JP2933140B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball-and-ball game machine that shoots a ball into a game area every predetermined cycle to play a game.

[Prior Art] In a conventional ball game machine, for example, a pachinko game machine, when a player turns an operation handle (dial),
A firing switch (for example, an activation detector) for firing a ball is turned on, and the firing control device drives a motor, a solenoid, and the like of the hit ball firing device to rotate the firing punch based on an ON signal from the firing switch. Let me. In addition, the launch control device controls the turning power of the launching punch in order to launch with a launching force corresponding to the amount of rotation of the operating handle, thereby enabling the player to play balls one by one with the firing force according to the operation of the operating handle. Firing in the area.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional firing control device, a drive signal based on the rotation amount of the operation handle is immediately transmitted to the firing drive source. When there is movement, the drive signal also changes. Therefore, if the operation handle is rotated during the rotation of the launching punch, the driving signal is also changed, whereby the rotating power of the firing punch is also changed during the rotation. There have been problems such as a change in the position at which the ball arrives, a desire to reach the game area, and the occurrence of uneven flying, which makes it impossible to control.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine capable of stabilizing the firing force of a shooting ball and always performing a normal firing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A ball game machine according to the present invention comprises: a ball launching unit (41) which directs one ball derived from a ball tray (223);
0), a ball launching device (420) for launching the ball supplied to the launching unit to the game area side, and a firing force adjustment input means (operable by a player) For example, a rotating operation member 320), a firing force adjustment input detecting means (380) for detecting a firing force adjustment input based on an operation of the firing force adjustment input means, and driving the firing ball supply device and the ball firing device A ball launch control means (700) for controlling the launch of the ball supplied to the launch unit in each launch cycle at a predetermined launch interval.
In the ball game machine (1) having: and (a), the ball launch control means delays activation of the launch power adjustment input from the launch power adjustment input detection means during the launch cycle until the next launch cycle. It is characterized by performing control.

[Operation] Under the control of the ball firing control means, the change of the firing force from the firing force adjustment input detecting means during the firing cycle is delayed until the next firing cycle, and the change of the driving force to the firing punch during the firing cycle is reduced. Since it is not given, the launching position of the shooting ball does not suddenly change or does not reach the game area, and does not cause uneven flying, and the firing force of the shooting ball can be controlled stably.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the front side of a pachinko gaming machine 1 exemplified as a ball game machine according to the present invention. The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a front frame 10, Is removably installed on an island facility (not shown) of a game arcade via a machine frame 100 that holds the door openably.

In front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, a transparent glass window 22 is provided.
A front panel 220 having a metal frame 222 for holding the ball 1 and a supply tray 223 exemplified as a ball storage unit for supplying game balls to a hit ball launching unit (described later) is attached to be openable and closable. The frame 222 cannot be opened until the frame 222 is opened.

A game board 210 is provided inside the glass window 221.

On the front surface of the game board 210, there is provided a game area 213 surrounded by a guide rail 212 for guiding the shot game ball to an upper portion thereof. And this game area 213
There are a number of obstacle nails (not shown), a plurality of rolling guide members 214 called windmills, a plurality of pocket-type or tulip-type general winning ports 215, a starting winning port 216, and a starting winning port 216 based on winning. The left and right wings 231,231 once or twice
A variable winning device 230 or the like that converts to a preparatory game state to open and converts to a jackpot game state when certain conditions are satisfied at the time of the preliminary game is installed, and an out hole 217 for collecting an out ball is provided at the lowest position. Have been.

In the lower part on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the supply tray is provided.
Receiving bowl 242 to hold game balls as prize balls overflowing from 223
Is installed. A firing operation device 300 having a handle member 340 having a function of a touch plate and a turning operation member 320 as firing force adjustment input means for adjusting a firing force by a player at a position closer to the right at a lower portion on the front side. Is installed.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 is configured generally as described above, and the player operates the rotating operation member 3 while gripping (touching) the handle member 340 having the function of the touch plate of the launching device 300.
When the player 20 rotates the ball, a ball launching device (also referred to as a launching device) 420 as a ball launching device in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is operated, and a game ball is launched into the game area 213, thereby playing a game. Is being done.

In the case of the pachinko gaming machine 1, in particular, when the turning operation member 320 is turned while holding the handle member 340,
A game ball is immediately fired by an internal configuration described later.
Further, even if a game ball has already been supplied to the firing unit 410 before the rotation operation of the rotation operation member 320, the ball can be fired smoothly. Further, excellent effects such as an impulse at the time of rebound not being transmitted to the handle member 340, the rotation operation member 320, and the like can be obtained.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 which is attached to the machine frame 100 via the front frame 10 so as to be freely opened and closed.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 is configured such that the upper and lower portions of the left end of the front frame 10 are rotatably supported by the machine frame 100,
It can be opened and closed freely with respect to the machine frame 100. An overflow detector (SW) 250 for detecting an overflow state in which the prize balls in the supply tray 223 and the receiving tray 242 are full and the prize balls cannot be discharged is installed at the lower rear side. This overflow detector (SW) 250 detects the state of the prize ball when it overflows and turns on.

Further, at the lower right side of the machine frame 100, a gaming machine open detector 260 for detecting that the pachinko gaming machine 1 is opened with respect to the machine frame 100 is installed, and when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is opened. The state is detected and turned on.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the machine frame 100 showing how to attach the gaming machine open detector 260 to the machine frame 100.

The gaming machine opening detector 260 includes a detection rod 261 to which a forward biasing force is applied by a biasing spring (not shown) therein, and is attached to the machine frame 100 via the mounting plate 110.

FIG. 4 shows how the pachinko gaming machine 1 detects the opening of the pachinko gaming machine 1 by the gaming machine opening detector 260.
100 is shown as a partial longitudinal side view.

