payout means and returned to a player as a prize profit. I do. In this case, the conventional ball game machine causes the prize ball entering the prize area to immediately flow to the ball discharge portion via the path on the back side of the game board, while detecting the prize ball and electrically storing it. When a large number of winning balls are successively entered, the number of balls is stored, the number of balls is read out, the prize ball payout means is operated while reading the number of balls, and a method of sequentially paying out prize balls for the number of balls is adopted. ing.

[0003]

Conventionally, a prize ball is immediately flowed to a ball discharge portion, and only the number of the prize ball is electrically stored to pay out the prize ball. If the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like when the balls are continuously input, the memory of the number of the winning balls is lost and the number of the balls cannot be determined. Also, even in a normal playing state, the winning ball is detected and the number of the balls is only stored electrically. Since the winning ball is immediately flown to the ball discharging portion, the hit ball from the player enters the winning area. If there is a proposal that the number of prize balls paid out is smaller than the percentage, there will be no prize balls remaining as evidence even if the back side of the game board is opened, causing problems among players. There is.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention does not lose the memory of the number of winning balls even if the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like when a large number of winning balls are continuously entered. It is an object of the present invention to be able to restart the game immediately after the recovery, and to easily check the number of winning balls by opening the game board.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a prize ball A entering a prize area of the game board 5 is detected, and the required number of prize balls A are paid out by the prize ball payout means 33. In the prize ball dispensing device of the ball game machine,
Behind the, a winning ball tank 43 for storing the winning ball B is provided,
A prize ball dropping means 33 detects a prize ball falling from the ball drop port 101 in a ball drop port 101 below the winning ball tank 43 and outputs the prize ball.
And a prize ball detection switch 52 for activating the prize ball, and a prize ball B in the prize ball tank 43 during the standby state can be moved to the prize ball detection switch 52 side through the ball drop opening 101. When the winning ball B is detected, the winning ball detection switch 52 operates so as to drop the detecting winning ball B from the ball drop opening 101 and to block the following winning ball B,
A winning ball dropping means 49 is provided for dropping the winning balls B in the winning ball tank 43 one by one from the ball drop opening 101 one by one. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a prize ball B which passes through the game board 5 and enters the prize ball tank 43 is provided above the ball drop opening 101 at one end in the left-right direction. An inclined bottom wall 100 is provided for guiding the vehicle. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, a prize ball for guiding a prize ball B from the inclined bottom wall 100 to the other end in the left-right direction below the inclined bottom wall 100. A tank rail 48 is provided, and an inclined bottom wall is provided downstream of the winning ball tank rail 48.
A ball drop opening 101 is provided below 100. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method according to the second or third aspect, wherein the ball drop opening 101 is located below the inclined bottom wall 100.
A winning ball dropping means 49 is arranged on the side opposite to the winning ball tank rail 48.

[0006]

When a large number of winning balls B continuously enter the winning area of the game board 5, the winning balls B are stored in the winning ball tank 43. Then, the winning balls B in the winning ball tank 43 are dropped one by one by the winning ball dropping means 49 provided in the ball drop opening 101 of the winning ball tank 43. On the other hand, this winning ball drop means
The winning ball B dropped by 49 is detected by the winning ball detection switch 52, and each time the winning ball payout means 33 is operated, and the required number of winning balls A are paid out by the winning ball payout means 33.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a card-type pachinko machine. FIG.
In the figure, 1 is a machine frame, and 2 is a front frame pivotally attached to the front of the machine frame 1 so as to be openable and closable. A glass door frame 3 and a front plate 4 are attached to the front frame 2, and a game board 5 is detachably attached to the rear side. On the front surface of the game board 5, a guide rail 6 for guiding a hit ball is provided, and a prize port 7, a variable prize device 8, a variable display device 9, and an out port 10 which constitute a prize area are arranged respectively. .

