JP4847506B2 - Conveyance path selection device, physical lottery device, and game device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a transport path selection for selectively sending a transported object used in physical lottery or other applications transported while rolling on an inclined transport path by its own weight to one of two transport paths. The present invention relates to a device, a physical lottery device using the transport path selection device, and a game device including the physical lottery device.

  As this type of physical lottery device, a lottery object (conveyed object) composed of a spherical or other shaped object such as a ball is used, for example, in any lottery pocket having a plurality of lottery objects. There is a physical lottery to enter. Some bingo game machines perform a physical lottery that selects an arbitrary one from a large number of lottery objects. Such a physical lottery device allows a lottery player such as a player to actually confirm visually the lottery status during the physical lottery. Thereby, the lottery person can intuitively feel that the lottery is being performed, and can attract the lottery to the lottery. Therefore, the physical lottery apparatus is more reliable than the non-physical lottery apparatus in which the lottery situation cannot be visually confirmed by the lottery, such as a lottery is performed by a computer that executes a predetermined lottery program. It can be said that (the degree of trust that the lottery is random) is high.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a game device including a plurality of physical lottery devices. This game device is a medal game machine (business game device) installed in a game facility such as a game center, and controls the progress of a so-called pusher game on condition that a medal (betting object) is received from a player. When a medal in the field falls into the medal drop groove, the medal (payout target) is paid out to the player. In this game device, when a ball supplied in the play field falls into the medal drop groove, the ball is transported to a lottery device (physical lottery mechanism) that performs the first physical lottery, and the lottery device uses the ball. A physical lottery using (lottery object) is performed. When the ball enters a predetermined lottery pocket by lottery with this lottery device, a physical lottery is performed using another ball in the central lottery device (physical lottery mechanism) for performing the second physical lottery. Is done.

JP 2007-215650 A

  In the physical lottery apparatus, the lottery object may be transported to different transport destinations. In such a physical lottery apparatus, a conveyance path selection apparatus is provided for selectively sending a lottery object to any one of the conveyance paths at a branch point of the conveyance path to each conveyance destination. In the conveyance of the lottery object, it is desired that the conveyance failure hardly occurs with time. Therefore, it is important to reduce the number of drive mechanisms as much as possible and to simplify the configuration of the drive mechanisms as much as possible. Therefore, it is preferable that the lottery object is transported as much as possible by adopting a configuration in which the lottery object moves by its own weight using the inclination of the transport path, and the number of drive mechanisms is minimized.

Conventionally, many conveyance path selection devices guide a lottery object conveyed toward the conveyance path selection device directly to one of two conveyance paths without stopping. In the physical lottery apparatus equipped with such a transport path selection device, when it is necessary to control the timing of sending the lottery object to each transport destination, the transport start timing of the lottery object on the upstream side of the transport path of the transport path selection device At least two drive mechanisms, i.e., a drive mechanism for controlling the drive mechanism and a drive mechanism provided in the transport path selection device, are required.
Also, when it is necessary to temporarily stop the lottery object in the middle of the transport path for the purpose of detecting the type of the lottery object to determine the transport path to be selected by the transport path selection device, Requires at least two drive mechanisms: a drive mechanism for transporting the lottery object temporarily after stopping it on the upstream side of the transport path of the transport path selection device, and a drive mechanism provided in the transport path selection device End up.

  Reducing the number of drive mechanisms as much as possible is not limited to a conveyance mechanism that conveys a lottery object used in a physical lottery apparatus, but may be desired in a conveyance mechanism that conveys another object to be conveyed. Even in such a transport mechanism, when the transport start timing of the transported object is controlled or when transport of the transported object is temporarily stopped and then restarted, the drive provided in the transport path selection device In addition to the mechanism, another drive mechanism is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and the object of the present invention is to control the transport start timing of a transported object or to resume transport after the transport of a transported object is temporarily stopped. In this case, it is to provide a transport path selection device, a physical lottery device, and a game device that can use the drive mechanism of the transport path selection device as a drive mechanism for that purpose.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 receives a transported object transported while rolling on an inclined transport path by its own weight, and receives the received transported object in one of two transport paths. A conveying path selection device that selectively sends out to one side, a placement unit that places the conveyed object on a support member while restricting rolling of the received conveyed object, and one side of the placement unit A first outlet provided at a position higher than a lower position of the object to be transported in a state of being placed on the placement portion and connected to an entrance of one of the two transport paths And a side portion of the placement portion opposite to the one side portion, which is provided at a position higher than a lower position of the object to be conveyed in the state of being placed on the placement portion, and A second outlet connected to the inlet of the other conveyance path of the path, and Write to provided, and the eccentric rotation member that direction when the projection of the rotation axis in a horizontal plane are arranged such that the direction substantially perpendicular to the imaginary straight line connecting the first outlet and the second outlet, the A drive device that transmits a rotational driving force to the rotation shaft of the eccentric rotation member, and the shortest peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotation member having the shortest distance from the rotation shaft of the eccentric rotation member faces the mounting portion side. In this state, the object to be transported is placed on the placement portion while being restricted from rolling, and the eccentric rotating member is moved in one rotational direction from the state in which the shortest peripheral surface portion faces the placement portion. The object to be transported is lifted to the height of the first outlet by pushing the object to be transported that is placed on the placing part at the circumferential surface portion that faces the rotational direction of the eccentric rotating member and rotates. It is sent from the first outlet to the one conveyance path, and the shortest peripheral surface portion is The object to be transported placed on the placement part is rotated at the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member by rotating the eccentric rotation member in the other rotation direction from the state facing the part side. By pushing, the object to be transported is raised to the height of the second outlet and is sent out from the second outlet to the other transport path.
In this transport path selection device, after the transported object is temporarily held by the mounting portion, the eccentric transport member is rotationally driven in any rotation direction by the driving device, so that the held transported object is It can send out from the exit according to the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member. According to this transport path selection device, the transported object can be temporarily held by the mounting unit, and the transport start timing of the transported object from the transport path selection device is controlled by controlling the drive timing of the driving device. You can also. Furthermore, the object to be transported temporarily held by the mounting portion is controlled by either one of the two transport paths by controlling the rotational drive direction of the drive device to control the rotational direction of the eccentric rotating member. Can also be sent selectively. As described above, in the present transport path selection device, the retransport of the transported object temporarily held by the mounting unit, the control of the start timing of the re transport, and the selection of the transport path for transporting the transported object are performed in an eccentric manner. This can be realized by driving control of a single driving device for rotationally driving the rotating member.

The invention of claim 2 is the conveying path selecting apparatus according to claim 1, from a state where the shortest peripheral surface of the eccentric rotation member is facing the placing portion side eccentric rotation member to one direction of rotation the By rotating and driving the lower part of the transported object placed on the placing part toward the first outlet at the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotating member, the transported object is moved to the first exit. Lifting up to the height of the first outlet and feeding from the first outlet to the one conveying path, the eccentric rotating member is driven to rotate in the other rotational direction from the state in which the shortest peripheral surface portion faces the mounting portion side Then, the lower part of the object to be transported placed on the placing part is pushed up toward the second outlet at the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotating member, and the second object is moved to the second outlet. Lift to the height of the exit and From those characterized by being configured to deliver to said other transport path.
When the rotating shaft of the eccentric rotating member is arranged vertically above the mounting portion, a vertically downward pressing force is applied to the object to be transported pressed by the peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member, and the object to be transported is It is difficult to smoothly perform the operation of lifting up to the height of each outlet. On the other hand, in the present transport path selection device, the lower part of the transported object is pushed up toward the respective outlets, and the transported object placed on the mounting unit is raised to the height of the respective exits. Can do. Therefore, it becomes easy to smoothly perform the operation of lifting the conveyed object to the height of the respective outlets.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the transport path selecting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the eccentric rotating member is a substantially disk-shaped member.
In this transport path selection device, by using a disk-shaped member whose rotational axis is decentered from the center as the eccentric rotating member, smooth feeding of the transported object can be realized by the peripheral surface portion curved with a substantially constant curvature. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transport path selecting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, in a direction substantially orthogonal to a virtual straight line connecting the first outlet and the second outlet. A to-be-conveyed object that is provided on a side portion of the placement unit and is connected to an exit of an entrance conveyance path inclined toward the placement unit, and is placed on the placement unit; or The longest circumferential surface portion of the eccentric rotation member having the longest distance from the rotation axis of the eccentric rotation member is located on the side of the longest circumferential surface portion of the eccentric rotation member when the longest circumferential surface portion of the eccentric rotation member is located in the mounting portion. It is configured so that entry of another object to be transported located downstream is restricted to the placement unit.
In this transport path selection device, the object to be transported to be placed on the placing section from the next time onward can be made to wait on the entrance transport path with the exit of the entrance transport path as the head. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a storage unit for storing a plurality of objects to be transported separately from the transport path.
In addition, the object to be transported located on the most downstream side on the entrance transport path is driven by the eccentric rotation member so that the object to be transported placed on the placing portion is sent out from the first outlet or the second outlet, and the eccentricity thereof. When the shortest peripheral surface portion of the rotating member faces the placement portion side, it rolls into the placement portion by its own weight due to the inclination of the entrance conveyance path and is held by the placement portion. Therefore, according to this transport path selection device, a drive mechanism for feeding the transported object into the placement unit is also unnecessary.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is a physical lottery apparatus for performing lottery by moving a lottery object, and a conveyance path selection for selectively sending the lottery object to one of two conveyance paths. An apparatus is provided, and the conveyance path selection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used as the conveyance path selection apparatus.
In this physical lottery apparatus, since the above-described conveyance path selection apparatus is used, the re-conveyance of the temporarily held lottery object (conveyed object), the control of the re-conveyance start timing, and the conveyance for conveying the lottery object The selection of the path can be realized by driving control of a single driving device.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is the physical lottery apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of physical lottery mechanisms for performing lottery by moving the lottery object, and the two transport paths are different from each other. It is a transport path for transporting each lottery moving object to the physical lottery mechanism.
In this physical lottery device, the driving device of the transport path selection device for selecting the transport path for transporting the lottery object to each physical lottery mechanism, the transport start timing of the transported object, The present invention can be used as a drive mechanism that is required when the conveyance of the object to be conveyed is temporarily stopped and then resumed.

