JP4122401B2 - Enclosed ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention plays a game by firing a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the main body of the game machine from the launch position to the game area, while collecting the game balls passing through the game area and guiding them to the launch position to circulate the game balls The present invention relates to an enclosed ball type game machine to be used.

Enclosed ball type that encloses a predetermined number of game balls in the gaming machine, launches the game balls from the launch position to the game area, collects the game balls that have flowed down the game area, and guides them to the launch position again to circulate and use the game balls A gaming machine is known. In such a pachinko gaming machine as an encapsulated ball type gaming machine, when one gaming ball is sequentially fired at a predetermined interval, it is launched next during a predetermined time from the previous launch to the next launch. A number of game balls having a certain margin are enclosed so that the game balls do not return from the game area and cannot be released every predetermined time.
However, if a ball stop phenomenon occurs where the game ball stops in the game area, or if the enclosed game ball falls out of the gaming machine due to some reason such as opening the glass frame, etc. If a large number of game balls cannot be returned to the launch position, there is a shortage of game balls returning to the launch position, and there is a possibility that the game balls cannot be launched every predetermined time.
Therefore, a sensor that detects a shortage of game balls returned from the game area to the launch position is provided, and when the shortage of game balls is detected by the sensor, the lack of game balls is notified (for example, A gaming machine that interrupts the progress of a game has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Furthermore, when a shortage of game balls is detected by a sensor, a game machine that supplies game balls from the outside and conversely discharges game balls to the outside when it is detected that the number of game balls exceeds a predetermined number Has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-7-185068 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-234271 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-84357

  By the way, in the conventional enclosed ball type gaming machine as shown in Patent Document 3, since the gaming balls can be replenished from the outside, there is no problem in launching the gaming balls due to lack of gaming balls. In order to replenish game balls from the outside and discharge game balls outside the game machine, it is necessary to provide a replenishment system for supplying and discharging game balls to and from each game machine on the island facility . In other words, a replenishment system that is almost the same as the replenishment system for game balls required for ordinary non-enclosed ball game machines that supply game balls from the outside and discharge game balls to the outside is provided on the island facility. Necessary.

Basically, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine, the game ball is not replenished or discharged under normal circumstances, and it is not necessary to provide the above-described replenishment system in the island facility where the enclosed ball type gaming machine is installed. In spite of the fact that it is used only when the number of game balls encapsulated is insufficient as described above, or when it is used only when exchanging the encapsulated game balls, it is a great deal of Installation of an expensive replenishment system puts a heavy burden on the game store and has no merit of installing an enclosed ball type gaming machine.
In addition, even if the existing supply system installed for normal gaming machines is diverted, maintenance and maintenance of the supply system is time-consuming and costly, and the merit of installing encapsulated ball-type gaming machines is also reduced. To do.

In addition, when a shortage of game balls as described above is detected, it is necessary to respond to the notification only by notifying it, and it takes time and effort. For example, in a game state where it is advantageous to fire as many game balls as possible in a short time, such as during a big hit, there is a possibility that it may be disadvantageous to the player.
In addition, when the game ball shortage is detected, it is possible to prevent the player from being disadvantaged by interrupting the progress of the game even if the game ball cannot be normally launched. If the game is interrupted, the player is uncomfortable.

  As a method of easily avoiding the above problems, in order to prevent a problem even if the number of game balls returned from the game area and guided to the launch position is reduced, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine is previously set in a normal time. Although it is conceivable to enclose a larger number of game balls than the necessary and sufficient number of game balls, in this case, the flow path of the game balls leading the collected game balls to the launch position becomes long. That is, when guiding the game ball to the launch position, considering ball clogging, it is preferable to form a flow path so that the game balls guided to the launch position are arranged in a single line, but so as to enclose a large amount of game balls In this case, if the game balls are arranged in a line, the flow path becomes extremely long.

In addition, in the gaming machine, the space in which the flow path of the game sphere guided to the launch position can be arranged is limited, and the height difference between the collection position of the game sphere from the game area and the launch position of the game sphere is also limited. There is a limit to the length of the flow path that allows the game ball to flow down from the top to the bottom, and in order to lengthen the flow path, a lifting device that moves the game ball downward and then lifts it upward is used. It was necessary to make it the structure which provided in the flow path and made the flowed-up game ball flow down again.
And, when a lifting device is provided in the flow path for circulating and using game balls, the problem is that the configuration of the flow path becomes complicated and the probability of problems such as ball clogging occurring in the circulation of game balls increases. There is.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure without installing a game ball replenishment system on an island facility where an enclosed ball game machine is installed, and without complicating the circulation path of the game balls in the enclosed ball game. When a shortage occurs in the game balls supplied to the launch position in the ball game machine, the game balls are automatically replenished.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in a gaming machine body are fired from a launch position to a game area to play a game, and a game ball that has passed through the game area is Recover and guide to the launch position to circulate and use the game sphere, and a recovery sphere flow path for guiding the game sphere collected through the game area, and a position downstream of the collection sphere flow path and the launch position A circulation path is formed by communicating with a standby flow path for waiting for a predetermined number of game balls before being sent,
A ball feeder for sending one game ball to the launch position of the game ball waiting in the standby flow path;
A ball shortage state detecting means for detecting a shortage state of game balls waiting in the standby flow path;
In the enclosed ball type gaming machine provided with
A ball storage section that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port facing the standby flow path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
Replenishment conversion means capable of converting into a storage state in which the game ball is stored in the ball storage unit and a replenishment state in which the game ball flows out from the ball storage unit to the circulation path and is replenished ;
Replenishment control means for converting the replenishment conversion means to the replenishment state and replenishing the standby flow path with game balls when the shortage state of game balls is detected by the shortage state detection means ;
With
When the game balls waiting in the standby channel are connected and reach the communication port of the ball storage unit, the game balls flowing down from the recovery ball channel are guided by the game ball reaching the communication port and stored as a ball. It is characterized in that it flows into the part and is stored.

Here, the “enclosed ball game machine” is, for example, a ball game machine such as various pachinko machines using a game ball, an arrange ball game machine, or a sparrow ball game machine, and a game launched in the game area. A gaming machine that circulates and uses a gaming ball enclosed in a gaming machine without discharging the ball outside the gaming machine.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine, the game ball launched into the game area is collected and reaches the standby flow path through the collection ball flow path, and reaches the launch position in the standby flow path. The game balls that are waiting to be guided and are waiting in the standby flow path are sent one by one to the launch position corresponding to the launch timing of the game balls by the ball feeder, and are again launched into the game area. The
Then, the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path decreases due to the decrease in the number of game balls collected in the circulation path due to the stop of the game balls in the game area or the removal of the game balls from the game machine, etc. In this state, the ball shortage state detection means detects this ball shortage state.

Then, when the shortage of the game balls detected by the shortage state detection unit detects a shortage of the game balls, the replenishment conversion unit of the ball storage unit changes from the storage state of storing the game balls to the replenishment state of replenishing the game balls and is stored in the ball storage unit. The game balls are replenished to the standby flow path side through the communication port communicating with the circulation path, and the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path is increased. To prevent.
In addition, since it has a communication port that is opened in the middle of the circulation path and faces the standby flow path, it becomes possible to store the refilled game balls in the ball storage section again, and the circulation path is increased by replenishment. It is not necessary to form a space where game balls can be stored, and the circulation path can be prevented from becoming long.
In other words, the ball stop in the game area or the like does not decrease the number of enclosed game balls, and after the waiting game balls are insufficient and the game balls are replenished to the standby flow path, the ball stop is eliminated and the player When the game is interrupted or stopped, the launch of the game ball is stopped, and all the game balls launched into the game area are collected and returned to the circulation path. In this case, the circulation path is in a state where a larger number of game balls than the refilled game balls are stored. However, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the communication port communicating with the circulation path of the ball reservoir is located at the position facing the standby flow path, the recovery ball flow path is stopped by stopping the launch of the game ball. When the game ball returns from the game area to the standby flow path through the game area, the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path increases, so that the game ball also waits at the position of the communication port facing the standby flow path. Become. In this state, when the game ball further flows down from the collection ball channel to the standby channel, the game ball flowing down the collection ball channel communicates with the game ball in the standby channel reaching the position of the communication port. It is guided and stored in a sphere storage section on the side of the mouth that is not on the standby flow path side. That is, the game balls flowing down from the collection ball channel to the standby channel overflow from the communication port and flow into the ball storage unit. In the standby channel, the number of game balls accumulated in the standby channel (game balls collected from the launch position to the communication port of the standby channel) in a state where the game balls are collected up to the communication port is an enclosed ball type. It is preferable to be a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the gaming machine (excluding the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit). Note that the game ball enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine may include the game ball stored in the ball storage unit, and the game ball in the ball storage unit is substantially in the enclosed ball type game machine. Therefore, the game ball of the ball storage unit is also enclosed in the enclosed ball type game machine.

  As described above, even if there is a shortage of game balls waiting to be fired, the game balls are automatically replenished, so there is no problem in launching the game balls, and there is no need to deal with the shortage of game balls. . In addition, even if a shortage of game balls occurs, the game can be continued without the game being interrupted. In addition, game balls are replenished by a ball storage unit provided in the encapsulated ball game machine and its replenishment conversion means. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost by preventing the extra cost. In addition, the ball storage unit has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and is provided outside the circulation path, as in the case where an extra game ball to be used when there is a shortage of balls is provided in the circulation path. The circulation path does not become long, and it is not necessary to provide a lifting device for transporting the game ball upward in the circulation path.

In other words, by arranging the ball storage part and the circulation path separately, it is possible to efficiently arrange them in the installation space of the limited members of the pachinko gaming machine, and the game balls for replenishment in the pachinko gaming machine Can be replenished. In the ball storage unit, it is preferable that the game balls are arranged in a single line so as to prevent clogging of the balls and can flow down from the communication port to the circulation path (the standby flow path). In this case, since the flow path in which the game balls in the ball storage section are arranged in a single line and the flow path in which the game balls in the circulation path are arranged in a single line are separate systems, a lifting device that transports the game balls upward is required. Never become.
Further, when the game balls are accumulated up to the communication port in the standby channel, more game balls are sent to the ball storage unit and stored.
Therefore, when a ball needs to be replenished, the game ball is automatically replenished from the ball reservoir, and after the game ball is replenished, the game ball is released when the replenished game ball is no longer needed. The extra game balls that are no longer needed are automatically returned to the ball storage unit by stopping the game.
Furthermore, when the game balls flow down from the collection ball channel to the standby channel where the communication port faces, and the game balls accumulate in the standby channel, the game ball accumulates up to the communication port. When the game balls are collected up to the mouth, the game balls are stored in the ball storage section outside the circulation path after that, so that after the game balls are collected up to the communication port in the standby channel, The game balls are not collected and collected in the collection ball channel. For example, when a collection ball detecting means for detecting the collected game balls is provided in the collection ball channel, the game balls are not collected in the collection ball channel. By accumulating, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being stopped at the position of the collection ball detection means and prevent the collection ball detection means from remaining in the ON state where the game ball is detected.

Note that the ball shortage state detection means detects the ball shortage state, for example, before the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path is insufficient and a problem occurs in the game ball launch.
That is, the ball shortage state detection means does not detect a state where the number of game balls waiting for launch is completely short, but, for example, when the number of game balls waiting is equal to or less than a predetermined number set in advance. It is detected that the number of waiting game balls is insufficient, and the predetermined number is larger than the minimum number of game balls that does not cause a problem in launching the game balls. . Thereby, before a problem arises in the launch of the game ball, the game ball is replenished to the standby flow path, thereby preventing the problem.

  Note that the predetermined number may include an error that becomes an allowable range of about plus or minus several or more depending on a detection method of a game ball or the like. In addition, the counting method of the number of waiting game balls is, for example, that a game ball waiting in line in the standby flow path is detected at a predetermined position, and if there is no game ball at a predetermined position for a predetermined time or longer, It may be that only a few or less game balls are waiting, or a game ball that is collected and reaches the circulation path is detected, and the game balls are collected for a predetermined time or more despite being sequentially fired. If no game balls are detected, it may be determined that the number of game balls in the standby channel is decreasing.

The invention according to claim 2, in sealed and ball game machine according to claim 1, provided with a reservoir ball detection means for detecting the insufficiency of the game ball that is stored in the ball storage portion, the game balls A notification means for notifying a shortage state of the game balls in the ball storage section when the storage ball detection means detects a shortage state of the game balls after a predetermined time has elapsed since the launching device to be launched has stopped; It is characterized by having prepared.

According to the invention described in claim 2, when the game balls stored in the ball storage unit are replenished to the circulation path, when the game balls for replacement are no longer in the ball storage unit, the stored ball detection means can play the game Detecting a shortage state of the sphere, even if a predetermined time has elapsed since the launching device stopped, if the storage ball detection means has detected a shortage of the sphere, the ball shortage state in the sphere storage unit is notified, The ball storage unit is urged to replenish game balls. Therefore, when the game is continued without the game balls in the ball storage unit and there are not enough game balls to wait again, it is possible to prevent the game balls from being replenished from being left.

For example, as described above, when the number of game balls enclosed due to dropping of the game balls from the game machine main body or the like is reduced and the game balls are replenished to the circulation path from the ball storage unit, the extra game balls are Even if it is configured to return to the ball storage unit, the number of game balls enclosed in the gaming machine body including the game balls stored in the ball storage unit has decreased, and waiting for launch again When there is a situation where there are not enough game balls to be played, there is a possibility that there are no remaining game balls to replenish the ball storage unit. Therefore, if the game ball does not return to the ball storage section even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the launch of the game ball is stopped, and prompting the game ball to be replenished, the refilling in the enclosed ball type gaming machine It is possible to prevent the state where there is no game ball from continuing. In addition, even if there is a shortage of game balls due to the ball stopping in the game area, if the ball stop does not resolve immediately, there will be no game ball in the ball storage section, and it is necessary to release the ball stop by an attendant etc. It is necessary to notify that there is no game ball in the ball storage unit.
In a state where game balls are sequentially fired at predetermined time intervals, a plurality of game balls are flowing down in the game area, and a predetermined number of balls including supplementary balls are enclosed in the circulation path. Even if there are fewer game balls than game balls, and game balls are replenished and increased, the game balls do not return to the ball storage part. It is necessary to determine whether or not there is a game ball in the ball storage unit in a state where it is assumed that all have returned to the circulation path.

In the invention described in claim 2 , the presence / absence of a game ball in the ball storage unit is determined after a predetermined time. For example, a game ball (floating ball) from the launching device until returning to the circulation path The floating sphere counting means counts the floating sphere counting means when the floating sphere counting means does not detect floating spheres, that is, when all the game balls have returned to the circulation path, When the game ball is not detected, notification for prompting the supply of the game ball may be performed. With such a configuration, it is possible to notify the ball storage unit to replenish the game ball without providing the storage ball detection means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to the first or second aspect , the replenishing conversion means forms a bottom surface of the ball storage portion, and the inclination direction of the bottom surface is set to the communication port side. It is characterized in that it can be converted into a state inclined upward and a state inclined downward toward the communication port side.

According to invention of Claim 3 , the game ball stored by the ball storage part will be in the state stored on the bottom face of the ball storage part. And when the replenishment conversion means is in the storage state, the bottom surface of the ball storage section is inclined upward to the communication port side so that the communication port side becomes higher, so that the game balls stored on the bottom surface constituted by the replenishment conversion unit are And it will be in the state where it was stored by the ball storage part, without flowing down to a communicating port. On the other hand, when the replenishment conversion means is in the replenishment state, the bottom surface of the ball storage unit is inclined downward toward the communication port side so that the communication port side is lowered, so that the game balls on the bottom surface of the ball storage unit flow down to the communication port side. In addition, it flows down from the communication port to the circulation path, and the game ball is replenished to the circulation path.
Therefore, it is possible to convert the sphere storage unit into a storage state and a replenishment state with a very simple configuration. In addition, since the game ball is caused to flow down basically by changing the inclination direction (inclination angle) of the bottom surface of the ball storage unit, the possibility of ball clogging is extremely low. The ball can be reliably prevented from clogging by arranging the balls in a line. In addition, with the above configuration, an extra game ball can be returned to the ball storage unit with a very simple configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects,
In the ball storage unit, a supply port for supplying game balls from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the middle of the circulation path is provided,
When a game ball is replenished to the circulation path from the replenishment port via the ball storage unit, a replenishment conversion operation unit that converts the replenishment conversion unit to the replenishment state is provided.

According to the invention described in claim 4, when a game ball is replenished to replace a game ball or a game ball is replenished when a game ball is dropped from an enclosed ball type gaming machine and the game ball is insufficient, A game ball can be replenished in the middle of the circulation path from the outside of the machine body via a replenishment port provided in the ball storage section. When the game ball is replenished to the circulation path via the ball storage unit, the replenishment conversion means is in the replenishment state, so that the game ball replenished to the ball storage unit from the replenishment port is in the replenishment state. The circulation path is replenished from the bulb storage part.

Therefore, when a game ball is supplied to the circulation path from the outside of the gaming machine main body, the game ball can easily be stored in the ball storage unit by passing through the ball storage unit. That is, when there are not enough game balls, the game balls stored in the ball storage unit may be replenished to the circulation path, and when the game balls are replaced, the game balls are stored in the ball storage unit. There is a possibility that the game ball is also discharged, and when the game ball is replenished from the outside, there is a high possibility that the game ball is not stored in the ball storage part, but as described above, When the game balls are supplied from the outside of the gaming machine main body, the game balls can be easily stored in the ball storage unit. Further, for example, as in the configuration described in claim 1 , if the configuration is such that when game balls accumulate in the standby channel up to the communication port, more game balls accumulate on the side of the ball storage unit. After the game balls are replenished in the flow path, the extra game balls are automatically stored in the ball storage unit.

  In addition, from the above configuration, when the number of game balls to be replenished in the circulation path becomes larger than a predetermined number, it can be stored in the ball storage unit, and the predetermined number or more necessary and sufficient for the circulation path It is possible to prevent the game balls from being replenished.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
A foul ball flow path for guiding the launched game ball to the standby flow path, the game ball having become a foul without flowing down the game area;
A foul ball detecting means for detecting a game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path;
A recovery ball detection means for detecting a game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel;
With
A flow path is formed so that the game ball flowing down the collection ball flow path and the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path merge,
The game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball channel and the game ball that has flowed down the foul ball channel are merged from different directions so that the flow channel is bent, and a part of the inner surface of the channel near the merge portion The
The flow path forming surface that is provided in the replenishment conversion means and moves by the operation of the replenishment conversion means,
When the detection output of the game ball of the recovered ball detection means or the foul ball detection means continues for a predetermined time, a flow path formation surface operation control means for moving the flow path formation surface by operating the replenishment conversion means. It is characterized by having prepared.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the game ball that has flowed down the collection ball channel that causes the game ball collected from the game area to flow down to the standby channel side, and the game ball that has returned toward the launcher side The flow path is configured so that the game balls flowing down these two flow paths merge when the game balls flowed down the foul ball flow path that causes the foul balls to flow down to the standby flow path side are merged. That is, game balls flowing down the respective flow paths merge from different directions and flow down one flow path, so that the flow path is inevitably bent at the merging portion, and ball clogging is likely to occur. The replenishment conversion means that operates when converting between the storage state and the replenishment state is provided with a flow path forming surface that becomes a part of the inner surface of the flow path in the vicinity of the merging portion, and ball clogging occurs in the merging portion and in the vicinity thereof. If the By operating the unit, by moving the flow passage formation surface can be the passage forming surface to eliminate the spherical clogging by moving game balls spheres clogged state.

In addition, when a ball clogging occurs at the junction, game balls accumulate in the collection ball flow path or foul ball flow path, and when the collected game balls are detected by the collection ball detection means or the foul ball detection means Since the game ball does not move with the ball jammed, the recovery ball detection means and the foul ball detection means continuously detect the game ball, and the detection output of the game ball is continuous. Ball clogging at the junction with the foul ball flow path can be detected by the recovered ball detection means or the foul ball detection means continuing the detection output of the game ball for a predetermined time.
If the ball clogging is not resolved even if the replenishment conversion means is operated a predetermined number of times in advance, that is, if the detection output of the game ball from the recovery detection means or the foul ball detection means continues, this is notified. It is preferable to provide a notification means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
If the ball shortage state detecting means detects the shortage state of the game balls even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment conversion means converts to the replenishment state, the replenishment conversion that operates the replenishment conversion means a predetermined number of times. An operation control means is provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if a predetermined time elapses after the replenishment conversion means converts to the replenishment state, the ball shortage state detection means detects the ball shortage state, and the game balls are replenished. If there is no replenishment by operating the replenishment conversion means a predetermined number of times, the refill conversion means or the path from the replenishment conversion means to the standby flow path does not replenish the ball. Can be replenished with game balls.
If the detection of the insufficient ball state by the insufficient ball state detecting unit is not canceled even if the supplemental conversion unit is operated a predetermined number of times, a failure of the supplemental conversion unit may be considered. It is preferable to carry out.

  According to the enclosed ball type gaming machine according to the present invention, even if there is a shortage of game balls waiting to be launched, the game balls are automatically replenished, so that there is no problem in launching the game balls, and the game balls Is replenished by the ball storage section provided in the encapsulated ball game machine and its replenishment conversion means, so there is no need to install a replenishment system on the island facility, Costs can be prevented and costs can be reduced. In addition, the ball storage unit has a communication port that communicates with the circulation path, and is provided outside the circulation path, as in the case where an extra game ball to be used when there is a shortage of balls is provided in the circulation path. Since the circulation path does not become long and it is not necessary to provide a lifting device for transporting the game ball upward in the circulation path, prevention of ball clogging, cost reduction, and downsizing of the mechanism for circulating the game ball are achieved. be able to.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The enclosed ball type gaming machine of the present embodiment is an application of the present invention to a pachinko gaming machine. For example, the game content can be the same as that of a conventional pachinko gaming machine, and the outer shape The same size is also possible, and it can be installed in the current island facilities of pachinko amusement stores, but it does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island facilities. That is, the number of game balls based on data (number of rented balls) or the like input from a storage medium such as a card via a ball rental machine, etc. The game ball can be launched into the game area in correspondence with the data on the number of possessed balls, and when the game ball is launched, the data on the number of possessed balls is subtracted in accordance with the number of game balls launched. . In addition, when a game ball that has been launched wins a prize device such as various prize opening or a variable prize device and a prize ball (game ball) is generated, the actual number of balls held without paying out the actual game ball The number of prize balls is added to the data. Further, when the data on the number of possessed balls becomes 0, the game ball cannot be launched. In this state, when a numerical value (that is, the number of rented balls or the number of replayed balls) is added to the data of the number of balls based on the data of the amount stored in the storage medium such as a card or the data of the stored balls, again Game balls can be launched.
In addition, the game balls that have been launched reach the game area, and a part of them wins and is guided to the back side of the game board to be collected as safe balls, and the remaining game balls that are not won are collected as out balls. The collected game balls can be fired again through the circulation path, and the game balls are circulated in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. In addition, the game balls that have become fouls are also collected in the circulation path.
Therefore, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine of this example launches a game ball sealed in a predetermined number in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area while collecting and launching the game ball that has passed through the game area. A circulation path that circulates and uses the game ball by guiding it to the position is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes a machine frame 110 configured in a rectangular frame shape, and on one side of the machine frame 110, the machine frame 110 is provided. On the other hand, a front frame 120 having a rectangular frame shape is pivotally supported. Further, the front frame 120 is pivotally supported on the front frame main body 130 serving as a base for mounting various members and the like provided in the front frame 120 so as to be rotatable on the front side of the front frame main body 130. And a launching operation unit 150 attached to the lower side of the glass frame 140 on the front surface of the front frame body 130.