An upper plate 11 is mounted on the front plate 4, and this upper plate
At the front edge of 11, a card balance display section 12, a ball lending switch 13, and a return switch 14 are provided. A lower plate 15 and an operation handle 16 for firing are provided at a lower portion of the front frame 2. When the operation handle 16 is operated, hit balls are supplied one by one from the upper plate 11 to the firing portion, and the hit balls are described later. The firing is performed along the guide rail 6 by the operation of the firing motor.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an automatic ball rental machine, which is attached to a fixed frame on one side of the machine frame 1 in a vertically long shape. The automatic ball lending machine 17 has a card insertion slot 18 and a display lamp 19. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 18, the display lamp 19 is turned on and a card balance display section at the front edge of the upper plate 11. The balance is displayed on 12,
If you press the ball rental switch 13 after inserting the card, the upper plate 11
When a predetermined number of balls are paid out and the return switch 14 is pressed after the game is over, the card on which the balance has been recorded is returned from the card slot 18.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a back set plate, which is mounted on the front frame 2 so as to press the game board 5 from behind. Reference numeral 21 denotes a control board mounted on the back set plate 20, on which a microcomputer 22 for controlling a game operation of the entire pachinko machine and other electric parts are mounted. Reference numeral 23 denotes a firing motor mounted on the lower portion on the back side of the front frame 2.When the operation handle 16 is operated, the firing motor 23 is operated, and the hitting hammer 24 hits a hit ball on the hitting rail 25 to fire. It has become.
Note that a stepping motor is used as the firing motor 23. 26 is a control board for the firing motor 23.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a prize ball tank for storing a prize ball, which is mounted on an upper portion on the back side of the back set plate 20. 28 is a prize ball tank
The prize ball tank rail communicating with the prize ball tank 27 is attached to the upper side of the back set plate 20 below the prize ball tank 27. 29 is a ball-out switch that detects the ball-out of the prize ball.
Actuating piece 31 pivotally supported by pin 30 at the lower part of 28
Is paid out. The operating piece 31 has a weight 32, and rises when the ball runs out, so that the ball out switch 29 is turned off.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a prize ball payout means for paying out a required number of prize balls, which is mounted on the back set plate 20 beside the control board 21. The prize ball payout means 33 includes a prize ball supply passage 34 and a prize ball payout passage 35 in two rows on the left and right.
A payout rotator 36 is provided between 34 and 35, and the rotator 36 is rotationally driven by a payout motor 37.
The prize ball supply passage 34 communicates with the upper prize ball tank rail 28,
The prize ball payout passage 35 communicates with the front upper plate 11 via the lower prize ball guide passage 38.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a ball-out confirmation switch for confirming that the prize-ball supply passage 34 has run out, and is provided at the upper end of the prize-ball supply passage 34 and is turned off when the prize ball runs out. 40
Is a payout detection switch for detecting the payout of the prize ball from the prize ball payout means 33, and is provided at the lower end of the prize ball payout passage. Reference numeral 41 denotes a full state detection switch, which is turned on via an operating piece 42 when the hitting ball of the lower plate 15 becomes full.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a prize ball tank for storing a prize ball entering a prize area such as a prize port 7 or the like. The prize ball tank 43 is mounted on the back set plate 20 below the control board 21 and a prize ball exit 44 of the game board 5. ~ 47
Each player receives a prize ball coming out of the game.
The winning ball tank 43 is integrally provided with a winning ball tank rail 48 on the lower side. Reference numeral 49 denotes a winning ball dropping means for dropping one winning ball in the winning ball tank 43 one by one. A ball dropping arm 50 pivotally supported and a ball dropping solenoid 51 for rocking the ball dropping arm 50. And

Reference numeral 52 denotes a winning ball detecting switch for detecting a winning ball dropped by the winning ball dropping means 49.
Along with 49, it is provided at the tip of the winning ball tank rail 48. Numeral 53 denotes a ball discharge passage for discharging the out ball from the out port 10 and the winning ball from the winning ball dropping means 49 to a ball discharging portion (not shown). Reference numeral 54 denotes a winning ball full switch, which detects when the winning ball in the winning ball tank 43 is full, and turns it on.