Further, the invention of claim 7 is based on a physical lottery apparatus that performs lottery by moving a lottery object, and a game progress using a result of physical lottery using the physical lottery apparatus by executing a predetermined game program. Or a game progress control means for controlling the progress of the game by executing a predetermined game program and controlling the start of the physical lottery using the physical lottery device according to the result of the game progress. A game device provided, wherein the physical lottery device according to claim 5 or 6 is used as the physical lottery device.
In this game device, the physical lottery device described above is used, so that the temporarily held lottery object (conveyed object) is re-conveyed, the re-conveyance start timing is controlled, and the lottery object is conveyed. The selection can be realized by drive control of a single drive device.

  According to the present invention, when the transport start timing of the transported object is controlled or when the transport of the transported object is temporarily stopped and then restarted, the drive mechanism of the transport path selection device is used as the drive mechanism for that purpose. An excellent effect that it can be used is obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a medal game machine as an arcade game machine (arcade game machine) provided with a physical lottery device will be described with reference to the drawings.
Each figure only schematically shows the shape, size, and positional relationship to the extent that the contents of the present invention can be understood. Therefore, the present invention shows the shape, size, and position illustrated in each figure. It is not limited to relationships only. Moreover, in each figure, a part of hatching in a cross section is abbreviate | omitted for clarification of a structure. Furthermore, the numerical values exemplified below are merely preferred examples of the present invention, and therefore the present invention is not limited to the illustrated numerical values.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the overall configuration of the medal game machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
The medal game machine 1 includes eight station units 2 so as to surround a center lottery device 3 which is a physical lottery device, and each player plays a game in each station unit 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the station unit 2 in the medal game machine 1.
The station unit 2 is provided with a touch panel 11 as a display unit and an operation unit, a start button 12 and a BET mode selection button 13 as an operation unit, a medal insertion port 14 constituting a bet target receiving unit, etc. It has been. A game screen is displayed on the touch panel 11, and the player plays the game by operating the touch panel 11 and various buttons 12 and 13 while watching the display of the game screen. In the present embodiment, the case where the game executed in the station unit 2 is a slot game (symbol matching game) will be described as an example, but the type of game executed in the station unit 2 is not limited thereto. Note that the slot game refers to a symbol that is displayed in a variable manner when a plurality of types of symbols (designs) are variably displayed and then the variable display is stopped, or a combination of a plurality of symbols that are stopped and displayed. A game that gives a predetermined privilege to a player when it corresponds to a given prize.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a game screen displayed on the touch panel 11 of the station unit 2.
On the game screen displayed on the touch panel 11, two or more types of symbols arranged in a predetermined order are displayed in each of the five symbol display areas 11a to 11e. In addition to this, the touch panel 11 also displays various information necessary for the game, such as a credit display section that displays a credit amount corresponding to the number of medals inserted by the player from the medal slot 5a at the bottom of the game screen. A display unit 11f to be displayed is also displayed. Furthermore, BET mode display portions 11g corresponding to the five mode selection buttons 13 are also displayed at the lower part of the game screen. In the present embodiment, some or all of the operations other than the operations on the mechanical buttons 12 and 13 are performed by touching various operation images displayed on the touch panel 11. Alternatively, a mechanical button may be provided, or conversely, an operation image on the touch panel 11 may be used instead of the mechanical buttons 12 and 13.

  In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the station unit 2 is a station control device composed of an electronic circuit formed by a CPU, a ROM, and other various electronic components, and an inspection for confirming whether the received medal is an illegal medal. A device, a medal payout device that can accommodate a large number of medals and discharges the number of medals instructed from the station control device to the outside, and a speaker as sound output means are also incorporated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the station control device 20 that controls the station unit 2.
The station control device 20 includes a CPU 21, an input / output port 21a, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a random number generation circuit 24, a display control unit 25, an acoustic control unit 26, a payout control unit 27, and the like. The input / output port 21a is used for data communication with a central control device 30 described later. The ROM 22 stores data such as various programs used by the CPU 21 and various databases, and outputs these to the CPU 21. The RAM 23 temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 21 and stores various fluctuation data such as credit data. The random number generation circuit 24 generates a random number at a predetermined timing and outputs the data to the CPU 21. The display control unit 25 constitutes display means together with the touch panel 11, and performs display control of the touch panel 11 that displays a game screen and the like under the control of the CPU 21. The sound control unit 26 controls announcements, production sounds, and the like by sound output from the speaker 15 under the control of the CPU 21. The payout control unit 27 controls the medal payout device 16 to pay back medals under the control of the CPU 21. The CPU 21 is also connected to a medal counter (not shown) that counts the number of medals inserted into the medal slot, an illumination control unit that controls illumination such as an LED, and the like.

Next, the operation of each unit will be described along the flow of the slot game executed in the station unit 2.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of one slot game.
When a player places a medal (not shown) into the medal slot 5a, the medal is counted by a medal counter. Then, the medal counter outputs inserted medal data to the CPU 21 of the station control device 20. The CPU 21 that has received the inserted medal data performs a process of adding a credit amount corresponding to the inserted medal data to the credit data in the RAM 23. Note that when the credits deposited in advance in the game facility are withdrawn and used by performing a credit withdrawal process, the credit data for the amount of withdrawal is stored in the RAM 23.

  When the player determines the desired number of winning lines and the amount of credits to bet, he touches the touch panel 11 to select a winning line and presses one of the five mode selection buttons 13 to select a BET mode and each winning prize. It is determined how much credit is paid for the line (S1). This operation content is sent to the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 as a BET operation signal. The CPU 21 that has received the BET operation signal is in a state where it can accept the operation signal from the start button 12. Thereby, the operation with respect to the start button 12 by the player becomes effective.

  When the player operates the start button 12 (S2), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 functions as a betting object receiving unit, and with respect to the credit amount corresponding to the BET operation signal, that is, the credit amount corresponding to the selected BET mode. Then, a bet acceptance process is performed to reduce the credit amount obtained by multiplying the selected number of winning lines from the credit data in the RAM 23 (S3). Thereafter, the CPU 21 functions as a start signal generation unit, generates a start signal, and sends the start signal to the display control unit 25. Upon receiving this start signal, the display control unit 25 performs variable display control for sequentially switching symbols displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11e of the touch panel 11 (S4).

  The CPU 21 also sends the generated start signal to the random number generation circuit 24. Upon receiving this start signal, the random number generation circuit 24 generates five random numbers (S5) and sequentially sends these random numbers to the CPU 21. Each random number corresponds to each symbol display area 11 a to 11 e displayed on the touch panel 11. The CPU 21 functions as a stop symbol determination unit together with the random number generation circuit 24. When the CPU 21 receives five random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24, the CPU 21 compares each random number against a stop position table stored in the ROM 22. This stop position table is prepared individually for each of the symbol display areas 11a to 11e. The random display and the stop position table determine the variable display stop positions in the symbol display areas 11a to 11e. Therefore, the symbols to be stopped and displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11e are determined by the five random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24.

  On the other hand, the CPU 21 functions as a winning determination unit together with the random number generation circuit 24. When the CPU 21 receives five random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24, a combination of these random numbers is stored in the winning determination table stored in the ROM 22. A lottery process for determining whether or not a predetermined prize has been won or the number of first special symbols and second special symbols that have been stopped is also performed (S6). In the present embodiment, the awards are roughly classified into a payout award (dividend payout award) for paying out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and a first center lottery in the center lottery device 3 described later. There are a first center lottery prize for the purpose and a second center lottery prize for performing a second center lottery in the center lottery apparatus 3 to be described later. Then, the CPU 21 determines a prize to be won in the current game or a loser that does not win any prize, based on the combination of random numbers and the prize determination table. The ROM 22 stores at least two types of winning determination tables, that is, a winning determination table used in the normal game and a winning determination table used in the free game described later. For the former winning determination table, an individual winning determination table is prepared for each number of winning lines that can be selected.

  After finishing the lottery process, the CPU 21 controls the display control unit 25 so that the variable display of the symbol display areas 11a to 11e is stopped at the determined stop position (S7). Thereby, the variable display is stopped at the determined stop positions in the symbol display areas 11a to 11e of the touch panel 11, and the symbols corresponding to the five random numbers are stopped and displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11e.

  When the payout of the dividend payout is determined in the lottery process (Yes in S8, Yes in S9), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 stops the lighting display of the symbol display areas 11a to 11e, and then performs the illumination control. A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the unit and the sound control unit 26. Thereby, an illumination control part performs control which light-emits illuminations, such as LED, with the pattern according to the effect signal. In addition, the sound control unit 26 performs control to output a sound effect corresponding to the effect signal from the speaker 15. Then, the CPU 21 functions as a payout processing means, and performs payout processing for adding the credit amount corresponding to the winning prize to the credit data stored in the RAM 23 (S10).

