JP4027177B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a sound demonstration function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a state in which a player is not playing or a state in which a game ball does not pass the winning area of the game board for a predetermined time is determined to be an idle state, and a demonstration by launching an image of a special symbol display device or a game ball is performed. However, a gaming machine is known that attracts the interest of non-gaming customers and motivates them. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-18018 proposes a technique for displaying a moving image in which a symbol or name of a pachinko machine is moved in a wavy manner on a special symbol display device, thereby improving the effect of idle. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-052145 proposes a technique for generating a simulated operation signal when idle in a sealed pachinko machine and launching a simulated game ball on the game board to perform a demonstration close to the actual game state. ing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the former prior art, since the demonstration is performed visually on the special symbol display device, the demonstration effect is limited to customers who look at the special symbol display device, for example, at the side of the gaming machine, the special symbol display There was a problem that the device did not reach even the customers who could not enter the field of view. In addition, the latter conventional technology has the same problem in terms of appealing to the visual perception of the customer, and the model that can carry out a demonstration because the award ball when the simulated game ball wins cannot be paid out to the storage tray However, there is a problem in that it is limited to an enclosed game machine that circulates game balls in the game area.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of generating sound using a game ball without being restricted by the model, and performing sound demonstration to a wide range of customers.
[0005]
[Means for solving the problems and actions / effects]
  In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to the invention of claim 1In a gaming machine in which game balls are supplied from a tank at the upper part of the machine frame to a storage tray at the lower part of the machine frame and launched to the game board by a launcher, a supply path for guiding the game balls from the tank to the storage dish is provided on the rear side of the machine frame. In the middle of the supply path, in response to a payout command from the control means, a game ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls is installed, and the supply is provided in the supply path downstream of the game ball payout device. A bell that rings in contact with the game ball flowing down the road is provided, a discharge path that leads the game ball to the outside of the machine frame is connected to a supply path downstream of the bell, and a game is connected to a connection portion between the supply path and the discharge path. An electric switching device for switching the flow path of the ball is installed, and the control means is idle in a state where the player is not playing a game, or the game ball is not passing the winning area of the game board for a predetermined time. Judgment of the state, cut the flow path of the game ball to the discharge path side in the electric switching device The after outputted El channel switching instruction, and outputs a payout instruction to the game ball dispensing device.
[0013]
Here, the payout command is a signal for controlling the driving source of the game ball payout device. For example, the number of payout balls and the number of balls to be paid and the payout interval are arbitrarily changed by controlling the number of revolutions of the motor. Can do. For this reason, by making the payout command at idle equal to the payout command at normal time, the same number of game balls as at normal time can be paid out at the same time during idle time, and different from the normal payout command. Thus, it is possible to pay out a different number of game balls at different intervals during the idle period. In particular, during an idle period, in order to enhance the demonstration effect by the bell sound, it is preferable to output a command for causing the game ball payout device to pay out more game balls than usual.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, when the control means determines the idle state of the gaming machine, after the electric switching device switches the flow path of the game ball from the supply path to the discharge path side, the game ball payout apparatus pays a predetermined number of game balls. put out. The paid-out game ball collides with a bell provided on the supply path, then changes direction from the supply path to the discharge path, and flows out to the outside of the machine frame, for example, the ball collection mechanism of the game island facility. At this time, the bell rings upon contact with the game ball, and this bell sound reverberates around the gaming machine. Therefore, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, in the idle state, the game ball paid out from the game ball paying device is used to ring the bell, and the bell sound is demonstrated to effectively invite a wide range of customers. can do. Further, since the bell is provided on the supply path on the downstream side of the game ball payout device, there is an advantage that one bell can be used for both normal payout and idle time. As for the place where the bell is installed, any position between the game ball payout device and the electric switching device can be selected. However, from the viewpoint of effectively utilizing the limited space on the rear side of the machine frame, the supply route and the discharge route are provided. It is preferable to place the bell up and the electric switching device down so that they substantially overlap.
