JP3415119B2 - 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 It is temporarily stopped at the ball stop position of (means), and the payout operation of the ball rental payout operation means (the ball lending card unit in a so-called CR machine, etc., is inserted with a card in which the ball lending information (playable game ball information) is stored. Then, by pushing the ball lending button, etc., there are many things that are structured to pay out a predetermined number of game balls (ball rental). In the ball-lending device, the number of game balls paid out for the payout operation of the ball-lending payout operation means is also referred to as a unit ball-rental number (also referred to as a unit-ball payout number).
same as below. ) Is set in advance.

Further, when paying out the rental 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 is the number of payout operations of the ball rental payout operating means. When the number of coins corresponding to (the number of unit balls lent) is reached, the payout of game balls is stopped. Further, in the payout game ball detection sensor, if the number of payout game balls is insufficient, an error occurs,
The error notifying unit notifies the error and stops the operation of the payout device so that the harmful effects due to the shortage of balls do not spread.

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, the operation of the guidance switching means, it is not possible to discharge the game ball (remaining game ball) remaining between the guidance switching unit and the ball stop position of the payout device.

Therefore, conventionally, after the inspection and the like are completed,
Insert the card into the ball lending card unit and press the ball lending button, as in the ball lending operation during the game,
Alternatively, by connecting an external payout command device to the ball lending device from the outside of the gaming machine and operating the same, the same payout command as inserting the card into the ball lending card unit and pressing the ball lending button once Outputting to the payout device or operating the payout device, the remaining game balls are incremented by the number of unit rental balls (here, 2
(5 balls each) are removed.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional ball game machine, since the number of unit balls to be dispensed for one payout operation (payout command) is preset,
When the number of gaming balls to be pulled out (distributed) at the end by pulling out the number of unit balls to be leased is less than or equal to the number of unit balls to be leased, The shortage is detected 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 of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of rationally extracting a game ball in the game machine.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the invention of claim 1 has flowed down a storage tank for storing game balls for payout, a guide trough for flowing down the game balls from the storage tank, and the guide trough. A ball lending means for temporarily stopping the game ball at the ball stop position, and paying out the game ball, with the number of game balls preset for the payout operation of one of the ball lending operation means as the unit loan number. , The game ball that has flowed down the guide gutter, the guidance switching unit provided in the guide gutter upstream from the ball lending payout means, the guidance to the ball rental payout means or the game ball upstream from the guidance switching unit In a ball game machine having a guidance switching means for switching to the guidance to the ball draining trough, the guidance of the gaming ball is switched to the guidance to the ball draining trough by the guidance switching means, and the upstream of the guidance switching part. When the game ball is ejected, Zandama game balls number remaining between the switching unit to the sphere stop position of the rental ball disbursement means, characterized in that it is configured such that only an integer multiple of the unit rental sphere number.

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

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

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the ball payout means also serves as the prize ball payout means.
When the prize ball payout condition is satisfied, the prize ball is paid out from the ball rental payout means.

[0012] According to the invention of claim 5, in any one of claims 1 to 4, the loan ball payout operation means is connected to the ball loan payout means, reads the payable game ball information of the storage medium, and stores the storage medium. When there is playable ball information in the payout and one payout operation is performed, the payout of the storage medium reading unit is made up of a storage medium reading unit that outputs a payout command of a game ball of the unit loan number to the ball payout means. It is characterized in that the ball rental device is caused to perform a game ball payout operation according to a command.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, an external payout command device is connected to the ball rental payout means from outside the gaming machine, and one payout command is output from the external payout command device. It is characterized in that the pay-out-ball-dispensing means is made to perform a pay-out operation of the game balls of the unit-rental-ball number every time.

[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. Drawing which shows time, FIG. 11 is a figure which shows a ball payout device, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a ball payout device, FIG. 13 is a figure which shows a prize ball payout device, FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a prize ball payout device. Is.

The ball game machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 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 5, the launching device 91 includes an operating lever 92 and the 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.

Further, in the ball game machine 1 of this embodiment, a storage medium reading unit as shown in FIG. 1 (here) is used as a ball rental payout operation means operated by a player or the like when paying out a ball. Then, a ball lending card unit) 170 is provided. Then, the card (storage medium) in which the ball lending information (the payable game ball information) is stored is a ball lending card unit 1
When inserted into the card insertion slot 171 of 70, the ball lending information stored in the card is read, and the frequency indicator 17 of the ball lending operation section 172 provided at the front end of the upper ball tray 36.
The ball lending information is displayed at 3 in frequency. In addition, in the ball lending operation unit 172, in addition, a ball lending button 174 used when paying out a ball is dispensed, and when the player wants to stop the game, the card is dispensed from the card insertion slot 171. A card return button 175 is also provided.

