JP3214194B2 - Pachinko ball launcher - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko ball launching apparatus which automatically launches a pachinko ball under the control of a microcomputer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an electric pachinko machine in which a pachinko ball is fired by rotation of a handle motor based on operation of a hitting operation handle, a microcomputer on a circuit board for controlling rotation of the motor and the like. When the (CPU) runs out of control due to noise such as static electricity, a reset method for returning the run to an initial state includes a method of once turning off the power supply to the control circuit and turning it on again, or a method of resetting the power supply on the board. There is a method of resetting by pressing a dedicated reset switch which is set in advance. Also, a signal is periodically output from the CPU, and the counter is periodically reset by the signal. If the CPU goes out of control and the signal is not output, the counter overflows and an interrupt signal is sent to the CPU. Enter and CPU
There is a method of using a one-chip microcomputer with a built-in watchdog timer that works to reset itself, or adding a watchdog timer circuit, and detecting a runaway with the watchdog timer to reset itself.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the control circuit of the handle motor, a switch circuit for detecting whether or not the hit ball operating handle is being gripped, and a switch for detecting whether or not the hit ball adjusting lever is being operated. A capacitor is connected between a point where the output signal changes from the "H" level to the "L" level or from the "L" level to the "H" level like a circuit, and a reset input terminal of the microcomputer connected to the power supply voltage by a resistor. 8 to change the output signal of the switch circuit from the “H” level to the “L” level so that the “L” level signal for a certain period of time is input to the reset input terminal to reset the microcomputer. Using an AND gate circuit as shown in
An output signal of the power-on reset circuit is input to one input terminal of the AND circuit, an output signal of the switch circuit is input to the other input terminal through a capacitor, and the output terminal is connected to a reset terminal of the microcomputer. Is reset by changing the output signal from “H” level to “L” level.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned method, for example, in the method of turning off the power or the method of pressing the reset switch, the pachinko machine opens the front frame and turns off the power or the reset switch. Pressing is required, during which time the player cannot play. Also, in the method using a microcomputer with a built-in watchdog timer or adding a watchdog timer circuit, the above-mentioned work time is not required, but the cost of parts is increased and the board area needs to be increased.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a portion where the output signal changes from "H" level to "L" level, such as a switch circuit for detecting whether or not the hitting force adjusting lever is operated, In the method of connecting a capacitor to the reset input terminal of the microcomputer, if the output section of the switch circuit is in the "H" level state when the power is turned on, the "L" level reset signal is not input to the reset input terminal. The microcomputer will not start operating. That is, when the power is turned on, it is necessary to always be at “L” level.

However, the condition of "L" level when the power is turned on means that, for example, when resetting is performed using an output signal of a switch circuit for detecting the state of the hitting force adjustment lever, When the switch circuit configuration is such that the output of the switch circuit is at the “L” level when the switch is not operated and is at the “H” level when the switch is operated, normally, when the power is turned on, the hitting force adjustment is performed. Since the lever is not operated, the output signal of the switch circuit is “L”, and the condition for resetting the microcomputer is satisfied. However, in a situation where this pachinko ball firing device is actually used, A player inserts a coin or the like into the gap between the hitting force adjustment lever and the touch ring of the hitting operation handle and fixes the hitting force adjustment lever at a fixed position for use If the power is turned off and the power is turned on the next day, or if the power is turned on while the player is operating the hitting force adjustment lever, the switch circuit Output signal is "H"
And the condition will not be satisfied.

