JP2802353B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a ball-and-ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, and more specifically, to play another game when a game ball fired on a game board wins. The present invention relates to a ball game machine provided with a starting port to be started and another game device for playing another game.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when a game ball fired on a game board surface wins a winning opening called a starter (chucker), another game is started by a variable display device or a variable winning ball device provided on the game board surface, There is known a pachinko gaming machine which provides a player with an opportunity to obtain a large profit depending on a result mode of another game. In this type of pachinko gaming machine, in order to provide many players with an opportunity to obtain a gain by another game, it is considered that the result form of the another game is made to appear based on a predetermined probability.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, even if the result form of another game that brings great profit to the player appears with a certain probability, winning in the starting opening is not guaranteed and the player enters the starting opening. Depending on the number of game balls, the frequency at which a specific result mode of another game appears differs. Further, in the above-mentioned pachinko machine, in particular, for a specific player called a professional, if the nail near the starting port is adjusted or the starting port is arranged at a position where the game ball is difficult to win, the skill is poor. The player cannot play another game, and as a result, a large difference occurs in the number of prize balls obtained depending on the skill of the player, and there is a problem that the game intended for ordinary people lacks equality.

Therefore, regardless of the number of game balls entering the starting port, a ball game machine in which a specific result mode of another game appears with a certain probability based on the detection of a shooting ball has been developed, and a patent application has been filed by the present applicant. (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-105589).

In this ball-and-ball game machine, a random number is sampled every time a predetermined number of launch balls are detected. For example, by setting a random number of a predetermined value to be sampled once for 100 launch balls, , With a probability of 1/100, the other game is ended in a specific result mode. According to this, the result mode of the separate game is determined by the probability that a predetermined random number value appears for a predetermined number of launch balls, so that the player has an equal chance of acquiring a prize ball by another game. Given.

By the way, in the current pachinko machine, when the firing handle is operated, a predetermined number (for example, 100
(A) pachinko ball is generally employed. In this case, sampling of random numbers for winning control as described above can be performed without actually detecting a shooting ball. That is, a random number is sampled each time a launch sphere is detected as described above, and when the random number is set to a predetermined value with a probability of, for example, 1/100, a predetermined value is set for 100 launch spheres. Is generated once, which is equivalent to generating a random number of a predetermined value once in 60 seconds in a pachinko machine equipped with the above-described launching device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of controlling another game based on random number sampling without actually detecting a shooting ball from such a viewpoint.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The ball game machine of the present invention provides a
A launching device driven so as to launch a predetermined number of game balls on the game board surface within a preset time, a starting port for starting another game by entering a game ball fired from the launching device, Another gaming device for playing a game, a firing operation detecting means for detecting a firing operation by a player, and a random number generated at predetermined time intervals according to a detection signal from the firing operation detecting means, and the value of the random number is calculated. Control means for controlling another gaming machine such that, when the determined value is determined to be a predetermined value, another game started by winning a prize in the starting port ends in a predetermined result mode. And

Note that, as the starting port, not only a winning port (chucker) that accepts a game ball but also a port (passing chucker) made to allow a game ball to pass is used. Therefore, winning at the starting port includes not only the case where the game ball enters the chuck, but also the case where the game ball passes through the passing chuck.

The ball game machine of one embodiment of the present invention further includes, in addition to the above configuration, game ball detection means for detecting game balls waiting to be fired from the launch device, and the game ball detection means detects game balls. The firing device can be driven only when it is on.

In another embodiment, the control unit includes a timer unit that outputs a clock signal every predetermined time according to a detection signal from the firing operation detection unit, and a random number generator that generates a random number according to the clock signal from the clock unit. A determination unit that determines a value of a random number generated by the random number generation unit; and a control signal generation unit that generates a control signal for controlling another gaming device based on a determination result by the determination unit. Further, another gaming machine is composed of a variable display device for variably displaying a plurality of numbers, characters or figures on the game board surface, and when a game ball wins at the starting port, a number or the like is controlled by a control signal from the control means. The display is variably displayed and driven to stop the variable display in a result mode according to the value of the random number. Further, on the game board surface, there is provided a variable or variable winning device which is in a state advantageous to the player when another game is completed in a specific result mode.

