JP4284401B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a game ball is fired from a launching device toward a game area where a winning opening is set.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a gaming machine in which a game is played by launching a game ball upward toward a game area with a launching device.
In the above gaming machine, a gaming machine in which game balls are supplied one by one from the ball storage tray to the launch position and the game balls at the launch position are launched, but in recent years, it has been launched into the game area. An encapsulated ball-type game machine is also conceivable in which the game balls that have been played are collected again inside the game machine, and the collected game balls are again supplied to the launching device.
In the game area, various winning holes are provided, and the winning rate for the winning hole is set by adjusting the obstacle nail implanted in the upper part of the game area. It is based on game balls.
Therefore, in such a gaming machine, there is a possibility that a fraudulent act that increases the winning rate to the winning opening may be performed by using an illegal ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball.
In order to prevent such illegal acts, a gaming machine that measures the ball height of each game ball by providing a sensor for measuring the ball height of the game ball in the hitting ball path and detects a small-diameter ball is considered. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP-A-62-377

  However, the winning rate of the game ball at the winning opening changes with a slight difference in the diameter of the game ball, whereas in the conventional method of directly measuring the diameter of one game ball, It is very difficult to detect such a subtle difference in diameter.

  An object of the present invention is to ensure that an illegal ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball is reliably obtained in a game machine in which a game ball is launched from a launching device toward a game area where a winning opening is set. Is to detect.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine in which a game ball is launched from a launching device toward a game area in which a winning opening is set.
In the standby flow path for aligning and waiting for the game balls before supply to the launching device, a monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of illegal balls having a smaller diameter than the regular game balls is provided,
The monitoring means includes a game ball detecting means capable of detecting a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path, and a plurality of game balls of the plurality of game balls caused by a difference in diameter between the regular game balls and the illegal balls. An exaggeration unit that exaggerates a change in position, and based on a detection signal from the game ball detection unit, monitors the presence or absence of illegal balls within the plurality ,
The exaggeration means is configured by a groove formed on a bottom portion of the standby flow path and having inclined surfaces inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path .

Here, “a plurality of game balls waiting” are the second and subsequent game balls among the game balls arranged in the standby flow path. The monitoring of the presence or absence of illegal spheres includes the case of directly monitoring (detecting) illegal spheres and the case of monitoring indirectly.
Also, “from both sides to the center of the flow path” is based on the flow direction of the game ball as the length direction, and an inclined surface is formed from both sides to the center in the horizontal width direction (width direction) of the flow path. It is that. That is, the inclination direction of the inclined surface is orthogonal to the direction of flow of the game ball.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of an illegal ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball is provided in the standby flow path for aligning and waiting the game balls before supply to the launching device. Therefore, the use of illegal balls can be prevented.
In addition, it includes a game ball detecting means capable of detecting a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path, and monitors the presence or absence of illegal balls within the plurality based on the detection signal. When there are a plurality of spheres, the change in position from the launching device becomes larger by that amount, so the presence of an illegal sphere can be reliably detected.
In particular, in the case of an encapsulated ball type gaming machine, there is a problem that if there are a plurality of illegal balls, the damage becomes enormous, but this can be prevented.
Further, the monitoring means includes an exaggeration means for exaggerating the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in the diameter of the regular game ball and the illegal ball. And the use of an illegal ball having a diameter slightly smaller than that of a regular one can be monitored, and illegal acts can be prevented more reliably.
In addition, the exaggeration means is configured by grooves formed on the bottom of the standby flow path and having inclined surfaces that are inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path, so that it is possible to reliably detect illegal spheres. it can.
That is, when there is a small-diameter sphere in the standby flow path, the game ball is shifted downward from the normal game ball by the inclined surfaces inclined downward from both sides of the flow path to the center, and the standby flow correspondingly. The game balls in the road will be displaced further to the launcher side (downstream side) than the size of the small-diameter sphere. it can.
In addition, with the inclined surfaces inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path, the game balls can be accurately aligned at the center in the left-right direction of the standby flow path, and the game balls are aligned shifted from the center of the standby flow path ( Since the length of the row of game balls is not shortened due to the fact that they are arranged side by side to the left and right, the position of the game balls in the standby flow path is closer to the launcher side (downstream side than the actual diameter) depending on the way the game balls are arranged. ) And can accurately monitor the game ball.

Invention of claim 2, a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game ball detection means, a sensor for detecting the upstream edge of the game ball to wait several th in the standby channel It is configured.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the game ball detecting means is configured by the sensor that detects the upstream edge of the game ball, the position of the game ball to be detected is downstream due to the presence of the illegal ball. It is possible to reliably detect the change to the side. Further, by detecting the upstream edge of the game ball, can also detect the change in height due to differences in diameter, particularly the change in height is also exaggerated by hype means described above more An illegal sphere can be detected effectively.

A third aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect , wherein the monitoring means is a supply device for supplying the game ball of the standby flow path to the launching device side. The monitoring of the illegal sphere is activated at the time of stopping.

  Here, “when the supply device is stopped” means that the operation of the launching device and the supply device is completely stopped and the game ball is being continuously fired in addition to the state where the game ball is not being fired. In addition, it includes a stopped state of the supply device after the supply device supplies the game ball to the launching device until the next game ball is supplied to the launching device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the monitoring means activates the monitoring of the illegal ball when the supply device is stopped. A sphere can be detected. Although illegal balls can be monitored even while the operation of continuously launching game balls is continued, there is a possibility of false detection due to vibrations caused by the supply operation. It is desirable to monitor while the vibration due to movement is completely gone.

Invention of Claim 4 is a game machine as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 , Comprising: While collect | recovering the game balls which were launched by the said launching device and used for the game, It has a game ball circulation mechanism for supplying the collected game balls to the launching device again.

In the case of an encapsulated ball type game machine equipped with a game ball circulation mechanism that circulates and uses game balls as in the invention described in claim 4 , the enclosed game balls are exchanged for illegal game balls. Since the illegal ball is repeatedly used in the game, the damage to the game store becomes great. However, by having the monitoring means, such damage can be surely prevented.

According to the present invention, the monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of an illegal ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball is provided in the standby flow path for aligning and waiting for the game balls before supply to the launching device. Can be prevented.
Further, the monitoring means includes an exaggeration means for exaggerating the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in the diameter of the regular game ball and the illegal ball. And the use of an illegal ball having a diameter slightly smaller than that of a regular one can be monitored, and illegal acts can be prevented more reliably.
Further, the monitoring means includes an exaggeration means for exaggerating the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in the diameter of the regular game ball and the illegal ball. And the use of an illegal ball having a diameter slightly smaller than that of a regular one can be monitored, and illegal acts can be prevented more reliably.
In addition, the exaggeration means is configured by grooves formed on the bottom of the standby flow path and having inclined surfaces that are inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path, so that it is possible to reliably detect illegal spheres. it can.
That is, when there is a small-diameter sphere in the standby flow path, the game ball is shifted downward from the normal game ball by the inclined surfaces inclined downward from both sides of the flow path to the center, and the standby flow correspondingly. The game balls in the road will be displaced further to the launcher side (downstream side) than the size of the small-diameter sphere, and as a result, the difference in the size of the small-diameter sphere can be conspicuous and the illegal sphere can be detected reliably. it can.
In addition, with the inclined surfaces inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path, the game balls can be accurately aligned at the center in the left-right direction of the standby flow path, and the game balls are aligned shifted from the center of the standby flow path ( Since the length of the row of game balls is not shortened due to the fact that they are arranged side by side to the left and right, the position of the game balls in the standby flow path is closer to the launcher side (downstream side than the actual diameter) depending on the way the game balls are arranged. ) And can accurately monitor the game ball.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The gaming machine of the present embodiment is an application of the present invention to an encapsulated ball gaming machine as a pachinko gaming machine. For example, the gaming content can be the same as that of a conventional pachinko gaming machine. In addition, the size of the outer shape and the like is the same, and it can be installed in the current island facilities of pachinko amusement shops, but it does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island facilities Yes. That is, the enclosed ball type gaming machine uses a pre-enclosed game ball. In addition, the enclosed ball type gaming machine can receive game value information (for example, money amount information) generated by, for example, inserting cash into a pedestrian machine (ball lending machine) or the like, and the game value information can be used for games. The number of game balls (number of game media) converted into data of the number of possessed balls, the game balls enclosed corresponding to this data can be launched into the game area, and the number of game balls launched when the game balls are launched The number of balls held is subtracted correspondingly. 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 amount information as game value information, information on the number of stored game media, etc. are converted into data on the number of game media, the data on the number of game media converted to the data on the number of balls is added, and again Game balls can be launched.

In other words, the enclosed ball type gaming machine is capable of playing with the number of balls held by the player, subtracting from the number of balls held by the launch, and adding to the number of balls held by winning a game ball.
In addition, the released game balls reach the game area, and a part of them enter the prize area and are led to the back side of the game board and collected as safe balls, and the remaining game balls that have not been won are out. The balls are collected as spheres, and the collected game balls can be relaunched through the circulation flow path, and the game balls are circulated in the enclosed ball type gaming machine. In addition, the game ball that has become a foul is also collected in the circulation channel, and the game ball that has become a foul is collected and can be launched again without being involved in the game (without getting a chance to win a prize). Based on the occurrence of foul balls, the number of foul balls is added to the data on the number of balls held in the game value information.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 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 is fitted into the machine frame 110, with respect to the machine frame 110. A rectangular front frame 120 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable. That is, the front frame 120 can be opened and closed with respect to the machine casing 110 in a door shape. Further, a front frame main body 130, which is a main body of the front frame 120 to which various members such as a game board 1 described later are attached, is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 121 extending from the center to the upper end. A gaming board 1 whose front side is a gaming area 1a is fitted in 121. Further, the front surface of the game board 1 is exposed from the opening 121 of the front frame main body 130 in a state where the game board 1 is fitted into the opening 121 of the front frame main body 130.

Further, the front frame body 130 has an opening window 144 (shown in FIG. 2) through which the game area 1a of the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130 can be visually recognized, and covers the opening window 144. A clear member holding frame 140 for holding a double glass plate 141 as a clear member is provided.
The front frame body 130 serves as a mounting base for each member of the front frame 120, and is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within the rectangular frame-shaped machine frame 110 as described above. A square-shaped opening 121 for receiving and storing the game board 1 is formed in a portion extending from the center to the upper end. Further, the clear member holding frame 140 is disposed so as to cover the opening 121 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 portion from the center of the front frame body 130. A portion surrounded by the guide rail 2 provided on the front surface of the game board 1 between the front surface of the game board 1 and the rear surface of the rear glass plate 141 fitted in the clear member holding frame 140 is a game ball. Is a game area 1a that is launched and flows down.

Also, one side (left side) of the clear member holding frame 140 is pivotally supported by one side (left side) of the front frame main body 130 so as to be pivotable and can be opened and closed like a door. By opening the member holding frame 140, the front side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 can be opened.
Further, the front frame main body 130 and the clear member holding frame 140 can be locked in a closed state by inserting a key into the keyhole 159 and rotating the same as in a known ball game machine such as a known pachinko game machine. Further, when the clear member holding frame 140 is opened, the clear member holding frame open detection sensor 142 (illustrated in FIG. 10: glass frame open detection SW) is detected.

Further, on the front side of the clear member holding frame 140, a plurality of external appeal decoration lamps 11,..., Side lamps 12, 12, speakers 13, 13, an error indicator 14, 14 (also serving as a decorative lamp) is provided. The external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are for informing the surroundings when the number of acquired game balls mainly becomes large in the upper part of the clear member holding frame 140. For example, the number corresponding to the difference ball number or the difference ball number which 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 came out by winning the game ball). Based on the number of balls, for example, when the number of balls held (difference ball number) increases, the number of external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Corresponding to the number of balls held is turned on.
In addition, as described above, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the winning ball is not paid out, and the above-mentioned number of outgoing balls, number of incoming balls, number of difference balls, number of possessed balls, etc. are not the actual number of game balls. It becomes a numerical value on the data. In other words, there are only a limited number of game balls that are actually used (for example, 25) that are circulated and used. For example, the number of shot balls that are counted by detecting the game balls that are launched into the game area 1a, The number of foul balls counted by detecting the game balls that have been launched but returned, the number of recovered balls that have been detected by counting the game balls that have been launched and collected in the game area 1a, the number of winning balls when winning From the numerical values such as the number of balls borrowed from an amusement store, the above-mentioned number of incoming balls, outgoing balls, difference balls, and the number of balls held can be obtained.