  In addition, when it is determined that the first special symbol is stopped and displayed in the lottery process (Yes in S11), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 stops displaying the variable display of each symbol display area 11a to 11e, A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the illumination control unit and the sound control unit 26 to perform a predetermined effect. Subsequently, the CPU 21 adds the number of the first special symbols that are stopped and displayed to the storage count data of the first special symbols stored in the RAM 23 (S12). Thereafter, the CPU 21 sends the storage number count data stored in the RAM 23 to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 determines the storage number of the first special symbol according to the number corresponding to the storage number count data. The display of the stored number display section 11h shown (see FIG. 3) is updated. Further, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the accumulated number count data stored in the RAM 23 is equal to or greater than a specified value (in this embodiment, “5”) (S13). If it is determined in this determination that the value is equal to or greater than the specified value, the CPU 21 outputs a predetermined effect signal to the illumination control unit and the sound control unit 26, respectively, and performs a predetermined effect. The CPU 21 subtracts the specified value from the stored count data and then sends the stored count data after subtraction stored in the RAM 23 to the display controller 25. The display controller 25 then stores the stored count data. The display of the storage number display unit 11h indicating the storage number of the first special symbol is updated according to the number corresponding to. Then, the CPU 21 transmits a first center lottery start request from the input / output port 21a to the central controller (S14). Thereby, in the center lottery apparatus 3, a first center lottery described later is executed.

  In addition, when it is determined that the second special symbol is to be stopped and displayed in the lottery process (Yes in S15), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 stops the variable display of each symbol display area 11a to 11e, A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the illumination control unit and the sound control unit 26 to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 21 transmits a second center lottery start request from the input / output port 21a to the central controller. Thereby, in the center lottery apparatus 3, the second center lottery described later is executed.

Next, the configuration of the center lottery apparatus 3 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the center lottery apparatus 3.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view when the center lottery apparatus 3 is viewed from an angle different from that in FIG.
The center lottery apparatus 3 of the present embodiment mainly includes a vertical ring lottery device 40 that is a first lottery mechanism, an inclined ring lottery device 50 that is a second lottery mechanism, and these lottery devices 40 and 50 vertically below. A device support base 60 supported from the side, two display devices 71 and 72 as display means, and a lottery ball 73 which is a lottery object as a transported object are put into the lottery devices 40 and 50 and each lottery device And a ball transfer device 80 that collects the balls 40 and 50. The first display device 71 is arranged so that the player can see through the hollow region of the vertical ring lottery device 40, and the second display device 72 is partially arranged in the hollow region of the inclined ring lottery device 50. ing.

  A rotary table 64 on which the vertical ring lottery device 40, the inclined ring lottery device 50, the two display devices 71 and 72, the ball transport device 80 and the like are mounted is provided on the upper part of the device support 60. The rotary table 64 can be rotated around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction by a table driving device (not shown). Accordingly, the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 can face each station unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical ring lottery unit 40 has a main body structure part configured to surround the hollow region with a part of the hollow region exposed to the outside, and the rotation axis thereof is It arrange | positions so that it may become parallel with respect to a horizontal direction. On the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery machine 40, a plurality of lottery pockets 41 having an internal space that can accommodate only one lottery ball 73 is formed in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, ten lottery pockets 41 are provided at equal intervals on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. In the vertical ring lotter 40, an inner peripheral surface member 43 in which an opening serving as an entrance of each lottery pocket 41 is formed on the ring inner peripheral surface side of the skeleton base material 42. Further, on the outer peripheral surface side of the ring of the skeleton base material 42, an outer peripheral surface member 44 fixed to the device support base 60 is disposed to face. The frame base material 42 and the inner peripheral surface member 43 of the vertical ring lottery device 40 are rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6 by a drive device 61 provided on the device support base 60. Thereby, the lottery pocket 41 of the vertical ring lottery device 40 moves around. When the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 of the vertical ring lottery device 40, the lottery ball 73 moves together with the lottery pocket 41 while being accommodated in the lottery pocket 41.

  When the physical lottery is performed by the vertical ring lottery machine 40, the lottery balls 73 are thrown onto the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 from the ball insertion slot 86a. In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 can be roughly divided into two regions in the rotation axis direction. That is, a pocket area where the lottery pocket 41 is provided (an area on the near side in FIG. 6) and a non-pocket area where no lottery pocket 41 is provided (an area on the back side in FIG. 6). The pocket region and the non-pocket region are divided by a plurality of protruding walls 43a that are intermittently arranged over the entire circumference. The gap formed between the projection walls 43a has a width that allows about one lottery ball 73 to pass therethrough.

  The lottery balls 73 are thrown into the non-pocket area on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from the ball slot 86a. The non-pocket region is formed to be inclined toward the pocket region at a position below the vertical ring lottery device 40. Thereby, the lottery balls 73 on the non-pocket region receive a force that moves toward the pocket region due to gravity. The lottery balls 73 immediately after being thrown have a high relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a, so that the lottery balls 73 are restricted by the projection walls 43a and cannot pass through the gaps between the projection walls 43a along the circumferential direction of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. It reciprocates like a pendulum over the non-pocket area. Thereafter, when the momentum of the lottery balls 73 gradually decreases and the relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a decreases, the lottery balls 73 can pass through the gaps between the projection walls 43a due to the inclination of the non-pocket regions. Move to the pocket area side. On the pocket area, a plurality of protrusions 43b are provided for preventing the lottery ball 73 from entering the lottery pocket 41. The lottery ball 73 moved to the pocket area side drifts on the pocket area while being hit by the plurality of protrusions 43b, and finally enters one of the lottery pockets 41.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral portion of each lottery pocket 41 in the pocket area is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the respective lottery pocket 41. This makes it easier for the lottery balls 73 rolling on the pocket area to enter the lottery pocket 41, so the physical lottery time by the vertical ring lottery device 40 (the time from when the lottery balls are inserted until the lottery pocket is entered). And the physical lottery time can be easily controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40.

  The lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 at the lower part of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 are transported upward of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 as the lottery pocket 41 rotates around by rotation. Above the vertical ring lottery machine 40, the inner peripheral surface provided with the lottery pocket 41 faces downward in the vertical direction, so that the lottery ball 73 spills out of the lottery pocket 41 due to its own weight. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to prevent this spill-off, spill-off prevention rails 47a and 47b (see FIG. 11) are provided so as to face the inner peripheral surface in the upper part of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. Is provided. As a result, the lottery balls 73 conveyed above the vertical ring lottery device 40 can rotate around the vertical ring lottery device 40 by rotational driving while being supported by the spill-off prevention rails 47a and 47b. It has a configuration.

  On the other hand, the structure of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is that the rotation axis thereof is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the entrance of the lottery pocket 51 is open to the outer peripheral surface side. However, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the main body structure is configured to surround the hollow region with a part of the hollow region exposed to the outside as shown in FIGS. It has the same configuration as the vertical ring lottery device 40 in that it has a portion. More specifically, a plurality of lottery pockets 51 having an internal space that can accommodate about one lottery ball 73 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, 20 lottery pockets 51 are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. The inclined ring lottery machine 50 is provided with a partition member 52 for partitioning the lottery pockets 51 from each other on a base 54 fixed to the apparatus support base 60. The partition member 52 of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is rotationally driven on the base 54 in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by a drive device (not shown) provided on the device support base 60. Thereby, the lottery pocket 51 of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 moves around.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lottery balls 73 are blocked by the shutter 83a in the ball insertion standby unit 83 and temporarily stored, and then the shutter 83a moves as shown in FIG. On the slope 54a. The slope 54 a is disposed adjacent to the partition member 52 at a position below the inclined ring lottery device 50, and is formed to be inclined toward the partition member 52. Thereby, the lottery balls 73 on the slope 54a receive a force that moves toward the partition member 52 due to gravity. The lottery ball 73 immediately after being thrown has a relatively high moving speed of the partition member 52 with respect to the lottery pocket 51, so that the lottery ball 73 cannot enter the lottery pocket 51 and moves on the slope 54 a along the circumferential direction of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. Reciprocates like a pendulum. Thereafter, when the momentum of the lottery ball 73 gradually decreases and the relative movement speed with respect to the lottery pocket 51 becomes small, the lottery ball 73 can enter the lottery pocket 51, and finally, either Into the lottery pocket 51.

