JP3066474B2 - Card-type gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is based on the required emission directive.
Game media discharge device that can discharge the required game media.
Game machine body, and one-to-one
Within the range of the amount data stored on the inserted card
A game that performs a process for renting out the required number of game media
A medium lending device, and a lending process of the game medium lending device.
A predetermined number of game media to be lent according to signals output based on the
Is discharged from the game medium discharging device of the gaming machine body.
A card-type gaming machine .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a card-type pachinko gaming machine system in which a game is played through a magnetic card has been proposed. The card method has the advantage that the player only has to carry the card that is the storage medium, and can reduce the trouble of carrying a large number of pachinko balls that are easy to fall. Conventionally proposed card-type pachinko gaming systems are roughly divided into the following two systems.

[0003] In the first method, when a card is issued, the number of possessed balls corresponding to the purchase amount is stored in the card, a pachinko game is played within the range of the number of possessed balls, and the number of possessed balls increased or decreased in the game process. The data is stored on a card (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-22727). The second method of the card system is to issue a card in which only the code number is recorded at the time of purchase of the card, store the number of balls held in a central management device, and insert the card into a card reader of a pachinko machine. The stored number of balls is called up so that a player can play a game.
No. 9, JP-B-51-17106).

[0004]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, even in the conventional card-type gaming system either method, the game being possible game by cards that issued the card
It was only a store , and it was impossible to play games with cards issued at other game stores. The issued card was valid only on the day of issuance. Therefore,
A common pre- order card that can be used with cards issued by other amusement stores and can be used without restrictions on expiration dates
Paid card systems have also been put to practical use in some parts.

However, such a common prepaid
With the adoption of the card system, players can purchase cards only once, insert the cards into ball lending machines and convert them into lending balls before they can start playing games. There was a problem that extra work was required. Therefore, by using a ball discharge device provided in a pachinko game machine (conventionally, a device that only discharges award balls) , a lending ball is directly discharged to a supply plate of the pachinko game machine, so that the trouble of the player can be reduced. Such an emission control method has been considered.

By the way, in the above-mentioned prepaid card type gaming system, the conversion of the remaining card into a lending ball is performed in units of 100 yen. In addition, the number of digits of a display device for displaying the balance of the card is reduced to reduce costs. Such a system of discharging a lending ball using a ball discharging device of a pachinko gaming machine has a function of displaying a lending amount by a single operation of a button for converting to a lending ball. Loan amount
It is desirable for the player to recognize the
To display the withdrawal, the player must recognize the new indicator
It must be installed in an easy place. But this system
In the limited space on the pachinko machine side
There are buttons to convert to shitama and a display to show the balance of the card
To place a new indicator because it is already
There is a problem that the pace is difficult, and compared to ball rental machines
All machines that are frequently exchanged increase the cost
There is also a problem .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made under the above-mentioned background. The purpose of the present invention is to display not only a card balance but also a loan amount by a single operation of a button for converting to a loaned ball. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card-type gaming machine that can display any time when necessary without increasing the size of the display or increasing the number of displays.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The required game media can be discharged based on the required discharge command
Gaming machine equipped with a game medium discharge device (ball discharge device 170)
A main body (pachinko gaming machine 100) and a pair with the gaming machine main body
Amount data stored on the inserted card
Process for renting out the required number of game media within the
Media rental device (ball rental machine 200)
Output based on the lending process of the game medium lending device.
In accordance with the signal, a predetermined number of lending game media
Card type configured to eject from the technical media ejection device
A gaming machine, provided on the front side of the gaming machine body
The operation panel (121) displays the game media
To give the conversion command to
Exchange button (123), the game media lending device and the
Information table that can display information related to the card inserted in the
And shows means (balance display 122), comprising at least, on
When a card is inserted into the game media lending device,
The amount data related to the card is
While displaying with frequency information, based on a predetermined display switching signal
The frequency information of the displayed amount data to the frequency
Display control means (table
Display switching control means 158) and in front of the game medium lending device.
Display switching provided on the surface side to generate the display switching signal
And a button (240).
Required information that can be switched from the frequency information of the above-mentioned amount data
In one operation of the above-mentioned conversion button, it becomes the rental media
Configured to include information on converted amount data to be converted
It was done . Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that
One operation of the conversion button on the technical media lending device
You can change the setting of the conversion amount data to be converted to rental media
Function setting changing means (ball lending number setting means 506)
It is configured .

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the front face of the game machine main body is provided.
The operation panel provided on the
Give a conversion command to the media to the above-mentioned game media rental device
Conversion button, game media lending device and
Information display means capable of displaying information related to the inserted card,
Is provided at least, the display control means of the game media lending device
When a card is inserted into the game media lending device,
The amount data on the card is stored in the information display
It is displayed with the required frequency information and is displayed on the front side of the game media lending device.
Display switching signal based on the operation of the provided display switching button
Is generated, and the display is displayed based on the display switching signal.
The frequency information of the amount data that is
Of the converted amount data that is converted to
The display is switched to required information including information.

[0010] In the invention according to claim 2 , the game medium
By the setting change means provided in the rental device, the above conversion button
Conversion amount data converted to lending game media by one conversion of
Data settings can be changed .

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a card-type pachinko game machine as a card-type game machine according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 100 and the game medium
The ball lending machine 200 as a lending device is configured to form a pair. Each ball lending machine 200 has a built-in card reader, and the front panel 210 of the ball lending machine 200 corresponds to the card reader. The card insertion / ejection slot 211 stores data.
Card is valid indicator lamp 230 to indicate that the card inserted in the display 212 for displaying that it is inserted into the card reader, the ball lending machine 200 is in operation i.e. ball lending state, provided pachinko machine Balance indicator 1
Display switching button 24 for changing the display content of 22
0 is provided.

On the other hand, an operation panel 121 is formed on an upper surface of a supply tray 120 provided on a front panel of the pachinko gaming machine 100. On the operation panel 121, a card inserted into the card slot 211 is inserted. Information to display balance
The balance display 122 as information display means, the conversion button 123 for giving an instruction to convert to a lending ball, the return button 124 for instructing ejection (return) of the card, and the conversion button 123 and the return button 124 are effective. A ball lending possible display lamp 126 is provided to indicate that there is.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a prize ball discharge display lamp which is lit when a prize ball is discharged, reference numeral 113 denotes a lending ball discharge display lamp which is lit when a lending ball is discharged, and reference numeral 108 denotes a hit state in a pachinko game machine. A completion lamp 141 that is turned on is a tray for storing a prize ball that has overflowed inside when the supply tray 120 is full.
Reference numeral 42 denotes an operation dial of a hitting ball firing device that fires balls flowing down from the supply tray 120 one by one into the game area. The configuration of the game area on the front of the pachinko game board is the same as the conventional one, and can take any configuration.

In this embodiment, when the conversion button 123 is pressed, a predetermined amount (for example, 300 yen) is set within the range of the amount of the card provided that the card is inserted into the card reader of the ball lending machine 200. A command to convert the minute into a lending ball is sent to a control device of a ball discharging device provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 100. The remaining amount of the converted card is displayed on the balance display 122 in a unit of 100 yen as one unit. FIG. 2 shows a pachinko gaming machine 1 to which the present invention is applied.
One embodiment of the 00 back mechanism is shown.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 170 denotes a ball discharge device for discharging a prize ball; and 600, a discharge control device for controlling the ball discharge device 170 based on a signal from a prize detector or the like to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls. , 151 are storage tanks for storing the balls before being discharged, and 152 is a guiding gutter for aligning the balls in the storage tank 151 in a line and guiding the balls to the ball discharging device 170. The guide gutter 152 is not particularly limited, but is formed into two strips so that a large amount of balls can be supplied in a short time, and a ball leveling 153 and a standby ball detector 160 for preventing the balls from overlapping each other are provided on the way. Is provided.

Further, below the ball discharge device 170, the discharged balls are supplied to the outlet 12 of the supply tray 120 on the front of the game machine.
Discharge trough 155 to induce the 9 and over the feed tray 120
An overflow gutter 156 for guiding the flowed balls to the lower tray 141 is provided continuously, and a ball drain gutter 157 branched from the middle of the discharge gutter 155 is disposed in parallel with the overflow gutter 156. A flow path switching valve 158 is provided at a branch portion between the ball drop gutter 157 and the discharge gutter 155. Reference numeral 159 denotes a collecting gutter for collecting the winning balls flowing into a winning port provided on the front of the gaming machine at one place. A prize ball separation detecting device 400 is a gaming board control device that drives a character or a display lamp based on a signal from a prize detector provided in the game section.

The game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 600 are connected by an optical fiber. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the game board control device 4
00 and one ends of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the discharge control device 600 are connected to the relay board 195. The game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 600 are communicably connected via the relay substrate 195. ing.

In this embodiment, as a winning ball separation detecting device 180, a stopper 182 facing a flow path of the winning balls gathered by the gathering gutter 159 and a solenoid (hereinafter, referred to as a safe solenoid) 183 for driving the stopper 182. Each time a winning ball is detected by a beating detector (referred to as a safe sensor) 181, an electric type is used in which a stopper 182 is driven by a solenoid 183 to cause one winning ball to flow down. A mechanical type comprising a seesaw type ball sheath having a stopper at the tip and a weight at the rear end and a microswitch is used.
00 may be electrically stored.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the ball discharging device 170. The ball discharge device 170 includes a guide gutter 710 that is configured to be continuous with the guide gutter 152 that guides the spare ball stored in the storage tank 151. The guide gutter 710 is formed in two lines corresponding to the guide gutters 152, and a discharge means 740 including a stopper 745 as a flow-down prevention means and a discharge solenoid 741 for driving the stopper 745 corresponding to the passage of each line. Two sets are provided. The guide gutter 710 is composed of three parts according to its function.
13 is set.

The pressure reducing section 711 reduces the pressure of the reserve sphere sent from the storage tank 151 via the guide gutter 152, and has a structure in which the U-turn is performed in a gentle inclination state as shown in FIG. ing. The edge cutting portion 712 is provided to make a space between the balls passing through the discharging portion 713 thereunder so as to make it easy to prevent the balls from flowing out by the discharging means 740 below, and a vertical passage continuing to the pressure reducing portion 711. Part 7
21 and a direction change passage portion 7 communicating with a discharge portion 713 described later.
22.

At the lower end of the vertical passage portion 721, a ball clogging prevention projection 723 is provided to protrude forward. By the ball clogging prevention protrusion 723, the center position of the lowest ball among the balls vertically stopped in the vertical passage portion 721 is always positioned ahead of the center position of the ball above it. As a result, the downward moving pressure of the upper sphere acts so as to always press the lowest sphere forward, thereby preventing clogging of the sphere.

In the middle of the discharge portion 713 of each guide gutter 710, a non-contact discharge ball detection sensor 730 (discharge sensors 1 and 2) for detecting a flowing ball is provided. In the middle of each discharge unit 713, the discharge sensor 73 is used.
Immediately after 0, the stopper 74 constituting the discharging means 740 is used.
There is provided a notch 703 in which 5 can appear. Each of the stoppers 745 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 705, and a connecting pin 746 is protruded from one side of the stopper 745. The connecting pins 746 and the operating rods of the discharge solenoid 741 are provided. 742 is connected to the lower end by a connecting plate 747.

When the discharge solenoid 741 is in the demagnetized (off) state, the operating rod 742 is lowered and the tip of the stopper 745 is moved from the notch 703 to the guide gutter 7.
10 into the discharge sections 713, respectively.
13 to prevent the game balls from flowing down . On the other hand, when the discharge solenoid 741 is excited (turned on), the operating rod 742 rises and the stopper 745 is rotated in the upward direction, comes out of the notch 703 of the discharge portion 713, and the ball in the discharge portion 713 Is released, and the spare ball in the guide gutter 710 is discharged to the lower discharge gutter 155.

As described above, the ball discharging device 170 of the above embodiment is used.
Since the discharge sensor 730 detects the flowing balls one by one and stops the discharge by operating the stopper 745 when the predetermined number is reached, the prize balls and the lending balls having different numbers of discharged balls as described above. Can be discharged by the same ball discharge device. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 750 denotes a ball removal sensor 750 for detecting that a ball removal rod has been inserted through an operation hole (not shown) provided in the front frame 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100. When the ball removal sensor 750 is turned on, the discharge solenoid 741
Are continuously excited to discharge the spare ball in the guide gutter 710, and actuate the driving means (solenoid) of the switching valve 158 in the discharge gutter 155 to discharge the discharged ball to the outside of the machine through the ball extraction gutter 157. It is designed to be discharged.
The above-mentioned ball emptying sensor 750 and the discharge solenoid 741,
The discharge sensor 730 is electrically connected to the discharge control device 600.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a control system of the pachinko gaming machine 100. This control system can be broadly divided into a game board control device 400 mainly for controlling the game board of the pachinko gaming machine 100 and a ball rental unit control circuit for controlling the card reader, the operation panel 121 and the like.
The ball lending control device 500 and the discharge control device 600 that controls the ball discharge device 170 are configured.

Of the above control devices, a game board control device 400
Receives a detection signal from various prize ball detectors provided on the game board 102 of the pachinko gaming machine to form a drive signal of the accessory, or forms a prize ball separation provided on the back mechanism board of the pachinko game machine. In response to a signal from a detector (safe sensor) 181 in the detection device 180, a safe solenoid 182 for winning prize ball separation is operated or a drive signal for the speaker 190 is formed. In addition, the game board control device 400
Has a function of monitoring the gaming state and transmitting information about the state of the pachinko machine being operated, occurrence of a big hit, occurrence of a hit, etc. to the management apparatus of the pachinko parlor.

The discharge control device 600 is provided with two guide gutters 7 in the ball discharge device 170 based on a discharge command signal from the ball lending control device 500 or the game board control device 400.
Excitation solenoids 741a and 741b, which actuate a pair of stoppers 745 provided in the middle of 10, are excited to start ejection, and a predetermined number of spare spheres in each guide gutter 710 are detected based on detection signals from ejection sensors 730a and 730b. And discharge solenoids 741a and 741b are excited based on the ON signal from the ball release switch 750,
In addition, the drive source of the flow path switching valve 158 is operated to discharge all the reserve spheres in the storage tank 151 and the guide gutter 152.

Further, the discharge control device 600 includes a guide gutter 15
When a detection signal from the stand-by ball detector 160 provided in the middle of Step 2 comes in, the excitation of the discharge solenoids 741a and 741b is suspended and the discharge by the ball discharge device 170 is stopped. For example, the prize ball discharge display lamp 112 or the lending ball discharge display lamp 113 is turned on, or a prize ball or lending ball discharge sound request signal is transmitted to the game board control device 400.

The ball lending control device 500 receives the read data from the card reader in the ball lending machine 200, and displays a driving signal for the balance display 122 and an effective display lamp 230 for indicating that the ball lending machine is in operation. And a driving signal for the ball lending possible display lamp 126 provided in the pachinko game machine or the card reader control device 25.
A balance data rewrite signal q, a punch hole processing signal m, and a card ejection signal n for 0 are formed. In addition, the ball lending control device 500 receives an on signal of the ball lending conversion switch (123) and the card return switch (124), and sends a ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600.
And a card payment signal j for notifying the management device 800 of the card management company that conversion to a lending ball for one time (100 yen) has been performed. Further, the ball lending control device 500 has a function of detecting when an abnormality occurs in the card reader, the ball discharging device 170, and the like during the ball lending process, and what kind of abnormality it is when an abnormality occurs. The balance display unit 122 has a function of displaying an error code indicating the above. In addition to the error code display function, the hall management device may have a function of notifying the occurrence of an abnormality by optical communication or the like.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the game board control device 400. That is, the gaming board control device 400 of this embodiment counts and holds the optical communication means 410 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the emission control device 600, and the detection signals from the prize ball-specific prize detectors of the gaming board 102. Winning storage means 411, 412, and the respective winning storage means 411, 412
Prize ball number storage means 430 for storing the number of prize balls corresponding to No. 12
Prize ball number control means 42 for determining the number of prize balls to be discharged based on the contents stored in the prize storage means 411, 412.
0, based on a signal from the game board 102, to drive a solenoid, a motor, or a display lamp of an accessory, or to detect occurrence of a big hit to drive and control an accessory or a variable winning device according to a predetermined procedure; A game control means 450 for controlling the game such as driving the game 190;
Receiving signals from the player, display lamps and motors on the game board,
A signal input / output means 460 for generating a drive signal for a speaker or the like, such as a solenoid, is configured.