  As long as there is no trouble such as opening the clear member holding frame 140 and the game ball going out, the number of shot balls = the number of foul balls + the number of collected balls (when the number of collected balls does not include the number of foul balls) It becomes. 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 = the number of entered balls−the number of balls rented (the number of replayed balls) + the number of held balls, and the number of held balls = Number of balls rented (or number of replayed balls) + number of balls played-number of balls entered, number of balls entered-number of balls played = number of balls difference, number of balls held = number of balls lent (or number of replay balls)-number of balls difference Become. As described above, the game with the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is completely performed as a numerical value on the data, and an error due to spilling the game ball or leaving the game ball on the lower plate or the upper plate occurs. It is possible to reliably manage in integer units. However, the satisfaction and superiority that the player can obtain by obtaining a large number of game balls and collecting them in the game ball box and seeing them in the surroundings is the number of balls It is hard to get by increasing. Therefore, the external appeal decoration lamps 11,... Are made to appeal to the player with a large number of balls with respect to the surroundings of the gaming machine by changing the lighting or emission color so that the player can obtain satisfaction and superiority. Used.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the number of balls held is digitally displayed as a numerical value as will be described later, but when the number of balls held increases, the external appeal decoration lamp 11 is added to the digital display of the number of balls held. As mentioned above, it is possible to notify the player and the surrounding people that the number of balls is large by turning on or changing the emission color according to the number of balls held. When the number of balls is reduced, in addition to the digital display of the number of balls, a virtual game ball display 154 described later can notify the player that the number of balls is small.
Further, the side lamps 12 and 12 and the error indicators 14 and 14 perform effects such as lighting, blinking, and change of emission color corresponding to the gaming state. Further, the error indicators 14 and 14 notify the occurrence of an error by performing light emission different from normal when an error occurs.

  A lower part of the front frame main body 130, which is below the opening 121 to which the game board 1 of the front frame main body 130 is attached, has a front operation unit 150 to be described later attached to the front side, and as shown in FIG. A mounting board 131 to which a later-described launch unit 60 and the like are attached is provided on the back side. As shown in FIG. 1, the front operation unit 150 attached to the front side of the mounting board 131 includes a touch panel display unit 151, a touch sensor 152, a firing slide volume 153, a virtual game ball display 154, a speaker 155, and A firing operation space forming frame 161 that holds these members and forms a pocket-shaped recess 158 (space) for operating the launching device 61 described later is provided.

  The touch panel display unit 151 has an LCD panel 15b (illustrated in FIG. 10) and a touch panel 15a (illustrated in FIG. 10) as display devices. Display the game information such as the remaining amount stored in the storage medium, etc.), the stored ball information (the number of game balls stored in the game store without being exchanged for prizes), and there is no actual game ball payout However, it is possible to check the number of balls held at any time and to display various information including the occurrence of an error to a player or a store clerk of a game store. 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 enclosing ball type gaming machine 100 to adjust the inclination, and the player can adjust the player's physique 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 embodiment, instead of the rotary operation handle for operating the launching of the game ball provided in the conventional pachinko gaming machine, touch sensors 152, 152 and launching A slide volume 153 is provided.
The touch sensors 152 and 152 are provided on a conventional operation handle, and when a player's hand is brought into contact with each other, a signal is output to the launch control device 63a and fired under the control of the launch control device 63a. The device 61 is operated to fire a game ball.

  The touch sensors 152 and 152 are inner surfaces of pocket-like recesses 158 formed in the bulged portions on the left and right sides of the firing operation space forming frame 161 in a state of bulging forward on the lower side of the clear member holding frame 140. Of these, it is provided mainly at the front side of the gaming machine and facing backward. Further, the bottom surface portion of the pocket-shaped recess 158 extends from the inside of the recess so that the player's hand can be placed, and the hand touches the touch sensors 152 and 152 with the hand in the recess. Easily put your hand on the bottom of the recess. That is, the bottom surface of the recess functions as an armrest 158a (handrest). Further, since the touch sensors 152, 152 are provided on the left and right of the front operation unit 150 at the lower part of the enclosing ball game machine 100, the game ball can be fired with either the right hand or the left hand.

  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 slide 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. 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 by simply releasing the operation lever 156 and touching the touch sensors 152 and 152 with his / her hand.

The virtual game ball display 154 virtually represents a flow or the like due to a decrease or increase in game balls accumulated on an upper plate in a pachinko gaming machine that pays out game balls.
That is, when the game balls are sequentially fired or when the game balls are won, only the increase or decrease of the number of balls displayed on the touch panel display unit 151 is reduced by the launch of the game balls accumulated on the upper plate of the pachinko gaming machine. In addition, it is difficult to realize the increase due to the payout of prize balls, so it is easy for the player to realize the increase or decrease of the game balls by virtually reproducing the movement of the game balls with the virtual game ball display 154 And

  Note that the virtual game sphere display 154 represents, for example, the increase or decrease of the game spheres by the movement of the game spheres, and may be displayed by circulating and moving the actual game spheres, or the game may be displayed as an image as a display. The movement of the ball may be displayed, or the movement of the game ball may be expressed by a blinking lamp or the like.

  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 is connected to the right touch sensor 152. It overlaps in the front and back. As a result, vibration generated by the speaker 155 is transmitted to the player's hand touching the right touch sensor 152 so that the player can experience vibration based on sound with his / her hand, which is a kind of body sonic. ing.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, a game is played in the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 fitted in the opening 121 of the front frame body 130.
That is, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 performs a game by firing a game ball (hit ball; game medium) into 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 game start gates 6 and 6, the game ball passing through the general map start gates 6 and 6, and the normal game variable display game is unprocessed. Common figure start memory display (not shown) for displaying the number of processing, normal figure change display (not shown) for displaying a normal symbol (general) variable display game, normal variable winning device 9, and this normal variable winning device 9 is a special figure start memory display (not shown) that displays the number of unprocessed games in which a game ball is won and the special figure fluctuation display game is unprocessed, and a special symbol (special figure, identification information) fluctuation display. A variable display device 4 for displaying a game, a special variable winning device 5, a general winning port 8 ..., the ball striking direction changing member (not shown) called a wind turbine, and the like are provided a number of nails (not shown).

  In the gaming board 1 of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention, the out ball as a gaming ball 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. 1 is not provided with an out-hole leading to the back side of the game board 1. Instead, the guide rail 2 surrounding the game area 1 a on the front surface of the game board 1 is not provided at the lower end of the game area 1 a, that is, a guide The portion surrounding the lower side of the game area 1a of the rail 2 is provided with a notch, and the game ball that has not won a prize is the central portion of the lower end of the game board 1 and the front side of the game board 1 The game area 1a flows directly from the game area 1a to the collection member 210, which will be described later, outside the game area 1a.

The normal variation winning device 9 includes a pair of left and right open / close members and a general electric solenoid 9a (shown in FIG. 10: general electric SOL) for operating the open / close member. The open / close member normally has one game ball. Although the closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) is maintained at an interval that allows inflow, 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 is likely to flow into the normal variation winning device 9 (a state advantageous to the player).
The normal variation winning device 9 also serves as a special winning start opening. That is, the start condition is established based on the detection of the game ball by the start opening sensor 9b (shown in FIG. 10; start opening SW) provided in the inside of the normal variation winning apparatus 9 (winning area), and the fluctuation of the special figure The display game is started.

Further, a gate sensor 6a (illustrated in FIG. 10: a gate SW) for detecting a game ball that has passed through the general diagram start gates 6 and 6 is provided in the general diagram start gates 6 and 6.
Then, when the game ball 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 a change display game of normal symbols (for example, numbers, symbols, character designs, etc.) displays the lighting state of the common figure change indicator for a predetermined time. This is done by stopping the display.
If, as a result of the usual fluctuation display game, the stop display 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. Thereby, it becomes easy to win a game ball in the normal variation winning device 9, and it becomes easy to start a 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 device 51 (illustrated in FIG. 10; effect control board 50) having a function as display control means.
Then, based on the fact that the game ball that has been 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, on the display screen 42) , Numbers, symbols, character symbols, etc.) can be variably displayed, and a special symbol variability display game can be executed as the game operation of the present invention. 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 (Special gaming 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, and during the special gaming state The cycle game that facilitates the inflow of game balls into the big prize opening by converting the big prize opening from the closed state to the open state is performed a predetermined number of times (the number of predetermined rounds). The open / close door is driven by a special prize opening solenoid 5a (illustrated in FIG. 10: a special prize opening SOL).
In addition, a count sensor 5b (illustrated in FIG. 10; count SW) for detecting a game ball that has entered the grand prize opening, and a game ball that has entered the special prize opening are located inside the prize winning area (winning area). Among them, a V winning sensor 5c (shown in FIG. 10; VSW) for detecting a game ball flowing into the continuous winning area (V winning area) is provided.
In each of the general winning awards 8,... (Winning area), a winning mouth sensor 8 a (illustrated in FIG. 10; left winning SW, right winning) for detecting a game ball that has entered the winning holes 8,. SW) is arranged.

  Here, the game balls that have been driven into the game area 1a flow into any of the winning ports (winning tools) such as the general winning port 8, the ordinary variable winning device 9, and the special winning device 5 of the special variable winning device 5. When a winning occurs, the winning game balls are detected by the sensors of each winning opening, and based on the detection, a predetermined number of winning balls set corresponding to each winning opening is stored in the above-mentioned number of holding balls data. Is added.

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.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a launch unit 60 is provided on the back side of the mounting plate 131 below the front frame body 130, and launch control serving as a launch control device 63 a (shown in FIG. 10) that controls the launch device 61. An encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 (encapsulated ball circulation device) that collects the board 63 (arranged in the box 631), collects the game balls launched into the game area 1a by the launch device 61, and supplies them to the launch device 61 again; A power supply board 70 for supplying power to each device in the machine 100 (arranged in the box 71a) and a first frame control board 81 for controlling the devices provided in the front frame 120 other than the game board 1 (in the box 81a) Arrangement) and the second frame control board 90 (arranged in the box 90a) are attached. The first frame control board 81 and the second frame control board 90 function as a frame control device, excluding the device attached to the game board 1, for example, the external appeal decoration lamp 11,. 151, a virtual game ball display 154, an enclosed ball circulation unit 200, a frame control device for controlling a data communication device with the outside, and the like. The first frame control board 81 controls the second frame control board 90 and the launch control board 63 based on control from the game control board 20 and the effect control board 50.

  The game control board 20 (arranged in the box 22) that performs overall control related to the game contents and the effect control board 50 (arranged in the box 52) that performs control related to the game effects under the control of the game control board 20 It is provided on the back side of the panel 1. Therefore, a control device related to the control of the game content is provided in the game board 1, and by exchanging the game board 1, it is possible to change only the game content by diverting a device not related to the game content as it is. .

Here, the control system of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 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 board: game control board 20) as a control device for controlling the progress of the game, and various effects under the control of the game control device 21. Under the control of the production control device 51 (production board: production control board 50) for performing control, the game control device 21 and the production control device 51, the virtual game ball display 154 and the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (external appeal decoration board 11a) ), Control of the touch panel display unit 151 under the control of the first frame control device 83 (first control board: first frame control board 81) for controlling the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 and the like and the first frame control device 83. A second frame control device 91 (second control board: second frame control board 90) that performs control of communication with the outside, calculation of the number of balls held (number of game balls), and the like, and a first frame control device 83 controls In and a fire control unit 63a for controlling the like of the firing device 61 (launch control board 63).

  The game control device 21 includes an amusement chip (not shown) having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and generates various random numbers related to a special figure or a usual variable display game. The various random values include a jackpot determination random number value for the special figure variation display game, a hit determination random number value for the common figure variation display game, and the like, and the game control device 21 uses the random number value to determine the special figure and the universal game number. The result of the game such as losing or the like is determined for the game with variable display shown in the figure.

  In addition, the game control device 21 includes, via I / O, each winning opening sensor 8a (left winning switch, right winning switch), gate sensor 6a (gate switch), start opening sensor 9b (start opening switch), count sensor. 5b (count switch) and V winning sensor 5c (V switch) are connected, and a game ball detection signal from these sensors is inputted. 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 gaming machine other than an encapsulated ball type, information relating to a prize ball is sent from the game control device 21 via the first frame control device 83 in place of the discharge control device for controlling the payout of the game ball as a prize ball. The second frame control device 91 is configured to perform a calculation process for adding the number of prize balls to the number of balls held based on information relating to the prize balls. ing. 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.

