JP3430092B2 - Gaming 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 an improvement of a ball game machine used as a CR machine or a cash machine. Further, the present invention uses a method of transmitting a digital signal, for example, a method of transmitting a data signal such as a command signal from a transmission side control unit to a reception side control unit in order to operate each device of a gaming machine and the method thereof. Regarding gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently,
There are two types of ball game machines, such as pachinko game machines, which use a prepaid card to lend a ball to a player (CR machine) and which use cash (cash machine). Of these, in CR machines, game balls for ball lending and prize ball discharge are both transferred internally, and the transferred game balls are generally supplied to the upper plate from a common discharge port. is there.

Further, this type of ball game machine is provided with a ball discharging device for transferring game balls, and this ball discharging device is commonly used for ball lending and prize ball discharging to simplify the structure. There is a plan. Then, the ball discharging device has a unit number of lent balls (for example, 25) or a unit prize number (for example, 6 or 15).
In response to the control command based on, the required number of balls are discharged.

By the way, various counting management is carried out in the game shop, and the counting information obtained from the ball game machine is used for business management of the game shop, attracting customers, and the like. And
For accurate counting management, it is necessary to grasp the operating state of the ball game machine in as much detail as possible. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to separately grasp the number of lent balls and the number of prize balls, but in order to detect them accurately, the ball lending route and the prize ball route are arranged in different systems, and a ball discharging device is provided for each. It must be installed, which requires significant changes in structure and control.

Therefore, the present invention provides a ball game machine capable of accurately grasping the number of lent balls and the number of prize balls without complicating the structure of the ball lending route and the prize ball route. This is the first issue.

Next, in the data transmission system of a digital electronic device such as a game machine, a strobe (hereinafter referred to as ST
A method using a signal is also widespread. STB
The signal is a kind of pulse signal transmitted in parallel with the data signal when data is transmitted from the transmission side control unit to the reception side control unit. A digital signal is basically formed by two levels defined by a threshold, that is, a combination of H level and L level.
Either a change edge from the level to the L level (also called a falling edge) or a change edge from the L level to the H level (also called a rising edge) is effective. For example, when the normal time is at the L level, when the L level is changed to the H level, or when the level is changed to the H level and then returned to the L level (when the normal time is at the H level, the edge is changed to the L level. Or the edge when returning to the H level) is effective.

For example, in a gaming machine, when a data signal such as a command signal is transmitted from the main control unit to the passive control unit, every time the data signal is transmitted from the main control unit to the passive control unit, an STB signal accompanies this. Are being sent. From the viewpoint of the passive control unit, various signals are being input to the I / O port of the passive control unit one after another, but among these signals, they were input to the I / O port only when the STB signal was received. For the data signal, receive the data signal as valid,
For example, if the data signal is a command signal that commands a specific operation, it is necessary to perform the corresponding operation. That is, by receiving the STB signal, the input signal is recognized as a command signal from itself to the main control unit, and the operation corresponding to the received signal is performed.

By the way, in recent digital electronic devices, particularly game machines, various control units and actuators, for example,
A main control unit that controls the operation of the entire gaming machine, a frame control unit that controls prize ball discharge, a game ball detection sensor, a game ball discharge motor, a launch motor, a solenoid, etc. are arranged adjacent to each other. Output signals and input signals from devices repeatedly exchange signals with other devices via electrical wiring. At this time, if an unauthorized signal or noise is input from the outside, these passive signals may be used alone or in the form of a combination of these signals and the output signals from the various devices described above. In some cases, the control unit mistakenly recognized the STB signal, and performed unnecessary or illegal operation.

[0009] For example, the problem that the above-mentioned signal input is illegally made and a large number of game balls are stolen is actually caused by targeting the prize ball payout control unit which is a passive control unit. On the other hand, if the passive control unit is the control unit of the symbol display device, a symbol unrelated to the game is displayed on the display unit provided on the game board, causing the player to feel distrust. It was sometimes lost. It should be noted that by transmitting an ACK (acknowledge) signal from the passive control unit to the main control unit, it is possible to discriminate between a regular STB signal and an error signal. It is prohibited to send a signal to the ACK signal, and the ACK signal cannot be adopted due to regulations. On the other hand, there is also a method of adding a noise filter or the like to the input terminal section of the passive control section in order to prevent malfunction due to noise.
In this case, a ferrite piece, a choke coil, or a combination of a capacitor and a resistor is required as a noise filter in the wiring connected to the input terminal of the passive control unit, which leads to an increase in the number of parts and an effect of the filter. There is a drawback that noise cannot be prevented from being mixed in from a part that does not exist.

A second object of the present invention is to prevent a false recognition of a strobe signal due to noise or the like from occurring, and thus to effectively prevent a malfunction or illegal operation of a device due to it, and a game using the signal transmission system. To provide an opportunity.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of the above first problem,
A first aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention is provided with a ball discharging means which is commonly used for discharging a ball and a prize ball, and a ball detecting means which detects a ball and a prize ball separately. It is a game machine. As a result, the ball discharging means can be shared between the ball lending and the prize ball discharging, and the structure can be simplified, and the above problem can be solved suitably. That is, the number of lent balls and the number of prize balls can be accurately grasped without complicating the configurations of the ball lending route and the prize ball route.

The ball discharging means is a game ball including an upstream passage, and a plurality of branch passages branched from the upstream passage through a branching portion and formed in a plurality corresponding to rental ball discharge and prize ball discharge. It can be configured to have a passage and a ball feeding means which is disposed in the branching part and which can select and transfer a game ball to one of a plurality of branching passages, and the ball detecting means discharges each branching passage. The game balls can be individually detected. By providing the branch passage, it becomes easier to distinguish between a ball for rent and a prize ball. In this case, the ball detection means includes a ball rental detection sensor provided in the branch passage for discharging the ball rental and a prize ball detection sensor provided in the branch passage for discharging the prize ball, thereby providing the ball rental. It is possible to perform the detection more reliably by distinguishing from the prize ball. As a preferred example of a specific structure of the ball discharging means, a game ball passage which is disposed on the back mechanism board and branches the game ball from the upstream passage into a plurality of branch passages through a branch portion, and the branch portion. And a ball discharging device having a ball feeding member that is controllable in different directions and that can select and transfer a game ball to any one of the plurality of branch passages. .. It should be noted that a prize ball discharge passage and a ball rental discharge passage are formed by providing a branch portion on the downstream side of the ball feeding member that is driven and controlled only in one direction, and a prize ball detection sensor and a ball rental detection sensor are provided in each passage. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the ball discharge passage switching member is provided upstream of the branch portion. The ball discharge path switching member can be configured to be operated by the ball discharge path switching member control device to guide the ball discharged from the ball sending member to the prize ball discharge passage or the ball rental discharge passage.

With the above structure, the ball discharging device is
Number of units lent (eg, 25) or unit prize balls (eg, 6)
The required number of balls is discharged according to a control command based on the number of balls, 15 balls, etc.). As the structure of the ball feeding means, there is a ball feeding member that can be drive-controlled in both forward and reverse directions, and according to the driving direction, it is possible to transfer the game ball by selecting either the prize ball passage or the ball lending passage. The following can be illustrated. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably distinguish the ball lending discharge and the prize ball discharge depending on the driving direction of the ball feeding member. For example, in a CR machine, the ball feeding member can be driven and controlled in different directions, and the game ball can be transferred by selecting one of the branch passage, that is, the prize ball passage or the ball lending passage. For example, when adopting the ball feeding member including a gear-shaped member in which the recess formed between the teeth serves as a sphere accommodating portion, the gear-shaped member flows down from the upstream passage along with its rotation. As a specific example, a mode in which the incoming game balls are sequentially received in the recesses and the game balls in the recesses are selectively separated or dropped into either the prize ball passage or the ball lending passage according to the rotation direction thereof It can be illustrated.
Only by changing the rotation direction of the gear direction, it is possible to extremely easily reverse the drive control direction of the ball feeding member.
Moreover, by using the recess of the gear, the accuracy of controlling the number of discharged balls can be improved.

Specific examples of the gear-type sphere feed member drive mechanism include a shaft, a gear mounted on the shaft, and a sphere discharge motor for rotating the shaft. Specific examples of the ball detecting means (ball lending detection sensor or prize ball detection sensor) include a prize ball count switch and a ball lending count switch, which are provided in the branch passages.

On the other hand, the ball feeding means may include a ball feeding control member for selectively opening only the branch passage to which the game ball is to be transferred and closing the other branch passage. By selectively opening the branch passage, it is possible to more surely distinguish between the rental ball discharge and the prize ball discharge. For example, as a rational and simple realization thereof, the ball feed control member includes a blocking member that is swingable between the prize ball passage side and the ball rental passage side with respect to the branch portion, and the blocking member is configured to By laying down on either side of the prize ball passage and the ball rental passage, the passage entrance on the laid side can be closed while the other passage entrance is opened. Further, in the cash machine, the ball lending passage can be closed by attaching a lid to one of the branch passages, or the prize ball passage alone can be used. In this case, when using the above-mentioned gear type ball feeding member,
It is sufficient to drive and control this in one direction.

In order to solve the second problem of the present invention, the data transmission method of the present invention is a signal transmission for transmitting a data signal from a transmission side device side to a reception side device together with a strobe signal. In the method, a first level and a second level which are distinguished from each other are defined by using a predetermined reference level as a threshold, and when the transition edge from the first level to the second level is the assert edge of the strobe signal, the assert edge The strobe signal input to the receiving-side device is treated as valid only when the signal holding time at the second level after occurrence of is satisfied with a predetermined condition.

Further, the gaming machine of the present invention using the same, when transmitting the data signal necessary for the progress of the game from the transmitting side device to the receiving side device together with the strobe signal, sets a predetermined reference level. When the first level and the second level which are distinguished from each other are defined as the threshold value and the transition edge from the first level to the second level is the assert edge of the strobe signal, the second level after the assert edge occurs The strobe signal input to the receiving side device is treated as valid only when the signal holding time in 1 satisfies a predetermined condition.

In the present specification, "data" means
For example, in the case of a gaming machine, it is command data for causing the receiving side device to perform various operations, but it is not limited to this.

As described above, the strobe (STB) signal has two different signal levels (for example, L, L).
H) is asserted as a change edge from the first level to the second level as a valid edge, and after the signal is normally recognized, the first strobe signal is set after a predetermined time in order to prepare for the assertion of the next strobe signal. Negated by returning to the level. That is, the STB signal is an edge-effective pulse signal whose second level is the period from the assert edge to the negate edge. However, due to the nature of this strobe signal as an edge effective signal, its pulse width has not been given much importance in the past. On the other hand, in the present invention, in addition to handling the strobe signal as the edge valid signal, the signal holding time at the second level from the assert edge to the negate edge is limited, and the signal holding time at the second level is set. Only if it satisfies a predetermined condition, the receiving side device recognizes this as an STB signal. In short, the pulse width of the STB signal is regulated, but it is extremely rare that noise or the like has a predetermined pulse width, and it is extremely effective to prevent malfunction of various control units mounted on a game machine or the like. Can be prevented.
Also, if the waveform of the generated noise is known,
The signal holding time can be set so that the STB pulse width is far from the waveform.

More specifically, the above method is more specifically an assert edge detecting means for detecting a change edge from the first level to the second level as an assert edge, and a signal at the second level after the assert edge is detected. A device having a signal holding time measuring means for measuring the holding time and a judging means for judging the validity of the strobe signal depending on whether or not the measured signal holding time has reached a predetermined time. Can be configured as

The measurement processing of the signal holding time at the second level after the assertion edge is generated can be easily realized by the CPU, which is the main body of the receiving side apparatus, performing the software timer processing using the clock pulse.
Since this processing is operated by a count-up program (or count-down program) synchronized with the clock pulse, if the program to be incorporated is changed, no additional parts are required for each individual product, and the manufacturing method has a new function. The same process as that of the conventional method may be used even with the addition of, and the reliability is high and the cost is greatly advantageous. However, the above timer processing may be realized by hardware logic provided separately from the CPU.

As a more rigorous method, the signal holding time from the assert edge of the STB signal to its negating edge (hereinafter, also referred to as STB signal width or pulse width) is within a predetermined time range. In that case, it is possible to perform a process for validating the STB signal. In this case, an upper limit and a lower limit are set for the STB signal width (the upper limit and the lower limit may be the same), and when the STB signal width is shorter than the lower limit value or longer than the upper limit value,
The received STB signal is invalid. Therefore, only the signal having the specified signal width on time is recognized as the STB signal.

Further, the STB signal output from the transmission side control unit may have a substantially constant STB signal width. For example, the STB signal width may be specified for each product, and the program corresponding to the specified signal width may be incorporated in the receiving side device. This makes it possible to deal with fraud very effectively.