[0015]
  Claim2The gaming machine according to the invention is characterized in that when the control means determines an idle state, the game ball payout device pays out a predetermined number of game balls at intervals different from the normal time. In this way, the bell sound pattern differs between the idle time and the normal time, so during the idle time, an unfamiliar bell sound is generated and the customer's interest is effectively attracted to the game machine that is the sound source. Can do.
[0016]
  Claim2The gaming machine according to the invention is characterized by canceling the output of the flow path switching command and the payout command when the control means determines the idle state and then confirms the operation of the launching device by the player. In this way, as long as the player operates the launching device for gaming purposes, even if the winning ball does not occur for a long time, there is no possibility that the gaming ball will be paid out, and naturally no bell sound will be generated. , There is no possibility that the player will mistakenly recognize that a prize ball has been paid out for winning.
[0017]
  The invention of claim 4 is also used for the demonstration at the time of idle using a bell. However, the invention is claimed in that the game ball that generates the bell sound is directly guided from the tank to the discharge path.1This is different from the invention. That is, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, a gaming ball is supplied from a tank at the upper part of the machine frame to a storage tray at the lower part of the machine frame, and is launched on the game board by a launching device. A supply path leading from the tank to the storage tray is formed, and in the middle of the supply path, a game ball payout device that pays out a predetermined number of game balls in response to a payout command from the control means is installed, upstream of the game ball payout device Connected to the supply path on the side is a discharge path for guiding the game balls flowing down from the tank to the outside of the machine frame, and an electric switching device for switching the flow path of the game balls is installed at the connection part between the supply path and the discharge path, Provided at a position downstream of the game ball payout device, a bell that rings in contact with the game ball so as to face both the supply path and the discharge path, the control means,The player is not playing a game or the game ball is not passing through the winning area of the game board for a predetermined time.The idle state of the gaming machine is determined, and a flow path switching command for switching the flow path of the game ball to the discharge path side is output to the electric switching device.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, when the control means determines the idle state of the gaming machine, the electric switching device switches the flow path of the game ball from the supply path to the discharge path side upstream of the game ball payout device. Then, the game ball is guided directly from the tank to the discharge path, bypasses the game ball payout device, collides with the bell at a downstream position of the device, and then the outside of the machine frame, for example, the ball collection mechanism of the game island equipment, etc. Spill to Therefore, in the case of this gaming machine, in the idle state, it is possible to ring a bell using a gaming ball upstream from the gaming ball payout device, and to effectively invite a wide range of customers by the bell sound. Also, since the bell is provided so as to face both the supply path and the discharge path on the downstream side of the game ball payout device, it is possible to ring the same bell at the game ball paid out by the game ball payout device during normal times. There is also an advantage that one bell can be used for both normal payout and demo payout.
[0019]
  Claim5~7The invention of the present invention provides characteristic means related to the determination of the idle state by the control means. The electric switching device is provided on the gaming machine provided on the downstream side of the gaming ball payout device, and on the gaming machine provided on the upstream side. Can be applied.
  Claim5The gaming machine according to the invention is characterized in that the control means determines the idle state based on the stop time of the gaming ball payout device. Specifically, the stop time of the game ball payout device is measured by a CPU provided on the payout control board of the game machine, and when the measurement time passes a preset monitoring time, the game machine is in an idle state. It can be judged that there is.
[0020]
  Claim6The gaming machine according to the invention is characterized in that the control means determines the idle state based on the undetected time of the winning ball. Specifically, the CPU provided on the main control board of the gaming machine monitors the signal from the switch that detects the winning of the game ball to the winning opening, and the detection signal cannot be confirmed even after a predetermined time has passed. At this point, it can be determined that the gaming machine is idle.
