JP3415118B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball game machine having a structure for forcibly ejecting a game ball in the game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, a game ball that has flowed down from a storage tank for storing game balls for payout through a guide trough (Means) stop once at the ball stop position, and if there is a winning ball in the winning opening provided on the game board, there are many structures that pay out the number of prize balls according to the number of winning balls. . The number of game balls to be paid out for one winning ball is preset as a unit prize ball number (also referred to as a unit payout ball number; the same applies hereinafter) in the winning port. Further, at the time of payout of prize balls, the payout device is provided with a payout game ball detection sensor for counting the game balls to be paid out, and the number of payout game balls corresponds to the number of prize balls to the winning opening ( When the number of unit prize balls is an integral multiple), the payout of game balls is stopped. further,
In the above-mentioned payout game ball detection sensor, if the number of payout game balls is insufficient, an error occurs, and an error is notified by an error notification means, or the operation of the payout device is stopped, and the harmful effects due to the shortage of balls spread. It is configured not to.

Further, in such a ball game machine,
Inspection at amusement machine manufacturer (especially payout device operation inspection)
There is a case where all the game balls in the gaming machine have to be pulled out after the completion or at the time of breakdown maintenance by the game store. As the ball removing method, a guide switching unit is provided in a guide gutter upstream of the payout device, and a game ball is guided from the guide switching unit to the payout device or communicated with the outside of the gaming machine by operating the guide switching unit. It is general that the guide ball is switched to the guide, and the game ball upstream of the guide switching unit is discharged to the outside of the game machine by the switching. By the way, in the operation of the guidance switching means, it is not possible to discharge the game balls (remaining game balls) remaining between the guidance switching section and the ball stop position of the payout device. Therefore, in the past,
After the inspection or the like, the game board is opened, the game balls are forcibly won in the winning opening, and the payout device is operated.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional ball game machine, when the number of game balls finally drawn out (dispensed) at the time of ball removal becomes equal to or less than the unit prize ball number. In, the shortage of the payout game ball is detected by the above-mentioned payout game ball detection sensor, and an error occurs, and the error operation occurs. When such an error operation occurs, it is necessary to perform troublesome work such as canceling the stopped state of the dispensing device, forcibly operating the dispensing device, releasing the error state, etc. I was spending a lot of effort.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a ball game machine capable of rationally extracting the game ball in the game machine.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, according to the invention of claim 1, a game board provided with a winning opening through which a game ball can be won, a storage tank for storing a game ball for payout, and the storage tank A guide gutter that allows a game ball to flow down and a game ball that has flowed down the guide gutter are temporarily stopped at a ball stop position, and the payout number of the game ball set in advance for one winning ball to the winning opening is a unit. The prize ball payout means for paying out the game balls as the number of prize balls and the game balls flowing down the guide gutter are guided by the guide switching part provided in the guide gutter upstream of the prize ball payout means. In a ball game machine having a guide switching means for switching to guiding to a ball gutter which forcibly discharges the game ball upstream from the guide switching section or the guide switching section, the guidance of the game ball is removed by the guide switching means. Switching to the guidance to the gutter When the game balls on the upstream side are discharged, the number of remaining ball game balls remaining between the guidance switching unit and the ball stop position of the prize ball payout means is only an integral multiple of the unit prize ball number. It is characterized by being configured in.

Further, the invention of claim 2 is, in claim 1, the game board is provided with a plurality of winning openings, at least one of the plurality of winning openings is a specific winning opening, the number of remaining game balls, It is characterized in that it is configured to be an integral multiple of the number of unit prize balls preset in the specific winning opening.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that in claim 1 or 2, the integral multiple is 1.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the integral multiple is twice or more.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the game board is provided with a plurality of winning openings and a unit prize ball number is set for each winning opening, and the number of remaining game balls is the winning opening. It is characterized in that it is configured to be only a common multiple of the number of unit prize balls set for each.

The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in claim 5, the common multiple is the least common multiple.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the common multiple is at least twice the least common multiple.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the prize ball payout means also serves as the ball rental payout means.
When the ball lending condition is satisfied, the game balls are lent out from the prize ball payout means.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a front view of the entire gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a gaming board of the gaming machine, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gaming board of the gaming machine, and FIG. 4 is the gaming machine. 7 is a block diagram showing a simplified control system of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a rear view of the entire gaming machine, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a back mechanism plate of the gaming machine, and FIG.
8 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the guidance switching portion in the back mechanism, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a case rail provided on the back mechanism plate, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the structure of the guidance switching means, and FIG. 10 is a ball removal by the guidance switching means. Figure showing time, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a prize ball paying device, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the prize ball paying device, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a ball paying device, and FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the ball paying device. Is.