The game board control device 400 of this embodiment includes:
In order to be able to cope with a case where two types of prize ball-specific prize detectors 490 are provided on the gaming board 102 for detecting a prize ball that has won a prize ball in which a different number of prize balls are set than a general prize hole, The two prize storage means 411 and 412 are provided so that the number of prizes is counted for each prize port having a different number of prize balls. The prize detection signal continuously enters the gaming board control device 400 regardless of the presence or absence of the prize ball discharge. Therefore, a prize storage means for storing the number of prize balls is required.

On the other hand, when the prize ball number control means 420 learns from the optical communication means 410 that there is a request for the prize ball number data from the discharge control device 600, the contents of the prize storage means 411, 412 are stored. The number of prize balls to be discharged from the prize ball number storage means 430 based on
The determined prize ball number data is passed to the optical communication means 410 and the emission control device 600 is transmitted with the prize ball number data. At the same time, the prize ball number control means 420 has a function of reducing the storage content of the prize storage means 411 or 412 by "1" when the prize ball number data is transmitted once.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the game board control device 400 is configured using a general-purpose IC.
That is, the game board control device 400 includes a microprocessor CPU, a read-only memory ROM, a memory RAM readable and writable at any time, a serial interface SIF for serial communication, an input / output buffer BFF including a gate array, and a game board. A driver DRV for forming a drive signal of a display or a solenoid of the present invention, a filter FLT for removing noise from a signal of a prize ball-specific prize detector and inputting the signal, a sound generator SDG for forming various sound effects, and an output of the sound generator SDG. Amplify and speaker 19
And an amplifier AMP for driving 0.

Of the constituent means shown in FIG. 5, the optical communication means 410 is constituted by a serial interface SIF, the winning storage means 411, 412 is constituted by a RAM, the prize ball number storage means 430 is constituted by a ROM, The control means 440 and the game control means 450 are constituted by a CPU and a ROM for storing the operation program, and the signal input / output means 460 is constituted by a driver DRV, a filter FLT,
Each can be configured by a sound generator SDG and an amplifier AMP. Note that RST is an external reset circuit for forming a reset signal of the CPU, and PTR is to convert a transmission signal (electric signal) from the serial interface SIF into an optical signal or to convert an optical signal received from the emission control device 600. An optical transceiver / receiver that converts the signal into an electric signal and passes it to the serial interface SIF.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the discharge control device 600. The discharge control device 600 according to this embodiment includes an optical communication unit 61 that transmits and receives signals to and from the game board control device 400.
0, a prize ball number requesting unit 620 for forming a request signal P of prize ball number data to the gaming board control device 400 based on the detection signal from the safe sensor 181, Retransmission control means 630 for making a retransmission request when there is no prize ball, prize ball number determination means 640 for determining the number of prize balls to be ejected, and when prize ball number data O is not transmitted from the game board control device 400 The basic prize ball number setting means 642 for giving the number of prize balls, and the discharge solenoid 741a,
A discharge control means 650 for driving the prize ball 741b to discharge or remove a prize ball; Discharge control means 670, sound request generation means 680 for instructing the optical communication means 610 to transmit a request for each discharge sound when a prize ball or a lending ball is discharged, data saving and data recovery at the time of power failure And a power failure control means 690 for performing the following.

The optical communication means 610 comprises a serial interface and an optical transceiver / receiver, similar to the optical communication means 410 in the game board control device 400. The discharge control means 650 sets each time the prize ball discharge ends.
Separating solenoid 182 in winning ball separation detecting device 180
, And the prize ball number data O (basic prize ball number Q) and the ejection sensor 7 on condition that the standby ball detector is turned on.
The discharge solenoids 741a and 741b are driven based on the detection signals from the detection balls 30a and 730b to discharge a prize ball, or the prize ball discharge indicator 112 is displayed when the discharge of the prize ball is performed.
Is turned on, and a flow path switching valve (ball ejection solenoid) provided in the middle of the prize ball discharge gutter is switched by a turn-on signal from a ball ejection switch 750, and a discharge solenoid 741 is provided.
a, 741b are driven to discharge all the reserve spheres in the storage tank 151.

The discharge control means 650 is connected to the guiding gutter 15.
When a detection signal from the stand-by ball detector 160 provided in the middle of Step 2 comes in, the excitation of the discharge solenoids 741a and 741b is suspended and the discharge by the ball discharge device 170 is stopped. For example, the prize ball discharge display lamp 112 or the lending ball discharge display lamp 113 is turned on, or a prize ball or lending ball discharge sound request signal is transmitted to the game board control device 400.

The retransmission control means 630 is activated when a request for the number of winning balls is made, and the reception timer 63 measures a predetermined time.
2, retransmission request control means 634 for instructing the prize ball number requesting means 620 to make another request when the prize ball number data is not received before the reception timer 632 times out, and And retransmission request frequency setting means 636 for setting how many times the request is repeated. The retransmission request control means 634 counts the number of retransmission requests, and when the number reaches the set number, supplies the basic prize ball number Q from the basic prize ball number setting means 642 to the prize ball number determination means 640. Command. The prize ball number request means 620 requests prize ball number data when a detection signal from the safe sensor 181 is received.

The lending ball discharge control means 670 includes a lending number setting means (for example, ROM) 671 for storing a conversion rate to lending balls (the number of lending balls for 100 yen), and the lending control device 5.
The ball lending start determination means 672 which determines whether ball lending discharge control should be started based on the ball lending request signal BRQ from 00 and the card presence / absence signal CON and the signal Y indicating that award balls are being discharged from the award ball number requesting means 620. And this ball lending start determining means 6
A lending ball discharge number determining unit 673 which reads out the lending number of lending balls from the lending ball number setting unit 671 based on the lending ball start request signal a from 72 and transfers the number of lending balls to the discharge control unit 650;
A ball lending enable signal RDY that informs the ball lending control device 500 that the ball lending discharge is in a possible state or a one-time (1
A discharge control signal formation for forming a lending ball discharge end signal EXS for notifying that the discharge of lending balls (for 00 yen) has ended, and a signal X for notifying the prize ball number requesting means 620 that the lending ball discharge control is being performed. It comprises a part 674 and the like.
The prize ball number requesting unit 620 delays the start of the prize ball discharge if the ball is being discharged even if the prize detection signal is input from the safe sensor 181.

When the power failure control means 690 detects the occurrence of a power failure when the number of waves of the power supply waveform of the AC power supply becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, for example, the number of discharges in the discharge control means 650 is backed up by, for example, a battery. When the recovery of the power supply voltage is detected based on a signal from the voltage level detecting means or the like, the number of ejected balls saved in the storing means 693 is saved in the storing means 693 such as RAM or EPROM.
It is configured to return to the discharge register in the discharge control means 650, to continue the discharge interrupted by the power failure from the middle when the power failure is recovered, and to discharge the remaining balls.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the discharge control device 600 is configured using a general-purpose IC. That is, the discharge control device 600 controls the read-only memory RO
A single-chip microcomputer CPU having a built-in M and a memory RAM that can be read and written at any time, a serial interface for serial communication, and an optical transceiver / receiver PTR that converts a transmission / reception signal between the emission control device 600 into an optical signal and an electric signal. , A driver DR for generating a drive signal for a winning indicator on the front of the game board or a solenoid on the back of the game board
V, a filter F which removes noise from the signal of the detector in the ball discharging device or the winning ball separation detecting device and inputs the signal to the CPU.
It is composed of LT and photocouplers PC1 to PC4 that convert transmission / reception signals between the ball lending control device 500. Line monitor lamps LED1 to LED4 for detecting disconnection of the signal line are provided on the signal line for transmission and reception with the ball lending control device 500.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the ball lending control device 500. The ball lending control device 500 of this embodiment includes a control unit 510 including a single-chip microcomputer and the like.
Transceiver 502 for interfacing data transmission and reception between device 10 and card reader control device 250;
A display driving unit 503 for generating a driving signal for the balance display 122 composed of a segment type display, a drive circuit 507b 507a for driving the ball lending possible display lamp 126 and the ball lending valid display lamp 230, a conversion button 123,
A buffer 504 that receives signals from the return button 124 and the display conversion button 240 and inputs the signals to the control unit 501.
b, 504a, 504c and an optical transceiver 505 for outputting a card settlement signal j to the card management device 800.
A ball lending number setting means 506 for setting the number of discharges for one operation of the conversion switch 123 (100 yen is set as a minimum discharge unit), and a unit number setting for setting a unit number of the ball lending machine It is constituted by means 509 and the like.

The control unit 510 reads the data from the card reader control unit 250 to determine the balance data of the card, and outputs a card presence / absence signal CON indicating that the card is present in the card reader and displays an effective display. Vessel 2
Card balance determining means 511 for forming the driving signal of the 30
And a card balance subtracting means 512 for subtracting the card balance when there is a ball lending discharge to form display data for the balance display 122 or for writing data and instructions for the card reader control device 250, and a return button. Card return request means 513 for giving a card return command to the card reader control device 250 when the 124 is turned on, the card balance becomes "0", or there is a discharge error, and the ball lending discharge from the discharge control device 600 ends. The card management device 8 informs that one unit of the ball has been lent based on the signal EXS.
Card use information output means 514 for notifying 00
Display switching control means for forming display data for the balance display 122 based on the signal from the card balance determination means 511 and changing the data to be displayed on the balance display 122 when there is a signal from the display switching button 240. 518, a ball lending possibility determination unit 515 that determines whether ball lending is possible based on the card balance, the ball lending possible signal RDY, and the like when a conversion request signal from the conversion button 123 is input.
And the number set by the ball lending number setting means 506 and the discharge end signal E
A ball lending frequency control means 516 for determining the number of remaining ball lending discharges based on XS, a control signal for permitting generation of a ball lending request signal from the ball lending possibility determination means 515, and a signal from the ball lending frequency control means 517. And a ball lending request signal forming means 517 for generating a ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600 based on the above.

When the display switching button 240 is pressed, the display switching control means 518 changes the display mode of the balance display 122 provided on the operation panel 121 of the pachinko gaming machine 100. In particular,
Until then, the balance of the card was displayed as a unit with 100 yen as one unit, but fraction data of 100 yen or less,
The loan amount by one operation of the conversion switch to lending ball,
The structure is such that the card balance at the time of card insertion and the unit number of the ball rental machine are sequentially displayed for two seconds.
Thereby, for example, a pachinko game store is completely converted into a card, and can be exchanged with a vending machine for cigarettes or soft drinks using a game card, and the balance of the card is reduced by one.
Even when a fraction of 00 yen or less occurs, the player can know the fraction of the card balance. Further, among the data possessed by the ball lending control device 500, the data that the player or the store staff wants to know can be displayed at any time without adding any additional display or changing to a large display. become.

The ball lending control device 500 of this embodiment
From the ball lending request signal BRQ and the ball lending discharge end signal EXS, the ball lending discharge is not started within a predetermined time after the ball lending request is transmitted, or a series of ball lending discharge is completed within a predetermined time after the ball lending discharge is started. An abnormality detection unit 519 for detecting an abnormality that has not been performed is provided. This abnormality detection means 5
19 detects the error and returns the card return request means 5
13 and is configured to notify the display switching control unit 518 of the occurrence of an abnormality. The display switching control means 518 has a function of, when notified of the occurrence of an abnormality, displaying an error code indicating the type of the abnormality on the balance display 122.

Further, the ball lending possible determination means 515 drives the drive circuit 507 based on the signal from the card balance determination means 511 and the ball lending possible signal RDY from the discharge control device 600, and performs the ball lending conversion button. 12
The ball lending possible display lamp 126 is turned on only while the number 4 is valid, and the ball lending possible display lamp 126 is turned off while the ball lending and discharging is being performed. In addition,
The ball lending number setting means 506 and the unit number setting means 509 can be constituted by a storage means such as a ROM or a setting device such as a slide switch.
The card insertion indicator 212 indicates that the card reader control device 250 has a valid card inserted into the card reader.
It is configured to be lit.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the ball lending control device 500 is configured using a general-purpose IC. That is, the ball lending control device 500 includes a read-only memory ROM and a read-write memory RA as needed.
M, a single-chip microcomputer CPU having a built-in serial interface SIF for serial communication, a transceiver TRS1 for performing serial communication with the card reader control device 250, and a photocoupler for forming a drive signal for the segment type balance display 122 Type driver DRV11,
Photocoupler PC2 for inputting signals from DRV12, ball lending conversion switch (123), return switch (124) and display changeover switch (240) to CPU.
1. a photocoupler-type driver DRV21 for generating a drive signal for the ball lending possible display 126;
Photocoupler PC1 for converting a transmission / reception signal between the photocoupler
1-PC14 and switch row SW-AR for setting the number of balls to be lent
Y1 and a unit number setting switch array SW-ARY2
And an optical transceiver TRS2 for outputting a card settlement signal j to the card management device 800. A line monitor lamp L for detecting disconnection of the signal line is provided on the signal line for transmission and reception with the discharge control device 600.
ED11-LED14 are interposed.

Next, an example of a control procedure of the whole game board performed by the game board control device 400 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This control flow is executed every predetermined time (for example, 2 msec) by a timer interrupt after the power of the game board control device 400 is turned on.

When the interrupt process is started, first, a switch input process for reading signals from the prize-ball-specific prize detector 490 provided on the game board 102 and other switches (including sensors) is performed (step S80). ). Next, the power-on reset signal from the reset circuit RST is checked to determine whether the power is turned on (step S81). When it is determined that the power is turned on, R
The AM and the input / output ports are initialized, and the interrupt processing ends (step S82).

On the other hand, if "No" is determined in step S81, that is, it is determined that the power has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S83 to count the detection signal of the prize-ball-specific prize detector 490 and the number of prize balls from the discharge control device 600. After performing the prize ball processing (see FIG. 12 ) in response to the data request, and after executing fraud detection processing (step S84) for checking whether or not fraud has been performed based on signals from various switches and sensors in the gaming machine. By checking the flag set during the fraud detection processing, it is determined whether or not fraud has occurred (step S8).
5).

If a fraud is detected in step S85, fraudulent operation processing such as blinking a display provided in the gaming machine or driving a speaker 190 to generate an alarm is executed in step S86. If it is determined in step S85 that there is no fraud, the process proceeds to step S87 to drive an accessory provided on the game board 102, turn on / off the display, and set an output port for generating a sound effect by a speaker. After the game process to be set is performed, an output process (step S88 ) for outputting the state of the output port is performed.

Thereafter, in step S89, it is determined whether or not a ball lending request signal has been received from the discharge control device 600.
If it has been received, the process of outputting the ball lending discharge sound to the speaker 190 is performed (step S90). Also receive
If there are no judges whether the received the winning balls sound request signal from the discharge control unit 600 in the next step S91, the yet received
If not, the interrupt processing is terminated as it is. If the interrupt processing has been received, the output processing of the winning ball discharge sound is performed, and the interrupt processing is terminated (step S92).

FIG. 12 shows an example of a control procedure of the prize ball processing among the various processings. In this prize ball processing,
First, in steps S801 and S803, it is determined whether or not two prize-ball-specific prize detectors 490 (hereinafter, referred to as prize-ball discriminating switches SW1 and SW2) provided on the game board 102 are turned on. In this embodiment, the prize ball discriminating switch SW1 is provided in a prize port for giving seven prize balls to one winning ball, and the prize ball discriminating SW2 is provided for giving 10 prize balls to one winning ball. It shall be provided in the mouth.

If it is determined in step S801 or S803 that the prize ball determination SW1 or SW2 has been turned on,
The process proceeds to step S805 or S807, and the winning memory of seven prize balls or the winning memory of ten prize balls is set to "1".
Just increase. Then, the program proceeds to step S809, checks the flag in the serial interface SIF, it determines whether contains the request for the prize balls number data from the emission control device 600, step S8 if there is no data request
After 27, the processing ends.

On the other hand, if "Yes" in step S809, that is, it is determined that there is a request for prize ball number data, the flow shifts to step S811 to determine whether the prize memory of the seven prize balls added in step S805 is "0". or examined, "1" is set to "7 discharged" as above if winning balls number of data in the transmission buffer in step S 817, the seven award balls flag "1" to the set (step S819) to and from the step S825 The process then proceeds to write the award ball count data set in the transmission buffer into a register in the serial interface SIF and terminate.