  The front frame body 130 is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within the machine frame 110 having a rectangular frame shape, and accommodates a game board 1 described later in a portion extending from the center to the upper end portion. For this purpose, a rectangular opening is formed. The front surface of the game board 1 accommodated in the front frame main body 130 faces the front side from the opening of the front frame main body 130. Further, the glass frame 140 is disposed so as to cover an opening portion in which the game board 1 of the front frame body 130 is fitted, that is, a portion extending from a slightly lower side to the upper end part from the center of the front frame body 130. A game in which a portion surrounded by the guide rails 2 provided on the front surface of the game board 1 is launched by the game ball B and flows down between the front surface of 1 and the glass plates 141 and 141 fitted in the glass frame 140. Region 1a.

Also, one side (left side) of the glass frame 140 is pivotally supported by one side of the front frame main body 130 so as to be able to open and close like a door, and the glass frame 140 is opened. The front side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 can be opened.
The glass frame 140 is spaced from the game board 1 fitted in the opening so as to substantially close the opening of the front frame main body 130, so that a game area 1a where the game ball B can flow down is provided. A double glass plate 141 is fixed. In the glass frame 140, at least a portion of the game area 1 a on the front side of the game board 1 can be visually recognized from the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 through the glass plate 141. The front frame body 130 is provided with a glass frame open detection sensor 142 (shown in FIG. 12) that detects that the glass frame 140 has been opened.

  Further, on the front side of the glass frame 140, as shown in FIG. 2, external appeal decoration lamps 11,..., Side lamps 12, 12, speakers 13, 13, error display are provided at positions that do not hinder the viewing of the game area 1a. Containers 14 and 14 are provided. The external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are used to notify the surroundings when the number of acquired game balls mainly becomes large in the upper part of the glass frame 140. For example, the difference ball number (difference ball) that is the difference between the number of balls entered (the number of balls that the player has struck into the gaming machine) and the number of balls played (the number of prize balls that the game ball B has entered after entering the winning slot) The number obtained by adding the number of balls lent to the player by the game store to the number is the number of balls possessed by the player, and the number of possessed balls here allows the above-described game ball B to be fired. When the difference ball number becomes high, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are turned on. In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, the payout of the winning ball is not performed, and the above-mentioned number of outgoing balls, number of incoming balls, number of difference balls, number of held balls (number of game balls), etc. It is not the number of spheres B but a numerical value on the data. In other words, there are only a limited number (for example, 25) of game balls B that are actually used, and the number of possessed balls is detected by, for example, the game balls B being launched into the game area 1a. The number of shot balls counted, the number of foul balls counted by detecting the game balls B that have been launched but returned, the number of collected balls counted by detecting the game balls B that have been launched and collected in the game area, From the numerical values such as the number of winning balls when winning a prize and the number of balls rented from an amusement store, the above-mentioned number of entering balls, the number of exiting balls, the number of difference balls, the number of possessed balls can be obtained.

  As long as there is no trouble such as opening the glass frame 140 and the game ball B going out, the number of fired balls = the number of foul balls + the number of collected balls (when the number of repaired balls does not include the number of foul balls) Become. Then, the number of entered balls = the number of collected balls = the number of launched balls−the number of foul balls, the number of issued balls = the number of awarded balls (integrated value) = the number of entered balls−the number of rented balls (the number of replayed balls) + the number of held balls, Number of balls = Number of balls rented (or number of replayed balls) + Number of balls played-Number of balls entered, Number of balls played-Number of balls entered = Number of balls differenced, Number of balls held = Number of balls lent (or number of replayed balls) + It becomes the difference ball number. As described above, the game by the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is performed as a numerical value completely, and an error caused by spilling the game ball B or leaving the game ball B on the lower plate or the upper plate. Can be reliably managed in integer units. However, it is difficult to obtain satisfaction and superiority that the player can obtain by obtaining a large number of game balls B and collecting them in the game ball box by increasing the number of balls. Therefore, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are used so that the player can obtain satisfaction and superiority.

  More specifically, the operation of the external appeal decoration lamps 11,..., For example, when the number of balls held or the number of difference balls reaches 1000 or more, one of the external appeal decoration lamps 11,. When the number of balls held or the number of difference balls reaches 2000 or more, two of the external appeal decoration lamps 11... Are lit and the luminescent color is changed. Each time the number of balls increases by a predetermined number, the number of lighting of the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Is increased and the light emission color is changed to notify the player in the game store of the number of balls with a large difference in number. It is now appealing that players who play in the game have acquired a large number of game balls.

  In addition, the side lamps 12 and 12 perform effects such as lighting, blinking, and emission color change corresponding to the gaming state. In addition to the side lamps 12 and 12, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... And the error indicators 14 and 14 may emit light as effects. Further, the error indicators 14 and 14 have a function of notifying the staff of various errors by being turned on by a lighting method such as a color or blinking different from the light emission for production.

In addition, a firing operation unit 150 is attached to the lower side of the glass frame 140 on the front side of the front frame body 130. The firing operation unit 150 holds a touch panel display unit 151, a handle touch detection unit 152, a firing slide volume 153, a show ball decoration unit 154, a speaker 155, and these members and a pocket for operating the launching device 61 described later. A firing operation space forming frame 159 that forms the upper recess 158 (space) is provided.
The touch panel display unit 151 has a liquid crystal display as a display device, and has basic functions such as information on the number of balls, amount information (remaining amount stored in a storage medium such as a card), and storage information (prize) Display game information such as the number of game balls stored in the game store without exchanging them, and the number of held balls can be checked at any time without paying out the actual game balls B. Various information including the occurrence of an error can be displayed to a person or a store clerk. The touch panel display unit 151 is a touch panel that enables display switching and other input operations corresponding to display contents. The touch panel display unit 151 can be rotated around a rotation axis set in the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 to adjust the tilt, and the player can adjust the inclination according to the physique of the player. It can be changed to an easy-to-see angle.

In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention, instead of the rotary operation type handle for operating the launch of the game ball B provided in the conventional pachinko gaming machine, the handle touch detection unit 152, 152 and firing slide volume 153.
The handle touch detection units 152 and 152 have touch sensors provided on a conventional operation handle. When the player touches the player's hand, a signal is output to the launch control device 63a, and launch control is performed. The launching device is operated under the control of the device 63a to launch the game ball B.

  In addition, the handle touch detection units 152 and 152 form pocket-shaped recesses 158 in the bulged portions on the left and right sides of the firing operation space forming frame 159 in a state of bulging forward on the lower side of the glass frame 140. Of the inner surface of the recess 158, handle touch detection units 152, 152 are formed by forming a touch sensor mainly on the front side of the gaming machine and facing backward. In addition, the bottom portion of the pocket-shaped recess 158 extends outward from the recess so that the player's hand can be placed, and the hand can be easily touched with the hand touching the touch sensor. It is like the bottom of the recess. That is, the bottom surface of the recess functions as an armrest 158a (handrest). In addition, since the handle touch detectors 152 and 152 are provided on the left and right of the launch operation unit 150 at the lower part of the enclosing ball game machine 100, the launch operation of the game ball B can be performed with either the right hand or the left hand. Yes.

  Conventionally, the adjustment of the firing force has been performed by rotating the operation handle, but in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of this example, the firing slide volume 153 provided with the operation lever 156 that can be slid up and down. The firing force can be adjusted by moving the operation lever 156 of the firing slide volume 153 that can be moved up and down to increase the firing force, and vice versa. ing. Note that the operation lever 156 can be stopped at an arbitrary position, and even if the hand is released, it does not return to the position where the firing force is minimized by a spring or the like. Then, the player can release the game ball B simply by releasing the operation lever 156 and touching the handle touch detection units 152 and 152.

The show ball decoration unit 154 virtually represents a flow or the like due to a decrease or increase in the game balls B accumulated on the upper plate in the pachinko gaming machine that pays out the game balls B.
That is, when the game balls B are sequentially fired or when the game balls B wins, the game balls B collected on the upper plate of the pachinko gaming machine are simply increased or decreased by the number of balls displayed on the touch panel display unit 151. Since it is difficult to realize the decrease due to the launch or the increase due to the payout of the prize ball, the movement of the game ball B is virtually reproduced by the show ball decoration unit 154, thereby increasing or decreasing the game ball B with respect to the player. Make it easy to feel.

  The show ball decoration unit 154 represents, for example, the increase or decrease of the game ball B by the movement of the game ball B, and may be displayed by circulating the actual game ball B or may be displayed as an image. Thus, the movement of the game ball B may be displayed, or the movement of the game ball B may be expressed in a pseudo manner by blinking a lamp (LED). In this example, the show ball decoration unit 154 is configured to show a change in increase / decrease of the game ball B by a spherical light emitting member provided with an LED in a pseudo manner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the speaker 155 has a portion that becomes the enclosure 157 extending from the rear to the left (from the front to the right), and the enclosure 157 has the right handle touch detection unit. 152 overlaps with the front and rear. As a result, the vibration generated by the speaker 155 is transmitted to the player's hand touching the right handle touch detection unit 152 so that the player can experience the vibration based on the sound with his / her hand. It has become.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine as described above, a game is played in the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 fitted into the opening of the front frame body 130.
In other words, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 plays a game by firing a game ball B (hit ball; game medium) in a game area 1a surrounded by the guide rails 2 of the game board 1 shown in FIG. In the game area 1a, as shown in FIG. 1, the normal figure start gates 6, 6 and the game figure B pass through the normal figure start gates 6, 6, and the normal figure change display game is unprocessed. A general diagram start memory display (not shown) that displays the number of unprocessed times, a normal diagram change display (not shown) that displays a normal symbol (general) variable display game, a normal variable winning device 9, and this normal variation Special figure start memory display (not shown) that displays the number of unprocessed times that the game ball B has won in the winning device 9 and the special figure variation display game has not been processed, and a special symbol (special figure, identification information) Variation display device 4 for displaying a variation display game, special variation winning device 5, general winning Mouth 8, ..., the ball striking direction changing member (not shown) called a windmill, and a large number of nails (not shown) is provided.

  In the gaming board 1 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention, the out ball as the gaming ball B that did not win even if it flows down to the lower end of the gaming area 1a is played at the lower end of the gaming area 1a. An out hole leading to the back side of the board 1 is not provided, and instead, the guide rail 2 surrounding the game area 1a on the front surface of the game board 1 is not provided at the lower end of the game area 1a. A notch portion is provided in a portion surrounding the lower side of the game area 1a of the guide rail 2, and the game ball B which has not won a prize is a central portion of the lower end portion of the game board 1, The game area 1a flows down from the front game area 1a to the outside (lower side) of the game area 1a.

The normal variation winning device 9 includes a pair of left and right opening / closing members and a general electric solenoid 9a (illustrated in FIG. 12: general electric power SOL) for operating the opening / closing member. Although the closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) is held at an interval that allows the inflow of the individual, the result of the normal map change display game of the normal map change display is a predetermined stop display mode (for example, “7 ”), It is changed to a state in which the game ball B is easy to flow into the normal variation winning device 9 (a state advantageous to the player) by opening in a reverse“ C ”shape. .
The normal variation winning device 9 also serves as a special winning start opening. In other words, the start condition is established based on the detection of the game ball B by the start port sensor 9b (shown in FIG. 12) provided in the inside of the normal variable winning device 9 (winning area), and the special display variable display game is It is supposed to be started.

Further, a gate sensor 6a (shown in FIG. 12: a general diagram start sensor) for detecting the game ball B that has passed through the general diagram start gates 6, 6 is provided in the general diagram start gates 6, 6. Yes.
When the game ball B driven into the game area 1a passes through the normal start gates 6 and 6, a normal variable display game is played on the normal variable display.
Here, the common figure change indicator is composed of, for example, LEDs, etc., and the change display game of normal symbols (for example, numbers, symbols, character symbols, etc.) displays the lighting state of the common figure change indicator for a predetermined time. Then, it is performed by displaying a stop.
If, as a result of the usual fluctuation display game, the stop indication on the ordinary fluctuation display becomes a special result mode, the opening / closing member of the normal fluctuation prize-winning device 9 is set for a predetermined time (for example, 0). .5 seconds) released as described above. This makes it easier for the game ball B to win the normal variation winning device 9, and it becomes easier to start the special display variation display game.

The special figure variable display device 4 (special symbol display device) includes, for example, a liquid crystal display 41 and a display screen 42 that can change display contents. The display content on the display screen 42 is controlled by an effect control board 50 (sub board, board effect board) which is an effect control device 51 (shown in FIG. 12) having a function as display control means. .
Then, based on the fact that the game ball B driven into the game area 1a enters the normal variation winning device 9 that also serves as the start port of the special figure and the start condition is satisfied, a plurality of types of identification information ( For example, it is possible to execute a special symbol variable display game in which numbers, symbols, character symbols, etc.) are displayed in a variable manner. It should be noted that the special figure variable display game is performed by displaying a plurality of types of identification information in a variable manner on the display screen 42 for a predetermined time.
As a result of the special display variable display game, if the display mode of the display screen 42 is a special result mode (for example, any one of the numbers “7, 7, 7”, etc.), the jackpot It becomes a special gaming state (so-called jackpot state).

Here, the special variable winning device 5 includes a large winning opening that is opened and closed by an attacker-type opening / closing door that can be opened by rotating in a direction in which the upper end side is tilted toward the front side. A cycle game that facilitates the inflow of the game ball B into the big prize opening by converting the big prize opening from the closed state to the open state is performed up to a predetermined number of times (a predetermined number of rounds). The open / close door is driven by a special prize opening solenoid 5a (illustrated in FIG. 12: special prize opening SOL).
In addition, a count sensor 5b for detecting the game ball B that has entered the big prize opening, and a continuous prize area (V) of the game balls B that have entered the big prize opening are inside the big prize opening (winning area). A V winning sensor 5c for detecting the game ball B flowing into the (winning area) is provided.
In each of the general winning ports 8,... (Winning area), a winning port sensor 8a for detecting the game ball B that has entered the winning ports 8,.

  Here, the game ball B driven into the game area 1a flows into any of the winning ports (winning tools) such as the general winning port 8, the normal variable winning device 9, and the special winning port 5 of the special variable winning device 5. When a winning occurs, the winning game ball B is detected by the sensor of each winning opening, and based on the detection, the predetermined number of winning balls set corresponding to each winning opening is the number of gaming balls ( It is added to the data of (number of balls).

Therefore, by performing the above-described cycle game during the special game state, the player has an opportunity to acquire a high number of game balls (specific game value).
That is, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is a pachinko gaming machine, and when a special figure variation display game results in a predetermined special result mode (when it is a big hit), a specific game value is given to the player. It is configured to be able to generate a special gaming state that can be given.

In addition, on the back side of the game board 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the effect control board 50 is arranged in a state of being housed in a box 52 on the rear side of the liquid crystal display 41, and on the lower side of the box 22 A game control board 20 serving as a game control device 21 that controls the game in the state of being housed in the game machine is disposed. When the game control device 21 detects the winning of the game ball B with a sensor, the game control device 21 outputs a signal indicating a win (number of winning balls) to the frame control device 83 to be described later, and the normal start gates 6 and 6 are connected to the game balls. When the gate sensor 6a detects that B has passed, it controls the start of the usual variable display game and also controls the determination of the hit of the normal variable display game. Then, the game control device 21 performs control for operating the normal variation winning device 9 (general power solenoid 9a) when the usual variation display game is won. In addition, the game control device 21 controls the special display variable display game via the effect control device 51 when the game ball B wins the normal variation winning device 9. That is, the game control device 21 causes the effect control device 51 to perform display control of the variable display device 4 and also controls determination of big hit and miss.
Note that the game board 1 is provided with sensors, solenoids, display devices, and the like related to the game, and a game control device 21 and an effect control device 51 for controlling these, so that by changing the game board 1 The game content of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 can be changed.

  In addition, the lower part of the front frame body 130, which is below the opening to which the game board 1 of the front frame body 130 is attached, is mounted with the firing operation unit 150 having the above-described firing operation space forming frame 159 on the front side. As shown in FIG. 3, a mounting board 131 to which a launching unit 60 including a launching device 61 for launching a game ball B and a launching rail 62 and the like is attached is provided on the back side thereof. The front frame main body 130 including the mounting board 131 is integrally formed of resin and has various members mounting members, ribs, and the like formed thereon.

The above-mentioned launch unit 60 is provided on the back side of the mounting plate 131 below the front frame main body 130, and the launch control board 63 (arranged in the box 631) serving as the launch control device 63a for controlling the launch device 61 is launched. The device 61 collects the game balls B launched into the game area 1a and supplies them to the launch device 61 again, and supplies power to each device in the enclosed ball game machine 100. A power supply board 71 (arranged in the box 71a), a first frame control board 81 (arranged in the box 81a) for controlling devices provided in the front frame 120 other than the game board 1, and A two-frame control board 82 (arranged in the box 82a) is attached. The first frame control board 81 and the second frame control board 82 function as the frame control device 83, and excluding devices attached to the game board 1, for example, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,. The unit 151, the show ball decoration unit 154, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and a frame control device 83 for controlling the data communication device with the outside. The first frame control board 81 controls the second frame control board 82 and the launch control board 63 based on the control from the game control board 20 and the effect control board 50.
The front frame body 130 having the mounting plate 131 is provided with a structure for attaching each member to the attachment position of each member. For example, a reinforcing rib is formed so as to surround the attached member. Or a boss or the like for attaching a member with a screw or the like.
Therefore, an encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 as an encapsulated ball circulation device for deriving the collected game ball B to the launch position again is provided at the lower part on the back side of the enclosed ball game machine 100.

The firing unit 60 hits the game ball B on the launch rail 62 by hitting the game ball B on the launch rail 62, the launch plate 62 attached to the attachment plate 64 via the rail attachment base, and the mounting plate 64. And a launching device 61 having a launcher 66 and the like.
The launch rail 62 is formed in a V-shaped cross section so as to guide the game ball B along the launch rail 62, and is below the game board 1 and directly below the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1. The launching device 61 is arranged at the lower end of the portion where the guide rail 2 is doubled on the outside and inside so as to guide the game ball B launched on the left side, for example, on the left side of the lower part of the game area 1a. The game ball B that is hit by the ball extends to the left and right along the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and the left end portion is higher than the right end portion when viewed from the front of the enclosed ball type game machine 100. So that they are arranged diagonally.

The launching device 61 has a motor (not shown) attached to the front surface side of the mounting plate 64 so as to be housed in a housing space formed between the mounting plate 131 and the mounting plate 64 attached to the mounting plate 131. A stepping motor), a launcher 66 that hits the game ball B and fires the game ball B by being connected to this motor and driven to rotate, and a stopper member 67 that regulates the rotation angle of the launcher 66, A ball positioning member (not shown) for stopping the game ball B supplied from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 on the firing rail 62 at a predetermined position where it can be hit by the launcher 66 on the lower end of the firing rail 62 as will be described later. With.
The position at which the game ball B is held by the ball positioning member on the rear end portion (inclined lower end portion) of the launch rail 62 is the launch position at which the game ball B is fired.

  In the firing unit 60, the launching device 61 and the front side of the firing rail 62 are closed by the mounting plate 64, and the firing rail 62 is formed by ribs formed around the mounting plate 64 of the mounting plate 131 to which the mounting plate 64 is mounted. The top, bottom, left, and right except for the path of the launch ball (game ball B) that is launched through are substantially closed, but the back side (rear side) of the launch unit 60 is open. However, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the back surface side of the launch unit 60 of the mounting board 131 so as to overlap the front and rear of the launch unit 60 as will be described later, and the launch unit 60 is launched by the front surface of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200. The rear side of the portion of the rail 62 and the launching device 61 is almost covered and closed.

  In the game area 1a, a launch ball introduction port is provided at a lower end portion of a portion serving as a guide path for the fire ball composed of the two guide rails 2 and 2 on the outer side and the inner side. There is a launching ball introducing portion that becomes a return port when returning as a foul ball without flowing down the region 1a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear frame portion of the front frame body 130 is attached to the lower frame portion of the front frame body 130, that is, the upper edge of the mounting frame 131 of the front frame body 130. A bottom wall portion 134 that closes a lower portion of the game area 1 a between the rear surface of the side glass plate 141 and the front surface of the game board 1 is formed. A launch ball passage port 135 is provided in a portion of the bottom wall portion 134 of the front frame body 130 that faces the launch ball introduction portion of the above-described game area 1a.

  Then, after being launched by the launching device 61 and moving obliquely upward on the launch rail 62, the game ball B heading into the game area 1a from the launch ball introduction part of the game area 1a passes through the launch ball passage port 135. In addition, when the above-mentioned foul ball returns to the mounting plate 131 side, it passes through the launch ball passage port 135. Note that the tip surface of the launch rail 62 is disposed in front of the launch ball passage port 135 and the foul ball returning to the launch ball passage port 135 flows down before the launch rail 62 without returning to the launch rail 62. Then, it reaches the foul ball collection part 257 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 11, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 has a collection port 211 that collects the game balls B (including out balls and safe balls, excluding foul balls) launched into the game area 1a. As a part of the upstream side of the circulation path 220, the member 210, the circulation path 220 for guiding the game ball B from the collection port 211 to the launch position of the game ball B of the launching device 61 and circulating the game ball B are collected. A recovery ball flow path 280 for flowing the game ball B down from the port 211 to a standby flow path 221 to be described later, a recovery ball sensor 212 as a recovery ball detection means for detecting the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280, A standby channel 221 that is a part of the downstream side of the circulation path 220 and waits for the game ball B before being sent to the launch position, and a ball shortage state detection that detects a shortage state of the game ball B waiting in the standby channel 221 A ball shortage detection sensor 264 as a stage and a downstream end portion of the standby flow path 221 are provided at the lower end portion (launch position of the game ball B) of the launch rail 62 of the launch device 61 via the ball supply port 247. A ball feeding device 240 that sequentially sends one game ball B to the game ball B in accordance with the timing of launching the game ball B is provided.