The ball game machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a pachinko game machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this pachinko game machine 1, a game board 3 is detachably housed inside a frame body 2, and an outer guide rail 4 and an inner guide rail 5 of a game ball stand in a substantially circular shape on the edge of the game board 3. A game area 6 which is provided and surrounded by the inner guide rails 5 is provided with a winning opening through which a game ball can be won. In this embodiment, the game area 6 of the game board 3 is provided with a plurality of winning openings as described below.

First, below the display device 9 provided on the center line of the game area 6, there is an upper first type starting winning opening 10 and a lower first type starting winning portion having movable pieces 11a and 11b of ordinary electric auditors. A mouth 11 and a special winning opening 15 that is a special electric accessory are provided, and an outlet 17 is provided below the special winning opening 15. In addition, the lamp windmills 18a, 18b,
Below that is a normal symbol variation start left gate 19 and a normal symbol variation start right gate 21, below that is a windmill 22a, 2
2b is provided, a left sleeve winning opening 23 and a right sleeve winning opening 25 are arranged below it, and a left drop winning opening 27 and a right dropping winning opening 29 are arranged on both sides of the big winning opening 15. Has been done.

Further, on the front side of the gaming machine 1, there is a lamp indicator 35 for informing the gaming state, an upper ball receiving tray 36 for receiving the paid out game balls, and a game ball when the upper ball receiving tray 36 is saturated. A lower ball tray 37 for receiving, a launching device 91 for elastically launching a game ball toward the game area 6 in response to a player's launching operation of the operation handle 92, and the like are assembled.

As will be understood from FIGS. 1 and 4, the launching device 91 includes an operating lever 92 and an operating lever 92.
It has a launching motor 93 driven by the operation of, and a ball striking rod 94 which rocks intermittently by driving the launching motor 93 to elastically launch a game ball. The launch ball launched by the launching device 91 is guided to the game area 6 through a launch ball guide path formed between the outer guide rail 4 and the inner guide rail 5 standing on the game board surface. Has become. The game ball guided to the game area 6 by the launch ball guide path rolls down while falling, and wins each of the prize holes, or if there is no prize, the out port 1
It is configured to be discharged from 7 to the back side of the game board 3.

With respect to the display device 9 in the figure, reference numeral 41 is a variable display and a stop display of symbols such as numbers, alphabets, symbols or pictures (characters) (including a temporary stop display before finally finalized stop display, The same applies hereafter) Possible normal symbol display device, 43 is also a special symbol display device, 45 is a normal symbol display unit consisting of 7-segment LED or the like of the ordinary symbol display device 41, 47 is a normal symbol fluctuation number storage indicator consisting of LEDs, etc. , 49 is a window frame portion of the display device 9, 50 is an image display portion including a liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD module) of the special symbol display device 43, and 51 is a special symbol variation number storage display including LEDs and the like. . The display screen of the image display unit 50 of this embodiment is divided into three display areas arranged side by side, and in each display area, a special symbol for displaying the determination result can be variably displayed and stopped. . In addition to the special symbol, a background image (including characters, backgrounds, characters, etc.) may be displayed on the image display unit 50, and the background image is a predetermined condition such as the start of variation of the special symbol. In some cases, variable display is possible due to.

Further, with respect to the special winning opening 15, reference numeral 61 is an opening / closing plate, 63 is a specific area winning opening, and reference numeral 38 is a game ball payout opening for paying out game balls to the upper ball receiving tray 36. The special symbol display device 43 is not limited to the liquid crystal display device as the image display unit 50 as described above, but may be composed of LED, EL, CRT, or other light emitting body.

On the back surface (back surface) of the game board 3, there are provided a detection switch and the like for detecting the winning of the game ball into the winning opening. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a detection switch is provided for each winning opening. For example, a left sleeve winning port detection switch 78 and a right sleeve winning port detection switch 79 for detecting the winning balls of the left sleeve winning port 23 and the right sleeve winning port 25, the left drop winning port 27 and the right dropping prize port 29. The left drop winning port detection switch 81 and the right drop winning port switch 82 for detecting the winning balls are provided on the back side of the corresponding game board.