  In addition, the game control device 21 is connected to and controlled by a power solenoid 9a, a special prize opening solenoid 5a, and a direction switching solenoid 5d via I / O, and fluctuations in the special figure and the usual figure. Based on the result of the display game, the opening and closing of the special variation winning device 5 and the normal variation winning device 9 are controlled. It is to be noted that the general electric solenoid 9a is used to open and close the normal variable winning device 9, the large winning port solenoid 5a is used to open and close the special variable winning device 5, and the direction switching solenoid 5d is a V winning sensor 5c in the large winning port. The game ball is switched so as to be guided to either the continuous winning area in which is placed or the other general winning areas.

In addition, the game control device 21 is connected to the first frame control device 83 and the effect control device 51 via I / O, and various data described later are used as game machine information in the first frame control device 83 and the effect control device 51. Sending. For example, when there is a prize ball based on a winning game ball as data relating to the above-mentioned prize ball, the game control device 21 controls the first frame using a prize ball number command indicating the number of prize balls as one of the gaming machine information. The data is output to the second frame control device 91 via the device 83.
Further, the game control device 21 starts (stops starting) the variable display game of the special figure based on the control such as the start, stop and determination of the big hit / loss of the special figure based on the start winning of the special figure. Stop (fluctuation stop), start and stop of special gaming state with probability variation state with increased probability of winning jackpot after special gaming state as jackpot (special game without probability variation state with jackpot start and stop with probability variation) Data relating to game effects including the start and stop of the game state (start and stop of big hits with non-probability change), and other variable display game stop symbols, variable display time, etc. are transmitted to the effect control device 51.

  In addition, the game control device 21 corresponds to the special prize and the usual start prize (detection signals inputted from the start sensor 9b and the gate sensor 6a) within the range of the upper limit value (for example, 4). The number of times the start condition for starting the usual variable display game is established is counted as the special figure and the start memory number (holding number) of the usual figure. Then, the game control device 21 increases the number of memory for starting the special figure or the usual figure by one every time there is a special figure or ordinary figure start prize, and the special figure every time the special figure or the usual figure variable display game is started. Alternatively, control is performed to decrease the usual starting memory number by 1, and data relating to this starting memory number is transmitted to the effect control device 51. In addition, the data related to the number of starting memories includes a special chart or ordinary figure overflow prize indicating that there has been a special chart or ordinary figure starting prize with the upper limit of the number of starting memories of the special figure or ordinary figure. Occurrence data is included.

  The effect control device 51 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and various ICs for video control, which are well-known in pachinko gaming machines, and controls the progress of a special variable display game in the game control device 21. Based on the display control of the special display variable display game in the variable display device 4 (display unit), the lamp provided on the game board 1 and the like, the lamp on the decoration board 45 having the LED, the light emission of the LED, etc. Perform production control and so on.

  In addition, the effect control device 51 is connected to the game control device 21 as described above, and is connected to the first frame control device 83 via the I / O, and is transmitted from the game control device 21 as described above. The data related to the effect is set as the effect command, the data related to the start memory number is set as the hold command, and the effect command and the hold command are transmitted to the first frame control device 83.

The first frame control device 83 includes a CPU 84a, a RAM 84b, a ROM 84c, a ROM 84d that stores sound data, a sound LSI 84e that generates a sound signal, an amplifier 84f that amplifies the sound signal and outputs it to a speaker, I / O 85,. Etc.
Among them, the CPU 84a includes a control unit and a calculation unit, and performs various calculations and controls. The CPU 84a controls the enclosed ball circulation unit 200, the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (external appeal decoration board 11a), and the virtual game ball display. The controller 154 performs control such as turning on / off the light emission source such as LED and changing the emission color.
The RAM 84b includes a work area for the CPU 84a including storage areas such as various flags, various timers, and various counters.
In the ROM 84c, a program for controlling turning on / off of the LED in the external appeal decoration lamp 11 and the virtual game ball display 154, a change in emission color, etc., and various controls for circulating the game ball are used. Programs for directing with sound, and the like are stored.

  The ROM 84d stores sound data such as music for production and sound effects, and the sound LSI 84e is based on a program for production by sound executed by the CPU 84a in accordance with the production command of the production control device 51. The sound data is read out to generate a sound signal. The sound signal generated by the sound LSI 84e is amplified by the amplifier 84f and output to the speakers 13 and 155.

  The first frame control device 83 is connected to the external appeal decoration lamp 11 (external appeal decoration board 11a) and the virtual game ball display 154 via the I / O 85,. Then, based on the data on the number of balls calculated by the second frame control device 91 as described later, the first frame control device 83 turns on the external appeal decoration lamps 11,. Control changes, etc.

Further, the first frame control device 83 supplies the supply ball detection sensor 246 (launch ball detection switch) and the foul ball sensor 253 (return ball detection) of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 (enclosed path unit) via the I / O 85. Switch), a collection ball sensor 212 (ball entry detection switch), a ball shortage detection sensor 264 (ball quantity detection switch), and a ball replenishment solenoid 263 (ball quantity adjustment solenoid) are connected.
Further, the first frame control device 83 operates the ball replenishing solenoid 263 when a signal indicating that there is a shortage of game balls waiting in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is input from the ball shortage detection sensor 264. And processing to replenish game balls.

Further, a clear member holding frame open detection sensor 142 (glass frame open detection switch) is connected to the first frame control device 83 via the I / O 85, and the clear member holding frame 140 is used using the external appeal decoration lamp 11 or the like. The process which alert | reports that is open | released is performed.
Further, the first frame control device 83 is connected to the game control device 21 and the effect control device 51 via the I / O 85 as described above, and the second frame control device 91 (second control board) and launch control. Connected to device 63a (launch control board).

  Then, the first frame control device 83 detects when the supply ball detection sensor 246 detects that the game ball has been sent to the ball feed position so that the second frame control device 91 can calculate the number of possessed balls. The input detection signal and the detection signal input when the foul ball sensor 253 detects the foul ball (return ball) are relayed to the second frame control device 91 and further input from the game control device 21. The award ball number command (indicating the award ball number) related to the award ball of the game ball is relayed to the second frame control device 91. The first frame control device 83 relays a control signal indicating the start and stop of the special game state from the effect control device 51 to the second frame control device 91. In addition, the first frame control device 83 sends a detection signal inputted when the ball shortage detection sensor 264 detects a game ball to the launch control device 63a so that the launch control device 63a can monitor the illegal ball. Relay.

  The first frame control device 83 and the second frame control device 91 are connected by a control information line and a serial communication line for data transfer. The serial communication line is for transmitting data for information transmission to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 from the first frame control device 83 to the hall server 900 via the second frame control device. Based on the data of the above-mentioned effect command and hold command, the start signal of the special display variable display game, the jackpot signal at the non-probability change, the jackpot signal at the probability change, the incoming signal, the outgoing ball (number of winning balls), etc. Can be transmitted to the hall server 900 as external information, and on the hall server 900 side, the number of executions of the variable display game of each encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100, the number of non-probable big hits (occurrence of special gaming state), The number of big hits (occurrence of special gaming state), the number of balls entered, the number of balls out, the number of difference balls, etc. can be managed. Further, as described later, fraud occurrence information based on the detection of an illegal sphere can be transmitted to the hall server 900.

The second frame control device 91 includes a communication control unit mainly including a CPU 91a (CPU 1) for I / O control (communication control), a ROM 91b, a RAM 91c, an I / O 91d, and a CPU 91e (for controlling the touch panel display unit 151). The touch panel control unit includes a CPU 2), a ROM 91f, a RAM 91g, a VDP 91h (Video Display Processor), a ROM 91i for the VDP 91h, an LCD controller 91j, and the like.
And the communication control part which consists of CPU91a etc. sends the data used as the external information input from the 1st frame control apparatus 83 from I / O91d for serial communication (RS232C) to the inter-machine (ball lending machine) 901 etc. The process for outputting to the hall server 900 is performed. The communication control unit of the second frame control device 91 is connected to the external rendering device 902 via a CAN (control area network) I / O 91d. The external effect device 902 is, for example, a call lamp (number lamp) disposed on a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, and a gaming machine such as various lamps, the number of executions of a special variable display game, the number of jackpots, etc. A display 902a that can display information, a sound output device 902b that generates sound effects, and the like are provided. Note that the external rendering device 902 may include a device provided at each end of an island facility such as a top lamp (representative lamp).
And the communication control part of the 2nd frame control apparatus 91 is almost external information, such as the above-mentioned start of a variable display game, a non-probable big hit, and a probable big hit, to the external presentation apparatus 902 for each game machine connected by CAN. Output similar data.

Further, the communication control unit of the second frame control device 91 performs the above-described calculation of the number of balls and the control of the launch control device 63a based on the number of balls in addition to the control of communication.
That is, the second frame control device 91 receives the detection signals from the supply ball detection sensor 246 and the foul ball sensor 253 as described above, and the supply ball detection sensor 246 determines that the game ball has been sent to the ball feed position. When a detection is made (when a shot ball is detected), the number of held balls is decremented by 1 and the foul ball sensor 253 detects a foul ball (return ball), assuming that the game ball has been launched into the game area 1a. Add 1 to the game ball. Further, the second frame control device 91 receives the number of prize balls indicated by the prize ball number command when the above-mentioned prize ball number command is input to the number of balls to be subtracted every time a shot ball is detected as described above. The process which adds is performed. Further, the second frame control device 91 is based on the data from the touch panel control unit of the second frame control device 91 based on the operation of the touch panel display unit 151 when a ball rental operation is performed in the touch panel display unit 151. A process of adding the number of rented balls to the number of held balls is performed. As a result, the second frame control device 91 can calculate the number of balls entered, the number of balls exited (the number of prize balls), the number of difference balls, and the number of balls held.

  Further, the second frame control device 91 passes a control signal through the first frame control device 83 that permits the firing of the fired ball when the number of held balls is 1 or more and prohibits the firing when the number of held balls is 0. And output to the launch control device 63a. In addition, in the output of the control signal, the game prohibition signal, and the game prohibition release signal from the second frame control device 91 to the launch control device 63a via the first frame control device 83, it is not always necessary to pass through the first frame control device 83. Instead, it may be output directly from the second frame control device 91 to the launch control device 63a.

A touch panel control unit including the CPU 91e and the like of the second frame control device 91 is connected to the touch panel display unit 151, processes an input signal from the touch panel 15a of the touch panel display unit 151, and also an LCD panel 15b of the touch panel display unit 151. Control image display on
That is, one of a plurality of preset screens is displayed on the LCD panel 15b, and a button for the touch panel 15a is displayed on the display screen, and coordinates within the range of the button from the touch panel 15a are displayed. When the position is input, processing set in advance corresponding to the button is performed. Note that the processing in the second frame control device 91 determines processing to be performed based on the coordinate position input from the touch panel 15a, and the processing corresponding to the button is performed in the first frame control device 83. There is also. In addition to the above-described buttons, the LCD panel 15b also displays data such as the number of balls held, the amount information, the number of executions of the variable display game, the number of non-probable variable big hits, the number of probable big hits, and the like.

That is, the touch panel control unit of the second frame control device 91 uses the image data stored in the ROM 91i to create display data for a setting screen on which various buttons are displayed on the VDP, and uses the created display data as an LCD controller. In addition to performing control to be displayed on the LCD panel 15b via 91j, similarly, data based on data transmitted from the communication control unit or the first frame control device 83 is stored in the RAM 94g, and the data stored in the RAM 94g is displayed. To control the data display. In addition, when the position corresponding to one of the displayed buttons is input from the touch panel 15a, the touch panel control unit starts the processing corresponding to the button for which the position is input, and the communication control unit and the first frame. A control signal is output to the control device 83.
The inverter board 15f shown in the block diagram supplies a high frequency alternating current to the cold cathode tube of the backlight of the LCD panel 15b.