The prize ball payout means 33 is configured as shown in FIGS. That is, in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Reference numeral 55 denotes a vertically long prize ball payout case.
Mounted on The inside of the prize ball payout case 55 is an intermediate partition
Each of the rows is divided into two rows on the left and right sides, and a winning ball supply passage 34, a winning ball payout chamber 57, and a winning ball payout path 35 are provided in each row in the vertical direction.

The prize ball supply passage 34 is bent in a substantially S shape by a pair of passage walls 58, and the prize ball discharge chamber 57 is formed in a circular shape by a pair of upper and lower chamber walls 59. The prize ball supply passage 34 and the prize ball payout passage 35 are opened so as to be substantially opposed to each other in the front and rear. The winning ball payout passage 35 is formed by a pair of passage walls 60. The lower part of the prize ball payout case 55 is provided with a prize ball payout port 62 and a prize ball dropout port 63 by a partition wall 61.
The prize ball payout port 62 is a prize ball guide passage 38
In addition, the prize ball falling ports 63 are respectively connected to a ball discharge section (not shown).

The rotating body 36 has a flange portion 65 rotatably fitted into a hole 64 of the intermediate partition wall 56, and spherical concave portions 66 formed on the outer periphery corresponding to left and right rows on both sides of the flange portion 65. And is fixed to the output shaft 67 of the payout motor 37 inserted into the prize ball payout chamber 57. In addition, the rotating body 36 is an upper chamber wall.
It is provided eccentric downward so that the gap with 59 is large. The spherical concave portions 66 are large enough to accommodate one prize ball A, and are provided six in the circumferential direction, and the spherical concave portions 66 in each row are provided shifted by a half pitch in the circumferential direction. The payout motor 37 is fixed to the outer surface of one side wall 68 of the winning ball payout case 55.

On the passage wall 58 forming the prize ball supply passage 34,
A prize ball discharge port 69 is provided in an opening shape on the lower side so as to correspond to the entrance of the prize ball discharge chamber 57, and the prize ball discharge port 69 is provided.
An opening / closing plate 70 for opening and closing is provided. The opening / closing plate 70 is of a size that straddles the two rows of the prize ball discharge ports 69, is pivotally connected to be openable and closable by a pivot pin 71 on the upper end, and has a weight portion 72 on the upper end side, one side of the lower end portion. Are provided with projections 73, respectively.
The projection 73 projects outward from a guide hole 75 formed in the other side wall 74 of the prize ball payout case 55, and the opening / closing plate 70 is locked in a closed state by a lock plate 76 that engages with the projection 73.

The lock plate 76 has a fan shape and is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 77 on the side wall 74 so as to engage with the projection 73 in a detachable manner. The lock plate 76 has an arm portion 78 protruding downward. The lock plate 76 is connected to the opening / closing lever 81 via a projection 79 at the lower end of the arm portion 78 and an elongated hole 80, and is connected to the arm portion 78
It is urged in the locking direction by a tension spring 83 mounted between the pin 74 and the pin 82 fixed to the pin 74. The opening / closing lever 81 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 85 fixed to the side wall 74 so as to be rotatable.
When the lock plate 76 is operated in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 3 against the tension spring 83, the lock plate 76 is disengaged from the projection 73 and the opening / closing plate 70 is opened.

FIG. 3 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a photo sensor is embedded in a U-shaped holder 87 and attached to a substrate 88 so as to correspond to the upper end of each prize ball supply passage. The substrate 88 is placed on the upper surface of the winning ball payout case 55 together with the holder 87 while being inserted into the groove 90 formed on the inner surface of the switch case 89. Switch case 89 is prize ball payout case 55
It is detachably fixed to the upper end of the device with a screw 91 or the like.