[Operation] In the ball game machine of the present invention, when the player performs a shooting operation (for example, a steering wheel operation), a predetermined number of game balls are fired from the firing device within a set time. At this time, the firing operation detecting means (for example, a switch that turns on in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel) outputs a detection signal. In response to the detection signal, the control means generates a random number at predetermined time intervals, and when the value of the random number is determined to be the predetermined value, another game started by winning the starting port ends in a predetermined result mode. So that the control means controls another gaming device. That is, when the game ball wins the starting port (it may pass), another game device starts another game, but the result mode is determined by the value of the random number, and the other game ends in the result mode. I do.

Specifically, the time during which a predetermined number of game balls are fired from the above-described firing device by the player's firing operation is set to 60 seconds, and a random number of a predetermined value is generated once within the set time. In this case, if the random number is sampled every second, the probability is 1/60. If the random number is sampled every 5 seconds, the probability is 1/12. If the random number is sampled every 60 seconds, 1/1. With the probability of, the value of the random number becomes a predetermined value. By generating a random number having a predetermined value at every predetermined time in this manner, equivalent control can be realized without detecting a shooting sphere.

As described above, in the present invention, a random number for determining the result mode of another game is generated not at the detection signal of the shooting ball but at every predetermined time in accordance with the detection signal of the shooting operation. And the counter for counting the number of shot balls are not required. Then, the result mode of another game started by winning at the starting port is determined by the probability that a predetermined random value appears every predetermined time. An opportunity to obtain a profit is given with a certain probability, and in a game hall, it is possible to manage the prize ball payout by another game without the conventional nail adjustment.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball waiting to be fired from the firing device is provided, and the firing device can be driven only when the game ball is detected. For this reason, the detection signal from the game ball detection means is given to the drive unit of the launching device, and the drive unit operates only when the detection signal is given from the game ball detection means. As a result, a blank shot by the player is excluded, and a correct firing operation can be realized.

When a variable or variable prize device is provided, a specific result mode of another game for converting the device to a state advantageous to the player is determined by a value of a random number generated by the control means, and the random number value is predetermined. Appear with a certain probability. Thus, the opportunity to change the state of the variable or variable prize device, which provides a great benefit to the player, is equally provided.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. On the game board surface 2 of the pachinko gaming machine 1, there are left and right variable prize devices 3 which are converted into a first state in which a game ball fired from the launching device described later on the game board surface 2 cannot be won and a second state in which a prize can be won. And a starting port (chucker) 4 for starting another game when a game ball wins is arranged on the left, center, and right. Also,
In the center of the game board surface 2, a variable display device 5 for performing another game is arranged, and below it, a variable winning device 6 provided with a door that opens when the result of the variable display becomes a specific display mode.
Is provided. In this embodiment, as another game mode,
In addition to the variable display by the variable display device 5 described later, there is also a conversion drive of the variable winning device 3.

A number of nails are arranged on the game board surface 2 as guide means for guiding the launched game balls to the upper part of the starting port 4 by the variable winning device 3, while a firing handle 7 is provided on the lower right side of the front. When the player operates the game ball, a game ball is fired from a firing device attached to the back side of the game board and moves along the guide rail 8 on the game board surface 2.

Further, a handle operation detection switch 50 (FIG. 4) that is turned on in conjunction with operation of the firing handle 7 when the firing handle 7 is operated is provided as a firing operation detecting means.

As the game ball launching device, for example, the one shown in FIG. 2 is used. The launching device 9 includes a ball launching portion 11 including a solenoid that causes a plunger 10 to project by an electromagnetic force and cause a game ball P to fly out, and a hitting ball guide portion 12 provided on the plunger projecting side. The hitting ball guide section 12 is a game ball P
A pair of parallel ridges 13 are provided on the inner bottom surface of the plunger 10 for guiding the game ball P flipped by the tip of the plunger 10 forward. . The game ball P sent into the hitting ball guide section 12
Stops at a position (firing position) where it comes into contact with the tip of the plunger 10 on the ridge 13, and at the time of firing, is repelled by the protruding plunger 10 due to the bias of the solenoid and fired forward.

In order to detect each time a game ball is fired from the above-mentioned firing device 9, a shooting sphere sensor 14 is provided in front of the firing device 9.
Is arranged. The shooting sphere sensor 14 is formed of a magnetic sensor having a hole through which the shot game ball P can pass, and its output is sent to a timer 52 (FIG. 4) described later.

The launching ball sensor 14 is not limited to being placed in front of the launching device 9 as described above, but may be placed at the launching position of a game ball. In that case, when the launching ball sensor 14 detects a signal to activate the launching device 9 while detecting a game ball,
Outputs a launch sphere detection signal. According to this method, detection is performed only when the firing device 9 is operated in a state where the game ball is at the firing position, so that it is possible to reliably detect that the game ball has been correctly fired.