  Note that the standby flow path 221 is a portion for waiting for the game ball B before being sent to the launch position by the ball feeder 240, and is used for circulation except for a replenishment game ball B described later in the circulation path 220. This is the range in which the game balls B are accumulated. Note that this range is maximized when the game balls B are stopped from being fired and all the game balls B to be used for circulation are in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. In this example, the portion of the circulation path 220 that is the maximum range in which the game balls B that are circulated and accumulated is the standby flow path 221. That is, referring to FIG. 7 showing a state in which all of the game balls B to be circulated are in a standby state, a ball storage plate of a ball storage unit 262, which will be described later, below the recovery ball sensor 212 from the recovery port 211. The vicinity of the height position of 261 is a collection ball flow path 280, and the height position of the ball storage plate 261 below the collection ball sensor 212 to the ball feeding device 240 is a standby flow path 221.

From the above, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 launches a game ball B encapsulated in a predetermined number in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area 1a and plays the game, while the game ball B passes through the game area 1a. Are collected and guided to the launch position, and the game sphere B is circulated and used, and the game sphere B collected through the game area 1a is guided downward, and on the downstream side of the collection ball 280 The circulation path 220 is configured by communicating with a standby flow path 221 that is positioned and waits for a predetermined number of game balls B before being sent to the launch position. A ball feeding device 240 for sending one game ball B to the launch position, and a ball shortage state detecting means (ball shortage detection sensor) for detecting a shortage state of the game ball B waiting in the standby flow path 221 H.264).
Note that the circulation path 220 includes a supply flow path 245 on the downstream side of a ball feeding device 240 described later, and may include a foul ball flow path 252 described later.

  In addition, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is the foul ball collection means 250 again, although it is fired between the inner guide rail 2 and the outer guide rail 2 by the launch device 61, the launch device 61 side again. A foul ball collection port 251 that collects the foul ball that has returned toward (including the launch ball B that did not reach between the guide rails 2), a foul ball sensor 253 that detects the collected foul ball, A foul ball flow path 252 is provided for allowing the foul ball (game ball B) collected from the foul ball collection port 251 to flow down to the standby flow path 221 (circulation path 220). That is, the foul ball collecting means 250 includes a foul ball channel 252 that guides the game ball B that has been fouled without reaching the game area 1a to the standby channel, and the foul ball channel 252. And a foul ball sensor 253 as a foul ball detecting means for detecting the game ball B flowing down.

  The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 includes an adhering substance removing unit 400 that removes adhering substances on the game ball B that moves in the standby flow path 221 every time the game ball B is fired, and a ball removing device that removes the ball in the circulation path 220. 230.

In addition, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 stores the game balls B for replenishment in addition to the game balls B that are normally used in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and replenishes when the game balls B that circulate during the game decrease. And a ball exchange cassette (not shown) storing a predetermined number of game balls B for replacement of the game balls B (for example, 30 balls including the above-described game balls B for supply) are attached. In addition, a ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 for supplying the game ball B in the ball exchange cassette into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is provided.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the main part of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is substantially box-shaped from a front wall member 310 constituting the front side of the main part and a rear wall member 320 constituting the back side of the main part. The above-described circulation path 220 (including the recovery ball flow path 280 and the standby flow path 221) and the foul ball flow path 252 are formed inside the main part. Basically, members constituting the path of the above-described game ball B are formed on the front wall member 310 side, and members for attaching sensors, solenoids and the like are formed, and the rear wall member 320 is attached with each member. And an outer peripheral wall 326 that surrounds the outer periphery of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200. The front wall member 310 and the rear wall member 320 are each integrally formed of a transparent synthetic resin, and the game ball B in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, the game ball B on the front side of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, and the launch The unit 60 and the like can be seen through, and the clogging of the game ball B can be visually confirmed from the back side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The front wall member 310 and the rear wall member 320 are detachably joined.

In addition, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 has left and right attachment portions 132 and 132 (shown in FIG. 3) provided at predetermined positions below the launch rail attachment position of the attachment plate 131 of the front frame body 130 at the lower end thereof. ) Are provided with left and right connecting members 201, 201 that are detachably and pivotably connected, and are rotatable about a rotation axis set in the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 falls from the vertical state (use state) along the back surface of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 (the back surface of the mounting board 131) to the rear side with the upper end centered on the connection members 201 and 201. Thus, it can be rotated to a substantially horizontal state (maintenance state).
In addition, the connection members 201 and 201 of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 have a cylindrical shape into which protrusions serving as axes of the mounting portions 132 and 132 of the mounting plate 131 are rotatably inserted, and the cylindrical portion includes Since the slits are formed and the shafts can be moved in and out of the slits 201a and 201a, the connecting members 201 and 201 can be detached from the mounting portions 132 and 132, and the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the mounting frame of the front frame body 130. It is detachable (detachable) from 131.

  At both left and right ends of the rear wall member 320, there are mounting members 203, 203 for detachably attaching the rear wall member 320 to the mounting board 131 in a state where the front wall member 310 is attached to the front side of the rear wall member 320. Is provided. By removing the mounting members 203, 203 from the mounting plate 131, the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be rotated so as to be tilted rearward.

In addition, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the back side of the front frame body 130 that is the back side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The mounting board 131 which is the lower part of the front frame body 130 is configured such that a substantially vertical flat plate portion which is a main part thereof is in front of the game board 1 fixed to the front frame body 130. A firing unit 60 having the above-described launching device 61 and the like attached to the back surface of the board 131 is arranged substantially directly below the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1.
The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is disposed on the rear side of the launch unit 60 and attached to the attachment plate 131 so as to overlap the launch unit 60 attached to the attachment plate 131 in the front-rear direction. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is arranged almost directly below the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130 in a state attached to the attachment board 131.

  The recovery member 210 is formed at an upper end (upper part) that is an upper part of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200. The recovery member 210 has a front portion of the game board 1 such that the out ball, which is the game ball B flowing down without winning from the bottom of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1, can be recovered. The lower part of the guide rail 2 on the lower side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 is extended from below to the lower side of the above-described notch. In addition, the recovery member 210 has a game board so that a rear portion thereof can recover a safe ball that is a winning game ball B that flows down the back side of the game board 1 and is discharged to the lower side of the game board 1. 1 extends from below the safe ball discharge path (not shown) on the back side of the game board 1. That is, the recovery member 210 has a front-rear width that is at least twice as large as the diameter of the game ball B than the thickness of the game board 1. It is arranged in a range from the back surface of 141 to the rear end of the winning safe ball discharge path behind the game board 1. Further, the horizontal width of the recovery member 210 is the width of the notch portion of the guide rail 2 on the lower side of the game board 1, and the recovery member 210 is arranged in the range from the right end to the left end of the notch portion of the guide rail 2. Is done. In addition, the exit of the discharge path | route (not shown) of the safe ball | bowl on the back surface side of the game board 1 is arrange | positioned in the left-right range of the notch part of the guide rail 2. As shown in FIG.

Here, the guide rail 2 at the lower part of the game board 1 has a special variable prize device 5 (attacker) such as 2 times or more, for example, 4 times, 5 times, etc., compared to the left and right width of the conventional out hole. Since it is cut out more widely and widely, the out ball can flow down efficiently (rapidly). Correspondingly, a later-described out ball collection port 215 of the collection member 210 having substantially the same left-right width as the notch portion of the guide rail 2 is also a dimension that is larger in the left-right direction (at least larger than the special variable winning device 5). Since it is set, the falling out ball can be collected efficiently.
Similarly, a safe ball collection port 216, which will be described later, is also set to have a large size in the left-right direction (a size equivalent to the out ball collection port 215), so that the falling safe ball can be collected efficiently.
In addition, an introduction inclined portion 213 of a later-described game ball introduction port 219 for introducing the game ball B from the collection member 210 into the main body of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 corresponds to the safe ball collection port 216 and the out ball collection port 215. Since it has a large size in the left-right direction (a little narrower than the safe ball collection port 216 and the out ball collection port 215), it has a structure that prevents the ball from clogging even if the game ball B flows down from the left and right at once. Can be smoothly introduced into the collection ball sensor 212. That is, at the game ball introduction port 219, it is possible to prevent a smooth flow of the game balls B from being suppressed due to a plurality of game balls B coming into contact with each other, such as a ball clogging.

  The front-rear width of the main body portion below the collection member 210 of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B, but is narrower than the thickness (front-rear width) of the game board 1. The recovery member 210 extends from the front and rear of the main body of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 below the game board 1.

  In addition, the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is disposed behind the launch unit 60 on the back side of the mounting board 131, but the collection member 210 on the lower side of the game board 1 of the mounting board 131 is disposed on the portion of the mounting board 131. A gap portion (not shown) corresponding to the shape of the member 210 is formed, and when the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 that is rotatable around the lower end portion is attached to the attachment board 131 in a state where it is raised as described above, The front part of the collection member 210 of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is inserted into the gap 133 so that the front part of the collection member 210 extends ahead of the game board 1.

In addition, the recovery member 210 has a rectangular shape that is long along the left-right direction of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 in plan view, and a surrounding wall 214 forms a substantially vertical periphery. Further, the central part of the collection member 210 (inside the enclosure wall 214) is extended to the left and right except for the right end, and the game balls B collected in the collection member 210 are contained in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. A recovery sphere flow path 280 having an introduction inclined portion 213 leading to the recovery sphere sensor 212 (inside the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200) is provided. The introductory inclined portion 213 is a member that becomes the bottom portion of the collection ball channel 280 that guides the game ball B collected by the collection member 210 to the collection ball sensor 212.
A portion surrounded by the surrounding wall 214 of the recovery member 210 and opened upward is a recovery port 211 for recovering the out ball and the safe ball. Further, the front part below the front side of the game board 1 of the collection port 211 is an out ball collection port 215 for collecting out balls, and the rear part under the back side of the game board 1 is a safe ball for collecting safe balls. It is a recovery port 216.

The bottom portion of the front part of the recovery member 210 below the out ball collection port 215 guides the out ball collected by flowing down to the out ball collection port 215 to the introduction inclined portion 213 that is the front and rear central portions of the collection member 210. Thus, it is set as the back inclination part 217 which inclines downward toward back. In addition, the bottom portion of the rear part of the recovery member 210 below the safe ball recovery port 216 is disposed on the introduction inclined portion 213 that is the central portion of the recovery member 210 before and after the safe ball that has flowed down to the safe ball recovery port 216 and recovered. It is set as the front inclination part 218 which inclines down toward the front so that it may guide.
It should be noted that the right end portion from the rear of the recovery member 210 does not incline in the front-rear direction, but inclines so as to decrease from the right (end) to the left (center side) from the rear, and will be described later. In this way, it is arranged so as to cover the hole 212a through which the game ball B of the collection ball sensor 212 arranged at the tip of the inclined lower end of the introduction inclined part 213 passes, and in the hole 212a of the collection ball sensor 212 The game ball B is prevented from flowing in directly from the game board 1 side (without flowing down the introduction inclined portion 213). If there is a game ball B that flows directly into the hole 212a of the recovery ball sensor 212, the relationship with other game balls B that flow down the introduction inclined portion 213 and then flow into the hole 212a (collision, contact, etc.) As a result, ball clogging is likely to occur, so that the game ball B is guided onto the introduction inclined portion 213 on the upstream side of the collected ball sensor 212. Further, the upper end portion of the firing unit 60 that is formed so as to rise to the right from the rear and the right end portion is increased by increasing the right end portion from the rear of the bottom portion of the recovery member 210 by the above-described configuration. And the right end of the bottom of the recovery member 210 do not interfere with each other.

  In the recovery member 210, an introduction inclined portion 213 is formed between the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218. The introduction inclined portion 213 is one step lower than the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218, and is disposed in the main body portion of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 below the recovery member 210. Accordingly, an opening is formed between the rear inclined portion 217 and the front inclined portion 218 of the collecting member 210, and this opening portion joins (collects) the out sphere and the safe sphere collected by the collecting member 210. The game ball introduction port 219 flows down into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 (inside the main body). Note that the game ball introduction port 219 is located on the introduction inclined portion 213 and is formed at the central portion of the recovery member 210 in the front-rear direction.

  The recovery ball sensor 212 is, for example, a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch, and has a hole 212a through which the game ball B passes, and outputs a HIGH or LOW signal when the pachinko ball passes through the hole 212a. is there. Further, in the front wall member 310, a rear portion is fixed to a sensor mounting portion 330 formed at an interval at which the game ball B can flow downward from a downstream end of the introduction inclined portion 213, and the hole 212a is formed. The front portion thus extended extends from the sensor mounting portion 330 to the end of the introduction inclined portion 213 described above.

  The recovery ball sensor 212 is disposed at a position where the game ball B flows down from the lower end of the introduction inclined portion 213 in the hole 212a, and from the lower end of the introduction inclined portion 213, The recovery sphere flow path 280 is directed to the upstream end portion of the standby flow path 221 and a merging section 254 described later, which is a downstream end portion of the foul sphere inclined portion 255 serving as the bottom of the foul sphere flow path 252. A game ball B flowing down is detected.

  The standby flow path 221 has, as its bottom, the following members that are extended in a wall shape (plate shape) from the front wall member 310 to the rear side in three upper and lower stages. That is, the circulation path 220 is a downstream end portion of the above-described foul sphere flow path 252 as a member serving as a bottom portion thereof, and the circulation path 220 is replenished to the circulation path 220 from the foul sphere and sphere replenishment device 260 flowing down the foul sphere flow path 252. A replenishment sphere that is a game sphere B, a confluence portion 254 where three kinds of game spheres B, the recovery sphere flowing down from the recovery sphere flow path 280 through the recovery sphere sensor 212 as described above, and an enclosed sphere type game A flow down slope 222 that slopes down from the left to the right when viewed from the back side, and a flow down slope 222 below the junction 254 (foul sphere channel 252) that slopes down from right to left as seen from the back side of the machine 100 A standby inclined portion 223 that is inclined downward from the right to the left when viewed from the back side and reaches the ball feeding device 240 below the portion 222.

In addition, on the standby inclined portion 223 of the standby flow path 221, during the game of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 (the game balls B are sequentially fired, and several or more game balls B flow down to the game area 1a. The game ball B is accumulated regardless of whether the game ball B is being fired or not (the state in which the game ball B is not being fired). Is moved downward by a distance of
The circulation path 220 including the standby flow path 221 is formed over a plurality of upper and lower stages, and in each stage, the circulation path 220 extends along the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and moves the game ball B to the left and right. The game ball B is led out to the lower stage while flowing down along the direction.

  Moreover, it is used when controlling the operation of the ball replenishing device 260 above the downstream portion of the falling slope portion 222 of the standby flow path 221, that is, below the upstream portion of the foul ball slope portion 255 of the front wall member 310. A proximity sensor mounting portion 319 for mounting the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is provided, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is attached thereto. The ball shortage detection sensor 264 is a well-known proximity sensor switch, and outputs a signal indicating that the game ball B exists in a state where the metal game ball B is in proximity. That is, if the game ball B in a normal state stays in the standby flow path 221, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 exists in a portion where the game ball B is directly below the ball shortage detection sensor 264 of the standby flow path 221. A HIGH or LOW signal indicating that there is no shortage of spheres is output.

When the game balls B are sequentially fired and the game ball B stays just below the ball shortage detection sensor 264, the game ball B moves by the diameter of each game ball B fired. As a result, the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 periodically changes corresponding to the movement of the game ball. In addition, when the game ball B stays downstream from directly below, the game ball B passes directly below the ball shortage detection sensor 264 every time the game ball B is collected from the game area 1a. The output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 varies between the detection state and the non-detection state every time the recovered ball returns. In addition, in the state where the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball is basically stopped in the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B. Does not vary with the state.
When the game ball B stops, for example, in the game area 1a, a delay occurs in the collection of the game balls, and a delay occurs in the detection of the game balls B in the ball shortage detection sensor 264. A game ball is not detected for a considerably longer period, and thus, a shortage of game balls, that is, a shortage state of game balls B can be detected.

Further, the foul sphere inclined portion 255 and the falling inclined portion 222 having the merging portion 254 are arranged to overlap each other in a state where they are substantially the same length and slightly shifted to the left and right. It is longer than the sphere inclined part 255 and the downflow inclined part 222, for example, about twice as long as these. Then, the upstream half (part) of the standby inclined part 223 is vertically overlapped with the foul sphere inclined part 255 and the downflow inclined part 222, and the downstream half (part) of the standby inclined part 223 is the foul sphere inclined. The circulation path 220 does not exist above the downstream portion of the standby inclined portion 223 without overlapping with the portion 255 and the downflow inclined portion 222 in the vertical direction. Further, a replenishment solenoid 263 (to be described later) of the ball replenishing device 260 and a ball feed solenoid 244 (to be described later) of the ball feeding device 240 are arranged on the downstream side portion of the standby inclined portion 223.
With such an arrangement of the circulation path 220, the space efficiency of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 is enhanced, and the enclosure sphere circulation unit 200 is reduced in size.

  Note that the length of the standby flow path 221 is, for example, a length that can store all of the game balls B circulating in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 without including the replenishment balls stored in the ball replenishment device 260. In this state, the game ball B that is circulated and used in the standby flow path 221 is in a state where the game ball B is stopped from being emitted. In addition, the number of game balls B that are used in circulation is the number of game balls B that cannot be released when the game balls B are sequentially fired, because the collection of the game balls B is not in time (for example, 25). ). Therefore, the length of the standby flow path 221 is set to a necessary and sufficient length. When the game balls B are insufficient due to ball stoppage or the like in the game area 1a, the game balls B are replenished by the ball refill device 260.

  Further, the recovery ball flow path 280, the standby flow path 221 and the foul ball flow path 252 which become the circulation path 220 are in a state where the front side is closed by the front wall member 310 and the rear side is closed by the rear wall member 320. The front and rear widths thereof are slightly longer than the diameter of the game ball B, the game balls B can be stored in a line, and the game balls B flow down without overlapping the front and rear. It is like that. In addition, although the introduction slope 213 of the collection ball channel 280 is open as the game ball introduction port 219, a foul ball is introduced on the foul ball slope 255 of the foul ball channel 252. The sensor mounting part 330 is arranged on the upper part of the slope excluding the upstream end part with a space slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B, and the confluence part 254 which is the lower part of the fall of the foul ball channel 252. , The inclination direction (inclination angle) of the ball replenishing device 260 is spaced above the portion below the portion where the refilling game ball B and the collection ball meet, with a space slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B. A ball storage plate 261 that can be freely converted is disposed. It should be noted that, even if the inclination angle of the sphere storage plate 261 is changed within a predetermined angle range in which the inclination angle can be changed, the sphere storage plate 261 is positioned between the sphere storage plate 261 and the lower junction 254. An interval at which the game ball B can flow down is maintained.

  In addition, on the flow down inclined portion 222 of the standby flow path 221, the flow down ceiling portion 224 whose upper end is integrally joined with the merge portion 254 of the foul ball inclined portion 255 and whose lower end is integrally joined with the standby inclined portion 223. Is formed. The flow-down ceiling 224 is formed to have the same inclination as the flow-down inclined portion 222 with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B between the flow-down inclined portion 222. It should be noted that the lower part of the descending ceiling part 224 (the end part on the lower side of the slope) and the part where the game ball B flows almost directly from the descending slope part 222 to the standby slope part 223 corresponds to the flow path of the game ball B. It is in the state where it was joined to stand-by inclined part 223 in that part.

In addition, a standby ceiling portion 225 whose upper end is integrally joined to the flow-down inclined portion 222 is formed on the standby inclined portion 223 of the circulation path 220. The standby ceiling part 225 is formed so as to have the same inclination as the standby inclination part 223 with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B between the standby ceiling part 225.
From the above, the foul ball flow path 252 and the circulation path 220 are in a state where a gap slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B is left and right or up and down with respect to the flow direction of the game ball B in many parts. Thus, the game balls B do not pass vertically and vertically, so that the game balls B flow down one by one or in a line.

In the foul ball collection means 250, the foul ball collection port 251 is provided on the upper end portion of the foul ball flow channel 252, and the lower end of the foul ball collection port 251 and the upper end portion of the foul ball flow channel 252 are provided. A foul ball sensor 253 is arranged on the upper side.
The foul ball collection port 251 is an opening formed at the upper right end portion when viewed from the back side of the front wall member 310 that constitutes the front surface of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200, and collects the collected foul sphere from the outside of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200. It is designed to be introduced inside. Further, a foul ball collection portion 257 extending forward from the front surface of the front wall member 310 is provided at a position corresponding to the lower edge of the foul ball collection port 251 on the front side of the front wall member 310. The foul ball collection part 257 is formed in a plate shape whose upper surface is inclined downward toward the rear foul ball collection port 251 and protrudes upward surrounding the periphery except for the rear edge connected to the foul ball collection port 251. When the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is mounted in a state substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 131, the foul ball collection unit 257 is adjacent to the upper end portion (the end portion in the firing direction) of the firing rail 62. Thus, it is arranged directly below the firing ball passage port 135 so as to receive a foul ball flowing through the firing ball passage port 135 and flowing down.

Accordingly, in the foul ball collecting means 250, the foul ball collecting unit 257 receives the foul ball that has flowed from the front side of the game board 1 through the launching ball passage port 135 to the lower side of the game board 1. Then, the foul sphere reaching the upper surface of the foul sphere collecting unit 257 enters the foul sphere flow path 252 in the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 from the rear foul sphere collecting port 251 along the inclination of the upper surface, and enters the foul sphere collecting port 251. It passes through the lower foul sphere sensor 253 and reaches the foul sphere inclined portion 255 which is the bottom of the foul sphere flow path 252. Then, the game ball B on the foul ball inclined portion 255 reaches the merging portion 254 along the inclination, and reaches the above-described standby flow channel 221 so as to merge with the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow channel 280. The standby flow path 221 flows down.
The foul ball sensor 253 is a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch similar to the collection ball sensor 212, and is attached to the lower side of the collection ball sensor 212 of the sensor mounting portion 330 in the opposite direction to the collection ball sensor 212. A hole 253 a through which the game ball B of the foul ball sensor 253 passes is arranged at the upper end portion of the foul ball channel 252. Then, similar to the collection ball sensor 212, a foul ball is detected and a signal is output.