At the upper end of the prize ball supply passage 34, a sensing arm 92 which is pushed up by the prize ball A in the passage 34 is provided. The sensing arm 92 has an intermediate partition 56 and a switch case 89.
It is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 93 between itself and the side wall so as to be vertically movable, and has a projection 95 with a hole 94 and a stopper 96 for restricting lowering on the upper surface on the tip side. The ball out confirmation switch 39 is turned on when the sensing arm 92 is pushed up by the prize ball A and the hole 94 corresponds to the ball out confirmation switch 39,
When the stopper 96 comes into contact with the upper surface of the winning ball payout case 55, the protruding portion 95 is shielded from light and turned off.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the payout detection switch 40 is provided in a holder 98 having a hole 97 through which a prize ball A falls from each prize ball payout passage 35 so as to surround the hole 97. Made with embedded switch, award ball payout case
It is inserted and mounted in a mounting hole 99 formed in 55.

The winning ball tank 43, the winning ball dropping means 49, etc.
It is configured as shown in FIGS. That is, the prize ball tank 43 has an inclined bottom wall 100 that is inclined so that one end in the left-right direction is lower, and the prize ball tank rail is connected to the inside of the prize ball tank 43 at one end of the inclined bottom wall 100.
48 are provided integrally. The winning ball tank rail 48 is inclined toward the other end, and a ball drop opening 101 is formed downward at the tip end, that is, below the inclined bottom wall 100.

The winning ball dropping means 49 includes a winning ball tank rail.
Ball drop arm located near the outside of 48 ball drop 101
50 and a ball drop solenoid 51 that swings the ball drop arm 50 in the opening direction when the prize ball detection switch 52 detects the prize ball B. When the ball is in a standby state, the prize ball B in the prize ball tank 43 is provided. Can be moved to the winning ball detection switch 52 through the ball drop opening 101, and the winning ball detecting switch 52
Is detected, the prize ball detecting switch 52 operates to drop the prize ball B being detected from the ball drop opening 101 and to block the following prize ball B, and the prize ball B in the prize ball tank 43 is operated.
Are dropped from the ball drop opening 101 one by one. The ball drop arm 50 is curved at its upper side along the upper wall of the ball drop opening 101, and is swung so as to move back and forth with respect to the ball drop opening 101 by a pivot pin 103 inserted into a boss 102 at the upper end thereof. It is pivoted freely. The pivot pin 103 is provided between a cover 104 formed integrally with the winning ball tank rail 48 and the like, and a front cover 105 on the front side thereof.

At the lower end of the ball drop arm 50, a support portion 106 projecting from one end in the width direction to the ball drop opening 101 side of the winning ball tank rail 48, and the width of the ball drop arm 50 from the tip of the support portion 106 A ball receiving portion 107 protruding in the direction and receiving the winning ball B from below is integrally provided, and the ball dropping arm 50, the support portion 106, and the ball receiving portion 107 are provided with a winning ball B
A notch 108 is formed so that the hole can fall downward. In addition, the ball drop arm 50 has an upper side of the ball receiving portion 107,
A plate-shaped ball blocking portion 109 is provided integrally to open and close the ball drop opening 101 by the swinging motion and to prevent the subsequent winning ball B from falling when closed.

The ball drop solenoid 51 is vertically mounted in a U-shaped mounting bracket 110 fixed to the front cover 105, and attracts the movable iron piece 111 when power is supplied, and swings the ball drop arm 50 in the drop direction. It is made to let. The movable iron piece 111 is supported swingably up and down with one upper end of the mounting bracket 110 as a fulcrum, one end is inserted into the engaging portion 112 of the ball drop arm 50, and the other end is connected to a tension spring 113. . The tension spring 113 is for urging the ball drop arm 50 in the blocking direction via the movable iron piece 111, and is stretched between the spring bracket 114 and the mounting bracket 110.