In the present embodiment, the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 are arranged so that a part of the other lottery device is located in the hollow area of each other. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the lottery units 40 and 50 are arranged so that the two lottery units 40 and 50 are connected to each other in a chain shape. In general, in a configuration having a hollow area such as the vertical ring lottery machine 40 and the inclined ring lottery machine 50, the hollow area tends to become a dead space, and the physical lottery apparatus having such a configuration is likely to be enlarged. In particular, when there are two or more lottery machines having a hollow area as in the present embodiment, a plurality of dead spaces may exist, so that the physical lottery apparatus is likely to be larger. In the present embodiment, the dead space of each lottery device 40, 50 is canceled by inserting each other's main body structure portion into the dead space. Thereby, even when there are two or more lottery machines having a hollow region, the physical lottery device (center lottery device 3) is prevented from being unnecessarily increased in size, and the physical structure having a compact structure. A lottery apparatus can be realized.
The vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 in this embodiment are both donut-shaped with the loop of the main body structure portion closed, but a part of the loop of the main body structure portion is opened. It may be U-shaped or C-shaped.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of the central control device 30 that controls the center lottery device 3.
The central controller 30 includes a CPU 31, an input / output port 31a, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a first rotation control unit 34a, a second rotation control unit 34b, a table drive control unit 35, a display control unit 36, a transport control unit 37, and a first sensor. A control unit 38a, a second sensor control unit 38b, and the like are included. The input / output port 31a is used for data communication with each station control device 20. The ROM 32 stores various programs used by the CPU 31 and data such as various databases, and outputs them to the CPU 31. The RAM 33 temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 31, and stores various fluctuation data such as the number of jackpots stored. The first rotation control unit 34 a controls the first driving device 61 that rotates the vertical ring lottery device 40 under the control of the CPU 31. The second rotation control unit 34 b controls the second driving device 62 that rotates the inclined ring lottery device 50 under the control of the CPU 31. The table drive control unit 35 controls the table drive device 63 that rotationally drives the rotary table 64 under the control of the CPU 31. The display control unit 36 constitutes display means together with the first display device 71 for the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the second display device 72 for the inclined ring lottery device 50. Under the control of the CPU 31, explanation and effects of the lottery Display control of these display devices 71 and 72 for displaying a display screen or the like is performed. The conveyance control unit 37 controls various driving devices such as a conveyance path switching device as a conveyance path selection device existing in the ball conveyance device 80 under the control of the CPU 31. The first sensor control unit 38a corresponds to a lottery pocket 41 containing a lottery ball 73 in accordance with output signals from a first ball sensor 45 and a first pattern sensor 46, which will be described later, provided in the vertical ring lottery unit 40. The winning pocket signal is output to the CPU 31. The second sensor control unit 38b corresponds to the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery balls 73 in accordance with output signals from a second ball sensor 55 and a second pattern sensor 56, which will be described later, provided in the inclined ring lottery machine 50. The winning pocket signal is output to the CPU 31.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ball transport device 80 connected to the ball discharge portion provided in each of the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the ball transport device 80 and its peripheral configuration.
FIG. 12 is a side view for explaining the ball transport device 80 and its peripheral configuration.

First, the configuration of the ball transport device 80 will be described along the transport path of the lottery balls 73 discharged from the ball discharge unit of the vertical ring lottery device 40.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the spill-off prevention for preventing the lottery balls 73 moving around while being in the lottery pocket 41 in the upper portion of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from falling out of the lottery pocket 41. Rails 47a and 47b are provided. As shown in FIG. 11, the spill-off prevention rails 47a and 47b are divided into two in the circumferential direction, and a gap through which the lottery ball 73 can pass is formed between them. This gap functions as a ball discharge portion (hereinafter referred to as “first ball discharge portion”) 48 of the vertical ring lottery device 40. That is, the lottery balls 73 conveyed by the rotational drive of the vertical ring lottery device 40 fall downward through the first ball discharge unit 48 by their own weight when they reach the position facing the first ball discharge unit 48.

  Further, the first ball discharge unit 48 is provided with a shutter 47c as a discharge switching unit that is in a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the first ball discharge unit 48 or in a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. The shutter 47c is a view in which the driving device 47d controlled by the transport control unit 37 of the central controller 30 opens the first ball discharge unit 48 and the ball passing position shown in FIG. It can move to the ball discharge position shown in FIG. If the lottery balls 73 pass through the first ball discharge unit 48 when the shutter 47c is positioned at the ball passing position as shown in FIG. 13, the lottery balls 73 do not fall from the first ball discharge unit 48, and lottery The vertical ring lottery device 40 is moved around one more round while remaining in the pocket 41 for use. On the other hand, when the lottery balls 73 pass through the first ball discharge portion 48 when the shutter 47c is positioned at the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 14, the lottery balls 73 fall from the first ball discharge portion 48. As described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 47c, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 are discharged from the first ball discharge portion 48 or without being discharged. It is possible to selectively execute whether or not the vertical ring lottery device 40 is moved once more by passing 48.

  Below the first ball discharge unit 48, an upper end portion of the first transfer rail 82 of the ball transfer device 80 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 12, the first transport rail 82 is gently inclined and its lower end is open. Below the lower end of the first transport rail 82, a ball throwing standby unit 83 is used to transport the lottery balls 73 from the transport path switching device 81 (described later) to the ball throwing standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50 by its own weight. The 2nd conveyance rail 84 which inclines toward is arrange | positioned. Therefore, when the lottery ball 73 transported on the first transport rail 82 falls from the lower end portion of the first transport rail 82, the lottery ball 73 is received by the second transport rail 84, and the inclined ring lottery machine 50 along the second transport rail 84. To the ball throwing-in waiting section 83.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a drop opening 82 a through which the lottery ball 73 can pass is formed in the middle of the first transport rail 82. The drop opening 82a is provided with a shutter 82b that is in a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the drop opening 82a or in a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. The shutter 82b is moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 15 where the drop opening 82a is closed by the drive device 82c controlled by the conveyance control unit 37 of the central control device 30, and the open position shown in FIG. 16 where the drop opening 82a is opened. It is movable. When the lottery ball 73 passes through the drop port 82a when the shutter 82b is located at the closed position as shown in FIG. 15, the lottery ball 73 does not fall from the drop port 82a and the lower end of the first transport rail 82 It is conveyed to the part. On the other hand, when the lottery ball 73 passes through the drop port 82a when the shutter 82b is located at the opening position as shown in FIG. 16, the lottery ball 73 falls from the drop port 82a.

Below the drop opening 82 a of the first transport rail 82, the upper end portion of the third transport rail 85 of the ball transport device 80 is disposed. The third transport rail 85 is gently inclined as shown in FIG. 12, and its lower end is connected to the entrance of the transport path switching device 81. Here, in the present embodiment, the lottery balls 73 are supplied to the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 by driving and controlling the transfer path switching device 81 as described later, and the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 is inclined. A physical lottery using the lottery balls 73 can be performed by the ring lottery machine 50. The lottery balls 73 to be supplied to the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 are stored in a state where they are aligned with the lower end side portion of the third transport rail 85 connected to the entrance side of the transport path switching device 81. Is done. That is, in the present embodiment, a ball storage section is configured by the lower end side portion of the third transport rail 85 and the transport path switching device 81.
Therefore, in this embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 82b, the lottery balls 73 discharged from the first ball discharge unit 48 are sent to the ball insertion standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50, or the ball storage unit Can be selectively executed.

Next, the configuration of the ball transport device 80 will be described along the transport path of the lottery balls 73 discharged from the ball discharge section of the inclined ring lottery device 50. FIG.
In the present embodiment, as described above, a notch portion through which the lottery ball 73 can pass is formed on the circumferential movement path of the lottery pocket 51 in the base 54 of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. This notch functions as a ball discharge portion (hereinafter referred to as “second ball discharge portion”) 58 of the inclined ring lottery device 50. That is, when the lottery balls 73 conveyed by the rotational drive of the inclined ring lottery device 50 reach a position facing the second ball discharge unit 58, the second ball discharge unit 58 is caused by its own weight as shown in FIG. It is discharged through.

  Similarly to the first ball discharge unit 48 of the vertical ring lottery device 40, the second ball discharge unit 58 has a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the second ball discharge unit 58 or a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. A shutter 57 serving as a discharge switching means is provided. The shutter 57 is driven by the driving device 47d, and operates integrally with the shutter 47c of the vertical ring lottery unit 40, and closes the second ball discharge portion 58, and the second ball discharge portion 58 shown in FIG. Can be moved to the ball discharge position shown in FIG. When the lottery balls 73 pass through the second ball discharge unit 58 when the shutter 57 is positioned at the ball passing position as shown in FIG. 13, the lottery balls 73 do not fall from the second ball discharge unit 58. The inclined ring lottery device 50 is moved around the other round in the lottery pocket 51. On the other hand, when the lottery ball 73 passes through the second ball discharge portion 58 when the shutter 57 is positioned at the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 14, the lottery ball 73 falls from the second ball discharge portion 58. . As described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 57, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 51 are discharged from the second ball discharge portion 58 or without being discharged. It is possible to selectively execute whether or not the inclined ring lottery device 50 is moved once more by passing through 58.

  The lottery balls 73 discharged from the second ball discharge portion 58 of the second ball discharge portion 58 are guided to the upper end portion of the above-described third transfer rail 85 of the ball transfer device 80 by the discharge slope 58a. Therefore, the lottery balls 73 discharged from the second ball discharge unit 58 are transferred by the third transfer rail 85 to the entrance of the transfer path switching device 81, that is, the ball storage unit.

17 and 18 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the schematic configuration and operation of the transport path switching device 81 in a state where the lottery balls are mounted on the mounting portion of the transport path switching device 81. FIG.
19 and 20 illustrate the schematic configuration and operation of the transport path switching device 81 in a state of being placed on the mounting portion of the transport path switching device 81 in the state where the lottery balls are being sent to the first exit side. It is explanatory drawing for.
21 and 22 illustrate the schematic configuration and operation of the transport path switching device 81 in a state of being placed on the mounting portion of the transport path switching device 81 in the state where the lottery balls are being sent to the second exit side. It is explanatory drawing for.
The conveyance path switching device 81 mainly includes an eccentric rotating member 81a and a drive motor as a driving device (not shown) that rotates the eccentric rotating member 81a. The eccentric rotating member 81a is a disk-shaped member, and a drive motor is connected to a rotating shaft B provided at an eccentric position shifted from the center of the disk. The rotation direction and the rotation angle of the drive motor are controlled by the conveyance control unit 37 of the central controller 30. In the present embodiment, in the standby state, the eccentric rotating member 81a has a short radius side end surface C which is the shortest peripheral surface portion closest to the rotation axis B of the eccentric rotating member 81a in the standby state, as shown in FIGS. It stops in a state of facing upward (mounting portion side), that is, in a state in which the long radius side end surface D which is the longest peripheral surface portion farthest from the rotation axis B of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly below the vertical direction. In this standby state, a lottery located on the most downstream side among the plurality of lottery balls 73 stored side by side at the lower end portion of the third transport rail 85 as an entrance transport path connected to the entrance of the transport path switching device 81. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the ball 73 enters the mounting portion formed in the transport path switching device 81. At this time, the lottery ball 73 on the most downstream side is positioned above the eccentric rotating member 81a in the vertical direction.