As shown in the figure, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in a state of being closed with respect to the machine frame 100, the detection rod 261 of the gaming machine open detector 260 is provided on the back side of the front frame 10 by the urging spring ( (Not shown), and is pushed backward and retracted against the urging force of the game machine opening detector 260 to be in an OFF state.

However, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is opened with respect to the machine frame 100, the detection rod 261 of the gaming machine opening detector 260 projects forward by the urging force of the urging spring (not shown), and the game is played. The machine open detector 260 is turned on (ON).

 FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the firing operation device 300.

The firing operation device 300 is, as shown in the figure, made of a non-conductive material, a mounting member 310, a rotation operation member 320, a bearing plate.
The handle member 340 is provided with a conductive metal plating 340a (hereinafter referred to as a touch plate) so as to have a function as a touch plate.

The mounting member 310 is for attaching the launch operation device 300 to the launch operation device substrate 120 below the pachinko gaming machine 1 and is attached to the lower right side of the front surface of the launch operation device substrate 120 in a non-rotatable state.

The mounting member 310 includes a rear small-diameter portion 311 and a front large-diameter portion 312.
313 are provided. A key groove 314 is provided below the shaft through hole 313 along the axial direction. On the other hand, a mounting recess 121 is provided on the lower right side of the front surface of the firing operation device substrate 120. At the center of the mounting recess 121, a mounting shaft 122 having a through bearing hole 124 at the center is protruded forward, and a locking key 123 is integrally formed below the mounting shaft 122 along its axial direction. It is provided in. Then, the mounting member 310 is externally fitted to the mounting shaft 122, and the rear-side small-diameter portion 311 is inserted into the mounting recess 121 of the firing operation device substrate 120. Then, in this state, the locking key 123 of the mounting shaft 122 enters the key groove 314 of the shaft through hole 313, and the mounting member 310 cannot be rotated, and in this state, the mounting member 310 is It is attached to the launch operation device substrate 120 by fastening means.

In addition, a concave spring accommodating portion 315 is provided on the front side of the large diameter portion 312 of the mounting member 310, and a coil-shaped return spring 381 is accommodated in the spring accommodating portion 315 with its rear end fixed. Have been.

The turning operation member 320 is used to operate a hit ball launching device (described later) inside the pachinko gaming machine 1 by the turning operation, and is rotatably attached to the front side of the mounting member 310.

A rotation shaft 321 is integrally attached to the center of the rotation operation member 320 so as to penetrate the center part back and forth, and a concave groove 322 is formed concentrically with the rotation shaft 321 near the rear outer peripheral edge thereof.
Are formed. The rotating operation member 320 is attached to the mounting member 310.
In the state attached to the front side of the mounting member 310, the concave groove 322 on the back side is covered as if the outer peripheral edge 313 of the large diameter portion of the mounting member 310 is wrapped around, and the rotating shaft 321 of the firing operation device substrate 120 It is in a state of being rotatably inserted into the through bearing hole 124 of the mounting shaft 122. And the rotation shaft 32
With 1 as the axis, the rotation operation member 320 can be rotated. A front end of the return spring 381 is attached to the back side of the rotating operation member 320, and the return spring 3
By the rotation return force of 81, the rotation operation member 320 always returns to a normal rotation angle.

The bearing plate 330 rotatably supports the front end of the rotation shaft 321 of the rotation operation member 320.
Are integrally attached to the front side of the attachment member 310 so as not to hinder the rotation of the rotation operation member 320 from the front side.

A bearing hole 331 is provided in the center of the bearing plate 330. In addition, a pair of mounting posts is provided on the back side near the outer periphery.
332, 333 and the rotation amount regulating column 334 are provided in a state protruding rearward, respectively. These mounting columns 332 and 333 and the rotation amount regulating column 334 are formed in an arc-shaped hole provided in the rotation operation member 320.
The rear ends of the members 323 and 324 are attached to the attachment member 310 using fastening means (not shown) such as screws.

In this manner, when the bearing plate 330 is attached to the attachment member 310, the rotation operation member 3 is inserted into the bearing hole 331.
The front bridge portion of the 20 rotary shafts 321 is rotatably inserted, and the rotary operation member 320 is rotatable. The rotation range of the rotation operation member 320 is restricted to a certain angle range by the relationship between the circumferential length of the arc-shaped hole 324 and the rotation amount restriction column 334.

The handle member 340 is a portion having a function of allowing the player to grip the rotating operation member 320 so as to facilitate the rotating operation and a function as a touch plate. (Not shown).

The handle member 340 is made of plastic and has a container shape, and the entire surface thereof is provided with conductive metal plating 340a (touch plate), and an opening window 341 is provided on the front wall thereof. A screw receiving hole 342 for integrally attaching the handle member 340 to the bearing plate 330 through a fastening means (not shown) such as a screw on the inner peripheral wall of the handle member 340 from behind the mounting member 310. Are provided.

A connection terminal 351 of the lead wire 350 is inserted into the mounting hole 352 between one of the screw receiving holes 342 and the front end of the rotation amount regulating column 334 through which a mounting screw (not shown) is passed. When a mounting screw (not shown) is passed from the back side of the mounting member 310, the screw receiving hole 34 is formed.
It is attached in a state where it is in contact with the metal plating 340a (touch plate) on the rear end face of the second.

This lead wire 350 is metal plated from the human body to the handle member 340
The charge (Cex) supplied to the touch plate (340a) is guided to a touch detection means (touch detection circuit) 720 described later. On the back side of the launching device board 120 through the arc-shaped hole 324 of the operating member 320, the return spring 381, the lead wire through hole 316 of the mounting member 310, and the opening 126 in the mounting recess 121 of the firing operating device substrate 120. The connection terminal 355 at the rear end is attached to the touch detection means (touch detection circuit) 720.