A game machine that can suitably employ the above-mentioned signal transmission system is, for example, a ball game machine, and in this case, the transmission side device, based on the game ball winning detection process and a specific winning detection, It may be a main control unit that controls a win / loss determination process of performing a lottery / judgment of win / loss between a winning state in which a predetermined advantageous gaming state is obtained and a non-winning state in which the advantageous gaming state is not obtained. Therefore, the receiving side device can be a peripheral control unit that operates by receiving a command from the main control unit.
Only one-way signal transmission from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit is allowed between the main control unit and the peripheral control unit. In the gaming machine having such a configuration, the STB is applied by applying the present invention.
Increasing the reliability of the signal has an extremely large ripple effect from the viewpoint of reducing the malfunction occurrence rate in the peripheral control unit.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] As a ball game machine of an embodiment of the present invention, a first-class pachinko machine of a type also called a so-called fever machine is cited, and its structure is shown in FIGS. It will be described with reference to FIG. <Surface Structure of Pachinko Machine 1> To explain the surface structure of the pachinko machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 is roughly divided into a gaming machine frame 1a and a gaming board 24 (see FIG. 2). Of these, in the gaming machine frame 1a, a front frame 2 having a glass plate fitted on the back side is pivotally attached to a middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable and can be opened and closed by a locking device 5, and the middle frame 3 is the main body. It is attached to the frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed. Below the middle frame 3, an upper plate 6 and a lower plate 7 are arranged. The upper plate 6 and the lower plate 7 are respectively provided with discharge ports 6a and 7a for discharging the game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1.
The upper plate 6 is provided with a speaker surface 8 having a plurality of long holes, and a speaker 9 for producing a sound effect according to a game state is mounted on the back side thereof.

On the right side of the upper surface of the upper plate 6, an operation having a display unit for displaying a balance of a prepaid card and an error display, a ball lending button for renting a game ball, various operation buttons such as a card return button, etc. The panel 10 is arranged. In the lower plate 7, the game balls supplied from the upper plate 6 are provided in the game area 25.
A launcher unit 107 for launching (see FIG. 2)
A firing handle 11 for operating (see FIG. 3) is provided. A touch switch (not shown) that detects that the player is touching is attached to the firing handle 11. Further, reference numeral 11a is a firing lever, and further,
Near the firing handle 11, a firing stop switch 11b for temporarily instructing the firing stop is provided.

On the upper part of the front frame 2, a frame decoration lamp 12,
13, 14, and 15 are provided, and the frame decoration lamp board 16 is installed corresponding to these. On the upper left side of them, the prize ball display LED 17 and the prize ball display LED board 18 are provided.
However, the stop display LED 19 and the stop display LED board 20 are located on the upper right side, and these are mounted on the middle frame 3. A volume switch board 21 is provided on the left rear side of the speaker surface 8. Further, a prebay card unit 22 is mounted on the left side of the pachinko machine 1. A door switch 23 that detects opening / closing of the front frame 2 is provided on the upper left side of the front side of the middle frame 3. Further, although illustration is omitted, on the back side of the upper plate 6, a game ball is placed on the upper plate 6.
Launcher unit 10 for supplying one from each launch position
7 (see FIG. 3) is attached. Further, in the present embodiment, the speaker 9 is used not only as a sound effect but also as a buzzer for issuing an alarm sound.

Furthermore, a lower plate full tank switch 7b is provided inside the discharge port 7a of the lower plate 7, and this lower plate full tank switch 7b is used when the amount of game balls in the lower plate 7 is excessively increased. Turn on.

<Structure of the game board 24> The game board 2 shown in FIG.
The structure of No. 4 will be described. In the center of the game area 25 of the game board 24, a center accessory 26 having a large frame is provided. This center accessory 26 is a normal symbol display device 27, a left passage opening 28 and a right passage opening 29 at the center of the upper part, a left normal symbol actuation gate 30 and a right ordinary symbol actuation gate 3 on the left and right sides.
1 is provided. 1 in the opening of the center accessory 26
A special symbol display device 33 including a 0-inch size liquid crystal display panel 32 is provided. On the liquid crystal display panel 32, a left symbol display area 34, a middle symbol display area 35, and a right symbol display area 36 are set. A left passage opening 37 and a right passage opening 38 are provided on both left and right lower sides of the center accessory 26.

Below the center accessory 26, a big winning device 40 also called an attacker, which operates as a condition device, is arranged. The special winning device 40 has a first-class starting opening (normal electric accessory) 41 in the center of the upper part thereof, a special winning opening opening / closing shutter 39, a specific area opening / closing shutter 42, a specific area 43, and a specific area outside area 44 on the lower side thereof. , And a special winning opening 45. In the special game state, when the special winning opening opening / closing shutter 39 opens and one winning ball enters the specific area 43,
The specific area opening / closing shutter 42 is closed, and other winning balls are guided to the area 44 outside the specific area. When the number of balls entering the special winning opening 45 reaches 9, or when the opening time of the special winning opening opening / closing shutter 39 reaches about 30 seconds, the special winning opening opening / closing shutter 39 is closed.

To the left and right of the big winning device 40, the lower left winning opening 4
6 and a lower right winning opening 47 are provided. Big prize device 4
A left winning opening 48 and a right winning opening 49 are arranged on the left and right of the upper part of 0. Out outlet 50 in the lower area of the big winning device 40,
An out mouthpiece 51 and a back ball prevention member 52 are provided. The outer rail 53, the inner rail 54, the foul ball prevention member 55, and the return rubber 56 that define and form the game area 25.
Are provided on the game board 24.

<Backside Structure of Pachinko Machine 1> Pachinko Machine 1
The back side structure will be described with reference to FIG. The middle frame 3 is supported by the main body frame 4 by a hinge 60 so as to be openable and closable. A game board 24 is detachably fixed to the middle frame 3 from the back side. A mechanism board 62 is detachably fixed to the middle frame 3 by a hinge 61. On the upper left side of the mechanism board 62, a prize ball tank 64 having a tank ball out detection switch 63 for detecting the presence or absence of the game ball depending on the presence or absence of the load of the game ball is provided, and below the prize ball tank 64 is a tank. Rail 6
5 is installed. A ball pulling lever 66 is provided at the right end of the tank rail 65. The tank rail 65 is a double rail as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mechanism board 62 is provided with a square opening 67 in the center thereof, and the tank rail 6 is provided on the right side thereof.
5 is provided with a spherical flow lower portion 70 (described later) that extends from the lower portion of the right end portion of 5 to the upper plate introducing port 68 and the lower plate introducing port 69.

Returning to FIG. 3, the back cover 102 storing the special symbol display device 33 under the tank rail 65, and the back cover 1
Main control units 140 (transmission side devices) are provided below 02. The main controller 140 is unitized and is externally attached to the lower part of the mechanism board 62. On the left side of the main controller 140, a launcher controller 103 and a launch control collective relay board 106 are provided. The launcher control unit 103 is provided with a touch sensitivity adjustment knob 104 and a ball jump strength adjustment knob 105. A launcher unit 107 is provided on the lower left side of the mechanism board 62.

A frame control unit 150 (reception side device; peripheral control unit) having a frame state display 108 is provided on the right side of the mechanism board 62. The frame status indicator 108 is
The 7-segment LED display is used to display such things as the lower pan full, main power supply voltage abnormality, firing stop, main board communication abnormality, and ball discharge motor abnormality. The frame controller 150 is located at the lower right of the main controller 140.

A power distribution section 110, an external information terminal section 111, and a lamp relay section 112 are arranged in the upper right corner of the mechanism board 62. Of these, the lamp relay section 112 has a display lamp relay section 113 and an effect lamp. The relay unit 114 is provided. A centralized power supply unit 160 (see FIG. 4) is arranged at the lower left corner of the mechanism board 62. The centralized power supply unit 160 is located at the lower left of the main control unit 140.

A connection cable 115 extends upward from the frame controller 150 and is connected to a prepaid card unit 22 having a power cable 116. A lower plate ball passage member 118 is provided below the mechanism board 62.

A push-type reset switch 119 provided in the frame controller 150 is exposed at the lower end side of the right side surface of the mechanism board 62 in FIG. 4, but this reset switch 119 is generally used. Since an automatic return type manual switch is adopted and the external dimensions thereof are extremely small compared to the external dimensions of the mechanism board 62, only the arrangement is shown here by reference numerals (numerals) and leader lines, and detailed description will be given. Is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an upstream passage 71, a prize ball passage 73 (branch passage) and a ball lending passage 74 (branch passage) are formed in the lower ball flow portion 70. At the same time, a ball discharging device 99 is attached. Upstream passage 7
1, the prize ball passage 73 and the ball lending passage 74 are all a plurality of rows, for example, two rows of gutters, as shown in FIG. 5B, and are partitioned in the front-back direction of the mechanism board 62. First and second passages (71a, 71b, 73a, 73b, 74a,
74b).

The upstream passage 71 is bent, and the upper end thereof is a ball outlet 8 which opens at the lower right end of the tank rail 65.
Connected to 5. Further, a contact type replenishment ball out detection switch 86 and a ball out switch lever 90 are arranged near the upper end of the upstream passage 71. The out-of-ball switch lever 90 constitutes a part of the upstream passage 71 and is elastically swingable around the upper end as a fulcrum. The out-of-ball switch lever 90 is adjacent to the normally-open type (judgment of out-of-ball when closed: however, the configuration may be reversed) supply-ball out detection switch 86, and its swinging detects the supply-ball out. The switch 86 is turned on / off.

In this embodiment, a torsion coil spring is used for elastically operating the ball break switch lever 90. However, other coil springs (tensile or compression) and leaf springs are generally used. Various elastic members can be adopted. Further, in the present embodiment, the out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the replenishment out-of-ball detection switch 86 are provided.
Is installed separately for each passage 71a, 71b,
The presence / absence of a game ball in each of the passages 71a and 71b is individually detected. Note that the out-of-ball switch lever 90 and the out-of-feed ball detection switch 86 may be provided in only one of the first and second passages 71a and 71b.

The prize ball passage 73 and the ball lending passage 74 are formed in a straight line in the vertical direction and extend substantially parallel to each other. Further, a prize ball count switch 78 (prize ball detection sensor) is attached to the prize ball passage 73, and a ball lending count switch 79 (ball rental detection sensor) is attached to the ball lending passage 74.
Is installed. Although the type of each switch 78, 79 is not limited, a groove-shaped non-contact type sensor is used here and is housed in each of the switch mounting portions 78a, 78b, 79a, 79b integrally formed in each passage 73, 74. Has been done. The switch mounting portions 78a to 79b project outside the passages 73 and 74 in order to secure a space for receiving the switches 78 and 79. In this embodiment, magnetic switches are used as the switches 78 and 79, but various general switches such as a current switch and an optical switch can be used as long as they can detect a metal body. A non-contact type sensor can be adopted.

The ball discharging device 99 has a case 77 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a ball discharging motor 80, a ball feeding member 76, and
A sphere ejector sensor substrate 96 is housed. The ball discharge motor 80 is a stepping motor (which may be a servomotor with an encoder) that can rotate in the forward and reverse directions, and operates based on the commands from the main controller 140 and the frame controller 150 described above. Although not shown, an optical sensor having a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver is mounted on the ball discharge device sensor substrate 96.

A game ball passage 75 is formed in the case 77, and the upper end of the game ball passage 75 communicates with the upstream passage 71. In addition, the game ball passage 75 branches in two directions at a branch portion 72 on the way, and the prize ball passage 7
3 and the ball rental passage 74. That is, case 7
Two inlets are opened in the upper part of 7, and four outlets are opened in the lower part. The upstream passage 71, the game ball passage 75, the prize ball passage 73, and the ball lending passage 74 form a sphere flow-down passage that is bifurcated downstream.

The ball feeding member 76 is an integrally molded product of, for example, synthetic resin, and is mounted on the output shaft of the ball discharging motor 80. Further, the ball feeding member 76 has gears 82, 83 (gear-shaped members) for transferring game balls and a rotation amount detecting gear (or sprocket) 8 on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft 81.
4 and these gears 82, 83, 84 are arranged in this order from the base end side to the tip side of the shaft 81, the gear 84 for detecting the rotation amount, and the gears 82, 83 for transferring game balls. Has been done. The gears 82, 83, 84 rotate integrally with the driving of the ball discharging motor 80.

The gears 82 and 83 for transfer are the game ball passage 7
The branch portion 72 of No. 5 is located in each of the first passage 72a and the second passage 72b. Further, both gears 82 and 83 have the same number of teeth at the same pitch, and the recess between the teeth is set to a size that can accept a game ball (generally a diameter of about 11 mm). A phase difference is set between the gears 82 and 83. This phase difference is, for example, half a tooth, and the other tooth portion faces one recess.

The teeth of the rotation amount detecting gear 84 are formed at the same pitch, and the number of teeth is equal to that of the transfer gear 8.
The number is set to be larger than 2,83 (in this embodiment, it is set to twice the gear 82). Then, the gear 8 for detecting the rotation amount
No. 4 is attached to the sphere ejector sensor substrate 96 in such a positional relationship that each of its teeth intermittently interrupts the light of the above-mentioned optical sensor as the gear 84 rotates.

On the right side of the lower part 70 of the ball flow, a ball removing passage 120 is provided.
Is formed, and the ball passage 120 is branched from the downstream end of the tank rail 65. Further, in the downstream region of the ball flow lower portion 70, the upper plate introducing port 68, the lower plate introducing port 69
A distribution unit 101 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided. Upper plate inlet 68 leading to upper plate 6 and lower plate 7
Lower plate introducing ports 69 communicating with the above are open adjacent to each other. Upper plate prize balls are supplied to the upper plate 6, and when the upper plate 6 is full, the lower plate prize balls are caused to overflow into the lower plate 7 to distribute the prize balls.