The game ball P fired from the firing device 9 passes through the shooting ball passage 15 as shown in FIG. 3 and rises along the guide rail toward the game board surface 2, but is fired without reaching the game board surface 2. The returning ball P ′ returning to the device 9 is returned to the collecting path 16.
To fall. The return ball sensor 17 for detecting this is
The output of the return ball sensor 17 is sent to a return ball counter 53 (FIG. 4) described later. As a result, a game ball (return ball) that has returned to the launch device 9 without reaching the game board surface 2 is not counted as a launch ball.

In this embodiment, the control means 51 shown in FIG. 4 generates a random number at predetermined time intervals according to a detection signal from the steering wheel operation detection switch 50, and performs another game control according to the random number value. That is, when the generated random number reaches a predetermined value, the other game device is controlled so that another game started by winning the starting port 4 ends in a predetermined result mode. As a result mode of another game, the variable display of the variable display device 5 is stopped in a specific display mode (for example, the number “77” is displayed on three display windows).
7 "). Alternatively, the plurality of variable winning devices 3 are converted and driven in a specific mode (for example, they are simultaneously or alternately converted to the second state).

The variable prize device 3 is in a first state in which a pair of movable pieces provided on the game board are closed so that game balls cannot win or hard to win, and a game ball can win or open by opening the pair of movable pieces. This is the second state that is easy to perform. A pair of movable pieces are connected to a solenoid device 30 (fourth
(Fig.) Opens by energizing the solenoid to excite the solenoid,
It is configured to close when the power supply is stopped and the solenoid is demagnetized.

Such a variable winning device is known, but may have another configuration. For example, by causing a bar-shaped winning control member to protrude and intrude above a winning opening provided on the game board surface, a first state in which game balls cannot or cannot easily enter the winning opening and a second state in which gaming balls can win. To be converted to
Alternatively, a winning opening provided on the game board surface is formed so as to be movable between a position where the game ball cannot win or hardly win (first state) and a position where the game ball can win (second state). Can be used.

The starting port 4 for starting another game may be a pass-type chucker in addition to a normal winning port. Alternatively, a variable winning device may be used. A magnetic sensor having a hole through which a game ball can pass, similar to the above-described launch ball sensor 14, as a start-port ball sensor 23 (FIG. 4) for detecting a game ball entering or passing through the starting port 4. Can be used. The output of this sensor is sent to a control signal generator 25 described later.

The variable display device 5 includes a plurality (for example, three) in a rectangular window.
A 7-segment LED (light emitting diode) display that variably displays the numbers of
A display drive circuit 26 controlled by an output signal from a control signal generator 25 shown in the figure is connected. The display device may display characters, figures, and the like, in addition to numbers.

The variable winning device 6 is referred to as an attacker, and has a substantially identical door openably and closably mounted on the front side of an opening provided on an upper portion of a trapezoidal front plate, and has a winning opening in the opening. The door of the variable winning device 6 is opened and closed by a drive mechanism powered by a solenoid attached to the back side of the front plate.

Next, the ball game machine of the embodiment generates a random number at predetermined time intervals according to the detection signal from the steering wheel operation detection switch 50, and controls another gaming machine according to the random number value. It has such control means.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control means 51 includes a timepiece 52 for receiving a detection signal from the steering wheel operation detection switch 50 and the launching ball sensor 14, and a timekeeping value each time a detection signal from the return ball sensor 17 is received. A return ball counter 53 that increases by one,
A random number generator 21 that generates a random number in accordance with the output signal a from the timer 52 and the output signal b from the return sphere counter 53, a determination unit 22 that determines the value of the generated random number, When the value is the value, the separate game is started according to the signal from the starting mouth ball sensor 23, and the variable display of the variable display device 5 is ended in a predetermined result mode corresponding to the random number value determined by the determination unit 22. Control signal generator that generates control signals
Including 25.

Further, when a game ball enters one of the variable winning devices 3, a prize ball sensor 31 is used as a prize ball detecting means for detecting the game ball.
And a winning ball counter 32. The winning ball sensor 31
It comprises a magnetic sensor having a hole through which a game ball passes, and detects a winning ball from a change in a magnetic field when a game ball exiting each variable winning device passes through the hole. Of course, a sensor (optical sensor, micro switch, or the like) other than the magnetic sensor may be used. The detection signal of the winning ball sensor 31 is input to the winning ball counter 32, where the number of winning balls is counted. Furthermore,
Each variable winning device 3 is provided with a drive circuit 33 for driving the solenoid device 30 described above.