Further, the ball lending card unit 170 is provided with a fraction setting switch 176, and the payout fraction of a game ball (ball rental) can be set in three stages of 100 yen, 500 yen and 1000 yen. Has become. For example, when the fraction setting switch 176 is set to 100 yen, a single operation of the ball lending button 174 of the ball lending operation unit 172 pays out a game ball that is a multiple of the number of unit balls. When the command is output to a ball rental device (ball rental means) 140 described later and is set to 500 yen, one operation of the ball lending button 174 is five times as many games as the number of unit balls. As the payout command for paying out the balls is output to the ball payout means 140, a payout command for paying out the game balls of the number of unit balls is output every 100 yen. In this example,
The unit loan number of the ball rental payout means 140 is 25.

Incidentally, 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 breakdown maintenance by the game store,
In the same way as during the game, a ball is removed by inserting a storage medium such as a card into the ball-rental payout operating means 170 and operating a button or the like, or a storage medium dedicated to the extraction work is prepared and used. As shown in, the ball may be removed without using a recording medium such as a card.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an external payout command device 180 can be connected to the ball rental payout means 140 from outside the gaming machine. The external payout command device 180 is composed of a payout signal output unit capable of generating a signal similar to the payout command output from the card unit 170, and an operation unit for outputting the payout command from the payout signal output unit. . This external payout command device 180 is connected to the ball rental payout means 140 only during the ball removal work (here, it is connected via the card interface connection part 122 of the payout control board 118 shown in FIG. 5). By operating the operation unit of the external payout command device 180 (for example, pressing a button, etc.), one payout command for paying out the game balls of the unit loan amount is output, and the ball payout means 140 that has received the command is output. It is configured to pay out 25 (the number of unit rental balls) game balls. It should be noted that the external payout command device 180 is provided with a select button or the like that can select an integral multiple of the number of unit loans, and if, for example, 1 is selected, the operating unit can be operated once to set the number of unit loans to 1 Multiple game balls (2
You can output a signal to pay out (5 pieces), and if you select 2 times, you can operate the operation part once and double the number of units lent (50 pieces)
It may be possible to output a signal for paying out the game ball.

In 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) 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 normal symbol display device 41, 47 is a normal symbol fluctuation number memory display consisting of LED or the like, 49 is a window frame portion of the display device 9, 50 is a liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD module) of the special symbol display device 43.
An image display unit composed of, etc., 51 is a special symbol variation number storage display composed of 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. . Also,
In addition to the special design, a background image (including characters, backgrounds, characters, etc.) may be displayed on the image display unit 50, and the background image is caused by a predetermined condition such as start of variation of the special design. In some cases, variable display is possible.

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 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.

The back surface (back surface) of the game board 3 is provided with 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 that have won 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 prize ball payout device 160 described later pays out a predetermined number of prize balls according to the number of prize balls.

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.

The operation of the special winning opening 15 will be described. 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 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.

And, the combination of the stop symbols that are confirmed and displayed is a predetermined specific jackpot symbol combination, for example, a common name, which is 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 If so, 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. .

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 trough 95, a ball rental payout device (ball rental payout means). It has a back mechanism plate 100 on which a 140, a prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 160, a payout control board (payout control circuit) 118 and the like are arranged. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 103 denotes a frame external output terminal, 104 denotes a frame external output terminal board, and 1
Reference numeral 05 is a frame decoration lamp relay board, 106 is a power receiving board, and 10
7 is a blanking prevention switch (ball cut detection switch), 10
Reference numeral 8 is an empty cut prevention switch board (ball break detection switch board), 109 is a board external output terminal, 110 is a board external output board, 111 is a center cover, 112 is a voice control board, 113 is a photo distribution board, and 114 is Power board, 11
5 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, 121 is a main control board, 122 is a card interface connection section, and 123 and 124 are power plugs. is there.