  The transport path switching device 81 includes a first outlet connected to the upper end of the fourth transport rail 86 that is a transport path inclined toward the ball insertion position of the vertical ring lottery machine 40, and a ball of the tilt ring lottery machine 50. There are two outlets, a second outlet, connected to the upper end of the second transport rail 84, which is a transport path inclined toward the charging standby section 83. Each bottom surface of these outlets is located at a position higher than the lower position of the lottery ball 73 positioned in the transport path switching device 81 in the standby state. Therefore, in the standby state, when the lottery ball 73 enters the mounting portion formed in the transport path switching device 81, the member 81c that forms the bottom of the inlet and the bottom surfaces of the first outlet and the second outlet are formed. Members 81d and 81e and a wall surface member 81f provided on the side facing the entrance abut on the four sides of the lottery ball 73, and the lottery ball 73 is placed in a state where rolling is restricted and transported. It is held without exiting from the exit of the path switching device 81.

  Thereafter, when the drive motor is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, the end surface D on the long radius side of the eccentric rotating member 81a rotates upward in the vertical direction as shown in FIGS. Thereby, the bottom surface of the first outlet is formed so that the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotating member 81a is directed from the lower side of the lottery ball 73 toward the first outlet connected to the upper end portion of the fourth transport rail 86. The lottery ball 73 is gradually pushed up in cooperation with the forming member 81e. Then, when the long radius side end face D of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly above the vertical direction, the lottery ball 73 is raised to the height of the first outlet by the peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member 81a and the bottom surface forming member 81e of the first outlet. The lottery balls 73 are pushed up to the fourth conveyance rail 86 side, and the lottery balls 73 are conveyed from the first outlet to the ball insertion position of the vertical ring lottery device 40 through the fourth conveyance rail 86.

  Similarly, when the drive motor is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in the drawing by the control from the conveyance control unit 37, the long radius side end face D of the eccentric rotating member 81a is directed upward in the vertical direction as shown in FIGS. It turns. Thereby, the bottom surface of the second outlet is formed so that the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member 81a is directed from the lower side of the lottery ball 73 toward the second outlet side connected to the upper end portion of the second transport rail 84. The lottery balls 73 are gradually pushed up in cooperation with the forming member 81d. When the long radius side end surface D of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly above the vertical direction, the lottery ball 73 is raised to the height of the second outlet by the peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member 81a and the bottom surface forming member 81d of the second outlet. The lottery balls 73 are pushed up to the second conveyance rail 84 side, and the lottery balls 73 are conveyed from the second outlet through the second conveyance rail 84 to the ball insertion standby portion 83 of the inclined ring lottery machine 50.

  As described above, according to the transport path switching device 81 of the present embodiment, the lottery balls 73 that are transported objects are temporarily held by the mounting portion in the transport path switching device 81 and then eccentric by the drive motor 81b. By rotating the rotation member 81a in any rotation direction, the held lottery balls 73 can be sent out from the outlet according to the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member 81a. According to the transport path switching device 81, the lottery balls 73 can be temporarily held, and the transport start timing of the lottery balls 73 can be controlled by controlling the drive timing of the drive motor 81b. Further, by controlling the rotational drive direction of the drive motor 81b to control the rotational direction of the eccentric rotation member 81a, the lottery balls 73 temporarily held can be removed from the second transport rail 84 and the fourth transport rail 86. It can also be sent selectively to either one. As described above, according to the transport path switching device 81 of the present embodiment, the re-transport of the lottery balls 73 temporarily held, the control of the start timing of the re-transport, and the selection of the transport path for transporting the lottery balls 73 are performed. This can be realized by drive control of a single drive motor 81b for rotationally driving the eccentric rotation member 81a. Therefore, the number of drive mechanisms provided in the ball conveying device 80 can be reduced, and there are many advantages such as realization of cost reduction and difficulty in occurrence of defective conveyance over time.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the eccentric rotating member 81a is a disk-shaped member will be described. However, the shape of the eccentric rotating member 81a is the shortest circumference with the shortest distance from the rotation axis B of the eccentric rotating member 81a. When the surface portion C is directed upward in the vertical direction, that is, on the placement portion side, the lottery balls 73 can be placed in the transport path switching device 81 in a state where rolling is restricted, and the eccentric rotation member 81a is rotated in one direction from that state. The lottery balls 73 are lifted up to the height of the first outlet by pushing the lottery balls 73 in the transport path switching device 81 at the peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member 81a by rotating in the direction, and the fourth transport from the first outlet. It can be sent to the rail 86, and the eccentric rotation member 81a is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, so that it is inside the transport path switching device 81 at the peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotation member 81a. Any shape may be used as long as the lottery ball 73 can be pushed up to the height of the second outlet and sent out from the second outlet to the second transport rail 84 by pushing the lottery ball 73. .

Further, the present embodiment forms condition is eccentric rotation member 81a is an example of drawing ball 73 is disposed vertically below the mounting portion to be mounted to the supporting eccentric rotation member 81a is a drawing ball 73 from the lower side in the vertical direction that it is also functioning as a support member for.

Next, the configuration and operation for detecting which lottery pocket 41, 51 the lottery ball 73 has entered will be described.
In the present embodiment, the configuration and operation related to this detection are substantially the same in both the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50. Therefore, in the following description, the inclined ring lottery device 50 is taken as an example. Description of the vertical ring lottery device 40 will be omitted.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second pattern sensor 56 provided in the inclined ring lottery machine 50.
In the present embodiment, as described above, in order to make the lottery pocket 51 go around, the partition member 52 forming the lottery pocket 51 is driven so as to go around. On the other hand, the central control device 30 is fixedly arranged inside the device support base 60. Therefore, if a sensor for detecting that a lottery ball 73 has entered each lottery pocket 51 is provided in the partition member 52 so as to move around together with the lottery pocket 51, the output signal of the sensor is stabilized. It is difficult to transmit to the central controller 30.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which only the sensors that are fixedly arranged are used to detect which lottery ball 73 has entered in the orbiting lottery pocket.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the second ball sensor 55 is fixedly disposed on a part of the base 54 below the inclined ring lottery machine 50 and through which the lottery pocket 51 passes. In the present embodiment, a total of seven second ball sensors 55, one at the bottom of the circulation path of the lottery pocket 51 and three on both sides in the circumferential direction, They are spaced apart by the same distance. Each of the seven second ball sensors 55 is a sensor constituted by a mechanical switch, and a switch piece of the second ball sensor 55 through which a lottery ball 73 entering one of the lottery pockets 51 passes first. The lottery balls 73 are detected by the second ball sensor 55 by pushing down with the own weight.

  Here, only the output signal (ball detection signal) of the second ball sensor 55 cannot identify which lottery pocket 73 has entered the lottery ball 73. Therefore, in this embodiment, not only the ball detection signal of the second ball sensor 55 but also the output signal (pattern signal) of the second pattern sensor 56 shown in FIG. It is decided that 73 is entered.

  The second pattern sensor 56 is fixedly disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the inclined ring lottery device 50 and at a location facing the ball insertion standby portion 83 (location indicated by symbol A in FIG. 7). The second pattern sensor 56 reads the mark pattern of the mark plate 52 a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the partition member 52 so as to be equally spaced from each other by the same number as the lottery pockets 51. Each mark plate 52a includes one trigger piece 52b and a maximum of five mark pieces 52c, and different mark patterns are formed depending on the combination of the presence or absence of the mark pieces 52c. The second pattern sensor 56 includes five mark sensors 56a for detecting the mark pieces 52c of the mark plate 52a and one trigger sensor 56b for detecting the trigger pieces 52b of the mark plate 52a. Each of the mark sensor 56a and the trigger sensor 56b is a transmissive optical sensor, and detects whether or not the optical path is blocked by the mark piece 52c or the trigger piece 52b.

  Each time the second pattern sensor 56 detects the trigger piece 52b by the trigger sensor 56b, the second pattern sensor 56 outputs a pattern signal indicating a combination of output signals of the five mark sensors 56a at the time of the detection to the second sensor control unit 38b of the central controller 30. Is output to. Then, it is assumed that the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51 and is detected by, for example, the second ball sensor 55 (second ball sensor 55 at the center in the circumferential direction) located at the bottom of the seven second ball sensors 55. . In this case, a ball detection signal is output from the second ball sensor 55, and this ball detection signal is input to the second sensor control unit 38 b of the central controller 30. Upon receiving this ball detection signal, the second sensor control unit 38b receives the input of the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 at the same time or immediately after the reception of the ball detection signal, so that the lottery pocket 51 corresponding to the pattern signal is displayed. The lottery ball 73 is specified as a lottery pocket.