The variable prize device (attatta) 6 is provided with an attacker prize ball sensor 4 and a prize ball counter 42 as means for detecting a game ball that has won a prize port inside. The winning ball sensor 41 is formed of a magnetic sensor similar to the above-described winning ball sensor 31, and is arranged in a winning ball discharging passage of the attacker. The detection signal from the attacker winning ball sensor 41 is a winning ball counter.
It is input to 42, where the number of winning balls is counted.
Further, a drive circuit 44 for driving a solenoid 43 for driving the door of the attacker is provided.

In the control means 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the detection signal is given from the steering wheel operation detection switch 50 and the detection signal is given from the launching ball sensor 14, the timer 52 starts time measurement and every predetermined time. And a timing pulse generating circuit for generating a pulse. For example, when the firing device 9 fires 100 game balls in one minute (60 seconds) at a rate of 100 times, the timer 52 generates a timing pulse every 0.6 × n (n = 1, 2, 3,...) Seconds. Is output.

In this case, not only the detection signal from the handle operation detection switch 50 that is the firing operation detection means but also the detection signal from the firing sphere sensor 14 that is the firing sphere detection means is given to the timer 52. This is to confirm that the game ball has been fired.

However, the shooting ball sensor 14 is not located at the position shown in FIG. 2 but at a position for detecting a game ball at the above-described shooting position (that is, waiting for firing from the firing device 9). If the shooting operation is enabled only when the game ball is detected, the timer 52 only needs to be supplied with the detection signal from the steering wheel operation detection switch 50. In this case, the shooting sphere sensor 14 is actually a game sphere detecting unit that detects a game sphere waiting for firing, instead of a shooting sphere. The detection signal from such a game ball detection means is transmitted to the launching device 9.
, And the solenoid drive circuit is configured to operate only when a detection signal from the game ball detection means is given.

The return ball counter 53 increments the count value by one each time the return ball sensor 17 shown in FIG. 3 detects the return ball P '.

The random number generation unit 21 determines that the timer unit 52 has a predetermined time (for example,
A random number is generated according to a timing pulse generated every 0.6 × n seconds. However, provided that the value of the return ball counter 53 is 0, if the count value is 1 or more, no random number is generated.

For example, when the count value of the return ball counter 53 is “2”, if the timer 52 generates a timing pulse every 0.6 seconds, the timing pulse is passed twice (no random number is generated). A signal c for counting down the return ball counter 53 is output. If the timing section 52 generates a timing pulse every 0.6 × 2 = 1.2 seconds, the timing pulse may be passed once.

When the value of the random number generated by the random number generation unit 21 reaches a predetermined number, the display of the variable display device 5 is stopped in a specific result mode as described above, and the probability is determined as follows.

For example, when the timing unit 52 outputs a timing pulse for generating a random number to the random number generation unit 21 every 0.6 seconds, the big hit display “777” in which a large number of prize balls are paid out once per 30 minutes of game time. , The probability is 3000
It will be a fraction. In this case, the range in which the random numbers are generated is, for example, from 1 to 3000, and one of them is set to the value of the big hit display.

The determination unit 22 determines whether the value of the random number generated by the random number generation unit 21 has reached the value determined as described above.

The control signal generator 25 controls the variable display device 5 so that when the random number determined by the determiner 22 is a specific value, the variable display as a separate game started by winning the starting port 4 stops in a specific display mode. Control. That is, when the random number value determined by the determination unit 22 is a specific value, the control signal generation unit 25 stores the value, and thereafter, the game ball wins the starting port 4 and the starting port sensor 23 detects the detection signal. Is output, a signal is sent to the drive circuit 26 of the variable display device 5 in response thereto to start variable display for another game, and after a predetermined period of time, the display is stopped in a state where a specific mode is displayed on the display.