Further, between the rear wall portion of the outer peripheral edge portion of the opening window 341 of the handle member 340 and the front end surface of the cylindrical holding portion 338 integrally provided on the front side of the bearing plate 330, a transparent plate 360 and its back side are provided. (Not shown) are disposed in a state of being sandwiched between them.

On the other hand, on the back side of the firing operation device substrate 120, the mounting member 3 is provided.
Reinforcement plate 130 for attaching 10 to firing operation device substrate 120
The front end is attached to the through-hole 131 of the reinforcing plate 130 and the through-hole 128 provided in the mounting recess 121 of the firing operation device substrate 120 through fastening means (not shown) such as a screw. By being screwed into the screw hole 316 of the member 310, the attachment member 310 is firmly attached to the firing operation device substrate 120.

FIG. 6 shows the pachinko gaming machine 100 with the front panel 220 opened.
FIG.

The inside of the free end of the lower part on the back side of the front panel 220 is provided with a ball launching unit 4 described later through a supply port 224 provided on the back side.
A launching ball supply mechanism 500 (which will be described later in detail) that supplies game balls to 10 is provided.

Further, a launching section 410 for temporarily waiting a game ball supplied from a launching ball supply mechanism 500 (described later), which is exemplified as a launching ball supply device, is provided at the lower right inside the pachinko gaming machine 1 with the front panel 220 opened. A hitting ball launching device 420 for launching a game ball waiting in the launching section 410 and a launching rail 430 for guiding a hitting ball (game ball) fired by the hitting ball launching device 420 in the direction of the guide rail 212 are provided. Rail 4
Above 30, a shot ball detection period 440 for detecting a hit ball shot along the firing rail 430 is provided.

The front panel 220 is provided with a metal frame opening detector 270 that detects that the metal frame 222 is opened with respect to the front panel 220, and detects the state when the metal frame 222 is opened. On.

FIG. 7 shows a partially enlarged front view of the inside of the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 100.

As shown in the figure, the firing rail 430 is installed in a state of inclination substantially at the same position as the start end of the guide rail 212 toward the start end thereof. A groove 431 is provided along the longitudinal direction.

The launching section 410 is configured such that a holding frame 411 for holding a launching ball is attached to a starting end of the launching rail 430. The upstream side of the holding frame 411 is in an open state,
On the downstream side, a holding portion (not shown) having a shooting hole smaller than the game ball is provided at the center.

The launching device 420 is constituted by a launching solenoid 421 exemplified as an electric drive source provided with a launching rod 423 exemplified as a launching member, and a tip portion of the firing rod 423 has a truncated cone-shaped hitting portion having a tip end side thinned. 424 are provided. The firing solenoid 421 is always demagnetized, the firing rod 423 is retracted by the force of the return spring 422, and the hitting portion 424 at the tip thereof is slightly away from the firing portion 410 as shown in FIG. It is in. Then, when the firing solenoid 421 is excited, the firing rod 423 advances abruptly against the force of the return spring 422, and the tip of the projecting part 424 at the tip of the firing rod 423 has a firing hole ( It enters in not shown), so as to fire toward the game ball B ₁ that is waiting in its firing unit 410 to the guide rail 212.

The shot ball detector 440 have been installed at intervals that can pass through the shot ball B ₂ at a position above the upstream portion of the firing rail 430, and detects the shot ball B ₂ passing therethrough .

FIG. 8 is a view of the launching ball supply mechanism 500 installed inside the front panel 220 as viewed from the back side.

The launching ball supply mechanism 500 is a mechanism for sending game balls taken in from the supply tray 223 one by one to the launching unit 410, and includes a standby passage 510 for temporarily waiting the game balls taken in from the supply tray 223; A ball supply member 5 for separating the game balls waiting in the passage 510 one by one and supplying them to the firing unit 410
20 and a ball supply solenoid 530 exemplified as an electric drive source for operating the ball supply member 520.

A ball intake 224 for taking in game balls from the supply ball tray 223 is provided upstream of the waiting passage 510, and a ball waiting section 511 is provided downstream.

Immediately below the standby passage 510, a ball drain gutter 540 for collecting game balls in the standby passage 510 into the receiving tray 242 is provided. The switching member 515 is installed so as to be able to move forward and backward in the direction of arrow a in a state where the switching member 515 is inserted into a slide guide 518 provided in the front panel 220.

The flow path switching member 515 is normally advanced by a return spring (not shown) to a state in which the entrance of the ball drain gutter 540 is closed, and a game ball taken in from the ball inlet 224 is thrown through the upper surface thereof. Guides are provided in the direction of the waiting section 511. The flow path switching member 515 is provided with an operation lever 225 (FIG. 1) provided integrally therewith.
It is provided on one side of 23 so as to be operable externally, and by operating its operation lever 225, it can be moved forward and backward.

The sphere supply member 520 has a U-shaped sphere guiding portion 521 at its tip side.
The base is rotatably supported by the pin 522, so that the ball guide 521 at the tip thereof is raised and lowered with the rotation.

The ball supply solenoid 530 includes an operating rod 532 that moves up and down by the force of the return spring 531 during demagnetization and descends against the force of the return spring 531 during excitation, and is integrated with the lower end of the operating rod 532. The lower surface of the disk-shaped operating portion 533 provided on the
Is in contact with the upper end of the operating contact portion 523 provided upwardly of the base-side extension.

This ball supply mechanism 500 is configured as described above,
Normally, the ball supply solenoid 530 is demagnetized and the operating rod 520 is in a state of rising and returning.
Is in a state where the ball guiding portion 521 at the tip thereof is lowered. Then, in a state where the game ball B ₁ which is at the upper stop portion 521a of the ball leading portion 521 in its lowered state on the spherical waiting section 511 is restrained thereon.

In this state, when a firing operation by the firing device 420 is performed as described later, the ball supply solenoid 530 is controlled by the ball firing control means (also referred to as firing interval control means) 710 for a predetermined time for each single firing operation. And the operating rod 532 is lowered as shown by the solid line in FIG.

By the lowering of the operating rod 532, the base-side extended portion of the ball supply member 521 is pushed down by the operating portion 533 at the lower end, and the guiding portion 521 at the tip is raised, and the ball is waiting in the raised guiding portion 521. _One game ball B1 waiting on the part 511 flows in. Then, the ball supply solenoid 530 is demagnetized and its operating rod 532 rises and returns,
As shown by a chain line in FIG.
When the vehicle returns to its lowered state due to its own weight, the guiding portion 52
The launching part 41 is formed from a lower game part of the game ball 1 above the lower inclined part 521b (in the figure, the front side is inclined so as to be lower).
0 while being flow down, where the subsequent game ball B ₂ reaches over the spherical waiting section 511, as shown in FIG. 9, stop hitting the upper stop portion 521a of the ball leading portion 521 that descends return ( (Standby).

In this way, each time a launch operation is performed by the hit ball launch device 420, one game ball is sent to the launch unit 410 one by one.

When it is desired to collect the game balls, the ball switching lever 255 provided on the supply tray 223 is operated to retract the flow path switching member 515 to open the entrance of the ball extraction gutter 540, and the ball whose entrance is opened is opened. The game balls in the supply tray 223 are allowed to flow down into the tray 242 via the drain gutter 540.

A ball lock mechanism 550 is provided above the ball supply mechanism 500 in the front panel 220, as shown in FIG.

This ball lock mechanism 550 is used to mechanically detect the presence or absence of a ball in the ball storage tank 11 (FIG. 2) on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 when hitting by a link mechanism (not shown). The game ball B in the standby passage 510 is
Is locked so as not to be supplied to the This ball lock mechanism 550 is provided in the ball storage tank 11 on the back side of the pachinko machine 1.
(FIG. 2) A power transmission lever 564 that is rotated about a pin 563 as an axis by a link mechanism (not shown) that mechanically detects the presence or absence of a ball in the power transmission lever 564, and a link member attached to the power transmission lever 564. A lock member 567 that is connected by a lever 565 and rotates with a pin 566 as an axis in conjunction with the lever 564 is provided. On the free end side of the power transmission lever 564, a weight portion 564a that gives the lever 564 a rotational return force in the clockwise direction in FIG. A lock claw 567 that enters the standby passage 510 when the distal end portion descends and locks the game ball B in the standby passage 510 so as not to be supplied to the firing unit 410.
a is provided.

The ball lock mechanism 550 is configured as described above, and when the ball is full in the ball storage tank 11, the power transmission lever 564 is moved counterclockwise by the link mechanism (not shown), and The lock lever 567 linked with the link is in a state of being rotated in the same direction (counterclockwise). As a result, the lock lever 567
The lock claw 567a at the end of the game is in a state of being detached from the standby passage 510, and the game ball B in the standby passage 510 can be supplied to the firing unit 410 by the ball supply member 520 on the downstream side.

However, when the sphere in the sphere storage tank 11 (FIG. 2) is emptied, the power transmission lever 564 is lowered in its free end side by the link mechanism (not shown) which operates by detecting the vacancy (in FIG. 2). , Clockwise), and accordingly,
The lock lever 567 rotates in the same direction (clockwise), and the lock claw 567a at the tip of the lock lever 567 enters the standby passage 510 to lock the game ball B therein so as not to supply it to the firing unit 410.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the firing operation device substrate 120 on which the firing device 300 is installed, and FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view thereof.

On the back side of the firing operation device substrate 120, a firing control mechanism 1000 as described below is provided.

That is, a drive pulley 370 having a start switch pressing projection 371 on the back side is attached to the rear end of the rotation shaft 321 of the rotation operation member 320, which reaches the back side of the firing operation device substrate 120.

Immediately after the drive pulley 370, a rotation angle detecting device 380 functioning as a firing force adjustment input detecting means is installed in a state supported by the receiving columns 120a, 120a. The rotation angle detection device 380 detects the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 320 by rotating integrally with the drive pulley 370, and includes a rotation angle detection shaft 381 on the front side. This rotation angle detection device 380 is configured by, for example, an absolute type rotary encoder. The rotation angle detecting shaft 381 is fitted into a shaft hole 372 at the center on the back side of the drive pulley 370 so as to rotate integrally with the drive pulley 370.

In addition, around the drive pulley 370, a single-shot operation member 390 that is rotated by an external operation or a switch pressing projection 371 of the drive pulley 370, and is turned on and off by the single-shot operation member 390. A start detector 395 and the like for performing a (OFF) switching operation are provided.

The single-shot operation member 390 includes an operation portion 391 protruding outside through an opening 120b provided in a part of the firing operation device substrate 120, and a switch pressing projection 371 of the drive pulley 370.
Actuation contact 392 that can contact the
A switching contact portion 393 that can come into contact with the contact piece 396 is provided, and is rotatably supported by pins 399 on the back side of the firing operation device substrate 120.

The activation detector 395 is turned on (ON) and off (OFF) by the rotation operation of the rotation operation member 320 or the operation of the single-shot operation member 390, and the firing device 420 is inoperable and operable. A contact piece that can be brought into contact with the operating contact portion 392 of the single-shot operation member 390 on the lower side.
It has 396.

The firing control mechanism 1000 is configured as described above, and the rotating operation member 320 is always rotated and returned to the fixed angle position by the returning force of the returning spring 381 (FIG. 5). Then, the switch pressing projection 371 of the drive pulley 370 attached to the rotating shaft 321 is in a state of being raised as shown in the figure, and the tip end thereof is in contact with the operating contact portion 392 of the single-shot operation member 390. The single-hitting operation member 390 is rotated in a direction in which the contact portion 392 contacts the state where the ascending force is applied, and thereby the operation contact portion 392 side rises. Then, the starting detector 395 is provided by the switching contact portion 393 on the tip side.
When the free end side of the contact piece 396 is pushed up to be in an OFF state, the hitting ball firing device 420 is in a stopped state.

In this state, when the rotation operation member 320 is rotated clockwise (counterclockwise in FIG. 10) when viewed from the front side,
The drive pulley 370 is rotated integrally therewith, and the switch pressing projection 371 is lowered. As a result, the pushing force of the switch pressing projection 371 on the operating contact portion 392 side of the single-shot operation member 390 is released. With the release of the lifting force, the single-shot operation member 390 is rotated by its own weight in the direction in which the operation contact portion 392 side is lowered. By its rotation,
The push-up force of the contact piece 396 of the activation detector 395 by the switching contact portion 393 is released, whereby the activation detector 395 is turned on (ON), and the operation of the hitting ball firing device 420 has the function of the touch plate. It is operated on condition that the human body touches the handle member 301 to fire the game ball of the firing unit 410.

The rotation angle associated with the rotation operation of the rotation operation member 320 is detected by the rotation angle detection device 380, and as the detection signal is input to a voltage variable unit 750 described later and the rotation angle increases, The launch speed of the game ball is controlled to increase.

When it is desired to stop the firing of the game ball performed in this manner, if the user releases the rotating operation member 320, the rotating operation member 320 is rotated and returned to the fixed angle position by the return spring 381. The firing of the game ball is stopped.

However, if it is desired to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball while keeping the rotation angle of the rotating operation member 320 in such a good firing state, by pressing the operation portion 391, the single-shot operation member 3
90 turns the switching contact portion 393 in the ascending direction, pushes up the contact piece 396 of the activation detector 395 at the switching contact portion 393, and turns off the activation detector 395, and thereby the firing device The operation of 420 is stopped. Then, when it is desired to fire the game ball again, if the pressing operation of the operation member 391 is released, the single-shot operation member 390 rotates in a direction in which the switching contact portion 393 side descends and the switching contact portion 3
The pressing of the contact piece 396 of the activation detector 395 by the activation detector 395 is released, and the activation detector 395 is turned on to return the firing device 420 to the operating state, whereby the firing of the game ball is started again.

Then, while maintaining the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 320 in such a favorable firing state, the single-shot operation member 39
If the operation of releasing the pressing by appropriately pressing the operation unit 391 of 0 is repeated, a single shot is performed for that operation.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a control block diagram of the launch control device 700 functioning as a launch control means for controlling the launch solenoid 421 and the ball supply solenoid 530 installed in the pachinko gaming machine configured as described above. .

In the figure, the reference numeral 700 designates a launch solenoid 421 for launching a game ball and a ball supply solenoid 530.
Is a firing control device, and the firing control device 700 includes:
A firing interval control means 710 for controlling an interval between firing and ball feeding of a game ball, and a metal plating portion 340a of the handle member 340.
Touch detection means 720 for detecting contact of the human body with a touch panel (referred to as a touch plate), drivers 730 and 740 connected to the output side of the firing interval control means 710, and digital signals from the rotation angle detection device (rotary encoder) 380. A variable voltage supply unit 750 that varies a supply voltage supplied to the firing solenoid 421 with respect to a reference voltage, and a power supply supplied from an external power supply is converted into an operation power supply, a firing interval control unit 710, a touch detection unit 720, Variable voltage supply means 75
It is composed of a power supply circuit 760 and the like that supplies each operating part such as 0.

The ball launching means 710 is for controlling the launch of the game ball, controlling the ball supply interval and stopping the launch, that is, supplying one game ball to the launching unit and driving the hitting ball launching device to play the game. It controls the cycle of firing game balls to the area, is constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and has an oscillator 714 for generating a reference time for the operation of the microcomputer.

The firing interval control means 710 includes a touch detection means 720 for detecting the presence or absence of contact of the human body with the touch plate 340a connected via the activation detector 395, a management device 2000 for managing the entire system, a metal frame opening. The detector 270, the game machine open detector 260, and the overflow detector 250 are respectively connected.

The firing interval control means 710 includes drivers 730, 7
A launch solenoid 421 serving as a drive source for firing game balls and a ball supply solenoid 530 serving as a drive source for supplying one game ball to the launch unit 410 are connected via 40.

On the other hand, the variable voltage means 750 is connected to the firing solenoid 421.
To vary the resilience of the firing solenoid 421 with respect to the reference voltage, and is constituted by a D / A converter 751 and the like. The input side of the variable voltage supply means 750 is connected to a rotation angle detection device 380 which detects the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 320 and outputs it as a digital signal, and supplies a voltage to the firing solenoid 421 on the output side. Power supply terminal is connected.

The power supply circuit 760 uses an AC 24 V supplied from an external power supply (not shown) as an operating power supply, rectifies the voltage, stabilizes the voltage at a constant voltage, and controls the firing interval control means 710 and the ball supply solenoid 5.
30 and a predetermined reference voltage to the D / A converter 751.

 FIG. 13 shows a circuit diagram of the above-mentioned firing control device 700.

The firing control device 700 includes the firing interval control means 710,
The touch detection means 720 connected to the input side, the low-pass filter 800 and the photocoupler 810, the drivers 730 and 740 connected to the output side of the firing interval control means 710, and the rotation angle detection device input through the low-pass filter 800 A variable voltage supply unit 750 that varies a supply voltage supplied to the firing solenoid 421 based on a digital signal from the 380, and a power supply circuit 760 that supplies a predetermined power to each operating unit such as the firing interval control unit 710. Become.

The touch detection means 720 includes an oscillation circuit 721 that oscillates a predetermined frequency and a touch input detection circuit 722 that detects whether a human body has touched the touch plate 340a based on an output of the oscillation circuit 721. . The oscillation circuit 721
Is to oscillate a signal of a predetermined oscillation frequency and output a pulse signal based on the oscillation signal to the subsequent touch input detection circuit 722, specifically, the Schmitt trigger 723,
Schmitt trigger oscillator unit 724 composed of a capacitor C ₁₁ and resistor R _11, a Schmitt trigger 725 for waveform-shaping the output of the emitting Fubu 724 into a pulse signal, the transistor Tr _1,
The transistor switch unit 726 includes resistors R ₁₂ and R _{13, a} speed-up capacitor C ₁₂ , and a capacitor C ₁₃ . The collector of the transistor Tr ₁ is connected to the input side of the touch input detection circuit 722 as the output side of the oscillating circuit 721. The touch input detection circuit 722 includes a switch function that is turned on when the pulse signal is at an L level in response to a pulse signal generated by the Schmitt trigger oscillation unit 724, an output capacitor that stores electric charge of a human body capacitance (Cex), and the like. Specifically, it includes a switching PNP transistor Tr ₂ , an output capacitor C ₀ , capacitors C ₂₁ and C ₂₂ , a diode D ₁₁ , and protection for protecting the internal circuit from a high voltage applied from the outside. It is composed of diodes D ₁₂ and D ₁₃ , resistors R _{21 to} R ₂₇ and Schmitt triggers 727 and 728. Here, the diode D _11, capacitor C ₂₁ and resistor R ₂₁ to R ₂₄ are those for properly turning on / off the PNP transistor Tr ₂ in response to the operation of the transistor Tr _1. Also, the transistor Tr ₁ of the collector (i.e., the oscillation circuit 7
Output side) the resistance R ₂₁ of 21, the diode D ₁₁ and the resistor R ₂₂
Connected to the emitter of the PNP transistor Tr ₂ for the switch, between the diode D ₁₁ and the resistor R ₂₂ , a resistor R ₂₅ for input protection and a capacitor C for cutting DC components.
_A touch plate 340a to which a human body can make contact is connected via the activation detector ₂₂ and the activation detector 395. Moreover, the the collector of the PNP transistor Tr ₂ is connected to the output capacitor C _0, the output capacitor C ₀ is PNP transistor Tr ₂ of the on-operation by the touch plate 340a, start detector 395, a capacitor C _22, resistor R ₂₅ , store electric charge which has moved from the human body through R ₂₂ Oyopi PNP transistor Tr _2. In addition,
The collector of the PNP transistor Tr ₂ has the be connected to the firing interval control means 710 through the Schmitt trigger 727 and 728 of the resistor R ₂₇ and the waveform for shaping, the output capacitor C
₀ to the firing interval control means 710 and the collector potential rises of the transistor Tr ₂ is charged charges is a control of the firing control of the game ball to determine whether a human body is touching the touch plate 340a on the basis of the potential change Do.

According to this construction, when the human body touch plate 340a is not in contact, even when the PNP transistor Tr ₂ is turned on, the capacitor from the touch plate 340a
There is no charge on C ₀ and the touch plate 340a
In the case where the human body is contacted, touch plate 340a in accordance with the ON operation PNP transistor Tr _2, start detector 395 and the PNP transistor Tr ₂ increases the voltage of the capacitor C ₀ end via its voltage Based on the change, the firing interval control means 710 determines whether or not there is contact with a human body.

The firing interval control means 710 includes a CPU 711, a ROM 712, a RAM 713.
And an oscillator 714 for generating a reference time of operation.

Among these, the CPU 711 fetches necessary external data from an I / O port (not shown) according to a program written in the ROM 712, and performs data transmission and reception with the RAM 513 while determining contact with a human body. The processing values required for the ball launch and stop control and the control of the ball supply interval are calculated, and the processed data is output to the launch solenoid 421, the ball supply solenoid 530, and the like via the I / O port.

The ROM 712 is a non-volatile read-only memory.In a predetermined storage area, the microprogram is incorporated in the form of a machine command, and various fixed data such as a ball launching and stopping pattern and a ball supply interval pattern are stored. It is remembered.

The RAM 713 is a writable and readable volatile memory, and is a so-called working memory that temporarily stores data used for calculation, calculation results, and the like. Specifically, the RAM 713 includes a signal indicating the state of contact of the human body with the touch plate 340a detected by the touch detection means 720 and various detectors transmitted through the low-pass filter 800, that is, a metal frame open detector. 270, gaming machine open detector 260, detection signal from overflow detector 250, and photocoupler 8
A storage area for temporarily storing a stop signal from the management apparatus 2000 which is electrically isolated (isolated) at 10 and sent through the low-pass filter 800, a register area constituting a soft timer, and a microcomputer An operation area (work area) and the like are provided.

Further, the low pass filter 800 is adapted and a capacitor C ₃₁ resistor R ₃₁ by the configured filter unit 801 and the pull-up resistor R ₃₂ Prefecture, they filter unit 801 of each switch 250, 260 and the rotation angle detecting device 380 Each output terminal and the like are connected one-to-one.

On the other hand, the variable voltage supply means 750 is an 8-bit D / A converter 751, which converts a digital signal sent from the rotation angle detection device 380 sent through the low-pass filter 800 into an analog signal based on a reference voltage. transistor Tr ₁₁ for amplifying the output signal, the fundamental voltage of the firing solenoid 421 (the minimum required voltage to drive the solenoid 421)
Diode D ₂₁ and resistor R ₄₁ to ensure
And so on.

The firing solenoid 421 and the ball supply solenoid 530 are connected to the firing interval control means 710 via drivers 730 and 740, and the variable voltage supply means 750 is connected as a power supply for the firing solenoid 421.

The driver 730 includes a transistor Tr ₂₁ for amplifying an output signal of the firing interval control unit 710, a protection diode D
Consist ₃₁ and resistor R _51, also the driver 740
Is a transistor Tr ₃₁ for amplifying the output signal of the firing interval control means 710, a protection diode D ₄₁ and a resistor R ₆₁
It is composed of

The power supply circuit 760 is a low-voltage AC power supply (for example, 24 V)
And a voltage stabilizing circuit 762 for stabilizing the DC power rectified by the rectifier circuit 761. The rectifier circuit 761 includes a bridge diode 765 and a smoothing capacitor C ₄₁ and the like for rectifying an AC 24V is supplied to the DC. Further, the voltage stabilizing circuit 762 includes a stabilizing power supply (for example, a three-terminal regulator) 764 for supplying a constant voltage with respect to load fluctuations and input voltage fluctuations, smoothing capacitors C ₄₂ and C ₄₅ , and a noise removing capacitor. C ₄₄ and resistance
R ₇₁ etc.

The launch control device 700 is configured as described above,
When a digital signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 320 is sent from the rotation angle detection device 380 to the variable voltage supply unit 750 through the low-pass filter 800, the variable voltage supply unit 750 converts the analog signal corresponding to the digital signal into an analog signal. The output voltage is supplied to the firing solenoid 421 so that the firing solenoid 421 can be driven to have a resilient force corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 320. Further, the detection signal from the touch detection means 720 or the stop signal from the various detectors 250, 260, 270 and the management device 2000 is transmitted to the low-pass filter 80.
When it is sent to the firing interval control means 710 via 0, the firing interval control means 710 performs a process of firing and stopping the ball and a process of controlling the supply interval of the ball based on the transmitted signal, and performs the processing. A signal is sent to the drivers 730 and 740 to operate the ball supply solenoid 530 and the firing solenoid 421, or to stop the operation.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a program of a game ball launch control processing procedure performed by the launch interval control means 710. This program is executed for a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds).
ms) once. In the figure, Sn (n = 1, 2, ‥‥)
Indicates each step of the flow.

First, when the pachinko gaming machine is turned on, in step S10, the firing solenoid 421 and the ball supply solenoid 530 are turned off, the firing interval flag, the solenoid flag is lowered (firing interval flag ← 0, solenoid flag ← 0), and the like. After performing the initial setting, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not a stop signal from the management device 2000 has been input, and if it is determined that the stop signal has not been input, the metal frame based on the OFF state of the metal frame open detector 270 in step S12. It is determined whether or not 222 is open with respect to the front frame 10. As a result, when it is determined that the metal frame 222 is not opened, the process proceeds to step S13, and whether the pachinko gaming machine 1 is opened with respect to the machine frame 100 based on the OFF state of the gaming machine open detector 260 in step S13. Determine whether or not. When it is determined that the pachinko gaming machine 1 is not opened with respect to the machine frame 100, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the overflow detector 250 is turned on in step S14. As a result, when it is determined that the overflow detector 250 is not turned on, it is determined that the ball can be fired and the ball can be supplied, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the player touches the touch plate 340a to detect the touch. Means720
It is determined whether or not the detection signal output has been turned on indicating the contact state. When the detection signal output from the touch detection means 720 is turned on, the player
It is determined that the turning operation member 320 is turning while touching the handle member 340 having the 340a function, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the firing interval flag is "1", that is, whether or not the firing cycle has ended. The firing cycle is a period between the start of the firing operation and the start of the next firing operation, in other words, a firing interval at which one ball is fired. Then, in step S16, when the firing interval flag is not "1" (that is, when the firing cycle is completed), the processing shifts to the setting processing of steps S17 to S23 in order to set a new firing cycle. .

In step S17, a detection value of the rotation angle detection device 380 for detecting the rotation angle (rotation amount) of the rotation operation member 320 is read, and in step S18, the rotation angle (the value read by the rotation angle detection device 380) is corresponded. Select the power supply voltage for firing solenoid 421. That is, the detection value of the rotation angle detection device 380 is not detected during the firing cycle, but is detected when the firing cycle is completed and the setting process for the next firing cycle is performed. When the rotating operation member 320 is operated to adjust the firing force, the change in the firing force based on this operation will be reflected in the next firing cycle, and the driving force will be constant during the driving of the firing solenoid. Since the ball does not change (does not change), there is no problem such as a sudden change in the arrival position of the shooting sphere (non-uniform flying) or a failure to reach the game area, and stable firing control can be performed.

Next, in step S19, an operation command signal is output from the ball launch control means to the launch solenoid 421, and the launch solenoid 421 is output.
Start the operation of. As a result, the ball supplied to the firing unit 410 is moved by the firing rod 423 by the excitation of the firing solenoid 421.
It is hit and fired by the forward force of.

Next, in step S20, the ball launch control means 710 outputs an operation command signal to the ball supply solenoid 530 to operate the ball supply solenoid 530. Then, each time the launching operation is performed by the hit ball launching device 420, one game ball is sent to the address launch unit 410.

In step S21, the firing interval flag is set (firing interval flag ← 1), the interval timer is started (set) in step S22, then the solenoid timer is started (set) in step S23, and the process returns to step S11 again.

On the other hand, when the firing interval flag is "1" in step S16, it is determined that the firing cycle is in progress, and
Steps S24 to S31 are performed. In step S24, it is determined whether the solenoid flag is "1" (solenoid flag = 1). As a result, when the solenoid flag is not "1" (that is, when the solenoid flag is lowered), the process proceeds to step S25, and in step S25, it is determined whether or not the time of the solenoid timer set in step S23 is up. Is determined.

As a result, when it is determined that the time of the solenoid timer has not expired, it is determined that the firing solenoid 421 and the ball supply solenoid 530 are still operating, and step S
Return to 11. When it is determined that the time of the solenoid timer has expired, in step S26, an operation stop signal is output from the ball launch control means 710 to the ball supply solenoid 530 to stop the ball supply solenoid 530, and in step S27, the ball launch control means 71
From 0, an operation stop signal is output to the firing solenoid 421 to stop the firing solenoid 421. Next, in step S28, a solenoid flag is set (solenoid flag ← 1), and the process returns to step S11.

When the solenoid flag is "1" in step S24, the process proceeds to step S29, and it is determined in step S29 whether or not the interval timer set in step S22 has expired. As a result, when it is determined that the time has not expired, the process returns to step S11. When it is determined that the time has elapsed, the firing interval flag is lowered in step S30 (firing interval flag ← 0), and
In S31, lower the solenoid flag (the solenoid flag ←
0) and return to step S11.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S11 that a stop signal has been input from the management device 2000, when it is determined in step S12 that the metal frame 222 is open, in step S13, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is opened with respect to the machine frame 100. When it is determined that the touch panel 340a is not touched, when the overflow detector 250 is determined to be on in step S14, or when a detection signal indicating that the human body is not in contact with the touch plate 340a is output in step S15. If any one or more of the conditions is satisfied, it is determined that there is no condition for continuing the ball launch and the ball supply, and the process shifts to step S32. In step S32, the firing interval control means 710 outputs an operation stop signal to the ball supply solenoid 530 to stop the ball supply solenoid 530, and in step S33, the firing interval control means 710 outputs an operation stop signal to the firing solenoid 421 to fire. The solenoid 421 is stopped. Then
In step S34, the firing interval flag is lowered (firing interval flag ← 0). In step S35, the solenoid flag is lowered (solenoid flag ← 0), and the process returns to step S11.

A launch control device 700 functioning as a ball launch control means provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment controls a ball launch device 420 and a launch ball supply mechanism 500 functioning as a launch ball supply device, and performs a predetermined operation. A ball is fired in each firing cycle, and a firing angle detection device (firing force adjustment input detecting means) 380 for detecting a firing force adjustment input based on the player's operation of the turning operation member 320 during the firing cycle. Since the firing force change is delayed until the next firing cycle, while the ball firing device 420 is driving, the driving force is constant,
There is no problem such as a change in the arrival position of the shooting ball (uneven flying) or a failure to reach the game area, and stable firing control can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the use of the launching ball supply mechanism 500 and the ball launching device 420 of the above embodiment, but also a mechanism capable of electrically controlling the supply of one launching unit to a sphere or an electrical launching force. The invention can also be applied to a gaming machine having a controllable launching device and playing a game by launching a ball.

Further, in the present embodiment, the activation detector 395 for converting the operation state of the launching device 420 is not a launching solenoid drive power supply to which a relatively large power supply is supplied as a drive power supply but a touch plate 340a and a touch detection means 720. Since the detector 395 is inserted into the connection line between the detectors, noise such as arcing when the detector 395 is opened and closed can be prevented.

Further, since the firing interval is generated inside the oscillation interval control means 710 using the oscillator 711, the number of firings within the specified time is kept constant even if the power supply frequency is illegally changed from the outside. This has the effect.

In the above embodiment, the ball launching device is used as the touch detecting means 72.
An example in which the present invention is applied to the pachinko gaming machine 1 provided with 0 and various detectors 395, 250, 260, 270, etc. has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the detector and the like are not essential.

Further, a rotation angle detection device 380 (rotary encoder) that outputs a digital signal corresponding to the rotation angle is used as the firing force adjustment input detection means (also referred to as a rotation angle detection means). Any adjustment value based on the player's firing force adjustment operation can be electrically detected, and the invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

Further, although an example in which the supply voltage is changed has been described as the variable power supply means, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is a matter of course that the supply current may be changed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the ball game machine of the present invention, the change of the firing force performed in response to the operation of the player is delayed, for example, during the operation of the ball firing device, Even if there is an operation, the firing timing is not changed at that time and the change timing is delayed until the next firing cycle and changed in the next firing cycle, so that the driving of the ball firing device is stabilized and the game The ball can always be fired at a stable firing force, whereby the player can always fire normally according to his / her operation, and can proceed with a comfortable game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 14 show an embodiment of the present invention. Among them, FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal side view of the pachinko gaming machine and the machine frame, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the launch operation device, FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine, FIG. Is a partially enlarged front view of the inside of the front side of the pachinko gaming machine, FIG. 8 is a view of the firing supply mechanism viewed from the back side, FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an operation state of the firing ball supply mechanism, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the launch operation device board, FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of the launch control device, FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the launch control device, and FIG. 14 is a launch control. It is a flowchart which shows the program of a processing procedure. 1 ... ball game machine, 233 ... ball tray, 320 ... rotary operation member (firing force adjustment input means), 380 ... firing force adjustment input detecting means, 410 ... firing unit, 420 ... ball firing Equipment, 500 ……
Launching ball supply device, 700 ... Ball launching control means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A launching ball supply device for supplying a single ball derived from a ball tray to a launching portion, a ball launching device for launching the ball supplied to the launching portion toward a game area, Operable firing force adjustment input means, firing force adjustment input detection means for detecting a firing force adjustment input based on operation of the firing force adjustment input means, and driving the firing sphere supply device and the ball firing device, Ball launch control means for controlling the launch of the ball supplied to the launch unit for each launch cycle that is a predetermined launch interval, in a ball game machine, the ball launch control means, during the launch cycle A ball game machine characterized by performing control for delaying the activation of the firing force adjustment input from the firing force adjustment input detection means until the next firing cycle.