The firing control device 63a includes a CPU 63b, a driver circuit 63c of a motor 68 (launching motor) of the launching device 61, and an I / O 63d. The I / O 63d includes a touch sensor 152 (a firing operation unit touch sensor) and a firing slide. A volume 153 (slide volume substrate), a ball feeding electromagnet 244, an illegal ball detection sensor 282 are connected, and a motor 68 is connected to the driver circuit 63c.
Then, the CPU 63b of the launch control device 63a receives the launch permission control signal from the second frame control device 91 based on a program stored in a ROM (not shown), and the launch slide volume 153 is controlled. In accordance with the signal level based on the operation of the operation lever 156, the launch force of the game ball in the launch device 61 is controlled, and when the player's hand is detected by the touch sensor 152, the motor 68 of the launch device 61 is controlled. Then, control is performed to sequentially fire the game balls at predetermined time intervals. In addition, the launch control device 63a controls the supply of the game ball from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 to the launch device 61 by operating the ball feeding electromagnet 244 in accordance with the timing of launch of the game ball by the launch device 61. Further, as will be described later, processing for monitoring the presence of an illegal sphere is performed based on a signal from the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 or the like.

In addition, the launch control device 63a is connected to the second frame control device 91 via the first frame control device 83 as described above, and the second frame control device 91 is used when the number of balls is one or more. The game ball is sent to the launch position and a control signal for permitting the launch of the game ball is transmitted. As a result, in the firing control device 63a as described above, when the number of balls is 1 or more, it is possible to launch the game ball by the player's launch operation. As will be described later, when the signal based on the detection of the illegal ball is input from the illegal ball detection sensor 282, the launch control device 63a performs processing such as disabling the launch of the game ball.
In the launch control board 63 to be the launch control device 63a, the control circuit may be constituted by a dedicated logic device (a versatile programmable logic device may be used) without using the general-purpose CPU 63b. Cost can be reduced by using a logic device instead of the CPU.

As shown in FIG. 3, the launch unit 60 hits a game ball on the launch plate 62 by firing a game ball on the launch plate 62, a mounting rail 64 attached to the mounting plate 64, and a mounting plate 64. And a launching device 61 having a launcher 66 and the like.
The launch device 61 includes a launch motor (stepping motor) 68 (shown in FIG. 10), and a launcher 66 that hits the game ball and launches the game ball by being connected to the launch motor 68 and driven to rotate. The stopper member 67 that regulates the rotation angle of the launcher 66 and the game ball supplied from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 on the launcher rail 62 as will be described later are hit by the launcher 66 on the lower end of the launcher rail 62. And a ball positioning member (not shown) for stopping at a possible predetermined position. The position at which the game ball 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 is launched into the game area 1a. The ball positioning member is configured to hold the game ball at the launch position by locking the upper part of the game ball on the launch rail 62, but the interval between the launch rail 62 and the ball positioning member is 10.6 mm. An illegal small-diameter sphere having a diameter smaller than this is dropped downward without being held at the firing position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a bottom wall portion 134 that closes a lower portion of the game area 1 a between the back surface of the glass plate 141 on the rear side of the clear member holding frame 140 and the front surface of the game board 1 is formed. A launch ball passage port 135 through which a game ball launched from the lower side of the game area 1a passes is provided in the bottom wall portion 134 of the front frame body 130. Note that the game ball that has passed through the launch ball passage port 135 reaches the game area 1 a from a guide path in which the guide rails 2, 2 are arranged on the inside and outside of the game board 1.
Further, the foul ball that has returned from the guideway without reaching the game area 1 a also passes through the launch ball passage port 135. The tip surface of the launch rail 62 is arranged 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. In addition, it reaches a foul ball collection port of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 described later.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the enclosing ball circulation unit 200 encloses a predetermined number of game balls, collects and circulates the game balls launched into the game area 1 a by the launching device 61, and launches the launching device 61 again. To supply. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is disposed on the back surface side of the front frame main body 130 which is the back surface side of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 so as to cover the back surface side of the above-described launching device 61.
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 enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is arranged at a position below the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130 in a state of being attached to the attachment board 131 (in this example, a direction directly below). ing.

  The enclosing ball circulation unit 200 is detachably attachable to the left and right attachment parts 132, 132 provided at predetermined positions below the attachment position of the attachment plate 64 of the attachment plate 131 of the front frame body 130 at the lower end thereof. Left and right connecting members 201 are connected to be rotatable, and are rotatable about a rotation axis set in the left and right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100. The encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 has an upper end at the rear side centered on the connection members 201 and 201 from a vertical state (use state) along the back surface of the encapsulated ball game machine 100 (the back surface of the mounting board 131). It rotates so as to fall down, and 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 board 131 are rotatably inserted. Since the slit is formed and the shaft can be inserted and removed from the slit, the connecting members 201 and 201 can be detached from the mounting portions 132 and 132, and the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is detached from the mounting plate 131 of the front frame body 130. It is possible (detachable).

The main part of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 is formed in a substantially box shape from a front wall member 310 that constitutes the front surface side and a rear wall member 320 that constitutes the back surface side. A collecting member 210 for collecting game balls as safe balls, a foul ball collecting port 251 for collecting foul balls, a flow path (circulation flow path 220, standby flow path 221) for circulating and waiting the collected game balls, A supply device (ball feeding device 240) for supplying game balls to the launching device 61, a ball replenishing device 260 for replenishing game balls when the circulating game balls are insufficient, and the like are provided.
In addition, the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 includes a supply ball detection sensor 246 (illustrated in FIG. 10: launch ball detection SW) for detecting a launch ball as a variety of sensors for detecting a game ball, and a foul ball sensor for detecting a foul ball. 253 (shown in FIG. 10: return ball detection SW), a collection ball sensor 212 (shown in FIG. 10: entry detection SW) that detects a game ball collected from the game area 1a, and a game ball waiting in the flow path A ball shortage detection sensor 264 (illustrated in FIG. 10: a ball amount detection sensor) for detecting shortage is provided.

  The enclosing ball circulation unit 200 includes a collecting member 210 having a tray-like collecting port 211 opened on the upper side for collecting game balls (including out balls and safe balls but excluding foul balls) launched into the game area 1a. It is formed on the top. The front part of the collecting member 210 is extended below the notch of the guide rail 2 located at the lower part of the game area 1a, and various winning holes (special variable winning device 5, general winning port 8, normal variation) The out ball collecting unit 215 collects out balls, which are game balls that have flowed down without winning the winning device 9). The rear part of the collecting member 210 is formed on the back side of the game board 1 and is a safe ball that is a game ball that has won a prize in various winning ports (special variable winning device 5, general winning port 8, normal variable winning device 9). Is extended to the lower side of the exit of a safe ball discharge path (not shown) through which the water flows down, and is a safe ball collection unit 216 that collects the safe balls that have flowed down the safe ball discharge path. 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, an exit of a safe ball discharge path provided on the back side of the game board 1 is disposed in the left and right range of the notch portion of the guide rail 2.

  In addition, the game balls collected in the collection member 210 are extended to the right and left except for the right end portion between the front and rear central portions of the collection member 210, that is, between the out ball collection unit 215 and the safe ball collection unit 216. An introduction path 226 having an introduction inclined portion 213 that guides to a recovery ball sensor 212 (inside the enclosed ball circulation unit 200) in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 is formed. The introduction inclined portion 213 is a member that becomes the bottom portion of the introduction path 226 that guides the game balls collected by the collection member 210 to the collection ball sensor 212. And the bottom part of the out ball | bowl collection | recovery part 215 and the safe ball | bowl collection | recovery part 216 becomes an inclined surface which goes down toward the introduction path | route 226, and guide | induces the collect | recovered out sphere and the safe ball | bowl to the introduction path | route 226. Yes. The game ball that has flowed into the introduction path 226 flows down along the inclination of the introduction path 226, is detected by the recovery ball sensor 212 provided at the downstream end of the introduction path 226, and then flows into the circulation flow path 220. .

  In addition, a sphere holding device 290 for holding a part of the out sphere is provided at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the out sphere collecting unit 215, and a sphere holding device is provided on the left and right sides of the sphere holding device 290. A guide member 298 is formed so as to incline toward 290 and guide the game ball to the ball holding device 290. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball holding device 290 allows the game ball held from the front side of the gaming machine 100 to be acquired with the clear member holding frame 140 opened, so that the game ball is discharged to the outside. In a sealed ball game machine that is not used, service by an attendant is possible.

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

  The recovery ball sensor 212 has a hole 212a disposed at a position where the game ball flows down from the lower end of the introduction inclined portion 213, and is an upstream end of the circulation channel 220. The game ball flowing down from the lower end portion of the introduction inclined portion 213 is detected on the confluence portion 254 which is the downstream end portion of the foul ball inclined portion 255 serving as the bottom portion of the foul ball flow path 252. ing. Further, the sensor mounting portion 330 is configured to block the end side of the introduction path 226, and the hole 212 a of the collection ball sensor 212 serves as an introduction port for game balls from the introduction path 226 to the circulation flow path 220.

  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. The foul ball collection port 251 for collecting the foul ball that has returned to the direction, the foul ball sensor 253 for detecting the collected foul ball, and the foul ball (game ball) collected from the foul ball collection port 251 are circulated. And a foul sphere channel 252 that flows down to the channel 220.

  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. 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 excluding the rear side edge connected to the foul ball collection port 251. When the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 is mounted in a state of being substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 131, the projecting ball passage port 135 is located next to the upper end portion (the end portion in the firing direction) of the firing rail 62. And a foul ball that flows down through the launch ball passage port 135 is received.

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 below the foul sphere collecting port 251. It passes through the foul sphere sensor 253 on the side and reaches the foul sphere inclined portion 255 which is the bottom of the foul sphere flow path 252. Then, the game balls on the foul ball inclined portion 255 flow down along the inclination and merge into the circulation flow path 220 at the merge portion 254.
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 a game ball 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, the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200 stores game balls for replenishment in addition to the game balls normally used for circulation in the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200, and replenishes the balls when the number of game balls circulating during the game decreases. A device 260 and a ball exchange cassette 275 storing a predetermined number of game balls for replacement of game balls (for example, 30 balls including the above-mentioned supply game balls) are attached, and games in the ball exchange cassette 275 are installed. And a ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 for supplying the balls into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. 4 shows the ball exchange cassette 275 in order to show the mounting position of the ball exchange cassette 275, and does not show a state in which the ball exchange cassette 275 is attached.

  The sphere replenishing device 260 is provided on the upper side of the circulation flow path 220 and has a replenishing sphere storage unit 262 that includes a sphere storage plate 261 that is elongated to the left and right and is rotatable to change the inclination angle. A ball replenishing solenoid 263 that switches the refilling ball storage unit 262 between a state for reserving game balls and a state for refilling game balls by changing the inclination angle of the plate 261, and the left side when viewed from the back side of the ball reserving plate 261 ( A ball restraining member which is provided on the opposite side of the foul ball flow path 252 and regulates the fall of the game ball on the ball storage plate 261 and guides the game ball flowing in 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 state of storing the sphere, and slightly so that the rear end of the sphere holding member 265 side, which is one end of the sphere storage plate 261, is down. A plurality of (for example, five) game balls are placed in a row on the ball storage plate 261 in an inclined state. At this time, the game ball placed on the most end side of the game balls on the ball storage plate 261 is held by the ball holding member 265, and the game ball moves along the inclination of the ball storage plate 261. It 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 flow path 252 is inclined downward, the game ball on the ball storage plate 261 is caused to flow down on the merge portion 254. In other words, in a state where the game ball that is a supplement 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.

  Also, at one end of the ball storage plate 261, a locking portion 261a is provided below the ball replenishing solenoid 263 so as to be engaged with a retaining plate 263a connected to the plunger of the ball replenishing solenoid 263. The angle of inclination of the sphere storage plate 261 can be changed by the vertical movement of the plunger. When the plunger is lowered, the sphere storage state is such that one end of the sphere storage plate 261 is inclined downward. In the state where the plunger is raised, the sphere replenishment state is established by inclining so that the other end of the sphere storage plate 261 is at the bottom.

  Furthermore, an engaging member 261 b extending from the locking portion 261 a along the extension line of the ball storage plate 261 to 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 described later of the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and is lifted upward when the ball exchange cassette 275 is set in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. One end portion is inclined so as to be higher than the other end portion, and the sphere storage plate 261 is brought into a sphere replenishment state.