Of the back mechanism, 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 ball rental payout device (ball rental payout means) 140 and the prize ball payout device 160. In this embodiment, the storage tank 101 communicates with each other. It is composed of two members: 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 ball rental payout device 140 and the prize ball 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. Further, in this embodiment, the three rows of the guide gutters 95 are distributed in the case rail 130 into one row of the ball lending payout guidance gutters 95a and two rows of the prize ball 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.
Through the emptying prevention switch 107, and then the rental ball payout device (ball rental payout means) 140 or the prize ball payout device 160.
Reach

The ball-rental payout device (ball-rental payout means) 140
As shown in the top view (a), front view (b), right side view (c), and FIG. 12 of FIG. 11, the upper end communicates with the ball-renting ball payout guide gutter 95a of the case rail, and the lower end is not shown. Game ball passage 15 leading to the game ball payout opening 38 through the payout passage
The number of payout game balls is detected by a payout game ball detection sensor 145 while having 1 inside and opening and closing a rotatable ball rental stopper 147 in the middle of the game ball passage 151. It consists of the following components. That is, the ball rental case main body 141 in which the game ball passage 151 is formed, the ball rental main body cover 144 combined to cover the ball rental 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 ball rental solenoid 142, a ball rental arm 143, a ball rental stopper 147, and a ball rental link provided between the ball rental case body 141 and the ball rental body cover 144. 148, a ball rental stopper shaft 149, a ball rental link shaft 150, and the like.

The ball rental solenoid 142 of this example is arranged such that the extendable and contractible actuating member 142a faces downward, and the prize ball arm 143 is locked to the actuating member 142a.
The ball rental stopper 147 is a ball rental stopper shaft 149.
It is rotatably attached to the ball rental case body 141 by the rotation, and the claw 147a at the tip 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.
Further, the ball rental link 148 is the ball rental stopper 1
It has an engagement pin 148a that engages with a part of 47 and an engagement recess 148b that engages with the ball rental arm 143. The ball rental case main body 142 is rotatable by the ball rental link shaft 150. This ball rental arm 143 is attached to
The ball rental stopper 147 is rotated by the rotation of.

A specific operation of the ball rental payout device 140 will be described. The game ball that has entered the game ball passage 151 of the ball lending device 140 from the ball lending guidance gutter 95a,
As shown in FIG. 11B, by the ball rental stopper 147 protruding into the game ball passage 151,
Once, the ball rental device 140 is stopped at the ball stop position. Note that, here, the protruding portion of the ball rental stopper 147 is the ball stop position in the ball dispensing device 140. Here, when a payout command is output to the ball payout device 140 by pressing the ball lending button 174 of the ball payout operating means 170 or the like, a signal is issued from the payout control circuit 118 to operate the ball loan solenoid 142, The ball lending stopper 147 rotates 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. Then, as described above, when the number of unit lent balls (or an integral multiple of the number of unit lent balls) is reached, the ball rental stopper 142 is rotated by the operation of the ball renting solenoid 142 to project into the game ball passage 151. Stop paying out game balls. The paid game balls (ball rental) 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 prize ball payout device 160 has a prize ball case body 161, a prize ball screw 1.
Prize ball motor 163 having 62, prize ball body cover 16
4, payout game ball detection sensor (photo sensor here) 1
65, prize ball case bearing 166, prize ball case bearing cover 1
It is composed of 67 etc. The prize ball payout device 160,
By operating the prize ball motor 163, the prize ball screw 162 is adapted to rotate, and enters the prize ball payout device 160 from the prize ball payout guide gutter 95b and rides on the wings of the prize ball screw 162. The balls gradually move downward so that game balls are paid out from a ball payout outlet (not shown).

When a prize ball payout condition is satisfied by, for example, winning a game ball in the prize hole, a signal is output from the payout control circuit 118 and the prize ball motor 1
63 is operated, and the game balls are paid out. 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 prize ball motor 163 is stopped to stop the payout of game balls. The paid game balls (prize balls) are
It is supplied from the game ball payout opening 38 to the upper ball tray 36.

In the payout game ball detection sensors 145, 165 of the ball payout device 140 and the prize ball payout device 160, if 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 ball-rental payout device 140 and the prize-ball payout 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 for extracting all the game balls in the game machine after the inspection by the game machine maker (particularly the payout device operation inspection) or at the time of failure maintenance by the game store, etc. will be described. explain. This gaming machine 1 guides the game balls that have flowed down the guide gutter 95 to the ball rental payout device (ball rental payout means) 140 and the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means) 160, which will be described later. The rail case 130 is provided with guide switching means 131 for switching between guiding to the ball pulling trough 134.