As described above, the necessary condition accompanying the output signal level of the circuit to be used is not always a sufficient condition in the use environment and may not be satisfied. Further, by connecting a capacitor between the switch circuit portion and the reset input terminal, noise such as static electricity enters the reset input terminal from the switch circuit portion and the microcomputer easily malfunctions.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the AND gate circuit is used, the output signal of the switch circuit for detecting the state of the hit ball adjustment lever is set to "H" when the power is turned on.
The output signal of the switch circuit does not need to be at the “L” level when the power is turned on, as described above, because the reset is performed in either case when the level changes from the “L” level to the “L” level. This increases the cost of components and increases the board area. Further, there is a danger that noise entering from the switch circuit enters the input terminal of the AND gate circuit, causing a malfunction or destruction of an element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when returning from a runaway state of a microcomputer to a normal operation state, there is no need to open the front frame of the pachinko machine. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko ball firing device capable of preventing an increase in the cost of components, preventing an increase in the board area, and reliably preventing noise from entering a microcomputer.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, a pachinko ball firing device according to the present invention determines whether or not a hitting operation handle is in use, and sets a microcomputer when the ball is in use. In a pachinko ball firing device configured to automatically fire a pachinko ball under the control of, a reset signal is supplied to the microcomputer in accordance with a change in the use or non-use state of the hitting operation handle, and a power supply is provided. When throwing, use the hitting operation handle,
The microcomputer has a circuit configuration for resetting the microcomputer irrespective of the unused state, and further includes a noise intrusion prevention circuit for preventing noise such as static electricity from entering the microcomputer.

[0011]

According to the pachinko ball firing apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the microcomputer runs out of control due to noise such as static electricity and malfunctions, the player releases his / her hand from the hit ball operation handle. The microcomputer is reset with the use state, or with the non-use state and the return to the use state once,
It returns from the runaway state to the initial state. The microcomputer is reset when the power is turned on regardless of whether the hitting operation handle is used or not. further,
The noise intrusion prevention circuit prevents noise such as static electricity from entering the microcomputer.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the front frame 10 of the pachinko machine. The hitting operation handle (hereinafter, referred to as an operation handle) 50 and a key lamp 42 which is turned on during operation of a handle motor to be described later. Is attached. The front frame 10 is attached to the pachinko machine frame (not shown) so as to be openable and closable.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the handle portion. The operation handle 50, the touch ring 52, the hitting force adjusting lever 54, the handle shaft 56, the limit switch 60
And a cam 58. Hitting force adjustment lever 54
Is fixed to a handle shaft 56, and by rotating the hitting force adjusting lever 54 rightward toward the front frame 10, the cam 58 fixed to the handle shaft 56 rotates, pushing up the lever 62 of the limit switch 60, and 60
Is turned on. FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the hitting force adjustment lever 54 is turned in the direction of the arrow, and the limit switch 60 is turned on. The limit switch 60 is connected to the harness 64, and the touch ring 52 is connected to the harness 66.

The player grasps the operating handle 50 so as to touch the touch ring 52, and turns the hitting force adjusting lever 54 rightward toward the front frame 10 of the pachinko machine, that is, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The handle motor 70 shown in FIG. 6 operates and can play a game. When the player releases his / her hand from the operation handle 50, the hitting force adjustment lever 54 returns to the original position, and at the same time, the limit switch 60 is turned off.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the structure of a hitting ball firing device. When a handle motor 70 is driven to rotate, a motor cam 74 fixed to an output shaft 72 rotates, so that the cam 74 and the crank 76 are rotated. Engages, the ball hammer 78 moves against the torsion coil spring 80, and the motor cam 7
When the engagement between the crank 4 and the crank 76 is released, the hammer 78 returns to the original position by the contraction force of the spring 80, and strikes the pachinko ball 82 by the force.

A harness 64 having one terminal connected to the touch ring 52 and the limit switch 60,
Reference numeral 66 denotes a board storage case 8 for the other terminal portions.
6 is connected to the control board stored in the control board 6.

Next, an electric circuit of the control board according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the handle motor 70. The touch circuit section 2 is connected to the touch ring 52 as a first switch circuit, and the second switch is connected to a limit switch 60. A limit circuit section 4 as a circuit, a power supply circuit section 6 connected to an AC 24 V power supply of the pachinko machine main body, a microcomputer circuit section 8 including a one-chip microcomputer for controlling various input / output signals, and a handle motor 70 are driven. It comprises a motor drive circuit section 10 and a lamp drive circuit section 12 for driving the key lamp 42 shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing details of the touch circuit section 2, the limit circuit section 4, and the microcomputer circuit section 8 of the present embodiment.