For example, when the result mode of another game is a hit, the control signal generating unit 25 sends a signal for stopping the variable display to the hit display “777” to the drive circuit 26 and sends a signal to the drive circuit 44 of the variable winning device 6. And the operation of opening the door for a predetermined time is performed a predetermined number of times. In a case other than such a hit, that is, in the case of a miss, the variable display device 5 is stopped at a display other than the hit. In addition, the hit is divided into a big hit, a medium hit, and a small hit (the probability is determined by the range of the random value set correspondingly), the variable display device 5 is stopped at the display corresponding to the type of the hit, and the variable prize is won. By changing the time and the number of times that the door of the device 6 is opened, the number of prize balls that can be obtained by the player may be made different. As described above, in the pachinko machine according to the embodiment, the game balls hit on the game board surface 2 have the starting port 4.
, A different game is started, and the result mode is determined by a random number generated when the game ball is fired.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 4, the random number generation unit 21, the determination unit 22, and the control signal generation unit 25 are each constituted by a known electronic circuit, but these operations may be executed by a microcomputer.

In this case, the microcomputer generates a random number every predetermined time (for example, one second), determines whether the value is “hit” or “miss”, and sets a flag 1 corresponding to the hit in the case of a hit. When the starting ball sensor 23 outputs a detection signal, it outputs a signal for driving the variable display device 5,
The variable display is programmed to be stopped in a result mode corresponding to the flag and the flag is set to 0.

Even if the flag is set, another game will not be played unless the game ball wins the starting port. Therefore, if the probability of generating a random value of “hit” is set relatively high, the “hit” flag is set. After the player stands, the next “hit” may occur before the game ball enters the starting port. In that case, the flag is set to 2, and when the variable display starting with the winning at the starting opening is ended in the result mode of “hit”, the flag is reduced from 2 to 1 and the variable display starting with the next winning is set to “hit”. And the flag is set to 0.

Using the microcomputer as described above, by setting a flag, the result mode of another game is determined and stored at the time of detection of a shooting ball, and the result of another game started when the game ball wins the starting port Embodiments can be appropriately controlled.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the pachinko game machines, but can be applied to smart ball machines, sparrow ball game machines, and other ball game machines. Further, the configuration and arrangement of the starting port is arbitrary, and any other gaming device other than the variable display device of the embodiment can be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the ball game ball of the present invention determines the value of a random number generated every predetermined time in accordance with a detection signal of a firing operation, not a firing ball, and determines a starting port based on the value. Since the result mode of another game started by winning a prize is determined, the same other game control can be realized without detecting a shooting ball, and the result of another game appears with a predetermined probability. be able to. Therefore, without taking measures such as arranging the starting port at a position where the game ball is difficult to win, it controls the opportunity of obtaining a profit according to the result mode of another game given to the player, so that even a player with poor skill can play You can enjoy ball games.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a game ball launching device and a launching ball sensor, and FIG. Figure 4
The figure is a block diagram of the electric circuit unit of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko gaming machine, 2 ... Game board surface, 3 ... Variable winning device, 4 ... Starting port, 5 ... Variable display device, 6 ... Variable winning device, 7 ... Shooting handle, 8 ... Guide rail 9 launching device 14 launching ball sensor 21 random number generating unit 22 determining unit 23 starting ball sensor 25 control signal generating unit 26 display drive circuit , 50: Handle operation detection switch, 51: Control means, 52: Clock section, 53: Return ball counter.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A launching device driven so as to launch a predetermined number of game balls on a game board within a preset time in response to a launch operation of a player, and a game ball launched from the launching device. , A starting port for starting another game by entering, a separate gaming device for performing another game, a firing operation detecting means for detecting a firing operation by the player, and a response to a detection signal from the firing operation detecting means. A random number is generated at predetermined time intervals, the value of the random number is determined, and when it is determined to be the predetermined value, the another game started by winning at the starting port ends in a predetermined result mode. And a control means for controlling another gaming device. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, further comprising game ball detection means for detecting a game ball waiting to be fired from said launch device, wherein said launch device includes a game ball detection device for detecting a game ball. A ball game machine characterized in that it can be driven only when detecting. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein said control means outputs a clock signal at predetermined time intervals in accordance with a detection signal from said firing operation detecting means, and said timer means. A random number generator that generates a random number in response to a clock signal from the unit, a determining unit that determines the value of the random number generated by the random number generator, and a control signal that controls the another gaming device based on the determination result of the determining unit. And a control signal generating unit for generating a game signal. 4. The ball-and-ball game machine according to claim 3, wherein said separate gaming device comprises a variable display device for variably displaying a plurality of numbers, characters or graphics on said gaming board surface, When the ball is won, the ball is driven so as to variably display a number or the like by a control signal from the control signal generating unit and to stop the variably displayed in a result mode according to the value of the random number. Gaming machine. 5. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the game board has a variable or a variable state which is advantageous to the player when another game is completed in a specific result mode. A ball game machine equipped with a variable winning device.