In addition, from the above, the flow path is formed so that the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the game ball B flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 merge. In this example, the recovery sphere flow path 280 becomes a standby flow path 221 almost at the height position of the sphere storage plate 261, and the standby flow path 221 is located above the junction 254 slightly below the sphere storage plate 261. The foul ball passage 252 joins. In other words, in this example, the recovery sphere flow path 280 is a standby flow path 221 slightly upstream from the portion where the foul sphere flow path 252 merges, and the standby flow path 221 and the foul sphere flow path 252 merge. However, the collection sphere channel 280 is regarded as the standby channel 221 on the junction 255 (below the sphere storage plate 261), and the collection sphere channel 280 and the foul sphere channel 252 May be regarded as the standby flow channel 221 from the portion where the flow channels merge directly.
Here, the portion of the recovery ball flow path 280 and the standby flow path 221 that communicates with the ends of the recovery ball flow path 280 guides the game ball so as to drop onto the merge portion 254 from the lower end side of the introduction inclined portion 213. In this way, the flow direction of the game ball (the direction of the flow path) is almost vertical.
On the other hand, the portion of the foul sphere flow path 252 and the standby flow path 221 that communicates with the ends of the foul sphere flow path 252 extends along the upper surface of the foul sphere inclined portion 255 where the lower inclined end portion becomes the confluence 254. Along the left-right direction of the game machine 100, the game machine 100 is formed in a straight line in an inclined state (a state slightly inclined from the horizontal) so as to incline downward.
Therefore, the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball channel 280 and the game ball B flowing down the foul ball channel 252 merge from different directions. The standby flow path 221 is in a state where the upstream side of the portion where the foul ball path 252 joins is substantially vertical and the downstream side is slightly inclined, and the standby flow path 221 is in a state of being slightly horizontal. It will be in the state bent at the part which merged.

  In addition, a flow path (standby flow path 221) in the merging portion 254 that is near the downstream side of the merge point from the merge point of the game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the game ball that has flowed down the foul ball flow path 252 is provided. The surface of the inner surface of the flow path that constitutes the ceiling is configured by the lower surface of the sphere storage plate 261 that becomes a part of the replenishment conversion means of the sphere storage unit 262 disposed above the junction 254 as described above. . In addition, an end surface on the communication port 266 side, which will be described later, of the ball storage plate 261 becomes an inner surface of a bent portion of the flow path that is bent at the junction. Therefore, the end surface on the communication port 266 side of the ball storage plate 261 as the replenishment conversion means and the lower surface that overlaps the merging portion 254 are the flow path formation surface, and the flow path formation surface is the operation of the replenishment conversion means, that is, the sphere It moves by the change of the inclination angle accompanying the change of the replenishment state of the storage plate 261 and the storage state.

  Therefore, in the state where the ball clogging occurs at the portion where the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 are joined, The replenishing solenoid 263 is operated so that the ball storage plate 261 to be alternately converted into the replenishment state and the storage state, and the game ball B that has become clogged by moving the flow passage formation surface becomes the flow passage formation surface. The ball clogging can be eliminated by bringing the ball storage plate 261 into contact with each other and shaking the game ball B by the movement of the ball storage plate 261.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, when the standby flow path 221 is bent at the junction 254, that is, the part where the foul ball flow path 252 joins the standby flow path 221, a ball clogging occurs. In addition, in a state where the game balls B are stored in the ball storage unit 262, a plurality of collected game balls B are connected via the collection ball flow path 280 from the confluence unit 254 where the balls are packed, and the game ball is also in the collection ball sensor 212 portion. B is stopped. Therefore, in the collection ball sensor 212, the state in which the game ball B is detected continues, and the state in which a signal indicating the detection of the game ball B is continuously output is maintained.
In addition, when a number of foul balls are generated when the ball clogging occurs at the merging portion 254 as described above, the game balls B are connected in the foul ball flow path 252 and the game balls B are detected from the foul ball sensor 253. In this state, a signal indicating that the signal is being output is continuously output.

  Therefore, when at least one of the recovery ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 outputs a signal indicating that the game ball B has been detected continuously, the game ball and the recovery ball that have flowed down the foul ball channel 252 There is a very high possibility that ball clogging has occurred at the portion where the game ball flowing down the flow path 280 joins. Therefore, when a signal indicating the detection of the game ball B is continuously output from at least one of the recovered ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 for a predetermined time or more, the replenishment solenoid 263 as a replenishment conversion means and the ball storage By operating the plate 261, the ball clogging can be eliminated as described above.

  That is, when the collection ball sensor 212 serving as the collection ball detection unit or the foul ball sensor 253 serving as the foul ball detection unit detects the game ball B continuously for a predetermined time, the replenishment conversion unit is operated to operate the flow The road forming surface will be moved. Further, as will be described later, the frame control device 83 serves as a flow path forming surface operation control means for performing the control as described above.

  The ball removing device 230 is provided in front of the ball feeding device 240 at the downstream end of the standby flow path 221. The downstream end portion of the standby inclined portion 223 serving as the bottom portion of the standby flow path 221 is disposed in a state of being spaced apart from the ball feeding device 240 by a distance wider than the diameter of the game ball B. That is, a ball removal opening 231 is provided between the ball removal device 230 and the standby inclined portion 223 as an interval at which the game ball B can flow down.

  The ball removing device 230 is configured to open and close the opening and closing member 232 while being connected to the opening and closing member 232 and the plate-like opening and closing member 232 for opening and closing the ball removing opening 231. And a rectangular cylindrical guide portion 235 that slidably holds the slider 234 along the plate-like standby inclined portion 223 below the downstream end portion of the standby inclined portion 223. And a coil spring 236 that is disposed between the slider 234 and the bottom of the cylindrical guide portion 235 and urges the slider 234 toward the ball removal device 230, and is formed downward on the lower side of the ball removal opening 231. And a ball passage 237 that is open at the bottom.

  The opening / closing member 232 normally extends to the ball removal device 230 to close the ball removal opening 231. In the closed state, the opening / closing member 232 is inclined in the same manner as the standby inclined portion 223 with the upper surface of the end portion on the standby inclined portion 223 side in contact with the lower surface of the standby inclined portion 223. In this state, the opening / closing member 232 functions as the bottom of the lower end portion of the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 at the position of the ball opening 231, and the game ball B flowing down on the standby inclined portion 223 opens and closes one step below. The game ball B reaches the member 232, passes through the opening / closing member 232, and reaches the ball feeder 240.

Further, when the opening / closing member 232 is moved along the standby inclined portion 223 to the upper side of the inclination of the standby inclined portion 223, the ball opening portion 231 is opened, and the end of the opening / closing member 232 on the lower side of the inclination is removed. A space wider than the diameter of the game ball B is provided between the device 230 and the device 230 so that the game ball B can flow down from the ball opening 231.
The guide portion 235 is formed on the back side (inner surface side) of the front wall member 310, and extends downward to the lower end portion of the plate-like standby inclined portion 223 and below the lower end portion of the standby inclined portion 223. Thus, the slider 234 is sandwiched between the standby inclined portion 223, the guide lower wall 235a formed in parallel with the standby inclined portion 223, the lower end portion of the standby inclined portion 223, and the guide lower wall 235a. The interior of the front wall member 310 between the front wall member 310 and the portion between the lower end portion of the standby inclined portion 223 of the rear wall member 320 connected to the front wall member 310 and the guide lower wall 235a is longitudinal Is in the shape of a rectangular cylinder that is a rectangular parallelepiped space along the standby inclined portion 223. Further, the guide portion 235 is the bottom of the cylindrical guide portion 235 at the upper end of the guide lower wall 235a parallel to the standby inclined portion 223 and perpendicular to the guide lower wall 235a and the standby inclined portion 223. A bottom wall 235b extends rearward from the front wall member 310.

  In addition, on the inclined lower side of the guide portion 235, left and right ball-extracted side walls 237a and 237b that extend rearward from the front wall member 310 so as to constitute a ball-extract flow path 237 and are substantially vertical are provided. They are formed with an interval equal to or larger than the diameter of the game balls B, and the right side wall 237b on the right side is closed from the rear side of the cylindrical guide portion 235. The upper end portion of one of the ball-exited side walls 237b is integrally connected to the lower end of the inclined side of the standby inclined portion 223. However, a slit for inserting the opening / closing member 232 is formed at the upper end of the ball-extracted side wall 237b. The opening / closing member 232 is movable along the standby inclined portion 223 while passing through the slit.

  An operation lever 233 extends rearward of the slider 234 and protrudes rearward of the rear wall member 320 from a slit 326 a formed in the rear wall member 320. A coil spring 236 is disposed between the slider 234 and the bottom wall 235b, and one end of the coil spring 236 engages with the slider 234, and the other end is the bottom wall of the guide portion 235. 235b is engaged.

  The ball removing device 230 as described above is for taking out the game ball B enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 by an external operation of an attendant or the like. Maintenance of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, It is used for taking out the game ball B from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 for exchange or the like. As shown in FIG. 10, by moving the operating lever 233 to the upper side of the inclination of the standby inclined portion 223 against the biasing force of the coil spring 236, the opening / closing member 232 is moved in the opening direction so that the ball opening 231 is opened. The game ball B in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is opened and taken out from the enclosed ball game machine 100 (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200) through the ball removal channel 237 communicating with the ball removal opening 231. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the ball feeding device 240 is provided on the downstream side of the standby flow path 221 and depends on the load of the game balls B waiting in line on the standby flow path 221 due to the inclination of the standby flow path 221. A ball receiving portion 242 that includes a restricting wall 241 for restricting the downward movement of the game ball B and receives only one game ball B that is the lowermost of the game balls B arranged as described above, and a ball receiving portion A ball feeding member 243 that raises the game ball B held by 242 to a height over the regulation wall 241, a ball feeding solenoid 244 that drives the ball feeding member 243 up and down, and a ball receiving portion 242 on the regulation wall 241 opposite to the ball receiving portion 242. A supply channel 245 for deriving the game ball B formed and over the regulation wall 241 to the launching device 61 (launch position on the launch rail 62), and a supply for detecting the game ball B passing through the supply channel 245 Ball sensor 2 Includes a 6, a ball supply port 247 serving as a supply passage 245 (enclosed ball circulation unit 200) game ball outlet port to the launcher 61 B of.

  The restriction wall 241 stops the game ball B at the lowermost inclination of the game balls B arranged on the inclined standby flow path 221 and feeds only the game balls B over the restriction wall 241 to the launching device 61. For example, it is formed in a plate shape having a height lower than the diameter of the game ball B (the height from the upper surface of a ball holding portion 243a, which will be described later, of the ball feeding member 243 positioned at the bottom). Has been. The ball receiving portion 242 includes a holding portion bottom wall 248 that is joined to the restriction wall 241 at a right angle, and the restriction wall 241 and the holding portion bottom wall 248 are L-shaped.

  The ball feeding member 243 includes a ball holding portion 243a that is disposed on the holding portion bottom wall 248 of the ball receiving portion 242 and holds the game ball B that has flowed into the ball receiving portion 242, and the left and right and front sides are open. It is formed in a U-shape (channel shape) so that the game ball B can be passed from right to left. The ball holding portion 243a is a portion that becomes the bottom of the U-shaped ball feeding member 243. The ball feed member 243 has a plunger of a ball feed solenoid 244 connected to the upper end portion thereof. The ball feed solenoid 244 causes the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a on which the game ball B is placed to be lower than the upper surface of the opening / closing member 232 serving as the bottom of the lower end portion of the circulation path 220, and the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a. Is movable up and down between a position above the upper end of the regulating wall 241.

  Further, the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a is inclined so as to descend from right to left from the back surface side, and the ball of the ball feeding member 243 disposed on the ball receiving portion 242 from the standby inclined portion 223 of the standby flow path 221. The game ball B that has flowed onto the holding portion 243a is brought into contact with the regulating wall 241 by approaching the regulating wall 241 due to the inclination on the ball holding portion 243a. Then, when the ball feed member 243 is raised by the ball feed solenoid 244 and the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a becomes higher than the upper end of the restriction wall 241, the game ball B on the ball holding portion 243a is moved to the ball holding portion 243a. By the inclination, it flows down to the supply flow path 245 side over the regulation wall 241. In addition, when the lower end of the ball feeding member 243 is raised, the opening / closing member 232 prevents the game ball B that is next sent to the ball feeding member 243 on the opening / closing member 232 from entering under the ball feeding member 243. It does not rise higher than the diameter of the game ball B waiting on the upper side (the bottom of the standby flow path 221).

  In addition, an opening is formed in the ball feed cover portion 326b behind the ball feed member 243 of the rear wall member 320 that covers the rear side of the ball feed member 243, and the game ball B on the ball holding portion 243a is It is made to flow from the supply flow path 245 side by operating from the outside. This is to prevent the game ball B from remaining on the ball feed member 243 when the game ball B is discharged from the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 using the ball removal device 230. Since the ball holding portion 243a is inclined downward toward the opposite side of the ball removing device 230, the ball holding portion 243a cannot be discharged to the outside only by opening the opening / closing member 232 of the ball removing device 230.

  The ball feed solenoid 244 is attached to a ball feed solenoid mounting portion 311 provided on the front wall member 310 with the plunger directed substantially vertically downward, and the ball feed member 243 is connected to the tip of the plunger. In this state, the plunger is driven up and down. The ball feed solenoid 244 is controlled in synchronization with the launching device 61 by the launch control board 63, and immediately after the launching device 61 launches the game ball B, it moves up and down to send the game ball B to the launching device 61. It has become.

  The supply channel 245 is formed on the side of the restriction wall 241 opposite to the ball feeding member 243, and after the game ball B has flowed almost directly along the restriction wall 241, it is guided forward to the front ball supply port. From 247, the game ball B is led out to the launching device 61 side on the front side of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. The supply channel 245 is formed by a supply channel wall portion 245a that extends rearward from the front wall member 310. In addition, a channel rib 245b that is erected vertically along the front-rear direction of the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 is formed at a position that becomes the bottom of the supply channel 245, and the channel rib 245b is placed from the rear to the front. The game ball B that has flowed down on the flow channel rib 245b rolls forward on the flow channel rib 245b from the rear to the front and is led out from the ball supply port 247. ing.

  The supply ball sensor 246 is a well-known pachinko ball passage sensor switch similar to the recovery ball sensor 212, and is attached to a supply sensor provided at a position of the front wall member 310 on the opposite side of the supply channel 245 to the ball feeding device 240. A rear end portion is attached to the portion 312, a front end portion is disposed in contact with or close to the restriction wall 241, and a hole 246 a through which the game ball B that passes over the restriction wall 241 and flows down directly below the supply flow path 245 passes. The game ball B formed and flowing down the supply flow path 245 and passing through the hole 246a is detected. The supply ball sensor 246 also detects the game ball B and outputs a signal in the same manner as the collection ball sensor 212. Since the game ball B detected by the supply ball sensor 246 is supplied to the launching device 61 and fired immediately after detection, the supply ball sensor 246 is on the front side of the launching device 61 but detects the launch of the game ball B. It also serves as a launching ball sensor.

  The ball feeder 240 is configured to supply the game balls B to the launching device 61 one by one by slightly raising the game balls B so as to get over the regulation wall 241. Compared to the structure in which the balls are discharged one by one in the flow-down state, many parts of the ball feeding device 240 are not arranged below the standby flow path 221, and the ball feeding device Since 240 is below the standby flow path 221 which is the lower part of the circulation path 220, the vertical length of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 can be prevented from being increased, and the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 can be downsized. In particular, the vertical width of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 can be shortened.

  Further, the ball feeding device 240 raises the game ball B by the length of the radius in order to get over the regulation wall 241 and does not lift the game ball B over a long distance. The enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be sufficiently accommodated within the minimum required vertical range of the circulation path 220 and the foul ball flow path 252, and the vertical width of the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 can be reliably shortened. Can do. The ball feeding device 240 has a simple structure in which the ball feeding member 243 is directly attached to the plunger of the ball feeding solenoid 244, and the possibility of occurrence of trouble is extremely low.

  The sphere replenishing device 260 is provided on the upper side of the circulation path 220 and has a sphere storage portion 262 including a sphere storage plate 261 that is elongated to the left and right and is rotatable to change the inclination angle, and a sphere storage plate 261. The replenishment solenoid 263 for switching the ball storage unit 262 between a state in which the game ball B is stored and a state in which the game ball B is replenished, and the left side (foul ball viewed from the back side of the ball storage plate 261) A ball restraining member that is provided on the opposite side of the flow path 252 and regulates the fall of the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 and guides the game ball B flowing from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 onto the ball storage plate 261 H.265.

  The ball storage plate 261 is pivotally supported by a rotation pin 313 provided on the front wall member 310 at a position in front of the central portion thereof and supported by the rear wall member 320, and the front wall member 310 is front and rear. And the rear wall member 320. The sphere storage plate 261 is normally in a storage state in which the sphere is stored, and the rear end of the sphere holding member 265 side, which is one end of the sphere storage plate 261, is slightly lower. A plurality of (for example, five) game balls B are placed in a row on the ball storage plate 261 in a tilted state. At this time, the game ball B placed on the one end side of the game balls B on the ball storage plate 261 is held by the ball holding member 265, and the game is played along the inclination of the ball storage plate 261. The sphere B does not flow down.

In addition, the front end portion, which is the other end portion of the sphere storage plate 261, is located on the merging portion 254 on the lower side of the inclination of the foul sphere inclined portion 255 (foul sphere channel 252). When the other end on the side of the ball channel 252 is inclined downward, the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 is caused to flow down onto the junction 254. That is, in the replenishment state in which the game ball B serving as a replenishment ball is replenished, the ball storage plate 261 is inclined so that the other end portion on the foul ball flow path 252 side faces downward.
The other end of the sphere storage plate 261 becomes a communication port 266 of the sphere storage unit 262 communicating with the circulation path 220. That is, in a state of being adjacent to the other end of the sphere storage plate 261, a recovery sphere flow path 280 of the circulation path 220 and a standby flow path 221 below the circulation path 220 are provided. In the replenishment state, the communication port 266 is on the other end of the ball storage plate 261 from which the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 falls from the ball storage plate 261 in the middle of the circulation path 220. Therefore, the ball storage unit 262 that can store the game ball B has a communication port 266 that communicates with the circulation path 220. In addition, the communication port 266 communicates with the circulation path 220 at a position directly below the collection ball sensor 212. The recovery ball channel 280 and the standby channel 221 are connected so as to be in communication with each other substantially at the height position of the communication port 266 (approximately the height position of the other end of the sphere storage plate 261). The communication port 266 is provided at a position facing the standby flow path 221.

  Further, at one end portion of the ball storage plate 261, a locking portion 261a that is locked to a latch plate 263a connected to the plunger 263b of the replenishing solenoid 263 is provided on the lower side thereof, and the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 263 is provided. The inclination angle of the sphere storage plate 261 can be changed by the vertical movement of the 263b, and when the plunger 263b is lowered, the sphere storage plate 261 is inclined so that one end of the sphere storage plate 261 is downward. In a state where the plunger 263b is raised, the ball replenishment state is established by inclining so that the other end of the ball storage plate 261 is downward. Therefore, the ball storage plate 261 and the replenishment solenoid 263 provided in the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishment device 260 are stored in the storage state in which the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262 and from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220. The replenishment conversion means can be converted into a replenishment state in which game balls are replenished. That is, the ball replenishment device 260 serves as a replenishment conversion means. Further, the sphere storage plate 261 of the replenishing conversion means forms the bottom surface of the sphere storage portion 262, and the inclination direction of the bottom surface is inclined upward toward the communication port 266 (one end portion of the sphere storage plate 261 is the other end). It is configured to be convertible between a state in which it is higher than the other end portion and a state in which it is inclined downward toward the communication port 266 (the other end portion of the ball storage plate 261 is higher than the one end portion).

  In addition, an engaging member 261 b extending from the locking portion 261 a along the extension line of the ball storage plate 261 and reaching the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 is formed at one end of the ball storage plate 261. The engaging member 261b is engaged with an operation link member 273, which will be described later, of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and is lifted upward when the ball exchange cassette is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. The sphere storage plate 261 is brought into a sphere replenishment state by inclining so that the end of the sphere is higher than the other end.

  The replenishment solenoid 263 is attached to a replenishment solenoid mounting portion 314 formed on the front wall member 310 with the plunger 263b facing upward, and is controlled by the first frame control board 81 by a ball shortage detection sensor 264 as described later. When the game ball B is not detected continuously for a period of time (the game ball B is in a shortage state), there is a shortage of game balls B waiting for the frame control device 83 as the supplement control means to be launched. It is determined that the plunger 263b is raised. As a result, when the game ball B runs short in the circulation path 220, the tilt angle is changed by the replenishment solenoid 263 so that the ball storage plate 261 enters the ball replenishment state, and the game ball B on the ball storage plate 261 is circulated. The flow path 220 is supplied to the merging portion 254 which is the upstream end portion.

Therefore, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 sets the replenishing conversion means to the replenishment conversion means when the shortage state detection means does not detect the game balls continuously for a predetermined time (when the shortage state of the game balls B is detected). There is provided a replenishment control means for converting to a replenishment state and replenishing the standby flow path with a game ball.
Note that the shortage of balls is collected by the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 when, for example, a game ball B stops in the game area 1a and there are more game balls B than usual in the game area 1a. This occurs when the number of game balls B to be reduced or when the game balls B flow out to the outside when the glass frame 140 is opened. In addition, the above-mentioned predetermined time is set to be shorter than the time when the game ball is no longer in the standby flow path 221 when the game ball is fired, and the game balls are being sequentially fired. Thus, when it is determined that there is a shortage of balls after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the game balls are replenished, the game balls B in the standby flow path 221 do not become zero. Therefore, if the game ball is replenished after the predetermined time has elapsed, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the game ball is not fired at the launch timing of the game ball B.

  In addition, after the game balls are replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, for example, the game balls B that have stopped in the game area 1a flow down, and the game balls B that have circulated have increased. As shown in FIG. 9, all the game balls B flowing down the game area 1a are collected and all the game balls B are collected in the standby flow path 221, but the circulating game balls B are replenished. Therefore, the increased number of game balls B due to replenishment does not fit in the standby flow path 221 and overflows from the communication port 266 at the height position that is the upper end portion of the standby flow path 221. The overflowing game balls B are accumulated on the ball storage plate 261 of the ball storage unit 262 through the communication port 266. At this time, the ball storage plate 261 is in a storage state, and the game balls overflowing on the ball storage plate 261 are stored in the ball storage unit 262.