<Power Supply> Next, power supply in the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
The pachinko machine 1 receives the power supply from the AC power supply 700 in the centralized power supply unit 160 via the power distribution unit 110 provided in the mechanism board 62. As shown in FIG. 12, this centralized power supply unit 1
Reference numeral 60 denotes a plurality of power supply units having mutually different output voltages, in the present embodiment, first to third power supply units 710, 720, 730,
And a backup power supply unit 740. The first to third power supply units 710, 720, and 730 are provided with a predetermined voltage of AC of the power supply 700, AC24V in this case, and DC of a predetermined voltage in this case, DC + 12V, DC + 5V, D.
Convert to a voltage of C + 24V.

In the above structure, the centralized power supply unit is provided with an AC power supply unit of a predetermined voltage and a plurality of DC power supply units for converting an AC output from the AC power supply into a plurality of DC outputs of different voltages. The power supply unit distributes and supplies a necessary DC voltage to each of the main control unit and the peripheral control unit (or other peripheral device). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the main controller 140 and the frame controller 15
0, the launch device control unit 103, the special symbol control unit 145 (reception side device; peripheral control unit), from the centralized power supply unit 160,
Electric power of DC + 12V and DC + 5V are separately supplied. Further, the prepaid card unit 22 is supplied with DC + 24V power through the connector 770.
DC + 12V is mainly used for driving parts such as solenoids and motors, and + DC5V is mainly used for electronic parts such as various ICs. In addition, the special symbol control unit 145, the main control unit 1
The special symbol display device 33 is controlled based on an instruction from the device 40 (transmission side device).

With this configuration, each control unit 103, 1
It is not necessary to provide a power supply circuit unit in 40, 145, 150, and the respective control units are less susceptible to noise caused by the individual power supply circuit units. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an abnormality in each of the control units, and more stable control is possible. In addition, it is no longer necessary to mount a relatively large electronic component (electronic component with heat sink, capacitor for power circuit, regulator for power circuit, etc.) conventionally used in the power circuit section on each control board. The external dimensions of the substrate can be made small. In addition, since the centralized power supply unit 160 is equipped with the backup power supply unit 740, even if a short-term or momentary power failure or control runaway occurs, the data stored in the RAM or the like of each control unit is compensated. There are advantages.

The DC power supply unit outputs one of a plurality of DC voltage levels exceeding a predetermined reference voltage, while at least a part of the main control unit and peripheral control unit. In addition, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a distributed power supply unit that outputs a direct current equal to or lower than the reference voltage is provided. In the examples of FIGS. 11 and 12, DC + 5V power is supplied from the centralized power supply unit 160 to the control units 103, 140, 145, and 145.
Although the power is supplied to 150, generally, the weaker the power, the greater the influence of the loss in the transmission path. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the control units 103, 140, 145, and 150 may generate DC + 5V power. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the adverse effect due to the loss in the transmission path. The numbers of other components in FIG. 13 are the same as the numbers in FIG. 12, and the description applies correspondingly.

These advantages result from the following background. That is, conventionally, as a configuration for supplying electric power, as shown in FIG. 14, a power supply circuit is generally configured integrally with each control unit. For example, the main control board 54
A wiring pattern (not shown) is printed on 0a, and C
Various electronic components such as PU 503, ROM 502, electronic devices such as various ICs 504, resistors 505, capacitors 506, electronic components with heat sinks 507 and 508, various connectors 509, and the like, and a first power supply circuit capacitor 510a, A power supply circuit unit 550 including 510b and 510c, second power supply circuit capacitors 520a, 520b and 520c, and power supply circuit regulators 530a and 530b is mounted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the launcher control section 603 is protected by a case 601, and a cover 602 which can be detachably attached to the case 601, and includes a power circuit regulator 604 and a power circuit. And a launcher control board 603a provided with a power supply circuit section 650 including a capacitor 605.

In the conventional structure as described above, since the power supply circuit sections 550 and 650 are integrally formed with the respective control sections, the respective control sections are affected by noise caused by the power supply circuit sections 550 and 650. It becomes easy to receive. In addition, the power supply circuit unit 55
Since 0, 650 is supplied with larger electric power than electronic parts such as various ICs, the parts constituting the power supply circuit parts 550, 650 are relatively large. Therefore, the outer dimensions of each control board tend to be large. Although not described, the special symbol control unit 145, the frame control unit 150, and the like have the same background.

<Sphere Discharging Operation of CR Machine> The operation of the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 (a), 5 (b), 6 and 8. The game balls are supplied to the ball flow lower portion 70 via the prize ball tank 64 and the tank rail 65. In the ball lower part 70, the game ball follows the curved path of the upstream passage 71 in FIG.
Flow down while pressing 0. Ball switch lever 90
When there is a game ball in the ball path, is pressed by the game ball and elastically rotationally displaced, turning on the supply ball shortage detection switch 86. In addition, ball switch lever 9
When 0 is released from the pressing force from the game ball, the restoring force of the torsion coil spring is used to return to the original position, and the supply ball out detection switch 86 is turned off. By using the operation of the ball break switch lever 90, the presence or absence of a game ball in the upstream passage 71 is detected.

The game ball that has passed through the upstream passage 71 reaches the ball discharging device 99, flows into the game ball passage 75, and contacts the transfer gears 82 and 83. In one gear 82 (or 83), the game ball enters between the teeth, and in the other gear 83 (or 82), the game ball is placed on the teeth. Further, the succeeding game balls are placed on the preceding game balls and are sequentially deposited on the preceding game balls.

At this time, since the upstream passage 71 is bent, the weight of the game balls accumulated in the upstream passage 71 is dispersed in multiple directions, and an excessive load is prevented from acting on the gears 82 and 83. ing. The length of the upstream passage 71 is set so that the number of game balls between the gears 82 and 83 and the ball break switch lever 90 is a predetermined number, for example, 25 or more. The above-mentioned predetermined number corresponds to the number of unit loans (unit ball lending amount (here, 100 yen) divided by unit ball price (here, 4 yen)).

When the prize balls are discharged, the ball discharge motor 80 of the ball discharge device 99 is driven to rotate in the normal direction by the frame control unit 150, and the gears 82 and 83 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 5A. To do. With the rotation of the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are transferred to the prize ball passage 73 side, released from the gears 82 and 83, and discharged to the prize ball passage 73. The released game balls fall along the prize ball passage 73, and the prize ball count switch 78.
To be detected individually. Then, these gaming balls flow out from the ball lower portion 70 and reach the distribution unit 101,
It is discharged to the upper plate 6.

The rotation amount of the ball discharge motor 80 is the number of unit prize balls to be paid out according to the winning mode (here, 6 balls,
(10 types, 15 types, 3 types). In addition, since the phase difference is set in the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are discharged alternately between the first and second passages.
Therefore, it is possible to discharge an odd number of discharges in total for the two passages 73a and 73b.

Further, the rotation amount of the ball discharge motor 80 is detected by utilizing a rotation amount detecting gear (sprocket) 84 formed integrally with the transfer gears 82, 83. That is, as the ball discharge motor 80 is driven, the teeth of the rotation amount detecting gear (sprocket) 84 block the light of the above-mentioned optical sensor and change the output of the optical sensor. The rotation amount is calculated by referring to the pitch. The detection result of the rotation amount is used for checking the operation of the ball discharge motor 80, determining a ball discharge abnormality, and the like.

FIG. 8 shows a control procedure for the above prize ball discharging operation. In addition, in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, similarly to other general ones, the interrupt reset is performed every predetermined period (for example, about 2 ms) for the purpose of stabilizing the control, etc. 8 (FIGS. 9, 17, and 1 described later)
8, FIG. 42, FIG. 44, and FIG. 45 are the same), the procedure necessary for executing the interrupt reset is omitted in order to facilitate the rough understanding of the control procedure.

First, when the main control unit 140 detects a winning ball (S10), it sends the winning ball number information to the frame control unit 150 (S12) and requests the discharge of a predetermined number of winning balls. The frame control unit 150 causes the ball discharge motor 80 to rotate normally according to the number of prize balls requested by the main control unit 140 (S14). The discharged prize balls are detected by the prize ball count switch 78 (S16), and the detection result is sent to the main control unit 140 (S).
18). The main controller 140 uses the prize ball count switch 78.
It is confirmed whether or not the required number of prize balls has been discharged based on the count value of (S20), and the process ends. The frame control unit 150 also confirms the discharge number, and when the discharge number is insufficient with respect to the request number from the main control unit 140 (S22: YES).
The frame control unit 150 causes the ball discharge motor 80 to perform a retry operation (S24), discharges the shortage of prize balls, and ends the process. If the number of discharges is sufficient for the number of requests from the main control unit 140 (S22: NO), the process ends.

On the other hand, when the ball lending is performed, the ball discharging motor 80 of the ball discharging device 99 is reversely rotated and the gears 82 and 83 are rotated.
Rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 (a). With the rotation of the gears 82 and 83, the game balls are transferred to the ball lending passage 74 side, released from the gears 82 and 83, and discharged to the ball lending passage 74. The released game balls fall along the ball lending passage 74, pass through the ball lending count switch 79, and are individually detected. Then, these game balls flow out from the ball flow lower portion 70, reach the distribution unit 101, and are discharged to the upper plate 6, as in the case of the prize ball discharge.

The rotation amount of the ball discharge motor 80 in the case of ball lending is determined according to the unit number of balls lending (25 in this case). Further, when a ball lending for more than 100 yen is provided, a plurality of units of ball lending are provided, with 25 ball lending as one unit.

Control of prize ball discharge and ball lending is performed with reference to the main controller 140, each part of the gaming machine frame 1a, and the like. The ball lending process is prioritized over the prize ball discharging process. Then, for example, when a plurality of winning balls are stored and it becomes necessary to lend the balls during the discharging of the winning balls corresponding to the stored winning balls, the number of unit winning balls The ball lending is executed after the discharge is completed, and after the ball lending is completed,
Prize ball discharge corresponding to the remaining prize balls is restarted.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a control procedure for the above-mentioned rental ball discharging operation. That is, when the ball lending button on the operation panel 10 is pressed (S30), the frame control unit 150
Receives the ball lending request (S32). The frame control unit 150
The ball discharge motor 80 is reversely rotated so that 25 balls can be discharged (S34). The discharged ball lending is detected by the ball lending count switch 79 (S36), and the frame control unit 15
Based on the count value of the ball lending count switch 78, 0 confirms whether the requested number of balls have been discharged (S3).
8). If the detected number of lent balls is less than 25 (S40: YES), the frame control unit 150 causes the ball discharge motor 80 to perform a retry operation (S42), discharges the shortage of lent balls, and executes the processing. To finish. For example, when a ball for 500 yen is lent, the above-mentioned operation is repeated 5 times. If the detected number of lent balls is 25 or more (S40: NO), the process ends.

<Specific Example and Operation of Cash Machine> Next, a main part of a specific example when the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is used as a cash machine 1'is described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG.
For the parts overlapping with (a), the same numbers are attached with dashes and the description thereof is omitted, and new components are given new numbers.

When the pachinko machine 1'is used as a cash machine, it is necessary to use the ball lending passage 74 'of the ball flow lower portion 70' because the ball lending is directly supplied to the upper plate 6'from outside the machine. Absent. Therefore, the switch mounting portion 7 of the ball rental passage 74 '
A stopper lid 88 is attached to 9a 'and 79b', and the ball lending passage 74 'is closed. The stopper lid 88 is a ball lending count switch 79 (see FIG. 5) used in the case of a CR machine.
It is a thick plate-shaped synthetic resin body having substantially the same outer dimensions as (a)), and does not have a ball passage hole like the ball lending count switch 79. The stopper lid 88 is
It does not have the function of detecting a game ball.

Further, the rotation control of the ball discharge motor 80 is limited to the normal rotation (one direction), and the rotation control in the reverse rotation direction is not performed. That is, the ball discharge motor 80 is used only for prize ball discharge, and the detection of the game ball after discharge is also performed only for the prize ball. Since other operations such as the big hit operation of the pachinko machine 1'are well known, description thereof will be omitted.

<Effects of First Embodiment> According to this embodiment described above, the following effects occur. That is, the ball discharging device 99 discharges the game balls in different directions depending on whether the prize ball or the ball to be leased, so that the prize ball and the ball to be leased can be clearly distinguished, and the prize ball and the ball to be accurately detected. Will be possible.
In addition, the path of the game ball in the front part from the ball discharging device 99 can be one, and the ball discharging device 9
Since 9 can be commonly used for prize ball discharge and ball lending, it is not necessary to separately provide a plurality of sets of game ball paths, means for transferring game balls, and the like. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the number of lent balls and the number of prize balls without significantly complicating or changing the structure of the mechanism board 62.

Further, since the change between the CR machine and the cash machine can be made by changing the control procedure for discharging the ball and replacing the ball lending count switch 79 and the stopper lid 88, the application can be easily changed. is there. The change (and determination) of the use of the pachinko machine 1, 1'of this embodiment can be performed either during manufacturing or afterwards (for example, during modification).

<Modification of Ball Ejecting Device 99a> FIG.
A forced ball discharging means 91a is provided in a modified form of the ball discharging device 99a of (a). This forced ball discharging means 91a
Has a dial 92 connected to the ball discharge motor 80. In this modification, the dial 92 is arranged so as to project forward from the outer front surface of the front side portion of the case 77, and a predetermined amount is set so that the operator can easily recognize the correspondence between the rotation amount of the dial 92 and the number of game balls discharged. A dial 92 capable of intermittent rotation is used. The dial 92 is activated in a specific case, and has a structure in which it is rotated integrally with the ball feeding member 76 by operating a finger, for example. When the dial 92 rotates counterclockwise, a number of game balls corresponding to the amount of rotation are discharged from the ball discharging device 99 to the prize ball passage 73 side, and when rotated clockwise to the ball lending passage 74 side. It is supposed to be discharged.