  The ball replenishing solenoid 263 is attached to a ball replenishing solenoid mounting portion 314 formed on the front wall member 310 with the plunger facing upward, and is circulated by a ball shortage detection sensor 264 described later under the control of the first frame control board 81. When it is detected that there is no game ball staying at the position of the ball shortage detection sensor 264 in the flow path 220, the plunger is controlled to be raised. As a result, when the number of game balls is insufficient in the circulation flow path 220, the inclination angle is changed so that the ball storage plate 261 is in the ball replenishment state by the ball replenishment solenoid 263, and the game balls on the ball storage plate 261 are circulated. The flow path 220 is supplied to a confluence portion 254 which is an upstream end portion. Note that the shortage of balls is caused by, for example, clogging of game balls in the game area 1a, and game balls collected in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 when there are more game balls than usual in the game area 1a. This occurs when the number of the game balls decreases, or when the game balls flow out to the outside when the clear member holding frame 140 is opened.

  The ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 includes a cassette insertion portion 271 formed on the rear wall member 320, a cassette lid opening locking member 274 (shown in FIG. 3), a cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310, A cassette latching portion 279 that latches the ball exchange cassette 275 inserted into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, and an operation link member 273 that changes the inclination angle of the above-described ball storage plate 261 when the ball exchange cassette 275 is attached. Have.

  The cassette insertion portion 271 is a rectangular cylindrical space penetrating the front and rear of the rear wall member 320, and is formed at a position facing the cassette receiving portion 272 formed on the front wall member 310. To serve as a guide when the ball exchange cassette 275 is attached. In the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, when the ball exchange cassette 275 is set, one end on the side where the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275 is located (the ball replenishing device 260 side) is lower than the other end. The game balls in the ball exchange cassette 275 flow down toward the ball exit due to the tilt.

  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 275, and the front end portion of the inserted ball exchange cassette 275 is a concave portion. By being inserted into the receiving portion 272, the front end portion of the ball exchange cassette 275 is supported in a positioned state. Further, at one of the left and right ends (the right end as viewed from the rear surface) of the cassette receiving portion 272 on the side of the ball replenishing device 260, the movement of the operation link member 273 that rotates and moves as described later is not hindered. An operating link member opening (not shown) is formed in the upper part.

  The cassette hooking portion 279 is formed on the front wall member 310, extends rearward from the front wall member 310, and is disposed at a lower portion of the peripheral edge portion of the cassette insertion portion 271 of the rear wall member 320. An engaging portion that can engage with the ball exchange cassette 275 is formed. By engaging the cassette hooking portion 279 with the ball exchange cassette 275, the ball exchange cassette 275 is held by the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270.

  The cassette lid opening locking member 274 is formed so as to extend rearward in the vicinity of the cassette insertion portion 271 of the rear wall member 320 and on the part on the side of the ball replenishing device 260. The cassette lid opening locking member 274 engages with a cassette lid 275a that is slidable in the front-rear direction at the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275 when the ball exchange cassette 275 is attached to the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270. The cassette lid 275a is moved rearward relative to the main body of the ball exchange cassette 275 to open the ball outlet. Thereby, by setting the ball exchange cassette 275 in the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270, the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275 is opened, and when the ball exchange cassette 275 is set, the ball exchange cassette 275 is opened from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275. The game ball starts flowing down to the circulation flow path 220 side via 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.
The operation link member 273 has an opening / closing door portion 273a that opens and closes an introduction port between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260, except for a lower end portion thereof. In addition to having a front-rear width and an upper-lower width that are closed so as to be impossible, it has a thickness (left-right width) that can be reliably pressed when pressed against the ball exchange cassette. 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. Moreover, the link piece 273b is arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the lower side of the engaging member 261b of the ball | bowl storage board 261 extended to the above-mentioned ball | bowl exchange cassette attaching part 270 side (it may contact). The actuating link member 273 is pivotally supported by a shaft (not shown) formed on the front wall member 310 at a joint portion between the opening / closing door portion 273a and the link piece 273b.

  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 at a normal time when no external force is applied. When the ball exchange cassette 275 is inserted into the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 in this state, the opening / closing door portion 273a of the operation link member 273 is pressed forward to open the introduction port, and the link piece 273b is inclined. The operating link member 273 rotates and moves so as to move upward and forward.

  Moreover, the link piece 273b is arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the lower side of the engaging member 261b of the ball | bowl storage board 261 as mentioned above, and when the link piece 273b goes up diagonally upwards by inserting the ball | bowl exchange cassette 275, it is. Then, the engaging member 261b is pushed up, and the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the foul ball collecting means 250 from the state where the ball storage plate 261 is inclined downward toward the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and stores the game ball. Is made to flow down to the junction 254 to replenish the game ball. Then, the game ball that has flowed down from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275 toward the ball replenishing device 260 flows down on the ball storage plate 261 and flows into the circulation flow path 220. Since the link piece 273b is disposed below the engagement member 261b of the ball storage plate 261, the ball replenishment solenoid 263 raises the end of the ball storage plate 261 on the engagement member 261b side, The link piece 273b does not move even when the replenishing ball is replenished, and the open / close door portion 273a maintains a state where the space between the ball exchange cassette mounting portion 270 and the ball replenishing device 260 is closed. .

  When the ball exchange cassette 275 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 that has flowed out from the ball outlet of the ball exchange cassette 275 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, The ball storage plate 261 flows down onto the storage plate 261. At this time, the ball storage plate 261 is replenished by the operation link member 273 and is inclined downward toward the foul ball collection means 250 side. Flows down on the ball storage plate 261 toward the foul ball collection means 250, falls from the end of the ball storage plate 261, and flows down to the confluence 254 serving as the upstream end of the circulation channel 220. It will flow into the circulation flow path 220.

  The circulation flow path 220 has the following members (flow path constituting members) extending in a wall shape (plate shape) from the front wall member 310 to the rear side in three upper and lower stages as the bottom. That is, the circulation flow 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 flow path 220 is moved from the foul sphere flowing down the foul sphere flow path 252 and the sphere replenishment device 260 to the circulation flow path 220. A refilling sphere that is a refilled game ball, a confluence 254 where three kinds of game spheres, the recovery sphere flowing down from the introduction path 226 through the recovery sphere sensor 212 as described above, and the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 The downflow slope part 222 that inclines downward from the left side to the right side when viewed from the back side, and the downflow slope part 222 below the junction part 254 (foul sphere channel 252) that slopes down from right to left when viewed from the back side. And a standby inclined portion 223 that is inclined from right to left when viewed from the back side.

  Further, on the downstream side of the standby inclined portion 223, an exaggerated member disposing portion 227 for disposing an exaggerating member 281 of the monitoring means 280 described later is provided on the rear side from the front wall member 310 in the same manner as the above-described inclined portions. It is formed by a wall-like (plate-like) member extending to the surface. Although the details of the monitoring means 280 will be described later, the exaggeration member 281 is configured to allow a game ball to flow down on the upper portion, like each inclined portion, and is continuous with the downstream end portion of the standby inclined portion 223. In addition, by being arranged along the extending direction of the standby inclined portion 223, a part of the flow path is configured.

  It should be noted that in the circulation flow path 220, a portion below the center portion of the downflow inclined portion 222, the standby inclined portion 223, and the exaggerated member 281 are being played during the game of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 Fired one after the other, in a state where several or more game balls are flowing down in the game area 1a) and in a non-game state (a state where no game balls are being fired) The game balls accumulated at each launch are sequentially moved downward by a distance corresponding to the diameter of the game balls, and the downstream side, which is the part where the game balls are always waiting during the game of the circulation channel 220, The portion becomes the standby flow path 221. Note that the circulation flow path 220 including the standby flow path 221 is formed over a plurality of upper and lower stages, and in each stage, the circulation flow path 220 extends along the left-right direction of the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 100 and moves the game balls to the left and right. The game ball is led out to the lower stage while flowing down along the direction.

  In addition, the operation of the ball replenishing device 260 is performed on the downstream side portion of the falling slope portion 222 that is the upstream end portion 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 a ball shortage detection sensor 264 used for controlling the ball is provided, and the ball shortage detection sensor 264 is attached thereto. The ball shortage detection sensor 264 is a known proximity sensor switch, and outputs a signal indicating that a game ball is present in the state where a metal game ball is in proximity. That is, if a normal game ball stays in the standby flow path 221, the ball shortage detection sensor 264 exists in a portion where the game ball 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 is output.

  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 shorter than the sphere inclination part 255 and the flow-down inclination part 222, for example, is about half of these lengths. A part of the upstream side of the exaggeration member 281 is vertically overlapped with the foul sphere inclined part 255 and the downflow inclined part 222, and the other part of the exaggeration member 281 is the foul sphere inclined part 255 and the downflow inclined part 222. There is no circulation channel 220 on the downstream portion of the exaggeration member 281 without overlapping vertically. A ball replenishing solenoid 263 of the ball replenishing device 260 is disposed on the downstream portion of the exaggeration member 281. With such an arrangement of the circulation channel 220, the space efficiency of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 is enhanced, and the enclosure sphere circulation unit 200 is reduced in size.

  The length of the circulation flow path 220 is, for example, a length that can store all of the game balls that circulate in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 without including the replenishment balls stored in the ball replenishment device 260. Thus, in a state in which the game ball is stopped from being launched, the game ball to be circulated in the circulation channel 220 is just in a state of being contained. In addition, when the game ball is held by the ball holding device 290, the number of game balls accommodated in the circulation flow path 220 is reduced accordingly. In addition, the number of game balls that are used in circulation is the number (for example, 25) in which when the game balls are fired sequentially, the game balls cannot be collected in time and the game cannot be launched. ing. Therefore, the length of the circulation channel 220 is set to a necessary and sufficient length. In addition, when a game ball is insufficient due to a ball jam or the like in the game area 1a, the game ball is replenished by the ball replenishment device 260.

  The introduction path 226, the circulation flow path 220, the standby flow path 221, and the foul ball flow path 252 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 balls, the game balls can be stored in a line, and the game balls are allowed to flow down without overlapping the front and rear. . In addition, the introduction slope portion 213 of the introduction path 226 is open as a game ball introduction port, but the upstream end where the foul ball is introduced is above the foul ball inclination portion 255 of the foul ball passage 252. The sensor mounting part 330 is arranged on the upper part of the slope excluding the part with a gap slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball, and replenishment is performed at the confluence part 254 which is the lower part of the fall of the foul ball channel 252. Sphere storage in which the inclination direction (inclination angle) of the ball replenishing device 260 can be changed by placing a gap slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball on a portion below the portion where the game ball and the collection ball for merging meet. A plate 261 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 balls can flow is maintained.

  In addition, on the falling slope portion 222 of the circulation flow path 220, the falling ceiling portion 224 has an upper end portion integrally joined to the joining portion 254 of the foul sphere slope portion 255 and a lower end portion joined integrally to the standby slope 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 between the flow-down inclined portion 222. It is to be noted that the lower part of the descending ceiling part 224 (the end part on the lower side of the slope) becomes a curved portion corresponding to the flow path of the game ball at the part where the game ball flows almost directly down from the downward slope part 222 to the standby slope part 223. The portion is in a state of being joined integrally with the standby inclined portion 223 at that portion.

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 and the exaggeration member 281 of the circulation flow path 220. The standby ceiling part 225 is formed to have the same inclination as the standby inclination part 223 with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball between the standby ceiling part 225.
From the above, in the foul ball flow path 252 and the circulation flow path 220, a space slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball is left and right or up and down with respect to the flow direction of the game ball in many parts. Thus, the game balls do not pass on the left and right or top and bottom, and the game balls flow down one by one or in a line.

  The ball feeding device 240 is provided on the downstream side of the standby flow path 221, and the downward movement of the game ball is inclined by the load of the game balls waiting in line on the standby flow path 221 due to the inclination of the standby flow path 221. The ball receiving portion 242 for receiving only one gaming ball at the lowest inclination of the gaming balls arranged as described above, and the restriction wall 241 for receiving the gaming ball held by the ball receiving portion 242. A ball feeding member 243 that raises to a height to get over, a ball feeding electromagnet 244 that drives the ball feeding member 243 up and down, and a ball that is formed on the opposite side of the ball receiving portion 242 of the regulation wall 241 and fires a game ball that has overcome the regulation wall 241 A supply channel 245 for leading to the device 61 (on the launch rail 62), a supply ball detection sensor 246 for detecting a game ball passing through the supply channel 245, and a supply channel 245 (encapsulated ball circulation unit 2) The outlet of the firing device 61 of game balls of 0) and a ball feed port 247.