If it is determined in step S811 that the winning memory of the seven prize balls is "0", the flow advances to step S813 to determine whether the winning memory of the ten prize balls added in step S807 is "0". Find out. If it is "1" or more, "10 discharge" is set as the number-of-prize-ball data in the transmission buffer in step S821, and the 10-prize-ball flag is set to "1" (step S823) . After the winning memory is decremented by "1", the process proceeds to step S825 to write the prize ball number data set in the transmission buffer into a register in the serial interface SIF, and ends.

Further, the above steps S811 and S813
If both the determinations are "Yes" , the process proceeds to step S81.
5 "Eject 15" as award ball number data in the transmission buffer
Then, the process proceeds to step S825 , in which the award ball number data set in the transmission buffer is written into a register in the serial interface SIF, and the processing is terminated.

Then, when it comes to this subroutine again
In step S827, it is determined whether the transmission of the award ball count data has been completed. If "Yes", it is determined whether the seven award ball flags set in step S819 are set to "1" (step S829). Here, if the seven prize balls flag is "1", the winning memory of the seven prize balls is subtracted by "1", and then the seven prize balls flag is cleared to "0" (step S8).
31, S833). Also, in step S829, “N
If it is determined to be "o", the process proceeds to step S835, and the ten prize balls flag set in step S823 is set to "1".
Is determined. Here, if the 10 prize balls flag is "1", the winning memory of the 7 prize balls is subtracted by "1", then the 10 prize balls flag is cleared to "0" and the process is terminated (steps S837, S839). .

As described above, in this embodiment, each prize ball flag is set to "1" after setting the number of prize balls (steps S817 and S821), and the storage of the number of prize balls is subtracted (step S83).
The reason why each prize ball flag is cleared after (1, S837) is that if each prize ball number storage is subtracted immediately after the prize ball number setting (steps S817 and S821), the prize ball number data is actually lost due to a transmission error. This is to avoid the inconvenience because the prize ball number memory is decremented even if is not transmitted. Next, a control signal to the card reader 250, a drive signal of the balance indicator 122, and a signal from the ball lending conversion button 123 provided on the pachinko game machine are transmitted .
A control procedure of the ball lending controller 500 which forms and outputs a ball lending request signal or the like for the emission control device 600 with reference to FIGS. 13 to 22 will be described in detail I.

FIG. 13 shows an outline of a main routine of the ball lending control device. This main routine is repeatedly executed when the ball lending control device 500 is turned on. When the power supply is turned on, first, initial settings such as clearing of a RAM, setting of a flag, and resetting of an output buffer are performed (step S8002), and the next step S80.
In 04, the ball lending possible display 126 (ball lending possible display run)
Synonymous with step 126, and so on. Is once turned off.
Check Then, the signal EXS indicating the discharge end of the discharge control unit 600, or a signal indicating the ball lending can be discharged RDY is enabled state (high level) (step S 8
004 , S8008). If the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a low level, the process proceeds to step S8016 to set an error code “E22”. If the discharge end signal EXS is at a low level, the process proceeds to step S8010 to set the ball lending enable signal RDY to high. If the answer is "Yes", that is, the discharge end signal EXS is low and the ball lending enable signal RDY is high, the error code "E11" is set (step S8012), and "No", that is, the discharge end signal EXS is output. When both the ball lending enable signals RDY are at low level, an error code “E12” is set (step S
8014) Then, the process proceeds to step S8018, where the set error code is displayed on the balance display 122, the process returns to step S8004, and the above procedure is repeated.

Thus, for example, the discharge control device 600
Is not turned on or the discharge control device 600
Has failed, since the discharge end signal EXS and the ball lending enable signal RDY are at a low level, the processing after step S8020 is not started. On the other hand, the discharge end signal EXS and the ball lending enable signal RDY
If both are at the high level, the flow advances to step S8020 to read the setting state of the unit number setting means 509 and store it in the memory, and then to step S8022.
To display the unit number on the balance display 122. Then, in step S8024, the timer is set to one second, and the process advances to step S8026 to determine whether the timer has expired. One second after the unit number is displayed on the balance display 122, the determination result of step S8026 becomes “Yes” and the process proceeds to step S8028. A drive signal for displaying “000”) is formed and output. Then, the process proceeds to the next step, the ball lending process (step S8030), the return process (step S803).
2), function transmission / reception processing (step S803)
4) and settlement signal output processing (step S8036),
The five processes of the display switching process (step S8038)
It is performed simultaneously and concurrently.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show an example of a specific procedure of the ball lending process executed in step S8030 of the main routine (FIG. 13). When this process is started, first, the ball lending enable signal RDY sent from the discharge control device 600 is checked to determine whether or not the signal has fallen to a low level (step S8101). If "No", that is, if the ball lending enable signal RDY has not fallen, the process advances to step S8108 to check the ball lending enable signal RDY to determine whether the signal has risen. The ball lending possible signal RDY is a signal that is changed to a low level when the discharge control device 600 detects a shortage of balls in the storage tank 151 or a hit state of the game board. Is started, the ball lending enable signal RDY is set to the high level state. For this reason, when the ball lending control device 500 detects the rise of this signal in step S8108 and determines “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8109 and reserves the function of notifying the card reader control device 250 that the card can be accepted. Later, step S8
Return to 101.

Next, steps S8101 to S81 are performed again.
08, if "No" is determined in the step S8108, the process proceeds to a step S8110, where the ball lending possible display 12
Check if 6 is lit. This ball lending possible display 12
6 is a function transmission / reception process described later (FIGS. 17 and 1).
In 8), the lamp is turned on when the card amount is received from the card reader control device 250. Therefore, before the card is inserted into the card reader, the determination result in step S8110 is “No” and the
Returning to 8101, the above steps are repeated.

Then, when the card is inserted into the card reader and the card amount is transmitted from the card reader control device 250 and the ball lending possible display 126 is turned on, the judgment result in step S8110 becomes "Yes". Proceed to step S8111. In step S8111, it is confirmed whether or not the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a high level.
If “s”, the process proceeds to the next step S8113, and if “No”, the process returns to step S8101 to repeat the above steps.
On the other hand, when the falling of the ball lending enable signal RDY to the low level is detected in step S8101, the process proceeds to step S81.
02, the error code “E55” is set, and the error code is displayed on the balance display 122 (step S8103). Such an abnormality may be caused when the power of the discharge control device 600 is shut off after the system is operated, when the discharge control device 600 detects a shortage of balls in the storage tank 151 or a hit state of the game board, or when the ball lending enable signal RDY is output. This occurs when the signal line to be transmitted is disconnected.

After displaying the error code, step S8104
Then, it is determined whether or not the ball lending available indicator 126 is lit. If the ball lending display 126 is lit, the process proceeds to step S8105, where the ball lending display 126 is turned off and the magnetic writing function transmission reservation is made (step S81).
06), and if "No" in the determination of step S8104, the process directly proceeds to step S8107 to make a transmission reservation of a non-reception function indicating that the card cannot be received, and returns to step S8101.

If "Yes" in step S8111, that is, if it is confirmed that the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a high level, the flow advances to step S8113 to check whether the ball lending conversion button 123 is turned on based on the signal from the conversion switch.
Is determined. Here, if “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S811.
The process proceeds to 4 to determine whether or not the balance of the card is greater than the amount corresponding to the number of ball lending set in the ball lending number setting device 506. If the amount of the card is larger, the process proceeds to step S8115 to set the set number of lending balls in the number-of-payout register, and if the amount of the card is smaller, the process proceeds to step S8116 to set the remaining card amount in the number-of-payout register. Then, the flow shifts to step S8130 in FIG.

If "No" in step S8113, that is, it is determined that the ball lending conversion button 123 is off, the process proceeds to the next step, and the discharge end signal EXS from the discharge control device 600 falls or rises. It is checked whether it is (Steps S8117, S8118). If the discharge end signal EXS has fallen or risen, the flow shifts to step S8119 to set an error code “E99”, and displays the error code on the balance display 122 (step S8120). It returns to S8101. As a result, it is possible to detect an abnormality in which the discharge end signal EXS has changed to a high level or a low level even though no signal is output. When this abnormality is detected, the return button 12
4 is invalidated.

If the determinations in steps S8117 and S8118 are both "No", the flow shifts to step S8121, and it is determined whether the return button 124 has been turned on by watching the signal from the return switch. Here, if “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8122 and the ball lending available display 126
Is turned off, the transmission of the magnetic writing function is reserved (step S8124), and then the step S8126 is performed.
The program proceeds to step S8101 to make a transmission reservation for a discharge function for discharging the card from the card reader.
Return to On the other hand, in step S8121, the return button 1
If it is determined that the switch 24 is turned off, the process returns to step S8101 without doing anything.

When the process proceeds to step S8130 in FIG. 15, the ball lending possible display 126 is first turned off, and then
Assert the ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600 to a low level, and set an EXS timer (10 seconds) waiting for a response to the discharge end signal EXS (step S8).
132, S8134). Then, it is determined whether the EXS timer has reached zero, and if "No", it is determined whether the discharge end signal EXS from the discharge control device 600 has fallen (steps S8136, S8138). And " Yes "
If it is, it is determined whether or not the EXS timer has passed 10 ms (step S8140). Here, the discharge end signal EX
If it is determined that the EXS timer has timed out before S falls, the flow shifts to step S8137 to set a payout request reception error code "E33", and displays it on the balance display 122, and sets the BRQ signal to a high level. (Steps S8148, S8149). Then, the process proceeds to step S8172 to make a transmission reservation for the magnetic writing function, make a transmission reservation for the card ejection function, turn off the valid display lamp 230, and return to step S8102 (step S8174).
S8176). The reason why the discharge end signal EXS does not return even if 10 seconds have passed since the ball lending request was made to the discharge control device 600 is probably because an abnormality has occurred.

On the other hand, if the discharge end signal EXS falls before the EXS timer times out and the EXS timer has passed 10 ms, the flow shifts to the next step S8142 to set the EXS timer again to 10 seconds. Then, it is determined whether the EXS timer has reached zero. If “No”, it is determined whether the discharge end signal EXS from the discharge control device 600 has risen (steps S 8144 , S 814).
6 ). If “ Yes ”, the EXS timer is set to 20
It is determined whether 0 ms has elapsed (step S 814)
8 ). Here, E is set before the discharge end signal EXS rises.
If it is determined that the XS timer (10 seconds) has expired, the flow shifts to step S8147 to set a payout time-over error code "E44", display it on the balance display 122, and change the BRQ signal to a high level. (Steps S8148, S8149). then,
The process proceeds to step S8172, after performing a transmission reservation of the magnetic write function performs transmission reservation card discharge function, and turns off the effective display lamp 126 returns to step S 8101 (step S8174, S8
176). Discharge end signal EX from discharge control device 600
S is known to rise about 1 second on average after falling to the low level due to the structure of the ball discharge device 170, and therefore, remains high even 10 seconds after the discharge end signal EXS falls to the low level. This is because it is considered that an abnormality has occurred.

Before the EXS timer times out, the discharge end signal EXS rises and the EXS timer
If m seconds have elapsed (because the discharge is not completed within this time), the process moves to the next step S8150 and the timer is set to 75 ms. Then, it is determined whether the timer has reached zero (step S8152), and when the time is up, the process moves to the next step S8154 to negate the ball lending request signal BRQ to a high level. by this,
The ball lending request signal BRQ is changed to a high level 75 ms after the discharge end signal EXS rises. Then, the timer is set to 100 ms again (step S8156).

In the next step S8158, after reducing the card balance (frequency) by “1”, the card management device 8
The output counter of the settlement signal j (pulse) for 00 is incremented by “1” (step S8160). Then, the process proceeds to step S8162, and after the number of payouts is subtracted by “1”, it is determined whether or not the number of payouts is “0” (step S8164).
It is determined whether or not the timer set in 8156 has timed out (step S8170). When the time has expired, the process returns to step S8130, repeats the above procedure, and asserts the ball lending request signal BRQ again to release the discharge control device 60.
Wait for a response from 0. As a result, the ball lending request signal BRQ
Is continuously generated, the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level again 100 ms after the previous signal once rises, and the discharge control device 60
A value of 0 can reliably detect the falling of the ball lending request signal BRQ.

On the other hand, if “Yes” in the step S8164, that is, if the number of payouts is “0”, the flow shifts to a step S8166 to determine whether or not the balance of the card has become zero. After making a transmission reservation for the write function and the card ejection function (step S8174), the valid display lamp 230 is turned off (step S8176), and the first step S
Return to 8101 . As a result, even if the card is held in the card reader during the game, the card balance becomes “0”.
, The card is automatically ejected from the card reader,
The player can quickly know that the card balance has become “0”. When making a transmission reservation for the magnetic writing function, the card balance data is written as text along with the write function code in the transmission buffer.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8166 that the card balance is not "0", the flow advances to step S8168 to display that the ball lending discharge processing is completed and the next ball lending conversion button can be operated. Ball lending possible display 12
After turning on 6, the process returns to the first step S8101 .
According to the above processing routine, for example, step S8115
If the number of payouts is set to "3" and ball lending discharge is started, and if the EXS signal is timed out once or twice, ball lending discharge is interrupted there and an error code is displayed. Then, the card is ejected from the card reader. Therefore, the player does not suffer any disadvantage due to the occurrence of the error,
Since the card is released from the card reader, the player can move to another gaming table and play a game. In addition, balance indicator 1
Since the error code is displayed at 22, the game store clerk can immediately know the content of the abnormality, and can take immediate action to restore the system.

FIG. 16 shows the main routine (FIG. 1)
An example of a specific procedure of the card return process executed in step S8032 of 3) is shown. When this process is started, first, it is determined whether the return button 124 is turned on (step S8202). If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8204 to check whether the ball lending possible display 126 is turned on. The ball lending available indicator 126 is a lamp that is turned on when a card is inserted into the card reader and the ball lending conversion button 123 is enabled, and is used in step S8204.
If "Yes", that is, it is determined that the lamp is turned on, the flow advances to step S8206 to turn off the ball lending display 126, and then make a magnetic writing function transmission reservation and a card ejection function transmission reservation, and then display a valid display lamp. 230 is turned off, and step S8202 is performed.
Then, it waits until the return button is turned on next (steps S8208, S8210, S8212). When the card reader receives this function, the card is ejected from the card reader.

On the other hand, if the return button is turned on when the ball lending possible display 126 is turned off, the above-described step S
The process moves from step 8204 to step S8216, and in step S8130 of the ball lending process (FIGS. 14 and 15 ) , the ball lending possible table
The ball lending flag set at the same time as turning off the indicator 126 is checked to determine whether or not the ball lending process is being performed. If no ball is being lent, the process returns to step S8202 without doing anything. Since the ball lending possible display 126 is turned off during ball lending processing or when the card is not present in the card reader, it is necessary to instruct the card reader to return the card even if the return button is turned on. Because there is no.

If "Yes" in step S8216, that is, it is determined that a ball is being lent, the flow advances to step S8218 to turn on the ball lending possible display 126 in step S8168.
At the same time, a ball lending flag that is cleared is checked to determine whether the ball lending process has been completed. And this ball lending flag is
This step is repeated until it is cleared to "0", and when the ball lending process is completed, the flow shifts to step S8220 to determine whether or not the card balance is "0". Here, if the card balance is not “0”, the process proceeds to step S8206 to turn off the ball lending display 126,
After making a magnetic writing function transmission reservation and a card ejection function transmission reservation, etc.
The process returns to 8202 and waits until the return button is turned on. If it is determined in step S8202 that the card balance is "0", the process returns to step S8202 without any operation and waits for the operation of the next return button. When the card balance becomes “0”, steps S8172 and S8174 of the ball lending process described above (FIG. 1)
This is because the transmission of the magnetic writing function and the ejection function is reserved in 5) and the card is ejected from the card reader in response to the reservation.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show an example of a specific procedure of a function transmission / reception process with the card reader control device 250 executed in step S8034 of the main routine (FIG. 13). The transmitted and received functions are transmitted in a data format in which an STX code is added at the beginning of the function code and an ETX code is added at the end. In addition to the function code, there are ENQ code (transmission inquiry) and ACK code (acknowledgement) as signals to be transmitted and received. Is done.