The touch circuit section 2 is constituted by an LC oscillation circuit, oscillates constantly, turns on the NPN transistor 14, and outputs an "L" level signal to the touch signal output section 15. When the player touches the touch ring 52, the oscillation stops, the NPN transistor 14 is turned off, and an “H” level signal is output to the touch signal output unit 15.

The limit circuit section 4 is a switching type of the PNP transistor 16 and has an operation handle 50.
Is in a non-use state, that is, the hitting force adjustment lever 5
When the switch 4 is not turned, the limit switch 60 is off, so that the PNP transistor 16 is turned off and outputs an “L” level signal to the limit signal output unit 30. Then, the player turns the hitting force adjustment lever 54,
When the limit switch 60 is turned on, the PNP
The transistor 16 is turned on, and outputs an “H” level signal to the limit signal output unit 30.

The microcomputer circuit section 8 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 22, a read-only memory (ROM) 24 in which a control program is written, a random access memory (RAM) 26 for temporarily storing data, and the like. The computer 28 is configured to receive the above-described touch signal and limit signal, and output an ON signal to the motor drive circuit unit 10 and the lamp drive circuit unit 12 when both signals are “H” level signals. I do.

The reset of the microcomputer 28
A reset signal input terminal 32 is connected to a DC power supply (DC) 5 V for driving the microcomputer by a reset resistor 20, and is connected to 0 V by a reset capacitor 21, so that a power-on reset system is configured. Further, it is connected to a limit signal output unit 30 of the limit circuit unit 4 by a coupling capacitor 18 and a coupling resistor 19. The reset capacitor 21 and the coupling resistor 19 cut off noise such as static electricity from entering the reset input terminal 32 of the microcomputer 28 from the limit circuit section 4 through the coupling capacitor 18 and the coupling resistor 19. It constitutes an intrusion prevention circuit.

This embodiment is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the operating handle 50 is in an unused state, that is, when the power is turned on without the player holding the operating handle 50, 5 V DC is applied to the reset resistor 20. Since the limit signal output section 30 of the limit circuit section 4 is at the “L” level, the reset signal input terminal 32 is mainly connected to the parallel combined capacitance of the reset capacitor 21 and the coupling capacitor 18 and the reset resistor 20. And gradually rises from 0V to 5V while the reset capacitor 21 and the coupling capacitor 18 are being charged.
The CPU 22 is reset during the “L” level period. When the player grips the operation handle 50 and turns the hitting force adjustment lever 54, even if the limit signal output unit 30 of the limit circuit unit 4 becomes "H" level, the reset signal input terminal 32 connected to the capacitor. Remains at the "H" level, and there is no change in the operation of the circuit.

Further, when the power is turned on when the operation handle 50 is in use, that is, when the player grips the operation handle 50 and turns the hitting force adjustment lever 54, the DC5
Since V is applied to the reset resistor 20 and the limit signal output unit 30 of the limit circuit unit 4 is at the “H” level, the reset signal input terminal 32 is mainly connected to the parallel connection of the reset resistor 20 and the coupling resistor 19. With the time constant determined by the combination of the combined resistance and the reset capacitor 21, while the reset capacitor 21 is charged,
Gradually rises, and during the “L” level period, the CPU 2
Reset 2

On the other hand, if the player stops playing the game and releases his / her hand from the operating handle 50, the limit signal output section 30 of the limit circuit section 4 becomes "L" level, and the connection is established by the coupling capacitor 18 and the coupling resistor 19. As shown in FIG. 3, the reset signal input terminal 32 that has been set to “L” for a moment
Level, and is charged mainly with a current flowing from 5 V DC through the reset resistor 20 and the coupling resistor 19, further charged with a current discharged from the reset capacitor 21, and connected to the coupling capacitor 18 and the reset capacitor 21. Are equal to each other, both capacitors are charged by the current flowing from DC 5 V through the reset resistor 20, and the parallel constant of the coupling capacitor 18 and the reset capacitor 21 and the time constant of the reset resistor 20. Then, the voltage rises from 0 V to 5 V, and the CPU 22 is reset during the “L” level period.