  The restriction wall 241 moves to the supply flow path 245 that stops the game balls on the lowest inclination side of the game balls arranged on the inclined standby flow path 221 and causes only the game balls that have passed the restriction wall 241 to flow down to the launching device 61. It is possible. The restriction wall 241 has a height about the radius of the game ball (the height from the upper surface of a ball holding portion 243a described later of the ball feeding member 243 positioned at the bottom), and the upper end portion is on the standby flow path 221 side. Are formed in an L-shaped plate shape bent in the shape of the ball, and the game ball is placed in the ball receiving portion 242 (the ball holding portion 243a of the ball feeding member 243) by the tip portion protruding toward the standby flow path 221 coming into contact with the game ball. (Upper). 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 is disposed on the holding portion bottom wall 248 of the ball receiving portion 242 and includes a ball holding portion 243a for holding a game ball that has flowed into the ball receiving portion 242, and the left and right and rear sides are open. The ball holding portion forming portion 233 is formed in a letter shape (channel shape) and allows a game ball to pass from right to left when viewed from the rear of the gaming machine 100. The sphere holding portion 243a is a portion that becomes the bottom of the U-shaped sphere holding portion forming portion 233. Further, the ball feeding member 243 has an arm portion 234 that extends in the left direction along the left-right direction (the side opposite to the side on which the standby flow path 221 is formed) at the upper end portion of the ball holding portion forming portion 233. One end portion of the arm portion 234 that is not connected to the ball holding portion forming portion 233 is rotatably engaged with an engaging portion 244 a extending to the lower portion of the ball feeding electromagnet 244. Further, an adsorption piece 235 made of a material (for example, iron) capable of adsorbing the magnet is provided on the upper surface of the arm portion 234 and on the portion facing the ball feeding electromagnet 244. Further, a restricting piece 237 for restricting the downward movement of the arm portion 234 is formed in the vicinity of a portion where the arm portion 234 is engaged with a part of the ball feeding electromagnet 244.

  The arm portion 234 repeats the suction and release of the attracting piece 235 by the ball feeding electromagnet 244, so that the attracting piece 235 is centered on the portion engaged with the engaging portion 244 a of the ball feeding electromagnet 244. The arm portion 234 rotates in the vertical direction within a range between the position where the arm portion 234 is in contact with the upper surface of the regulating piece 237. Further, as the arm portion 234 rotates, the sphere holding portion forming portion 233 (the sphere holding portion 243a) at one end of the arm portion 234 moves up and down. When the arm portion 234 is at the upper limit position in the rotation range, that is, at the position where the attracting piece 235 is attracted to the ball feeding electromagnet 244, the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a is the standby flow at the upper end of the regulating wall 241. The position is such that it engages with the portion protruding to the path 221 side. In addition, when the arm portion 234 is at the lower limit in the rotation range, that is, at a position where the arm portion 234 contacts the upper surface of the regulating piece 237, the upper surface on which the game ball of the ball holding portion 243a is placed circulates. A position where the game ball can be received continuously at the downstream end of the flow path 220 is set. From the above, the ball feeding member 243 has a position where the upper surface on which the game ball of the ball holding portion 243a of the ball holding portion forming portion 233 is placed can receive the game ball continuously to the downstream end of the circulation flow path 220. The upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a can be raised and lowered between the upper end of the regulating wall 241 and the position where the upper surface protrudes toward the standby flow path 221. When the ball feeding device 240 is not in operation, the arm portion 234 of the ball feeding member 243 is in contact with the upper surface of the regulating piece 237 that is the lower limit in the rotation range. The game ball is stopped in a state where it is received in the ball holding portion 243a.

  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 that has flowed onto the holding portion 243a comes into contact with the regulating wall 241 on the side of the regulating wall 241 due to its inclination on the ball holding portion 243a. Then, when the ball feeding member 243 is lifted by the ball feeding electromagnet 244 and the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a reaches a position where the restriction wall 241 engages with the portion protruding to the standby flow path 221 side, the ball holding member is held. The game ball on the portion 243a flows down to the supply channel 245 side over the regulation wall 241 due to the inclination of the ball holding portion 243a. Note that one side end (the end facing the standby flow path 221) of the sphere holding portion 243a is next sent to the ball feed member 243 on the standby flow path 221 (on an exaggeration member 281 described later). In order to prevent the game ball from entering the lower part of the ball feeding member 243, the game ball does not rise higher than the diameter of the game ball waiting on the most downstream side of the standby flow path 221. When the ball holding portion 243a is raised, the next game ball to be sent to the ball feeding member 243 comes into contact with one end of the ball holding portion 243a.

  Here, since the game ball on the ball holding portion 243a is in contact with a portion of the regulation wall 241 that protrudes toward the standby flow path 221 side, a part of the game ball is on one side end (standby flow path) of the ball holding portion 243a. It is in a state of projecting to the standby flow path 221 side from the end portion facing 221). Therefore, when the ball holding portion 243a rises and the next game ball sent to the ball feeding member 243 comes into contact with one side end of the ball holding portion 243a, the game ball on the ball holding portion 243a is moved upward. So that the restriction wall 241 can be crossed more easily.

  The ball feeding electromagnet 244 includes an electromagnet 236 capable of attracting the attracting piece 235 provided on the upper surface of the arm portion 234, and extends downwardly to engage one end of the arm portion 234 so as to be rotatable. It has a joint 244a. The ball feeding electromagnet 244 is controlled by the launch control board 63 in synchronization with the launching device 61. Immediately after the launching device 61 launches a game ball, the attracting piece 235 is attracted and released to thereby disengage the ball feeding member 243. The game ball is sent to the launching device 61 by moving up and down. Since the ball feed member 243 moves up and down so as to rotate about the engaging portion 244a, the attracting surface that attracts the attracting piece 235 of the ball feeding electromagnet 244 has a radius of a circle centered on the engaging portion 244a. It is arranged diagonally so as to follow.

  The supply flow path 245 is formed on the side opposite to the side where the ball holding portion forming portion 233 is disposed across the regulation wall 241, and guides forward after the game ball has flowed down almost along the regulation wall 241. The game ball is led out from the front ball supply port 247 to the launching device 61 side on the front side of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. The supply flow path 245 is provided with a supply ball detection sensor 246 that detects a game ball flowing down the supply flow path 245.

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

  The ball feeding device 240 is configured to supply the game balls one by one to the launching device 61 by slightly raising the game balls so as to get over the regulation wall 241. The game balls flowed down along the inclination. Compared to a structure in which the balls are discharged one by one downward in the state, many parts of the ball feeding device 240 are not arranged below the standby flow path 221 and the ball feeding device 240 circulates. By being below the standby flow path 221 that is the lower part of the flow 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 by a length of about the diameter in order to get over the regulation wall 241, and does not lift the game ball over a long distance. The upper and lower widths of the circulation unit 220 and the foul bulb passage 252 of the circulation unit 200 can be sufficiently accommodated within the minimum and upper widths, and the vertical width of the sealed bulb circulation unit 200 can be reliably shortened. it can. Further, the ball feeding device 240 has a simple structure in which the ball feeding electromagnet 244 simply adsorbs the ball feeding member 243, and the possibility of occurrence of trouble is extremely low.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the ball feeding device 240 adjacent to the downstream end of the standby flow path 221 that is the downstream side portion of the circulation flow path 220, a ball that draws out a game ball from the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200. A punching device 230 is provided. The ball removal device 230 includes a ball removal opening 231 formed in the rear wall member 320 and a plate-like lid member 232 that opens and closes the ball removal opening 231. The ball opening 231 is provided at a position facing the ball holding portion forming portion 233 of the ball feeding member 243 in the rear wall member 320, and the size thereof is such that one game ball can pass through. is there. A plate-shaped lid member 232 for opening and closing the ball opening 231 is provided on the outer surface of the ball opening 231 provided in the rear wall member 320 so as to be slidable to the left and right.

  Moreover, although the upper surface of the above-mentioned ball | bowl holding | maintenance part 243a inclines so that it may go down from right to left toward the back surface side, it is also the inclination which goes down back. That is, the upper surface of the sphere holding portion 243a is inclined so as to descend from the right front side to the left rear side when viewed from the back side of the encapsulated sphere circulation unit 200. Therefore, when the lid member 232 is opened, the game ball on the ball holding portion 243a naturally flows out from the ball opening portion 231 of the rear wall member 320 along the inclination. In addition, the game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221 also flow out to the outside so that the game balls in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 can be extracted. Such a ball removing device 230 is for taking out a game ball enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 by an external operation of an attendant or the like. The maintenance of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, replacement of the game ball, etc. Therefore, it is used to take out a game ball from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 as described above, the game balls are launched into the game area 1a as described below, and the launched game balls are collected and used in a circulating manner.
The game ball supplied to the launch device 61 of the launch unit 60 is held at the launch position on the launch rail 62 by a ball positioning member (not shown), and is hit by the launcher 66, so that The game is fired into the game area 1a from the lower side of the game area 1a through the two guide rails 2 inside and outside. Then, the game balls launched in the game area 1a flow down in the game area 1a, and some of the fired game balls are a prize winning port such as a normal variable prize winning device 9, a special variable prize winning device 5, a general prize winning mouth or the like. The game ball 1 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 a safe ball discharge path (not shown) on the back side of the game board 1.

On the other hand, the game ball reaching the lower end of the game area 1a without winning even if it flows down in the game area 1a is not provided with the guide rail 2 at the lower end on the front side of the game board 1 as an out ball. It flows down from the center part to the lower side of the game board 1. 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 are respectively collected by the collecting member 210 of the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 and flow into the enclosed ball circulation unit 200. On the other hand, the game ball as a foul sphere returned to the game area 1a without flowing down the game area 1a despite being launched by the launching device 61 flows into the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200 from a foul sphere collection port (not shown). Join the game ball as a collection ball.

The game ball flows down and waits along the path formed in the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 and is supplied from the ball supply port 247 to the launch position by the ball feed device 240 that operates in conjunction with the launch operation of the launch device 61. . The ball supply port 247 faces the launch position of the launch unit 60 on the front side of the encapsulated ball circulation unit 200, and the game ball exiting from the ball supply port 247 is set to the launch position as it is. That is, since the game ball is set directly at the launch position from the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 on the back side of the launch unit 60, the circulation path is simplified and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.
The game ball set in the launching device 61 is hit by the launcher 66 and fired into the game area 1a, and is again used by following the above-mentioned path.

  That is, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 has the enclosed ball circulation unit 200 so that a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed therein, and the game balls are launched from the launch position toward the game area 1a and fired. By collecting the game balls again and guiding them to the launch position, the game balls are circulated and used, and the game balls can be launched based on the possessed ball information indicating the number of possessed balls possessed by the player.

  From the above, the game ball circulation mechanism (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200) that collects the game balls that have been launched by the launching device 61 and provided to the game and supplies the collected game balls to the launching device 61 again is provided. Will have.

Next, the configuration of the monitoring unit 280 and the monitoring of the presence of an illegal sphere (small-diameter sphere) having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball by the monitoring unit 280 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring means 280 is provided in the downstream portion of the standby flow path 221, and a plurality (in this case, from the downstream side) waits in line on the ball holding portion 243 a and the standby flow path 221. In the case where an illegal ball is present in (12) game balls, the presence of the illegal ball is monitored by detecting that the length of the row is shortened. The regular game ball has a diameter of 11 mm. Among the illegal balls having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball, the illegal ball having a diameter of 10.6 mm or less is a ball positioning member at the launch position as described above. (Not shown) and the firing rail 62 fall downward. Therefore, the monitoring means 280 detects the presence of an illegal sphere having a diameter greater than 10.6 mm and less than 11.0 mm.

  The monitoring means 280 is provided on the downstream side of the standby inclined portion 223, and an exaggeration member 281 that exaggerates a change in the position of the game ball due to a difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball, and a predetermined position And a launch control device 63a that performs processing for monitoring the presence of the illegal sphere based on information from the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 and the like.

  The exaggeration member 281 is arranged over a range in which a plurality of game balls wait from the downstream end adjacent to the ball feeder 240 of the standby flow path 221 (here, a range of the length of 10 regular game balls). Has been. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the exaggeration member 281 has a length (left-right width) for 10 regular game balls and a central portion of a rectangular parallelepiped having substantially the same front-rear width as the width of the standby flow path 221. It is a member having a U-shaped cross section having a groove 281a formed in the left and right direction (flowing direction of the game ball). Furthermore, the upper surfaces located on both sides of the groove 281a formed in the center are inclined surfaces 281b and 281b that descend toward the groove 281a, and the upper portion of the exaggerated member 281 has a substantially V-shaped cross section. Yes. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the groove 281a itself may be V-shaped.