The winning ball detection switch 52 is formed by embedding a proximity switch so as to surround the hole 115 in a holder 116 having a hole 115 through which the winning ball B passes, and the hole 115 coincides with the ball dropout 101, And the ball blocking part 109 of the ball drop arm 50
And the ball receiving portion 107. The winning ball detection switch 52 is fixed in a state of being fitted into a groove 117 formed in the cover 104 and the front cover 105.

The microcomputer 22 of the control board 21
Is, as shown in FIG.
Are connected to various switches 29, 39, 40, 41, 52, and 54, and are connected to a payout motor 37, a ball drop solenoid 51, and the like. The microcomputer 22 is constituted by each means as shown in FIG. That is, reference numeral 119 denotes a winning ball storage determining means, which determines that the winning ball B can be stored in the winning ball tank 43 when the winning ball full switch 54 is off, and outputs a game function stop signal when the switch is on, indicating that the winning ball B cannot be stored.

Numeral 120 is a payout abnormality judging means for judging whether or not the payout state of the prize ball payout means 33 is normal. The payout detecting switch 40 detects the payout state and judges whether or not the payout state is normal. By turning on / off the switch 29, the abnormal payout state is released.
Reference numeral 121 denotes payout possibility determining means for determining whether or not payout of the prize ball A by the prize ball payout means 33 is possible. The payout is possible when the ball out switch 29, the ball out confirmation switch 39, and the full detection switch 41 are all on. Judge.

Reference numeral 122 denotes a winning ball presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of a winning ball B, and outputs a winning ball signal indicating that there is a winning ball when the winning ball detection switch 52 is turned on. Reference numeral 123 denotes a ball-dropping control means which, when there is a winning ball signal, makes the ball-dropping solenoid 51 one-shot. Reference numeral 124 denotes a prize ball payout control means, which outputs a rotation signal to the payout motor 37 when there is a prize ball signal.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 18 of the automatic ball lending machine 17 during a game, the balance is digitally displayed on the card balance display section 12. Next, when the ball lending switch 13 is pressed, a predetermined number of hit balls are paid out to the upper plate 11 from the automatic ball lending machine 17. Then, when the player turns the operation handle 16, the firing motor 23 is operated, and the hammer 24 hits the hit balls supplied one by one from the upper plate 11 to the firing position and follows the guide rail 6 along the guide rail 6. Fire.

The shot ball that has been shot falls downward from the upper side of the game board 5, and most of the shot ball enters the out port 10, is discharged to the ball discharge portion through the ball discharge passage 53, and is partially discharged. Enters the winning area such as the winning opening 7. When a large number of winning balls B enter the winning area continuously, each winning ball B is collected from the winning ball exits 44 to 47 of the gaming board 5 into the winning ball tank 43, and the lower winning ball tank rail 48 side. From the winning ball tank 43.

The ball drop arm 50 of the winning ball drop means 49 is urged by a tension spring 113 and is in a standby state shown by a solid line in FIG. That is, the ball receiving portion 107 of the ball drop arm 50 is located at the lower center of the hole 115 of the winning ball detection switch 52, and the ball blocking portion 109 is retracted from the ball drop opening 101. In this state, the prize ball B is guided into the prize ball tank 43 and rolls through the prize ball tank rail 48 to the ball dropout 101, and the prize ball B is passed from the ball dropout 101 to the prize ball detection switch 52. The ball 115 enters the hole 115 and is temporarily received by the ball receiving portion 107 below the hole 115.

When the winning ball detection switch 52 detects the winning ball B and is turned on, the ball drop solenoid 51 is one-shot excited to attract the movable iron piece 111 against the tension spring 113. For this reason, the ball drop arm 50 is
7, the ball receiving portion 107 comes off from below the hole 115, and the notch portion 108 corresponds to the hole 115, so that the ball receiving portion 107 is held on the ball receiving portion 107. The winning prize ball B falls downward through the ball discharge passage 53.
At this time, the ball stopper 109 of the ball drop arm 50
Side, enters the lower side of the subsequent winning ball B above the winning ball B to be dropped, and closes the ball drop opening 101, so that the subsequent winning ball B is not continuously discharged.