When this function transmission / reception processing is started, first, in step S8300, the ball lending processing (FIG. 1)
4, 15) or whether a function transmission reservation has been set by the card return process (FIG. 16). If there is no transmission reservation, the flow advances to step S8350 to check the ENQ reception flag set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 22) described later, and to check the card reader control device 2
It is determined from step 50 whether an ENQ (inquiry code) has entered.

In step S8300, "transmission reserved"
If it is determined that, the process proceeds to step S8302, the number of retransmissions is set to three, and then the ENQ code is transmitted (step S8304). This transmission causes a transmission interrupt and starts a transmission interrupt process described later. Then, after setting the response timer to 10 seconds at step S8306, ACK reception flag the response timer at step S 8308 is to be set by the receive interrupt process (FIG. 22) when the determination whether the time is up, "No" See AC
It is determined whether K (response code) has been received (step S8)
310). If the response timer times out before receiving the ACK, the process moves to step S8312 and sets the number of retransmissions set in step S8302 to “1”.
Then, it is determined whether the number of retransmissions has become “0” (step S8314). If not, the process returns to step S8304 to retransmit the ENQ code.

On the other hand, if the ACK is received before the response timer expires, the flow advances to step S8316 to clear the ACK reception flag to "0" and transmit the STX code indicating the head of the transmission data. By this transmission, a transmission interrupt occurs, and a transmission interrupt process described later is started, and a function code and data are transmitted. After setting the response timer to 10 seconds in step S8318, it is determined in step S8320 whether the response timer has expired. If “No”, the ENQ reception flag set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 22) is set. Look EN
It is determined whether Q has been received (step S8322). Since this ENQ is an inquiry as to whether the reception result may be sent from the card reader control device 250 to the ball lending control device 500, the ball lending control device 500 receives the ENQ before the response timer times out. When step S8
Proceed to 324, clear the ENQ reception flag to “0”,
And transmits an ACK code. If the response timer times out before receiving the ENQ, it means that there is no response of the reception result to the text transmission. Therefore, it is determined that there is a communication error, and the flow shifts to step S8340 to show an error code indicating the communication error Is written into the display data buffer, and the code is displayed on the balance display 122 in step S8344, and the control operation is stopped.

After transmitting ACK in step S8324, the response timer is set again to 10 seconds (step S833).
26) After that, in step S8328, it is determined whether or not the response timer has expired. If “No”, a function indicating the contents of the reception result is received by checking the FNC reception flag set in the reception interrupt processing (FIG. 22). It is determined whether it has been performed (step S8330). If the response timer times out before receiving the function, it means that there is no response to the ACK transmission. Therefore, it is determined that there is a communication error, and the flow shifts to step S8340 to set an error code indicating the communication error. The code is written into the display data buffer, and the code is displayed on the balance display 122 in step S8344, and the control operation is stopped.

If the function is received before the response timer expires, the flow advances to step S8332 to clear the FNC reception flag to "0". "End" or "normal end" (step S833)
4, S8336, S8338). Abnormal termination is
This message is sent when there is no abnormality in the communication itself but there is an abnormality such as writing failure in the card reader.

Therefore, if the received function is a retransmission request, the flow returns to step S8302 to repeat the transmission, and if the function ends abnormally, step S8
The process proceeds to 342, where an error code indicating a card reader error is written to the display data buffer, and step S834 is performed.
In step 4, the code is displayed on the balance display 122, and the control operation is stopped. If the transmission has been completed normally, the process returns to step S8300 assuming that a series of transmission processing has been completed, and performs processing for the next transmission reservation. Do.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8300 that "no transmission reservation exists", the flow shifts to step S8350 in FIG. 18 to set ENQ set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 22).
By checking the reception flag, it is determined whether an ENQ from the card reader control device 250 has been received. Then, the process proceeds to step S8351 if the receive ENQ proceeds from to reset this ENQ reception flag to step S 8352,
After transmitting the ACK code, the response timer is set to 10 seconds (step S8354). By sending this ACK
As a result, a transmission interrupt occurs, a transmission interrupt process described later is started, and an ACK is transmitted to the card reader control device 250. Therefore, it is determined in step S8356 whether the response timer has expired. If "No", it is determined whether a function indicating the content of the reception result has been received by checking the FNC reception flag set in the reception interrupt processing (FIG. 22). (Step S8358). If the response timer times out before receiving the function,
Since there is no response to the ACK transmission, it is determined that a communication error has occurred, and step S8340 in FIG. 17 is performed.
Then, an error code indicating a communication error is written into the display data buffer, and the code is displayed on the balance display 122 in step S8344 to stop the control operation.

If the function is received before the response timer expires, the flow advances to step S8360 to clear the FNC reception flag to "0", and then determine whether the received function is a card data transmission function (step S8360). Step S8361). If the determination result is “No”, the process returns to step S8300 without doing anything. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8362 to determine whether the card balance is “0”. If the card balance is not "0", the flow advances to step S8364 to turn on the ball lending display 126, and the contents of the reception buffer (balance data) are written into the card balance storage unit (step S83).
66). Then, turn on the valid display lamp 230,
The received card balance is stored in the inserted balance storage unit and is displayed on the inserted balance display unit 122 , and the receiving process is terminated (steps S8368, S8370). On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S8362 is "Yes", that is, if the card balance is "0", the flow shifts to a step S8372 to make a card ejection function reservation for the card reader and terminate the processing.

FIG. 19 shows the main routine (FIG. 1)
Payment signal output processing executed in step S8036 of 3)
An example of the specific procedure of the management is shown. When this process is started, first, in step S816 during the ball lending process in FIG.
The payment signal number counter that counts up with 0 is checked to determine whether the payment signal number is "0" (step S840).
2). Here, if “No”, that is, if it is determined that the number of payment signals is one or more, the process proceeds to step S8404, the on-time timer is set to 200 ms, the payment signal j is asserted to a high level, and the timer expires. The process waits (steps S8406 , S8408 ). Then, the flow shifts to step S8410 to set the off-time timer to 2
The time is set to 00 msec, the settlement signal j is negated to the low level, and then the time until the timer expires is waited (steps S8412, S8414). Then, step S
At 8416, the settlement signal number counter is decremented by "1" and the process returns to step S8402, and settlement signal pulses are output until the settlement signal number counter becomes "0". As a result, a settlement signal j having a pulse width of 200 ms is output. Also, when outputting the pulse “2” or more, the interval between the pulses is set to 200 ms, and the card management device 800 that receives the pulse can reliably count the settlement signal pulse.

FIG. 20 shows the main routine (FIG. 1)
3) Balance display 12 executed in step S8038
An example of a specific procedure of the display switching process of No. 2 is shown.
When this process is started, first , the front panel of the ball rental machine 200
It is checked whether the display switching button 240 provided on the console 210 is turned on (step S8452). Here, if the display switching button 240 is turned on, step S
Proceeding to 8454, it is determined whether or not an error state has occurred, that is, whether or not the balance display unit 122 is displaying an error code. If an error has occurred, the current card amount is first displayed on the balance display unit 122 in step S8456, and then the timer is set to 2 seconds in step S8458, and it is determined in step S8460 whether the timer has expired. Wait for 2 seconds.

When two seconds have elapsed after the display of the card amount, the flow advances to the next step S8462, where the fraction of the card amount (100
Is displayed on the balance display 122, the timer is set to 2 seconds in step S8466, and the process proceeds to step S84.
At 68, it is determined whether or not the timer has timed out, and a wait of 2 seconds is performed. On the other hand, the above step S845
If it is determined in step 4 that the state is not an error state, step S845
Steps S8462 are skipped, and the process jumps to step S8462 to immediately display the fraction of the card amount. This is because when there is no error state, the balance display unit 122 displays the card amount. When 2 seconds have elapsed after the fraction display of the card amount, the process proceeds to the next step S8470,
After displaying the number of payouts of the lending ball, ie, the lending amount (frequency) by one operation of the conversion switch, on the balance display 122, the timer is set to 2 seconds in step S8472, and in step S8474 the timer has expired. By making a determination, a waiting time of 2 seconds is performed.

When two seconds have elapsed after the display of the loan amount, the flow advances to the next step S8476 to display the card amount (frequency) at the time of card insertion on the balance display 122, and then to step S8476.
In step 8478, the timer is set to 2 seconds.
Then, it is determined whether or not the timer has expired to wait for a time of 2 seconds. If two seconds have elapsed after the card amount is displayed when the card is inserted, the flow advances to the next step S8482 to display the unit number of the ball lending machine on the balance display 122, and then sets the timer to two seconds in step S8484. In step S8486, a determination is made as to whether or not the timer has expired, so that a two-second wait is performed.

When two seconds have passed after the display of the unit number of the ball lending machine, the flow advances to the next step S8488 to judge again whether or not an error has occurred.
At step S84, and if "No", the card amount is displayed and the routine ends ( step S84).
90, S8472). When the display switching button 240 is turned on by the above routine, the fraction of the card amount, the amount of one lending, the card amount when the card is inserted, and the unit number are sequentially displayed on the balance display 122 every two seconds. Is displayed, whereby various data can be displayed on one display.

The normal processing (main routine) performed by the ball lending control device 500 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 13 to 20. It is configured to execute timer interrupt processing, transmission interrupt processing, and reception interrupt processing. The timer interrupt processing reads the balance data from the card balance storage unit and reads the balance data from the balance display unit 122.
And outputting the display signal to display the card balance and "-1" each timer used in the main routine.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show an example of a specific procedure of the transmission interruption process and the reception interruption process executed by the ball lending control device 500 separately from the main routine (FIG. 13). Among them, the transmission interrupt is generated during the ball lending process (see FIG. 15) and the function transmission / reception process (see FIG. 17) of the main routine.
It is generated by transmitting an NQ code, STX code or ACK code. When this transmission interrupt is started, steps S8602 and S860 are executed.
In S4606, the transmission buffer is checked to determine which code was transmitted. Here, if the transmitted code is any one of ENQ, ACK, and ETX (a code indicating the end of text data), the interrupt is terminated without doing anything.

On the other hand, if all the determinations are "No", the code in the transmission buffer is an STX code, a function code or text data, and these include the following codes. Therefore, in that case, the process proceeds to step S8608 to transfer the next 8-bit code in the transmission data area of the memory to the transmission buffer, then increments the address of the transmission data area of the memory, and enters the transmission buffer. The code is transmitted and the process ends (steps S8610 and S8612). Since this transmission causes a transmission interrupt again, if the transmitted code is other than the above ENQ, ACK or ETX, there is a subsequent code, so in step S8608 the next 8-bit code in the transmission data area of the memory is transmitted. After transferring to the buffer, the procedure of transmitting the code stored in the transmission buffer by incrementing the address of the transmission data area of the memory and transmitting all the codes is repeated.

The reception interrupt shown in FIG. 22 is generated when a transmission from the card reader control device 250 enters. When the reception interrupt is started, step S865
2. It is determined whether the code received in S8654 is an ENQ code or an ACK code. If the received code is an ENQ code, the flow advances to step S8656 to set an ENQ reception flag to "1". finish. ENQ above
The reception flag and the ACK reception flag are referred to in the function transmission / reception processing flow.

On the other hand, if the received code is neither the ENQ code nor the ACK code, step S
Proceeding to 8660, the received code is saved from the reception buffer to the memory, and then the reception buffer address is updated (step S8662). If the subsequent reception code remains in the reception buffer, the reception interrupt is again activated. Therefore, by repeating the above routine, all the reception codes are saved in the memory. Next, it is determined whether or not the received code is an ETX code (step S8664), and if “No”, this routine is terminated without doing anything. On the other hand, step S86
If it is determined in step 64 that the ETX code has been received, the flow advances to step S8666 to check whether the length of the received function code is normal. If "Yes", the flow advances to step S8668 to set the function reception flag to "1" to end the interrupt processing. If "No", the flow shifts to step S8670 to make a retransmission request function transmission reservation and interrupt processing. finish.

Next, the procedure for controlling the discharge of prize balls and loaned balls performed by the above-described discharge control device 600 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 23 shows the entire main routine executed by the discharge control device 600. This main routine is started at the same time when the power of the discharge control device 600 is turned on, and is repeatedly executed as long as the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, first, in step S1, initial settings such as clearing a RAM, setting a flag, and resetting an output buffer are performed.

In the following step S2, a background process for updating a timer and reading detection signals and input signals from various sensors is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S3, in which a BRQ signal reading process described later (FIG. 31) is performed. It is determined whether or not the falling flag of the ball lending request signal BRQ to be set is "1".
10 ball lending processing is performed, and if the flag is "0", the flow proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not a discharge wait timer started during a safe ball discharge process (FIG. 41) described later is operating.

Here, if "No", the ball removal processing (FIG. 33-34) of the next step S5 is performed, and then "Ye
If s ", the process skips step S5 and proceeds to step S6. In step S6, a safe sensor detection flag set in the safe sensor reading process flow of FIG. 28 for inputting a detection signal from the safe sensor 181 is checked. If the flag is "1", the payout process (FIG. 35) is executed in step S7, and if the safe sensor detection flag is "0", step S7 is skipped and the process proceeds to steps S8 and S9.

In steps S8 and S9, the discharge power counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are checked, and if the value of any counter is "11" or more, the flow returns to step S2 to repeat the above procedure. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S8 or S9 that the value of any one of the counters is equal to or less than "11", it is determined that the discharge is abnormal and the process proceeds to step S11, the ball-pulling solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, and the ball rental is further performed. The enable signal RDY is changed to a low level (invalid state), and the process ends. When the ball-pulling solenoid is turned on, the ball that has been dispensed extra is ball-pulling instead of the tray on the front of the gaming machine.
It is collected at the back of the gaming machine through the gutter 157, and the disadvantage of the gaming shop due to a failure or the like can be avoided.

The reason why the discharge abnormality is determined by determining whether or not the value of the discharge power counter is equal to or less than "11" in steps S8 and S9 is that, in this embodiment, the number of discharges is smaller than the predetermined discharge number by five. This is because it is determined that an abnormality occurs when a large amount is discharged. When a 4-bit counter is used as the discharge power counter and the discharge number is set in advance and the countdown is performed for each discharge ball detection, if the second bit from the upper bit is monitored, the counter value becomes “1”.
"1" or less can be easily known by software.

FIG. 24 shows the procedure of the initialization process executed in step S1 of the main routine of FIG. When this processing is started, first, a stack pointer for designating a save area at the time of interrupt processing is set (step S101). Next, the frequency division ratio of the variable frequency divider which divides the system clock to generate the timer clock is set to 1/4.
And start the timer (steps S103 and S103).
105). Thus, for example, an 8-bit counter is used as a timer, and 500 k is used as a system clock.
If a clock with a frequency of Hz is used, the timer counter counts up with a clock of 125 kHz,
An overflow (carry) signal is output from the timer every 2.048 ms. In addition, a flag (INT RQF) for holding the overflow (carry) signal of the timer, if any, is provided, and this flag is configured to be cleared when the CPU reads the state. .

After the start of the timer, the I / O port is initialized in step S107, and the discharge control device 600
Lending enable signal RDY supplied from the server to the ball lending control device 500
(Initial level) such as the discharge end signal EXS and the like. Incidentally, the initial state of the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a low level, and the initial state of the discharge end signal EXS is at a high level. Next, after setting the soft timer to 2 seconds (count value "976") in step S109, the flag (INT RQF) holding the overflow (carry) signal from the hard timer becomes "1". (Step S111), and when it becomes "1", the soft timer set in step S109 is reduced by "1" (step S111).
113). Then, in the next step S115, it is determined whether or not the value of the soft timer has become “0”. If “No”, the process returns to the step S111 to repeat the countdown of the timer. This is to wait for the operation of the system to stabilize after the power is turned on.

Thereafter, when it is determined in step S115 that the count value of the soft timer (2 seconds) has become "0",
The process proceeds to steps S117 and S119 to set "16"("0" in the case of the 4-bit counter) for each of the discharge power counters of the two discharge systems 1 and 2 as the fraud monitoring ball number setting process, The enable signal RDY is asserted to a high level (step S121), and the initialization processing ends. This counter is checked in steps S8 and S9 in FIG. 23, and it is determined that there is an abnormality (illegal ejection) when there are five or more ejected balls even though there is no ejection request.
FIG. 25 shows the contents of the main routine of FIG. 23 and the background processing executed during various processes described later.
6-FIG. 34 shows the specific procedure. This processing is performed for updating a timer, reading detection signals from various sensors, and reading various input signals.