[0022]
  Claim7The gaming machine according to the present invention is characterized by including a switch for causing the control means to execute or stop the determination of the idle state. In this way, it is possible to switch the occurrence or non-occurrence of a bell sound for each gaming machine according to the installation location and operating history. For example, for a popular gaming machine that has been short since it was installed in a game shop, stop determining the idle state so that unnecessary bell sounds do not occur. For a gaming machine that has become unpopular after a while, it is possible to execute an idle state determination and generate a bell sound during the idle period to attract the customer's interest to the gaming machine.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
First, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a pachinko machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a front frame 2 and a glass frame 3 are provided on the front surface of a machine frame 1 of a pachinko machine, and a game board 4 is provided inside the glass frame 3, and a symbol display device is provided on the game board 4. And various winning holes (not shown) are provided. At the lower part of the front frame 2, a launching device 5 (launching handle is shown) for launching a game ball onto the game board 4 is installed, and an upper receiving tray 6 and a lower receiving tray 7 for storing game balls at the lower part of the machine frame 1. A storage tray 8 is provided.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, a back mechanism plate 10 is attached to the back side of the machine casing 1, and a tank 11 for storing game balls supplied from the game island equipment is installed at the upper end thereof. A tank rail 12 is provided below the tank 11, and its downstream end is connected to the case rail 13. On the lower side of the case rail 13, a prize ball payout unit 14 and a ball rental payout unit 15 are arranged in parallel vertically, and a game ball payout device 16 is configured by both units 14 and 15. And in this 1st Embodiment, the electric switching apparatus 17 which switches the flow path of a game ball | bowl is installed in the downstream from the game ball payout apparatus 16. FIG.
[0026]
The winning ball paying unit 14 and the lending ball paying unit 15 are both configured in the same manner as in the prior art. In response to the payout command output from the payout control board 42, the prize ball payout unit 14 controls the rotation of the built-in prize ball payout motor 48 and awards a predetermined number of game balls supplied through the case rail 13. It comes to pay out as a ball. In response to the payout command output from the payout control board 42, the rental ball payout unit 15 controls the excitation and demagnetization of the built-in ball rental solenoid 50, and determines a predetermined number of game balls supplied through the case rail 13. It is configured to pay out as a rental ball.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, on the lower side of the game ball payout device 16, the back mechanism plate 10 is connected to the prize ball payout unit 14 and the lending payout unit 15 (see FIG. 13). A passage 19, a communication port 20 that allows the discharge passage 19 to communicate with the upper tray 6, an overflow ball passage 21 that transfers the game ball P overflowing from the communication port 20 to the lower tray 7, and a lower portion adjacent to the overflow ball passage 21 A discharge path 22 that extends to the outlet and an opening 23 that connects the discharge path 22 to the discharge path 19 are formed.
[0028]
The payout passage 19, the communication port 20, and the overflow ball passage 21 together with the tank rail 12 and the case rail 13 constitute a supply path that guides the game ball P from the tank 11 to the storage tray 8. A dispensing device 16 is installed. The discharge path 22 is formed in a downstream portion of a ball passage 24 extending downward from the case race 13. The ball removal passage 24 returns the game ball P discharged from the case rail 13 by the ball removal operation to the ball collection mechanism of the game island facility outside the machine frame. Similarly, the discharge path 22 guides the game ball P flowing from the payout path 19 through the opening 23 to the ball collection mechanism of the game island facility.
[0029]
The electric switching device 17 includes a flow path switching plate 26 at a connection site between the discharge path 19 and the discharge path 22. The flow path switching plate 26 is curved so that the game ball P flowing down the payout passage 19 can be received and guided to the opening 23, and its proximal end is pinned to a partition wall 27 between the overflow ball path 21 and the discharge path 22. It is pivotally attached. A solenoid 30 is installed in a passage cover 29 (see FIG. 5) that covers the ball extraction passage 24 and the discharge passage 22, and a plunger 31 thereof is connected to the flow path switching plate 26 via a link member 32. The passage cover 29 is formed with a long hole 34 through which the pin 33 of the link member 32 passes, and an installation portion 35 of the lending payout unit 15.