  With the exaggeration member 281 having such a configuration, the game balls flowing down on the exaggeration member 281 are in contact with the inclined surfaces 281b and 281b and aligned in a row above the groove 281a as shown in FIG. Therefore, the game balls are not shifted left and right (staggered) with respect to the flow-down direction, and the length of the row of game balls is not shortened. That is, by providing the exaggeration member 281, it is possible to prevent the length of the row from being shortened due to the way the game balls are arranged. As a result, especially in the case of all regular game balls, the length of the row of game balls is always the longest, and the presence of illegal balls is based on the fact that the row of game balls is shorter than this state. The erroneous detection in the monitoring means 280 to detect can be prevented.

In addition, when an illegal ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball flows on the exaggeration member 281, as shown in FIG. 7, an illegal ball having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball (displayed by a dotted line) (displayed by a solid line). ) Is held at a position sinking from a regular game ball by the inclined surfaces 281b and 281b formed in a substantially V shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the illegal ball (the eighth, ninth, and eleventh game balls from the downstream side in FIG. 8) is held at a position shifted vertically from the regular game ball. By holding the illegal spheres in such a state, the effect of shortening the length of the row of game balls due to the presence of the illegal spheres is exaggerated and becomes more prominent than when they are arranged on a plane. It will be. That is, the exaggeration member 281 provides an exaggeration means for exaggerating the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball, and thereby based on the length of the row of game balls. The detection accuracy of the monitoring means 280 for detecting the illegal sphere is increased.

  From the above, the monitoring means 280 includes the exaggeration means (the exaggeration member 281) that exaggerates the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball. Is formed by a groove 281a having inclined surfaces 281b and 281b formed at the bottom of the standby flow channel 221 and inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow channel.

  On the downstream side of the standby inclined portion 223, an enlarging member disposition portion 227 for accommodating the exaggeration member 281 as described above to be disposed in the standby flow path 221 is formed. The exaggerated member disposing portion 227 includes a front wall member 310, a wall-like (plate-like) member extending rearward from the front wall member 310, and a rear wall member 320 not shown in FIG. The upper part is a box-shaped recess having an opening. The left-right width and the front-rear width of the exaggeration member disposition portion 227 are the same as the length (left-right width) and the front-rear width of the exaggeration member 281, and the upper-lower width is formed at the top from the bottom surface of the exaggeration member 281. The inclined surfaces 281b and 281b have substantially the same width as the lower end. Further, the exaggeration member disposition portion 227 has the same inclination angle as that of the standby inclination portion 223, and the exaggeration member 281 arranged here is arranged at the same inclination angle as that of the standby inclination portion 223. ing.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, at the upstream end portion of the exaggeration member 281, the upper surface of the standby inclined portion 223 in contact with the exaggeration member 281 and the inclined surface formed on the upper portion of the exaggeration member 281. The lower end portions of 281b and 281b are in the same vertical position, and the game ball flows smoothly from the standby inclined portion 223 to the exaggeration member 281. Also at the downstream end of the exaggeration member 281, the inclined surface 281 b formed on the upper end of the wall-like member of the exaggeration member disposition portion 227 that contacts the exaggeration member 281 and the upper portion of the exaggeration member 281, The lower end portion of 281b is at the same vertical position, so that the game ball flows out of the exaggeration member 281 smoothly. Further, the upper end of the wall-like member of the exaggerated member disposing portion 227 that contacts the downstream end portion of the exaggerating member 281 and the upper surface of the ball holding portion 243a in the state where the ball feeding member 243 is at the lowest side are the same surface. It is located above, and the game ball flows down smoothly in the standby channel 221 without stagnation.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, an illegal ball detection sensor 282 as a game ball detection unit is provided on the side wall of the standby flow path 221 on the upstream side of the exaggeration member 281. The illegal sphere detection sensor 282 is a well-known photosensor, and has a light emitting part 282a on the front wall member 310 side and a light receiving part (not shown) on the rear wall member 320 side. The presence or absence of a game ball at the position can be detected.

  A game ball to be detected by the illegal ball detection sensor 282 is a game ball (here, from the downstream side) on the standby inclined portion 223 adjacent to the upstream side of the game ball located at the upstream end of the exaggeration member 281. It is the 12th game ball counted). As shown in FIG. 4, the illegal ball detection sensor 282 is arranged at a game ball that is detected by the illegal ball detection sensor 282 when there is no illegal ball, that is, when the row of game balls is the longest. , When an illegal ball (the eighth, ninth, and eleventh game balls from the downstream side in FIG. 8) exists, that is, when the row of game balls is as described above, as shown in FIG. The position is such that the illegal ball detection sensor 282 does not detect a game ball as a detection target when it is shorter. As shown in FIG. 8, the light emitting unit 282a is set in a very narrow range, so that a change in the position of the detection target game ball due to the presence of an illegal ball can be reliably detected.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the detailed arrangement position of the light emitting unit 282a of the illegal ball detection sensor 282 is determined when both the game ball to be detected and the game ball adjacent to the upstream side are regular game balls. Is a position where the distance (the distance A in FIG. 9) is 4.8 mm or more. Here, if all of the game balls are regular (11.0 mm in diameter), the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects from the downstream end portion (left end portion) of the first game ball in the ball holding portion 243a. The length to the upstream end (right end) of the last game ball (the twelfth game ball) is 132 mm. Further, when all the game balls are illegal balls having the minimum diameter (10.6 mm) that needs to be monitored by the monitoring means 280, it becomes 127.2 mm. In this case, the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects the illegal ball. The upstream end (right end) of the game ball to be moved will move 4.8 mm downstream from the above case.

  Therefore, when the light emitting unit 282a of the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 is provided at a position where the distance A shown in FIG. 9 is 4.8 mm or more, the illegal sphere exists and the length of the row of game balls is shortened. However, since the game ball adjacent to the upstream side of the game ball to be detected is not detected and the illegal ball detection sensor 282 is always turned off, erroneous detection can be prevented. In addition, since the effect of shortening the length of the row of game balls due to the presence of the illegal sphere by the exaggeration member 281 is exaggerated, it is necessary to set the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 at a position in consideration of this effect. .

  From the above, the game ball detection means is constituted by a sensor (illegal ball detection sensor 282) that detects an upstream edge of a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221.

  According to the monitoring means 280 having the above-described configuration, the length of the row is determined by the presence of an illegal ball in the row of game balls waiting in line on the ball holding portion 243a and the standby flow path 221. Can be reliably detected based on whether or not the game ball is detected by the illegal ball detection sensor 282, and the presence of the illegal ball can be easily detected.

Next, a fraud monitoring process for monitoring a fraud ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball, which is performed by the launch control device 63a that forms part of the monitoring means 280 as described above, will be described.
First, it is determined whether or not the launching device 61 is in operation (step S1). Whether or not the launching device 61 is in operation is determined based on, for example, whether or not there is an input from the touch sensor 152, whether or not the launching device 61 is operating, and whether or not the ball feeding device 240 is operating.
In the determination of whether or not the launching device 61 is in operation (step S1), if it is in operation, the fraud monitoring process is terminated. This is because monitoring of the presence of the illegal ball by the monitoring means 280 is performed based on the length of the row of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221, so it is necessary to perform it while the game balls are not moving in the standby flow path 221. Because there is.
In the determination of whether or not the launching device 61 is in operation (step S1), if it is not in operation, the determination of whether or not the ball quantity detection sensor (ball shortage detection sensor 264) has detected a game ball (step S2). )I do.

  From the above, the monitoring means 280 activates monitoring of the illegal ball when the supply device (ball feeding device 240) for supplying the game ball of the standby flow path 221 to the launching device 61 is stopped.

In the determination of whether or not the ball amount detection sensor detects a game ball (step S2), the ball shortage detection sensor 264 as the ball amount detection sensor is relayed to the first frame control device 83 to be launched control device 63a. Judgment is made based on the detection information of the game ball input to.
In the determination of whether or not the ball quantity detection sensor detects a game ball (step S2), if no game ball is detected, the fraud monitoring process is terminated. In this way, when the ball amount detection sensor (ball shortage detection sensor 264) has not detected a game ball, a predetermined number of game balls are waiting in the standby flow path 221 due to a ball stop in the game area 1a. In this case, since it is not possible to determine the presence of an illegal ball based on the length of the queue of game balls waiting by the monitoring means 280, the fraud monitoring process is terminated here.
In the determination of whether or not the ball amount detection sensor detects a game ball (step S2), if the game ball is detected, it is determined whether or not the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects a game ball ( Step S3) is performed.

In determining whether or not the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects a game ball (step S3), the illegal ball detection sensor 282 as a game ball detection means provided in the standby flow path 221 detects the game ball. Is determined.
In the determination of whether or not the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects a game ball (step S3), if the game ball is detected, the fraud monitoring process is terminated. In this case, since there is no illegal sphere having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball, the game ball to be detected is located at the position of the light emitting unit 282a of the illegal ball detection sensor 282.
In the determination of whether or not the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects a game ball (step S3), if no game ball is detected, an illegal process (step S4) is performed, and the illegal monitoring process ends. In this case, since there is an illegal sphere having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball, the game sphere to be detected is positioned downstream from the position of the light emitting unit 282a of the illegal sphere detection sensor 282, and the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 This is the case where it was not detected.

In the fraud processing (step S4), for example, the launch control device 63a performs a process of disabling the launch of the game ball. In addition, the launch control device 63a performs processing for transmitting fraud occurrence information including information indicating that a fraudulent sphere exists to the first frame control device 83. Based on this fraud occurrence information, the first frame control device 83 performs a process of notifying the occurrence of fraud through the external appeal decoration lamp 11, the speakers 155, 13 and the like. Further, the first frame control device 83 relays the fraud occurrence information to the second frame control device 91, and the second frame control device 91 performs a notification of fraud occurrence by the touch panel display unit 151, a management device outside the gaming machine 100 A process of transmitting fraud occurrence information to (hall server 900) is performed.
By the monitoring means 280 and the fraud monitoring process as described above, a fraud ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball can be detected before being launched into the game area 1a, and fraud can be prevented in advance.

  From the above, the game ball is fired from the launching device 61 toward the game area 1a in which the winning opening (special variable winning device 5, general winning port 8, normal varying winning device 9) is set to play a game. In the gaming machine 100, the monitoring means 280 (the exaggeration member) for monitoring the presence or absence of the illegal ball having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball in the standby flow path 221 in which the launching device 61 arranges and waits for the game balls before supply. 281, an illegal ball detection sensor 282, and a launch control device 63 a), and the monitoring means 280 detects a change in the position from the launch device 61 side of a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221. The detection means (illegal sphere detection sensor 282) is included, and based on the detection signal from the game sphere detection means, the presence or absence of illegal spheres within the plurality is monitored.

  In the above-described embodiment, the illegal ball detection sensor 282 as the game ball detection means is a photo sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a game ball at a predetermined position. It ’s fine. For example, a metal member (plate member) is provided at the bottom of the standby flow path 221 and a game ball at a predetermined position of the standby flow path 221 is detected by detecting electrical continuity between the metal member and the game ball. It may be.

In addition, although the illegal ball detection sensor 282 as the game ball detection means is provided in the standby flow path 221 upstream of the exaggeration member 281, the game ball is detected so as to detect the game ball on the exaggeration member 281. You may make it provide a detection means. In this case, it is desirable that the position of the game ball detection means is located on the upper side and upstream edge of the game ball, and by detecting this position, the game ball being detected is illegal. If it is a ball, the position of the game ball moves to the downstream side and also moves to the lower side, so that it is possible to detect the illegal ball more accurately.
Further, although the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects the upper edge of the game ball and the upstream edge, it may detect the lower edge and the upstream edge.

  In addition, the exaggeration member 281 is formed as a member different from the flow path component of the enclosed sphere circulation unit 200, but may be formed integrally with the flow path component. However, in this case, it is desirable to use separate members for the rear side and the front side of the groove 281a extending along the flow-down direction of the game ball because of molding.

  Further, the monitoring of the illegal ball by the monitoring unit 280 is performed when the launching device 61 is stopped, but it may be performed while the launching device 61 is in operation. In this case, the monitoring process is executed while the movable part (sphere holding part 243a) of the ball feeding device 240 is positioned below.

  Further, although the game ball to be monitored is the twelfth game ball from the downstream side, any game ball may be used.