When one winning ball B is dropped, the ball drop solenoid 51 is demagnetized, and the ball drop arm 50 is rotated around the pivot pin 103 by the tension spring 113 via the movable iron piece 111 in the direction indicated by the arrow b. , And returns to the state shown by the solid line. Therefore, the ball stop
The winning ball B, which has been blocked by 109, falls from the ball drop opening 101 to the hole 115 of the winning ball detection switch 52, and is received by the ball receiving portion 107 below. And as long as there is a winning ball B in the winning ball tank 43 and the winning ball tank rail 48,
The same operation is repeated, and the winning balls B are dropped one by one.

On the other hand, when the winning ball detection switch 52 detects the winning ball B, the payout motor 37 of the winning ball payout means 33 rotates by a predetermined angle, and the rotating body 36 fixed to the output shaft 67 is moved to the position c in FIG. Rotate in the direction of the arrow. And prize ball tank 27
The prize balls A which are supplied to the prize ball supply passage 34 of the prize ball payout means 33 through the prize ball tank rail 28 are paid out and paid out by a required number by the rotation of the rotating body 36.

In this case, the rotating body 36 has two rows of prize ball supply passages.
The payout operation is performed by the rotating body 36 quickly because the payout is performed in two rows at the same time. The prize ball A paid out by the rotation of the rotating body 36 falls from the prize ball payout passage 35, and is supplied to the upper plate 11 via the prize ball guide passage 38. Thereafter, every time the winning ball detection switch 52 detects the winning ball B, the payout motor 37 of the winning ball payout means 33 operates to rotate the rotating body 36 to sequentially pay out the winning ball A.

If the power goes down during a game due to a power failure,
At that time, the ball drop solenoid 51 of the winning ball dropping means 49 is demagnetized, and the ball drop arm 50 returns to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8 by the urging of the tension spring 113, and stops the ball dropping operation. Therefore, the winning ball B is moved from the winning ball tank 43 to the winning ball tank rail 48.
It remains as a sphere of evidence while being stored above. That is, by storing the winning ball B in the winning ball tank 43 side, the number of the winning ball B is stored and retained by the stored winning ball itself. Therefore, when the power is restored, the game can be restarted from the state before the power failure.

Also, during the game, if the player proposes that the number of payouts of the prize ball A is smaller than the ratio of the number of hit balls in the prize area, the game operation is interrupted and the front frame is stopped.
Opening 2 and looking inside the winning ball tank 43 on the back of the game board 5, the winning ball B remains as a proof ball.
The number of balls can be easily and reliably determined. For this reason, it can be easily determined whether or not the payout operation of the prize ball payout means 33 is normal, and occurrence of trouble with the player can be prevented. Moreover, when the winning ball dropping means 49 is in a standby state, the winning ball tank 43
The winning ball B in the ball passes through the ball dropout 101 and the winning ball detection switch
When the prize ball detecting switch 52 detects the prize ball B, the prize ball dropping means 49 operates to drop the prize ball B being detected by the prize ball detection switch 52 from the ball drop opening 101 and Since the following winning ball B is prevented, the winning ball dropping means 49 does not need to be constantly operated, so that unnecessary power consumption can be prevented and the durability of the winning ball dropping means 49 and the like can be prevented. Is significantly improved.

At the time of the payout operation of the prize ball A, the microcomputer 22 reads information from each of the switches 29, 39, 40, 41, 52, and 54 and performs a processing operation as shown in FIG. First, the winning ball storage determination means 119 switches the winning ball full switch.
The CPU reads the signal from 54 and determines whether or not the winning ball B can be stored in the winning ball tank 43 (step S1). If the winning ball tank 43 is full, the winning ball full switch 54 is on, so that it is determined that the ball can be stored, and the game board function is stopped (step S2). The payout operation of the prize ball A is continued by the prize ball payout means 33 in synchronization with the dropping operation.