[0030]
The solenoid 30 is demagnetized by a flow path switching command from the CPU 44 (see FIG. 6) of the payout control board 42. In the demagnetized state of the solenoid 30 (see FIG. 3b), the plunger 31 is retracted by the biasing force of the spring 36, the flow path switching plate 26 closes the opening 23 and opens the lower end of the dispensing passage 19 (see FIG. 3a). Retained. In the excited state of the solenoid 30 (see FIG. 4b), the plunger 31 protrudes against the biasing force of the spring 36, the flow path switching plate 26 opens the opening 23, and closes the lower end of the dispensing passage 19 (see FIG. 4a), and its tip is supported from below by the projecting piece 37.
[0031]
A metal bell 38 that rings in contact with the game ball P flowing down the payout passage 19 is provided at an intermediate position between the lower end of the payout passage 19 and the opening 23, that is, at a connection portion between the payout passage 19 and the discharge passage 22. It has been. The flow path switching plate 26 rotates on the downstream side of the bell 38 and contacts the stopper 39 when the opening 23 is closed, and stops at a position approaching the bell 38 in a non-contact state. Further, when the opening 23 is opened, the flow path switching plate 26 acts so that the game ball P passes through the lower side of the bell 38 and is led out from the opening 23 to the discharge path 22.
[0032]
Therefore, in this pachinko machine, the game ball P paid out from the prize ball payout unit 14 rings the bell 38 in the process of flowing down the payout passage 19 in both cases of normal game and idle time. Thereafter, in the case of a normal game, the game ball P flows down from the communication port 20 to the upper tray 6 or from the overflow ball passage 21 to the lower ball tray 7. When the idle state is determined, the flow path switching plate 26 switches the flow path of the game ball P to the discharge path 22 side, so that the game ball P passes through the flow path switching plate 26, the opening 23, and the discharge path 22 to play the game. Return to the ball collection mechanism of the island facility. In particular, the idle bell sound is a metal sound that is different from the electronic sound used for BGM, sound effects, etc., so even if there is an operating game machine nearby, it will not be mixed with the electronic sound. A bell sound demonstration can be carried out effectively.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 6, a main control board 41 and a payout control board 42 are provided in the electric control system of the pachinko machine. The main control board 41 is connected to a winning port switch group 43 and the like for detecting the winning of game balls to a plurality of types of winning ports arranged on the game board 4. The payout control board 42 is provided with a CPU 44 as control means, a ROM 45 for storing various control programs and control data, and a RAM 46 for temporarily storing calculation results and setting data by the CPU 44. The CPU 44 controls the prize ball payout motor 48 while monitoring the signal of the prize ball payout sensor 47 in the prize ball payout unit 14, and also monitors the signal of the ball payout payout sensor 49 in the ball rental payout unit 15. The ball solenoid 50 is controlled.
[0034]
The payout control board 42 is connected to a launch motor 52 and a launch switch 53 via a launch motor drive board 51, and the CPU 44 controls the launch device 5 (launch handle) by the player based on a signal from the launch switch 53. Confirm the operation. Further, the payout control board 42 includes an idle processing switch 54 for executing or stopping the idle state determination by the CPU 44, a flow path switching plate drive solenoid 30 of the electric switching device 17, and a flow path switching plate 26. Is connected to a flow path switching lamp 55 that is turned on when switched to the discharge path 22 side and turned off when switched to the payout path 19 side. In addition, the flow path switching lamp 55 is provided at a location that is easily noticeable by customers and shop assistants, such as the upper end portion (see FIG. 1) of the front frame 2 of the pachinko machine.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the pachinko machine configured as described above will be described in accordance with a program executed by the CPU 44.
(Reset processing)
When power is turned on to the pachinko machine, the reset process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is started. Here, first, the CPU 44 performs a security check to determine whether there is an abnormality in the program recorded in the ROM 45, and then performs initial settings such as a stack pointer, an interrupt mode, and an internal device (S1).