Further, in the fraud processing, fraud occurrence information may be transmitted to the hall server 900 (management server) to inform the hall server 900 of the occurrence of fraud, or the fraudulent file (occurrence time, machine number, player's individual) (Filing information etc.) may be created.
Furthermore, fraud occurrence information may be transmitted directly from the gaming machine 100 or via the hall server 900 to the surveillance camera system to monitor the fraud occurrence state.

Further, although the fraud monitoring process (shown in FIG. 11) for monitoring the illegal ball is performed by the launch control device 63a, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be performed by the first frame control device 83, for example. .
In this case, in the first frame control device 83, in order to determine whether or not the firing device 61 is in operation (step S1), whether or not there is an input from the touch sensor 152 from the firing control device 63a, Information such as whether or not the launching device 61 is operating and whether or not the ball feeding device 240 is operating is output to the first frame control device 83.
In addition, in the first frame control device 83, in order to determine whether or not the illegal ball detection sensor 282 detects a game ball (step S3), an input from the illegal ball detection sensor 282 is received from the launch control device 63a. Information regarding the presence or absence of the image is output to the first frame control device 83.

Then, in the fraud processing (step S4) performed when the presence of the illegal ball is detected, the first frame control device 83 transmits a game ball launch stop command signal to the launch control device 63a, Based on this, the launch control device 63a performs a process of making the launch of the game ball impossible.
Further, in the same manner as described above, the first frame control device 83 performs a process of notifying the occurrence of fraud through the external appeal decoration lamp 11, the speakers 155, 13 and the like. Also, the fraud occurrence information is transmitted to the second frame control device 91, and the second frame control device 91 notifies the fraud occurrence by the touch panel display unit 151, and the fraudulent information is sent to the management device (hall server 900) outside the gaming machine 100. A process of transmitting occurrence information is performed.

Next, a modification of the monitoring unit 280 will be described with reference to FIG.
The monitoring means 280 is provided with a step 283 having a lowered downstream side on the standby inclined portion 223 located on the upstream side of the exaggeration member 281, and the above-described monitoring means is provided with the irregular sphere detection sensor 282. Different from 280. When all the steps 283 are regular game balls, the upstream end (right end) of the game ball on the standby inclined portion 223 adjacent to the game ball located at the upstream end of the exaggeration member 281 is provided. However, it is formed so as to be just in contact with the substantially vertical step surface 284 of the step 283. Then, an illegal ball detection sensor 282 is provided at a position where the lower end (upstream side) of the game ball can be detected in a state where the game ball is just in contact with the stepped surface 284. Although not shown in FIG. 12, in correspondence with the formation of the step 283 in the standby inclined portion 223, a step is also formed in the standby ceiling portion 225, and there is a step that allows game balls to flow in a line. A standby channel 221 is formed.

  As described above, by providing the step 283, the number of game balls waiting on the downstream side of the step surface 284 can be restricted, and there is an illegal ball and the length of the row of game balls is shortened. In this case, it is possible to prevent the next waiting game ball from entering between the game ball that is the detection target and the step surface 284. That is, when there is an illegal sphere, the illegal sphere detection sensor 282 does not detect the game sphere, and the presence of the illegal sphere can be reliably detected.

In FIG. 12, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th game balls counted from the game balls to be detected located on the standby inclined portion 223 on the downstream side of the step surface 284 are illegal balls. Only the game sphere to be detected moves downstream and is not detected by the illegal sphere detection sensor 282.
In addition, the length of the standby flow path 221 downstream of the step 283 (including the ball holding portion 243a) has a minimum diameter (10.6 mm) that all the game balls need to be monitored by the monitoring unit 280. Even if it is an illegal ball, the length is set so that the next game ball to be waited for will not enter the gap between the game ball to be detected and the step surface 284 and be detected by the illegal ball detection sensor 282. Has been. For example, if the length of the standby flow path 221 on the downstream side of the step 283 (including the ball holding portion 243a) is set so that exactly 12 regular game balls can be arranged, as described above, all the games Even if the ball is a fraudulent ball, the game ball to be detected only moves 4.8 mm downstream, so it is impossible for the next waiting game ball to enter, and the existence of a fraudulent ball is ensured. Can be detected.

  From the above, a step 283 is provided in the standby flow path 221 upstream from the portion where the game ball detection means (illegal ball detection sensor 282) is located, and the number of game balls waiting on the downstream side of the step surface 284 is determined. It will be regulated.

  In the gaming machine 100 as described above, a game ball is fired from the launching device 61 toward the game area 1a in which the winning opening (special variable winning device 5, general winning port 8, normal varying winning device 9) is set. Monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of a fraudulent ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball in the standby flow path 221 that waits by aligning the game balls before supply to the launching device 61 and waiting. 280 (the exaggeration member 281, the illegal ball detection sensor 282, the launch control device 63 a) is provided, and the monitoring unit 280 detects a change in the position of the game ball that waits a plurality of times in the standby flow path 221 from the launch device 61 side. Game ball detecting means (illegal ball detection sensor 282) for monitoring the presence or absence of illegal balls within the plurality of numbers based on detection signals from the game ball detection means.

Accordingly, since the standby flow path 221 for aligning and waiting for the game balls before supply to the launching device 61 is provided with the monitoring means 280 for monitoring the presence or absence of illegal balls having a diameter smaller than the regular game balls, Use can be prevented.
In addition, it includes a game ball detection means for detecting a change in the position of the game ball that waits a plurality of times from the launching device 61 side in the standby flow path 221, and based on the detection signal, Since the presence / absence is monitored, especially when there are a plurality of illegal spheres within a plurality of positions, the position change from the launching device 61 becomes larger by that amount, so the presence of the illegal sphere can be detected reliably.
In particular, in the case of an encapsulated ball type gaming machine, there is a problem that if there are a plurality of illegal balls, the damage becomes enormous, but this can be prevented.

  Further, the monitoring means 280 is provided with an exaggeration means (exaggeration member 281) that exaggerates a change in the position of the game ball due to a difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball. The groove 281a has inclined surfaces 281b and 281b formed at the bottom of the channel 221 and inclined downward from both sides of the channel toward the center.

Therefore, the monitoring means 280 includes the exaggeration means (the exaggeration member 281) that exaggerates the change in the position of the game ball due to the difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal ball. The difference in diameter from the illegal sphere can be made more conspicuous, the use of an illegal sphere having a diameter slightly smaller than the regular one can be monitored, and illegal acts can be prevented more reliably.
Further, the exaggeration means is constituted by a groove 281a formed on the bottom of the standby flow path 221 and having inclined surfaces 281b and 281b inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path. Can be detected.
That is, when there is a small-diameter sphere in the standby channel 221, the center position of the game ball is shifted downward from the regular game ball by the inclined surfaces 281b and 281b inclined downward from both sides of the channel to the center, Accordingly, the position of the game ball in the standby flow path 221 is further shifted to the launching device 61 side (downstream side) than the size of the small-diameter sphere, and as a result, the difference in the size of the small-diameter sphere can be conspicuous. It can be detected reliably.
Further, the inclined surfaces 281b and 281b inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow path can accurately arrange the game balls at the center in the left-right direction of the standby flow path 221. Because the length of the row of game balls is not shortened by being shifted and lined up side by side (aligned in the left and right directions), the position of the game balls in the standby flow path 221 is fired from the actual diameter depending on how the game balls are arranged. It is possible to prevent deviation to the device 61 side (downflow direction side) and to accurately monitor the game ball.

  The game ball detection means is configured by a sensor (illegal ball detection sensor 282) that detects an upstream side edge of a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path 221.

  Therefore, the game ball detection means is configured by a sensor that detects the upstream edge of the game ball, so that it is reliably detected that the position of the game ball to be detected changes downstream due to the presence of an illegal ball. it can. Further, by detecting the upstream edge of the game ball, it is also possible to detect a change in height due to the difference in diameter, particularly when the above-described exaggeration means (exaggeration member 281) is provided. Since the change in height is also exaggerated, illegal balls can be detected more effectively.

  The monitoring means 280 activates monitoring of illegal balls when the supply device (ball feeding device 240) for supplying the game balls in the standby flow path 221 to the launching device 61 is stopped.

  Therefore, since the monitoring unit 280 activates monitoring of the illegal ball when the supply device is stopped, the illegal ball is monitored when the movement of the game ball stops, so that the illegal ball can be reliably detected. Although illegal balls can be monitored even while the operation of continuously launching game balls is continued, there is a possibility of false detection due to vibrations caused by the supply operation. It is desirable to monitor while the vibration due to movement is completely gone.

  Further, a step 283 is provided in the standby flow path 221 upstream from the portion where the game ball detection means (illegal ball detection sensor 282) is located, and the number of game balls waiting on the downstream side of the step surface 284 is regulated. I have to.

  Accordingly, a step is provided in the standby flow path upstream from the portion where the game ball detection means is located, and the number of game balls waiting on the downstream side of the step surface 284 is regulated. A gap can be formed between the target game ball and the step surface 284 so that the game ball cannot enter until the next launch, and there are a plurality of illegal balls to detect the game ball. It can be prevented that the position of the game ball that should be detected by the means is greatly changed and the game ball on the upstream side is detected.

  In addition, it has a game ball circulation mechanism (encapsulated ball circulation unit 200) that collects the game balls that have been launched by the launching device 61 and provided to the game, and supplies the collected game balls to the launching device 61 again. Yes.

  Therefore, in the case of an enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 having a game ball circulation mechanism that circulates and uses game balls, if the enclosed game ball is replaced with an unauthorized game ball, the illegal ball is repeated. Since it will be used for games, the damage to the game shop will be great, but by having the monitoring means 280, such damage can be reliably prevented.

  Note that the gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to the enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine as shown in the above-described embodiment, and for example, other pachinko gaming machines, arrange ball gaming machines, sparrow balls, etc. The present invention is applicable to all gaming machines that use gaming balls such as gaming machines.

  In addition, it should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. 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 state which open | released the clear member holding frame of the enclosure ball-type game machine which shows the structure of one Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the enclosure ball type game machine which shows the state where the clear member holding frame was closed. It is a figure which shows the back surface side of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a figure which shows the back surface of the front wall member used as the inside of an enclosure bulb | ball circulation unit. It is a perspective view which shows a part of exaggeration means. It is a perspective view which shows the connection part of an exaggeration means and a standby inclination part. It is sectional drawing which shows the state of the game ball on an exaggeration means. It is a side view of a monitoring means. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning position of a game ball | bowl detection means. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a flowchart which shows a fraud monitoring process. It is a side view which shows the modification of a monitoring means.

Explanation of symbols

1 Game board 1a Game area 5 Special variation prize winning device (winning entrance)
8 General winning entrance (winning entrance)
9 Ordinary variable winning device (winner)
61 Launching device 63a Launching control device (monitoring means)
100 Enclosed ball game machine (game machine)
200 Encapsulated sphere circulation unit (Encapsulated sphere circulation mechanism)
220 Circulating flow path 221 Standby flow path 227 Exaggeration member disposition portion 240 Ball feeding device (supply device)
280 Monitoring means 281 Exaggeration member (exaggeration means, monitoring means)
281a Groove 281b Inclined surface 282 Illegal ball detection sensor (game ball detection means, monitoring means)
283 Step 284 Step surface

Claims (4)

In a gaming machine in which a game ball is launched from a launching device toward a game area where a winning opening is set,
In the standby flow path for aligning and waiting for the game balls before supply to the launching device, a monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of illegal balls having a smaller diameter than the regular game balls is provided,
The monitoring means includes a game ball detecting means capable of detecting a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path, and a plurality of game balls of the plurality of game balls caused by a difference in diameter between the regular game balls and the illegal balls. An exaggeration unit that exaggerates a change in position, and based on a detection signal from the game ball detection unit, monitors the presence or absence of illegal balls within the plurality ,
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the exaggeration means is configured by a groove formed on a bottom portion of the standby flow channel and having inclined surfaces that are inclined downward from both sides to the center of the flow channel . The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game ball detecting means is configured by a sensor that detects an upstream side edge portion of a plurality of game balls waiting in the standby flow path. The monitoring means according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that for activating the monitoring of the unauthorized sphere game balls of the standby channel to the time of stopping the feed device for feeding to the firing device side Game machines. With collecting the launcher game balls being subjected to the game being fired by claim from claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a game ball circulating mechanism for supplying the collected game balls again in the launcher 3 The gaming machine according to any one of the above.

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