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 a case rail body 130a.
A first partition member 130b and a second partition member 130c
And the case rail main body cover 130d, and the inside of the case rail 130 is partitioned into a guide gutter 95 and a ball drain gutter 134. The guide gutter 95 in the case rail 130 includes a first partition member 130b and a second partition member 130.
There are three rows partitioned by c, and one row of ball-rental payout guidance troughs 95a and two rows of prize ball payouts are provided at a position downstream of the guidance switching portion 96 formed in the middle of the guidance trough 95 in the case rail 130. It is distributed to the guide gutter 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 has the opening 9 for removing the ball.
7 is opened and closed to switch the guidance of the game ball, 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 size capable of closing the ball removal opening 97 from below, and a case rail 13 that hangs downward from a rotation axis of the guide switching plate 132a.
It is composed of a weight portion 132b protruding outward. The guide switching member 132 includes the case rail main body 130a and the case rail main body cover 13 near the opening 97 for removing the ball.
The guide switching plate 132a is pivotally mounted on the guide switching plate 132a during 0d so that the guide switching plate 132a is weighted by the weight 132b.
The side is naturally rotated upward so as to come into contact with the ball removal opening edge 98 as the rotation restricting portion from below. When the guide switching plate 132a hits the ball-opening opening edge 98, further upward rotation is restricted and the ball-opening 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 removing the ball. 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 guide switching operation lever 133 is used to rotate the guide switching member 132 downward, and the end portion 1 separated from the rotating shaft of the guide 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 guide switching operation lever 133 is rotated toward the guide 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,
The guide switching plate 132a rotates downward due to the weight of the game ball located on the guide switching plate 132a, and the ball removing opening 9 is formed.
7 is opened, the game ball upstream of the guide switching unit 96 is guided to the ball pulling trough 134 through the ball pulling opening 97, and the gaming machine 1
It is forcibly discharged to the outside.

At this time, the ball stop position (in the remaining game balls) of the ball lending payout means (here, the ball lending payout device 140) from the guidance switching section 96 (the ball removal opening 97 in this example) in the game machine 1. Until the most downstream gaming ball stop position) L
, The game ball still remains, it is necessary to discharge the remaining game ball out of the game machine. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1 of the present invention, the ball rental payout device 14 is operated from the guidance switching unit 96.
Until the ball stop position of 0, L is the length and diameter of the guide trough 95, the length of the game ball passage 151 of the ball rental device 140 and The diameter, the installation position of the ball rental stopper 147, etc. are determined. In this embodiment, one multiple of the number of unit balls to be lent, specifically 25 game balls, are left as remaining game balls between L in the game machine.

In this way, since the number of remaining game balls is only an integral multiple of the number of unit balls to be lent, the ball paying-out device 140 is operated by the ball-paying-out operation means or the external payout command device as is conventionally done. When discharging the remaining game balls by operating, it is possible to remove all the remaining game balls without error due to lack of balls. Further, in this embodiment, since a multiple of the number of unit rental balls is set as the number of remaining game balls, all remaining game balls can be discharged by performing the payout operation only once, and the number of payouts can be repeated many times. There is also an advantage that the time and effort for the operation can be saved.

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

Further, after the game balls are guided to the ball pulling trough 134 by the guide switching means 131, the ball switching positions of the guide switching unit 96 and the prize ball payout device 160 (the maximum number of game balls in the ball lending screw or the like). Although the game ball remains between the downstream stop position), the number of game balls to be paid out in one award ball operation (as in the case of the ball rental payout device 140) also regarding the discharge of the remaining game balls ( If you set the number of remaining prize balls to be an integer multiple of the number of prize balls, you can forcibly place the prize balls into the winning slot and discharge the remaining prize balls by unit prize balls. No error due to lack,
The game ball can be discharged more efficiently.

Further, in the present embodiment, the payout and the payout stop in the ball payout device 140 are performed by the rotation of the ball pay stopper 147 by the ball pay solenoid 142, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the payout and the payout stop of the ball rental payout device may be performed by using a screw mechanism similar to the prize ball screw 162 used in the prizeball 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.