  That is, the positional relationship between the second pattern sensor 56 and the second ball sensor 55 located at the lowermost part is fixed. Specifically, when the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery ball is located at the position facing the lowermost second ball sensor 55, the lottery pocket 51 is located downstream in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket. The mark pattern of the mark plate 52 a provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the lottery pocket shifted by five is detected by the second pattern sensor 56. Therefore, when the lottery ball 73 is detected by the second ball sensor 55 located at the bottom, the mark pattern of the mark plate 52a detected by the second pattern sensor 56 is a lottery arranged at the position facing the mark plate 52a. The lottery pocket 51 corresponds to the lottery pockets that are shifted by five on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket. Therefore, the second sensor control unit 38b that has received the ball detection signal from the lowermost second ball sensor 55 receives the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 at the same time as or immediately after the reception, for example, With reference to the data table indicating the relationship, the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 can be specified. Then, the second sensor control unit 38b outputs a winning pocket signal indicating the specified lottery pocket to the CPU 31.

  Here, in the present embodiment, seven second ball sensors 55 are provided, and the positional relationship between each second ball sensor 55 and the second pattern sensor 56 is different from each other. Therefore, the correspondence between the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 and the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 differs for each second ball sensor 55 that detects the lottery ball 73. Specifically, for example, the mark pattern read by the second pattern sensor 56 when the second ball sensor 55 arranged on the most upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket detects the lottery ball 73 is the mark plate 52a. This corresponds to the lottery pockets that are shifted by eight on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pockets with respect to the lottery pockets 51 arranged at the opposite positions. Further, for example, the mark pattern read by the second pattern sensor 56 when the second ball sensor 55 disposed on the most downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket detects the lottery ball 73 is the opposite position of the mark plate 52a. This corresponds to the lottery pockets shifted by two on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pockets with respect to the lottery pockets 51 arranged in FIG.

Note that at least one second ball sensor 55 may be provided, but the reason why a plurality of second ball sensors 55 are provided in the present embodiment is as follows.
Firstly, the lottery pocket 51 is specified as early as possible from the time when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51. In other words, in the present embodiment, the lottery ball 73 does not necessarily enter the bottom lottery pocket, and any of the lottery pockets in a range of five lottery pockets, two on each side of the bottom lottery pocket. There is a possibility of entering the lottery pocket 51. In this case, if one second ball sensor 55 is provided only in the vicinity of the most downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket within this range, the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 can be specified. However, in this case, after entering the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery ball 73, the lottery pocket 51 is specified until the lottery pocket 51 moves to the position of the second ball sensor 55. I can't. Therefore, for a while after the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51, the lottery pocket 51 cannot be specified, and there is a case where the production is delayed. On the other hand, by providing a plurality of second ball sensors 55 as in the present embodiment, the maximum delay time from when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51 until it is detected can be reduced. Thereby, the lottery pocket 51 can be specified at an early stage from the time when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51, and adverse effects such as a delay in production can be reduced.
Second, even if the second ball sensor 55 fails or the detection of the second ball sensor 55 by the lottery ball 73 is destabilized due to changes over time, the downtime is reduced. This is to allow the game progress (physical lottery) to be continued without generating. That is, by providing a plurality of second ball sensors 55 as in the present embodiment, even if the second ball sensor 55 that arrives immediately after the lottery balls 73 enter the lottery pocket 51 cannot detect the balls. The next second ball sensor 55 can detect the ball, and the game progress (physical lottery) can be continued without causing downtime.

  In the present embodiment, the second sensor control unit 38b that has received the ball detection signal specifies the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 based on the pattern signal received simultaneously with or immediately after the reception. Although described, other methods may be employed. For example, the second sensor control unit 38b always stores the latest pattern signal, and the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 based on the latest pattern signal stored when the ball detection signal is received. It is also possible to adopt a method for identifying This method is superior in that the lottery pocket 51 can be identified earlier.

Next, the flow of the 1st center lottery (physical lottery) using the vertical ring lottery device 40 performed with the center lottery apparatus 3 is demonstrated.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of one first center lottery.
When the CPU 31 of the central controller 30 receives a first center lottery start request from any one of the station units 2 via the input / output port 31a (S21), the CPU 31 stores the station unit 2 in the lottery waiting database of the RAM 33. Is registered (S22). And the 1st center lottery with respect to the player of the station part 2 is sequentially performed in the order which received the 1st center lottery start request. When starting the first center lottery, first, the CPU 31 outputs, to the table drive control unit 35, a drive command for directing the front of the vertical ring lottery device 40 to the station unit 2 of the player who performs the first center lottery. . Thereby, the table drive control unit 35 rotates the rotary table 64 so that the front of the vertical ring lottery unit 40 faces the station unit 2. Thereafter, the CPU 31 outputs a command for sending the lottery balls 73 to the ball insertion slot 86a to the transport control unit 37. In response to this command, the conveyance control unit 37 rotates the drive motor 81b of the conveyance path switching device 81 to rotate the eccentric rotation member 81a as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 are thrown into the non-pocket region on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from the ball slot 86a through the fourth transport rail 86 (S23).

  The lottery balls 73 thrown into the non-pocket area reciprocate like a pendulum on the non-pocket area along the circumferential direction of the vertical ring lottery device 40 while being regulated by the projection wall 43a, and the momentum gradually decreases. . When the relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a is sufficiently reduced, the lottery balls 73 move to the pocket region side through the gap between the projection walls 43a due to the inclination of the non-pocket region. Thereafter, the lottery ball 73 moved onto the pocket area drifts on the pocket area while receiving a certain external force from the surface of the moving pocket area, and enters the lottery pocket 41 when passing through any one of the lottery pockets 41. It will be.

  Here, if the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is always constant, the surface movement speed of the pocket region is also constant, and the external force that the lottery ball 73 receives from the surface of the pocket region is also constant. For this reason, the lottery ball 73 on the pocket area continues to roll on a track that avoids the lottery pocket 41, and the lottery ball 73 may not enter the lottery pocket 41 no matter how long. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is provided in which the elapsed time after the lottery ball 73 is thrown into the vertical ring lottery unit 40 is counted by a timing unit (not shown). Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time determined in advance has elapsed based on the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means (S25). This specified time can be set arbitrarily. In the present embodiment, the specified time is as long as the lottery ball 73 on the pocket area does not fall into a situation where the lottery ball 73 keeps rolling on a track avoiding the lottery pocket 41 (in a normal case). The time period required for the lottery ball to sufficiently enter the lottery pocket 41 is set. Accordingly, in a normal case, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 before the specified time elapses, and a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 41 is output from the first sensor control unit 38a to the CPU 31. (S24).

  On the other hand, when the prescribed time has elapsed without the CPU 31 receiving the winning pocket signal (Yes in S25), the CPU 31 first performs a deceleration notice notification process (S26). The deceleration advance notice process is a process for displaying a countdown video on the first display device 71 and informing the player in advance when the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is decelerated. Specifically, the CPU 31 that has determined that the specified time has elapsed sends a countdown effect command to the display control unit 36. In response to the countdown effect command, the display control unit 36 performs display control for displaying the countdown video on the first display device 71. Then, almost simultaneously with the timing when the countdown image becomes an image indicating the deceleration timing, the first rotation control unit 34a performs a process of reducing the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 (S27).

If the specified time has elapsed and before the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is reduced, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 and the CPU 31 receives the winning pocket signal. In such a case, the countdown effect is canceled at that time, and the process of decelerating the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 (S27) is not performed.
In addition, it is assumed that even after the rotational speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is decelerated, the lottery ball 73 does not enter the lottery pocket 41, and a situation occurs where the lottery pocket 41 continues to avoid the lottery pocket 41. In this case, for example, the elapsed time after deceleration is measured by the time measuring means, and when the elapsed time has passed a specified time (which may be set to a period different from the specified time), the deceleration is performed. A configuration in which the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is further decelerated or conversely increased after the advance notice processing is performed can be employed.

  When the rotational speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is reduced as in the present embodiment, the surface movement speed of the pocket area changes, and therefore the external force received by the lottery ball 73 from the moving pocket area surface (rolling surface) is changed. be able to. As a result, even if the lottery ball 73 rolling on the pocket area is on a track that avoids the lottery pocket 41, the lottery ball 73 can be removed from the track. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the lottery ball 73 rolling on the pocket area does not enter the lottery pocket 41 for a long time.

  When the inserted lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 and receives a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 41 from the first sensor control unit 38a (Yes in S24), the CPU 31 stores it in the RAM 33. The prize corresponding to the winning pocket signal is determined with reference to the first prize determination table. In the present embodiment, the awards that can be won in the first center lottery are roughly divided into a payout award (dividend payout award) that pays out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and is executed by the station unit 2. In the slot game, there are a free game prize for starting a free game which is a special game, and a second center lottery prize for performing a second center lottery using the inclined ring lottery machine 50. Then, the CPU 31 specifies a prize won in the current first center lottery based on the winning pocket signal received from the first sensor control unit 38a and the first prize determination table.

  When the winning of the payout of the payout is determined (Yes in S28), the CPU 31 performs a predetermined effect by controlling the first display device 71 and other effect means (illumination means, sound output means, etc.). The CPU 31 functions as a payout processing means, and transmits a payout payout command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S29). The CPU 21 of the station control device 20 that has received this payout payout command performs payout processing for adding the credit amount corresponding to the payout payout command to the credit data stored in the RAM 23.