When this background processing is started,
First, after waiting for 1 ms (step S21), the count values of timers 0 and 1 (both are soft timers) are updated (steps S22 and S23).
Then, the safe sensor reading process (step S2
4) and reading processing of the discharge sensor 1 (step S2)
5), reading processing of the discharge sensor 2 (step S26),
The reading process (step S27) of the ball extraction sensor is performed,
Subsequently, a ball lending request signal BR from the ball lending control device 500
Q input processing (step S28) and card presence / absence signal CON input processing (step S29) are performed.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a 1-msec wait processing routine performed in step S21.
When this subroutine is started, first, the previous count value of the timer 8-bit counter (2.048 ms) saved in the buffer or the memory is read out (step S201), and the current count value is read out and read. The data is saved in a buffer or a memory (step S203). Next, the read current count value is compared with the previous count value to determine whether or not the most significant bit b7 has changed (step S205). If “Yes”, the process ends; if “No”, the process ends. Then, the previous count value and the current count value of the saved timer are read again, and the comparison of the most significant bit b7 is repeated. This 8-bit timer counter is 1 as described above.
Since the count is incremented by a clock of 25 kHz, when the most significant bit b7 changes, 1 ms (precisely, 1.
024 ms).

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a timer 0 updating process routine performed in step S22. In this embodiment, three 4-bit counters are prepared as timer 0, one of which is used as a 1 mS counter which is updated every time the 1 msec wait processing is completed, and the other one overflows the 1 mS counter. The counter is used as a 16 mS counter which is updated every time, and the remaining one is used as a 256 mS counter which is updated every time the 16 mS counter overflows.

When this subroutine is started, first, 1
After decrementing (-1) the mS counter (step S211), it is determined whether the 1 mS counter has carried down, that is, changed from all 0 to all 1 (step S2).
12) If there is no carry down, this process is terminated. On the other hand, if the 1 mS counter carries a digit, "1" is set to a 1 mS flag prepared in advance (step S213), and then the 16 mS counter is decremented (step S214). Then, it is determined whether the 16 mS counter has carried down, that is, changed from all 0s to all 1s (step S215), and if there is no carry down, the process is terminated as it is.

Further, if it is determined in step S215 that there is a carry, "1" is set in a 16 mS flag prepared in advance (step S216), and the 256 mS counter is decremented (step S217). Then, it is determined whether the 256 mS counter has caused a carry (step S218). If there is no carry, the process is terminated as it is.
“1” is set to the mS flag, and the process ends (step S219). Therefore, for example, if it is desired to wait for the elapse of 10 ms, the timer is updated in the background process after setting “1010” in the 1 mS counter,
What is necessary is to monitor the 1 mS flag and wait until it changes to “1”.

The updating process of the timer 1 in step S23 of FIG. 25 is completely the same as the updating process of the timer 0 of FIG. Two soft timers are provided because sometimes it is desired to measure two times in the same process. Similarly, when it is desired to measure three times in the same processing, another timer may be added. FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a safe sensor reading process routine performed in step S24 of FIG.

When this subroutine is started, first, in step S221, the state of the safe sensor is read from the input port, and then the safe sensor flag is temporarily set to "1" (step S223). Next, step S22
It is determined whether the safe sensor 181 is turned on from the state read in step 1 (step S225). If "Yes", the process is terminated as it is. If "No", the safe sensor flag is cleared to "0" and the process is terminated. (Step S22
7). FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a reading process routine of the discharge sensor 1 performed in step S25 of FIG.

This subroutine is for detecting the state of the discharge sensor 730a, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 msec by the background processing of FIG. The output signal of the discharge sensor becomes low level when a ball is present inside, and the output signal becomes high level when the ball flows out and temporarily or continuously stops being present in the sensor. It is configured as follows. Therefore, in this routine, when the output signal of the sensor 730a changes from low level to high level, the discharge flag described later is set to "1".
To remember that the ball has been ejected. On the other hand, when the output signal of the sensor 730a (hereinafter, referred to as the discharge sensor 1) changes from the high level to the low level, the discharge flag is set to "0" and the fact that the ball is in the standby state is stored. I have.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 is read from the input port, and the state of the previous output signal of the discharge sensor 1 is read from the buffer (or memory) (steps S232 and S234). ).
Then, in step S236, both signal states are compared. Now, let us consider a case where a sphere is ejected and one sphere comes out of the sensor 1. At this time, the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 changes from a low level to a high level. Therefore, the result of the determination in step S236 is "Yes" (changed), and step S238 and subsequent steps are executed.

In step S238, the previous sensor state is discarded, the current sensor state is stored in the buffer, and the above timer 0 or 1 is used as a chattering elimination timer, which is set to 1 ms (step S24).
0). Next, it is determined whether or not the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 is at a low level from the reading state of step S232 (step S242). Here, since it is determined as “No”, the chattering elimination timer is reset to 4 ms (step S244). Then, set the discharge flag to “0”
Is set to (step S246). Next, step S2
The routine proceeds to step 62, where the discharge flag is checked to determine whether or not discharge has occurred. Here, since it is still determined to be “No”, step S264 is skipped and the process is temporarily terminated.

Next, background processing is started again.
If this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, as long as the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 keeps the state of the high level, "No" is determined in step S236, that is, there is no change, and the process proceeds to step S248. S244
After decrementing (-1) the chattering elimination timer set in (or S240), it is determined whether the timer has timed out (step S250). here,
Since the timer is set to 4 ms, the determination is “No” first, so the flow shifts to step S246 to set the discharge flag to “0”, and shifts to step S262 to “N”
o "is determined, and step S264 is skipped and the process ends.

Thereafter, if it is determined in step S250 that the chattering elimination timer has timed out while repeating the above procedure, the flow shifts to step S252 to determine whether or not the sensor state read in step S232 is low. I do. Here, since the case where the sensor is at the high level is considered, “No” is determined, and the process proceeds to step S254, where the level after chattering removal (stored in the buffer and set to the low level by default) is set to the low level. Is determined. And “Yes”
Then, the process proceeds to step S256 to set the level after chattering removal to the high level, then sets the discharge flag to “1” (step S258), and proceeds to step S262. Then, in step S262, the discharge flag set to "1" is checked, and it is determined that there is discharge, the process proceeds to step S264, the discharge counter is decremented by "1", and this routine ends.

In the above case, if the output state of the discharge sensor 1 changes from the high level to the low level before the chattering elimination timer times out, the process proceeds to step S2.
Since it is determined in step 36 that there is a change and the process proceeds to step S238, even if the discharge sensor 1 picks up chattering noise or electric noise of 4 ms or less, the discharge counter is not subtracted. Next, consider a case where the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 has fallen from a high level to a low level. Also in this case, similarly to the above, it is determined that there is a state change in step S236, and the process proceeds to step S238. However, this time is determined to be “Yes” in step S242, so steps S244 and S246 are skipped and the processing is temporarily terminated.

Then, when this routine is executed again, the process proceeds from step S236 to S248 to decrement (−1) the chattering elimination timer, and then determines whether the timer has timed out (step S250).
Here, since the timer is set to 1 ms, it is immediately determined to be “Yes”, so the process proceeds to step S252 to determine whether the state of the discharge sensor 1 is at the low level.
Then, the determination is “Yes” and the process proceeds to step S260 to set the level after chattering removal to the low level. Then, in step S246, the discharge flag is set to “0”, and the process proceeds to step S262 to “ No ”is determined, and step S264 is skipped and the process ends. The reading process routine of the ejection sensor 2 in step S26 of FIG. 25 is exactly the same as the reading process routine of the ejection sensor 1 of FIG.

[0119] Figure 30 is a flowchart of read processing routine of ball ejecting sensor performed at step S27 of FIG. 25. This subroutine is a ball removal switch 75
This is for detecting the state of 0, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG.
It is to be noted that the ball removal switch is configured so that its output signal becomes low level when it is turned on by the ball removal bar, and its output signal becomes high level when it is off. Therefore, in the present routine, the ball removal switch 750
When the output signal falls from the high level to the low level, a falling edge detection flag described later is set to “1”.
It is stored that the ball release switch 750 is turned on.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the output signal of the ball removal switch is read from the input port (step S302). Then, the next step S304
It is determined whether or not the signal state read in is at a high level.
Since the output signal is at a high level before the ball removal switch 750 is turned on, the determination result of step S304 is “Y
es ", the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, the previous switch state is read from the buffer to determine whether or not the switch state was at the high level.
s ", that is, if the state of the output signal of the ball removal switch is a high level for two consecutive times, the level after chattering is removed is set to the high level, the previous sensor state is discarded, and the current sensor state is set to the high level and stored in the buffer. It is stored (steps S308 and S310).
If "No" is determined in step 306, step S308 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S310, where the current sensor state is set to the high level and stored in the buffer, and the present routine is terminated.

Next, background processing is started again.
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, the process proceeds from step S304 to steps S306 and S310 as long as the output signal of the ball removal switch maintains a high level state, and this is repeated. Thereafter, if the ball removal switch 750 is turned on while repeating the above procedure, “No” is determined in the step S304, and the step S312 is performed.
Then, the previous switch state is read from the buffer, and it is determined whether the previous switch state is at the low level . If the determination is "No", the process proceeds to step S320, where the previous sensor state is discarded, the current sensor state is stored as a low level in the buffer, and the present routine is ended once. On the other hand, in step S312, if "Yes", that is, the state of the output signal of the ball removal switch is low level twice consecutively, the process proceeds to step S314 to determine whether or not the level after the previous chattering removal is low level. That is, if the level after the previous chattering elimination is the high level, the flow shifts to step S316 to set the falling edge detection flag to "1", and the level after the chattering elimination is set to the low level, and the processing ends (step S318). . As described above, in the above-described routine, if it is determined that the output state of the ball removal switch is at the high level or the low level twice consecutively, the output state is stored as the final state.
Even if the ball removal switch 750 picks up chattering noise or electric noise of 1 ms or less, the falling edge detection flag is not set to “1” by mistake.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a ball lending request signal BRQ input (read) processing routine performed in step S28 of FIG. This subroutine is for detecting the state of the ball lending request signal BRQ, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 msec by the background processing of FIG. It should be noted that the ball lending request signal BRQ indicates a valid state when the level is low, and indicates an invalid state when the level is high. Therefore, in this routine, when the ball lending request signal BRQ falls from the high level to the low level, a falling edge detection flag described later is set to "1" to store that the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level. It has become.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the ball lending request signal BRQ is read from the input port (step S332). Then, it is determined whether or not the signal state read in the next step S334 is at a high level. Before the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted, the level is at the high level, so the result of the determination in step S334 is “Yes”, and the flow proceeds to step S336. Step S336
Then, the state of the previous ball lending request signal BRQ is read from the buffer and it is determined whether or not it is at the high level. here,
If "Yes", that is, if the state of the ball lending request signal is the high level twice consecutively, the level after noise removal is set to the high level, the previous signal level state is discarded, and the current signal level state is set to the high level. (Steps S338 and S340). On the other hand, step S3
If it is determined to be "No" at step 36, step S338 is skipped, and the routine goes to step S340, where the current signal level state is stored in the buffer as the high level, and this routine is ended once.

Next, background processing is started again.
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, the process proceeds from step S334 to steps S336 and S340 as long as the output signal of the ball lending request signal BRQ holds the high level state, and this is repeated. Then, while you are Repeat steps, the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level, proceed it is determined "No" at step S334 to step S342, the previous switch state is read out from the buffer the low level Is determined. If the determination is "No", the process proceeds to step S350, the previous signal level state is discarded, the current signal level state is stored as a low level in the buffer, and the present routine is ended once. On the other hand, in step S342, “Yes”
That is, if the state of the output signal of the ball lending request signal is low level for two consecutive times, the process proceeds to step S344 to determine whether the level after the previous noise removal is low level,
If “No”, that is, if the level after the previous noise removal is the high level, the process proceeds to step S346, where the falling edge detection flag is set to “1”, and the level after the noise removal is set to the low level, and the process is terminated (step S346). S34
8). Thus, in the above routine, the ball lending request signal BR
If the output level of Q is determined to be the high level or the low level twice consecutively, the output state is stored as a fixed state, so that even if noise for less than 1 ms is present in the ball lending request signal BRQ, it falls erroneously. The edge detection flag is not set to "1".

[0125] Figure 32 is a flow chart of the input (read) process routine of the card presence signal CON performed in step S29 in FIG. 25. This subroutine is for detecting the state of the card presence / absence signal CON, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG. The card presence / absence signal CON indicates a valid state (a state in which a card is inserted) when the level is high, and indicates an invalid state (a state without a card) when the level is low.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the card presence / absence signal CON is read from the input port (step S362). Then, it is determined whether the signal state read in the next step S364 is at a high level. Before the card presence / absence signal CON is asserted, the level is at the high level, and thus the determination result of step S364 is “ No ”
And the process moves to step S366. Step S36
In step 6, the previous state of the card presence / absence signal CON is read from the buffer to determine whether or not the signal is at the high level. Here, if "Yes", that is, the state of the card presence / absence signal CON is a high level twice consecutively, the level after noise removal is set to the high level, and the previous signal level state is discarded to set the current signal level state to high. The level is stored in the buffer (steps S368 and S370). On the other hand, if “No” is determined in the step S366, the process proceeds to the step S366.
The process skips 368 and moves to step S370, stores the current signal level state in the buffer as the high level, and once ends the routine.

Next, background processing is started again.
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, steps S364 to S366 and S370 are performed as long as the output signal of the card presence / absence signal CON maintains the high level state.
And repeat this. Then, while you are Repeat steps, the card presence signal CON is asserted to the low level, it is determined as "No" at step S364 proceeds to a step S372, the previous switch state at a low level on reading from the buffer Determine if there is. Here, if “No” is determined, step S380 is performed.
Then, the previous signal level state is discarded, the current signal level state is stored as a low level in the buffer, and this routine is ended once. On the other hand, in step S372, “Y
es ", that is, if the state of the card presence / absence signal CON is a low level twice consecutively, the process proceeds to step S374 to determine whether or not the level after the previous noise removal is the low level, and" No ", that is, the level after the previous noise removal. Is high level, the process proceeds to step S376,
The level after the noise removal is set to the low level, and the process ends.

As described above, in the above-described routine, if the output level of the card presence / absence signal CON is determined to be the high level or the low level twice consecutively, the output state is stored as a fixed state. Even if the following noise occurs, the determined level is not erroneously set to "H" or "L". Note that the card presence / absence signal CON is a signal indicating a state and is not a request or response signal like the ball lending request signal BRQ, so that it is not necessary to detect a rising edge or a falling edge and set a flag.

FIG. 33 and FIG.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the ball-pulling-out process executed in step S5 of the main routine (FIG. 23) executed by No. 0. In this ball-pulling processing routine, the ball-pulling sensor reading processing in the background processing is performed when the ball-pulling-out switch is pressed by the game store staff (FIG. 30).
The main routine (FIG. 2) is executed when the falling edge detection flag of the ball extraction sensor is set to "1".
This is executed in step S5 of 3).

When this routine is started, it is first determined in step S402 whether or not the falling edge detection flag of the ball removal sensor is "1". Step S402
When the determination result is "No", the process proceeds to the next process without doing anything. When the determination result is "Yes", the process proceeds to step S404 to clear the falling edge detection flag of the ball-extraction sensor to "0". Then, the ball-extraction solenoid is excited (ON) (step S406). Then, the switching gate 158 (channel switching)
Synonymous with valve 158, and so on. ) Is switched, and the ball discharged from the ball discharging device passes through the ball drain gutter 157 and is collected on the back of the game board.

In the following step S408, timer 0 is set to 1
After setting to seconds, background processing is performed (step S410). The timer 0 set in step S408 is updated every 1 ms by the background process. Therefore, in the next step S412, the timer 0
Is timed up, and if “No”, step S
By returning to 410 and repeating the update of the timer 0, it waits for one second to elapse. This is to wait for the switching gate 158 to be completely switched by the ball-pull solenoid operated in step S406.