Further, special symbol variation start switches (starting winning hole sensors) 55a, 55b for detecting the balls winning the first type starting winning holes 10, 11 are provided in the winning ball passage, and the winning balls are provided. By the detection of the symbol change of the special symbol display device 43 is started. Further, on the back side of the special winning opening 15 of the game board 3, a specific winning ball detection switch (specific area sensor) 65 for detecting a winning ball into the specific area winning opening 63 is provided, and the winning ball is detected. By this, the continuation right to reopen the special winning opening 15 is established. In addition, a prize ball number count switch (count sensor) 67 for detecting a prize ball that has won the special winning opening 15 and has not won the specific area winning opening 63 is provided substantially in the center of the special winning opening 15. It is provided.

When the detection switches detect the winning of the game balls into the respective winning openings, a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to the number of prize balls are paid out by a prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 140 described later. It is like this. The number of gaming balls to be paid out for one winning ball is set as the unit prize ball number (unit paying ball number) at each winning port, and the unit prize ball number is paid out for each winning ball or fixed. According to the number of winning balls in time, a unit number of game balls is multiplied by an integer. Further, in this embodiment, two different types of unit prize balls are set depending on the type of winning opening. Specifically, for the winning balls into the special winning opening 15, the number of unit prize play balls per winning ball is 14, and for the winning balls to the other winning openings, 7 balls per winning ball. The number of unit prize balls is set.

The number of unit prize balls set in each winning opening is not limited to the above two types, and one kind or three or more kinds of unit prize balls may be set. . Also, the number of unit prize balls may be appropriate. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, each winning opening is provided with a detection switch, but the ball game machine of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the winning balls of each winning opening may be collected and detected at one place, and the winning balls may be cumulatively calculated.

In addition to the above-mentioned detection switch, the one provided on the back of the game board is a first-class starting winning opening solenoid 53 for opening and closing the movable pieces 11a and 11b of the lower first-class starting winning opening 11. And the opening / closing plate 6 of the special winning opening 15
Large winning opening solenoid 59 for opening and closing 1, specific area opening solenoid 64 for opening and closing the opening and closing door (not shown) of the specific area winning opening 63 under predetermined conditions, the normal symbol variation start left gate 19 and normal There is a normal symbol variation start switch 56, 57, etc. for detecting a game ball passing through the right gate 21 for symbol variation start.

The normal symbol variation start switch 56,
By detecting a game ball passing through both gates 19 and 21 at 57, the symbol fluctuation of the normal symbol display device 41 is started. Then, when the symbol that is fixedly displayed after the symbol changes in the normal symbol display unit 45 of the normal symbol display device 41 is the preset specific symbol, it is a small hit (normal symbol hit), and The movable piece 11a of the lower first-class starting winning opening 11,
The expansion and opening of 11b is performed for a predetermined time.

Explaining the operation of the special winning opening 15, when the game ball is won in the first type starting winning opening 10, 11 and the winning ball is detected by the special symbol variation start switches 55a, 55b, The fluctuation of the special symbol is started in each display area of the image display unit 50 of the special symbol display device 43. Then, after the change for a predetermined time, the special symbols stop changing in a preset order, and the combination of the stop symbols is confirmed and displayed. Depending on the symbol variation pattern and the like, a so-called reach state, a so-called reach notice, a hit notice, or the like may be given before the fixed display of the special symbol.

[0028] And, the combination of the fixedly displayed stop symbols is a predetermined specific jackpot symbol combination, for example, a common name consisting of a combination of the same symbols,
It shifts to the jackpot state (special game state). When the jackpot state is reached, the opening / closing plate 61 of the special winning opening 15 is opened to receive the game balls falling on the surface of the game area 6 to allow the winning into the special winning opening 15, and the winning into the special winning opening 15 Then, as described above, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls.

The control of the symbol variation in the normal symbol display device 41 and the special symbol display device 43 is performed by the main control circuit 121 shown in FIG. 4 and the display control circuit 125 connecting the circuit 121 and the display device 9. . In addition, reference numeral 140 in FIG. 4 is a prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) described later, and 160 is a ball rental payout device also described later.

The main control circuit (main control board) 121 is
A computer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a plurality of counters, an input / output circuit connecting the computer and the display control circuit 125, an input / output circuit connecting the computer and a relay circuit connected to the special winning opening 15, and the like. Composed of. The CPU includes a control unit, an arithmetic unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, etc. to perform arithmetic control,
Random numbers and the like that determine the probability of occurrence of a big hit and the probability of occurrence of a small hit (per ordinary symbol for expanding and opening the lower first type starting winning opening 11) are also generated. Further, the RAM stores a storage area for the detection signals of the special symbol variation start switches 55a and 55b and a detection signal for the normal symbol variation start switches 56 and 57, a storage area for various random number values generated by the CPU, and various data. Storage areas and flags to temporarily store, CPU
Equipped with a work area. Further, in the ROM, in addition to the game control program and control data are written, a big hit and a small hit judgment value and the like are written.