Therefore, when the shortage state of the game balls B is resolved, the game balls B that are replenished and increased during the shortage of balls are stored again in the ball storage unit 262. That is, when the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are connected and reach the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262, the game balls flowing down from the collection ball flow channel 280 reach the communication port 266. It is guided by the sphere B and flows into the sphere storage section 262 to be stored.
Note that the game ball B overflowing from the communication port 266 as described above flows into the ball storage unit 262, so that the game ball overflowing from the standby channel 221 to the communication port 266 is directly recovered from the standby channel 221. Even if the number of game balls in the circulation path 220 increases by being replenished with the game balls B without being connected to the path 280, the recovery ball path 280 or the foul ball path 252 side The game balls B are connected to each other, and the connected game balls reach the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253, and the state where the game balls B are detected when the release of the game balls B is stopped is prevented. it can.

  In addition, the ball storage unit 262 is provided with a storage ball detection sensor 262a (shown in FIG. 12) serving as a storage ball detection unit that detects the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262. This is because, when the storage ball detection sensor 262a serving as the storage ball detection means has not detected a game ball after a predetermined time has elapsed since the launching device 61 that discharges the game ball B is stopped, This is because it is assumed that the shortage state of the game balls B being stored is detected, and the shortage state of the game balls B in the ball storage unit 262 is notified to prompt the ball storage unit 262 to replenish the game balls B. . The notification may be performed by, for example, the touch panel display unit 151 or may be performed by the error indicators 14 and 14 provided on the left and right of the front upper portion of the glass frame 140. Further, error information may be transmitted to a management device 90 (described later) outside the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, and the above-described notification may be performed by a monitor (not shown) provided in the management device 90. Accordingly, at least one of the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, etc. serves as the notification means. In addition, the storage ball detection sensor 262a may be a proximity sensor similar to the ball shortage detection sensor 264, or other sensors that detect the presence or absence of a game ball can be used. In addition, the storage ball detection sensor 262a may be configured to detect whether or not there is a game ball in the ball storage unit 262, as long as the shortage state of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 can be detected. It may be configured to detect whether or not a predetermined number of game balls B exist in the ball storage unit 262.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 includes a cassette insertion portion 271 formed on the rear wall member 320, a cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310, and a ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. A cassette latching portion 279 that latches the inserted ball exchange cassette, an operation link member 273 that changes the inclination angle of the above-described ball storage plate 261 when the ball exchange cassette is attached, and a cassette lid opening locking member 274 Have.

  The cassette insertion portion 271 is formed in the rear wall member 320 and is provided to be inserted and inserted around the insertion opening 276 for inserting the ball exchange cassette and the insertion opening 276 of the rear wall member 320. And a cassette guide member 277 for guiding the inserted ball exchange cassette and supporting the inserted ball exchange cassette. In the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, when the ball exchange cassette is set, one end on the side where the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette is located (the ball replenishing device 260 side) is lower than the other end. When the ball exchange cassette is set on the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the game ball B in the ball exchange cassette flows down toward the ball outlet due to the inclination of the ball exchange cassette.

  The cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310 is a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the front end portion in the insertion direction of the ball exchange cassette, and the cassette receiving portion in which the front end portion of the inserted ball exchange cassette is a concave portion. By being inserted into 272, the front end portion of the ball exchange cassette is supported in a positioned state. Further, the movement of the operation link member 273 that rotates and moves at one of the left and right ends (the right end as viewed from the back) of the cassette receiving portion 272 on the side of the ball replenishing device 260 is not hindered. An operating link member opening (not shown) is formed.

  The cassette hooking portion 279 is formed on the front wall member 310 and extends rearward from the front wall member 310 and is disposed along the cassette guide member 277 from the lower portion of the peripheral edge of the insertion opening 276 of the rear wall member 320. And has an engaging projection 278 on the upper surface at the rear end. The engaging protrusion 278 protrudes into the passage path of the ball exchange cassette when the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. When the engaging projection 278 comes into contact, the cassette latching portion 279 is elastically deformed, and the engaging projection 278 comes out of the passage path of the ball exchange cassette, so that the ball exchange cassette can be inserted into the insertion opening 276.

  The engaging protrusion 278 of the cassette latching portion 279 has a triangular cross section with a tapered surface facing the insertion direction of the ball exchange cassette. Further, the engaging projection 278 of the cassette latching portion 279 is disposed so as to be positioned immediately after the rear end portion of the cassette latching portion 279 when the ball exchange cassette is completely inserted into the insertion opening 276. In the state where the ball exchange cassette is completely inserted, the cassette latching portion 279 returns from the elastically deformed state to the original state, and the engagement protrusion 278 is engaged with the lower surface of the ball exchange cassette. It has become. Further, when the ball exchange cassette is operated to be pulled out from the insertion opening 276, the cassette hooking portion 279 is elastically deformed, and the engagement protrusion 278 is again in a state in which the passage path of the ball exchange cassette comes out. The ball exchange cassette can be removed from the mounting portion 270.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette lid opening locking member 274 is formed to extend rearward in the vicinity of the cassette insertion portion 271 of the rear wall member 320 and on the side of the ball replenishing device 260. And a lid engaging protrusion 274a protruding toward the cassette insertion portion 271. The lid engaging projection 274a covers a ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette when the ball exchange cassette is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and slides in the front-rear direction to freely open and close the ball outlet. When engaging and moving the ball exchange cassette forward and inserting it into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the cassette lid is fixed to the ball exchange cassette moving forward, and the cassette lid is fixed to the ball exchange cassette main body. The cassette lid is in a state of opening the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette.
Thereby, by setting the ball exchange cassette in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette is opened, and when the ball exchange cassette is set, the game ball B is released from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette. The flow starts to the circulation path 220 side through the ball replenishing device 260.

The operation link member 273 is disposed at the end of the ball replacement cassette mounting portion 270 of the front wall member 310 on the side of the ball replenishing device 260. Further, the space between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260 serves as an introduction port of the game ball B from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 to the ball replenishing device 260 at the time of ball exchange or the like. 273 functions as an opening / closing member that opens and closes the introduction port of the replacement game ball B.
In addition, when the game ball B is replenished from the outside, such as when the game ball B is exchanged, the game ball B passes through the ball refill device 260 when the game ball B is sent from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 to the circulation path 220. It is like that. The operation link member 273 converts the ball storage plate 261 of the ball replenishing device 260 from the above-described inclination angle in the storage state to the inclination angle in the replenishment state when the game ball B is supplied from the outside.
The operation link member 273 has an opening / closing door portion 273a that opens and closes the introduction port, and has a front-rear width and a vertical width that block the introduction port so that the game ball B cannot pass. In addition, it has a thickness (horizontal width) that can be reliably pressed when pressed by a ball exchange cassette set as described later. Further, the operating link member 273 has a plate-like link piece 273b extending rearward from the front part of the lower end part at the lower end part below the opening / closing door part 273a as the main part. Further, the link piece 273b is arranged in the vicinity (may be in contact) below the engaging member 261b of the ball storage plate 261 extending to the above-described ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 side.
Further, the operating link member 273 is rotatably supported by a shaft (not shown) formed on a link member support portion 317 formed on the front wall member 310 at a joint portion between the opening / closing door portion 273a and the link piece 273b. ing.

  The operation link member 273 is in a state in which the opening / closing door portion 273a closes the introduction port of the above-described game ball B during normal times when no force is applied from the outside. In this case, when the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the opening / closing door portion 273a, the ball exchange cassette 260 is inserted into one of the left and right end portions of the portion serving as the passage path of the ball exchange cassette. When the ball exchange cassette is inserted into the insertion opening 276 of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the opening / closing door portion 273a is pushed rearward so that the opening / closing door portion 273a moves rearward and the introduction port is While being in the open state, the operation link member 273 rotates so that the link piece 273b moves obliquely upward and forward.

  Further, the link piece 273b is disposed in the vicinity of the lower side of the engaging member 261b of the ball storage plate 261 as described above. By inserting the ball exchange cassette as described above, the link piece 273b is inclined upward. Is pushed upward, the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 side and stored in the storage state where the game ball B is stored, and then moves down toward the foul ball collection means 250. In a replenishment state, the game ball B is inclined to flow down to the junction 254 to replenish the game ball B. Then, the game ball B that has flowed down from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette to the ball replenishing device 260 side flows down on the ball storage plate 261 and flows into the circulation path 220. Since the link piece 273b is disposed below the engagement member 261b of the ball storage plate 261, the replenishment solenoid 263 raises the end of the ball storage plate 261 on the engagement member 261b side to replenish. Even when the sphere is replenished, the link piece 273b does not move, and the open / close door 273a maintains a state where the space between the sphere replacement cassette mounting portion 270 and the sphere replenishing device 260 is closed.

  When the ball exchange cassette is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 as described above, the opening / closing door portion 273a of the operation link member 273 is inserted between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260. The game ball B that has flowed out from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette as described above passes over the ball restraining member 265 formed at the end on the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 side of the ball replenishing device 260 as described above. Then, the ball storage plate 261 flows down onto the ball storage plate 261. At this time, the ball storage plate 261 is in a replenishment state by the operation link member 273 and is inclined downward toward the foul ball collection means 250 side. The game ball B to be played flows down on the ball storage plate 261 toward the foul ball collection means 250, falls from the end of the communication port 266 side of the ball storage plate 261, and becomes the upstream end of the circulation path 220. It flows down over the part 254, will flow into the circulation path 220. In this case, the ball exchange cassette also includes game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262, and the game balls used for circulation in the standby flow path 221 are accumulated and connected to the communication port 266. Then, when the communication port 266 is closed with game balls, the further replenished game balls are connected to the ball storage plate 261. Here, when the ball exchange cassette is removed, the ball storage plate 261 enters the storage state, and the game balls that are connected in the shape of the ball storage plate 261 are stored in the ball storage unit 262.

  In addition, the operation link member 273 can be operated by pushing the opening / closing door portion 273a by hand. The operation link member 273 is pushed in to open the opening / closing door portion 273a, and the game balls that are lacking are balled. It is also possible to supply the circulation path 220 via the storage unit 262. Also in this case, when the operation link member 273 is pushed rearward by hand, the ball storage portion 262 is in a replenishment state, and the game ball replenished manually from the outside is replenished with the game ball B with a ball exchange cassette In the same manner as described above, when flowing down on the ball storage plate 261 and flowing into the standby flow path 221 from the communication port 266 and the standby flow path 221 fills up, it accumulates on the ball storage plate 261 and is stored in the ball storage section 262. Is stored.

  From the above, the introduction port to the ball replenishing device 260 between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260 is a replenishing port 267 for replenishing the game ball B from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the middle of the circulation path 220. Thus, the supply port 267 is provided in the ball storage unit 262. When the game ball B is supplied from the supply port 267 to the circulation path 220 via the ball storage portion 262, the opening / closing door portion 273a of the operation link member 273 is opened regardless of whether or not the ball exchange cassette is used. State. In this case, the ball storage plate 261 is brought into the replenishment state as described above by the link piece 273b of the operation link member 273. Therefore, the operation link member 273 serves as a replenishment conversion operation unit that converts the ball storage plate 261 serving as a replenishment conversion unit into a replenishment state.

The deposit removal means 400 removes deposits from the game ball B in the standby flow path 221 upstream of the launch position of the game ball B of the launching device 61 that launches the game ball B in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. It is possible.
The deposit removing means 400 is provided in the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 so as to be in contact with the game ball B and grounded, and in the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 serving as the flow-down path. A blower fan 420 serving as wind forming means for forming artificial wind by blowing or sucking is provided.

  The metal plate 410 constitutes the bottom of the standby flow path 221 and is attached to a plate-shaped standby inclined portion 223 that extends rearward from the back surface of the front wall member 310. Then, the metal plate 410 is formed on the upper surface, which is the bottom surface of the standby flow path 221 of the standby inclined portion 223, over almost the entire width of the standby inclined portion 223 (the width in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the game ball B). A rectangular plate-shaped upper surface plate 411, a lower surface plate 412 disposed on the lower surface of the standby inclined portion 223 with the standby inclined portion 223 interposed between the upper surface plate 411, and a rear end portion of the standby inclined portion 223 A connecting portion 413 disposed on the side so as to connect the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412, and a ground attachment portion that extends downward from the front edge of the lower surface plate 412 and is connected to the ground wiring 430 414.

The metal plate 410 is formed in a U-shaped cross section from the upper surface plate 411, the lower surface plate 412, and the connection portion 413, and the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412 on the opposite side to the side edge portion where the connection portion 413 is formed. The standby inclined portion 223 is sandwiched between the upper surface plate 411 and the lower surface plate 412 from the open end side where the gap is opened, so that the standby inclined portion 223 is fixed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the standby inclined portion 223 is thinner than the other portions in the plate mounting portion 223 a for attaching the metal plate 410, and can be easily positioned, and the standby inclined portion 223 is made of metal. When the plate 410 is attached, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223 where the metal plate 410 is not attached and the upper surface of the metal plate 410 are arranged in substantially the same plane. The movement of the game ball B is not hindered. Further, although the metal plate 410 is grounded to the metal launch rail 62, the metal plate 410 may be grounded anywhere as long as the charge of the metal plate 410 can be released.

  The blower fan 420 is a well-known blower fan for exhaust heat (cooling) of power supplies, substrates, etc. of electrical products. It is provided and is attached to the blower fan attachment part provided in front of the position where the metal plate 410 of the standby flow path 221 is attached on the front side of the front wall member 310. Moreover, the blowing direction of the blower fan 420 is from the front to the rear of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 100 in this example.

  Further, vents 318,... Are formed at the upper and lower portions of the front wall member 310 where the blower fan 420 is attached and where the metal plate 410 of the standby flow path 221 is disposed. A filter attachment portion 321 for attaching a filter (not shown) is provided at a portion corresponding to the attachment position of the blower fan 420 on the back surface of the rear wall member 320. The filter mounting portion 321 is formed with a filter opening 322 through which dust or the like containing deposits on the game ball B blown off by the blower fan 420 and blown by the blower is passed.

Further, the upper edge of the filter opening 322 is disposed slightly above the standby inclined portion 223 and is disposed obliquely along the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223, that is, the upper surface of the metal plate 410. On the rear side of the path 221, a vent 328 (shown in FIG. 3) on the slit is formed along the upper surface in the vicinity of the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223 (metal plate 410).
The filter serves as a waste collection means for collecting so-called garbage such as the above-mentioned dust blown by the blower of the blower fan 420. To prevent it from being discharged into the island facility.

  A fan opening communicating with the blower fan is formed at a position overlapping the blower fan 420 of the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130 serving as a base frame to which the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is attached. In addition, a launch operation unit 150 including a touch panel display unit 151 is provided on the front side of the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130.

The fan opening of the mounting board 131 communicates with a space on the back side of the touch panel display unit 151 inside the launch operation unit 150, and a touch panel display unit 151 (backlight, driver circuit board, etc.) as a display device. The blower fan 420 sucks the heat released into the firing operation unit 150 from the heat generating structure).
The enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is attached to the rear side of the launch unit 60 on the back surface side of the mounting board 131, but the blower fan 420 attached to the front side of the front wall member 310 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is Arranged below the raised portion of the launch unit 60 that is disposed obliquely, the blower fan 420 and the launch unit 60 overlap not vertically but vertically so that space efficiency is enhanced.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, the game ball B launched into the game area 1a is collected as described below, and the game ball B is circulated and used.
The game ball B supplied to the launching device 61 of the launching unit 60 passes through the space between the two guide rails 2 inside and outside from the lower side of the game region 1a on the front side of the game board 1 by the launching device 61, and in the game region 1a. Fired. Then, the game balls B fired in the game area 1a flow down in the game area 1a, and some of the fired game balls B are the normal variation winning device 9, the special variation winning device 5, the general winning port 8, and the like. It flows into the winning opening of the game board and wins, and is led to the back side of the game board 1 to become a safe ball, and flows down to the lower side of the game board 1 through the discharge path of the safe ball on the back side of the game board 1.

On the other hand, the game ball B reaching the lower end of the game area 1a without winning even if it flows down in the game area 1a is provided with a guide rail 2 at the lower end on the front side of the game board 1 as an out ball. It flows down to the lower side of the game board 1 from the center part which is not. That is, the out ball flows down from the front side of the game board 1 to the lower side of the game board 1.
Then, the out ball and the safe ball that have flowed down to the lower side of the game board 1 flow into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 from the collection port 211 of the collection member 210 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, respectively. Then, the collected game balls B (out balls, safe balls) reach the collection ball sensor 212 immediately from the game ball introduction port 219 through the collection ball channel 280, and pass through the collection ball sensor 212 to collect the collection balls. It is detected by the sensor 212.

Then, the game ball B that has passed through the collection ball sensor 212 passes next to the communication port 266 of the ball storage unit 262 and becomes the lower end portion of the foul ball passage 252 and also the upper end portion of the standby passage 221. It flows down on the junction 254.
On the other hand, the game ball B as a foul ball that has been launched by the launching device 61 and returned without flowing down the game area 1a is collected by the foul ball collection unit 257 of the foul ball collection means 250 and is fouled. After passing through the ball collection port 251, it passes through the foul ball sensor 253, is detected by the foul ball sensor 253, and flows down the foul ball flow path 252. Then, the game ball B as a foul sphere flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 flows down to the merge part 254 that becomes the lower end of the foul ball flow path 252 and joins the game ball B as the above-described recovery ball.

Then, the game ball B flows down the standby channel 221 at the junction 254. The game ball B flowing down on the standby flow path 221 reaches the grounded metal plate 410 of the deposit removing means 400 provided in the standby flow path 221 to remove static electricity. Also, the front wall member 310 and the rear wall, which are overlapped with the metal plate 410 in the front and rear directions, and the artificial wind directed from the front to the rear from the blower fan 420 disposed on the front side of the metal plate 410 become the front and rear side walls of the metal plate 410. The game ball B in a state where static electricity is removed on the metal plate 410 through the vent 318 and the vent 328 formed in the member 320 is sprayed.
Then, the artificial wind is blown onto the game ball B in which the adherence of dust, particularly dry dust, is reduced by removing static electricity, so that the deposits attached to the game ball B are efficiently removed.

  The game balls B that have flowed down the standby flow path 221 reach the ball feeding device 240 one by one and are sent to the supply flow path 245 by the ball feeding device 240. Then, the game ball B flowing down the supply flow path 245 passes through the supply ball sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) and is detected by the supply ball sensor 246, and then from the ball supply port 247 to the outside of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. To the game ball launch position of the launching device 61 of the launch unit 60. Then, the game ball B that has flowed down the game area 1a and collected in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is again fired from the launch device 61 to the game area 1a and is used in a circulating manner.

Next, the control system of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG.
The control system of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 includes a game control device 21 (main control device) that controls the progress of the above-described game, and an effect control device that controls various effects under the control of the game control device 21. 51 (sub-control device) and the control of the game control device 21, the number of held balls (number of game balls) and the display control of the touch panel display unit 151 are performed, and the game is controlled under the control of the effect control device 51 A frame control device 83 that controls lighting of a lamp or the like as an effect, and a launch control device 63 a that controls the launch device 61 under the control of the frame control device 83 are provided. Note that a power supply device 72 for supplying power to these control system devices and other devices is provided, and the power supply device 72 is at least volatile when the supply of power from the outside is stopped during a power failure or the like. A backup power source 73 is provided to prevent the data stored in the memory from being lost.

  Of these, the game control device 21 is composed of a game microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., an input / output I / F, a clock (oscillator), and the like, and is well known in pachinko gaming machines. Various random numbers related to the variable display game shown in the figure are also generated. Various random values include random numbers for jackpot determination for special figure fluctuation display games, random numbers for hit judgment for normal figure fluctuation display games, etc. The result is determined.

Also, the game control device 21 is connected to each prize opening sensor 8a, gate sensor 6a, start opening sensor 9b, count sensor 5b, and V prize sensor 5c via the input / output I / F. The B detection signal is input. A winning ball is generated based on input from various winning ports such as the winning port sensor 8a, the starting port sensor 9b, the count sensor 5b, and sensors provided in the winning device. In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, In a pachinko machine other than the enclosed ball type, instead of a discharge control device for controlling the payout of game balls as prize balls, information relating to prize balls is output to the frame control device 83. In the control device 83, calculation processing for adding the number of prize balls to the number of balls held is performed based on information on the prize balls. Further, in the game control device 21, the progress of the special display and the usual variable display game is controlled based on signals input from the gate sensor 6a, the start port sensor 9b, and the V winning sensor 5c.
Further, the game control device 21 is controlled by being connected to a general-purpose solenoid 9a and a special prize opening solenoid 5a via an input / output I / F. On the basis of the above, the opening and closing of the special variation winning device 5 and the normal variation winning device 9 are controlled.

Based on the production command from the game control device 21, the production control device 51 causes the variation display device 4 to perform various production displays including a special figure variation display game based on the identification information, and other various information displays. I do.
The effect control device 51 includes an effect microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and various ICs for video control. Based on the progress control of the special display variable display game in the game control device 21, the effect display is performed. The device 4 controls the display of the special figure variable display game and the accompanying effect display.
In addition, the effect control device 51 is based on the command from the game control device 21 as described above, and the speakers 13 and 13 (the speaker 155 is driven and controlled by the frame control device 83 under the control of the effect control device 51). And the like, and the lighting and extinguishing of the decorative lamp 15 including the decorative LEDs provided on the front surface of the game board 1 (including the various objects) are controlled (such as the side lamp 12). The frame decoration indicator 17 is controlled by the frame control device 83 under the control of the effect control device 51).

The frame control device 83 includes a microcomputer 84 having a CPU 84a, a RAM 84b, a ROM 84c, an input / output I / F 85, a clock (oscillator) 86, and the like. Note that the frame control device 83 is actually a control device configured by the first frame control substrate 81 and a second frame control substrate that performs control under the control of the control device configured by the first frame control substrate 81. In this embodiment, one frame control device 83 is composed of the first frame control board 81 and the second frame control board 82 for the sake of simplicity. Will be described.
Among these, the CPU 84a includes a control unit and a calculation unit, and performs various types of calculation / control. From the game control device 21, information related to the launch of a game ball input from the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor). Based on information about the prize balls of the input game balls, etc., the number-of-balls information, which is data of the number of game balls that the player can use for the game, is calculated, or based on information from various sensors of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 Error determination is performed, and control based on error determination is performed.
The RAM 84b has, for example, storage areas for various flags, various timers, various counters and the like used for the control related to the error described above, and also includes a work area for the CPU 84a.
The ROM 84c is used in a program for performing control related to the above-mentioned game ball launch such as the number of possessed balls, a program for performing various controls when the game ball is circulated, and the like. Data (for example, data such as time set in various timers) and the like are stored.