When one second elapses after the operation of the ball ejection solenoid, the flow advances to step S414, and it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 1 detects the presence of a standby ball. If "Yes", the flow jumps to step S418, and "No" If so, step S416
Then, it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of the waiting ball. If “Yes”, the next step S41
Then, if "No", the process jumps to step S468 described later. That is, if either of the ejection sensors 1 or 2 detects the presence of a waiting ball, the ejection solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to start ball ejection, and both the ejection sensors 1 and 2 detect the waiting ball. If not, the ball-pulling solenoid is demagnetized to terminate ball-pulling discharge.

After the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 have been excited in step S418, the flow advances to step S420 to perform background processing. This is for reading and checking the state of the ball removal sensor again. When the background processing of step S420 ends, the process proceeds to step S422, step S 4 spheres disconnect falling edge detection flag of the sensor it is determined whether or not "1", "1" if 34
The process proceeds to 40 to perform a ball-pulling end process. This is because if the ball removal switch 750 is turned on again during the ball removal operation, the ball removal operation can be stopped.

If "No" in step S422, that is, the ball release switch 750 is first turned on to start the ball release process, and if the ball release switch 750 is not turned on thereafter, the process proceeds to step S424, and the discharge sensor 1 waits. It is determined whether the presence of a sphere has been detected. If “Yes”, the process returns to step S420. If “No”, the process returns to step S42.
The process proceeds to 6 to determine whether the ejection sensor 2 has detected the presence of a waiting ball. If “Yes” here, the process returns to the above step S420, and if “No”, the next step S428
move on. That is, as long as one of the discharge sensors 1 or 2 detects the presence of the standby ball, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to continue the ball discharge, and the discharge sensor 1
When both of them do not detect the waiting ball, the process proceeds to step S428, and the timer 0 is set to one second.

Then, the process proceeds to step S430 to perform a background process. After the timer 0 set in step S428 is updated, the process proceeds to step S432, where it is determined whether the discharge sensor 1 has detected the presence of a waiting ball. , “Yes”, the flow returns to step S420, and “N
If “o”, the process proceeds to step S434 to determine whether the ejection sensor 2 has detected the presence of the waiting ball, and if “Yes”, the process returns to step S420 and “No”.
If so, the process proceeds to the next step S436. That is, long as one of the discharge sensor 1 or 2 is detecting the presence of a standby sphere
Then , the ejection solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to continue the ball ejection, and when both the ejection sensors 1 and 2 do not detect the standby ball, the process proceeds to step S436 and proceeds to step S4.
It is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step 28 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S430 and “Ye
s "If the process proceeds to the next step S438, thereby demagnetizing the discharge solenoid 1 and 2. storage tank 151 and induction
This is because the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are operated until the ball in the gutter 152 completely disappears.

Usually, the storage tank 151 and the guide gutter 15
When removing the ball in 2, the distance between the falling ball and the ball increases as the spare ball decreases, and the last few balls sometimes fall while stopping at the ball. Must be exhausted. Step S4
After demagnetizing the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 in step 38, the flow jumps to step S468 in FIG. 34 to turn off the ball-pulling solenoid and return the flow path switching valve 158 to the original position. The counter is set to "16"("0" for a 4-bit counter) as the number of illegal monitoring balls, and the routine ends (steps S470 and S47).
2).

On the other hand, it is detected that the ball release switch 750 is turned on during the ball release operation, and the steps S422 to S440 are performed.
When the process shifts to, the falling edge detection flag of the ball removal sensor is cleared to “0”, and then “1” is set to each of the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2. Then, the next step S
After setting the timer 0 to 1 second in 444, the background process (step S446) is performed, and the process proceeds to step S444.
After updating the timer 0 set in step S
Proceeding to 448, it is determined whether the discharge counter 1 is "0". If "Yes" here, the next step S450 is performed.
To demagnetize the discharge solenoid 1, if "No", skip step S450 and determine in step S452 whether the discharge counter 2 is "0". Here, "Ye
If "s", the discharge solenoid 2 is degaussed in the next step S454, and if "No", step S454 is skipped and it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S444 has timed out (step S456). If “No”, the process returns to step S446, and “Ye
s ", the process proceeds to the next step S458. That is, if the timer 0 times out even if both the discharge counters 1 and 2 do not become" 0 ", the process proceeds to the next step S458 to demagnetize the discharge solenoids 1 and 2. Let it.

The reason why the respective discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are set to "1" in step S442 is to match the timing of demagnetizing the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 with respect to the flowing ball. After demagnetizing the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 in step S458, the process proceeds to step S460, where the timer 0 is set to 3 seconds again, and the background process is performed (step S462). The timer 0 set in step S460 is updated every 1 ms by the background process. Then, in the next step S464, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to the step S462 to repeat the updating of the timer 0, and waits for three seconds to elapse. Then, at the time when three seconds have elapsed, the ball removing solenoid is turned off, the switching gate 158 is switched to the original state, and the balls discharged from the ball discharging device 170 are guided toward the supply tray. The distance from the ball discharge device 170 to the switching gate 158 is taken into consideration, and the ball discharge device 17
Before the ball ejected from 0 reaches the switching gate 158,
The switching of the gate can be prevented.

In the following steps S470 and S472, "16"("0" in the case of a 4-bit counter) is set in the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 as the number of illegal monitoring balls, and the routine ends. This counter is checked in steps S8 and S9 of " FIG. 23 ", and it is determined that there is an abnormality (illegal ejection) when there are five or more ejected balls despite no ejection request. FIG. 35 shows an emission control device 600.
Is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the payout process executed in step S7 of the main routine (FIG. 23) executed by this routine, and the prize ball is discharged by this flow. In this routine, first, in step S50
After performing the discharge condition determination processing in FIG. 1 (FIG. 36), in the next step S502, it is determined whether discharge is possible or impossible by checking the result. If the discharge is not possible, this routine is terminated without doing anything.

If the discharge is possible, the prize ball number requesting process (step S503) and the prize ball number setting process (step S5)
04) and the prize ball discharging process (step S505) are sequentially performed, and it is determined whether the process has been completed normally in step S506. If “No”, the process returns to step S503 to repeat the above process. If “Yes”, the next process is performed. After proceeding to the step, the safe ball discharging process (step S507) and the prize ball discharging end process (step S508) are sequentially performed.
In step S509, it is determined whether the safe ball has been discharged,
If “Yes”, a prize ball discharge end transmission to the gaming board control device 400 is transmitted (step S510), and if “No”, step S510 is skipped and the routine ends.

FIG. 36 shows a flowchart of the discharge condition determination processing routine performed in step S501 of FIG. In this routine, first, step S
At 5011, a safe ball discharge processing routine described later (FIG. 41)
It is determined whether or not the discharge wait timer set in step S5708 is running, and if “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S50.
At 19, the flag indicating that discharge is possible is cleared to "0", and this routine ends. If “No”, step S5
After setting the timer 0 to 50 ms in 012, the background processing (step S5013) is performed to update the timer 0 set in step S5012. In the next step S5014, the safe sensor reading process (FIG. 2)
The safe sensor flag set in step 8) is checked, and if it is "1", it is determined in steps S5015 and S5016 whether or not the output level of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 is low (there is a ball). If the output of each sensor is low level, the process proceeds to step S5017, and the process proceeds to step S5017.
It is determined whether the timer 0 set in step 12 has timed out,
If “No”, the process returns to step S5013 to repeat the update of timer 0, and waits for 50 ms to elapse. Then, when the time of the timer 0 has expired, step S5
The process proceeds to 018, where the discharge enable flag is set to “1”, and this routine ends. On the other hand, in step S5014,
In steps S5015 and S5016, the safe sensor flag is set to “0”
Or one of the outputs of the exhaust sensor 1 or 2 is Haile
If it is determined that the bell, the process proceeds to step S5019, the exhaust
The flag indicating possible output is set to "0", and this routine ends. As described above, the discharge enable flag is set in FIG.
5 is referred to in step S502 of the payout processing routine.

FIG. 37 shows a flowchart of the winning ball number request processing routine performed in step S503 of FIG. When this routine is started, first, the number of retransmissions is set to “3” in step S5031, and then
Timer 1 (or timer 0) is set to one second (step S5032). Then, a command for requesting the number of prize balls for the game board control device 400 is written in the transmission buffer and transmitted (step S5033), and thereafter, the above-mentioned step S5 is executed.
It is determined whether or not the timer 1 set at 032 has timed out (step S5034). If “No” here, the process proceeds to a step S5035 to determine whether or not data (the number of prize balls) has been received from the game board control device 400. If the data has been received, the process proceeds to step S5036, where the received prize ball number data is read into the buffer from the boat,
It is checked whether or not there is a parity error, and this routine ends (step S5037).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5034 that the timer 1 has expired before data is received in step S5035, the flow advances to step S5038 to reduce the number of retransmissions by "1", and then to step S5035.
At 39, it is determined whether the number of retransmissions has become “0”, and “No”
Nara to transmit again winning balls number request command to reset the timer 1 returns to step S5032. If data has not been received even after repeating this transmission process three times, the process advances from step S5039 to S5040 to set the number of prize balls to the basic prize ball number "15", and terminates this routine. As a result, even if correct award ball number data cannot be obtained due to a transmission error, the processing proceeds with the provisional award ball number, and interruption of the game or delay of the game progress can be avoided.

FIG. 38 shows a flowchart of the winning ball number setting processing routine performed in step S504 of FIG. When this routine is started, first, in step S5401, the discharge counters 1 and 2 are temporarily set to "0".
Then, it is determined whether or not the award ball count data received in the above routine is "9" or more (step S5402). Here, if the prize ball number data is “9” or more, step S540
3 to discharge counter 1 (synonymous with discharge 1 counter,
Similarly, if the number of award balls is odd, the number of award balls + 1
The number that is less than half by “1” and the number of prize balls is even
In the case of a number, one half of the number of prize balls is set. Also discharge
Counter 2 (synonymous with discharge 2 counter, hereinafter the same)
When the number of prize balls is odd, one half of (number of prize balls + 1)
If the number of prize balls is even, one-half of the number of prize balls is set (step S5404), and then the discharge solenoid 1 is set.
And 2 are excited (step S5405). As a result, the prize balls to be discharged can be distributed almost equally to the two discharge systems and discharged.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S5402 is “No”, that is, if the award ball number data is less than “9”, the flow shifts to a step S5406 to invert the one-side discharge flag, and then set the one-side discharge flag to “1”. It is determined whether or not (step S5407). This one-sided discharge flag is for instructing which side of the discharge system 1 or the discharge system 2 to discharge the prize ball. When the one-sided discharge flag is "1", the flow proceeds to step S5408 to reduce the number of prize balls. Only the discharge counter 1 is set, the discharge solenoid 1 is excited, and this routine ends (step S5409).

If “No” in step S5407, that is, if the one-sided discharge flag is determined to be “0”, step S5407 is executed.
The routine proceeds to 5410, where the number of award balls is set only in the discharge counter 2, the discharge solenoid 2 is excited, and this routine ends (step S5411). As described above, in the present subroutine, when the set number of award balls is set to a large value (9 to 15), the set number is divided and the value is set in the two discharge registers 1 and 2. Therefore, the first and second discharge solenoids are independently turned off in the next prize ball discharge process (FIG. 39) based on the values of the discharge registers 1 and 2 to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls. Can be done more quickly.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the prize ball discharging process executed in step S505 of the payout process routine of FIG. This prize ball discharge processing routine is executed following the setting of the number of prize balls to be discharged by the above-mentioned prize ball number setting processing (FIG. 38). When this routine is started, first, the prize ball discharge indicator 112 (safe lamp) is turned on in step S5502, and the process proceeds to step S5504, where the timer 0 is set to 35 ms, and the background process is performed ( Step S55
06). Step S550 by background processing
The update of the timer 0 set in step 4 is performed every 1 ms. Then, in the next step S5508, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 has timed out.
By returning to 506 and repeating the update of timer 0, 35
Wait for m seconds to elapse. This is to wait until the prize ball discharge indicator 112 turned on in step S5502 becomes completely bright.

After lighting the prize ball discharge display lamp 112 , 35m
When the second has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S5510, where the timer 0 is set to 3 seconds, the background process is performed, and the timer 0 is updated (step S5512). Next, after performing the prize ball discharge end determination process (see FIG. 40) for the discharge system 1, the discharge end flag set in the process is checked to determine whether the prize ball discharge of the discharge system 1 has ended ( Steps S5514 and S5516). And “Yes”
If it is, the process proceeds to step S5518 to turn off the discharge solenoid 1, and if "No", the process skips step S5518 and proceeds to step S5520 to perform the prize ball discharge end determination process (see FIG. 40) for the discharge system 2 and then perform the process. By checking the discharge end flag set in step S552, it is determined whether the discharge system 2 has finished discharging the prize balls (step S552).
2).

Here, if "Yes", the process proceeds to step S552.
4, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off. If “No”, the step S5524 is skipped and the step S5530 is skipped.
Then, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S5510 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S5512 to repeat the above procedure. After the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off in step S5524, the discharge end flag of the discharge system 1 is checked again to determine whether or not the prize ball discharge has been completed. If the discharge end has been completed, the normal end flag is set to "1". To end the subroutine (steps S5526 and S5528).

That is, the counter of the discharge system 1 or 2 is checked, and if either of them is "0", the discharge solenoid 1 or 2 is demagnetized to stop the prize ball discharge of that system.
When both counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 become "0", both solenoids are demagnetized to terminate the prize ball discharge. If it is determined in step S5526 that the discharge system 1 has not completed the prize ball discharge, the process proceeds to step S55.
Proceeding to 30, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S5510 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S5512 to repeat the above procedure. And
If the timer 0 times out before the discharge of one or both of the discharge systems 1 and 2 ends, step S
The routine proceeds to 5532, where the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are once turned off. This is because, according to the ball discharging device of the embodiment, even in 15 seconds, 15 prize balls are sufficiently discharged in 3 seconds.

After the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned off in step S5532, the flow advances to step S5534 to decrement the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 by "1", respectively, and then determine the prize ball discharge end for the discharge system 1. The process (see FIG. 40) is performed to determine whether the prize ball discharge is completed (steps S5536 and S5538). Further, step S554
At 0, S5542, the discharge system 2 is also subjected to prize ball discharge end determination processing (see FIG. 40) to determine whether prize ball discharge is completed. If the discharge of both systems has been completed, it is considered that the discharge has been completed, and the flow shifts to step S5528 to set the normal end flag to "1" and terminate the subroutine.
When prize balls are continuously discharged, two discharge balls may be detected as one, or the discharge time may be longer than usual due to the ball stopping in the taxiway. This is to allow the entire process to proceed without delay when the prize ball discharge continues even if the number of discharges decreases by about one.

However, even if the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are decremented by "1" in step S5534, if the prize ball discharge has not been completed for either of the discharge systems 1 or 2, step S5538. , S5542, the flow shifts to step S5544, and the timer 0 is set again to 3 seconds. Then, after performing background processing and updating timer 0 (step S5546),
Proceeding to step S5548, it is determined whether or not the ejection sensor 1 has detected the presence of a standby ball.
Proceeding to 5550, it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 2 has detected the presence of a waiting ball. If “Yes” here, the process advances to the next step S5552 to determine whether or not the timer 0 set in step S5544 has timed out.
If "o", the flow returns to step S5546 to repeat the above procedure. If "Yes", it is determined that the discharge is abnormal, and the flow advances to the next step S5554, where the normal end flag is cleared to "0" and the process is terminated. The reason why is that the discharge of the prize ball is not completed within 3 seconds despite the detection of the existence of the standby ball is considered to be due to a failure in the discharge solenoid or the like.

On the other hand, step S5548 or S5
If it is determined at 550 that either the ejection sensor 1 or 2 has no waiting ball, the process returns to step S5544, resets the timer 0 to 3 seconds again, and repeats the above procedure. Accordingly, in the case where the storage tank 151 is broken, the balls are replenished while the above processing is repeated. At the time of replenishment, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 detect that there is a standby ball. Then, the flow shifts to step S5554, clears the normal end flag to "0" and ends. Then, it is possible to re-execute the step S506 in the flow returns to step S 503 to check the normal termination flag, winning balls discharged interrupted by redoing the prize balls number request processing of FIG. 35.