After the storage is determined to be possible or after the game function is stopped, the signal from the payout detection switch 40 is read by the payout abnormality determining means 120 to determine whether or not the payout is abnormal (step S3). At this time, the payout detection switch
40 detects the prize ball A paid out downward through the prize ball payout passage 35 and repeats on / off. Therefore, if there is an ON signal of the payout detection switch 40, it is determined that the signal is normal, and the payout possibility determination means is provided. Migrate to 121. In the case of a dispensing abnormality, after removing the cause of the abnormality, the on / off operation of the out-of-ball switch 29 cancels the abnormal state. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the abnormal state has been canceled (step S4). If so, the payout possibility determining means 121 determines whether or not payout is possible (step S5).

The payout possibility determining means 121 includes a ball out switch 29, a ball out confirmation switch 39, and a full detection switch 41.
Is read, and it is determined that payout is possible when the switches 29 and 39 are both on. When the prize ball A on the prize ball tank rail 28 runs out, the weight 32 raises the operating piece 31 so that the ball cut switch 29 is turned off to detect the ball cut. When the hitting ball of the lower plate 15 is full, the full detection switch 41 is turned on to detect fullness.

The ball out confirmation switch 39 is connected to the prize ball supply passage 34.
When the prize ball A is filled to the upper end of the ball, the prize ball A pushes up the sensing arm 92 around the pivot pin 93, and the hole 94 of the projection 95 matches the ball out confirmation switch 39, and the photo sensor Are in the ON state. However, when the prize ball A on the upper end side of the prize ball supply passage 34 runs out, the sensing arm 92 is lowered until it is regulated by the stopper 96, and the protrusion 95 blocks the light entering the photo sensor. Is turned off, and it is detected and confirmed that the prize ball A in the prize ball supply passage 34 is out of ball.

If it is determined that the payout is possible, the winning ball presence / absence determining means 122 reads the signal from the winning ball detection switch 52 and determines whether or not there is a winning ball B (step S).
6). When the prize ball detecting switch 52 detects the prize ball B and turns on, a ball drop command is sent to the ball drop control means 123, and the ball drop solenoid 51 of the prize ball drop means 49 is shot by one shot. Drop one.