Further, the display control circuit 125 has a CP
It is composed of a computer having U, RAM, and ROM, an input circuit connecting the computer and the main control circuit 121, an output circuit connecting the computer to the normal symbol display device 41 and the special symbol display device 43, and the like. The CPU
Has a control unit, an arithmetic unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, etc. inside for performing arithmetic control. The RAM has a storage area for various data, a work area for the CPU, and the like. Furthermore, the R
Design data such as display data for the image display unit 50 and various display programs are written in the OM.

On the back side of the gaming machine 1, a back mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 is provided, and a storage tank 101 for storing game balls for payout, a guide gutter 95, a prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means). It has a back mechanism board 100 on which 140, a ball rental payout device 160, a payout control board (payout control circuit) 118, and the like are arranged. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 103 is a frame external output terminal, 104 is a frame external output terminal board, 105 is a frame decoration lamp relay board, 106 is a power receiving board, 107 is an empty cut prevention switch (ball break detection switch), Reference numeral 108 denotes an empty cut prevention switch board (ball break detection switch board), 109 denotes a board external output terminal, 110 denotes a board external output board, 11
1 is a central cover, 112 is a voice control board, 113 is a photo distribution board, 114 is a power board, 115 is a lamp control board, 116 is an error display section, 117 is a middle plate,
119 is a launcher control board, 120 is a lower board base, 1
Reference numeral 21 is a main control board, 122 is a card interface connecting portion, and 123 and 124 are power plugs.

Of the back mechanism, the payout of game balls will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 14. As shown in the back mechanism plate 100 of FIG. 6, the game balls for payout supplied from the installation island of the ball game machine are first stored in the game ball storage tank 101 arranged in the back mechanism plate 100. To be done. The storage tank 101 is provided with a communication port that communicates with the guide gutter 95 so that game balls can flow into the guide gutter 95. The guide gutter 95 guides the game balls flowing from the storage tank 101 to the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 140 and the ball rental payout device 160. In this embodiment, the storage tank 101 communicates with each other. A tank rail 102 having one end connected to the mouth, and a case rail 130 having one end connected to the other end of the tank rail 102 and the other end reaching the prize ball payout device 140 and the ball rental payout device 160. Has been done. In addition, the guide gutter 95 of this embodiment is configured with three rows of gutters arranged in parallel in the inner part of the tank rail 102 so that the game balls can be efficiently guided.
A row of game balls in each row of gutters and case rails 130
It is designed to run down to. In this embodiment, the three rows of guide gutters 95 are distributed within the case rail 130 into one row of prize ball payout guidance gutters 95a and two rows of ball rental payout guidance gutters 95b. The guide gutter 95 may not be composed of two members, the tank rail 102 and the case rail 130, and may be composed of one member or three or more members. Tank rail 102 and case rail 1
The game ball that has flowed down 30 is a guidance switching unit 96 described later.
Passing through the above, passing through the blanking prevention switch 107, and then the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 140 or the ball rental payout device 160.
Reach

The prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 140
11, as shown in the top view (a), front view (b), right side view (c) and FIG. 12, the upper end communicates with the prize rail payout guide gutter 95a of the case rail, and the lower end does not show payout. Game ball passage 151 leading to the game ball payout exit 38 through the passage
The inside of the game ball passage 151 is opened and closed by a rotatable prize ball stopper 147, and the number of payout game balls is detected by a payout game ball detection sensor 145. , Consists of the following components. That is, the prize ball case body 141 in which the game ball passage 151 is formed, the prize ball body cover 144 combined to cover the prize ball case body 141, and the photo provided on the side of the game ball passage 151. A payout game ball detection sensor 145 including a sensor and its cover 146, and a prize ball solenoid 142, a prize ball arm 143, a prize ball stopper 147, and a prize ball link provided between the prize ball case body 141 and the prize ball body cover 144. 148, a prize ball stopper shaft 149, a prize ball link shaft 150, and the like.