That is, the CPU 22 is reset when the power is turned on and when the player releases the hand from the operation handle 50 after starting the game by gripping the operation handle 50 and turning the hitting force adjustment lever 54, and then resetting. Will be.

Therefore, if the CPU 22 runs away due to static electricity or other noise during the game and the handle motor 70 malfunctions (in this case, the handle motor 70 is almost stopped), the game is stopped. When the player once releases his / her hand from the operation handle 50, the CPU 22 is reset if the hitting force adjustment lever 54 returns to the original position, and the handle motor 70 is turned on by holding the operation handle 50 again and turning the hitting force adjustment lever 54. Return to normal operation.

Further, the coupling resistor 19 and the reset capacitor 21 respond to noise such as static electricity that enters the reset input terminal 32 of the microcomputer 28 from the limit circuit section 4 through the coupling capacitor 18 and the coupling resistor 19. The configuration of the noise filter (RC low-pass filter) prevents noise from entering the microcomputer 28 from the connection path between the limit circuit unit 4 newly formed by the circuit configuration of the present invention and the microcomputer 28. Has the effect of doing

In the present embodiment, the C
Although the reset signal input terminal 32 of the PU 22 is connected to the limit signal output unit 30 of the limit circuit unit 4 with a capacitor, the player can manually connect the touch ring 52 with the touch signal output unit 15 of the touch circuit unit 2. After touching the touch ring 52, release the touch ring 52.
A similar result can be obtained that 2 is reset.

That is, the player grips the operation handle 50,
A touch signal output unit 15 that outputs an “H” level signal when the handle motor 70 is operated, and outputs an “L” level signal when the operation handle 50 is released, and a reset signal input terminal 32 of the microcomputer 28 Are connected by a coupling capacitor and a coupling resistor, and the reset signal input terminal 32 is connected by a microcomputer driving DC power supply (DC) 5 V to a reset resistor, and 0 V and a reset capacitor, respectively. Similar results can be obtained.

The microcomputer 2 of the present embodiment
8 employs a CPU 22, ROM 24, RAM 26, etc. integrated on one chip, but similar results can be obtained even in the case of a microcomputer system combining other elements.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the pachinko ball firing device of the present invention, the microcomputer is reset when the power is turned on regardless of the use or non-use state of the ball operating handle, and the game is performed during the game. If the microcomputer runs out of control due to static electricity or other noise and causes abnormal operation, the player may set the operation handle to the unused state, or set it to the unused state once and then use it again The microcomputer can be reset only by a simple operation. Therefore, in a state where the player turns the hitting operation handle again, the pachinko ball is normally fired, and as a return measure at the time of microcomputer runaway, it is not necessary to open the front frame of the pachinko machine and perform a return operation. Also, since a special circuit such as a watchdog timer is not required, the cost of the control circuit board is not increased, and the board area can be made compact. In addition, a noise intrusion prevention circuit that shuts off noise such as static electricity that tends to intrude into the reset input signal terminal can be reliably prevented from intruding noise into the microcomputer. Operation state can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a part of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a reset input signal of the circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a front frame of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a handle portion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a hit ball launching device.

FIG. 7 is a reset circuit diagram of a conventional pachinko ball firing device.

FIG. 8 is a reset circuit diagram of a conventional pachinko ball firing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 touch circuit section 4 limit circuit section 8 microcomputer circuit section 15 touch signal output section 18 reset capacitor 19 coupling resistor 20 reset resistor 21 reset capacitor 28 microcomputer 30 limit signal output section 32 reset signal input terminal 50 hitting ball operation handle 52 touch Ring 54 Hitting force adjusting lever 60 Limit switch 70 Handle motor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pachinko ball launching device configured to determine whether or not a hitting operation handle is in use and automatically launch a pachinko ball under the control of a microcomputer when in use. A reset signal is supplied to the microcomputer in accordance with a change in the state of use and non-use of the hitting operation handle, and when the power is turned on, the microcomputer operates regardless of whether the hitting operation handle is used or not. A pachinko ball launching device having a circuit configuration for resetting the microcomputer, and further comprising a noise intrusion prevention circuit for preventing noise such as static electricity from entering the microcomputer.