  If the winning of the free game award is determined (Yes in S30), the CPU 31 controls the first display device 71 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 31 transmits a free game start command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S31). The CPU 21 of the station control device 20 that has received this free game start command executes a free game program and controls the progress of the free game until a predetermined free game end condition is satisfied. Note that the free game of the present embodiment is a slot game that can be played without betting credits, and the content of the slot game may be the same as or different from a normal slot game. Instead of the free game award, a bonus game award for starting a bonus game that is a special game (may be a game other than a slot game) may be employed.

  When the winning of the second center lottery prize is determined (No in S30), the CPU 31 controls the first display device 71 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. . And CPU31 transfers to the operation mode which performs a 2nd center lottery (S40).

Next, the flow of the second center lottery (physical lottery) using the inclined ring lottery machine 50 executed by the center lottery apparatus 3 will be described.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of one second center lottery.
Whether the CPU 31 of the central control device 30 receives a second center lottery start request from any one of the station units 2 via the input / output port 31a, or whether the winning of the second center lottery is determined in the first center lottery When the second center lottery start condition is satisfied (S41), the CPU 31 performs the second center lottery for the player of the station unit 2. When starting the second center lottery, the CPU 31 outputs, to the table drive control unit 35, a drive command for directing the front of the inclined ring lottery device 50 to the station unit 2 of the player who performs the second center lottery. Thereby, the table drive control unit 35 rotates the rotary table 64 so that the front side of the inclined ring lottery device 50 faces the station unit 2.

  Thereafter, the CPU 31 outputs a command for sending the lottery balls 73 to the ball throwing standby unit 83 to the transport control unit 37. Here, the conveyance control unit 37 performs different operations depending on the satisfied second center lottery start condition. Specifically, when the second center lottery start condition is satisfied by receiving the second center lottery start request from the station unit 2, the drive motor 81b of the transport path switching device 81 is driven to rotate, and the eccentric rotating member 81a is rotated as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 are transported to the ball throwing standby unit 83 through the second transport rail 84 (S42). On the other hand, when the second center lottery start condition is satisfied because the winning of the second center lottery is determined in the first center lottery, the shutter 47c provided in the first ball discharge unit 48 of the vertical ring lottery unit 40 is satisfied. 14 is moved to the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 14, and the shutter 82b provided at the drop opening 82a of the first transport rail 82 is moved to the closed position as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 corresponding to the second center lottery of the first center lottery pass from the first ball discharge unit 48 to the ball insertion standby unit 83 through the first transport rail 82. It is conveyed (S42).

  Next, the CPU 31 outputs a lottery ball 73 insertion instruction to the transport control unit 37. Receiving this insertion command, the conveyance control unit 37 performs drive control to move the shutter 83a that has held the lottery balls 73 in the ball insertion standby unit 83 as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery ball 73 that has been blocked by the shutter 83a is thrown onto the slope 54a of the inclined ring lottery device 50 (S43).

  Here, if the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is always constant, the relative movement speed of the lottery pocket 51 with respect to the slope 54a is also constant. For example, even when the momentum of the lottery ball 73 is sufficiently weakened, In some cases, the lottery ball 73 may be repelled by the opening edge portion (partition member 52) of the lottery pocket 51 in the same manner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is provided in which the elapsed time since the lottery ball 73 is thrown into the inclined ring lottery device 50 is measured by a timing unit (not shown). Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time determined in advance has elapsed based on the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means (S45). This specified time can be set arbitrarily. In the present embodiment, this specified time is sufficient for the lottery ball to enter the lottery pocket 51 unless the lottery ball 73 on the slope 54a falls into the above situation (normally). It is set to a period that can be secured. Therefore, in the normal case, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51 before the specified time elapses, and a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 51 is output from the second sensor control unit 38b to the CPU 31. (S44).

  On the other hand, when the specified time has elapsed without the CPU 31 receiving the winning pocket signal (Yes in S45), the CPU 31 first performs a deceleration notice notification process (S46). This deceleration advance notice process is a process for displaying a countdown video on the second display device 72 and notifying the player in advance when the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is decelerated. Specifically, the CPU 31 that has determined that the specified time has elapsed sends a countdown effect command to the display control unit 36. Upon receiving this countdown effect command, the display control unit 36 performs display control for displaying the countdown video on the second display device 72. Then, almost simultaneously with the timing when the countdown image becomes an image indicating the deceleration time, the second rotation control unit 34b performs a process of reducing the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 (S47).

If the specified time has elapsed and before the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is reduced, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51, and the CPU 31 receives the winning pocket signal. In such a case, the countdown effect is canceled at that time, and the process of decelerating the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 (S47) is not performed.
Further, when it is assumed that the lottery ball 73 does not enter the lottery pocket 51 even after the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is decelerated, for example, after decelerating, When the elapsed time exceeds the specified time (which may be set to a period different from the specified time), the deceleration ring notifying process is performed, and then the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is measured. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the rotational speed of the motor is further decelerated or conversely increased.

  When the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is reduced as in the present embodiment, the relative movement speed of the lottery pocket 51 with respect to the slope 54a varies, so that the above situation can be changed. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the lottery ball 73 rolling on the slope 54a does not enter the lottery pocket 51 indefinitely.

  When the inserted lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51 and receives a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 51 from the second sensor control unit 38b (S44), the CPU 31 is stored in the RAM 33. The award corresponding to the winning pocket signal is determined with reference to the second award determination table. In this embodiment, the awards that can be won in the second center lottery are roughly divided into a payout award (dividend payout award) that pays out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and is executed by the station unit 2. There are a free game award for starting a free game, which is a special game, a first jackpot award, and a second jackpot award. Then, the CPU 31 specifies a prize won in the current second center lottery based on the winning pocket signal received from the second sensor control unit 38b and the second prize determination table.

Here, in this embodiment, there are two types of jackpot prizes. The first jackpot award is a prize in which medals (credits) for the first jackpot stored number (payout amount) are paid out to a player who plays in the station unit 2. First stored number data (payout amount data) indicating the first jackpot stored number is stored in the RAM 33 of the central controller 30. The count value of the first stored number data, that is, the first jackpot stored number corresponds to a part of the bet amount every time credits are bet on all the station units 2 with respect to a predetermined initial value (for example, 500 pieces). The amount to be added (for example, 0.03) is cumulatively added.
The second jackpot award is a prize in which medals (credits) for the second jackpot storage number (payout amount) are paid out to the player who plays in the station unit 2. Second stored number data (payout amount data) indicating the second jackpot stored number is also stored in the RAM 33 of the central controller 30. The count value of the second stored number data, that is, the second jackpot stored number is also equivalent to a part of the bet amount every time credit is betted in all the station units 2 with respect to a predetermined initial value (for example, 500 pieces). The amount to be added (for example, 0.03) is cumulatively added.
In this embodiment, the conditions for increasing the number of jackpots stored are the same for the first jackpot award and the second jackpot award, but they may be different from each other.

  When the winning of the payout of the payout is determined (Yes in S48), the CPU 31 performs a predetermined effect by controlling the second display device 72 and other effect means (illumination means, sound output means, etc.). The CPU 31 functions as a payout processing means, and transmits a payout payout command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S49). The CPU 21 of the station control device 20 that has received this payout payout command performs payout processing for adding the credit amount corresponding to the payout payout command to the credit data stored in the RAM 23. In addition, it is preferable to set the dividend of the dividend payout prize in the second center lottery to be higher than the dividend payout prize in the first center lottery.

  Further, when the winning of the free game award is determined (Yes in S50), the CPU 31 controls the second display device 72 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 31 transmits a free game start command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S51). Upon receiving this free game start command, the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 executes the free game program, and until the predetermined free game end condition is satisfied, as in the case of the free game prize of the first center lottery, Control the progress of the free game. Of course, instead of the free game award, a bonus game award for starting a bonus game which may be a special game (may be a game other than a slot game) may be employed. Note that the free game executed by winning the free game prize in the second center lottery ends more than the free game executed by winning the free game prize in the first center lottery. It is preferable to set conditions that are advantageous to the player, such as relaxing the conditions.

  If the first jackpot prize is determined (Yes in S52), the CPU 31 controls the second display device 72 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. . Then, the CPU 31 functions as a payout processing means, reads the first stored number data from the RAM 33, and performs a process for paying out the credit amount indicated by the count value of the data to the player playing in the station unit 2. Perform (S53). Specifically, for example, a payout payout command is transmitted from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 as in the case of the payout payout award. Alternatively, an attendant pay may be made such that a clerk at the game facility pays a medal directly to the player. In addition, the CPU 31 resets the first stored number data stored in the RAM 33 to an initial value (S54).

  When the winning of the second jackpot prize is determined (No in S52), the CPU 31 controls the second display device 72 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. . Then, the CPU 31 functions as a payout processing unit, reads the second stored number data from the RAM 33, and calculates the credit amount indicated by the count value of the data in the same method as in the case of the first jackpot award or in a different method. Then, a process for paying out to the player who plays in the station unit 2 is performed (S55). In addition, the CPU 31 resets the second stored number data stored in the RAM 33 to an initial value (S56).

  In the present embodiment, even if a player who plays in any one of the station units 2 wins the first jackpot award, the second stored number data relating to the second jackpot award is not reset. Similarly, even if a player who plays in any one of the station units 2 wins the second jackpot award, the first stored number data relating to the first jackpot award is not reset. That is, even if one of the jackpot prizes is won by someone, the number of stored jackpot prizes remains the same. So, if someone wins one of the jackpot prizes, the remaining players will decline for their desire to win that jackpot prize, but the other jackpot prize is strong that they want to win. A desire is born. As a result, even if one of the players wins one of the jackpot prizes, the game performance for the other players is lowered, but the game performance can be further improved.