In addition, the input / output I / F 85 includes a game control device 21, an effect control device 51, a touch panel display unit 151 (touch panel), a supply ball sensor 246 (ball feed sensor), a foul through a low-pass filter and a buffer gate (not shown). A sphere sensor 253, a collected sphere sensor 212, a sphere shortage detection sensor 264, a storage sphere detection sensor 262a, a glass frame open detection sensor 142, and the like are connected, and various signals are input from these. These various signals are relayed by the input / output I / F 85 and output to the CPU 84a.
Furthermore, various control signals output from the CPU 84a are input to the input / output I / F 85, and these control signals are relayed by the input / output I / F 85 and transmitted via an output port and a driver (not shown). It is output to the control device 63a, the touch panel display unit 151 (LCD), the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (ball quantity display), the frame decoration display 17 such as the side lamp 12, and the speaker 155.

  Further, the microcomputer 84 of the frame control device 83 is connected to a communication device (not shown) via an input / output I / F 85 and is connected to a management device 90 which is a computer system of a game store, and the communication device of the conventional game control device 21 is connected. The frame control device 83 outputs various signals that have been performed via the external terminals, and information from the management device 90 can be input. That is, information such as jackpot, entry, exit, etc. with probability change after the start, jackpot, jackpot, and the like of the special figure variation display game transmitted from the frame control device 83 to the management device 90 are output. Information, information on other gaming machines, and the like can be input from the management device 90 to the frame control device 83.

  The frame control device 83 as described above includes information on award balls, information on the launch of game balls based on signals from the ball supply sensor 246, information on foul balls based on signals from the foul ball sensors 253, and information on the recovery ball sensor 212. Information on the number of various game balls, such as the number of balls, is calculated based on the information on the balls based on the signal, and the launch of the game balls is controlled via the launch control device 63a based on the number of balls. Further, the frame control device 83 controls display on the touch panel display unit 151, the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (ball quantity display), and the like based on the calculated information on the number of game balls. In the display control of the touch panel display unit 151, information on the above-described variable display game, information input from the management device 90, and the like are also displayed.

Further, the frame control device 83 permits the launch of the game ball when the number of held balls is greater than 0, based on the information on the number of held balls, and when the number of held balls is 0, via the launch control device 63a. The launch of game balls is prohibited.
Further, the frame control device 83 performs an error control process described later based on signals from the ball supply sensor 246, the foul ball sensor 253, the collected ball sensor 212, the shortage ball detection sensor 264, and the stored ball detection sensor 262a.

  Then, as will be described in the error control process described later, the frame control device 83 replenishes the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 based on the detection state of the game ball B of the ball shortage detection sensor 264. It functions as a replenishment control means for controlling. In addition, the frame control device 83 joins the ball when the ball clogging occurs in the merging portion 254 where the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow channel 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow channel 280 merge. It functions as a flow path forming surface operation control means for moving the ball storage plate 261 constituting the flow path forming surface that becomes a part of the inner surface of the portion 254 and the flow path in the vicinity thereof by the replenishing solenoid 263 to eliminate clogging of the balls. Further, even if the frame control device 83 performs control to replenish the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 that should detect the replenished game ball B is used as the game ball B. When not detected, it functions as a replenishment conversion operation control means for operating the ball replenishing device 260 again a plurality of times. Further, the frame control device 83 is fired based on output signals of the collection ball sensor 212, the foul ball sensor 253, and the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor), as will be described in a modification of error control processing described later. It functions as a floating ball counting means that counts the number of floating balls as the game ball B until it is collected.

  The firing control device 63a includes a microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. (not shown), and a handle touch detection unit 152 (touch sensor) and a firing slide of the firing operation unit 150 via an input / output I / F (not shown). The volume 153 is connected, and the ball feed solenoid 244, the blower fan 420, and the launching device 61 (the motor driver) are connected.

The launch control device 63a controls the launch force of the game ball B in the launch device 61 based on the signal level based on the operation of the operation lever 156 of the launch slide volume 153, and the handle touch detection unit 152 detects the player's hand. In addition, when the above-mentioned number of possessed balls is larger than 0, the launching device 61 is controlled to perform the firing of the game balls B sequentially at predetermined time intervals. In addition, the launch control device 63a controls the supply of the game ball B from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 to the launch device 61 by operating the ball feed solenoid 244 in accordance with the timing of launch of the game ball B by the launch device 61. Do.
The launch control device 63a also controls the blower fan 420 of the deposit removing means 400. For example, when the launch of the game ball B by the launch device 61 is stopped, the blower fan 420 is turned off. When the game ball B is fired every predetermined time by the launching device 61, the blower fan 420 is actuated. As a result, the blower fan 420 has applied artificial wind to the game ball B that has been stopped at the position of the deposit removing means 400 in the standby flow path 221 because the launch of the game ball B has stopped. In this case, the service life of the blower fan 420 is extended and the power consumption is reduced.

Next, error control processing by the frame control device 83 will be described. As shown in the main flow of the error control process of the frame control device 83 shown in FIG. 13, in the frame control device 83, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1), the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2), and the stored ball monitoring process (Step S3), a replenishment abnormality monitoring process (Step S4) is performed.
The ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) is performed when, as described above, the number of game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 is smaller than usual, and as it is, it becomes difficult to fire the game balls every predetermined time. This process is performed to replenish the game ball B from the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260 to the circulation path 220.

In the following, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 and the timing chart of FIG.
In addition, the ball shortage monitoring process (step S1), the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2), the storage ball monitoring process (step S3), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4) are performed at short time intervals (for example, set timers). It is executed every almost unit time).
In the state where the ball shortage detection sensor 264 sequentially fires the game balls, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the game balls B collected from the game area 1a flow down the standby flow path 221. become. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the 16th to 17th game balls of the game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221.

  The number of game balls that are enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and used for circulation, excluding the game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262, is 25, for example. If the number of floating spheres that are the game balls B until they are collected by the ball circulation unit 200 is less than 8-9, the game balls B are basically always waiting in the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264. As the waiting game ball B moves each time the game ball B is launched, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 generates a detection signal (for example, a HIGH signal) of the game ball B in response to the launch timing of the game ball. Output. Further, when there are more floating balls, the game balls B fired at predetermined intervals are collected from the game area 1a and flow down near the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is detected. Is somewhat irregular, but outputs a signal indicating the detection of the game ball B every time the game ball B flows down the vicinity. Here, for example, a ball stop occurs in the game area 1a, and a plurality of the released game balls B are not collected due to the ball stop, and as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The game ball is not detected over a period of several times longer than the firing interval.

Therefore, in the ball shortage monitoring process, when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected the game ball B for a predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds) or more, it is determined that a ball shortage state has occurred due to ball stoppage or the like. ing. When the game ball B stays in the standby flow path 221 up to the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 at the stage where the game ball B has been previously detected in the ball shortage detection sensor 264, for example, the standby flow path There are about 16 game balls B in 221.
Then, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is not detected for 6 seconds, which is a predetermined time, assuming that 100 gaming balls are fired per minute, 10 gaming balls B are fired, Sixty game balls remain in 221, and then, when about 3 seconds or more have passed, the game ball B to be fired disappears from the standby flow path.

  In the ball shortage monitoring process, first, it is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set (step S10). Here, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is used when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect the game ball B for a predetermined time or more in this ball shortage monitoring process (that is, when the shortage state of the game ball B is detected). It is a flag that is set and indicates that it is determined that a shortage of balls has occurred and that the game ball B has been replenished or has been confirmed to be performed.

The replenishment abnormality monitoring flag indicates that the game ball B is replenished as described above, and a replenishment abnormality monitoring process for determining whether or not the game ball B has been replenished normally is started. It is a flag that determines whether or not.
Here, if the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, it is already determined that the ball has been deficient by the ball shortage monitoring process and the game ball B has been replenished, so the process proceeds to step S12. The predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds, and numerically, a positive integer obtained by dividing 6 seconds by the minimum unit time) is set in the above-described shortage monitoring timer for measuring the predetermined time.

  If the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is not set, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S11). When the game ball B is detected, the game ball B is not detected, and even if the ball shortage monitoring timer is activated and the elapsed time is measured, the game ball is detected before the predetermined time elapses. Is detected (if the predetermined time has elapsed, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set), the predetermined time is set in the ball shortage monitoring timer (step S12), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated. .

On the other hand, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected a game ball, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage monitoring timer has expired (step S13). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the shortage monitoring timer (step S14), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated.
On the other hand, if the numerical value of the ball shortage monitoring timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the ball shortage monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the ball shortage monitoring timer times out in step S13. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a replenishment operation command for operating the replenishment solenoid 263 to refill the ball storage plate 261 is set (step S15).

Next, a replenishment abnormality monitoring flag for starting a replenishment abnormality monitoring process for determining whether or not the game ball has been reliably replenished based on the replenishment operation command is set (step S16), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring is performed. A predetermined time in the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is set in the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer used in the process (step S17), and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated.
Through the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 determines that the game ball B is not detected for a predetermined time and a ball shortage state has occurred, the refill operation command is executed by the frame control device 83. 5, the state where the plunger 263b is raised from the state where the plunger 263b is lowered as shown in FIG. 5, as shown in the timing charts of FIGS. 6 and 15, that is, the state where the replenishing solenoid 263 is operated. It becomes. As a result, the storage state in which the ball storage plate 261 is inclined upward toward the communication port 266 between the ball storage unit 262 and the circulation path 220 is changed to the replenishment state in which the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the communication port 266.

Then, the game ball B stored on the ball storage plate 261 flows down from the communication port 266 to the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 as shown in FIG. When this happens, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from being left in the standby flow path 221 and to keep the game ball B launched at predetermined intervals.
When the game ball B is replenished to the standby flow path 221 from the ball storage unit 262, the replenished game ball B passes through the vicinity of the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the timing of FIG. As shown in the chart, a plurality of game balls B are sequentially detected, and a signal indicating the detection of the game balls is output a plurality of times, thereby making it possible to confirm that the game balls B have been replenished. .

  With the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, when the number of game balls B that are used in circulation decreases due to ball stoppage or the like in the game area 1a, the game balls B are replenished and are waiting to be guided to the launch position Due to the shortage of balls, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being released every predetermined time.

Next, the ball clogging monitoring process (step S2) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16 and the timing chart of FIG.
As described above, when a ball clogging occurs at a portion where the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 join, as shown in FIG. 11 (in the case of the recovery ball sensor 212). As shown in FIG. 17A, the game balls are continuously connected to the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 from the clogged portion, and the state in which the game balls are detected by the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 as shown in FIG. (FIG. 17A shows the case where the collection ball sensor 212 detects the game ball B).

  Therefore, in the ball clogging monitoring process, when the recovered ball sensor 212 or the foul ball sensor 253 remains in a state where a game ball is detected continuously for a predetermined time or more, the foul ball flow path 252 of the circulation path as described above. By actuating the replenishing solenoid 263 and moving the ball storage plate 261 that forms the flow path formation surface in the vicinity of the merging portion 254 where the game ball that has flowed down and the game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball flow path 280, The game ball B that has become jammed is moved to release the ball jam.

  In the ball clogging monitoring process, first, it is determined whether or not the releasing flag is set (step S21). Here, the releasing flag is a flag that is set when the collection ball sensor 212 or the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B continuously for a predetermined time or more in this ball clogging monitoring process. It is determined that the ball clogging has occurred, and the ball storage plate 261 is moved as described above to indicate that the ball clogging has been released.

  Here, when the releasing flag is set, it is already determined that the ball is clogged by the ball clogging monitoring process, and the ball clogging is being released. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S211 and subsequent steps to monitor the release of the ball clogging. Hereinafter, this process will be described after the process of monitoring for clogging of balls after step S22 and after step S23.

  If the releasing flag is not set, it is next determined whether or not the recovered ball sensor 212 detects the game ball B (step S22). When the game ball B is not detected, the above-mentioned ball clogging has not occurred on the downstream side of the recovery ball sensor 212, so that the recovery ball timer is in a detection state for a predetermined time (continuously in the detection state of the game ball). In this case, a value determined by dividing the predetermined time by the minimum unit time is set as the time for determining that the ball is clogged (step S221), and the process proceeds to step S23 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if the collected ball sensor 212 detects a game ball, it is next determined whether or not the collected ball timer has timed up (step S222). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the measured time (step S223).
Also, in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, if the value of the recovered ball timer is subtracted to 0, the recovered ball timer is timed up in step S222. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a ball clogging release operation command for operating the replenishing solenoid 263 and moving the ball storage plate 261 is set (step S224). Here, the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated to move the ball storage plate 261 from the reserving state to the replenishing state and to re-storing it a plurality of times. For example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 17A, the collection ball sensor 212 (collection ball detection sensor) continuously detects a game ball, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated. Operates multiple times. When the ball clogging is resolved by the movement of the ball storage plate 261, the game ball B flows down from the recovery ball sensor 212 that has been in the state of continuously detecting the game ball B, and the recovery ball sensor 212 is played by the game ball. After the state where B is not detected, the game balls B that are sequentially collected are detected, and the signal indicating that the game ball B is detected and the signal indicating that the game ball B is not detected are repeatedly output from the recovery ball sensor 212. It becomes a state.

Next, in the processing after step S211 for confirming whether or not the ball clogging has been resolved based on the ball clogging release operation command, the recovered ball sensor 212 even if a predetermined set time has passed since the ball clogging was released. It is determined whether or not the game ball B is still detected, but the predetermined set time is set in the releasing timer (step S225). In addition, after the clogging release operation, a release flag indicating that the clogging release confirmation process in step S211 and subsequent steps is performed is set (step S226).
In step S22, if the collection ball sensor 212 has not detected a game ball, it is determined whether or not the foul ball sensor 253 has detected the game ball B after setting the collection ball timer as described above. (Step S23). When the game ball B is not detected, the above-described ball clogging has not occurred on the downstream side of the foul ball sensor 253, so that the foul ball timer is in a state where a game ball is detected continuously for a predetermined time. In this case, a value determined by dividing the predetermined time by the minimum unit time) is set (step S231), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the foul ball timer has timed up (step S232). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the timer (step S233).
If the value of the foul ball timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the foul ball timer is timed up in step S232. Determination is made and the above-described ball clogging release operation command is set (step S234). As a result, the ball storage plate 261 moves as described above.

Next, a predetermined time is set in the releasing timer as in step S225 (step S235), a releasing flag is set as in step S226 (step S236), and the ball clogging monitoring process ends.
As described above, when the releasing timer is set in step S225 or step S235 and the releasing flag is set in step S226 or step S236, the ball clogging monitoring process is started. In step S21, the releasing timer is released. It is determined that the middle flag is set, and then it is determined whether or not the collection ball sensor 212 detects the game ball B (step S211). If the game ball B is not detected, the foul is determined. It is determined whether or not the ball sensor 253 detects a game ball (step S212).
If any one of the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 detects the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the cancellation timer has expired (step S213). If the time has not expired, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the releasing timer (step S214), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.
Also, in the previous process of the ball clogging monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, if the value of the releasing timer is subtracted to 0, it is determined in step S213 that the releasing timer has expired. Determined.

In this case, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 17B, for example, after the collection ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) has detected the game ball B continuously for a predetermined time or longer, Even when the ball storage plate 261 that becomes the flow path forming surface is moved by the operation of the replenishing solenoid 263, the recovery ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) remains in the state of detecting the game ball B continuously. This indicates that the ball clogging has not been resolved.
Then, after the predetermined time set in the first recovery ball timer (foul ball timer) has elapsed, the recovery ball sensor 212 (foul ball sensor 253) is played even if the predetermined time set in the releasing timer elapses. When B is continuously detected, a ball clogging error notification flag is set (step S215), and the ball clogging monitoring process is terminated.

  When the ball clogging error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 uses, for example, any one or more of the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, and the like. Control is performed to notify that a ball clogging error has occurred. When the error notification flag is set, the game ball flows down from the portion where the game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel 280 and the game ball flowing down the foul ball channel 252 merge into the standby channel 221 ahead. In this case, there is a shortage of game balls B. However, even if the ball storage plate 261 of the ball storage unit 262 is refilled by operating the replenishment solenoid 263, the game balls will not be cleared unless the ball clogging is eliminated. B cannot be replenished. In other words, the game ball B that is replenished from the ball reservoir 262 passes through the junction 254, a ball clogging occurs at the junction 254, and the supplement solenoid 263 (sphere reservoir plate 261) is activated. If the ball clogging is not resolved even after the game ball B is replenished, the game ball B cannot be replenished.

Therefore, at the stage where the ball clogging error is left unattended, for example, the launch control device 63a under the control of the frame control device 83 may prohibit the launch of the game ball. In this case, the game control device 21 may stop the progress of the game when the game ball B is prohibited from being launched and stopped.
According to the ball clogging monitoring process as described above, the ball clogging of the game ball B occurs at the junction 254 where the game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel 280 and the game ball flowing down the foul ball channel 252 merge. In this case, the ball clogging plate 261 serving as a flow path forming surface which is a part of the inner surface of the flow path in the vicinity of the merging portion 254 can be moved by the operation of the replenishing solenoid 263 to eliminate the clogging. In addition, when the clogging cannot be eliminated, the clogging can be notified to prompt the staff to deal with the clogging.

Next, the storage ball monitoring process (step S3) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 18 and the timing chart of FIG.
The stored ball monitoring process is determined to be a shortage of balls in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, and the game balls B of the ball storage unit 262 are replenished to the circulation path 220 (standby flow path 221) as shown in FIG. In this case, even if the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 becomes 0 and the player stops the release of the game ball B, the game ball of the ball storage unit 262 is 0 or a preset number This is a process for notifying that there are not enough supplementary game balls when the number of game balls B is insufficient (when game balls B are insufficient). As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 19, when the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated and the game ball B is replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is lost. The storage ball detection sensor 262a that detects the game ball B of the ball storage unit 262 is in a state where it is not detected from the state where the game ball B is detected.

  If the cause of the ball shortage is, for example, a ball stop in the game area 1a, and the ball stop is resolved before the player quits the game ball B, the ball is used for recirculation. The number of game balls B to be added is increased by the number of supplemented game balls B. Here, when the launch of the game ball is stopped, as shown in FIG. 9, all the game balls B being used in circulation are collected in the circulation path 220, but in the standby flow path 221, Only a predetermined number of game balls used for circulation can be accommodated, and the amount of game balls replenished and increased from the ball storage unit 262 overflows from the communication port 266 and flows down to the ball storage unit 262 side. It will be in the state again stored by the ball storage part 262.

  Accordingly, when the game ball B falls out of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and the ball is insufficient, or the game ball B stops outside the standby channel 221, and the game ball B Except for the case where the stopping of the ball is not eliminated even if the launch is stopped, if the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball B returns to the ball storage unit 262, and the game ball is detected by the stored ball detection sensor 262a. Will be. In addition, even when a sufficient predetermined time has elapsed after the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the game ball B does not return to the ball storage unit 262, and the stored ball detection sensor 262a is operated as shown in the timing chart of FIG. When the game ball B cannot be detected, it is necessary to replenish the dropped game ball B by an attendant or to eliminate the ball stop that cannot be resolved.

Therefore, in the storage ball monitoring process, even after a predetermined time, which is sufficient time for the game ball B to return to the ball storage unit 262 as described above, has elapsed after the launch of the game ball B is stopped, the stored ball detection is performed. When the sensor 262a does not detect the game ball B, the absence of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 (shortage of game balls) is notified.
In the stored ball monitoring process for performing notification as described above, first, it is determined whether or not the stored ball detection sensor 262a detects the game ball B (step S30).
Then, when the storage ball detection sensor 262a detects that there is a (predetermined number) of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262, there is no abnormality in the storage balls, and is set when there is a shortage of storage balls. The stored ball error notification flag is cleared (step S31), and a predetermined time as a time sufficient for the game ball to return as described above after the stop of the launch (the time for determining the stop of the launch of the game ball is a predetermined time). The numerical value divided by the minimum unit time) is set in the ball feed off timer (step S32), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated. The stored ball error notification flag is a flag for notifying the player under the control of the frame control device 83 when the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 is insufficient as described above. When there is a game ball in the part 262, it is in a cleared state.

  On the other hand, if the storage ball detection sensor 262a does not detect the game ball B in step S30, it is next determined whether or not the ball supply sensor 246 detects the game ball B (step S33). When the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) detects the game ball B, the above-mentioned predetermined time is set in the ball feed off timer (step S32), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated. Here, in the state where the game ball B is being fired, the state where the game ball B is detected and the state where the game ball B is not detected are repeated in response to the launch of the game ball B every predetermined time. It is. Accordingly, in the repeated storage ball monitoring process, the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) is turned on corresponding to the launch timing, and a predetermined time is set in the ball feed off timer, and the game balls B are sequentially fired. In this state, the ball feed offset timer does not time up.

In step S33, when the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) has not detected the game ball B, it is next determined whether or not the ball feed off timer has expired (step S34), and the ball feed off timer has timed out. If not, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the ball feed off timer (step S35), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated.
If the ball feed off timer has timed out, a stored ball error notification flag is set (step S36), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated.
When the storage ball error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 uses the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, and the like to run out of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262. Notify that you are doing.

  As a result, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 that has been notified, the attendant who noticed the notification has a shortage of game balls in the ball storage unit 262, and the gaming machine main body is caused by dropping of the gaming ball B from the gaming machine main body. To check whether the game ball B enclosed in the ball has decreased, whether the game ball B has stopped at a portion other than the standby flow path 221, or whether the ball clogged state cannot be resolved. B is replenished from the outside of the gaming machine main body, and the work of releasing the ball stop or ball clogging is performed.

  Thereby, after the game ball B is supplied from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220, the game ball B becomes insufficient in the ball storage unit 262, and even if the ball shortage occurs in the standby flow path 221, the game ball B Can be prevented from being replenished.

Next, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 20 and the timing chart of FIG.
In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, a shortage of balls in the standby flow path 221 is detected. When the game ball B is replenished from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 in the replenishment state, this is performed to determine whether or not the replenishment has been normally performed. That is, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 21, based on the above-described ball shortage monitoring process, the first predetermined time (measured by the ball shortage monitoring timer) after the game ball B is no longer detected by the ball shortage detection sensor 264. When time elapses, the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated to replenish the game ball B. After this, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is started, and even if the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated, the game ball B is not detected by the ball shortage detection sensor 264, and it is not possible to confirm that the game ball B has been replenished. After a predetermined time (a time measured by a replenishment abnormality solution monitoring timer described later, a time different from the ball shortage monitoring timer can be set) elapses, the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated a plurality of times.