[0036]
After the initial setting, it is confirmed whether or not the RAM clear switch is turned on (S2). If the RAM clear switch is turned on (S2: Yes), it is confirmed that the information about occurrence of power interruption is set. At the same time (S3: Yes), it is confirmed that the data recorded in the RAM 46 is normal (S4: Yes), and the power recovery process is executed using these data as a power recovery condition (S5). Return to. On the other hand, if the RAM clear switch is not turned on (S2: No), or if the power recovery condition is not satisfied even if the RAM clear switch is turned on (S3: No, S4: No), all the RAMs The area is cleared (initialized by storing 0) (S6), and initial setting values are stored in various flags, timers, and built-in devices (S7).
[0037]
After the above initial setting, the CPU 44 checks the state of the idle processing switch 54 (S8), and if the game store side has turned on the idle processing switch 54 to perform the idle demonstration (S8: Yes), The processing flag is set to “ON” (S9), and if the idle processing switch 54 is turned off to stop the demonstration during idle (S8: No), the idle processing flag is set to “OFF”. (S10). When the idle processing flag is set to “ON”, the CPU 44 determines an initial monitoring time (not shown) in the idle timer for measuring the stop time of the winning ball payout unit 14 in order to determine the idle state of the pachinko machine when the power is turned on. For example, 10 minutes) is set (S11), and the system waits in an interrupt-enabled state (S12).
[0038]
Here, the initial monitoring time is useful for automatically performing a trial run of the winning ball paying unit 14 when the power is turned on since the winning ball paying unit 14 performs paying operation when this time elapses. Usually, even during the closing time of the game store, the game ball stays inside the prize ball payout unit 14, and the ball pressure continues to act on the drive shaft of the prize ball payout motor 48. The prize ball payout motor 48 may not normally rotate during the prize ball payout operation. Therefore, if the initial monitoring time is set when the power is turned on, the first payout operation is performed as a trial operation before the game store is opened, and the normal state of the winning ball payout unit 14 is determined based on the lighting state of the flow path switching lamp 55. Or abnormality can be confirmed easily.
[0039]
(Payout control process)
When the reset process at power-on is completed, the payout control process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is started. Here, the CPU 44 receives a payout control command output from the main control board 41, and executes an interrupt control process for counting various prize ball number data based on the command (S21). Then, the idle processing flag is checked (S22), and if the flag is OFF (S22: No), a prize ball payout control process (S50: refer to FIG. 10) related to the prize ball payout operation and rental The process proceeds to the rental ball payout control process (S70: see FIG. 11) related to the payout operation.
[0040]
On the other hand, when the idle processing flag is ON (S22: Yes), the driving state of the prize ball payout motor 48 in the prize ball payout unit 14 is confirmed (S23), and when the prize ball payout motor 48 is stopped ( S23: Yes), the idle timer is updated (S24). Here, the CPU 44 sets an initial monitoring time in the idle timer when the power is turned on, sets an idle monitoring time (for example, 5 minutes) in the idle timer after the initial monitoring time has elapsed (S25), and the winning ball payout motor 48 If driven (S23: No), the idle monitoring time is reset in the idle timer. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the idle state can be continuously determined over the entire operation period of the pachinko machine by comparing the measurement time of the idle timer with two types of monitoring time.
[0041]
That is, the CPU 44 confirms whether or not the idle timer has expired (S26), and if not (S26: No), it is determined that the player is playing with this pachinko machine, and the winning ball payout control The process and the lending payout control process are executed. If the time is up (S26: Yes), it is determined that the pachinko machine is in an idle state, and then the operation of the launcher 5 by the player is confirmed based on the signal from the launch switch 53 (S27). . Then, on condition that the launching device 5 is not operated (S27: Yes), an idle time process for demonstration is executed (S28). On the other hand, when the launching device 5 is operated (S27: No), the idle time process is canceled and the process returns to the interrupt control process (S21). Therefore, as long as the player operates the launcher 5, there is no possibility that a demonstration bell sound will be erroneously generated even if no winning ball is generated during the time corresponding to the idle monitoring time.