In the present embodiment, a medal game machine that controls the progress of a game on condition that a medal (betting object) is received from the player has been described as an example. However, the progress of the game is controlled on the condition that money is received directly. The present invention can be similarly applied to a game device installed in a casino or the like.
Further, in this embodiment, the physical lottery is performed in which the prize to be won is determined by using the center lottery device 3 depending on which lottery ball 73 that is a lottery object enters a plurality of lottery pockets 41 and 51. Although the case has been described, other types of physical lottery can be performed using the center lottery device 3. For example, the center lottery apparatus 3 is applied to a bingo game machine, bingo numbers are assigned to a plurality of lottery pockets 41 and 51, respectively, and lottery pockets 41 and 51 containing lottery balls 73 as respective lottery objects are placed. It can also be applied to a physical lottery in which assigned bingo numbers are sequentially determined as winning bingo numbers. In this case, taking the case where the vertical ring lottery unit 40 is used as an example, the lottery balls 73 are moved in a state where the shutter 47c provided in the first ball discharge unit 48 is moved to the ball passing position as shown in FIG. If it is thrown in multiple times, the lottery pocket 41 that already contains the lottery ball 73 is blocked by the lottery ball 73, so that the same bingo number can be prevented from being repeatedly won and a quick bingo lottery is possible. This is beneficial.

  Further, in this embodiment, if the lottery balls 73 are thrown in multiple times while the shutter 47c provided in the first ball discharge portion 48 is moved to the ball passing position as shown in FIG. Since the lottery pocket 41 containing is closed by the lottery ball 73, the subsequent lottery balls will enter any of the remaining lottery pockets 41. With such a configuration, for example, when the game is set so that winning the second center lottery prize becomes the maximum goal, the lottery ball 73 that is first introduced is a prize other than the second center lottery prize. When entering the lottery pocket 41 to which is assigned, it is possible to provide a game characteristic that the probability that the next inserted lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 41 to which the second center lottery prize is assigned is increased. Become. This explanation is for the case of the vertical ring lottery machine 40, but the same applies to the case of the inclined ring lottery machine 50.

  In the present embodiment, the two transport paths (second transport rail 84 and fourth transport rail 86) that can be selected by the transport path switching device 81 for transporting the lottery balls 73 that are transported objects are mutually connected. They are connected to a vertical ring lottery machine 40 and an inclined ring lottery machine 50, which are different physical lottery mechanisms. Therefore, the conveyance path switching device 81 is used for the purpose of selecting which lottery device 40, 50 the lottery ball 73 commonly used in each lottery device 40, 50 is supplied to. However, the conveyance path selection device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to such an application. For example, it can also be used for applications in which different types of objects to be transported are sorted and transported to the respective storage units. In this case, it is necessary to detect the type of the object to be transported for sorting before being transported to the transport path selection device, but it is difficult to detect the type of the object being transported. In this case, the type of the object to be conveyed may be detected when temporarily held on the placement unit, and the conveyance path may be selected according to the detection result.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the conveyance path | route switching for selecting the 2nd conveyance rail 84 and the 4th conveyance rail 86 which convey the lottery ball | bowl 73 which is a lottery object used for the center lottery apparatus 3 which is a physical lottery apparatus. Although the apparatus 81 has been taken as an example, the present invention is not limited to the lottery object used in such a physical lottery apparatus, but the object used for various purposes, particularly an object used in a game, is the object. The present invention can be widely applied to a conveyance path selection device for selecting a conveyance path for conveying (conveyed object).

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the overall configuration of the medal game machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the station portion in the medal game machine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game screen displayed on the touch panel of the station unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a station control device that controls the station unit. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of one slot game executed in the station unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a center lottery device in the medal game machine. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the center lottery apparatus viewed from an angle different from that in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the shutter provided in the ball insertion standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery unit in the center lottery apparatus has opened the lottery ball. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the central control device that controls the center lottery device. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ball transfer device in the center lottery device. FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the ball transport device and its peripheral configuration. FIG. 12 is a side view for explaining the ball conveying device and its peripheral configuration. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the shutter provided in the first ball discharge unit of the vertical ring lottery unit is located at the ball passing position. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the shutter is located at the ball discharge position. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the shutter provided at the dropping port in the middle of the first transport rail is located at the closed position. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the shutter is located at the opening position. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the transport path switching device in a standby state in the ball transport device. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer path switching device in the standby state in the ball transfer apparatus cut along a vertical plane. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent to the first outlet. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent to the first outlet, cut along a vertical plane. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent out to the second outlet. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent to the second outlet, cut along a vertical plane. FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second pattern sensor provided in the inclined ring lottery machine. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of one first center lottery. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of one second center lottery.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal game machine 2 Station part 3 Center lottery device 11 Touch panel 20 Station control device 30 Central control device 40 Vertical ring lottery device 41, 51 Lottery pocket 50 Inclined ring lottery device 60 Device support 71, 72 Display device 73 Lottery ball 80 Ball transport device 81 Transport path switching device 82 First transport rail 83 Ball throwing standby section 84 Second transport rail 85 Third transport rail 86 Fourth transport rail

Claims (7)

A transport path selecting device that receives a transported object that is transported while rolling on an inclined transport path by its own weight, and selectively sends the received transported object to one of two transport paths,
A placement unit for placing the transported object on the support member while restricting rolling of the received transported object;
The entrance of one of the two transport paths is provided at a position on one side of the placement section and higher than the lower position of the object to be transported in the state of being placed on the placement section. A first outlet connected to the
The side portion of the placement portion opposite to the one side portion is provided at a position higher than the lower position of the object to be transported in the state of being placed on the placement portion. A second outlet connected to the entrance of the other transport path,
Provided under side of the placing portion is disposed such that the direction substantially orthogonal to the virtual straight direction when the projection of the rotation axis in a horizontal plane is connecting the first outlet and the second outlet An eccentric rotating member;
A driving device that transmits a rotational driving force to the rotational shaft of the eccentric rotating member;
In a state where the shortest peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member having the shortest distance from the rotation axis of the eccentric rotating member faces the mounting portion side, the object to be conveyed is restricted from rolling on the mounting portion. The eccentric rotating member is rotationally driven in one rotational direction from the state where the shortest peripheral surface portion is directed to the mounting portion side, and the mounting is performed at the peripheral surface portion facing the rotational direction of the eccentric rotating member. By pushing the object to be transported placed on the mounting portion, the object to be transported is lifted to the height of the first outlet and sent out from the first outlet to the one transporting path, and the shortest peripheral surface portion is placed on the placing surface. The object to be transported placed on the placement part is rotated at the peripheral surface portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member by rotating the eccentric rotation member in the other rotation direction from the state facing the part side. When the object to be conveyed is lifted to the height of the second outlet by pushing Conveying path selecting apparatus characterized by being configured to deliver to said other conveying path from the second outlet. In the conveyance path selection device according to claim 1,
The eccentric rotating member is rotationally driven in the one rotational direction from the state in which the shortest peripheral surface portion of the eccentric rotating member faces the mounting portion side, and the peripheral surface portion facing the rotational direction of the eccentric rotating member The lower part of the object to be conveyed placed on the placing part is pushed up toward the first outlet to raise the object to be conveyed to the height of the first outlet and from the first outlet to the one of the conveying paths. Feeding out the state where the shortest circumferential surface portion faces the mounting portion side, the eccentric rotating member is driven to rotate in the other rotational direction, and the mounting is performed on the peripheral surface portion facing the rotational direction of the eccentric rotating member. The lower part of the transported object placed on the part is pushed up toward the second outlet, thereby lifting the transported object to the height of the second outlet and sending it from the second outlet to the other transport path. With the features That the conveying path selection device. In the conveyance path selection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The transport path selecting device, wherein the eccentric rotating member is a substantially disk-shaped member. In the conveyance path selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Connected to the outlet of the entrance conveyance path that is provided on the side portion of the mounting portion that is positioned in a direction substantially orthogonal to the virtual straight line connecting the first outlet and the second outlet, and inclined toward the mounting portion. And has an entrance to be
The eccentric rotation when the object to be transported placed on the placement part or the longest peripheral surface part of the eccentric rotation member having the longest distance from the rotation axis of the eccentric rotation member is located in the placement part. The conveyance path selection is characterized in that the longest peripheral surface side portion of the member is configured to restrict entry of another object to be conveyed located on the most downstream side on the entrance conveyance path to the placement section. apparatus. A physical lottery device for performing lottery by moving a lottery object,
A conveyance path selection device that selectively sends out the lottery object to one of two conveyance paths;
A physical lottery apparatus using the conveyance path selection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 as the conveyance path selection apparatus. The physical lottery apparatus according to claim 5,
A plurality of physical lottery mechanisms for performing lottery by moving the lottery object,
2. The physical lottery apparatus, wherein the two conveyance paths are conveyance paths for conveying the lottery moving objects to different physical lottery mechanisms. A physical lottery device for performing lottery by moving a lottery object;
The game progress is controlled using the result of physical lottery using the physical lottery device by executing a predetermined game program, or the game progress is controlled by executing the predetermined game program. A game apparatus comprising a game progress control means for performing control to start physical lottery using the physical lottery apparatus according to the result of
A game device using the physical lottery device according to claim 5 or 6 as the physical lottery device.