  This is performed for the purpose of solving the malfunction by operating the replenishment solenoid 263 and the ball storage plate 261 driven by the replenishment solenoid 263 multiple times when there is malfunction due to dust adhesion or the like. At the same time, it is assumed that the game ball B is clogged in the ball storage portion 262 and the standby flow path 221 in the vicinity of the downstream side of the ball storage unit 262, so that an abnormality occurs in the refilling of the game ball B. By operating the ball storage plate 261 that is a flow path forming surface that is a part of the flow path inner surface of the merge portion 254 where the game ball flowing down the flow path 252 and the game ball flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 merge. This is for the purpose of resolving the clogging of the game balls B and canceling the replenishment abnormality of the game balls B. The communication port 266 from the sphere storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 is an introduction port to the standby channel 221 connected to the collection sphere channel 280 and the foul sphere channel 252, and the circulation path from the sphere storage unit 262 The replenishment flow path of 220 game balls B merges at a position where the recovery ball flow path 280 and the standby flow path 221 communicate with each other and immediately before the portion where the foul ball flow path 252 merges.

  If the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect a game ball even if the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated to eliminate the ball clogging, a third predetermined time (time measured by a replenishment abnormality canceling timer described later) Thus, after the elapse of a time different from the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer), error notification indicating that there is an abnormality (error) in replenishment of the game ball B is performed.

  In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, first, it is determined in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) that the game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are insufficient, and the ball storage unit 262 determines the game balls B It is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set (step S40). That is, the process is to monitor whether there is an abnormality in the replenishment of the game ball B by the ball replenishment device 260. Therefore, if the refill operation of the game ball B is not performed and the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is not set, the process is terminated. .

If the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, it is determined whether or not the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is set (step S41). As described above, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag indicates that the replenishment solenoid 263 is released from the clogging when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 does not detect the game ball even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment operation of the game ball by the replenishment solenoid 263. This indicates that the third predetermined time is being monitored and is being monitored.
Here, when the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is not set, it indicates that the game ball B is replenished and the second predetermined time has not elapsed. If the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is not set, it is determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S401), and when the game ball B is detected. Means that the game ball B has been replenished, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (step S402), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated.

If the game ball B is not detected in step S401, the replenishment operation command is set and the replenishment solenoid 263 is activated in the ball shortage monitoring process. It is determined whether or not the abnormality monitoring timer has expired. The replenishment abnormality monitoring timer is necessary for the refilled game ball B to pass the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221 after the replenishment operation is performed in the above-described ball shortage monitoring process. Sufficient time is set.
If the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer has not expired, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer (step S404).
On the other hand, if the value of the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer is subtracted to 0 in the previous process of the replenishment abnormality monitoring process that is repeated almost every minimum unit time, the replenishment abnormality monitoring timer times out in step S403. In the ball storage unit 262 of the ball replenishing device 260, a ball clogging release operation command for operating the replenishing solenoid 263 to move the ball storage plate 261 serving as a flow path forming surface is set (step S405).
Next, on the basis of the ball clogging release operation command, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag indicating that the ball clogging is being released (replenishment error canceling operation) (including the operation of the replenishment error canceling timer after operation) is set (Step S406).
Under the control of the frame control device 83, the third predetermined time is set in the replenishment abnormality canceling timer for counting the third predetermined time after the replenishment solenoid 263 performs the operation of releasing the ball clogging (step S407). Then, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. In the third predetermined time, when the ball clogging is released by the ball clogging releasing operation, the game ball B passes the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the standby flow path 221 after the ball clogging is released. It is considered necessary and sufficient time.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S41 that the replenishment abnormality canceling flag is set by the above-described processing, it is next determined whether or not the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B (step S41). S42) When the game ball B is detected, the game ball B has been replenished by the ball clogging release operation of the replenishment solenoid 263, and the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (step S43). ), The replenishment abnormality canceling flag is cleared (step S44), and a replenishment error notification flag set as described later is cleared.
In the replenishment abnormality monitoring process, if the game ball B is not replenished even after the third predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment solenoid 263 performs the ball clogging release operation (the game ball B is detected by the ball shortage detection sensor). When the replenishment error notification flag is not detected, the replenishment error notification flag is set as will be described later. If the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects the game ball B before the flag is reset), the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag, the replenishment abnormality canceling flag, and the replenishment error notification flag are automatically cleared even after the error notification. To do.

In step S42, if the ball shortage detection sensor 264 has not detected the game ball B, whether the replenishment abnormality canceling timer has expired, that is, whether the third predetermined time has elapsed. Is determined (step S46), and if the time is not up, the minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the timer for canceling replenishment abnormality (step S47), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. To do.
If the replenishment abnormality canceling timer has timed out, a replenishment error notification flag is set (step S48), and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process is terminated. When the replenishment error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83, for example, when the ball clogging error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 includes, for example, a touch panel display unit 151, error indicators 14 and 14, and management. Control for notifying that a replenishment error has occurred is performed using any one or more of the monitors of the device 90 or the like. In this case, the game ball B may be stopped and the game may be stopped as in the case of the ball clogging error notification.

  In the above-described ball shortage monitoring process (step S1) and replenishment abnormality monitoring process (step S4), a ball shortage detection sensor 264 is provided in the standby flow path 221 to detect a shortage of game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221. However, as described below, the floating ball is counted between the time when the game ball is launched and collected in the standby flow path 221 that waits for the game ball to be launched. Using the number of floating spheres, it is possible to perform the ball shortage monitoring process and the replenishment abnormality monitoring process without using the ball shortage detection sensor 264.

Note that the floating ball is counted by a frame control device 83 that detects a game ball B that is launched by a ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) that detects the game ball B supplied to the launch position of the launch device 61. Used as a ball sensor, the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 are used as sensors for detecting a game ball collected after being launched, and while the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is operating, a ball supply sensor 246 ( The difference between the number of game balls (the number of game balls to be launched) detected by the ball feed sensor) and the number of game balls (the number of collected game balls) detected by the collected ball sensor 212 and the foul ball sensor 253 is always calculated. It can be obtained by calculating.
Accordingly, the frame control device 83, the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor), the collection ball sensor 212, and the foul ball sensor 253 function as floating ball counting means for counting the number of floating balls.

The floating ball counting process by the floating ball counting means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, whether or not there has been a ball feed, that is, whether or not the ball supply sensor 246 (ball feed sensor) has detected one game ball B (whether or not one peak signal corresponding to one game ball B has been output) (Step S5), and when there is a ball feed, a value obtained by adding 1 to the current number of floating spheres is set as the number of floating spheres (step S6). When the encapsulated ball game machine 100 is turned on, for example, the number of floating balls may be set to 0 as an initialization process.
Next, it is determined whether or not there is a collected ball, that is, whether or not the collected ball sensor 212 has detected one game ball B (one peak signal output) (step S7), and whether there is a foul ball. It is determined whether or not, that is, whether or not the foul ball sensor 253 has detected one game ball B (one peak signal output) (step S8).
When there are foul balls and recovered balls, the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the current number of floating balls is set as the number of floating balls.
While the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is operating as described above, 1 is added when the game ball is launched, and 1 is always subtracted when the game ball is collected including the foul ball. Thus, the current number of floating spheres can be obtained.

  In addition, it is also possible to obtain | require the waiting ball number which is a game ball waiting on the circulation path | route 220 (standby flow path 221) in the enclosure ball | bowl circulation unit 200 by changing the above-mentioned process slightly. That is, when the initial value of the number of waiting balls is used as the number of game balls to be circulated (excluding the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 out of the number of enclosed game balls) and there is a ball feed In addition, the number of waiting balls is obtained by subtracting 1 from the current number of waiting balls as the number of waiting balls, and when there is a collected ball or foul ball, the number of waiting balls is obtained by adding 1 to the current number of waiting balls. What is necessary is just to process. In this case, the above-mentioned device constituting the floating ball counting means can be used as the waiting ball number counting means. If the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262 is not taken into consideration, the number of game balls used in circulation−the number of floating balls = the number of waiting balls becomes equal to the number of waiting balls. Can be processed in substantially the same manner.

Next, a flowchart of FIG. 23 illustrates a ball shortage monitoring process (including a supplemental abnormality monitoring process) as a modification performed based on the number of floating balls obtained as described above without using the ball shortage detection sensor 264. This will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.
In the ball shortage monitoring process of the modified example, it is determined whether the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set as in the above example (step S10).

If the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is not set, it is determined whether or not the number of floating spheres obtained as described above is 20 (predetermined number, first upper limit number) or more. (Step S11a). Here, when the number of game balls to be circulated is 25 (not including 5 game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262), when the number of floating balls becomes 20, the standby flow path 221 There will be 5 game balls waiting for the game. In the above example, the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 when 6 seconds have elapsed as a predetermined time (time set in the ball shortage monitoring timer) after the ball shortage detection sensor 264 no longer detects a game ball. Therefore, the determination of the shortage of balls in the modified example and the determination of the shortage of balls in the above example are substantially the same in the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221.
When the number of floating balls is less than 20, since six or more game balls B are waiting in the standby flow path 221, not the ball shortage but the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the number of game balls is 20 or more, that is, when the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 is 5 or less, it is determined that a shortage of balls has occurred, and the replenishment operation command is set as in the above example. (Step S15). Then, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 24, when the number of floating spheres reaches 20, which is a predetermined number, the replenishment solenoid 263 is operated to bring the ball storage unit 262 into a replenishment state and the circulation path from the ball storage unit 262. 220 is filled with the game ball B.
If the number of floating balls is monitored, the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 can be known, and the number of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 is monitored. It is the same as Therefore, a process of waiting for a predetermined time after the game ball B is no longer detected by the ball shortage detection sensor 264 as in the above example becomes unnecessary.
Next, a replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set for starting the processing after step S411 which is a replenishment abnormality monitoring process for determining whether or not the shortage of game balls has been resolved based on the replenishment operation command (step S411). S16), the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated. Although the replenishment abnormality monitoring process in the above example was configured to monitor whether or not the refilling of the game ball B was performed without abnormality, the replenishment abnormality monitoring process included in the ball shortage monitoring process in the modified example is This is a process for monitoring whether or not the shortage of balls has been resolved after the game balls B are replenished.

Then, in the ball shortage monitoring process of the modified example after the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, it is determined in step S10 that the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is set, and a process corresponding to the replenishment abnormality monitoring process of the above example is performed. .
That is, it is determined whether or not the number of floating spheres is less than 20 (step S411). If the number of floating spheres is less than 20, the number of standby balls waiting in the standby channel 221 is 6 or more, and the shortage of balls is resolved. Therefore, similarly to the replenishment abnormality monitoring process in the above example when the shortage of balls is resolved, the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (step S412), the replenishment error notification flag is cleared (step S413), and the shortage of balls is detected. The monitoring process ends.
If the number of floating spheres is 20 or more, it is next determined whether or not the number of floating spheres is 28 or more (step S414).
When the number of floating balls is 28 or more, in the state where the number of game balls to be circulated is 30 by the replenishment of the game balls B based on the above-mentioned ball shortage monitoring process to the 25 game balls being circulated and used, This is a state where the number of game balls waiting on the path 221 is two.
If the number of floating spheres does not become 28 or more, the sphere shortage monitoring process is terminated. In the subsequent ball shortage monitoring process, until the replenishment abnormality monitoring flag is cleared (until the number of floating balls becomes less than 20), the state after replenishment of the game ball B (whether the number of floating balls is 28 or more). ) Is monitored. If the game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220, the number of game balls used in circulation increases by 5 from 25 to 30, and when the number of floating balls is 20, the number of standby balls becomes 10, Although it cannot be said that it is a shortage of balls, there is a possibility that abnormality may occur in the replenishment of the game ball B as described above. Therefore, the shortage of balls after replenishment of game balls is monitored until the number of floating balls becomes 20 or less.

  When the number of floating balls becomes 28 or more, the above-mentioned number of waiting balls becomes 2 or less, and it becomes difficult to launch game balls every predetermined time. The error notification flag is set, and the ball shortage monitoring process is terminated. When the replenishment error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 controls the above notification as in the above example. In this case, the game ball may be prohibited from being launched or the game may be stopped.

As described above, if processing is performed using the number of floating balls and the number of waiting balls, it is possible to simplify the ball shortage monitoring process and the supplemental abnormality monitoring process, and by using the number of floating balls and the number of waiting balls, Whether or not it is difficult to reliably fire the game ball B every predetermined time can be determined.
From the above, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 that performs the ball shortage monitoring process of the modified example has a communication port 226 that is established in the middle of the circulation path 220 and communicates with the circulation path 220, and the required number of game balls B Replenishment that can be converted into a ball storage unit 262 that can store the game ball, a storage state in which the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262, and a replenishment state in which the game ball flows out from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 Conversion means (ball replenishing device 260), a ball feeding device 240 for sending one game ball B to the launch position of the game ball waiting in the standby flow path 221, and the game ball B is launched and the collected ball Floating sphere counting means (a frame control device 83, a collection sphere sensor 212, a foul sphere sensor 253, a sphere supply sensor 246 (sphere feed sensor)) that counts floating spheres until they are collected in the flow path, Count by floating ball counting means When the floating ball is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, it is to replenish the game ball B converts the replenishment converting means to replenish state to the standby channel 221.

  In the stored ball monitoring process in the above example, the ball supply sensor 246 (ball) is used to determine whether or not the game ball B has stopped firing and the game ball B has returned to the circulation path 220. (The feed sensor) no longer detects the game ball B, and waits for the ball feed off timer to expire. However, when the number of floating balls becomes zero, the game ball B is placed in the circulation path 220. It can be determined that the state has returned.

Hereinafter, a modified example of the stored ball monitoring process using the floating ball number counting means in the above-described stored ball monitoring process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the stored ball detection sensor 262a detects the game ball B (step S30).
And when the storage ball detection sensor 262a detects that there is a (predetermined number) of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262, there is no abnormality in the storage balls, and is set when there is a shortage of storage balls. And clearing the stored ball error notification flag (step S31), and a sufficient time necessary for the game ball B detected when the number of floating balls is zero to be stored in the ball storage unit 262. The floating ball 0 timer is set (step S32a), and the stored ball monitoring process is terminated. Therefore, the time set in the floating ball 0 timer is shorter than the time set in the ball feed off timer in the above example.

  On the other hand, if the stored ball detection sensor 262a does not detect the game ball B in step S30, it is next determined whether or not the number of floating balls counted by the floating ball counting means is 0 (step S33a). If the number of floating balls is not 0, the game ball B is still being fired, or even if the launch of the game ball B is stopped, all the game balls have not yet been collected. The predetermined time described above is set (step S32a), and the storage ball monitoring process is terminated.

In step S33a, when the number of floating spheres is 0, it is next determined whether or not the floating sphere 0 timer has timed up (step S34a). The minimum unit time (numerically 1) is subtracted from the time measured by the 0 timer (step S35a), and the storage ball monitoring process is terminated.
If the floating ball 0 timer expires, the storage ball error notification flag is set (step S36), and the storage ball monitoring process is terminated.
When the storage ball error notification flag is set, the frame control device 83 uses the touch panel display unit 151, the error indicators 14 and 14, the monitor of the management device 90, and the like to run out of game balls B in the ball storage unit 262. Notify that you are doing.

  According to the storage ball monitoring process of the modified example, it can be determined that all the game balls B have been collected in the circulation path 220 by the number of floating balls. For example, the storage ball detection sensor 262a detects the game ball B in a state where a part of the game balls B that can be stored in the ball storage unit 262 is stored. In addition, it is not necessary to use the above-mentioned floating ball 0 timer, and whether or not to set the storage ball error notification flag can be determined depending on whether or not the number of floating balls is 0, and the processing can be simplified. .

Next, a structural modification example of the sphere replenishing device 260 that serves as the above-described replenishing conversion means and includes the sphere storage unit 262 will be described. In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 according to the following modified example, the configuration other than the ball replenishing device 560 and the operation link member 273 of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 linked to the ball replenishing device 560 is the same as the above example. The description is omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, in the modified example of the ball replenishing device 560, a ball storage bottom wall portion 561 slightly shorter than the ball storage plate 261 is formed at the position where the ball storage plate 261 was present. The game ball B (for example, three game balls B) can be stored on the ball storage bottom wall portion 561. In addition, a communication port 266 that communicates in the middle of the circulation path 220 is formed on one end side of the sphere storage bottom wall 561 that is a part of the sphere storage bottom wall 561 that communicates with the recovery sphere channel 280 and the standby channel 221. Yes. As in the above example, the communication port 266 is formed at a position facing the standby flow path 221. Further, the recovery sphere flow path 280 becomes a standby flow path 221 at the height of one end of the sphere storage bottom wall 561, and the standby flow path 221 joins the foul ball flow path 252 slightly downstream. ing.

  The ball storage bottom wall portion 561 is inclined upward toward the communication port 266. Therefore, the game ball B stored on the ball storage bottom wall portion 561 does not flow down from the communication port 266 to the circulation path 220 as in the above example. However, as in the case of the above example, the communication port 266 eliminates the shortage of balls after the game balls B are replenished to the circulation path 220 from the ball replenishment device 560, and more game balls are used than the number of game balls normally used. When the launch of the game ball B is stopped in a state where B is circulated, the game ball B overflowing from the standby flow path 221 (the game ball B increased by the number of game balls supplemented) is stored in the ball storage bottom. It is configured to automatically store in a later-described sphere storage unit 562 including the wall portion 561.

  Further, a second bottom wall portion 568 is formed below the other end portion on the side of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 that is opposite to the communication port 266 of the ball storage bottom wall portion 561. The second bottom wall portion 568 receives the game ball B flowing down the other end of the ball storage bottom wall portion 561 and receives one of the standby flow channel 221 side so as to be inclined opposite to the ball storage bottom wall portion 561. It slopes down toward the end of the. In addition, one end of the second bottom wall portion 568 is in a state of being continuous with the downward slope portion 222 that is the bottom of the second stage of the standby flow path 221, and the game that has flowed down the second bottom wall portion 568. The sphere B merges with the standby flow path 221 at the downward slope portion 222 of the standby flow path 221. Moreover, the boundary part of the 2nd bottom wall part 568 and the descent | fall inclination part 222 is the 2nd communicating port 569, and the ball storage bottom wall part 561, the 2nd bottom wall part 568, and between them are It is a sphere storage unit 562. The ball reservoir 562 communicates with the standby flow path 221 of the circulation path 220 through the second communication port 569. For example, two game balls B can be stored on the second bottom wall portion 568, and together with the game balls B on the ball storage bottom wall portion 561, for example, five ball storage portions 562 can be stored in the ball storage portion 562. The game ball B can be stored.

  The second communication port 569 is provided with an opening / closing member 570 that can be moved up and down and opened and closed by moving up and down. The opening / closing member 570 is driven to open / close by a replenishing solenoid 563 via a link mechanism. The link mechanism is rotatably connected at one end to a plunger 563a directed downward of the replenishing solenoid 563, and is rotatably joined at the other end to the lower end of the opening / closing member 570, with the center portion being a front wall member. A link rod 571 pivotally supported by 310 is provided. When the plunger 563a of the replenishing solenoid 563 is lowered, the opening / closing member 570 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 26 and the second communication port 569 is closed, and the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 563 is closed. In the state where 563a is raised, as shown in FIG. 27, the open / close member 570 is lowered and the second communication port is opened. The state where the opening / closing member 570 closes the second communication port 569 is a storage state for storing the game ball B, and the state where the opening / closing member 570 opens the second communication port 269 circulates the game ball B from the ball storage unit 562. The standby flow path 221 of the path 220 is replenished. Therefore, the ball replenishing device 560 provided with the opening / closing member 570, the link rod 571, and the replenishing solenoid 563 functions as a replenishing conversion means.

The other end of the second bottom wall portion 568 on the side of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 is continuous with the introduction bottom wall portion 574 serving as the bottom portion of the introduction path 573 from the ball exchange cassette attachment portion 270 to the ball storage portion 562. It is formed in the state.
On the other hand, a ball storage ceiling portion 572 is formed on the ball storage bottom wall portion 561, and the game ball B is restricted from being arranged in two upper and lower stages on the ball storage bottom wall portion 561. The ball storage ceiling 572 is connected at one end to the end of the collection ball sensor 212 above the communication port 266 and at the other end to the introduction ceiling 575 serving as the ceiling of the introduction path 573. Has been. Therefore, the ball storage unit 562 is connected to the supply port 267 to the ball storage unit 562 opened and closed by the operation link member 273 of the ball exchange cassette mounting unit 270 via the introduction path 573. In this modification, the operation link member 273 does not function as a link mechanism for operating the ball storage plate 261 as in the above example, but functions as an opening / closing door portion 273a that opens and closes the introduction port.

  Further, the boundary portion between the introduction path 573 and the ball storage unit 562 becomes a second supply port for supplying the game ball B to the circulation path 220 from the outside of the gaming machine main body, and the second supply port is provided in the ball storage unit 562. ing. The introduction path 573 is a joint portion with the replenishing port 267 of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and has a vertical width that allows the game ball to flow down in two stages, but the boundary between the introduction path 573 and the ball storage portion 562. In the portion, there is only a vertical width that allows the game ball to flow down in a vertical direction, and the space between the introduction bottom wall portion 574 and the introduction ceiling portion 575 becomes narrower from the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 toward the ball storage portion 562. The bottom wall portion 574 and the introduction ceiling portion 575 are formed to be curved. The introduction bottom wall portion 574 is inclined downward toward the ball storage portion 562.

  Further, the sphere storage portion 562 is in a state of being inclined downward from the right to the left when viewed from the back at the portion of the sphere storage bottom wall portion 561, and being inclined downward from the left to the right at the portion of the second bottom wall portion 568. The flow path of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 is U-shaped in a U-shape on the side of the ball exchange cassette mounting unit 270 of the ball storage unit 262. Therefore, the end portion joined to the introduction ceiling portion 575 of the ball storage ceiling portion 572 and the end portion joined to the introduction bottom wall portion 574 of the second bottom wall portion 568 are formed to be curved so as to face each other. ing. Therefore, the joint portion between the introduction path 573 and the sphere storage portion 562 has a shape that is narrowed so that the joint portion is narrower in the vertical width than the other portions of the introduction passage 573 and the sphere storage portion 562.