[0042]
(Idle time processing)
In the idle time process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, first, the CPU 44 lights up the flow path switching lamp 55 (S29), and at the same time, an excitation signal as a flow path switching command to the flow path switching plate drive solenoid 30. Is output (S30). Thereby, in the electric switching device 17, as shown in FIG. 4, the flow path switching plate 26 is rotated to the position where the opening 23 is opened, and the flow path of the game ball P is switched from the payout path 19 to the discharge path 22 side. It is done. Next, the CPU 44 sets, for example, 5 as the total number of game balls to be paid out by the prize ball payout unit 14 during the idle period (S31), and then stores an initial value 0 in a payout number counter indicating the number of payouts ( S32). Here, it is also possible to set a larger value (for example, 50) than the normal amount for the total number of payouts to attract customers' interest more effectively.
[0043]
Subsequently, the CPU 44 outputs a payout command to the prize ball payout unit 14, drives the prize ball payout motor 48, confirms the payout of the game ball based on the signal of the prize ball payout sensor 47 (S34), and the number of payouts The counter is updated (S35). At this time, the game balls paid out from the prize ball paying unit 14 sequentially collide with the bell 38, and the bell 38 generates five metal sounds corresponding to the total number of game balls paid out. To be implemented. In this embodiment, the CPU 44 outputs a driving signal different from the normal time to the winning ball payout motor 48 when determining the idle state so that the bell sound at the time of demonstration is different from that at the time of normal payout (S33). ). Thereby, the prize ball payout unit 14 pays out five game balls in a pattern as shown in FIG. 12, for example, at intervals different from the normal time. Therefore, the customer listens to an unfamiliar bell sound and directs the interest to the gaming machine that is the sound source.
[0044]
When the value of the payout number counter reaches the total payout number (S36: Yes), the CPU 44 stops the prize ball payout motor 48 (S37) and simultaneously demagnetizes the flow path switching plate drive solenoid 30 (S38). Thereby, in the electric switching device 17, as shown in FIG. 3, the flow path switching plate 26 is rotated to the position where the opening 23 is closed, and the flow path of the game ball P is switched from the discharge path 22 to the communication port 20 side. It is done. Thereafter, the CPU 44 turns off the flow path switching lamp 55 (S39), sets the idle monitoring time (5 minutes) in the idle timer (S40), and then returns to the payout control process.
[0045]
If the prize ball payout unit 14 cannot complete paying out a predetermined number of game balls for some reason during the idle time processing (when the determination result in S36 is No), the flow path switching lamp 55 is Since it is continuously lit, the store clerk can detect an abnormality in the prize ball payout unit 14 at an early stage based on the lamp display. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the prize ball generated during the game is discharged from the discharge path 22 to the game island equipment side, and it is also possible to check the operation of the prize ball paying unit 14 using the idle time. It becomes.
[0046]
Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG. In the pachinko machine of this embodiment, an electric switching device 57 that switches the flow path of the game ball P is installed upstream of the game ball payout device 16. Inside the case rail 13, a game ball introduction path 58 connected to the tank rail 12 (see FIG. 2), a prize ball guiding path 59 connected to the prize ball payout unit 14, and a ball rental payout unit 15 are connected. A ball rental guiding path 60 and a game ball outlet path 61 connected to the ball removal path 24 are formed.
[0047]
The tank rail 12, the game ball introduction path 58, the prize ball guide path 59, the lending guide path 60, the payout path 19, and the communication port 20 constitute a supply path that guides the game balls P from the tank 11 to the storage tray 8. is doing. The game ball lead-out path 61 and the ball removal path 24 constitute a discharge path that guides the game ball P flowing down from the tank 11 to the outside of the machine frame 1. On the other hand, the metal bell 38 is provided to face both the payout passage 19 and the ball removal passage 24 at a position downstream of the game ball payout device 16. That is, in this embodiment, the opening 23 provided in the partition wall 27 functions so that a part of the bell 38 is exposed to the ball passage 24.