On the other hand, at the same time, a payout command is sent to the prize ball payout control means 124, and the rotator 36 is rotated by the payout motor 37 of the prize ball payout means 33 to pay out a designated number of prize balls A. In other words, if there is a winning ball B, each command for discharging the winning ball and paying out the winning ball is issued, and the processing is performed (step S).
7). Subsequently, the payout state of the prize ball A is read from the payout detection switch 40, and it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (
If it is determined that the payout is abnormal (step S8), the abnormal payout state is displayed (step S9). In the embodiment,
Although the pachinko machine has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to other various ball game machines.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a prize ball tank 43 for storing a prize ball B is provided on the back side of the game board 5, and a ball drop opening 101 at a lower portion of the prize ball tank 43 is provided. A prize ball detecting switch 52 for detecting a prize ball falling from the ball drop opening 101 to activate the prize ball payout means 33, and a prize ball B in the prize ball tank 43 during a standby state.
When the winning ball detection switch 52 detects a winning ball B, the winning ball detecting switch 52 drops the winning ball B being detected from the ball drop opening 101 and the subsequent Of the winning ball B in the winning ball tank 43 and the ball dropping hole 101
Since the winning ball dropping means 49 for dropping one by one is provided, when a large number of winning balls B enter continuously, the memory of the number of winning balls B is lost even if the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like. There is an advantage that the game can be restarted immediately after the power is restored, and the number of winning balls B can be easily checked by opening the game board 5. In addition, the winning ball dropping means 49 is normally in a standby state, and in this standby state, the winning ball B in the winning ball tank 43 enters the winning ball detection switch 52 through the ball drop opening 101,
When the winning ball detection switch 52 detects the winning ball B,
The winning ball dropping means 49 is activated to drop the winning ball B being detected by the winning ball detection switch 52 from the ball drop opening 101 and to block the following winning ball B, so that the winning ball dropping means 49 is turned off. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to keep it running all the time, so that wasteful consumption of power can be prevented and the durability of the winning ball dropping means 49 and the like can be significantly improved. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a ball drop opening is provided.
On the upper side of 101, an inclined bottom wall 10 for guiding the winning ball B passing through the game board 5 and entering the winning ball tank 43 to one end in the left-right direction.
0, so that it passes through the game board 5 and the winning ball tank
The winning ball B entering 43 does not fall directly to the ball drop opening 101 side, but means for dropping the winning ball due to the impact of the winning ball B or the like.
49 can be prevented from damage. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the second aspect, the winning ball B from the inclined bottom wall 100 is guided to the other end in the left-right direction below the inclined bottom wall 100. The winning ball tank rail 48 is provided, and the ball dropout 101 is provided downstream of the winning ball tank rail 48 and below the inclined bottom wall 100, so that the winning ball B in the winning ball tank 43 is inclined to the inclined bottom wall. From 100, it can be guided smoothly to the ball drop exit 101 side through the winning ball tank rail 48. According to the present invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in any one of claims 2 and 3, the ball drop opening 10 is provided below the inclined bottom wall 100.
Since the winning ball dropping means 49 is disposed on the side opposite to the winning ball tank rail 48, the winning ball dropping means 49 can be easily arranged, and the structural restrictions can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a card-type pachinko machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the card-type pachinko machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a prize ball payout means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear cross-sectional view of a prize ball payout means according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of a prize ball payout means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear sectional view of a winning ball dropping means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a winning ball dropping means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom sectional view of a winning ball dropping unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a microcomputer showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of sign]

 5 Gaming board 33 Prize ball payout means 43 Prize ball tank 49 Prize ball drop means 52 Prize ball detection switch 101 Ball drop A Prize ball B Prize ball

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A prize ball in a prize area of a game board (5).
(B) is detected and the prize ball is paid out by the prize ball payout means (33).
In a prize ball payout device for a ball game machine which pays out a required number of prize balls, a prize ball tank (43) for storing a prize ball (B) is provided on the back side of the game board (5). (Four
A prize ball detection switch (52) for detecting a prize ball falling from the ball drop port (101) and operating the prize ball payout means (33) at a ball drop port (101) at the lower part of 3); In the standby state, the winning ball (B) in the winning ball tank (43) can be moved to the winning ball detection switch (52) through the ball drop opening (101), and the winning ball detection switch (52) is When (B) is detected, the winning ball detection switch (52) operates to drop the detecting winning ball (B) from the ball drop opening (101) and to block the following winning ball (B). A ball game machine characterized in that it is provided with prize ball dropping means (49) for dropping prize balls (B) in the prize ball tank (43) one by one from a ball drop opening (101). Ball dispensing device. 2. An inclined bottom wall for guiding the winning ball (B) passing through the game board (5) and entering the winning ball tank (43) to one end in the left-right direction above the ball drop opening (101). 2. The prize ball payout device for a ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein (100) is provided. 3. An underside of the inclined bottom wall (100)
A winning ball tank rail (48) for guiding the winning ball (B) from (100) to the other end in the left-right direction is provided, and a downstream of the winning ball tank rail (48) and an inclined bottom wall (100) are provided. 3. The prize ball dispensing device for a ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein a ball drop opening (101) is provided on a lower side. 4. A ball drop (1) below the inclined bottom wall (100).
The prize ball payout of a ball game machine according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein a prize ball drop means (49) is arranged on a side opposite to the prize ball tank rail (48) with respect to (01). apparatus.