  Further, in the above example, when the ball storage plate 261 and the operation link member 273 are linked to bring the open / close door portion 273a into an open state, the ball storage portion 262 is in a replenished state, and the game ball B supplied from the outside is When passing through the ball reservoir 262, it flows down toward the standby channel 221, but in a modified example, the operation link member 273 (opening / closing door 273 a) and the ball reservoir 562 to the standby channel 221. The opening / closing member 570 that allows the game ball B to flow down is separated in position, making it difficult to mechanically interlock. Therefore, for example, when an opening / closing sensor as an opening / closing detection means of the opening / closing door portion 273a for detecting the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing door portion 273a is arranged and the opening / closing door 273a is detected by the opening / closing sensor, the opening / closing operation is performed. When the frame control device 83 connected to the sensor operates the replenishing solenoid 563 to control the replenishing solenoid 563 to open the opening / closing member 570, and the opening / closing sensor detects that the opening / closing door portion 273a is closed, The frame control device 83 may operate the replenishing solenoid 563 so that the replenishing solenoid 563 closes the opening / closing member 570. In such a configuration, when the opening / closing sensor, the frame control device 83, the replenishing solenoid 563, etc. replenish the game ball B from the replenishing port 267 to the circulation path 220 via the ball storage unit 562, it is a replenishment conversion means. It functions as a replenishment conversion operation means for converting the ball replenishment device 560 into a replenishment state.

  Also in the ball replenishing device 560 of the modified example, the same effects as the ball replenishing device 260 of the above example can be obtained. In addition, the opening / closing member 570 is configured so that the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the game ball B flowing down the foul ball flow path 252 merge, and the flow in the vicinity of the merge portion 254 that becomes a bent portion of the flow path. The flow path forming surface is formed as a part of the inner surface of the road, and the opening / closing member 570 of the replenishing conversion means has a flow path forming surface in place of the ball storage plate 261 of the above example so as to release the ball clogging. It may be operated.

The encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 as described above launches a game ball B sealed in a predetermined number in the game machine body from the launch position to the game area 1a, and collects the game balls passed through the game area 1a. Then, the game ball B is circulated and used by being led to the launch position, and the game ball B collected through the game area 1a is guided down and positioned downstream of the collection ball channel 280. The standby path 221 that waits for a predetermined number of game balls B before being sent to the launch position is in communication with the circulation path 220,
A ball feeding device 240 for sending one game ball B to the launch position of the game ball B waiting in the standby flow path 221 and a ball shortage state for detecting a shortage state of the game ball B waiting in the standby flow path 221 An enclosed ball type game machine provided with a detecting means (ball shortage detection sensor 264), which is established in the middle of the circulation path 220, has a communication port 266 facing the standby flow path 221, and a required number of game balls B Can be converted into a storage state in which the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262, and a replenishment state in which the game ball B flows out from the ball storage unit 262 to the circulation path 220 and is replenished. And a replenishment conversion means (ball replenishment device 260). When the shortage state of the game ball B is detected by the ball shortage state detection means, the replenishment conversion means is converted to a replenishment state and the game ball B is placed in the standby channel 221. Replenishment control means to replenish A frame control device 83),
With
When game balls B waiting in the standby flow path 221 are connected and reach the communication port 266 of the ball storage section 262 , the game balls B flowing down from the collection ball flow channel 280 reach the communication port 266. It is guided by the sphere B and flows into the sphere storage unit 262 to be stored.

In such an enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the game ball B launched into the game area 1a is collected and reaches the standby channel 221 via the recovery ball channel 280, and is guided to the launch position by the standby channel 221. The game balls B that are waiting to be released and are waiting in the standby flow path 221 are sent one by one to the launch position corresponding to the launch timing of the game balls B by the ball feeder 240, and again the game area Fired at 1a.
Then, the number of game balls collected in the circulation path 220 decreases due to the ball stopping in the game area 1a of the game ball B, the drop of the game ball B from the game machine main body, etc. When the number of game balls to be played is reduced, this ball shortage state is detected by the ball shortage state detection means (ball shortage detection sensor 264).

Then, when the shortage of the game balls B waiting by the ball shortage state detection means is detected, the replenishment conversion means (ball replenishment device 260) of the ball storage unit 262 replenishes the game balls B from the storage state where the game balls B are stored. The game ball B stored in the ball storage unit 262 is replenished to the standby channel 221 side through the communication port 266 communicating with the circulation path 220, and the number of game balls waiting in the standby channel 221 is increased. Thus, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from being hindered due to a shortage of the game balls B.
In addition, since it has a communication port 266 that is opened in the middle of the circulation path 220 and faces the standby flow path 221, it becomes possible to store the replenished game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 again. It is not necessary to form a space capable of storing the game balls B increased by replenishment in 220, and the circulation path 220 can be prevented from becoming long.
That is, the ball stop in the game area 1a or the like is eliminated after the waiting game balls B are replenished to the standby flow path 221 because the number of game balls B to be standby is insufficient and the number of game balls enclosed is not reduced. At the same time, when the player interrupts or cancels the game, the launch of the game ball B is stopped, and all of the game balls launched into the game area 1a are collected and returned to the circulation path 220. In this case, the circulation path 220 is in a state where the game balls B that are more than the refilled game balls are stored. However, according to the above-described configuration, since the communication port 266 communicating with the circulation path 220 of the ball storage unit 262 is located at the position facing the standby flow path 221, in this state, a game ball is further drawn from the recovery ball flow path 266. When the state flows down to the standby flow path 221, the game ball B flowing down the collection ball flow path 280 is caused by the game ball B in the standby flow path 221 reaching the position of the communication port 266, and the standby flow path 221 of the communication port 266. It is guided and stored in the sphere storage unit 262 that is not the side. That is, the game ball B flowing down from the collection ball channel 280 to the standby channel 221 overflows from the communication port 266 and flows into the ball storage unit 262. In the standby flow path 221, the game balls B accumulated in the standby flow path 221 in a state where the game balls B have accumulated up to the communication opening 266 (game balls B collected from the launch position to the communication opening 266 of the standby flow path 221. ) Is preferably a predetermined number (excluding the number of game balls stored in the ball storage unit 262) of the game balls B sealed in the sealed ball game machine 100.

As described above, even if there is a shortage in the game balls B waiting for launch, the game balls B are automatically replenished, so that there is no problem in launching the game balls B and the shortage of the game balls B is supported. There is no need to do it. In addition, even if a shortage of game balls B occurs, the game can be continued without the game being interrupted. Further, the replenishment of the game ball B is performed by the ball storage unit 262 provided in the encapsulated ball game machine 100 and its replenishment conversion means, so that the replenishment system is not installed on the island facility, and the encapsulated ball game In the installation of the machine 100, it is possible to prevent extra costs and to reduce the cost at the amusement store. In addition, the ball storage unit 262 has a communication port 226 that communicates with the circulation path 220 and is provided outside the circulation path 220, so that an extra game ball to be used when the number of balls is insufficient is provided in the circulation path 220. The circulation path 220 does not become longer as in the case of the case, and there is no need to provide a lifting device for transporting the game ball B upward in the circulation path 220.
That is, by arranging the ball storage unit 262 and the circulation path 220 separately, they can be efficiently arranged in a limited space for installing the members of the enclosed ball game machine 100, and the enclosed ball game machine It becomes possible to replenish game balls B for replenishment within 100.
Further, when the game balls B are accumulated in the standby channel 221 until reaching the communication port 266, more game balls B are sent to the ball storage unit 262 and stored.
Therefore, when the game ball B needs to be replenished, the game ball B is automatically replenished from the ball storage unit 262, and after the game ball B is replenished, the replenished game ball B is no longer needed. In addition, the extra game balls B that are no longer necessary by stopping the launch of the game balls B are automatically returned to the ball storage unit 262.
Furthermore, when the game ball B flows down from the collection ball channel 280 to the standby channel 221 where the communication port 266 faces, and the game ball B accumulates in the standby channel 221, the game ball B reaches the communication port 266. However, when the game ball B is collected up to the communication port 266, the game ball B is stored in the ball storage unit 262 outside the circulation path 220 after that, so that the standby flow path 221 is stored. After the game balls B are collected up to the communication port 266, the game balls B are not further collected and collected in the collection ball channel 280. For example, the game balls B collected in the collection ball channel 280 are collected. When the recovery ball detection means (recovery ball sensor 212) to detect is provided, the game ball B stays at the position of the recovery ball detection means by collecting the game ball B in the recovery ball flow path 280, and the recovery The ball detection means detects the game ball B The were the remains of the ON state can be prevented.

  In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, there is provided a stored ball detection means (a stored ball detection sensor 262a) for detecting a shortage state of the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262, and a launch for launching the game balls B is performed. When the storage ball detecting means detects the shortage state after a predetermined time has elapsed after the device 61 has stopped, the notification means (frame control device 83) notifies the shortage state of the game balls B in the ball storage unit 262. , A touch panel display unit 151, an error indicator 14, and a monitor of the management device 90).

  Accordingly, when the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 are replenished to the circulation path 220, when the game balls B for replacement are no longer in the ball storage unit 262, the stored ball detection means is insufficient for the game balls B. Even when a predetermined time has elapsed after the state is detected and the launching device 61 is stopped, if the storage ball detection means detects a shortage of balls, the ball shortage state in the ball storage unit 262 is notified, The storage unit 262 is urged to replenish the game ball B. Therefore, when the game is continued without the game balls B in the ball storage unit 262 and there are not enough game balls B to stand by again, it is possible to prevent the game balls B to be replenished from being left. .

For example, as described above, when the number of game balls enclosed by the drop of the game ball B from the main body of the game machine decreases and the game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220 from the ball storage unit 262, an extra Even if the game balls B are configured to return to the ball storage unit 262, the game balls B enclosed in the game machine body including the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 are reduced. In other words, when the game ball B waiting for launching again becomes insufficient, there is a possibility that there is no remaining game ball to replenish the ball storage unit 262. Therefore, an encapsulated ball type gaming machine is provided by informing the player that the game ball B does not return to the ball storage unit 262 even if a predetermined time has elapsed since the launch of the game ball B is stopped, and prompting the game ball B to be replenished. It is possible to prevent the state where there is no supplementary game ball B in 100. In addition, even in the case of the ball stop in the game area 1a, if the ball stop does not disappear for a long time, the state where the game ball B is insufficient will continue, and the ball stop will be informed as described above. It is necessary to solve by such as.
In the state where the game balls B are sequentially fired every predetermined time, a plurality of game balls B (floating balls) are flowing down in the game area 1a, and supplementary balls are placed in the circulation path 220. Even when there are fewer game balls B than the predetermined number of game balls B included, the game balls B are returned to the ball storage unit 262 even when the game balls B are supplemented and circulated. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the presence or absence of the game ball B in the ball storage unit 262 in a state where it is considered that all the game balls B have returned to the circulation path 220 after a lapse of a predetermined time from the stop of the launch.

In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the replenishment conversion means (the ball replenishing device 260) forms the bottom surface (the ball storage plate 261) of the ball storage unit 262, and the inclination direction of the bottom surface is toward the communication port 266. It is configured to be convertible between an upwardly inclined state and a downwardly inclined state toward the communication port 266.
Therefore, the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 are stored on the replenishment conversion means that forms the bottom surface (ball storage plate 261) of the ball storage unit 262. And when the replenishment conversion means is in the storage state, the bottom surface of the ball storage portion 262 is inclined upward toward the communication port 266 so that the communication port 266 side becomes higher, so that it is stored on the bottom surface constituted by the replenishment conversion unit. The game ball B does not flow down to the communication port 266 but is stored in the ball storage unit 262. On the other hand, when the replenishment conversion means is in the replenishing state, the bottom surface of the ball storage unit 262 is inclined downward toward the communication port 266 so that the communication port 266 side is lowered, so that the game ball B on the bottom surface of the ball storage unit 262 communicates. It flows down to the mouth 266 side, further flows down from the communication port 266 to the circulation path 220, and the game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220.
Therefore, the ball storage unit 262 can be converted into a storage state and a replenishment state with a very simple configuration. In addition, basically, since the game ball B is caused to flow down by changing the tilt direction (tilt angle) of the bottom surface of the ball storage unit 262, the possibility of ball clogging is extremely low, and further, on the bottom surface of the ball storage unit 262. In addition, by setting the game balls B in a single row, ball clogging can be reliably prevented. Further, with the above configuration, it is possible to return the extra game ball B to the ball storage unit 262 with a very simple configuration.

  Further, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the ball storage unit 262 is provided with a supply port for supplying the game ball B from the outside of the gaming machine main body in the circulation path 220, and circulates from the supply port via the ball storage unit 262. When the game ball B is replenished to the path 220, a replenishment conversion operation means (actuating link member 273) is provided that converts the replenishment conversion means (ball replenishment device 260) to a replenishment state.

  Accordingly, when the game sphere B is replenished for the exchange of the game sphere B, or when the game sphere B falls short of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 and the game sphere B is insufficient, The game ball B can be supplied in the middle of the circulation path 220 through a supply port provided in the ball storage unit 262. When the game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220 via the ball storage unit 262, the replenishment conversion means (the ball replenishment device 260) is in a replenishment state, so that the ball storage unit 262 is replenished from the supply port. The game ball B is replenished to the circulation path 220 from the ball storage unit 262 in the replenishment state.

Therefore, when the game ball B is supplied to the circulation path 220 from the outside of the game machine main body, the game ball B can easily be stored in the ball storage unit 262 by passing through the ball storage unit 262. It is. That is, when the number of game balls B is insufficient, the game balls B stored in the ball storage unit 262 may be replenished to the circulation path 220, and when the game balls B are replaced, The game ball B stored in the portion 262 may also be discharged, and when the game ball B is replenished from the outside, the game ball B may not be stored in the ball storage portion 262 However, as described above, when the game ball B is supplied from the outside of the gaming machine main body, the game ball B can be easily stored in the ball storage unit 262. Further, for example, as described above, when the game ball B is accumulated in the standby channel 221 up to the communication port 266, if the game ball B is further accumulated on the ball storage unit 262 side, After the game ball B is replenished to the path 221, the extra game ball B is automatically stored in the ball storage unit 262.
Further, from the above configuration, when the number of game balls B replenished in the circulation path 220 becomes larger than a predetermined number, it can be stored in the ball storage unit 262, and the circulation path 220 is necessary and sufficient. Thus, it is possible to prevent a predetermined number or more of game balls B from being supplied.

  In addition, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 includes a foul ball flow path 252 that guides a game ball B that has been fired without reaching the game area 1a to the standby flow path 221, and a foul ball flow. A foul ball detection means (foul ball sensor 253) for detecting the game ball B flowing down the path 252 and a recovery ball detection means (a recovery ball sensor 212) for detecting the game ball B flowing down the recovery ball flow path 280 are provided. The game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the game ball that has flowed down the foul ball flow path 252 are formed so that the game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball flow path 280 and the foul ball flow The refill conversion means (ball replenishing device 260) includes a confluence portion 254 that is bent by the flow of the game ball flowing down the path 252 from different directions and a part of the inner surface of the flow passage in the vicinity of the confluence portion 254. As When the detection output of the game ball of the recovered ball detection means or the foul ball detection means continues for a predetermined time, the flow conversion surface is moved by the operation of the replenishment conversion means. A flow path forming surface operation control means (frame control device 83) for moving the path forming surface is provided.

  Accordingly, the standby flow path 221 that is downstream of the recovery ball flow path 280 that causes the game ball B collected from the game area 1a to flow down to the standby flow path 221 side, and the game ball B that has returned toward the launching device 61 side. When the foul sphere flow path 252 that causes the foul sphere to flow down to the standby flow path 221 side is merged, the two flow paths are merged, or the merged flow paths are merged from different directions. By becoming a flow path, the merging section 254 inevitably bends (bends) in the flow path, which easily causes clogging of the balls. 254 and a flow path forming surface that is a part of the inner surface of the flow path in the vicinity thereof are provided, and when a clogging occurs in the merging portion 254 and the vicinity thereof, the replenishment conversion means is operated to move the flow path forming surface. By Can road forming surface to eliminate the spherical clogging by moving game balls B of the sphere clogging state.

  Further, when the ball clogging occurs at the merging portion 254, the game balls B accumulate in the collected ball flow path 280 and the foul ball flow path 252, and the accumulated game balls B become the collected ball detection means and the foul ball detection means. When detected, the game ball B does not move in a clogged state, so that the recovery ball detection means and the foul ball detection means continuously detect the game ball, so that the recovery ball flow path and the foul ball Ball clogging at the junction 254 with the flow path can be detected when the detection output of the game ball B continues for a predetermined time by the recovered ball detection means or the foul ball detection means.

  In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, even if a predetermined time elapses after the replenishment conversion means (ball replenishment device 260) converts to the replenishment state, the ball shortage state detection means (ball shortage detection sensor 264) is the game ball. When an insufficiency state is detected, a replenishment conversion operation control means (frame control device) that operates the replenishment conversion means a predetermined number of times is provided.

  Therefore, if the ball shortage state detecting means detects a ball shortage state even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment conversion means converts to the replenishment state, and the game ball B is not being replenished, the replenishment conversion means is predetermined. When the replenishment conversion means or the path from the replenishment conversion means to the standby flow path has not been replenished, the refill conversion means is operated to eliminate the clogging and replenish the game ball. be able to.

Further, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine as shown in the above embodiment as a gaming machine. For example, other pachinko gaming machines, arrange ball gaming machines, sparrows, etc. The present invention is applicable to all gaming machines that use the game ball B such as a ball game machine.
Furthermore, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the enclosure ball-type game machine of the state which open | released the glass frame illustrated as an enclosure ball-type game machine of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the enclosure ball type game machine of the state which closed the glass frame. It is a rear view which shows the back side of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the enclosed ball circulation unit of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a perspective view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a flowchart of the error control process performed with the frame control apparatus of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a flowchart of the ball shortage monitoring process performed by the frame control device. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of the ball shortage detection sensor of an enclosure ball circulation unit, and the operation of a supplementary solenoid. It is a flowchart of the ball clogging monitoring process performed by the frame control device. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of a foul ball detection sensor and a recovery ball sensor, and the operation of a replenishment solenoid. It is a flowchart of the storage ball monitoring process performed with a frame control apparatus. It is a timing chart which shows operation of an output signal of a storage ball detection sensor, a supplementary solenoid, and a launching device. It is a flowchart of the replenishment abnormality monitoring process performed with a frame control apparatus. It is a timing chart which shows the output signal of a ball shortage detection sensor, and the operation of a supplementary solenoid. It is a flowchart of the floating ball counting process performed with a frame control apparatus. It is a flowchart of the modification of a ball shortage monitoring process. It is a timing chart which shows the action | operation of the replenishment solenoid corresponding to the number of floating balls. It is a flowchart of the modification of the storage ball monitoring process. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit of the modification. It is a rear view which shows the part except the rear wall member of the enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit of the modification.

Explanation of symbols

B game ball 1a game area 14 error indicator (notification means)
83 frame control device (replenishment control means, the flow path forming surface action control means, replenishment conversion operation control means)
90 Management device (notification means)
100 Enclosed ball game machine 151 Touch panel display unit (notification means)
200 sealed ball circulation unit 212 recovery ball sensor (recovery ball detection hand stage)
Feed 220 circulation path 221 waiting passage 240 ball 246 supply ball detection sensor (sphere feed sensor, sphere changing detection hand stage)
252 foul ball passage 253 foul ball sensor (foul ball detection hand stage)
254 Junction unit 260 Ball replenishment device (replenishment conversion means)
261 Sphere storage plate (replenishment conversion means, bottom surface of sphere storage unit, flow path forming surface)
262 Sphere storage unit 262 Storage sphere detection sensor (storage sphere detection means)
263 Replenishment solenoid (replenishment conversion means)
H.264 ball shortage detection sensor (ball shortage state detection means)
266 Communication port 267 Supply port 273 Actuation link member (Supplement conversion operation means)
280 Collection ball flow path

Claims (6)

A game ball encapsulated in a predetermined number in the gaming machine body is fired from the launch position to the game area to play a game, while the game balls that have passed through the game area are collected and guided to the launch position to recycle and use the game balls, A collection ball channel for guiding down the game balls collected through the game area, and a standby channel for waiting for a predetermined number of game balls located downstream of the collection ball channel and sent to the launch position To establish a circulation path
A ball feeder for sending one game ball to the launch position of the game ball waiting in the standby flow path;
A ball shortage state detecting means for detecting a shortage state of game balls waiting in the standby flow path;
In the enclosed ball type gaming machine provided with
A ball storage section that is established in the middle of the circulation path and has a communication port facing the standby flow path, and that can store a required number of game balls;
Replenishment conversion means capable of converting into a storage state in which the game ball is stored in the ball storage unit and a replenishment state in which the game ball flows out from the ball storage unit to the circulation path and is replenished ;
Replenishment control means for converting the replenishment conversion means to the replenishment state and replenishing the standby flow path with game balls when the shortage state of game balls is detected by the shortage state detection means ;
With
When the game balls waiting in the standby channel are connected and reach the communication port of the ball storage unit, the game balls flowing down from the recovery ball channel are guided by the game ball reaching the communication port and stored as a ball. An encapsulated ball type gaming machine characterized in that it flows into a part and is stored . A storage ball detecting means for detecting a shortage state of the game balls stored in the ball storage section is provided, and after a predetermined time has elapsed since the launching device for launching the game balls is stopped, the storage ball detection means is used for the game balls. when it detects the shortage state, sealed and ball game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for notifying the insufficiency of game balls of the ball reservoir. The replenishment conversion means is configured to form a bottom surface of the sphere storage portion and convert the inclination direction of the bottom surface into a state inclined upward to the communication port side and a state inclined downward to the communication port side. The enclosed ball type gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that. In the ball storage unit, a supply port for supplying game balls from the outside of the gaming machine main body to the middle of the circulation path is provided,
Claim 1-3, wherein when replenishing the game ball into the circulation path through the ball reservoir from the supply port, characterized in that it comprises a replenishment converting operation means for converting the replenishment converting means to the replenishment condition The encapsulated ball game machine according to any one of the above. A foul ball flow path for guiding the launched game ball to the standby flow path, the game ball having become a foul without flowing down the game area;
A foul ball detecting means for detecting a game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path;
A recovery ball detection means for detecting a game ball flowing down the recovery ball channel;
With
A flow path is formed so that the game ball flowing down the collection ball flow path and the game ball flowing down the foul ball flow path merge,
The game ball that has flowed down the recovery ball channel and the game ball that has flowed down the foul ball channel are merged from different directions so that the flow channel is bent, and a part of the inner surface of the channel near the merge portion Comprising a flow path forming surface provided in the replenishing conversion means and moving by the operation of the replenishing conversion means,
A flow path forming surface operation control means for operating the replenishing conversion means to move the flow path forming surface when a detection output of the game ball of the recovered ball detecting means or the foul ball detecting means continues for a predetermined time; The encapsulated ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising: If the ball shortage state detecting means detects the shortage state of the game balls even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the replenishment conversion means converts to the replenishment state, the replenishment conversion that operates the replenishment conversion means a predetermined number of times. The enclosed ball type gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising an operation control means.

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