[0048]
The electric switching device 57 includes a flow path switching plate 62 at a connection site (open portion) between the game ball introduction path 58 and the game ball lead-out path 61. This switching plate 62 is rotatably supported on the case rail 13 by a shaft 63, a solenoid 64 is installed on the case rail 13, and its plunger 65 is connected to the flow path switching plate 62 via a connecting member 66. The solenoid 64 is excited and demagnetized by a drive signal from the payout control board 42 (see FIG. 6), and in the demagnetized state (the state shown on the left side in FIG. 13), the flow path switching plate 62 guides the game ball P through the flow path. In the excited state (the state shown on the right side of FIG. 13), the flow path switching plate 62 switches the game ball flow path to the game ball lead-out path 61 side and switches the game ball P to the ball. It is led from the extraction passage 24 to the ball collection mechanism of the game island equipment.
[0049]
Therefore, when the CPU 44 of the payout control board 42 determines the idle state of the pachinko machine, it outputs a flow path switching command to the solenoid 64 to excite it, and the game ball P bypasses the game ball payout device 16 and moves to the ball. It flows down the extraction passage 24 and collides with the bell 38 in the process, and the bell 38 generates a metal sound, and the bell sound makes it possible to perform an effective demonstration for a wide range of customers. Further, at the time of normal payout, since the game ball P paid out by the game ball payout device 16 rings the bell 38 in the process of flowing down the payout passage 19, there is an advantage that one bell 38 can be used for both normal time and idle time. Other operational effects, mechanical or electrical configuration, and processing contents of the CPU 44 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0050]
<Modified example of the present invention>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described two embodiments. For example, as illustrated below, the configuration and control contents of each unit can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is. In the following, some modified examples will be described with reference to the configuration of the first embodiment, but each modified example can be similarly applied to the pachinko machine of the second embodiment.
[0051]
(1) (Judgment of idle state)
The idle state is determined by the main control board 41 instead of the payout control board 42. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the flow path switching plate drive solenoid 30 is connected to the main control board 41, and the CPU 68 of the main control board 41 monitors the winning ball detection signal from the winning port switch group 43. The idle state is determined based on the undetected time of the winning ball. That is, when the winning ball detection signal is not received until the initial monitoring time or the idle monitoring time elapses, the CPU 68 determines the idle state, energizes the solenoid 30, and then the prize ball paying unit via the payout control board 42. 14 issues a payout command.
[0052]
(2) (Flow path switching lamp)
As shown in FIG. 14, during the period when the flow path switching lamp 55 is connected to the main control board 41 via the lamp control board 69 and the flow path switching plate 26 switches the game ball path to the discharge path 22 side, The flow path switching lamp 55 is blinked, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, control is performed so as to shift from blinking to lighting. In this way, when the flow path switching lamp 55 continues to flash, the abnormality of the flow path switching plate 26 can be notified, and when the flow path switching lamp 55 is lit, the prize ball paying unit 14 Normal operation can be notified.
[0053]
(3) (Payout control process)
In the payout control process shown in FIG. 8, the process (S27) for confirming the operation of the launching device 5 is omitted. In this way, even when the game is in progress, if no winning ball is generated for a long time, the flow path switching command and the payout command are output based on the determination of the idle state, and the demonstration game ball is sent to the discharge path 22 side. To be paid out. In this case, as in the above embodiment, in the idle time processing (see FIGS. 9 and 12), the payout pattern of the game ball is made different from the normal payout pattern, and the bell sound at the idle time is changed to the bell sound at the time of paying out the winning ball. It is good not to be confused with.
[0054]
(4) (Ball passage)
The game balls paid out during the idle period must be returned to the ball collection mechanism of the game island equipment through a dedicated discharge path without using the existing ball removal passage 24.
(5) (Game ball dispensing device)
In the game ball payout device 16, the idle game ball is paid out from the lending ball payout unit 15 instead of from the prize ball payout unit 14, and a bell 38 provided on the downstream side contacts the game ball and makes a bell sound. Configure to occur.