The prize ball solenoid 142 of this example is arranged such that the extendable and retractable actuating member 142a faces downward, and the prize ball arm 143 is locked to the actuating member 142a.
The prize ball stopper 147 is a prize ball stopper shaft 149.
It is rotatably attached to the prize ball case body 141 by the rotation, and by the rotation, the tip claw 147a can enter (project) and retract (non-project) to the game ball passage 151 from the opening 151a in the middle of the game ball passage 151. It is said that.
Also, the prize ball link 148 is the prize ball stopper 1
The prize ball case main body 142 is provided with an engagement pin 148a that engages with a part of 47 and an engagement recess 148b that engages with the prize ball arm 143, and is rotatable by the prize ball link shaft 150. Is attached to this prize ball arm 143
The rotation of the prize ball stopper 147 rotates.

A specific operation of the prize ball payout device 140 will be described. The game ball that has entered the game ball passage 151 of the prize ball payout device 140 from the prize ball payout guide gutter 95a,
As shown in FIG. 11B, by the prize ball stopper 147 protruding into the game ball passage 151,
The player temporarily stops at the ball stop position of the prize ball payout device 140. Here, the protruding portion of the prize ball stopper 147 is the ball stop position in the prize ball payout device 140. Here, when the detection switch detects that a game ball has been won at each of the winning openings provided on the game board 3, a signal is output from the payout control circuit 118 and the prize ball solenoid 142.
Is activated, the prize ball stopper 147 is rotated to a non-protruding state, and the game ball is paid out. At the same time, the payout game ball detection sensor 145 counts the payout game balls. When the number of unit prize balls (or an integral multiple of the number of unit prize balls) is reached as described above, the prize ball solenoid 1 is restarted.
By the operation of 42, the prize ball stopper 147 rotates to project into the game ball passage 151 and stop the payout of the game ball.
The paid game balls (prize balls) are supplied to the upper ball tray 36 from the game ball payout opening 38.

As shown in the top view (a), front view (b), right side view (c) and FIG. 14 of FIG. 13, the ball rental device 160 includes a ball lending case body 161, a ball lending screw 1.
Ball rental motor 163 having 62, ball rental body cover 16
4, payout game ball detection sensor (photo sensor here) 1
65, ball rental case bearing 166, ball rental case bearing cover 1
It is composed of 67 etc. The ball rental device 160,
When the ball lending motor 163 is actuated, the ball lending screw 162 is adapted to rotate, and enters the ball lending dispenser 160 from the ball lending guidance gutter 95b and rides on the wing portion of the ball lending screw 162. The balls gradually move downward so that game balls are paid out from a ball payout outlet (not shown).

When the ball lending condition is satisfied by the player inserting cash or operating a button or the like, a signal is issued from the payout control circuit 118 to cause the ball lending motor. The game ball is paid out by operating 163. At the same time, the payout game ball detection sensor 165 operates to count the payout game balls, and when a predetermined number is reached, the ball lending motor 163 is stopped to stop the payout of the game balls. The paid game balls (ball rental) are supplied to the upper ball tray 36 from the game ball payout opening 38.

In the payout game ball detection sensors 145, 165 of the award ball payout device 140 and the ball rental payout device 160, when the number of payout game balls is insufficient, an error occurs, and the error notification means notifies the error. Or the operation of the dispensing device is stopped, so that the harmful effect due to the shortage of balls does not spread. Further, the prize ball paying-out device 140 and the ball rental paying-out device 160 are not limited to those described in this embodiment, and those having an appropriate structure may be used. For example, although the photo sensor is used as the payout game ball detection switch here, other detection means such as a proximity switch may be used.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, the operation when all the game balls in the game machine are taken out after the inspection (particularly the payout device operation inspection) at the game machine maker is completed or at the time of failure maintenance by the game store, etc. explain. This gaming machine 1 guides the game ball that has flowed down the guide gutter 95 to the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 140, the ball rental payout device 160 and the like, and guides it to a ball draw trough 134 described later. The guide switching means 131 for switching to the guide is the rail case 1
It is provided in 30.

The case rail 130 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the front view of FIG. 7, the exploded view of FIG. 8, the perspective view of the main portion of the guide switching means of FIG. 9 and the front view of FIG. The case rail 130 is the case rail body 13.
0a, the first partition member 130b, and the second partition member 130
c and a case rail main body cover 130d, the inside of the case rail 130 is a guide gutter 95 and a ball pulling gutter 134.
It is divided into sections. The guide gutter 95 in the case rail 130 includes a first partition member 130b and a second partition member 13
The guide switching portion 96 is divided into three rows and is formed in the case rail 130 in the middle of the guide gutter 95.
At the further downstream position, there are one row of prize ball payout guides 95a and two rows of ball rental payout guide gutters 95b.