For example, the number of prize balls detected by the prize ball count switch 78 is changed from the main controller 140 to the frame controller 150.
When the number of prize balls requested to
A person involved in the game shop operates the dial 92 to forcibly discharge the shortage of prize balls. When the count value of the prize balls matches the requested number, the gaming machine frame 1a returns from the abnormal state to the normal state, and the normal game becomes possible.

By providing the forced ball discharging means 91a in this way, the game ball can be supplemented and discharged when an abnormality occurs in the ball discharge, and more appropriate ball discharge becomes possible. Also,
The main control unit 140 can return to the normal state without requesting the frame control unit 150 to discharge the shortage prize balls. Therefore, it is not necessary to make a plurality of prize ball discharge requests for one winning, and it becomes clear that prize balls are discharged only once. In this way, clarifying the procedure for discharging prize balls is effective in eliminating the possibility of fraud.

A ball passage upper opening 93 is formed in the upper portion of the rear side of the case 77. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), a ball discharge device 99b which is another modification is provided with a forced ball discharge means 91b. This forced ball discharge means 9
1 is for forcibly discharging the prize balls by manual operation, and an electric type is used here. Specifically, it has a discharge switch, for example, an automatic resetting type push switch 94 and a remaining ball number display 95, and a single operation of the push switch 94 causes the ball discharge motor 80 to win one game ball. Discharge to the ball passage 73. In addition, the remaining ball number display 95 displays the number of prize balls counted based on the signal from the prize ball detection sensor and the main controller 140 to the frame controller 1.
The difference from the requested number of prize balls transmitted to 50 is displayed as the number of remaining balls, and the numerical value is decremented by "1" every time one game ball is paid out. And in this modification,
By continuously pressing the push switch 94, continuous ball ejection is performed, and the ball ejection motor 80 decelerates as the display approaches "0". Then, the ball discharge motor 80 is stopped and controlled so that the prize balls are not excessively discharged. According to the compulsory ball discharging means 91b, the shortage of the game balls can be discharged more easily and quickly, and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

<Modification of Lower Ball Flow> In the above-mentioned embodiment, as shown in FIG.
5 is used, and the sphere flow-down passages of the sphere flow lower parts 70 and 70 ′ are also set to two lines in accordance with this, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of lines is more than that, for example, FIG. It is also possible to adopt the three-passage structure shown in (b) and FIG. 7. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the tank rail 165 having three rows
As shown in FIG. 7, in the upstream passage 171, the prize ball passage 173, and the ball lending passage 174 of the lower ball flow portion 170, the first to third passages juxtaposed in the front-rear direction of the mechanism board 162, respectively. (171a to 171c, 173a to 173c, 174
a-174c) are formed. Also, the ball discharging device 1
99 game ball passages 175 are also formed in three rows, the first
Gear wheels 182a, 182b, 182c for transferring game balls are arranged in the third passages 172a, 172b, 172c. In this way, various passages (171, 173, 1
74, etc.), it becomes possible to discharge balls at a higher speed. The ball discharge motor 180 and the shaft 18
1 is the same as the ball discharge motor 80 and the shaft 81.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 16 shows the second embodiment.
This will be described with reference to (a) and (b). As shown in the figure, with respect to prize balls and ball lending, the ball flow lower parts 270 and 27 of the CR machine 201 and the cash machine 201 'have different structures.
Mechanical boards 262 and 262 'equipped with 0'are attached respectively. In the CR machine 201, the prepaid card unit 22
(See FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as PCU22) must be installed, and the ball lending mechanism must be built in the CR machine 201. In the present embodiment, when it is used as the CR machine 201, the CR machine unit 300 is mounted in the subsequent stage of the ball discharging device 299. The ball discharging device 299 has a case 277 in which a ball discharging motor 280, a ball feeding member 276 and the like are housed, and guides a game ball flowing from above through a curved game ball passage 275 and discharges it downward. The game ball passage 275 has two entrances and two exits corresponding to the two-way passage, and both prize balls and ball rental balls are discharged from the same exit.

In the CR machine unit 300, a game ball passage 375 is formed, and a swingable passage switching arm 301 (blocking member) and a passage switching as a driving means for driving the passage switching arm 301. A solenoid 302 and the like are provided. The game ball passage 375 is branched in two directions at a branch portion on the way, one of the branched passages is set as a prize ball passage 373, and the other is set as a ball rental passage 374. Then, a prize ball count switch 378 (prize ball detection sensor) and a ball lending count switch 379 (ball lending detection sensor; corresponding to the ball lending count switch 79 of the first embodiment) in the middle of each passage 373, 374.
Are provided respectively.

The passage switching arm 301 is used for the game ball passage 37.
It is located at the divergence part of 5, and is attached with the lower end side as a fulcrum. Normally, the passage switching solenoid 302 is O
In the FF state, the passage switching arm 301 maintains the standing posture to open the prize ball passage 373. At the time of ball lending, the passage switching solenoid 302 is turned on, and the passage switching arm 301 falls down as shown by the chain double-dashed line to bring the prize ball passage 37.
3 is closed and the ball rental passage 374 is opened. That is, the passage switching arm 301 selectively opens one of the prize ball passage 373 and the ball rental passage 374 according to the difference between the prize ball discharge and the ball rental discharge, and the game balls discharged from the ball discharge device 299. , The prize ball count switch 378 or the ball rental count switch 379. The shape and size of the portion where the CR machine unit 300 is mounted is C
It is set according to the external shape and external dimensions of the CR machine unit 300 so that the R machine unit 300 can be received and locked.

FIG. 17 schematically shows a control procedure for the above-mentioned prize ball discharging operation. The same parts as those in the above-described embodiment (for example, those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6A, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. That is, when the main control unit 140 detects a winning ball (S60), the number of winning balls information is displayed in the frame control unit 150.
(S62) to request the discharge of a predetermined number of prize balls.
The frame control unit 150 rotates the ball discharge motor 280 according to the number of prize balls requested by the main control unit 140 (S6).
4). The discharged prize balls are guided by the passage switching arm 301 to flow into the prize ball passage 373, and are detected by the prize ball count switch 378 (S66).
The detection result is sent to the main controller 140 (S68). The main controller 140 confirms whether or not the requested number of prize balls has been discharged, based on the count value of the prize ball count switch 378 (S70), and ends the process. In addition, the frame control unit 15
0 also confirms the number of discharges, and when the number of discharges is insufficient with respect to the number of requests from the main control unit 140 (S72: YES),
The frame controller 150 causes the discharge motor 280 to perform a retry operation (S74), discharges the shortage of prize balls, and ends the process. If the number of discharges is sufficient for the number of requests from the main control unit 140 (S72: NO), the process ends.

FIG. 18 schematically shows a control procedure for the above-described ball rental discharge operation. That is, the operation panel 10
When the ball lending button is pressed (S80), the frame control unit 15
0 receives the ball lending request (S82). Frame control unit 150
Drives the passage switching solenoid 302 (S84) to move the passage switching arm 301 to the ball lending side. further,
The frame control unit 150 rotates the ball discharge motor 280 so that a predetermined number of, for example, 25 ball rental balls are discharged (S8).
6). The discharged ball rental balls are detected by the ball rental count switch 379 (S88), and the frame control unit 150 confirms whether or not the requested number of ball rentals has been discharged based on the count value of the ball rental count switch 379. Yes (S90). If the detected number of lent balls is less than 25 (S92: Y
ES), the frame control unit 150 causes the ball discharge motor 280 to perform a retry operation (S94), discharges the shortage of balls, and ends the process. For example, if a ball for 500 yen is rented,
The above operation is repeated 5 times. When the detected number of lent balls is the above-mentioned predetermined number, that is, 25 or more (S92: N
O), the process ends.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16 (c), the cash machine 2
In the case of being used as 01 ', since the ball lending is performed by an external ball lending machine (not shown), devices such as the ball lending passage 374 and the passage switching arm 301 are unnecessary. Therefore, instead of the CR machine unit 300, a cash machine unit 300 ′ is mounted. This cash machine unit 30
Only the bent prize ball passage 373 'is formed at 0', and the prize ball count switch 378 'is formed in the middle of the prize ball passage 373'.
Are arranged. Further, the external shape and external dimensions of the cash machine unit 300 ′ are substantially the same as those of the CR machine unit 300, and both units 300 and 300 ′ have compatibility with respect to mounting. Note that in FIG. 16C, a part common to that in FIG. 16A is denoted by the same numeral with a dash (').

<Description of Control System> FIG. 19 shows the connection of the control system, and FIG. 20 shows the power supply path. Note that in this embodiment, since many devices common to the above-described first embodiment are adopted, in FIGS. 19 and 20, devices common to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. There is. This control system mainly includes the relay board 130,
A main control board 140a, a frame control board 150a, a launcher control board 103a, a centralized power supply board 160a, and a power distribution board 110a are provided. Of these, the main control board 140a is provided in the main control section 140 shown in FIG. 20, and the frame control board 150a is provided in the frame control section 150. Further, the launcher control board 103a is provided in the launcher control section 103, and the centralized power supply board 160a is provided in the centralized power supply section 16.
0, the power distribution substrate 110a is provided in the power distribution unit 110, respectively. Note that the main control unit 140 and the power distribution unit 110 in FIG. 20 have substantially the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment described above, but as will be described later, a first embodiment regarding connected devices and power consumption. There is a difference with.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19, as other substrates, a frame decoration lamp substrate 16, a prize ball display LED substrate 1
8, stop display LED board 20, volume switch board 2
1, ball discharge device sensor board 96, external information terminal 1 board 1
11a, a display lamp relay board 113a, an effect lamp relay board 114a, a voice control board 131, a ball feed solenoid relay board 133, and an upper tray CR board 135 are provided.

The external information terminal 1 substrate 111a is provided in the external information terminal portion 111, and the display lamp relay substrate 11 is provided.
3 a is provided in the display lamp relay section 113. Further, the effect lamp relay board 114a is the effect lamp relay unit 1
14 and the upper tray CR board 135 is built in the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 1). The volume switch board 21 and the voice control board 131 are used to control the speaker 9, and the ball feed solenoid relay board 133 is provided in a hit ball supply device (not shown).

Also, on the game board 24, the board surface lamp 12
4, a lamp control board 137, a board surface switch 125, a solenoid 126, a display control board (not shown), a liquid crystal display board 32, and the like. The block of the board lamp 124 shows a group of various lamps (including LEDs) provided in the center accessory 26, the big winning device 40, and the like. The block of the board surface switch 125 includes various ball detection switches for detecting winning and passing to the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 41, the specific area 43, the area 44 outside the specific area, a solenoid, and the like. The 126 blocks are
Various solenoids for driving the first type starting opening (normal electric accessory) 41, the special winning opening opening / closing shutter 39, the specific area opening / closing shutter 42, etc. are shown as a group. A signal is output from the lamp control board 137 to the panel lamp 124, and a signal is input from the main control board 140a. A signal is output from the board switch 125 to the main control board 140a, a signal is output from the main control board 140a to the solenoid 126, and a signal is output to the liquid crystal display board 32 via the special symbol control unit 145.

Next, the connection relationship between the above-mentioned substrates will be described. Of the above-mentioned various boards, the frame decoration lamp board 1
Reference numeral 6 has a lamp input connector (CN1) and lamps 1 to 4, and is connected to the lamp output connector (CN2) of the effect lamp relay board 114a via the lamp input connector (CN1). . The effect lamp relay board 114a is connected via the lamp input connector (CN1),
It is connected to a lamp output connector (CN1) provided on the lamp control board 137 of the game board 24. Further, the stop display LED board 20 is provided with a lamp input connector (C
It is connected to the lamp output connector (CN2) of the prize ball display LED board 18 via N1), and the prize ball display LE.
The lamp input connector (CN1) of the D board 18 is the lamp output connector (CN) of the display lamp relay board 113a.
2) is connected. Further, the display lamp relay board 1
The lamp input connector (CN1) of 13a is connected to the lamp output connector (CN6) of the frame control board 150a.

External information terminal 1 The substrate 111a has a tank ball out detection switch input connector (CN1), a door switch input connector (CN2), a ball lending information input connector (CN3), and a jackpot / prize ball information input connector. (C
N4), a jackpot information output connector (CN5), a prize ball information output connector (CN6), and a ball lending information output connector (CN7) are provided. Of these, the tank ball out detection switch input connector (CN1) is connected to the tank ball out detection switch 63, and the door switch input connector (CN2) is connected to the door switch 23.

In addition, a connector for inputting ball lending information (CN
3) is connected to the ball lending information output connector (CN5) of the frame control board 150a, and the jackpot / prize ball information input connector (CN4) is the jackpot / prize ball information output connector (CN2) of the main control board 140a. )It is connected to the. Further, the jackpot information output connector (CN5), the prize ball information output connector (CN6), and the ball lending information output connector (CN7) are used for connection with an external device such as a hall computer.