Further, in this embodiment, the ball rental device and the prize ball dispensing device are provided separately, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, if the ball payout device (ball loan payout means) also serves as the prize ball payout device (prize ball payout means), and if the above-mentioned prize ball payout condition is satisfied, the game ball is played from the ball payout means. (Prize ball) may be paid out.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment,
The ball lending payout operating means (storage medium reading unit) is connected to the ball lending payout means (ball lending payout device), and the external payout command device can also be connected to the ball lending payout means from outside the gaming machine. Although it is possible to perform ball removal of the remaining game balls by both the ball lending payout operating means and the external payout command device, either the ball lending payout operation means or the external payout command device is connected. If it is or is connectable, the remaining game balls can be discharged without any inconvenience.

[0056]

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 ball rental means. Since the remaining remaining game balls are configured to be only an integral multiple of the preset number of unit balls for the payout operation of one of the ball payout operation means, after that, the ball payout operation means When ejecting the remaining game ball by the operation of or by the payout command from the external payout command device, the shortage of the payout game ball is not detected until the end, and the remaining game ball can be extracted reasonably without error. .

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 2,
Since the number of remaining game balls is configured to be only a multiple of the unit number of unit balls preset in the ball payout means, all the remaining game balls can be extracted by one payout operation, which is efficient. The remaining game balls can be discharged to.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the number of remaining gaming balls is configured to be only an integer multiple of 2 or more of the unit number of renting balls preset in the ball paying-out means. , Many game balls can be stored in a guide gutter or a ball rental payout means.

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 4,
Since the ball-rental payout device also serves as the prize-ball payout device, when the prize-ball payout condition is satisfied, the game ball (prize ball) can be paid out from the ball-borrowing means (ball-ball payout device). , It is not necessary to separately provide a ball rental payout device and a prize ball payout device. Therefore, at the time of extracting the remaining game ball, it is only necessary to discharge the remaining game ball from the guidance switching unit to the ball rental device, and the remaining game ball can be extracted more efficiently.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the fifth aspect, since the ball rental payout operating means is a storage medium reading unit using a storage medium, this is used to stop the ball of the ball rental payout means from the guidance switching section. The remaining game balls up to the position can be removed and the work can be performed rationally.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the sixth aspect, an external payout command device connected to the ball rental payout means from the outside of the gaming machine remains between the guidance switching unit and the ball stop position of the ball rental payout means. Since the game ball is removed from the ball, the remaining game ball can be rationally discharged, and there is also an advantage that an expensive storage medium reading unit need not be attached one by one especially in the inspection at the game machine manufacturer.

[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 showing the structure of the guidance switching means.

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

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a ball rental payout device.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a ball rental payout device.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a prize ball payout device.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

1 game machine 95 induction gutter 96 induction switching unit 101 Storage tank 131 guidance switching means 134 Ball gutter 140 Ball rental payment means (ball rental payment device) 160 prize ball payout means (prize ball payout device) 170 Ball rental payout operation means 180 External payout command device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the 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 (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage tank for storing game balls for payout, a guide gutter for causing a game ball to flow down from the storage tank, and a game ball that has flowed down the guide gutter is temporarily stopped at a ball stop position to rent a ball. The payout amount of the game balls preset for the payout operation of one of the payout operating means is set as the unit loan number, and the payout means for paying out the game balls, and the game ball flowing down the guide gutter, In the guidance switching unit provided in the guidance gutter upstream of the ball lending means, the guidance switching to the guidance to the ball lending means or to the ball gutter forcibly discharging the game balls upstream from the guidance switching unit In a ball game machine having a switching means, when the guidance of the game ball is switched to the guidance to the ball gutter by the guidance switching means and the game ball upstream from the guidance switching section is discharged, the guidance switching section To the ball stop position of the ball rental means Pinball game machine Zandama game balls number, characterized in that it is configured such that only an integer multiple of the unit rental spheres number remaining between. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the integral multiple is 1. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the integral multiple is twice or more. 4. The ball lending means also serves as the prize ball paying means, and when the prize ball payout condition is satisfied, the prize ball is paid out from the ball lending means. The ball game machine described in any of the above. 5. The ball payout operation means is connected to the ball payout means, reads the payable game ball information of a storage medium, and has the payable game ball information in the storage medium, and one payout operation is performed. In the case of playing, a storage medium reading unit that outputs a payout command of a unit sphere of game balls to the ball lending means, and performs a payout operation of the game balls to the ball lending means according to the payout command of the storage medium reading unit. The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. A game of a unit lent number to the ball-rental payout means, each time an external payout command device is connected to the ball-rental payout means from outside the gaming machine, and one payout command is output from the external payout command device. The ball-ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a ball payout operation is performed.