The guide switching section 96 is formed by the case rail 13
The guide gutter 95 in 0 has a ball-spilling opening 97 formed in the part where the slope is gentle and the slope is gentle, and has a game ball that has passed through the ball-slot opening 97. It is designed to be guided to the ball drop trough 134 directly below the opening 97. In this embodiment, the ball guide opening edge 98 of the first partition member 130b and the second partition member 130c in the guide switching portion 96 is excessively moved upward by the guide switching plate 132a of the guide switching member 132 described later. It is a rotation restricting part that restricts movement.

The switching means 131 is for switching the guidance of the game ball by opening and closing the beading opening 97, and the guidance switching member 132 and the guidance switching lock member 136.
And a guidance switching operation lever 133. The guide switching member 132 has a guide switching plate 132a having a size capable of closing the ball removing opening 97 from below, and a case rail 130 hanging downward from a rotation axis of the guide switching plate 132.
It is composed of a weight portion 132b protruding outward. The guide switching member 132 includes a case rail main body 130a and a case rail main body cover 130 in the vicinity of the ball removal opening 97.
The guide switching plate 132a side is pivotally mounted between d and vertically, and the weight of the weight portion 132b causes the guide switching plate 132a side to naturally rotate upward so that the ball opening opening edge serving as the rotation restricting portion. It is designed to hit 98 from below. When the guide switching plate 132a hits the ball-spilling opening edge 98, further upward rotation is restricted and the ball-shedding opening 97 is closed. Further, the ball-removing opening 97 can be opened by rotating the guide switching plate 132a downward. An engaging protrusion 132c that engages with the guide switching lock member 136 is formed on the lower surface of the weight portion 132b.

The guide switching lock member 136 prevents the guide switching plate 132a from freely rotating downward and allows the guide switching plate 132a to rotate downward when the ball is removed. The guide switching lock member 136 of this embodiment includes the case rail main body 130a and the case rail main body cover 13.
0d is a vertically rotatable member that is pivotally mounted between 0d, and the weight portion 132b is provided on the upper surface of the member 136.
Engaging claw 136 releasably engaged with the engaging projection 132c of
a is formed, and the lower surface of the member 136 is in contact with the outer surface of the case rail 130 and the guide switching lock member 13 is formed.
6 is a spring piece 136 for urging the engaging claw 136a side upward.
b is formed. The engagement claw 136a is formed on the lower surface of the weight portion 132b when the guide switching plate 132a closes the ball removal opening 97.
2c is engaged with the guide switching plate 132a to prevent downward rotation. Further, the engaging claw 136a is separated from the engaging projection 132c by the downward rotation of the guide switching member 132 against the spring piece 136b, and the weight portion 132b is rotated upward, that is, the guide switching plate 132a is rotated downward. to enable.

The guidance switching operation lever 133 is used to rotate the guidance switching member 132 downward, and the end portion 1 away from the rotation shaft of the guidance switching lock member 136.
The case rail 130 has a structure in which an engaging pin 133a that engages with the vicinity of 36c is formed to project laterally.
It is pivotally attached to the outer surface and is rotatable in the lateral direction toward the guidance switching lock member 136. When the guidance switching operation lever 133 is rotated toward the guidance switching lock member 136,
The engagement pin 133a rotates downward to push the guide switching lock member 136 downward, whereby the guide switching lock member 136 rotates downward to engage the engagement claw 136a and the engagement protrusion 132c. To cancel. Reference numeral 133b is a rotation shaft wearing cylinder portion, which is rotatably fitted to the boss 135 on the outer surface of the case rail body 130a.

At the time of removing the ball, the guidance switching operation lever 133 is rotated toward the guidance switching lock member 136 as described above,
When the engagement between the engagement claw 136a of the guidance switching lock member 136 and the engagement projection 132c of the switching operation member 132 is released,
Due to the weight of the game ball located on the guide switching plate 132a, the guide switching plate 132a rotates downward to open the ball removing opening 97, and the game ball upstream of the guide switching unit 96 has a ball removing opening. It is guided from 97 to the ball extraction trough 134 and is forcibly discharged to the outside of the gaming machine 1.

At this time, the ball stop position (in the remaining game balls) of the prize ball payout means (here, the prize ball payout device 140) from the guide switching portion 96 (the ball removal opening 97 in this example) in the game machine 1. Until the most downstream game ball stop position) L, the game ball still remains, it is necessary to discharge this remaining game ball out of the game machine. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1 of the present invention, the prize ball payout device 1 is operated from the guidance switching unit 96.
Until the ball stop position of 40, L is the length and diameter of the guide gutter 95, so that the remaining game balls that are an integral multiple of the number of unit prize balls remain.
The length and diameter of the game ball passage 151 of the prize ball payout device 140,
The installation position of the prize ball stopper 147 is determined.
In this embodiment, the special winning opening 15 is a specific winning opening for removing a ball, and is twice the number of unit prize balls when the special winning opening 15 (specific winning opening) is won, specifically 28. The game ball of the ball is made to remain between L in the game machine as the remaining game ball.

In this way, the number of remaining game balls is 15
Since it is only an integer multiple of the number of unit prize balls for winning a prize, the remaining game balls are forcibly forced to win a game ball at the winning opening and actuate the prize ball payout device 140 as is done conventionally. If the game balls are won in the special winning opening 15 when the game is discharged, all the remaining game balls can be extracted without causing an error due to the shortage of balls. Also,
Like the special winning opening 15 of this embodiment, if a winning opening for winning the game ball when discharging the remaining gaming balls is set as a specific winning opening, a unit prize ball different for each winning opening of the game board 3 Even if the number is set, the remaining game balls can be discharged completely and efficiently without fail by winning the specific winning opening. Further, in this embodiment, since the double number of unit prize balls for the special winning opening 15 which is the specific winning opening is set as the number of remaining game balls, the large winning opening 1
There is also an advantage that all remaining game balls can be discharged by allowing the game balls to be won twice in 5, and the trouble of winning the game balls many times can be saved.

In this embodiment, the number of remaining game balls is twice the number of unit prize balls for winning in the special winning opening 15. However, the number of remaining game balls is not limited to this, and may be another integer multiple. Good. For example, if the number of unit prize balls is set to be 1 times, all the remaining game balls can be discharged by allowing the game balls to enter the special winning opening 15 only once. Further, the number of remaining game balls may be an integral multiple of the number of unit prize balls of any winning opening other than the special winning opening. At that time, it is preferable that the winning port used for removing the ball is set as a specific winning port so as to be distinguished from other winning ports by marking or the like.

Further, the number of remaining game balls may be the least common multiple of two or more or all of the unit prize balls set for each of the plurality of winning openings. If you do this, you can completely eject the game ball without generating an error due to lack of balls, no matter which prize hole you win the game ball when you remove the ball. You don't have to wonder what your mouth is. Further, if it is the least common multiple, it is possible to reduce the number of times the game ball is won when the ball is removed, and the game ball can be quickly discharged.

It should be noted that the number of remaining game balls is not a multiple of the number of unit prize balls as described above or the least common multiple, but an integral multiple of twice or more of the number of unit prize balls, or two times the least common multiple of the number of unit prize balls. It may be configured such that it is only an integral multiple of the above.
At this time, there is an advantage that many game balls can be stored in a guide gutter or prize ball payout means in the game machine while the player is playing the game.

Further, after the game ball is guided to the ball pulling trough 134 by the guide switching means 131, the ball switching position of the guide switching section 96 and the ball lending device 160 (the maximum position of the game ball in the ball lending screw or the like). Although the game balls remain between the downstream stop position), the number of game balls paid out in one ball lending operation (as in the case of the prize ball payout device 140) is also for discharging the remaining game balls ( If you set an integer multiple of the number of unit rental balls to be the number of remaining game balls, you can send a dummy signal that the ball lending condition is satisfied from an external payout command device etc. In addition, the error due to the shortage of balls does not occur, and the game balls can be discharged more efficiently.

Further, in this embodiment, the payout and the stop of the payout in the prize ball payout device 140 are performed by the rotation of the prize ball stopper 147 by the prize ball solenoid 142, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, a payout and a payout of the prize ball payout device may be performed using a screw mechanism similar to the ball lending screw 162 used in the ball payout device 160 in this embodiment. Even in that case, the ball stop position is the stop position of the game ball located in the most downstream of the remaining game balls.

In this embodiment, the prize-ball payout device and the ball-rental payout device are provided separately, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) also serves as a ball rental payout device, and when the above-mentioned ball lending conditions are satisfied, the game ball is loaned out (paid out) from the prize ball payout means. May be.