The ball discharge device sensor board 96 includes an optical sensor output connector (CN1), a ball discharge motor input connector (CN2), and a ball discharge motor output connector (CN).
3). Optical sensor output connector (CN1)
Is an optical sensor input connector (CN
3), and the ball discharge motor input connector (CN2) is also connected to the ball discharge motor output connector (CN2) of the frame control board 150a. further,
A ball discharge motor 280 is connected to the ball discharge motor output connector (CN3) of the ball discharge device sensor board 96.

Here, the "ball ejection motor sensor LED" described in the optical sensor output connector (CN1) in the block of the ball ejection device sensor substrate 96 is the optical sensor for detecting the rotation amount described in the first embodiment. It means the floodlight of
Similarly, the "ball discharge motor sensor" means a photosensor light receiver. In addition, the ball discharge motor input connector (CN
“Ball discharge motor A” and “Ball discharge motor B” described in 2) represent each phase of motor drive, and are (−) and (+).
Means reverse and forward.

The launcher control board 103a includes a power input connector (CN1) and a launch switch input connector (C
N2), a handle input connector (CN3), a launch motor output connector (CN4), and a ball feed output connector (CN5) are provided. The power input connector (CN1) is connected to the firing control connector (CN10) of the frame control board 150a, and the firing switch input connector (CN2) is connected to the firing stop switch 11b.
The firing handle 1 is attached to the handle input connector (CN3).
1 is connected. Launch motor output connector (CN
4) is connected to a launch motor 138 (included in the launcher unit 107), and a ball feed output connector (CN
A ball feed sonoid 139 is connected to 5) via a ball feed solenoid relay board 133.

The upper tray CR board 135 has a display input connector (CN1), a switch output connector (CN2),
Two switches, one LED, and a three-digit 7-segment display section are provided. Display input connector (CN
1) is a display output connector (CN) of the frame control board 150a
11), switch output connector (CN2)
Is also connected to the switch input connector (CN12) of the frame control board 150a.

The main control board 140a has a switch input connector (CN1) and a jackpot information output connector (CN).
2), a power input connector (CN3) and a prize ball data output connector (CN4) are provided. The switch input connector (CN1) is connected to the output connector (CN3) such as the supply ball out detection switch of the relay board 130, and the jackpot information output connector (CN2) is for jackpot information input of the external information terminal 1 substrate 111a. Connector (CN
4) is connected. In addition, the power input connector (C
N3) is connected to the power supply output connector (CN1) of the centralized power supply board 160a, and the main control board 140a connects the main power supply output connector (CN3) of the power distribution board 110a via the connector (CN2) of the centralized power supply board 160a. )It is connected to the. Further, the prize ball data output connector (CN4) is connected to the prize ball data input connector (CN9) of the frame control board 150a. Main control board 140
a is connected to the connector (CN1) of the volume switch board 21 via the connector (CN1) of the volume control board 131, and the connector (CN2) is connected to the speaker 9.

Here, for the main control board 140a, only the power supply and the connector relating to the transmission of prize ball data are shown, and the connector used for connection to the game board 24 and the connection for the voice control board 131 are shown. Illustration of the connector is omitted. The prize ball data output terminal (CN4) corresponds to prize ball data sent to the frame control unit 150 being 5-bit data, as will be described later, corresponding to prize ball data 1 terminal to prize ball data 5. Terminals and the like are provided.

On the frame control board 150a, in addition to the above-mentioned connectors (CN2, 3, 5, 6, 9 to 12), a power input connector (CN1) and a ball rental switch input connector (C
N4), passage switching solenoid output connector (CN
7) and a buzzer output connector (CN8) are provided. Power input connector (CN1) is power distribution board 1
10a is connected to the frame controller output connector (CN4), and the ball rental switch input connector (CN4) is connected to the ball rental count switch 379. The passage switching solenoid 302 is connected to the passage switching solenoid output connector (CN7), and the buzzer output connector (CN
A buzzer 155 is connected to 8).

The above-mentioned connector (CN
In addition to 3), supply ball out detection switch input connector (CN1), prize ball count switch input connector (C
N2) and lower plate full tank switch input connector (C
N4) are provided. Two supply ball out detection switches 86 are connected to the supply ball out detection switch input connector (CN1), and a prize ball count switch 378 is connected to the prize ball count switch input connector (CN2). Further, the lower plate full tank switch 7b is connected to the lower plate full tank switch input connector (CN4). The power distribution board 110a is provided with an external power input connector (CN1) and a grounding connector (CN2) in addition to the main controller output connector (CN3) and the frame controller output connector (CN4) described above. .

<Description of Power Supply System> FIG. 20 shows a power supply system. In this embodiment, the distributed power supply section 161 is provided as in the example of FIG. 13 described above, and the power distribution section 110 to the centralized power supply section are provided. Electric power of + 24V is supplied to 160 and the frame control unit 150. Furthermore, + 32V, + 24V, + 12V
The three types of power from the centralized power supply unit 160 to the main control unit 140
Is supplied to the + 12V, + 32V of power from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, from the frame control unit 150 to the launcher control unit 103, + 12V power from the main control unit 140 special symbol control unit 145. In addition, + 24V power is supplied from the frame control unit 150 to the PCU 22.

<Prize Ball Emission Control Signal Transmission System> FIG. 21 schematically shows a signal transmission system in prize ball ejection control. The prize ball number information is prize ball data 1 to 5 and strobe (ST
B) signal and including prize ball data output ports 1-5
Corresponds to each bit of the command described later. That is, the prize ball data output ports 1 to 5 are used for parallel transmission of various commands from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 (that is, it does not indicate only the data of the number of prize balls in a narrow sense, but prizes). Is to comprehensively output commands for performing various commands regarding ball payout). Further, in the present embodiment, the frame controller 150 receives the prize ball switch information via the main controller 140. A signal is sent to the passage switching solenoid 302 from the first terminal of the passage switching solenoid output connector (CN7) on the frame control board 150a.

<Ball Rental Ball Emission Control Signal Transmission System> FIG. 22 shows an outline of a signal transmission system in the ball rental ball emission control.
A card unit R is provided between the PCU 22 and the frame control unit 150.
EADY signal (BRDY), stand terminal lending request completion confirmation signal (BRQ), stand READY signal (PRDY), and
Ball rental is discharged by transmitting and receiving a stand terminal lending completion signal (EXS). In the present embodiment, the detection result (ball rental prize ball switch information) of the ball rental count switch 379 is sent to the frame control unit 150 and not to the main control unit 140.

<Winning Management Processing> FIG. 23 shows the main controller 140.
The winning management process executed in. In this prize management processing, first, there is a prize (S100: YES).
Then, the prize type is determined in the order of 6 and 15 (S10
1, 102), if there is no corresponding case, it is judged to be 10 (S102: NO). However, even 10 prize balls
Identification by individual detection and command transmission may be advantageous in dealing with fraud. Then, one of 6, 15, and 10 is set in the prize ball data according to the determination result (S103, 104, 105), and the prize ball data is output to the side of the frame control unit 150 (S106).
Further, the prize ball data is added to the total discharge number memory (here, 2 bytes are secured) (S107), and the strobe signal (S
TB) is turned on (here, 5 microseconds) (S10
8), the process ends. No winning (S100: NO)
Then, the processing is ended as it is.

<Discharge Count Processing> FIG. 24 shows discharge count management. First, it is determined whether or not the prize ball switch information is ON (S110), and if the prize ball switch information is ON, the total discharge amount memory is decremented by "1" (S112), and the process is ended and turned OFF.
If (S110: NO), the process ends as it is.

<Interrupt Processing> FIG. 25 shows the interrupt processing executed in the frame control unit 150. This interrupt processing is STB
It is executed when the signal is turned on (see S108 in FIG. 23). First, the command from the main control unit 140 is acquired (S120), and the number of prize balls to be paid out is confirmed in the order of 6 and 15 (S121 and S122).
“1” is added to the memory corresponding to the number of prize balls of either 10 or 10 (S123, S124, S125), and the process ends.

<Discharge Process> FIG. 26 shows the discharge process. If the prize ball discharging flag is not ON (S130: NO),
It is confirmed whether the discharge memory is "0" in the order of 6, 15, 10 (S131, S132, S133), and "0".
If there is a non-existing memory, the number corresponding to that memory is set in the discharge counter (S134, S135, S13).
6). After that, the prize ball discharging flag is set (S13).
7), the ball discharge motor starting process is executed (S138),
Return to return. If the discharge memories of 6, 15, and 10 are “0” (S131, S132, S133:
YES), the process returns to return.

On the other hand, if the prize ball discharging flag is ON (S130: YES), it is judged whether or not the prize ball switch information is ON (S139), and if it is ON (S139: Y).
ES) and the discharge counter are decremented by "1" (S140).
Next, it is determined whether or not the discharge counter has reached "0" (S141), and if it has reached "0" (S141: Y
ES), the prize ball discharging flag is cleared (S14)
2), the discharge process is completed and the process returns. If the prize ball switch information is not ON (S139: NO), or if the discharge counter is not "0" (S141:
NO), and the process directly returns.

<Command List> FIG. 27 shows the main controller 140.
The following is a list of commands sent from the frame control unit 150 to the frame control unit 150.
The defined command is "Data" in the leftmost column of the chart.
As shown in the column, it is 5-bit data of 00H ("H" indicates hexadecimal notation) to 1FH, and these commands are transmitted by the prize ball data output connector (of the main control board 140a). CN4) and the prize ball data input connector (CN9) of the frame control board 150a. The command 00H means that it is a normal time (when a normal game is possible) as shown in the "contents" column, and as shown in the "output timing" column, a normal time (ST
Command (when B signal is at H level) is fixed to 00H

The commands 01H to 0FH are 1 to 15
Data of the number of prize balls is shown. For example, 06H means a discharge request of 6 prize balls, and 0AH means a discharge request of 10 prize balls. The output timing of these commands is at the time of a prize ball discharge request, and the frame control unit 150 having received the command executes a prize ball operation, that is, a series of operations for discharging a prize ball. The prize ball movement here includes a retry operation, that is, a retry operation when the prize ball discharge is delayed.

Commands 10H to 1FH are abnormal (error)
10H to 15H among them.
Are insufficient supply balls (10H), release insufficient supply balls (11H), lower plate full tank (12H), lower plate full tank release (13H), ball discharge device error (14H), and passage switching solenoid error. It means a state of (15H). The output timings of the commands of insufficient supply balls, full lower bowl, ball discharge device abnormality, and passage switching solenoid error are at the respective occurrences, and the output timings of the commands to release insufficient supply balls and release the lower full tank. Is when each error is released. As shown in the “Frame control unit side operation” column at the right end of the figure, the stop control of the corresponding device is performed when each error occurs, and the lamp and 7 segment (7 segment display abbreviation, frame status display 108) are displayed. Is controlled according to the situation. In addition, when the error is released, the control for returning the corresponding device is performed, and the lighting of the lamp and the 7-segment type is controlled according to the situation. A detailed description of the operation mode of the lamp, 7-segment, etc. will be described later (FIG. 28), and will not be repeated here.

The commands 16H to 1EH mean that they are abnormal data. Further, 1FH means that the connector is missing or abnormal data. The generation timing of these commands is not defined because it is difficult to predict, but when the frame control unit 150 receives these commands, the received data is discarded and the main board (main control board 140a (Meaning) It is judged that an error of communication line error has occurred. The frame control unit 150
Even if the command of 01H to 15H is received, if it is not in the state where these commands should be received, it is similarly determined that an error has occurred.

<Error List> FIG. 28 shows an error list chart. The leftmost column of the chart is the "Error No." column, and the right column is the "Item" column. In this embodiment, six types of errors,
That is, a shortage of supply balls, a lower full tank, a ball discharge device abnormality, a passage switching solenoid abnormality, a main board communication line abnormality, and a PCU non-connection are set, and "error No." is set in these. In addition, the table includes columns for "Detection method", "Detection location", "Status of each device", "Command sent from main control unit", "Cause", and "Recovery condition" for each error. Has been. The “Status of each device” column in the center column of the chart
Furthermore, "game board", "discharging device", "launching device", "PC"
U], “emission LED”, “stop LED”, “buzzer sound”, and “7-segment display”. These generally represent the states of the game board 24, the ball discharging device 299, the launching device unit 107, the PCU 22, the prize ball display LED 17, the stop display LED 19, the buzzer 155, and the frame state indicator 108, respectively. In particular, the expression "gaming board" is a summary of various devices mounted on the gaming board 24, and the "buzzer sound" column indicates whether or not the buzzer 155 is operating. Further, the notation of “7-segment display” means the display of the frame status indicator 108. The "factor" column in the chart means the cause of each error, and the "recovery condition" column shows the method of eliminating the cause of each error and returning to the normal state.

Next, the control mode when each error occurs will be described in comparison with the normal mode. In addition, the notation in this figure is used in the description of the “state of each device” column. First, in a normal state, the error output is not performed, that is, as shown in the "state of each device" column, the game board 24, the ball discharge device 299, the launcher unit 107, and the PCU 22 are operating, Sphere display LED17,
The operation of the stop display LED 19 and the buzzer sound is stopped. At this time, the 7-segment display is not operating.

On the other hand, when an error occurs, different error output is made according to the type of error. First, in the case of supply ball shortage (No. 1), the main control unit 140 first detects that the supply ball out detection switch 86 is OFF, and the main control unit 140 sends a command 10H indicating the supply ball shortage to the frame control unit 150. To be done. Then, the operations of the ball discharging device 299 and the PCU 22 are stopped, and the stop display LED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner. The 7-segment display at this time is "1". The causes of OFF of the supply ball shortage detection switch 86 are shortage of supply balls, failure of supply ball shortage detection switch, and
Examples include ball clogging. The recovery from the shortage of the supply balls is automatically performed when the supply-ball-out detection switch 86 is turned on.

When the lower tray is full (No. 2), the main control unit 140 detects that the lower tray full tank switch 7b is OFF, and the frame controller 150 receives the command 12H indicating that the lower tray is full.
Is sent. Further, the operations of the ball discharging device 299, the launching device unit 107, and the PCU 22 are stopped, the stop display LED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner, and a buzzer sound is output. Then, the 7-segment display becomes "2". The cause of the lower plate full tank switch 7b being turned off may be a failure of the lower plate full tank or the lower plate full tank switch 7b. The return from the lower tray full tank is automatically performed by turning on the lower tray full tank switch 7b.

In the case of a ball discharge device abnormality (No. 3),
There are two types of detection by the main control unit 140 and detection by the frame control unit 150. In the case of detection by the main control unit 140, if the requested number of prize balls and the detection result of the prize ball count switch 378 do not match (see FIG. 35 described later), the main control unit 140 transfers to the frame control unit 150. The command 14H indicating the discharge device abnormality is sent, and the ball discharge device 299 and the PCU
22 and the operation are stopped, the prize ball display LED 17 is turned on, the stop display LED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner,
A buzzer sound is output. Then, the 7-segment display becomes "3".

On the other hand, in the case of detection by the frame control unit 150, there are two detection methods. One is the comparison of the requested number of lent balls and the detection result of the lent ball count switch 379, and the other is the monitoring of the rotation amount of the ball discharge motor 280. That is, when the requested number of lent balls does not match the detection result of the lent ball count switch 379 (see FIG. 36 described later).
If the rotation amount of the ball discharging motor 280 cannot be detected, the ball discharging device 299 and the PCU 22 are deactivated similarly to the case where the main control unit 140 detects the abnormality of the ball discharging device, and the prize ball display. LED17 lights up, stop display L
The ED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner and a buzzer sound is output. Then, the 7-segment display at this time becomes "4".

Factors for detecting such an abnormality in the ball discharging device include communication abnormality in the main controller, ball clogging, ball discharging motor failure, prize ball counting switch 378 failure, ball rental counting switch 379 failure, and the like. To be The recovery from the abnormality of the ball discharging device is performed by pressing the reset switch 119 (reset means).

Also in the case of the passage switching solenoid abnormality (No. 4), there are two types of detection, that is, the detection by the main control unit 140 and the detection by the frame control unit 150. In the case of detection by the main control unit 140, when the prize ball is detected when the discharge of the prize ball is not requested (for example, see FIG. 37 described below), the main control unit 140 is detected.
The command 15H indicating the passage switching solenoid abnormality is sent from the frame control unit 150 to the ball ejecting device 299 and the PCU2.
2 and the operation are stopped, the prize ball display LED 17 is turned on, the stop display LED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner, and a buzzer sound is output. Then, the 7-segment display becomes "5".

On the other hand, in the case of detection by the frame control unit 150, when the rental ball is detected when the discharge of the rental ball is not requested (see, for example, FIG. 38 described below), the case where the main control unit 140 detects Similarly, the ball discharge device 299 and the PCU 22 are deactivated, the prize ball display LED 17 lights up, the stop display LED 19 blinks in a predetermined manner, and a buzzer sound is output. Then, the 7-segment display becomes "6". The cause of detecting such a passage switching solenoid abnormality is a failure of the passage switching solenoid 302. Recovery from an abnormality in the passage switching solenoid is performed by pressing the reset switch 119.

In the case of the main board communication line abnormality (No. 5), when the frame controller 150 detects an abnormality in the communication data,
The ball discharging device 299 and the PCU 22 stop operating, the prize ball display LED 17 and the stop display LED 19 alternately blink in a predetermined manner, and the 7-segment display becomes "7". Causes of abnormality in the main board communication line include disconnection and disconnection of the connector. Then, the recovery from the abnormality of the main board communication line is automatically performed by receiving the normal data.

When the PCU is not connected (No. 6), when the frame controller 150 detects that the connection confirmation signal is OFF, the ball ejecting device 299, the launching device unit 107, and the PC
U22 stops operating, the prize ball display LED 17 and the stop display LED 19 simultaneously flash in a predetermined manner, and the 7-segment display becomes "8". Causes of non-connection of the PCU include disconnection, connector omission, and CR unit failure. Then, the return from the unconnected PCU is automatically performed when the connection confirmation signal is turned on.

In the present embodiment, the main controller 140
Outputs the detection result of the prize ball count switch 378 to the frame control unit 150, but is not involved in the processing during the error and the recovery. In addition, priorities are set for the operation of each device in preparation for the occurrence of a plurality of errors.
That is, first, the display priority of 7-segment or the like is 8>7>.
6>5>4>3>2> 1, and the larger the value, the higher the priority. For example, no PCU connection (No.
When both the error of 6) and main board communication line error (No. 5) are detected, the 7-segment display becomes "8", and "7" is displayed until PCU unconnected (No. 6) is resolved. Is not done. Further, when the main control unit 140 detects a ball discharge device abnormality (No. 3) and a lower pan full (No. 2), the 7-segment display becomes “3” first, and the ball discharge device abnormality occurs. When (No. 3) is eliminated, the 7-segment display becomes "2".

Further, the operation of the award ball display LED 17, the stop display LED 19 and the buzzer sound follows the 7-segment display at that time. That is, for example, when both the PCU non-connection (No. 6) and the main board communication line error (No. 5) are detected, the 7-segment display becomes "8", and therefore the prize ball display LED 17 and The stop display LED 19 blinks simultaneously. Then, the PCU unconnection (No. 6) is eliminated and 7
When the segment display becomes "7", the operation mode changes to alternate blinking. Further, at this time, the buzzer sound continues to operate.

The operation of the game board 24, the ball discharging device 299, the launching device unit 107, and the PCU 22 is executed with priority given to "x" after checking all errors. That is, for example, the ball discharge device is abnormal (No. 3) and the lower plate is full (No.
The operation of the launcher unit 107 when 2) and 2) are detected is such that the 7-segment display is “3”, but the lower plate full (No. 2) and the PCU unconnected (No. 6) are “×”. Therefore, the launcher unit 107 gives priority to the “x” and stops the operation.

<Processing Example> FIGS. 29 to 38 show the main controller 14.
0 and a processing example of the frame control unit 150 are shown. FIG. 29 shows an example of processing in a normal state. The “main cycle” at the top shows the reset interrupt cycle in the main controller 140. “STB” in the next stage represents a strobe (STB) signal, and “DATA” represents a 5-bit data signal transmitted in parallel. Further, “interrupt processing” indicates the timing of the interrupt processing performed by the frame controller 150 upon the input of the strobe signal. The "frame side state" at the bottom is the gaming machine frame 1 controlled by the frame control unit 150.
The state of a is shown.

FIG. 30 shows an enlarged part of the command receiving portion of the timing chart of FIG. That is, the STB signal is asserted when a predetermined time, for example, about 3 microseconds has elapsed since the transmission of the data signal from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 was started (here, the falling edge is the assert edge. ), The STB signal is negated after a predetermined time, for example, 5 microseconds (here, the rising edge is the negating edge). Furthermore, after a predetermined time, for example, about 3 microseconds, from the assertion of the strobe signal, the frame controller 1
At 50, an interrupt process is executed for a predetermined time (here, about 40 microseconds).

The STB signal is transmitted from the transmitting side device (here, the main control unit 140) to the receiving side device (here, the frame control unit 1).
When the command data is transmitted to 50), it is output in order to give the receiving side device a timing of data acquisition. This is basically in consideration of the operating characteristics of the CPU, and it takes a certain time for the data signal to stabilize after the output is started. The STB signal is asserted after waiting a predetermined time from the start of the output of the data signal in anticipation of the time required for its stabilization. It is well known that this improves the reliability of data transmission / reception. By recognizing the STB signal, the control section on the receiving side knows that the data can be taken in,
It performs command acquisition / recognition and subsequent processing.
In the gaming machine, all the processing is performed by the interrupt processing for each reset cycle described above, so the STB signal is the INT terminal (or NMI) of the CPU of the receiving side device (frame control unit 150).
Input). Since the STB signal is used up when the start of the interrupt processing routine is confirmed, a predetermined time (about 3 microseconds) from the timing of the interrupt processing start.
After waiting, he is negated.

In the present embodiment, in order to improve the reliability of data transmission / reception, in the interrupt processing, when normal command data is received twice consecutively in relation to the STB signal, the command data is transmitted. The command data from the side device is confirmed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input may be confirmed by receiving normal command data once or three times or more, or a majority of odd-numbered (for example, three) command inputs may be used. The command may be recognized as the confirmation information. Further, the specific value of each time mentioned here can be appropriately changed according to, for example, the processing procedure and the processing time of the device used.

FIG. 31 shows the processing when the main controller 140 is powered on. The main control unit 14 when the pachinko machine 1 is turned on.
0 is turned on, and the main controller 140 causes the frame controller 15
Send command 1FH to 0. At this time, the frame side state is in the stand-by standby state. Further, since the command 1FH is fetched, the STB signal starts at the level immediately after the completion of the assertion (the second level which will be described later, here, the L level which is the falling state), and the start point is the assert edge. It will be recognized. As mentioned above, 1FH is abnormal data that indicates a missing connector,
An error occurs on the frame side that captures this. When the error state is confirmed, the strobe signal is negated, and the main control unit 140 switches the command to 00H (normal state). Next, the main control unit 140 switches the command in the order of 11H (release of supply ball shortage) and 13H (release of lower full tank), and repeats assertion / negate of the STB signal for each data fetching instruction. Wait for these cancellation processes to be confirmed on the frame side (that is, command 13H
Is transmitted for a predetermined time), the frame side state remains in an error state. Then, after that, the frame side state becomes the standby state.
Further, the main control unit 140 returns the command to 00H.

FIG. 32 shows a processing example in the case of abnormal data, disconnection, and missing connector. First, the command is 00H, 0F
When switching in the order of H and 00H, the frame side state changes in the order of normal time, command reception, and normal time. If the command changes to data other than 00H after the interrupt processing is not performed during the monitoring in the main loop, the frame control unit 1
50 is judged to be a disconnection. When 1FH is detected as the STB signal is asserted, the frame control unit 150 determines that the connector is missing, and data that is not in the command list (see FIG. 27) or abnormal data in the case of 16H to 1EH. to decide.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a normal prize ball discharge process. Here, the case where the discharge of 15 prize balls is repeated will be described. First, when the frame control unit 150 receives the command 0FH, the frame control unit 150 executes an interrupt process and drives the ball discharging device 299 to discharge a prize ball. The payout prize balls are detected by the prize ball count switch 378, and the prize ball count switch 3
The detection result of 78 is sent to the main control unit 140. further,
When the prize ball count switch signal is sent from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150, the frame side state is in the prize ball. When the number of prize balls determined from the prize ball count switch signal reaches 15, the state on the frame side is changed to waiting for start of prize balls. Further, the frame control unit 150 executes the same process for the command 0FH transmitted thereafter.

FIG. 34 shows a processing example in the case where prize ball discharge is delayed on the way. Here, when ejecting 15 prize balls, 14
A case where the discharge of prize balls after the first one is delayed will be described. First, the frame control unit 150 executes a retry (retry) if a subsequent signal is not input even after a lapse of a predetermined time T after the rising of the signal corresponding to the 13th prize ball is detected. . In the retry in the present embodiment, the ball discharge motor 280 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by a predetermined amount (for example, several game balls), and if no game ball (here, a prize ball) is detected during that period, the frame control unit 150 This is a process of determining abnormality of the ball discharging device. In the example of FIG. 34, the 14th prize ball is discharged, and after this prize ball is detected, the state of the frame side becomes the remaining ball prize ball, and after the 15th prize ball discharge, the frame side. The state is waiting for the start of the prize ball. It should be noted that the determination of abnormality of the ball ejecting device based on the rotation amount detection by the optical sensor in the ball ejecting device 299 may be used together or replaced.

FIG. 35 shows a case where the ball discharging device is abnormal.
In addition, an example of processing when the main control unit 140 detects that the ball discharge motor 280 does not operate will be described. Main controller 140
When a strobe signal is detected by the frame control unit 150 as a command (not shown) for the number of prize balls is transmitted from the frame control unit 150 to the frame control unit 150, the state on the frame side is from waiting to starting waiting for prize balls. , In the order of the prize ball. If normal, after a lapse of a predetermined time after the frame side state changed to waiting for prize balls,
The ball discharge motor 280 operates as shown by the broken line, and then the prize ball count switch 378 detects the prize ball as shown by the broken line.

However, there is an abnormality in the ball discharging device 299,
When the ball discharge motor 280 does not operate as shown by the solid line, the prize balls are not paid out and the prize ball count switch signal does not change. In the main controller 140, a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) from the assertion of the STB signal is set as the prize ball payout start monitoring time, and the prize ball is detected even after the prize ball payout start monitoring time has elapsed. If not, the main controller 140
Determines that the requested number of prize balls cannot be detected, and recognizes the occurrence of an error in the ball ejection device abnormality. Further, the main controller 14
0 indicates to the frame control unit 150 a ball ejection device abnormality command (14
H) is transmitted. At this time, the main controller 140 maintains the game board side state as usual. The frame control unit 150 sets the frame side state to the ball ejection device abnormality from the time when the command of the ball ejection device abnormality is received.

Here, by operating the reset switch 119, the abnormal state of the ball discharging device is eliminated and the frame side state is returned to the normal state. When the reset switch 119 is operated, the prize control unit 150 discards the prize ball number data that has been stored. And
The discharge corresponding to the next prize ball number data is performed. If the previous cause of the abnormality has been eliminated, the frame control unit 150 performs normal ejection, but if it has not been eliminated, it is determined again that an abnormality has occurred. In addition, in consideration of the case where the ball discharging device malfunctions during the discharge of the prize balls (for example, when the discharge of the second and subsequent balls is delayed after the normal discharging of the first ball), the predetermined time after the normal ball discharging is considered. Is set as the determination time, and if the number of remaining prize balls is not “0” after the determination time has passed,
The abnormality of the ball ejector is judged.

FIG. 36 shows a case where the ball discharging device is abnormal.
In addition, a processing example when the frame control unit 150 detects that the ball discharge motor 280 does not operate will be described. Main controller 140
When the command (not shown) of prize ball number data is transmitted from the frame control unit 150 to the frame control unit 150,
When the B signal is detected, the frame side state is ready for ball lending,
The passage switching solenoid 302 is turned on for a predetermined time. In the main control unit 140, a predetermined time (here, 10 seconds) from the assertion of the STB signal is set as the ball lending monitoring time, and 25 balls are detected even after the ball lending monitoring time has elapsed. If not, the frame control unit 150 determines that the requested number of lent balls cannot be detected and recognizes the occurrence of the error of the ball discharging device abnormality. Then, the state of the frame side becomes abnormal in the ball discharging device. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, other states of the ball discharging device 299 are also monitored, and, for example, an operation of confirming / determining the reference position of the ball discharging motor 280 (origin finding operation) prior to the start of ball discharging. In the case where the output signal of the optical sensor for detecting the rotation amount cannot be detected normally, the frame control unit 150 determines the abnormality of the ball ejecting device.

By operating the reset switch 119, the abnormal state of the ball discharging device is eliminated, and the frame side state is returned to the normal state. When the reset switch 119 is operated, the prize control unit 150 discards the prize ball number data that has been stored. And
The discharge corresponding to the next prize ball number data is performed. If the previous cause of the abnormality has been eliminated, the frame control unit 150 performs normal ejection, but if it has not been eliminated, it is determined again that an abnormality has occurred.

FIG. 37 shows the case where the passage switching solenoid is abnormal and the passage switching solenoid 302 is used when the ball is lent.
The following is a processing example in the case where the main control unit 140 detects that the game ball has flown down to the prize ball side without operating. When the operation button of the operation panel 10 is pressed to lend the ball and the lending switch signal changes, the frame control unit 150 detects this and the frame side state is the ball lending preparation. After that, if normal, the passage switching solenoid 302 operates toward the ball renting side after a predetermined time elapses, the ball discharge motor 280 is driven, and the ball renting count switch signal also changes as indicated by a broken line.

However, if the passage switching solenoid 302 does not operate, the game ball discharged as a ball to be rented flows into the prize ball passage 373, and the game ball is switched to the prize ball count switch 37.
Detected by 8. The main control unit 140 sends a passage switching solenoid abnormality command (15H) to the frame control unit 150 in response to the prize ball count switch 378 detecting a game ball.
(See STB signal). The frame side state, after the ball discharge motor 280 finishes the discharge operation of 25 game balls,
The passage switching solenoid abnormality is generated based on the previous passage switching solenoid abnormality command, and this passage switching solenoid abnormality continues until the reset switch 119 is operated.
In the main control unit 140, abnormality detection is performed based on the first abnormality.

In the frame control unit 150, since the number of lent balls does not reach the target value, it is determined that the ball discharging device is abnormal after the above-mentioned ball lending monitoring time has elapsed. Since it is also being detected,
The 7-segment display is "6" based on the priority order. Then, by operating the reset switch 119, the abnormal state of the ball discharging device is eliminated, and the frame side state is returned to the normal state. When the reset switch 119 is operated,
In the frame control unit 150, the prize ball number data stored until then is discarded.

FIG. 38 shows the case where the passage switching solenoid is abnormal, and the passage switching solenoid 30 is used when the prize ball is discharged.
2 shows a processing example in the case where the frame control unit 150 detects that the game ball has flown down to the ball renting side without operating. In addition, as a cause of such an abnormality, there is a problem that a moving part is blocked by a foreign object such as dust and the like and is blocked from a normal operation to be fixed.

First, the main controller 140 to the frame controller 150
When the STB signal (requirement of prize ball) is asserted, the state of the frame side becomes the prize ball preparation, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the prize ball is in the middle. When the ball discharge motor 280 pays out the game ball without turning off the passage switching solenoid 302 (while the guide direction is on the ball-renting side), the game ball paid out as the prize ball is mistaken by the ball-renting count switch 379. To be detected. The frame control unit 150 detects an abnormality by a change in the prize ball switch signal, and determines the passage switching solenoid abnormality. In the frame side state, the ball discharge motor 280 has a predetermined number (here, 15).
After completing the discharge operation of minute game balls, the passage switching solenoid becomes abnormal. This passage switching solenoid abnormality continues until the reset switch 119 is operated. The abnormality is detected based on the first abnormality.

In the main controller 140, since the number of prize balls does not reach the target value, it is judged that the ball discharging device is abnormal. However, since the priority of 7-segment display of the ball discharging device abnormality is lower than that of the passage switching solenoid abnormality. , 7-segment display is “6”.
By operating the reset switch 119, the abnormal state of the ball discharging device is eliminated and the frame side state is returned to the normal state. When the reset switch 119 is operated, the prize control unit 150 discards the prize ball number data that has been stored.

<Effects of Second Embodiment> C of Second Embodiment
In the R machine 201 and the cash machine 201 ′, prize balls and ball rentals are individually detected without providing a plurality of ball discharging devices 99 and a ball discharging system, as in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the number of lent balls and the number of prize balls without significantly complicating or changing the structure of the mechanism boards 262 and 262 '. In addition, the CR machine unit 300 and the cash machine unit 300 'are compatible with each other in mounting structure, and the other portions are commonly used for prize ball discharge and ball rental discharge, so either of the units can be selected. It can be used for different purposes simply by mounting it. Therefore, it is easy to change the purpose.

Further, also in the CR machine 201 and the cash machine 201 'of the present embodiment, the change (and determination) of the application can be made either during the manufacturing or afterwards (for example, during the remodeling). Furthermore, various errors such as ball discharge device abnormality and switching solenoid abnormality are precisely detected, and voices are given to the player.
The error is recognized by the display and the reset switch 119
Quickly return to normal by
A reliable return is possible.

<Modification of Second Embodiment> FIGS. 39 and 4
Reference numeral 0 is a modification of the command list chart and the error list chart (see FIGS. 27 and 28) in the second embodiment. In this modification, the touch switch 11a provided on the firing handle 11 is also used as the resetting means. That is, the state of the touch switch 11a is set as a return condition when the abnormality of the ball discharging device or the abnormality of the passage switching solenoid is determined by the detection of the main control unit 140, and after the cause of the abnormality is eliminated, the touch switch 11a is set in the game store. By contacting the players and players of
As shown in the "return condition" column of No. 3, the return to the normal state is performed.

That is, (1) Sphere ejector abnormality (No.
When the detection location is the main control unit 140 in 3), the touch switch 11a is restored by changing from OFF to ON,
(2) When the ball ejecting device is abnormal (No. 3) and the detection place is the frame control unit 150, the normal state of the main control unit 140 is received to recover. (3) Passage switching solenoid error (No. 3)
When the detection location is the main control unit 140 in 4), the touch switch 11a is restored by changing from OFF to ON,
(4) When the passage control solenoid abnormality (No. 4) and the detection location is the frame control unit 150, the normal state of the main control unit 140 is received to recover. Although not shown, in this modification, the signal related to the touch switch 11a is also sent to the main controller 140. Then, as shown in FIG.
The command (15H) of "ball discharge device error release",
Command (17) for clearing passage switching solenoid error
H) is set, and these commands are transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 with the ON operation of the touch switch 11a.

As another example, use of the start switch 11c built in the firing handle 11 as the resetting means. The start switch 11c establishes an AND condition with the touch switch 11b like a general firing handle. In the present embodiment, the launcher control board 103a shown in FIG.
Is connected to the firing SW terminal (fifth terminal) provided on the handle input connector (CN3).

<Another Mode of STB Signal> The STB signal used as the above-mentioned processing example is as described above.
It is a signal that the assert edge is detected as valid,
With only the edge detection, for example, when a noise signal is mixed in the signal line, or when a signal is intentionally flowed due to cheating, this is erroneously recognized as an STB signal, and the frame control unit 150 and special symbol control The peripheral control unit including the unit 145 is likely to malfunction. Main controller 14
0 and the peripheral control units 150 and 145, by regulation, only one-way signal transmission from the main control unit to the peripheral control unit is permitted, so that the main control unit 140 to the peripheral control unit 150 can transmit the signal.
The ACK signal cannot be returned from the receiving side control unit to the main control unit side when transmitting command data or the like to. Therefore, if the state of the data signal line is not the signal output state of the target data, and the noise or the like is mistakenly recognized as the STB signal, the peripheral control unit determines the state of the data signal line at that time as the data to be received. The content will be blindly included. Even if a malfunction occurs as a result, there is no means for notifying this to the main control unit side.

In order to prevent the above problems,
The following methods are effective. That is, the main controller 1
40 (transmission side device: subject is its CPU) to a peripheral control unit (reception side device: subject is its CPU), as shown in FIG. 41, a data signal necessary for advancing a game using STB signal together, for example, When transmitting the command data signal, a first level (here, H level) and a second level (here, L level) that are distinguished from each other are defined by using a predetermined reference level as a threshold, and the first level to the second level are determined. When the change edge to the level is the assert edge of the STB signal, the signal is input to the peripheral control unit only when the signal holding time at the second level after the assert edge occurs satisfies a predetermined condition. Treat the STB signal as valid. That is, in FIG. 41, the pulse width of the STB signal (second-level signal holding time :) is defined, but it is very rare that noise or the like has a predetermined pulse width, and as a result, each control It is possible to very effectively prevent malfunction of the parts.

Note that FIG. 41 shows a timing chart of command data transmission similar to FIG.
Is the command data settling time (delay time until STB signal assertion set in anticipation of stabilization of command data: 3 microseconds in FIG. 30), STB signal pulse width described above, and interrupt process preparation time (FIG. 30). Then 5
Microseconds), interrupt processing time, and command data output time. The simplest process is shown in FIG.
As shown in 3 (a), if the STB signal pulse width is larger than a value T0 that is sufficiently longer than the pulse width of a signal that is erroneously generated by noise or the like, the STB signal is validated, and if not, it is invalid. The processing to be performed can be illustrated. The processing relating to the validity determination of the STB signal is not limited to this processing, and the receiving side device, that is, each peripheral control unit (for example, the frame control unit 15).
The CPU incorporated in 0) executes the determination program written in the ROM or the like.

FIG. 42 shows an example of the processing flow. That is, the reception port (for example, the INT terminal port) of the STB signal is monitored at T1, and the timer is started when the STB signal is detected by the detection of the assert edge at T2. This timer is executed by a software timer routine utilizing CPU clock pulses. Then, even after the timer is activated, the timer value T is maintained while continuing to monitor the reception state of the STB signal (T4).
SB is read, and S is reached until TSB reaches the STB signal pulse duration, that is, the STB signal width reference value T0.
If the TB signal is negated, T5 to T9
Then, the STB signal is determined to be invalid. On the other hand, T
If the STB signal is not negated in 5, the timer value TSB, that is, the STB signal width (pulse width) is continuously monitored, and if TSB is equal to or greater than T0, the STB signal is determined to be valid. T0 is, for example, 0.1 to 1000 microseconds (3 microseconds in the present embodiment), which is sufficiently longer than the pulse width that is accidentally generated by noise or the like and does not cause an excessive delay in subsequent processing. It is good to set it to about, but it is not limited to this. In short, it is sufficient if it is estimated to be different from the noise waveform.

Regarding the operation sequence after receiving the STB signal, for example, the following various methods are possible, but the invention is not limited to this. By receiving the assert edge, the command is unconditionally fetched and the interrupt processing routine is activated. Then, if it is determined to be valid, the process is continued as it is, and if it is determined to be invalid, the process is broken and an error is displayed voluntarily. After receiving the assert edge, the command fetch is suspended and the command fetch and interrupt process are executed after the validity judgment is confirmed. There is also a method in which only the command is fetched and the start of interrupt processing is suspended until the validity judgment is confirmed. In either case, the start timing EI of the interrupt process is after the generation timing of the negating edge EN of the STB signal (E in FIG. 41).
I ').

On the other hand, recently, there is room for concern about a terrible situation in which a goto group or the like sends a fake STB signal to a signal line by an illegal operation for the purpose of fraudulent prize ball fraud, etc. In order to distinguish from such an illegal STB signal, it is also effective to set an upper limit value T1 to the pulse width of the STB signal as shown in FIG. 43 (b). That is, it is invalid not only when the pulse width is less than the lower limit value T0 but also when the upper limit value exceeds T1.
FIG. 44 shows an example of processing in this case. T11 to T17
The process up to is similar to T1 to T7 in FIG. 40, but in this process, the pulse width (timer value TSB) is obtained at T17.
When it is confirmed that is equal to or more than T0, the state of the receiving port is monitored until the negating edge of the STB signal is detected (T18, T19). Then, if a negate edge is detected, TSB is read again, and if the upper limit value T1 is less than or equal to it, it is judged as valid, and if it exceeds T1, it is judged as invalid. As a more strict management method, it is also possible to set T0 and T1 to the same value, that is, to set the pulse width reference value at one point.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 43 (c), STB
The signal may be intermittently interrupted due to the influence of noise or the like during the assertion of the signal. In this case, the following method can be taken so that the edge generated at the time of the interruption is not misjudged as the negate edge. That is, a fixed sampling period Tj of the STB signal is set in advance, and the holding times Ta and Tb at the second level (L level in this case) occurring within the effective period Tj are set.
The total ΣT of Tc is measured, and ΣT ≧ T0 (or T1
If ≧ ΣT ≧ T0), it is determined to be valid, and if not, it is determined to be invalid.

In the above example, the number of STB signal reception ports is fixed to one, and the pulse width of the STB signal is managed by monitoring the reception state over time. The same process can be performed by distributing the input to the two receiving ports and detecting the assert edge at one port and the negate edge at the other port separately.

Further, the pulse width is managed by C as described above.
In addition to software processing by PU, it is also possible to perform it by using a hardware sequence. FIG. 47 shows an example of such a hardware configuration. In this example, the output of the STB signal from the transmission side device (CPU) is input to one terminal of the AND circuit 501 via the inverter 500. On the other hand, the inverted output from the inverter 500 is input to the monostable circuit 505, and its pulse output is RS-
It is input to the set terminal S of the FF502. Also, RS-
The output of the FF 502 is input to the off-delay timer 503 (delay time Tk: gives the lower limit value of the pulse width of the STB signal), and the output of the off-delay timer 503 is
The inverted signal is input to the other terminal of the AND circuit 501. The output from the AND circuit 501 is an RS flip-flop (hereinafter abbreviated as RS-FF) 502.
Is also input to the reset terminal R of the
4 is input to the STB signal receiving port of the receiving side device (CPU).

In FIG. 48, the original signal input waveform to the inverter 500 is A, the output waveform of the RS-FF 502 is B, the input waveform of the AND circuit 501 from the off-delay timer 503 is C, and the input waveform from the inverter 500 is the same. 2 is a timing chart showing D as an output waveform of the AND circuit 501, that is, E as a final input waveform of the STB signal to the receiving side device. When the original input waveform of the STB signal becomes L in A, the output of the inverter 500 becomes H (D), and the monostable circuit 505 sends a trigger pulse to RS-F.
Input to the set terminal S of F502. RS-FF502
Latches this (B), off-delay timer 5
Energize 03. The inverted output of the off-delay timer 503 changes to the L state with the energization, and then the time T
Return to H after k (C). The output of the AND circuit 501 is normally L, the input waveform D from the inverter 500,
That is, it becomes H only when the original input is held longer than the delay time Tk of the off-delay timer 503. That is, an assert edge appears at the STB signal input from the inverter 504 (at the same time, the RS-FF 502 is reset). FIG. 48A shows an original signal input waveform A
Occurs as a pulse longer than the delay time Tk of the off-delay timer 503, and an assert edge appears in the STB signal input waveform E. On the other hand, (b)
Is a case where the original signal input waveform A is a long pulse shorter than the delay time Tk of the off-delay timer 503, and ST
The assert edge does not appear in the B signal input waveform E.

All of the above processing is performed by the receiving side device, but S output by the sending side device value is output.
The method of controlling the pulse width TSA of the TB signal to be constant is also effective in terms of noise countermeasures and prevention of illegal STB signal mixture. FIG. 45 is an example of a flowchart when this is performed by software processing. This process is performed by the transmission side device, that is, the CP incorporated in the main control unit 140.
U is executed by executing the control program written in the ROM or the like. That is, at ST1, the STB signal is switched from the first level to the second level (that is, transmission is started), the timer is started, and then the timer value T
While monitoring SA (U2 to U4), when TSA reaches the set value T0, the second level of the STB signal is switched to the first level and the signal transmission ends. Note that this processing can also be performed by a hardware sequence, and FIG. 46 shows an example thereof. That is, ST of the sending CPU
The signal output from the B output terminal (or another terminal may be used) is used as a trigger, and the monostable circuit 506 is used to generate an STB signal having a desired pulse width TSA.

<Experimental example> Under the condition that noise is generated by performing indirect discharge by using the static electricity allowance tester, a signal is transmitted from the main board to the prize ball discharge board so as to discharge the prize ball. The number of prize balls to be discharged is as follows. In other words, the main control unit sends 10 consecutive winning balls to the frame control unit.
The operation of paying out once, 10 prize balls once, 6 prize balls 3 times, and finally 10 prize balls once is set as one cool, and this is performed by transmitting 15 corresponding commands. The STB signal is asserted every time each command is transmitted. Then, by returning the above-mentioned 1-cool processing 30 times,
× 30 = 450 operations in total were performed. In this case, the number of game balls to be discharged is 188 in one cool, and this is repeated 30 times, resulting in a discharge operation of a total of 5,640 game balls. . In addition, the static electricity acceptance tester is MODELEESS
-630A (manufactured by Noise Laboratory Co., Ltd.) is used, and the test condition is that a pulse wave of about 8 KV is 1 for each cool 15 command.
00 times and this was repeated 30 times. Also, S used
As for the TB signal, (a) (Example): pulse width = 3 microseconds (Comparative example) the pulse width was not particularly limited. As a result, the number of discharged balls in (a) was 5640, which was extremely accurate, while that in (b) was 6,656, which was a large error.

While the present embodiment and various modifications have been described above, it goes without saying that the configuration of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the technical idea of the present invention, and such modifications are also applicable to the present invention. Belongs to the technical scope of. For example, the present invention can be applied to various ball game machines such as so-called titles, feathers, models called arrange balls, and general electric officers.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a mechanical panel of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 (a) is a rear view of the lower part of the ball flow and its surroundings when the same pachinko machine is used as a CR machine, (b) is a side sectional view of the ball discharging device of the same pachinko machine and its periphery, (c) ) Is a back view of the lower part of the ball flow and its surroundings when the pachinko machine is used as a cash machine.

FIG. 6A is a plan view of a tank rail of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a modified form of the tank rail.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a modification of the ball discharging device of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of prize ball operation of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a ball rental operation of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 10 (a) is a perspective view of a modified form of the ball discharging device;
(B) is a perspective view of another modification.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing a power supply path of the pachinko machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a main part of a centralized power supply unit of the pachinko machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a modification of the power supply unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a main control board of a conventional pachinko machine.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a launcher control unit of a conventional pachinko machine.

16A is a back view of a lower portion of a ball flow for a CR machine of a pachinko machine of the second embodiment and its periphery, and FIG. 16B is a side sectional view of a ball discharge device of the same pachinko machine and its periphery; c) is a back view of the lower part of the ball flow for the cash machine of the pachinko machine and its periphery.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of prize ball movement of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a ball rental operation of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a connection block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram schematically showing a power supply system path of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram schematically showing a signal transmission system in prize ball discharge control.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram schematically showing a signal transmission method in ball rental discharge control.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a winning management process executed in the main control unit.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a discharge number management process executed in the main control unit.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process executed by the frame control unit.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a discharge process executed in the frame control unit.

FIG. 27 is a list chart of commands sent from the main control unit to the frame control unit.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a list of errors.

FIG. 29 is a timing flowchart showing an example of processing in a normal state.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged timing flowchart showing a part of the command receiving part of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a timing flowchart showing a process when the main control unit is powered on.

FIG. 32 is a timing flowchart showing a processing example in the case of abnormal data, disconnection, and connector disconnection.

FIG. 33 is a timing flowchart showing a process of normal prize ball discharge.

FIG. 34 is a timing flowchart showing a processing example in the case where prize ball discharge is delayed on the way.

FIG. 35 is a timing flowchart showing a processing example in the case where the ball discharging device is abnormal and the main control unit detects that the ball discharging motor does not operate.

FIG. 36 is a timing flowchart showing a processing example in the case where the ball ejection device is abnormal and the frame control unit detects that the ball ejection motor does not operate.

FIG. 37 shows a processing example in the case where the passage switching solenoid is abnormal and when the main control unit detects that the passage switching solenoid does not operate and the game ball flows down to the prize ball side when lending the ball. Timing flowchart.

FIG. 38 is a processing example in the case where the passage switching solenoid is abnormal, and the frame control unit detects that the passage switching solenoid does not operate at the time of discharging the prize ball and the game ball flows down to the ball renting side. The timing flowchart shown.

FIG. 39 is a command list chart according to the modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 40 is an error list chart in the modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a timing chart showing an example of a data transmission process using an STB signal and an interrupt process based on the data transmission process.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the flow of an STB signal reception / judgment job.

FIG. 43 is a schematic timing chart showing various forms of pulse width management of an STB signal.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a modification of FIG. 42.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing the flow of an STB signal generation job.

FIG. 46 is a circuit diagram showing an example of hardware that generates an STB signal having a constant pulse width.

FIG. 47 is a circuit diagram showing an example of hardware that does not accept STB signals of a predetermined length or less.

FIG. 48 is a timing chart showing the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko machines 70, 70 ', 170 Ball flow lower parts 71, 71', 171 Upstream passages, 71a, 71a 'First passages, 71b, 71b' Second passages, 72, 72 'Branch portions 73, 73' , 173 prize ball passage (branch passage) 74, 74 ', 174 ball lending passage 75, 75', 175 game ball passage, 76, 76 ', 176 ball feed member, 78, 78' prize ball count switch (prize ball detection Sensor) 79 ball lending count switch (ball lending detection sensor) 80, 180 ball discharge motors 82, 82 ', 83, 83', 84, 84 ', 182
a, 182b, 182c Gear (gear-shaped member) 140 Main control unit (transmission side device) 145 Special symbol control unit (reception side device; peripheral control unit) 150 Frame control unit (reception side device; peripheral control unit) 301 Passage switching Arm (blocking member)

Front page continued (72) Inventor Masashi Sekido 125 Miyoro-cho, Nishi-ku, Aichi Prefecture, TAIYO ELEC Co., Ltd. (72) Aki Kato 125 Miyoko-cho, Nishi-ku, Aichi Prefecture, TAIYO ELEC Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuya Tsuzuki, 125 Miyoro-cho, Nishi-ku, Aichi Prefecture, TAIYO ELEC Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-47155 (JP, A) JP-A-9-173562 (JP, A) JP 2000-70497 (JP, A) JP 2000-37530 (JP, A) JP 2000-357 (JP, A) JP 11-319257 (JP, A) JP 11-347221 (JP, A) JP 10-290874 (JP, A) JP 7-24108 (JP, A) JP 2883612 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 7 / 02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball discharge commonly used for ball rental discharge and prize ball discharge
Equipped with a discharging means and a ball detecting means for detecting a ball to be lent and a prize ball separately.
And, wherein the ball discharging means, an upstream passage, minutes from the upstream side passage
Dividing through Gibe, discharging ball rental and prize balls
A game ball passage including a plurality of branch passages formed corresponding to
And the game ball is arranged in the branch portion, and the game balls are passed through the plurality of branch passages.
Equipped with a ball feeding means that can be selected and transferred to one of the paths
Well, the ball detection means individually discharge game balls for each branch passage
In order to detect it, the lending provided in the branch passage for discharging balls
The ball detection sensor and the award provided in the branch passage for discharging the ball.
The ball feeding means includes a ball detection sensor, and the ball feeding means has only a branch passage to which the game ball is to be transferred.
Ball feed control unit that selectively opens and blocks other branch passages
When transmitting the data signal required for the progress of the game using the strobe signal from the transmitting side device to the receiving side device including the material, the first level and the second level which are distinguished from each other with the predetermined reference level as the threshold value. Level, and when the change edge from the first level to the second level is the assert edge of the strobe signal, the signal holding time at the second level after the assert edge has occurred meets a predetermined condition. There is a receiving side device that treats the strobe signal input to the receiving side device as valid only when it is satisfied.
Then, the transmitting side device starts to assert the strobe signal.
The predetermined time of the award ball start monitoring time or ball lending monitoring time
The above-mentioned prize ball payout start monitoring time or ball rental
However, even if the monitoring time has passed, prize balls or rental balls must be detected.
If it is the main control unit that sends the ball ejection device abnormality command
The receiving device receives the command from the main control unit and
A frame control unit for operating the ball feeding means, wherein the abnormal command is received by the frame control unit,
The section is provided with a frame status indicator, and the frame status indicator is
Displays the abnormal status corresponding to the error type of the abnormal command
Game machine, characterized in that that. Between wherein said main control unit and the peripheral controller, the game according to claim 1, wherein only one direction of signal transmission toward the peripheral control unit from the main control unit is characterized in that it is allowed Machine.