[0055]
(6) (Upper plate full detection switch)
According to the configuration of the first embodiment, when both the upper tray 6 and the lower tray 7 are full, the game ball overflows to the lower side of the flow path switching plate 26, and the electric switching device 17 operates normally by the overflow ball. May not. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, an upper plate full detection switch 70 for detecting the full state of the upper tray 6 is provided on the downstream side of the electric switching device 17, and only when this switch 70 is not operated, the CPU 44 is A flow path switching command and a payout command are output. Of course, in the pachinko machine of the second embodiment, since the electric switching device 57 is installed on the upstream side of the game ball payout device 16, there is no possibility of malfunction due to the overflow ball.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a back mechanism of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a mechanism diagram showing a game ball path and an electric switching device of the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment.
4 is a mechanism diagram showing another operating state of the electric switching device of FIG. 3; FIG.
5 is a perspective view of the electric switching device of FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electric control system of the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment.
7 is a flowchart showing reset processing executed by the CPU of the payout control board of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a payout control process executed by the CPU.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing idle time processing executed by the CPU;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a prize ball payout control process executed by the CPU.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a lending payout control process executed by the CPU.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a game ball payout pattern during normal time and idle time.
FIG. 13 is a mechanism diagram showing a game ball path and an electric switching device of a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a modification of the electric control system of the pachinko machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Machine frame
4 Game board
5 Launcher
8 Reservoir
11 tanks
12 Tank rail
13 Case rail
14 prize ball payout unit
15 Rental unit
16 game ball payout device
17 Electric switching device
19 Discharge passage
20 communication port
21 Overflowing ball passage
22 Discharge path
24 ball passage
26 Channel switching plate
30 Solenoid
38 bells
41 Main control board
42 Dispensing control board
44 CPU
54 Idle processing switch
55 Channel switching lamp
57 Electric switching device
58 game ball introduction path
59 Award ball taxiway
60 Rental rental taxiway
61 game ball exit passage
62 Channel switching plate
64 Solenoid
68 CPU

Claims (7)

In a gaming machine that supplies a game ball from a tank at the top of the machine frame to a storage tray at the bottom of the machine frame and launches it on the game board by a launcher,
A supply path for guiding the game balls from the tank to the storage tray is formed on the rear side of the machine frame, and a game ball payout for paying out a predetermined number of game balls in response to a payout command from the control means in the supply path A device is installed, and a bell that rings in contact with the game ball flowing down the supply path is provided in the supply path downstream of the game ball dispensing device, and the game ball is placed outside the machine frame in the supply path downstream of the bell. An electrical switching device for switching the flow path of the game ball is installed at the connection portion between the supply path and the discharge path, and the control means is in a state where the player is not playing a game or After determining the idle state of the gaming machine that has not passed the winning area of the game board for a predetermined time and outputting a flow path switching command for switching the flow path of the game ball to the discharge path side to the electric switching device, the game ball payout device A game machine characterized in that a payout command is output.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when the control means determines an idle state, the gaming ball payout device pays out a predetermined number of gaming balls at intervals different from normal times.   The game according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the control means determines the idle state, the output of the flow path switching command and the payout command is canceled when the player confirms the operation of the launching device. Machine. In a gaming machine that supplies a game ball from a tank at the top of the machine frame to a storage tray at the bottom of the machine frame and launches it on the game board by a launcher,
A game ball payout device that forms a supply path for guiding game balls from the tank to the storage tray on the rear side of the machine frame, and that pays out a predetermined number of game balls in response to a payout command from the control means in the supply path Is connected to the supply path upstream of the game ball payout device, and a discharge path for guiding the game balls flowing down from the tank to the outside of the machine frame is connected to the connection area between the supply path and the discharge path. installing an electric switching device for switching the road, the game ball payout device from the downstream position, provided the bell ringing in contact with game ball so as to face both the supply channel and discharge channel, said control means, the player Channel switching that determines whether the gaming machine is idle or in a state where the gaming ball does not pass the winning area of the gaming board for a predetermined time and switches the gaming ball channel to the discharge channel side in the electric switching device A gaming machine characterized by outputting a command.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means determines an idle state based on a stop time of the gaming ball payout device.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means determines an idle state based on a non-detection time of a winning ball.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that causes the control unit to execute or stop the determination of the idle state.

Images