FIG. 40 shows the prize ball discharging process described above (FIG. 3).
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the prize ball discharge completion determination processing performed in step S5514, S5520, S5536, and S5540 of 9). In this determination process, first, in step S5572, it is determined whether the value of the discharge counter is “0”, and if “No”, the count value is “1”.
2 ”or more is determined (step S5574). And
If the count value is equal to or larger than "0" or "12", the flow shifts to step S5576 to set the discharge end flag to "1" and end the process. Steps S5572 and S55
If any of the determinations of No. 74 is “No”, step S5
Proceeding to 578, the discharge end flag is cleared to "0" and the process ends. Even if the count value is "12" or more, it is determined that the discharge is completed because the discharge counter is a 4-bit down counter, and "0" is followed by "15", "14",.
Therefore, even if four or more balls are ejected more than expected, it is regarded as an error range and the control is continued, so that the game is not interrupted due to an error in the number of award balls ejected.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of a safe ball discharging process routine performed in step S507 of FIG. When this routine starts, first, in step S5702, the discharge counters 1 and 2 set the number of illegal monitoring balls to "16"("0" for a 4-bit counter).
Set. The number of balls is monitored in the fraud monitoring process (steps S8 and S9 in FIG. 23), and when there is no ball discharge request and there are five or more discharged balls, it is determined that the ball is abnormal (illegal discharge). For example, it is used to excite a ball-pulling solenoid to collect the discharged ball on the back of the game board instead of the supply tray.

Subsequently, the prize ball discharge processing routine (FIG. 3)
After turning off the safe lamp turned on in step S5502 of step 9), the safe solenoid 183 in the winning ball separation detecting device 180 is excited (step S5704).
S5706). Then, the stopper 182 protruding in the flow path of the winning ball is retracted, and the winning ball flows down. Then, using the timer 0 as a discharge wait timer, set it to 400m sec (step S5708), also Thailand
After setting m1 to 200 msec (step S5710), a safe sensor ball absence confirmation process (see FIG. 42) is performed to confirm whether or not a winning ball has flowed out of the safe sensor 181 (step S5712). The discharge wait timer is referred to in step S5011 in the discharge condition determination process (FIG. 36) as described above, and reserves the transition to the next prize ball payout process. In addition, the above-described safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing is performed by performing the background processing five times in a row.
That is, the state of the safe sensor is checked by performing the reading process of the sensor and the like five times every 1 ms, and the ballless flag of the winning ball is set to "1" when the safe sensor flag is "0" for all five times.

In the safe ball discharging process routine shown in FIG.
After the execution of the safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing, it is determined whether or not the ball absence flag is “1”. If “Yes”, that is, if it is determined that the winning ball has flowed out of the safe sensor 181, the present routine is ended (step S5714). ). On the other hand, if “No” is determined in step S5714, the process advances to step S5716 to determine whether the timer 1 (200 msec) set in step S5710 has expired. The timers 0 and 1 are updated by a background process in the safe sensor ball absence confirmation process (see FIG. 42). Here, if “No”, the process proceeds to step S5712.
Return to and repeat the above procedure. If the timer 1 times out before the ball absence flag becomes “1”, the flow proceeds to step S5718 to light the safe lamp (prize ball discharge indicator 112) and then to excite the ball-pulling solenoid (step S5720). ). When the ball removing solenoid is excited, the flow path switching valve 158 is switched, so that the balls discharged from the ball discharging device 170 are collected on the back of the game board without being discharged to the supply tray. Normally, the winning ball flows out of the sensor within 200 ms after the safe solenoid is turned on. Therefore, the ball absence flag does not become "1" even after 200 ms because the winning ball is clogged. Since it is conceivable, this misunderstanding is assumed to be the occurrence of a prize ball, and the process proceeds to the next prize ball discharge processing to prevent an extra prize ball from being given to the player.

After exciting the ball-pulling solenoid in step S5720, the flow advances to step S5722 to
The above-mentioned safe sensor no-ball confirmation process (FIG. 42) is repeatedly executed until the ball-absence flag becomes "1", that is, until it is confirmed that the winning ball has flowed out of the safe sensor (step S5724). If the ballless flag becomes “1” while repeating the above procedure, the timer 1 is set to 900 ms, the background processing is performed, and the timer is updated. To end this routine (step S5726,
S5728, S5730).

As shown in FIG. 42, the above-described safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing performed in the safe ball discharge processing routine is a background processing (steps S5752 and S5752).
In steps 5756, S5760, S5764, and S5768, the safe sensor is read, and then the safe sensor flag is checked (steps S5754, S5758, and S57).
62, S5766, S5770) and the safe sensor 18
It repeats five times whether or not 1 has detected a winning ball, and once the flag is "1", that is, if a winning ball has been detected, the ballless flag is cleared to "0" (step S5774), and
When the safe sensor flag is "0" for all five times, the ballless flag of the winning ball is set to "1" (step S577).
2).

FIG. 43 shows a flowchart of the prize ball discharge termination processing routine performed in step S508 in FIG. In this routine, first, the timer 1 (timer 0) is set to 100 ms (step S582), and then the safe solenoid, the safe lamp, and the ball-pulling solenoid that are turned on in the safe ball discharging process routine of FIG. 41 are turned off. End (Steps S584 and S58)
6, S588).

FIG. 44 is executed in step S10 of the main routine (FIG. 23) of the prize ball discharge control device described above.
A flow chart showing a procedure of a rental ball process, this flow is started by the falling edge of the signal by the reading processing of the sphere rental request signal BRQ in Figure 31 is detected, the discharge of a predetermined number of rental spheres are performed. In this routine,
First, in step S151, a loan condition determination process (FIG. 45)
Is performed, and in the next step S152, it is determined whether lending is possible or impossible by checking the result. If lending is not possible, the process proceeds to step S158 to determine whether or not the ball lending request signal BRQ is at a low level. If "Yes", the routine ends without doing anything. This is to wait for the already started lending process to end. Also, in step S158, "N
o ", that is, when it is determined that the ball lending request signal BRQ is at the high level, the flow shifts to step S159 to set the falling edge detection flag of the BRQ signal set by the reading processing of the ball lending request signal BRQ of FIG. The BRQ signal is a signal that does not change to a high level once the falling has been completed, unless it receives the end of the ball lending discharge by the discharge control device 600. If it is detected that the ball lending request signal BRQ has changed to the low level before the entry and the discharge is completed, it is because the previous fall detection is erroneous.

If lending is possible, the number of lending balls is set.
After performing the sense (step S153), step S1
At 54, it is determined whether or not the ball lending request signal BRQ is at a low level, and if "No", that is, it is determined that the ball lending request signal BRQ is at a high level, the process proceeds to step S159,
The falling edge detection flag of the BRQ signal is cleared to "0", and this routine ends. On the other hand, if "Yes" is determined in step S154, that is, if the ball lending request signal BRQ is at the low level, the process proceeds to step S155, in which the lending and discharging process is performed, and it is determined whether the process is normally completed in step S156. If "", the process proceeds to the next step, where a lending discharge end process (step S157) is performed, and this routine ends.

If "No" in step S156, that is, if it is determined that the process is abnormally ended, the process proceeds to step S160.
The ball-pulling solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, and the ball lending enable signal RDY is changed to a low level (invalid state), and the process ends. By turning on the ball-pulling solenoid, the extra balls are collected at the back of the game machine through the ball- drawing gutter 157 instead of through the tray at the front of the game machine,
It is possible to avoid a disadvantage of the game store due to a failure or the like.
FIG. 45 shows a flowchart of the lending condition determination processing routine performed in step S151 of FIG.

In this routine, first, at step S151
1. Card presence / absence signal CON from ball lending control device 500
Is high or not, and if "No", step S15
The process proceeds to 19, where the flag indicating that lending is possible is cleared to "0", and this routine ends. Also, the card presence signal CO
If N is at the high level, the process proceeds to step S1512, and step S657 of a lending end processing routine (FIG. 49) described later.
It is determined whether or not the discharge wait timer set in 1 is being activated. If “Yes”, the flag indicating that lending is possible is cleared to “0” in step S1519, and this routine ends.
This is to wait for the already started lending and discharging process to end.

On the other hand, if “No” is determined in the step S1512, the process proceeds to a step S1513, and the timer 0 is reset by 50.
m seconds, then the background processing (step S
1514) to update the timer 0 set in step S1513. Next steps S1515 and S15
In step 16 , the output levels of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 set by the discharge sensor reading process (FIG. 29) are checked to determine whether the output is at a low level (there is a ball). And
If the output of each of the discharge sensors is low, step S
Proceeding to 1517, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S1512 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S1514 to repeat the updating of the timer 0, and waits for 50 ms to elapse. And timer 0
When the time is up, the process proceeds to step S1518,
The lending possible flag is set to "1", and this routine ends. If it is determined in steps S1515 and S1516 that the output of one of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 is at the high level , the flow shifts to step S1519 to determine that lending is possible.
The flag is set to "0" and the routine ends. This lending possible flag is referred to in step S152 of the lending process routine of FIG. 44 as described above.

FIG. 46 shows a flowchart of a lending ball number setting processing routine performed in step S153 of the lending ball processing routine of FIG. When this routine is started, first, the number of lent balls is temporarily set to “25” in step S1531, and then the process proceeds to step S1532.
Based on the number of borrowed balls, the discharge counter 1 has
When the number is odd, it is more than half of (number of borrowed balls + 1)
If the number of borrowed balls is even, rent
Set a half of the number of balls to be played. Also, the discharge count
If the number of borrowed balls is odd, the number of borrowed balls + 1
1/2, or 2 of the number of lending balls when the number of lending balls is even
After setting one-half (step S1533), the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited (step S153).
4). As a result, the lending ball to be discharged can be distributed almost equally to the two discharge systems and discharged.

FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of lending and discharging processing executed in step S155 of the lending processing routine of FIG. This lending discharge processing routine has almost the same procedure as the award ball discharging processing (FIG. 39) described above, and is executed after the number of discharges is set by the lending ball number setting processing (FIG. 46).

When this routine is started, first, in step S6502, the ball lending discharge indicator 113 (ball lending discharge table) is displayed.
Synonymous with indicator lamp 113, and so on. ) Is turned on to assert the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending control device 500 to a low level. Then, the process proceeds to step S6504, the timer 0 is set to 35 ms, and the background process is performed (step S6506). The timer 0 set in step S6504 is updated every 1 ms by the background process. Therefore, the next step S6
At 508, it is determined whether the timer 0 has timed out,
If “No”, the process returns to step S6506 to repeat the updating of timer 0, and waits for 35 ms to elapse. This is to wait until the ball lending discharge indicator 113 illuminated in step S6502 becomes completely bright.

When 35 msec has elapsed after the lighting of the ball lending discharge indicator, the flow advances to step S6510 to set the timer 0 to 3 seconds, and then performs background processing to update the timer 0 (step S6512). Next, after performing the lending / discharging end determination processing (see FIG. 48) for the discharging system 1, the discharging end flag set in the processing is checked to determine whether the lending / discharging of the discharging system 1 has been completed (step S6).
514, S6516). If “Yes”, the flow advances to step S6518 to turn off the discharge solenoid 1, and
If “No”, the process skips step S6518 and proceeds to step S6520 to perform the lending / discharge end determination process (see FIG. 48) for the emission system 2 and then check the emission end flag set in the process to check the emission system. It is determined whether the lending and discharging of No. 2 has been completed (step S6522).

Here, if “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S652.
4, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off, and if "No", the step S6524 is skipped and the step S6530 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S6510 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S6512 to repeat the above procedure. After turning off the discharge solenoid 2 in step S6524, the discharge end flag of the discharge system 1 is checked again to determine whether or not the loan discharge has been completed. If the discharge has been completed, the normal end flag is set to "1". The subroutine ends (Steps S6526, S6528).

That is, the counter of the discharge system 1 or 2 is checked, and if either of them is "0", the discharge solenoid 1 or 2 is demagnetized to stop lending and discharging of the system.
When both the counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 become "0", both solenoids are demagnetized to terminate the lending discharge. When it is determined in step S6526 that the lending and discharging of the discharge system 1 has not been completed, step S65 is performed.
Proceeding to 30, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S6510 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S6512 to repeat the above procedure. And
If the timer 0 times out before the discharge of one or both of the discharge systems 1 and 2 ends, step S
Proceeding to 6532, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are once turned off. This is because according to the ball discharging device of the embodiment, even if it is 3 seconds, even 25 lending balls can be sufficiently discharged.

After the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned off in step S 6532, the flow advances to step S 6534, in which the discharge power counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are each subtracted by “1”, and then the lending discharge end determination for the discharge system 1 is performed. The process (see FIG. 48) is performed to determine whether or not the loan discharge has been completed (steps S6536 and S6538). Further, step S654
At 0, S6542, the lending / discharging end determination process (see FIG. 48) is also performed for the discharge system 2 to determine whether or not the lending / discharging has ended. If the discharge of both systems has been completed, it is determined that the lending has been completed, and the flow shifts to step S6528 to set the normal end flag to "1" and terminate the subroutine.
As in the case of the prize ball discharge processing, when the lending ball is continuously discharged, two discharge balls are detected as one or the discharge time becomes longer than usual due to the ball stopping in the taxiway. This is because the entire process can proceed without delay when lending and discharging are continued even if the number of discharges is reduced by about 1 per discharge.

However, even if the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are decremented by “1” in step S 6534, if the lending discharge has not been completed for one of the discharge systems 1 and 2, steps S 6538 and S 6542. When the determination is made in step S6554, the flow shifts to step S6544 to set the timer 0 again to 3 seconds. Then, after performing background processing and updating timer 0 (step S6546),
Proceeding to step S6548, it is determined whether the ejection sensor 1 has detected the presence of a waiting ball.
Proceeding to 6550, it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 2 has detected the presence of a waiting ball. If “Yes” here, the process advances to the next step S6552 to determine whether or not the timer 0 set in step S6544 has timed out.
If "o", the flow returns to step S6546 to repeat the above procedure. If "Yes", it is determined that the discharge is abnormal, and the flow advances to next step S6554, where the normal end flag is cleared to "0" and the process is terminated. Does not finish lending and discharging within 3 seconds even though it detects the presence of a waiting ball, because it is considered that there is a failure in the discharging solenoid or the like.

On the other hand, step S6548 or S6
If it is determined at 550 that either the ejection sensor 1 or 2 has no waiting ball, the process returns to step S6544, resets the timer 0 to 3 seconds again, and repeats the above procedure. Accordingly, in the case where the storage tank 151 is broken, the balls are replenished while the above processing is repeated, and at the time of replenishment, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 determine that there is a standby ball. Then, the flow shifts to step S6554, clears the normal end flag to "0" and ends. However, unlike the case of prize ball discharge (FIG. 39), after that, the normal end flag is checked in step S156 of FIG. 44, and if "No", that is, it is determined to be abnormal, step S1 is performed.
The process proceeds to 60, where the ball-pulling solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY is negated to a low level, and the lending and discharging process is interrupted.

FIG. 48 shows the above-described loan discharge processing ( FIG. 4 ) .
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending discharge completion determination processing performed in step S6514, S6520, S6536, and S6540 of 7 ). In this determination processing, first, in step S6562, it is determined whether the value of the discharge counter is “0”, and if “No”, the count value is “1”.
4 "or more (step S6564). And
If the count value is equal to or greater than "0" or "14", the flow shifts to step S6566, where the lending end flag is set to "1" and the processing ends. Steps S6562 and S65
If all the judgments of No. 64 are “No”, step S6
Proceeding to 568, the discharge end flag is cleared to "0" and the process ends.

Even if the count value is "14" or more, it is determined that the lending is completed because the discharge counter is a 4-bit down counter, and "0" is followed by "15", "14",
The control is continued assuming that an error range is reached even if two or more discharges are performed more than expected, so that the control is not interrupted by a slight error in the number of discharges. However, unlike the case of prize ball discharge, an error in the number of balls lent is closely related to the interests of the game store, so the number of balls to be regarded as an error range is estimated to be smaller than in the case of the prize ball discharge determination (FIG. 40).