[0055]

As shown and described above, according to the ball game machine according to the first aspect, after the inspection (particularly, the payout device operation inspection) at the game machine maker is completed, or at the time of failure maintenance by the game store, When it is necessary to pull out all the game balls in the gaming machine, after the game balls upstream from the guidance switching unit are discharged by the guidance switching of the game balls, between the guidance switching unit and the ball stop position of the prize ball payout means. Since the remaining remaining game balls are configured to be only an integral multiple of the number of unit prize balls set for one prize ball in the prize hole, the game ball is then forced into the prize hole. When the player wins the prize and discharges the remaining game ball, the shortage of the payout game ball is not detected until the end, and the remaining game ball can be rationally extracted without error.

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 2,
Since the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only an integer multiple of the number of unit prize balls with respect to the predetermined specific prize hole, it is less likely that the operator mistakes the prize hole when extracting the remaining game balls. Therefore, the remaining game ball can be extracted more reliably.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only a multiple of the unit prize ball number preset in the winning opening or the specific winning opening. All the remaining game balls can be extracted by winning one ball, and the remaining game balls can be efficiently discharged.

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 4,
The number of remaining game balls is configured to be only an integer multiple of 2 or more of the number of unit prize balls preset in the winning prize hole or the specific winning prize hole, so that a large number of game balls are introduced into the gutter or prize ball payout means. Can be stored in.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the fifth aspect, since the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only the common multiple of the unit prize ball number set for each of the plurality of winning openings, a plurality of game balls are provided. Of the prize holes, no matter which prize hole is won and the remaining game balls are ejected, the shortage of payout game balls is not detected until the end, and more reliable error-free removal of the game balls It can be performed.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the sixth aspect, the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only the least common multiple of the number of unit prize balls set for each winning opening.
All the remaining game balls can be extracted with a small amount of work, and the remaining game balls can be efficiently discharged.

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 7,
Since the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only an integer multiple of 2 or more of the least common multiple of the number of unit prize balls set for each winning opening, many game balls are used as guide gutters and prize ball payout means. Can be stored.

In addition, in the gaming machine according to the eighth aspect, since the prize ball payout device also functions as the ball lending payout device, when the ball lending condition is satisfied, the prize ball payout means (prize ball payout device). Since it is possible to lend a game ball, it is not necessary to separately provide a prize ball dispensing device and a ball lending device. Therefore, at the time of extracting the remaining game ball, it is only necessary to discharge the remaining game ball from the guide switching unit to the prize ball payout device, and the remaining game ball can be extracted more efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an entire gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board of the gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a back view of a game board of the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the same gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the entire gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a back mechanism plate of the gaming machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the vicinity of a guidance switching unit in the back mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a case rail provided on the back mechanism plate.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part of the guide switching means.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a time when a ball is removed by the guidance switching means.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a ball rental payout device.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a ball rental payout device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 game machine 3 game board 15 big prize holes 95 induction gutter 101 Storage tank 131 guidance switching means 132 induction switching unit 134 Ball gutter 140 award ball payout means (award ball payout device)

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP 2000-308742 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 7/02 324 A63F 7/02 352

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game board provided with a winning opening through which a game ball can be won, a storage tank for storing a game ball for payout, a guide gutter for causing the game ball to flow down from the storage tank, and the guide gutter. A prize ball payout means for temporarily stopping the flowing game balls at the ball stop position, and paying out the game balls with the number of game balls preset for one prize ball to the winning opening as the unit prize ball number. And, the game ball that has flowed down the guide gutter, in the guide switching unit provided in the guide gutter upstream of the prize ball payout means, to the prize ball payout means or the game ball upstream of the guide switch part In a ball game machine having a guidance switching means for switching to guidance to a ball discharge trough forcibly discharged, the guidance of the game ball is switched to the guidance to the ball discharge trough by the guidance switching means and is upstream from the guidance switching part. When the game ball of Pinball game machine, characterized in that Zandama game balls number remaining between the switching unit to the ball stop position of prize balls paid out means, which is configured such that only an integer multiple of the unit prize counts. 2. The game board is provided with a plurality of winning openings and at least one of the plurality of winning openings is a specific winning opening, and the number of remaining game balls is a unit prize ball preset in the specific winning opening. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball game machine is configured to be an integer multiple of the number. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the integral multiple is 1. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the integral multiple is twice or more. 5. The game board is provided with a plurality of winning holes and a unit prize ball number is set for each winning hole, and the number of remaining game balls is the unit prize ball number set for each winning hole. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball game machine is configured to have only a common multiple. 6. The ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein the common multiple is the least common multiple. 7. The ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein the common multiple is at least twice the least common multiple. 8. The award ball payout means also serves as a ball payout means, and when the ball lending condition is satisfied, the game ball is loaned from the award ball payout means. Ball game machine described in.