FIG. 49 is a flowchart of a lending discharge end processing routine performed in step S157 of the lending processing flow of FIG. This routine is executed when the normal end flag is set to “1” in the lending and discharging process of FIG. When this routine starts,
To prevent the next lending process from being started (see FIG. 45), first, in step 6571, timer 0 is used as a wait timer, and this is set to 400 ms, and then timer 1 is set to 100 ms (step 6572).
Then, after changing the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending control device 500 to a high level (step 6573), the background processing is performed to update each timer, and then the timer 1 set in the above step 6572 times out. (Step 6574, S657
5). If “No” here, the flow advances to step 6576 to determine whether or not the ball lending request signal BRQ from the ball lending control device 500 has changed to a high level. If “No”, the flow returns to step S6574 to repeat the above procedure and lend the ball. Wait for the request signal BRQ to change to the high level. If the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to a high level within 100 ms after changing the discharge end signal EXS to a high level,
Proceeding to step S6577, the timer 1 is checked and 50
It is determined whether m seconds have elapsed. If 50 ms has elapsed, the flow advances to step 6578, and the ball lending request signal B
The RQ falling detection flag is cleared to "0".

Then, the flow shifts to step S6579, where the timer 1 is reset to 250 ms, the background processing is performed to update the timer, and it is determined whether or not the timer 1 set in step 6579 has timed out. (Steps 6580 and S6581). Where "N
If "o", the flow advances to step 6582 to advance the ball lending control device 50
It is determined whether the ball lending request signal BRQ from 0 has changed to a low level. If “No”, the process returns to the step S6580 to repeat the above procedure, and waits for the ball lending request signal BRQ to change to a low level. Then, if the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to the low level within 250 msec or if the timer 1 times out before the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to the low level, the present routine is terminated (steps S6581 and S6582 ).

On the other hand, before the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to high level in step 6575, step 657 is executed.
If it is determined that the timer 1 set in step 2 has timed out, the flow shifts to step 6585 to turn on the ball-pull solenoid, turn on the safe lamp, negate the ball lending enable signal RDY to a low level, and stop the lending discharge processing. The reason why the response signal does not return from the ball lending control device 500 within the predetermined time is because it is considered that a serious failure such as disconnection of the communication line has occurred. Next, the card is inserted into the card reader, and the conversion button 1 provided on the pachinko gaming machine 100 is used.
The specific timing of signals transmitted and received between the ball lending control device 500 and the emission control device 600 when a ball lending request is made by pressing 23 is described with reference to FIG.

[0180] Note that the figure shows the signal timing in the case where the number of lending balls is set so as to discharge lending balls worth 300 yen for one operation of the conversion button 123. When the power of the gaming machine is turned on, the discharge control device 600
Is changed to a high level (timing t1).
On the other hand, when a card is inserted into the card reader, the ball lending control device 500 detects this, and asserts the card presence / absence signal CON to the ejection control device 600 to a high level (timing t2).

Thereafter, when the conversion button 123 is pressed,
The ball lending control device 500 confirms that the ball lending enable signal RDY has changed to a high level, and changes the ball lending request signal BRQ to a low level (timing t).
3). Emission control device 6 that has received the ball lending request signal BRQ
00 changes the discharge end signal EXS to low level on condition that the ball lending enable signal RDY output by itself is at high level and the card presence / absence signal CON from the ball lending control device 500 is at high level. Discharge solenoid 7
41a and 741b are driven to start lending out the ball (timing t4).

Then, the discharge control device 600 monitors the detection signals of the discharge sensors 730a and 730b and determines that the discharge number is two.
Discharge solenoid 74 when 5 pieces (100 yen)
The driving of 1a and 741b is stopped, and the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending control device 500 is changed to a high level (timing t5). Ball lending control device 50
0 is set to 75 when the rising of the discharge end signal EXS is detected.
After m seconds, the ball lending request signal BRQ is once negated to a high level (timing t6). then,
The ball lending control device 500 asserts the ball lending request signal BRQ to a low level again after a lapse of 100 ms (timing t7). Then, the discharge control device 600 detects this and changes the discharge end signal EXS to a low level,
The discharge of the lending ball is started (timing t8). By repeating the above operation three times, a lending ball for 300 yen is discharged.

However, ball lending control device 500 asserts ball lending request signal BRQ to low level (at timing t).
3, t7, t11), the discharge end signal EXS does not change to the low level even after 10 seconds have elapsed, or the discharge end signal EXS changes to the low level (at timings t4, t11).
8, t12), even after 10 seconds have elapsed, the discharge end signal E
When XS does not change to the high level ( T1> 10 seconds)
At T2> 10 seconds , a card ejection command is sent to the card reader to interrupt the ball lending control (step S8 in FIG. 15).
134, S8142). On the other hand, the emission control device 600
If the ball lending request signal BRQ does not change to the high level even after 100 msec has elapsed since the discharge end signal EXS changed to the high level (timing t5, t9, t13) ( T3> 100 msec ), , An error occurred (7 if normal)
(Changes in 5 ms) and turns on the ball-pulling solenoid, turns on the safe lamp, negates the ball lending enable signal RDY to low level, and stops the lending ball discharging process (see steps S6572 and S6575 in FIG. 49). .

Furthermore, the discharge control device 600 of the above embodiment
In the control flow shown in FIG. 23, the ball-lending process is repeated while the BRQ falling flag is "1" (FIG. 23).
Step S3), the ball lending control device 500 sets the BRQ
The falling flag asserts the ball lending request signal BRQ to low level until ball lending is repeated the set number of ball lending times (steps S8164 and S81 in FIG. 15).
70, S8130), even if a prize ball discharge request is sent from the gaming board control device 400 after the ball lending discharge processing is started, the ball lending discharge processing is executed with priority. However, after detecting the rising of the ball lending request signal BRQ, if the BRQ does not fall within a predetermined time (for example, 250 msec), that is, the time T4 in FIG.
If it is not within m seconds, the processing shifts to the prize ball discharge processing (see steps S6579 to S6582 in FIG. 49).

Also, when the ball lending control device 500 enters the ball lending processing, the ball lending discharge is completed until the ball lending is completed by the number of ball lending.
Steps S8164, S8170, S8130 in FIG.
Is repeated, and the process does not pass through step S8112 in FIG. 14. Therefore, even if the conversion button 123 is pressed after the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level, this is not detected, so that the ON of the conversion switch during this period is invalidated. You.

In the above embodiment, the ball lending control device 5
It is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on a signal between 00 and the emission control device 600. When an abnormality occurs, the abnormality is displayed on the balance display 122 with an error code. When an abnormality such as a ball clogging or a failure of a driving means (solenoid) occurs in 170 or an abnormality occurs on the card reader side such as an inability to read a card or a card clogging, a signal indicating the type of abnormality is output to the discharge control device 600 or The error code may be transmitted from the card reader control device 250 to the ball lending control device 500 to cause the balance display device 122 to display the corresponding error code. In addition, the error code is displayed on the balance display 122, the error is notified to the management device by optical communication or the like, and the prize ball discharge display lamp 1 is used.
12 or the like may be blinked, or an alarm may be issued by the speaker 190. Further, abnormality such as failure, disconnection, disconnection of a connector, or the like in the input means such as the ball lending conversion switch 123, the card return switch 124, the display changeover switch 240, or the output means with the balance display 122 or the ball lending possible display 126 is detected. When this occurs, it is also possible to detect this and display the corresponding error code on the balance display 122.

Also, in the above embodiment, when the display switching button 240 is turned on, the balance display unit 122 displays the fraction of the card amount, the lending amount, the card amount at the time of inserting the card, the unit number, and the like. Are displayed one after another every two seconds, but the data to be displayed is not limited to them. For example, instead of one lending amount, one lending ball or a conversion rate (100 yen worth) Or the number of balls) is displayed, or the ball in the spare ball tank runs out during the payout, resulting in a payout time over error (step S814 in FIG. 15).
When 7) occurs, the number of balls being ejected may be displayed.

Also, in the above embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 1
Although the balance display 122 for displaying the card balance is provided on the operation panel 121 of 00, the ball lending machine 200 or the ball lending machine and the pachinko gaming machine may be provided with a display to display the card balance and the like. . Further, in the above embodiment, the display switching button 240 is provided on the ball lending machine 200, but the display switching button may be provided on the pachinko gaming machine or the ball lending machine and the pachinko gaming machine. When the display switching button is provided on the ball lending machine and the pachinko gaming machine, when the display switching button on the ball lending machine is operated, the data on the ball lending machine is sequentially displayed, and the display provided on the gaming machine is displayed. When the switching button is operated, it is preferable to sequentially display data relating to the gaming machine such as the number of occurrences of big hits and the number of prize balls. This allows various data to be displayed without data transmission between the ball rental machine and the control device of the pachinko gaming machine, so that the player can easily confirm necessary data at any time with a simple system configuration. Become.

Further, in the above embodiment, the detection signal of the safe sensor 181 in the prize ball separation detecting device 180 is input to the discharge control device 600, and when the discharge control device 600 detects a prize ball, the game board control device 400 transmits the signal. On the other hand, the prize balls are discharged based on the prize ball number data received by requesting the prize ball number data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection signal of the safe sensor 181 is output to the game board. Input to the control device 400, the game board control device 40
When 0 detects a winning ball, it is also possible to transmit prize ball number data to the discharge control device 600 to discharge the prize ball. That is, the signal transmission direction may be set to only one direction from the game board control device 400 to the discharge control device 600.

Further, in the above embodiment, the conversion button 123 for a loaned ball, the return button 124, the balance indicator 122 and the like are provided on the operation panel 121 on the upper surface of the supply tray 120. The present invention is not limited thereto, and may be provided at any position on the front of the pachinko gaming machine or on the front of the ball lending machine 200. Further, in the embodiment, the card reader is built in the ball lending machine arranged between the gaming machines, but the card reader is arranged on one side of the saucer 140 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 and the like. You may comprise so that it may be built in a machine. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a card-type pachinko game system has been described.However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a game is performed with a throttle machine, other game balls or coins, The present invention can be generally applied to a game system in which a value of a valuable card is converted into a game ball or a coin.

[0191]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the disclosure, when a predetermined display switching signal is generated,
Information display means on the operation panel provided on the front side of the main unit
The frequency information of the amount data for the displayed card is
Switched to display required information different from the frequency information
Therefore, multiple types of information can be
Limited space on the front of the gaming machine
It is not necessary to provide a new display or to increase the size of the display.
A plurality of types of information can be displayed efficiently and efficiently. Ma
In addition, the above required information is provided by one operation of the conversion button.
Includes information on converted amount data to be converted to rental media
Therefore, the information of the converted amount data is
Convinced the player not to be dissatisfied
Can be converted into a rental media. Also,
The game medium lending device is provided with a display switching button,
The display switching signal is generated based on the operation of the display switching button.
It is configured so that the player or the game store side
Check the conversion amount data information whenever necessary
There is an effect that can be .

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
In the game media lending device, one operation of the above conversion button
Change the setting of conversion amount data that is converted to more lending game media.
Since a changeable setting changing means is provided, the player or
Or set the conversion amount data desired by the game store
And the converted setting value is displayed on the information display means.
To be recognized by the player in advance.
There is an effect that troubles relating to data can be prevented .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a card-type pachinko gaming machine as a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a configuration example of a back mechanism of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front view showing one embodiment of a ball discharging device 170.

FIG. 4 shows a pachinko gaming machine 100 and a ball rental unit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a control system of all the ball lending machines 200.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a game board control device 400.

6 is a system configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of a game board control device 400. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an emission control device 600.

FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of an emission control device 600.

FIG. 9 is a ball lending control device 5 as a ball lending unit control circuit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of 00.

10 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a ball lending control device 500. FIG.

11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the entire game board performed by the game board control device 400. FIG.

12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of a prize ball process in the flow of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of a main routine of the ball lending control device.

FIG. 14: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 13)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (first half) of the specific procedure of the ball lending process performed in 8030.

FIG. 15: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 13)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (2nd half) of the specific procedure of the ball lending process performed by 8030.

FIG. 16: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 13)
It is a flowchart which shows a part of specific procedure of the card return process performed in 8032.

FIG. 17: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 13)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (first half) of the specific procedure of the function transmission / reception process performed by 8034.

FIG. 18 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 13).
It is a flowchart which shows a part (second half) of the specific procedure of the function transmission / reception process performed by 8034.

FIG. 19 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 13).
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the specific procedure of the settlement signal output process performed by 8036.

FIG. 20: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 13)
It is a flow chart which shows an example of the concrete procedure of display change processing performed by 8038.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a transmission interruption process performed by the ball lending control device 500 prior to the main routine of FIG. 13;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a reception interruption process performed by the ball lending control device 500 prior to the main routine of FIG. 13;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a main routine of a discharge control process performed by the discharge control device 600.

FIG. 24: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specific procedure of an initialization process executed in Step 1.

FIG. 25: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specific procedure of a background process executed in Step 2.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a 1-msec waiting process executed in step S21 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a timer update process executed in step S22 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a safe sensor reading process routine executed in step S24 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a reading process routine of the discharge sensor executed in step S25 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a reading process routine of the ball-out sensor 750 executed in step S27 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a routine of a ball lending request signal input process executed in step S of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a routine of a card presence / absence signal input process executed in step S29 of the background process (FIG. 25).

FIG. 33: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specific procedure of a ball removing process (first half) executed in Step 5;

FIG. 34: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specific procedure of a ball removing process (second half) executed in Step 5;

FIG. 35: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the payout process performed in FIG.

FIG. 36: Step S501 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a discharge condition determination process executed by the subroutine.

FIG. 37: Step S503 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the award ball number request | requirement process performed by.

FIG. 38: Step S504 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the prize ball number setting process performed by.

FIG. 39: Step S505 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the prize ball discharge processing performed in.

40 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a prize ball discharge end determination process performed in the prize ball discharge process (FIG. 39).

FIG. 41: Step S507 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the safe ball discharge processing performed by (1).

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing performed in the safe ball discharge processing (FIG. 41).

FIG. 43: Step S508 of the payout process (FIG. 35)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the prize ball discharge end process performed by.

FIG. 44: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 23)
4 is a flowchart showing a part of a subroutine of a ball-lending process executed in 100.

FIG. 45: Step S151 in the ball-lending process (FIG. 44)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending condition determination process performed by.

FIG. 46: Step S153 in the ball-lending process (FIG. 44)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending ball number setting process performed by.

FIG. 47: Step S155 of the ball-lending process (FIG. 44)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending discharge process performed in.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a lending discharge end determination process executed in the lending discharge process (FIG. 47).

FIG. 49: Step S157 of the above ball-lending process (FIG. 44)
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending discharge | emission completion process performed by.

FIG. 50: the ball lending control device 500 and the discharge control device 6
6 is a time chart showing specific timings of signals transmitted and received between 00 and 00.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 pachinko gaming machine 120 supply tray 121 operation panel 122 balance display as data display means 123 conversion button as ball lending conversion operation means 170 ball discharging device 180 winning ball separation and discharging device 200 ball lending machine as 200 ball lending unit 211 card Insertion / ejection opening 230 Effective display lamp 240 Display switching button (switch) 400 Game board control device 500 Ball lending control device as ball lending unit control circuit 600 Discharge control device

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] (1)Required game media based on required discharge command
Game machine body equipped with a game medium discharge device capable of discharging the body
And a card inserted one-to-one with the gaming machine body
Required number of games within the range of the amount data stored in
Game media lending device that performs processing for lending media
And a payout based on the lending process of the gaming medium lending device.
A predetermined number of game media for rent according to the signal input to the gaming machine
Card ejected from the game media ejection device of the main unit
Type gaming machine, On the operation panel provided on the front side of the gaming machine body, The conversion instruction from the amount data to the rental media
A conversion button given to the rental device, The above-mentioned game media lending device and the card inserted therein
Information display means capable of displaying related information; At least, In the above-mentioned game media lending device, When the card is inserted, the amount data related to the card
Is displayed on the information display means with required frequency information,
The displayed amount based on a predetermined display switching signal
Switch frequency information of data to required information other than the frequency information
Display control means capable of displaying, It is arranged on the front side of the game media lending device, and
A display switching button for generating a switching signal, With From the frequency information of the amount data by the display control means
The required information to be switched includes one conversion button
Information on converted amount data that is converted to game media by operation
A card-type gaming machine characterized by including information. 2. The game medium lending apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
Conversion money converted into lending game media by one operation of tongue
Provision of setting change means that can change the setting of amount data
The card-type gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein: