JP5359733B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine wherein the passing determination accuracy for a game medium can favorably be increased. <P>SOLUTION: On the game panel 80 of this Pachinko game machine, there is installed a variable winning apparatus 82, and game balls which have flowed into the variable winning apparatus 82 are introduced to the rear side of the game panel 80 through an introducing passage. On the back surface side of the game panel 80, there is installed a recovering passage which communicates with the introducing passage. At a middle position of the recovering passage, there are installed a first detecting sensor and a second detecting sensor. When the game balls are sensed, signals of the game ball detection are output from each detecting sensor to a main control apparatus. The recovering passage is formed such that the passing speeds of game balls in each detecting sensor may be different. Thus, the game machine is configured such that the lengths of the output periods during which the signals of the game ball detection are output from each detecting sensor may be different. In a signal reading process at the main control apparatus, a winning determination process conforming to the detection signals from each detecting sensor, and a determination process for performing a failure determination of the detection signals by comparing those winning determination numbers are executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine includes detection means (for example, a proximity sensor) that detects a game medium at a game medium detection position in a guide passage that guides the game medium, and a control device that is input from the detection means. There is something. Based on the detection information input from the detection means by the control device, it is determined whether or not the game medium has passed through the game medium detection position. For example, in a pachinko machine, a game ball that has entered a winning opening is detected by the detection means, and if it is determined that a game ball win has occurred based on the detection information, a game ball is given to the player. Is given out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-236080 A

  As described above, the occurrence of profits and the like is often involved in the determination of the passage of game media, and if the accuracy of determination of passage of game media is lowered, it may be disadvantageous for the player or the game hall, and the detection accuracy is improved. There is still room for improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and the like, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can suitably improve the accuracy of passage determination of game media.

  Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems will be described.

The invention described in claim 1
A guide passage for guiding game media;
First detection means for detecting a game medium passing through a first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
Second detection means for detecting a game medium passing through a second detection position downstream of the first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
First determination means for determining, based on the detection signal output from the first detection means, whether or not the game medium has passed the first detection position in the guide passage;
Second determination means for determining, based on the detection signal output from the second detection means, whether or not the game medium has passed through the second detection position in the guide passage;
The length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the first detection means, and the length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the second detection means And different means to make the difference
Based on the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means. An abnormality determination means for performing abnormality determination ,
A privilege granting means for granting a privilege to the player based on the determination result when the first determination means determines that the game medium has passed through the first detection position ;
The different means is such that the length of each output period is made different so that the passing speed of the game medium at the second detection position is slower than the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position. Features.

  The accuracy of passage determination of game media can be preferably improved.

It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine in one embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structures of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a front door frame. It is a front view which shows the structure of an inner frame. It is a front view which shows the structure of a game board. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structures of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game board. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows the structure of a back pack unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a back pack unit. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. (A) It is a perspective view of a detection sensor, (b) It is a disassembled perspective view of a detection sensor. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the content of the various counters used for a success or failure lottery. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process in MPU of a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows a signal reading process. It is a flowchart which shows a normal process. It is a flowchart which shows a big prize opening / closing process. (A) It is a flowchart which shows an error determination preparation process, (b) It is a flowchart which shows an error determination process. It is a timing chart which shows the mode of winning determination. It is a timing chart which shows the mode of winning determination. It is a timing chart which shows the mode of winning determination. It is the schematic which shows the modification of a period adjustment means and a guide passage.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as “pachinko machine”), which is a type of gaming machine, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of the pachinko machine 10 in an exploded manner. In FIG. 2, the configuration in the game area PE of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 that forms an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10, and a gaming machine main part 12 attached to the outer frame 11.

  The outer frame 11 is configured by connecting wooden plates to four sides and has a rectangular frame shape. By attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to the island facility, the pachinko machine 10 is installed in the game hall. In the pachinko machine 10, the outer frame 11 is not an essential configuration, and the outer frame 11 may be provided on the island facility of the game arcade.

  The gaming machine main part 12 is supported by the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an upper support bracket 17 is fixed to a connection portion between the upper frame portion and the left frame portion in the outer frame 11, and the lower frame portion and the left frame in the outer frame 11 are further fixed. A lower support metal fitting 18 is provided at a connecting portion with the portion. The upper support bracket 17 and the lower support bracket 18 form a support mechanism. The support mechanism causes the gaming machine main unit 12 to turn the left side of the pachinko machine 10 in the front view with respect to the outer frame 11. In addition, the right side can be turned forward of the pachinko machine 10 with the turning tip side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine main part 12 includes an inner frame 13 as a base body, a front door frame 14 arranged in front of the inner frame 13, and a back pack arranged behind the inner frame 13. Unit 15. The inner frame 13 of the gaming machine main part 12 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the outer frame 11. Specifically, the inner frame 13 can be rotated forward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in front view.

  A front door frame 14 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13 and can be rotated forward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in a front view. Further, the back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported on the inner frame 13, and can be rotated backward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in a front view.

  Next, the front door frame 14 will be described. In the following description, FIGS. 1 and 2 are referred to, and FIG. 3 is referred to for the configuration of the back surface of the front door frame 14. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the front door frame 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front door frame 14 is mainly composed of a synthetic resin frame body 20 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11, and covers almost the entire front surface of the inner frame 13. Yes. A substantially elliptical window portion 21 is formed in the central portion of the frame body 20 so that a substantially entire game area PE described later can be viewed from the front. The window portion 21 is formed by the glass unit 22. The front door frame 14 is closed from the back side.

  The glass unit 22 includes glass panels 23 and 24 having transparency, and a glass holder 25 that holds the glass panels 23 and 24. The glass holder 25 is formed with a partition part for partitioning the holding region of the glass panels 23 and 24 in the front and rear, and the glass panels 23 and 24 are opposed to each other in the front and back with the partition part interposed therebetween. That is, by securing a predetermined gap between the glass panels 23 and 24, avoiding the interference between the glass panels 23 and 24, the game area PE is placed on the front side of the pachinko machine 10 by the glass panels 23 and 24. It is in a state of covering twice from.

  The glass panels 23 and 24 are not necessarily unitized using the glass holder 25, and the glass panels 23 and 24 may be individually attached to the frame 20. Furthermore, the number of glass panels is arbitrary, and may be one or three or more. However, from the viewpoint of improving safety and security, it is preferable to employ a plurality of glass panels and to make the glass panels face each other across a predetermined gap. Incidentally, it is also possible to employ a synthetic resin panel member having transparency instead of the glass panel.

  Around the glass unit 22 (specifically, the window portion 21), light emitting means such as various lamps are provided. For example, an annular illumination part 26 incorporating a light emitting means such as an LED is provided along the periphery of the window part 21. In the annular illumination part 26, lighting or blinking is performed according to a change in the gaming state at the time of big hit or at a predetermined reach. In addition, an error display lamp unit 27 that is turned on at the time of a predetermined error is provided in the center of the annular illumination unit 26 and at the uppermost part of the pachinko machine 10, and a prize that is turned on while the prize ball is being paid out on the left and right sides. A sphere lamp portion 28 is provided. Further, a speaker unit 29 is provided at a position close to the left and right prize ball lamp units 28 to output sound effects corresponding to the gaming state.

  Below the window portion 21 in the front door frame 14 (frame body 20), an upper bulging portion 31 and a lower bulging portion 32 that bulge toward the front side are arranged side by side. An upper pan 33 that opens upward is provided inside the upper bulging portion 31, and a lower pan 34 that also opens upward is provided inside the lower bulging portion 32. The upper plate 33 has a function of temporarily storing game balls paid out from a payout device described later and guiding them to the game ball launching mechanism described later while aligning them in a line. In addition, the lower tray 34 has a function of storing game balls that become surplus in the upper tray 33.

  A game ball launching handle 41 is provided on the right side of the lower bulging portion 32 so as to protrude toward the front side. By operating the game ball launch handle 41, a game ball is launched from a game ball launch mechanism described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a passage forming unit 50 is attached to the back surface of the front door frame 14. The passage forming unit 50 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a front door side upper dish passage 51 that communicates with the upper dish 33 and a front door side lower dish passage 52 that communicates with the lower dish 34. In the passage forming unit 50, a receiving portion 53 that protrudes rearward and opens upward is formed at an upper corner portion thereof, and the receiving portion 53 is divided into left and right portions by a partition wall 54, whereby the front door side upper plate is formed. An entrance portion of the passage 51 and an entrance portion of the front door side lower dish passage 52 are partitioned. The upstream side of the front door side upper dish passage 51 and the front door side lower dish path 52 are connected to a game ball distributing section described later, and the game balls that have entered the front door side upper dish path 51 are guided to the upper plate 33, The game balls that have entered the door-side lower dish passage 52 are guided to the lower dish 34.

  Protrusion shafts 61 and 62 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the rotation base end side (the right side in FIG. 3) on the rear surface of the front door frame 14. These projecting shafts 61 and 62 constitute an assembly mechanism for the inner frame 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of hooks 63 extending rearward are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction on the rotation tip side (the left side in FIG. 3) on the back surface of the front door frame 14. These hooks 63 constitute a locking mechanism for the inner frame 13.

  Next, the inner frame 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the inner frame 13. In FIG. 4, the configuration in the game area PE of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for convenience as in FIG. 2.

  The inner frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 70 whose outer shape is substantially rectangular like the outer frame 11. The height dimension of the resin base 70 is set slightly smaller than the height dimension of the outer frame 11. The resin base 70 is arranged close to the upper frame portion of the outer frame 11, and a slight gap is formed between the lower frame portion of the outer frame 11 and the resin base 70. A curtain plate is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to close the gap. The curtain plate is disposed below the resin base 70 (specifically, the lower end portion thereof). When the inner frame 13 is closed with respect to the outer frame 11, the resin base 70 is placed on the curtain plate. . A slight clearance may be provided between the curtain plate and the resin base 70.

  Support metal fittings 71 and 72 are attached to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the rotation base end side (left side in FIG. 4) on the front surface of the resin base 70. Although illustration is omitted, shaft holes are formed in the support fittings 71 and 72, and the projection shafts 61 and 62 of the front door frame 14 are inserted into these shaft holes, so that the front door with respect to the inner frame 13. The frame 14 is rotatably supported.

  Insertion holes 73 for inserting the metal fittings 63 provided on the back surface of the front door frame 14 are provided on the rotation front end side (right side in FIG. 4) on the front surface of the resin base 70. The pachinko machine 10 is configured such that a locking device 75 for locking the inner frame 13 and the front door frame 14 is hidden behind the inner frame 13. Therefore, the front door frame 14 is locked to the inner frame 13 so that it cannot be opened by the hook metal 63 being locked to the locking device 75 (specifically, the front door hook receiving member 76) through the insertion hole 73. The The locking device 75 has an inner frame collar member 77 extending rearward of the inner frame 13. These inner frame hook members 77 are hooked on the hook receiving member 19 of the outer frame 11, so that the gaming machine main part 12 is locked in a closed state with respect to the outer frame 11.

  A cylinder lock 78 for performing an unlocking operation of the locking device 75 is installed at the lower right corner of the resin base 70. The cylinder lock 78 is integrated with the locking device 75. When the key inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 78 is turned to the right, the lock of the front door frame 14 with respect to the inner frame 13 is released, and the cylinder lock 78 is inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 78. The locking device 75 is configured such that when the key is turned counterclockwise, the locking of the inner frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11 is released.

  A substantially elliptical window hole 74 is formed at the center of the resin base 70, and the window hole 74 is closed from behind by a game board 80 attached to the resin base 70. The game board 80 includes a wooden plywood and a sheet material that covers a front plate surface of the plywood, and the front surface thereof is exposed to the front side of the resin base 70 through the window hole 74. In the exposed portion, that is, the front surface of the game board 80, a game area PE in which game balls flow down is formed. As already described, the game area PE is covered with the glass unit 22 (specifically, the glass panel 24). In the glass unit 22, the gap between the glass panel 24 and the front surface of the game board 80 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, that is, the game ball flowing down the game area PE is at the same location in the game area PE. It is arranged so that it does not line up in the front and rear. Thereby, the ball blockage in the game area PE is suppressed. Note that the game board 80 is not limited to wooden, and may be made of synthetic resin.

  Hereinafter, the game board 80 (in particular, various configurations arranged in the game area PE) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the game board 80.

  The game board 80 is formed with a plurality of large and small openings penetrating in its own thickness direction (front-rear direction) by performing router processing. Each opening is provided with a general winning port 81, a variable winning device 82, operating ports 83 and 84, a through gate 85, a variable display unit 86, and the like. When game balls enter the general winning port 81, the variable winning device 82, and the operation ports 83 and 84, these game balls are detected by a detection switch described later, and a predetermined number of award balls are paid out based on the detection result. The In addition, an out port 87 is provided at the lowermost part of the game board 80, and game balls that have not entered various winning ports etc. are discharged from the game area PE through the out port 87. In the following description, in order to clearly distinguish the game ball from entering the out port 87, the general ball port 81, the variable winning device 82, the operation ports 83 and 84, and the game ball entering the through gate 85 will be described. Also expressed as a prize.

  In addition, in the game board 80, a number of nails 88 are implanted in order to appropriately disperse and adjust the flow path of the game ball, and various members (functions) such as a windmill are arranged. By various configurations such as the nail 88 and the windmill, the flow path of the game ball is differentiated and adjusted so that the winning to the above-described general winning opening 81 and the like occurs with an appropriate establishment.

  The variable display unit 86 is provided with a symbol display device 91 that variably displays symbols with a winning at the operation ports 83 and 84 as a trigger. The variable display unit 86 is provided with a center frame 92 so as to surround the symbol display device 91. A first specific lamp portion 93 and a second specific lamp portion 94 are provided on the center frame 92. Reserving lamp portions 95 and 96 are provided at the upper and lower portions of the center frame 92, respectively. The lower holding lamp unit 95 corresponds to the symbol display device 91 and the first specific lamp unit 93. The number of times that the game ball has passed through the operation port 84 is held up to four times, and the holding lamp unit 95 is turned on. The number of reserved items is displayed. The upper holding lamp unit 96 corresponds to the second specific lamp unit 94, and the number of times that the game ball has passed through the through gate 85 is held up to four times, and the number of holdings is displayed by lighting the holding lamp unit 96. It has become so.

  The symbol display device 91 is configured as a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display, and display contents are controlled by a display control device described later. On the symbol display device 91, for example, symbols are displayed side by side on the left, middle, and right, and these symbols are variably displayed as they are scrolled up and down. When a predetermined combination of symbols is stopped and displayed on a preset active line, a special gaming state (hereinafter referred to as a jackpot) occurs.

  In the first specific lamp section 93, the emission colors are switched in a predetermined order using a winning at the operation ports 83 and 84 as a trigger, and a big hit is generated when the display is stopped in a predetermined color.

  The operation ports 83 and 84 are arranged at positions close to the variable display unit 86. Since a big win can be generated with a winning at the operating ports 83 and 84 as a trigger, the player pays attention to whether or not to win the operating ports 83 and 84 and to determine whether or not a big win will occur. It is considered that attention is paid to the display device 91 and the first specific lamp unit 93. Providing the operation ports 83 and 84 closer to the variable display unit 86 is a device for concentrating the portion that the player wants to pay attention to around the variable display unit 86.

  Further, the operation ports 83 and 84 are arranged vertically below the variable display unit 86. For the sake of convenience, the upper working port is referred to as “upper working port 83” and the lower working port is referred to as “lower working port 84”.

  The lower operating port (lottery opportunity entrance ball portion) 84 is provided with an open / close type entrance assist device (entrance assist means) or an electric accessory 89 as an open / close member (open / close means). The electric accessory 89 can be switched between an open state (assist state) in which the ball can enter the lower operation port 84 or becomes easy, and a closed state (non-assist state) in which the ball can not be entered or becomes difficult. ing. In the second specific lamp portion 94 described above, when the emission color is switched in a predetermined order triggered by the passing of the through ball 85 of the game ball, and the predetermined color is stopped and displayed, the electric accessory 89 Is opened for a predetermined time.

  The variable winning device (special pitching device or special pitching means) 82 has an opening / closing door as an opening / closing member (opening / closing means), and an open state (assist state) in which a game ball can be entered or facilitated. Then, it is possible to switch to a closed state (non-assisting state) in which it is impossible or difficult to enter the ball. During normal times, the open / close door is maintained in a closed state, and when it is a big hit, it is switched to an open state. As an opening mode of the variable winning device 82, a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings is defined as one round, and the variable winning device 82 has a maximum number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds). In general, the opening is repeated.

  Referring back to FIG. 4, a game ball launching mechanism 110 that launches a game ball to the game area PE based on the operation of the game ball launch handle 41 is provided below the game board 80 in the resin base 70. ing. As shown in FIG. 4, the game ball launching mechanism 110 includes a solenoid 111 that launches a game ball placed at a predetermined launch standby position, and a launch rail 112 that defines the launch direction of the game ball launched by the solenoid 111. A ball feeding device 113 for supplying a game ball to the launch standby position and a base plate 114 on which these various components 111 to 113 are mounted are provided as main components, and the base plate 114 is fixed to the resin base 70. Thus, the resin base 70 is integrated.

  The firing rail 112 is fixed to the base plate 114 in an inclined state so as to be inclined upward toward the game board 80 side. A ball stopper that holds the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 113 at the above-described firing standby position is disposed at a position closer to the downstream end portion (that is, the lower end portion) of the firing rail 112. The solenoid 111 is arranged at a position further downstream than the ball stopper.

  The solenoid 111 is electrically connected to a power source / launch control device described later. Based on the output of the electrical signal from the power supply / launch control device, the output shaft of the solenoid 111 reciprocates in the expansion / contraction direction, so that the game ball placed at the launch standby position is on the game board 80 side, more specifically, the game. It is driven out toward the guide rail 100 mounted on the board 80.

  In the guide rail 100, the game area PE is partitioned so that the outer shape of the game area PE is substantially circular. In addition, the guide rail 100 includes an inner rail 101 and an outer rail 102 arranged so as to face each other with a gap slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and a single guide passage 103 is defined by both the rails 101 and 102. Is formed. The guide passage 103 has an inlet portion that is open to the tip end side (obliquely downward) of the firing rail 112 and an outlet portion that is located above the game area PE. The game ball fired based on the operation of the solenoid 111 is guided to the game area PE by moving in the order of the firing rail 112 → guide rail 100 (entrance portion → exit portion). In the game board 80, a reverse prevention member 106 for preventing the game ball reaching the game area PE from going back into the guide passage 103 is attached to the front side of the exit portion, specifically near the tip of the inner rail 101. Thus, it is possible to prevent the subsequent launch of the game ball from being hindered by the game ball that has reached the game area PE first.

  Each of the rails 101 and 102 constituting the guide rail 100 has an arc shape centered at a substantially central portion of the game area PE. For this reason, the game ball passing through the guide passage 103 is likely to move (slide or roll) along the outer rail 102, that is, in contact with the outer rail 102 due to the centrifugal force generated by itself.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the guide rail 100 and the launch rail 112 are arranged such that the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the tip portion of the launch rail 112 face each other diagonally across the lower edge of the game board 80. ing. That is, both the rails 100 and 112 are arranged such that the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the tip portion of the firing rail 112 are shifted left and right in the vicinity of the lower end edge of the game board 80. Thus, a gap of a predetermined interval is formed between the entrance portion of the guide rail 100 and the launch rail 112 while bringing both rails 100 and 112 close to the lower end edge of the game board 80.

  A foul ball passage 55 is disposed below the gap formed in this way. The foul ball passage 55 is integrally formed with the passage formation unit 50 of the front door frame 14. If the game balls launched from the game ball launching mechanism 110 do not reach the game area PE and return as foul balls in the guide passage 103, the foul balls enter the foul ball passage 55 through the gap. It becomes. The foul ball passage 55 communicates with the front door side lower tray passage 52, and the game balls that have entered the foul ball passage 55 are discharged to the lower tray 34 shown in FIG. This suppresses interference between the foul ball and the next game ball to be launched.

  A through hole that penetrates the resin base 70 in the front-rear direction is formed on the left side of the firing rail 112 in the resin base 70 (specifically, the side that supports the front door frame 14), and a passage forming member is formed in the through hole. 121 is disposed. The passage forming member 121 is screwed to the resin base 70 and has a main body side upper dish path 122 and a main body side lower dish path 123. The upstream side of the main body side upper dish passage 122 and the main body side lower dish passage 123 communicates with a game ball distributing section described later. A receiving portion 53 of a passage forming unit 50 attached to the front door frame 14 is inserted below the passage forming member 121, and a front door side upper plate passage 51 is provided below the main body side upper plate passage 122. The front door side upper dish path 51 is disposed below the main body side lower dish path 123 (see FIG. 2).

  An opening / closing member 124 that opens and closes the main body side upper dish path 122 and the main body side lower dish path 123 is attached below the passage forming member 121 in the resin base 70. The opening / closing member 124 is supported by a support shaft provided at the lower end of the opening / closing member 124 so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction. A member is provided. Therefore, when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the inner frame 13, the opening / closing member 124 rises as shown in the figure, and the main body side upper dish passage 122 and the main body side lower dish path 123 are closed. Thereby, when the front door frame 14 is opened in a state in which the game balls are stored in the main body side upper dish passage 122 or the main body side lower dish passage 123, it is possible to prevent the stored balls from spilling down. On the other hand, when the front door frame 14 is closed, the opening / closing member 124 is pushed open against the biasing force by the receiving portion 53 provided in the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14. In this state, the main body side upper dish path 122 and the front door side upper dish path 51 communicate with each other, and the main body side lower dish path 123 and the front door side lower dish path 52 communicate with each other.

  Next, the back configuration of the inner frame 13 (the resin base 70 and the game board 80) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

  On the rotation base end side (the right side in FIG. 8) on the back surface of the resin base 70, bearing fittings 132 are arranged vertically. The bearing bracket 132 is formed with bearing portions spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and the back pack unit 15 is rotatably attached to the inner frame 13 by these bearing portions.

  A plurality of locking fittings 135 are provided on the back surface of the resin base 70, and the game board 80 is attached to the resin base 70 by the locking fittings 135 as described above. Here, the configuration of the back surface of the game board 80 will be described. FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a state in which the main controller unit 160 is removed from the game board 80.

  The variable display unit 86 disposed in the center of the game board 80 is provided with a frame cover 141 made of a synthetic resin that covers the center frame 92 from the back, and protrudes backward from the frame cover 141 from the rear side. The above-described symbol display device 91 is attached, and a display control device for driving the symbol display device 91 is attached (not shown). The symbol display device 91 and the display control device are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction (the symbol display device is in front and the display control device is in rear), and the sound lamp control device unit 142 is mounted on the rear side. The sound lamp control device unit 142 includes a sound lamp control device 143 and a mounting table 144, and the sound lamp control device 143 is mounted on the mounting table 144.

  The sound lamp control device 143 includes a sound lamp control board that controls sound, lamp display, and display control device in accordance with instructions from a main control device to be described later, and the sound lamp control board is made of a transparent resin material or the like. It is configured to be accommodated in a substrate box 145.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a collective plate 150 is provided below the variable display unit 86 on the back surface of the game board 80. The collective board 150 is provided with a game ball collecting mechanism for collecting game balls won in various winning ports, a detection mechanism for detecting the entering of game balls into various winning ports, and the like.

  The game ball collecting mechanism will be described. The collective plate 150 is provided with a collecting passage 151 corresponding to each of the various winning holes such as the general winning port 81, the variable winning device 82, and the operating ports 83 and 84. . These collection passages 151 go down along the back surface of the game board 80 from these entrances, and define the fall path of the game balls. Each collection passage 151 joins in the vicinity of the lower end of the game board 80, and any game balls that have passed through the entrance holes such as the general prize opening 81 gather at the lower part of the game board 80 via the collection passage 151. Will be. The outlet portion of each collection passage 151 is opened downward, and a discharge passage described later is provided on the front side (specifically, below the game board 80). The game balls gathered below the game board 80 by the collection passage 151 are led out to the discharge passage. Similarly, the out port 87 leads to the discharge passage, and a game ball that has not won any winning port is led to the discharge passage through the out port 87.

  The detection mechanism will be described. The collective plate 150 is provided with detection sensors corresponding to the general winning port 81, the variable winning device 82, and the operating ports 83 and 84, respectively. These various detection sensors are arranged in the middle of each collection passage 151 connected to the entrance such as the above-described general winning opening 81, and the game is played in a state in which the fall path of the game ball is defined in the collection passage 151. Detects the passage of a sphere. More specifically, each detection sensor detects a ball entering a ball entrance such as the general winning port 81 or the like when a game ball passes through a detection area provided in the middle of each collection passage 151. Specifically, a magnetic sensor that grasps a change in a magnetic field that occurs when a game ball passes through the detection area is employed.

  These various detection sensors are electrically connected to a main control device unit 160 (specifically, a main control device) provided on the back side of the game board 80, and detection signals from these detection sensors are transmitted to the main control device. Output. In the following, the main controller unit 160 and the configuration associated therewith will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main controller unit 160.

  The main controller unit 160 is mounted on the game board 80 so as to cover the assembly board 150 from the rear side, and is composed of a synthetic resin mounting base 161 and a main control unit 162 mounted on the mounting base 161. It is configured. The main controller 162 includes a main control board having a function (main control circuit) that controls the main control of the game and a function (power failure monitoring circuit) that monitors the power source, and the main control board is made of a transparent resin material. It is configured to be accommodated in a substrate box 163 made of, for example.

  The board box 163 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box base (front case body) and a box cover (back case body) that covers an opening of the box base. The box base and the box cover are connected so as not to be opened by a sealing portion 164 as a sealing means, whereby the substrate box 163 is sealed. Five sealing portions 164 are provided on the long side portion of the substrate box 163, and at least one of them is used for sealing processing.

  Any configuration can be applied to the sealing portion 164 as long as the box base and the box cover are coupled so as not to be opened. However, the box base and the box cover can be inserted by inserting a locking claw into the long hole constituting the sealing portion 164. And can be unopened. The sealing process by the sealing unit 164 prevents unauthorized opening after the sealing, and makes it possible to detect such a situation early and easily even if unauthorized opening is performed. It is possible to perform the sealing process again even after it has been performed. That is, the sealing process is performed by inserting a locking claw into at least one of the five sealing portions 164. When opening the board box 163 such as when a failure occurs in the housed main control board or when inspecting the main control board, the connecting part between the sealing part into which the locking claw is inserted and another sealing part is provided. Disconnect. As a result, the box base and the box cover of the substrate box 163 are separated, and the internal main control substrate can be taken out. Thereafter, when the sealing process is performed again, the locking claws are inserted into the long holes of the other sealing portions. If the history of opening the substrate box 163 is left in the substrate box 163, it can be easily found that the unauthorized opening has been performed by looking at the substrate box 163.

  A plurality of coupling pieces are provided on one short side portion of the substrate box 163 so as to protrude laterally. These coupling pieces have a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of coupled pieces formed on the mounting base 161, and a sealing process is performed between the board box 163 and the mounting base 161 by the coupling pieces and the coupled pieces. Is called.

  Next, the back pack unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10, FIG. 9 is a front view of the back pack unit 15, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the back pack unit 15 disassembled for each main configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the inner frame 13 is covered from behind by the back pack unit 15. The back pack unit 15 includes a back pack 201, and a payout mechanism unit 202, a discharge passage board, and a control device assembly unit 204 are attached to the back pack 201.

  The back pack 201 is formed of a synthetic resin having transparency, and as shown in FIG. 9, a base portion 211 to which the payout mechanism portion 202 and the like are attached, and a protective cover portion 212 that protrudes rearward from the pachinko machine 10 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. And have. The protective cover portion 212 has a shape in which the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface are closed and only the lower surface is opened, and has a size sufficient to surround at least the variable display unit 86.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the base part 211 is provided with an external terminal plate 213 at the upper right part thereof. The external terminal board 213 is provided with various output terminals, and various signals are output to the management control device on the game hall side through these output terminals. The base portion 211 is provided with a pair of upper and lower retaining pins 214 at the right end when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and a bearing fitting 132 (specifically, a bearing portion) provided on the inner frame 13 with the retaining pins 214. The back pack unit 15 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the inner frame 13. In addition, a fastening tool 215 for fastening to a fastening hole 90 provided in the inner frame 13 is provided at the rotating tip of the base portion 211, and the fastening tool 215 is fitted into the fastening hole. As a result, the back pack unit 15 is fixed to the inner frame 13.

  In the base portion 211, a payout mechanism portion 202 is disposed so as to bypass the protective cover portion 212. The payout mechanism 202 is provided with a tank 221 that is arranged at the top of the back pack 201 and that opens upward, and game balls supplied from the island facilities of the game hall are sequentially replenished to the tank 221. The A tank rail 222 that is gently inclined toward the downstream side is connected to the lower side of the tank 221, and a case rail 223 that extends in the vertical direction is connected to the downstream side of the tank rail 222. A payout device 224 is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 223. The game balls paid out from the payout device 224 are supplied to the game ball distribution unit 225 provided in the base portion 211 of the back pack 201 through a payout passage (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the payout device 224.

  The game ball distribution unit 225 has a function of distributing the game balls paid out from the payout device 224 to any one of the upper plate 33, the lower plate 34, and a discharge passage described later, and the inner opening is the main body described above. The side upper dish passage 122 and the front door side upper dish path 51 communicate with the upper dish 33, and the outer opening communicates with the main body side lower dish path 123 and the front door side lower dish path 52. (See FIGS. 3 and 7).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the discharge passage board and the control device collective unit 204 are attached to the lower end portion of the base portion 211 so as to sandwich the lower end portion in the front-rear direction. In the discharge passage board, a discharge passage opened rearward is formed on a surface facing the control device assembly unit 204, and an open portion of the discharge passage is closed by the control device assembly unit 204. The discharge passage is formed so as to discharge the game ball to the island facility or the like of the game hall, and the game ball led to the discharge passage from the recovery passage described above passes through the discharge passage to the outside of the pachinko machine 10. Discharged.

  The control device assembly unit 204 has a horizontally long mounting base 241, and a payout control device 242 and a power supply / launch control device 243 are mounted on the mounting base 241. The payout control device 242 and the power supply / launch control device 243 are arranged so as to overlap each other so that the payout control device 242 is behind the pachinko machine 10.

  In the payout control device 242, a payout control board for controlling the payout device 224 is accommodated in the board box 244, and a state return switch 245 provided on the payout control board projects out of the board box 244. For example, when the state return switch 245 is pressed when a payout error occurs, such as a ball jam in the payout device 224, the ball jam is eliminated.

  The power source / launch control device 243 includes a power source / launch control board housed in the board box 246, and a predetermined power source required for various control devices and the like is generated and output by the board. Control of the launch of the game ball accompanying the operation of the firing handle 41 is performed. Further, the power supply / launch control device 243 is provided with a RAM erase switch 247. This pachinko machine 10 has a function to store and store various data so that even if a power failure occurs, it maintains the state at the time of the power failure, and when it recovers from the power failure, it can be restored to the state at the time of the power failure. It has become. Therefore, for example, when the power supply is turned off in the normal procedure, as in the case of the game hall being closed, the state before the interruption is stored and held, but when the power is turned on while the RAM erase switch 247 is held down, the RAM data is initialized. It is like that.

<Configuration related to winning detection in the variable winning device 82>
As already described, when a game ball that has flowed into a ball-entry portion such as the general winning port 81, the variable winning device 82, and the operating ports 83 and 84 is detected by the detection sensor, a game is given to the player based on the detected information. Benefits such as paying out balls are granted. Particularly in the present embodiment, various measures are taken to improve the detection accuracy of the game ball that has flowed into the winning portion (that is, the winning detection accuracy). Therefore, as an example, a configuration relating to ball detection in the variable winning device 82 will be supplementarily described based on FIG. 5, FIG. 11 and FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 and a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. In FIG. 12, for convenience, the collection passage 151 is partially visible by breaking a part of the collective plate 150.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an opening 99 having a horizontally long rectangular shape is provided at a position below the lower operation port 84 in the game board 80. The opening 99 penetrates in the thickness direction (front-rear direction) of the game board 80 and is formed so that the opening cross section has a substantially rectangular shape. A variable winning device 82 is assembled in the opening 99 from the front side of the game board 80.

  The variable winning device 82 includes a guide passage portion 260 that guides the game ball that has flowed into the opening 99 to the back side of the game board 80, and a forward opening portion of the guide passage portion 260 (hereinafter referred to as a big prize opening 261). ) And an open / close door 270 formed in accordance with the above. The open / close door 270 is in a closed position in which the game ball cannot flow into the prize winning opening 261 by closing the prize winning opening 261 and in an open position that allows the game ball to flow into the prize winning opening 261. It is provided to be switchable. Specifically, the opening / closing door 270 is rotatably provided and biased toward the closed position. Due to this urging force, the opening / closing door 270 is in a standby state in the closed position.

  The variable winning device 82 includes a drive unit (specifically, a solenoid) that is electrically connected to the main control device 162. When a big hit occurs, a drive signal is input from the main controller 162 to drive the solenoid, and the door 270 is pushed to the open position by the output shaft of the solenoid. Thereby, the opening / closing door 270 moves to the open position against the urging force (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11).

  Thus, in a state where the open / close door 270 is opened, the game ball flowing down the game area PE moves along the plate surface of the open / close door 270. Thereby, winning to the big winning opening 261 is facilitated. That is, the opening / closing door 270 is provided with a support function for supporting the inflow of game balls to the special winning opening 261, and the opening / closing door 270 is arranged at the open position, thereby enabling the support function.

  Behind the guide passage portion 260, there is provided a winning prize collection passage portion 310 for collecting game balls that have flowed out of the guiding passage portion 260, and is partitioned by the winning prize collection passage portion 310. A part of the recovery passage 151 is constituted by the passage.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the winning prize collection passage section 310 includes an upstream passage section 320 into which game balls that have flowed out from the guide passage section 260 flow in, and a downstream passage section 330 that is connected to the upstream passage section 320. have.

  The upstream-side passage portion 320 extends in the horizontal direction (specifically, the left-right direction in the pachinko machine 10) in the same manner as the special winning opening 261. The upstream-side passage portion 320 faces the front-side wall portion 321 across a front-side wall portion 321 that covers the guide passage 265 of the guide-passage portion 260 from the rear and a game ball passage region (hereinafter referred to as an upstream passage 325). And a rear side wall portion 322.

  The front side wall 321 is formed with a receiving port 323 that is open to the guide passage unit 260 side, and the game ball flows from the guide channel 265 to the upstream channel 325 through the receiving port 323.

  In the present embodiment, a device for reducing the momentum of the game ball flowing from the guide passage 265 to the upstream passage 325 is provided. Here, the configuration related to the de-energization of game balls will be described.

  The guide passage portion 260 has a long plate-like bottom portion 262 provided along the bottom surface of the opening 99. As shown in FIG. 12, a groove portion 263 is formed in a portion of the bottom portion 262 that is in front of the receiving port 323 of the collection passage unit 311 so as to be continuous with the receiving port 323. More specifically, a groove portion 263 that extends rearward and communicates with the receiving port 323 is formed on one side portion of the bottom portion 262.

  Further, the upper surface of the bottom portion 262 is inclined downward toward the groove portion 263. For this reason, the game ball that has flowed from the special winning opening 261 flows into the groove portion 263 along the inclination of the bottom portion 262. The bottom surface of the groove portion 263 gently falls rearward, and the game ball that has flowed into the groove portion 263 moves rearward along the bottom surface and flows into the winning prize collection passage portion 310 through the receiving port 323. By passing through the groove portion 263 in this way, the movement of the game ball that has flowed in from the special winning opening 261 in the passage direction of the upstream passage 325 is suppressed.

  The game ball that has flowed into the winning prize collection passage portion 310 collides with the rear side wall portion 322 of the upstream passage portion 320. Thereby, the momentum in the front-back direction is weakened.

  In this way, the game ball whose flow force has been weakened moves along the upstream passage 325 to the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of detection sensors 350 are arranged in the downstream passage portion 330. The detection sensor 350 is integrated with the assembly plate 150 by being fixed in a state of being accommodated in a sensor housing portion formed on the assembly plate 150 (see FIG. 7). These detection sensors 350 detect the passage of the game ball. In this way, if attention is paid to the point that the game ball is detected in the downstream passage portion 330, the downstream passage portion 330 can also be referred to as a ball detection passage portion 330.

  The downstream passage portion 330 defines a downstream passage 335 through which one game ball can pass through the same portion. The downstream passage 335 has a crank shape that is bent a plurality of times in the horizontal direction (left and right direction in the pachinko machine 10) along the back surface of the game board 80. Specifically, the downstream passage 335 includes a first longitudinal passage 336 and a second longitudinal passage 338 that extend in the vertical direction, and a transverse passage 337 that connects both the longitudinal passages 336 and 338. The passage direction changes in the order of the vertical direction → substantially horizontal direction → vertical direction at the boundary portion of ˜338. As described above, by having a plurality of bent portions, it is possible to suppress variations in the flow speed of the game balls passing through the passage 335. In other words, the downstream passage 335 is provided with a function of making the flow velocity of each game ball constant.

  The first vertical passage 336 communicates with the upstream passage 325, and the detection sensor 350 is attached to the upstream portion thereof. A lateral passage 337 is connected to the first longitudinal passage 336 from the downstream side, and the game ball that has moved from the first longitudinal passage 336 to the transverse passage 337 is guided so that the flow direction is substantially horizontal.

  The horizontal passage 337 is slightly inclined toward the second vertical passage 338, and the second vertical passage 338 is connected to the downstream side thereof. The detection sensor 350 is attached in the middle of the second vertical passage 338.

  Here, the detection sensor 350 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. 13A is a perspective view of the detection sensor 350, and FIG. 13B is an exploded perspective view showing the detection sensor 350 in an exploded manner for each main part.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the detection sensor 350 has a sensor main part 360 that detects a game ball. In the sensor main part 360, a sensor board 361 on which various circuits are formed by mounting electronic components such as capacitors, an electromagnetic ball detector 362 fixed to one side of the sensor board 361, A connector base 363 fixed to the end of the sensor substrate 361 opposite to the sphere detector 362 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the ball detector 362 has a cylindrical portion 362a extending in the same direction as the longitudinal passages 336 and 338, and the detection sensor 350 is assembled to the collecting plate 150, that is, the sensor. In the state of being accommodated in the accommodating portions 336a and 338a, a part of the longitudinal passages 336 and 338 is constituted by the cylindrical portion 362a. More specifically, the sensor accommodating portions 336a and 338a are formed by denting a part of the longitudinal passages 336 and 338 in a direction intersecting the passage direction of the longitudinal passages 336 and 338, and the detection sensor 350 is the same sensor. In the state of being accommodated in the accommodating portion 326, the recessed portion is closed from the inside of the passage by the cylindrical portion 362a. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 362a is formed to be substantially flush with the passage wall surfaces of the vertical passages 336 and 338, and a part of the passage region is partitioned by the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 362a. Yes.

  A coil 364 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 362a, and both ends (both ends of the electric conducting wire) of the coil 364 are connected to the sensor substrate 361 (see 13 (b)). When the coil 364 is energized, a magnetic field is generated in at least a region surrounded by the cylindrical portion 362a (hereinafter referred to as a detection region DE for convenience).

  Referring to FIG. 13 again, the detection sensor 350 includes a case body 370 that houses the sensor main portion 360. The case body 370 has a pair of case components facing each other with the sensor main portion 360 interposed therebetween, and the case components 370 are combined to partition the inner region and the outer region of the detection sensor 350. Yes. The case body 370 is provided with a shield function for suppressing the passage of radio waves, static electricity, and the like, and the case body 370 suppresses the influence of the radio waves and the like on the sensor substrate 361.

  The case body 370 is formed with a notch 372 for exposing the connector base 363 to the outside of the detection sensor 350, and a harness H is connected to the connector base 363 (see FIG. 13B). . As a result, the detection sensor 350 and the main control device 162 are electrically connected, and the detection signal output from the detection sensor 350 can be transmitted to the main control device 162.

  In addition, in these case bodies 370, an opening 371 communicating with the cylindrical portion 362a of the ball detecting portion 362 is formed, and the passage of the game ball falling in the vertical passages 336 and 338 is allowed to pass. . When the game ball passes through the detection area DE, the magnetic field formed in the detection area DE changes, and the impedance in the coil 364 changes. As a result, the passage of the game ball appears as a change in signal, specifically, a change in voltage.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the length dimension L1 of the cylindrical portion 362a in the central axis direction (passage direction of the longitudinal path 336) is set smaller than the diameter dimension D1 of the game ball. For this reason, the game ball passing through the cylindrical portion 362a is not buried in the cylindrical portion 362a, and at the passage timing, at least a part of the game ball protrudes from the cylindrical portion 362a. As a result, for example, the ability to identify individual game balls when the game balls pass through the detection area DE in a state where a plurality of game balls are connected is improved.

  Here, based on FIG. 12, the relationship between each detection sensor 350 and the downstream channel | path 335 is supplementarily demonstrated. In the following description, for convenience, the detection sensor 350 disposed in the first vertical passage 336 is referred to as “first detection sensor 350A”, and the detection sensor 350 disposed in the second vertical passage 338 is referred to as “second detection sensor 350B”. To distinguish.

  The first detection sensor 350 </ b> A is disposed in the upstream portion of the first vertical passage 336, and the second detection sensor 350 </ b> B is disposed in the downstream portion of the second vertical passage 338. A distance L1 from the bottom portion 324 that defines the upstream passage 325 to the first detection region DE1 is set to be smaller than a distance L2 from the bottom portion 331 that defines the lateral passage 337 to the second detection region DE2. ing. More specifically, the distance L1 is set to be approximately 1/4 of the distance L2.

  The vertical movement component of the game medium flowing from the upstream path 325 to the first vertical path 336 is set to be substantially zero, and the game medium flowing from the horizontal path 337 to the second vertical path 338 The moving component in the vertical direction is also set to be almost zero. For this reason, the game balls flowing into the vertical passages 336 and 338 are accelerated by their own weight and pass through the detection areas DE1 and DE2. For this reason, the moving speed of the game ball when passing through the first detection area DE1 is approximately half of the moving speed of the game ball when passing through the second detection area DE2. In other words, the period required for the game ball to pass through the first detection area DE1 and the period during which the detection signal is output from the first detection sensor 350A are the period required for the game ball to pass through the second detection area DE2. This is approximately twice the period in which the detection signal is output from the second detection sensor 350B.

  The reason why the game balls are configured to flow into the vertical passages 336 and 338 via the upstream passage 325 and the horizontal passage 337 is as follows. That is, the variation in speed based on the above-described free fall of the game ball is small and is unlikely to cause a variation in the passing speed when passing through the detection area DE. On the other hand, the initial speed variation of the game balls flowing into the vertical passages 336 and 338 may be a factor causing the variation in the passing speed as it is. If the drop distance can be set large, it is possible to ignore the variation in the initial speed. However, considering that the area where the collection passage 151 is disposed is limited, such a response is difficult. It is assumed. Therefore, after passing through the passage extending substantially horizontally, the game balls are caused to flow into the vertical passages 336 and 338, whereby the initial speed of the game balls passing through the detection area DE is set to almost zero. Thereby, the initial speed variation becomes dominant, and it is avoided that the moving speed of the game ball greatly varies when passing through the detection area DE.

  Here, the flow of game ball detection as the game progresses will be described.

  The game ball launched from the game ball launching mechanism 110 reaches the game area PE via the guide rail 100. When one of the plurality of game balls flows into the upper operation port 83, a jackpot lottery is made. As a result, when the jackpot is won, the open / close door 270 of the variable prize winning device 82 is opened, and the prize winning port 261 is opened. Inflow of game balls is allowed.

  The game ball hitting the open / close door 270 thus opened is guided along the open / close door 270 to the big prize opening 261 and moves rearward along the guide passage 265. Then, the momentum is weakened by colliding with the front side wall portion 321 of the winning prize collection passage portion 310 and flows into the groove portion 263 along the bottom portion 262 of the guide passage portion 260. The game ball that has flowed into the groove 263 moves rearward along the groove 263 and flows into the collection passage 151 through the receiving port 323. At this time, the game ball collides with the rear side wall portion 322, so that the momentum is weakened again.

  The game ball that has flowed into the recovery passage 151 (specifically, the upstream passage 325) flows down along the upstream passage 325 and flows into the first vertical passage 336. At this time, the momentum is weakened again by colliding with the wall surface of the passage located on the extension of the upstream passage 325. Thereafter, the game ball passes through the detection area DE1 of the first detection sensor 350A by freely falling in the first vertical passage 336. A signal obtained by the game ball passing through the detection area DE1 is output to the main controller 162 via the sensor board 361A → connector base 363A → harness HA (see FIG. 13).

  The game ball that has flowed down the first vertical passage 336 collides with a passage wall surface (specifically, the bottom portion 331) located on the extension of the first vertical passage 336 so that the fall speed obtained by free fall becomes almost zero. Be defeated. Thereafter, the game ball moves toward the second vertical passage 338 along the inclination of the horizontal passage 337.

  The game ball that has reached the second vertical passage 338 is free-falling along the second vertical passage 338 to be accelerated to a predetermined speed, and then passes through the detection region DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B. A signal obtained by the game ball passing through the detection area DE2 is output to the main controller 162 via the sensor board 361B → connector base 363B → harness HB (see FIG. 13).

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 14, a power supply line is indicated by a double line arrow, and a signal line is indicated by a solid line arrow.

  A main control board 601 provided in the main controller 162 incorporates a main control circuit 602 and a power failure monitoring circuit 603. An MPU 611 is mounted on the main control circuit 602. The MPU 611 includes a ROM 612 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 611 and fixed value data, and a memory that temporarily stores various data when the control program stored in the ROM 612 is executed. A certain RAM 613 and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data input / output circuit are incorporated.

  The RAM 613 is configured to retain data by supplying data storage holding power from the power supply / launch control board 621 provided in the power / fire control device 243 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off.

  An input / output port is connected to the MPU 611 via a bus line including an address bus and a data bus. Connected to the input side of the main control circuit 602 are a power failure monitoring circuit 603 provided on the main control board 601, a payout control board 622 provided on the payout control device 242 and various sensor groups. In this case, a power / fire control board 621 is connected to the power failure monitoring circuit 603, and power is supplied to the main control circuit 602 via the power failure monitoring circuit 603.

  As a part of the sensor group, a detection sensor 350 provided in the variable winning device 82 and various detection sensors provided in other entrance parts such as the operation ports 83 and 84 are connected. A winning determination is made in the department.

<Electric configuration for winning determination>
Here, the electrical configuration for performing the winning determination based on the detection information from the detection sensor 350 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15, an integrated circuit including a main circuit 650 and an output circuit 680 is provided on the sensor substrate 361 of the detection sensor 350.

  The main circuit 650 includes an oscillation circuit 660 in which the coil 364 and the capacitor 661 are connected in parallel. The oscillation circuit 660 is a circuit having the coil 364 as an oscillation coil, and oscillates at a constant frequency (1 MHz in the present embodiment) when a constant voltage is applied. A signal (analog signal) output from the oscillation circuit is input to the processing circuit 670 that constitutes the main circuit 650 together with the oscillation circuit 660. The processing circuit 670 has a function of converting (binarizing) the signal input from the oscillation circuit 660 into either the HI level or the LOW level, and the amplitude of the signal oscillated at the above frequency is a predetermined value. When the threshold value is exceeded (normal time), an HI level signal is output. The signal binarized in this way is inverted through the output circuit 680 and then output to the main control board 601.

  When the game ball passes through the detection area DE of the detection sensor 350, the game ball passes through the magnetic field formed by the coil 364. When the game ball passes through the magnetic field in this way, the impedance in the coil 364 decreases, so that the oscillation condition of the oscillation circuit changes and the amplitude of the signal output from the oscillation circuit 660 decreases. More specifically, the amplitude is almost zero and the oscillation is temporarily stopped.

  The above-described threshold is set so that when the amplitude is reduced as the game ball passes, the amplitude is less than the threshold, and when the amplitude falls below the threshold in this way (that is, at the time of detection). The LOW level signal is input from the processing circuit 670 to the output circuit 680. The LOW level signal input to the output circuit 680 is inverted through the output circuit 680 and then output to the main control board 601.

  By analyzing the signal input from the detection sensor 350 by the MPU 611 of the main control board 601, a winning determination described later is executed. An audio lamp control device 143 (specifically an audio lamp control board 624) is connected to the output side of the main control board 601 (specifically the main control circuit 602) via a relay terminal board 623 and an external terminal board 213. The hall computer is connected through. If an error due to the influence of noise or the like is confirmed in the winning determination, a notification command is output to the voice lamp control device 143 to notify that the error has occurred, and the error information is stored in the hall. Will be transmitted to the computer.

  Here, a supplementary explanation will be given regarding the electrical configuration for determining the winning in the MPU 611 of the main controller 162.

  The RAM 613 of the MPU 611 is provided with a first detection counter area 613a and a second detection counter area 613b that are used when determining the winning of a game ball. The first detection counter area 613a is a counter (hereinafter referred to as a first detection counter DC1 for convenience) having a maximum value (2 in the present embodiment), and the value is “0” according to a predetermined condition. ”,“ 1 ”,“ 2 ”. Specifically, it is reset to “0” by confirming the input of a signal (that is, a LOW level signal) corresponding to the fact that the game ball is not detected in any one process, and then the game ball is When the input of the signal corresponding to the detection (that is, the HI level signal) is continuously confirmed by two processes, “0” → “1” or “1” → “2”. Will be counted up. In this way, when the value of the first detection counter DC1 becomes “2”, it is determined that one game ball has won.

  The second detection counter area 613b is a counter (hereinafter referred to as a second detection counter DC2 for convenience) having a maximum value (2 in the present embodiment), and the value is “0” according to a predetermined condition. ”,“ 1 ”,“ 2 ”. Specifically, it is reset to “0” by confirming the input of a signal (specifically, a LOW level signal) corresponding to the fact that the game ball is not detected in any one process, and then the game ball When the input of a signal (specifically, an HI level signal) corresponding to the detection of the signal is continuously confirmed by two processes, the count is incremented so that “1” → “2”. In this way, based on the second detection counter DC2 becoming “2”, it is determined that one game ball has won.

  The check counter area 613c is a counter (hereinafter referred to as a check counter CC) having a maximum value “200” and an initial value “100”, and the value is added or subtracted according to a predetermined condition. It is the composition which becomes. Specifically, “1” is incremented when the game ball is won by the first detection counter DC1, and “1” is incremented when the game ball is won by the second detection counter DC2. Subtracted. That is, when the game ball has won normally, the value of the check counter CC settles to the initial value via a temporary change. On the other hand, when the value of the check counter CC remains out of the initial value, it is grasped that the detection signal is not normal. That is, it is understood that there is a possibility that noise or the like is mixed in the detection signal output from one of the detection sensors 350A and 350B due to an intentional or accidental factor.

  In addition, the RAM 613 of the MPU 611 includes an error counter area 613d and a counter 613d used for determining whether or not the detection signal input from the detection sensor 350 is normal, that is, whether harmful noise or the like is mixed. A determination timer counter 613e is provided. The error counter area 613d is a counter whose maximum value is “3” (hereinafter referred to as an error counter EC for convenience), and the value is “0”, “1”, “2” according to a predetermined condition. It becomes the composition which changes with. Specifically, when it is determined in the determination processing for the check counter CC that the value of the check counter CC is out of the initial value, “0” → “1” → “2” → “3” Is counted up by one in the order. In this way, when the value of the error counter EC is “3”, it is understood that the detection signal is not normal. That is, it is understood that noise or the like may be mixed in the detection signal due to intentional or accidental factors.

  The determination timer counter 613e is a counter that returns to 0 by subtracting one from the previous value every time the update is performed according to a predetermined update condition (hereinafter referred to as a determination timer counter JTC). The value of the determination timer counter JTC is a timing for executing the update process of the error counter EC described above. Specifically, counting is started when the opening / closing door 270 of the variable winning device 82 is closed, and the game ball that has flowed into the big winning opening 261 when the opening / closing door 270 is closed is detected region DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B. A sufficient value (in this embodiment, “2000”, that is, 4 sec) is set.

  Next, an electrical configuration for determining the occurrence of a jackpot in the MPU 611 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

  The MPU 611 uses various counter information (specifically, information on various counter areas 613f of the RAM 613 shown in FIG. 15) in the game to set the jackpot lottery, the emission color of the first specific lamp unit 93, and the symbol display of the symbol display device 91. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the jackpot random number counter C1 used for the jackpot lottery and the jackpot used to determine the jackpot type such as the probability variation jackpot or the normal jackpot The type counter C2, the reach random number counter C3 used for reach lottery when the symbol display device 91 fluctuates and fluctuates, the random number initial value counter CINI used for setting the initial value of the big hit random number counter C1, and the first specific lamp unit 93 The period for switching the color displayed on the symbol and the symbol variable display time on the symbol display device 91 are determined. It is set to be used and variation type counter CS for. Furthermore, the electric accessory release counter C4 used for the lottery to determine whether or not the electric accessory 89 of the lower working port 84 is in the electric utility open state is used. The counters C1 to C4, CINI, and CS are provided in various counter areas 613f of the RAM 613.

  Each of the counters C1 to C4, CINI, and CS is a loop counter that adds 1 to the previous value every time it is updated and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in the lottery counter buffer 613g of the RAM 613. The RAM 613 is provided with a holding ball storage area 613h and an electric power holding area composed of one execution area and four holding areas (holding first to fourth areas), of which the holding ball storage area 613h includes The values of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2 and the reach random number counter C3 are stored in time series in accordance with the entry history of the game balls into the operation ports 83 and 84.

  For details of each counter, the jackpot random number counter C1 is configured such that, for example, 1 is sequentially added within a range of 0 to 676, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 676), it returns to 0. In particular, when the jackpot random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the big hit random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 676). The jackpot random number counter C1 is periodically updated and stored in the reserved ball storage area 613h of the RAM 613 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83 and 84.

  The jackpot type counter C2 is incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 49, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 49) and then returns to 0. In the present embodiment, the jackpot type counter C2 determines whether the probability change state or the normal state is set after the jackpot is finished. The big hit type counter C2 is periodically updated, and stored in the reserved ball storage area 613h of the RAM 613 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83 and 84.

  For example, the reach random number counter C3 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 238, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 238) and then returns to 0. The reach random number counter C3 is periodically updated and stored in the reserved ball storage area 613h of the RAM 613 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83 and 84.

  For example, the variation type counter CS is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 240, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 240) and then returns to 0. The switching display time as a period for switching the color displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 is determined by the variation type counter CS. This switching display time corresponds to the symbol fluctuation display time of the symbol display device 91. The variation type counter CS is updated once every time a normal process to be described later is executed once, and is repeatedly updated even within the remaining time in the normal process. Then, the buffer value of the variation type counter CS is acquired at the time of starting the switching of the color displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 and determining the variation pattern at the time of starting the variation of the symbol by the symbol display device 91.

  At the start of one game round, the MPU 611 of the main control board 601 uses a value of each of the counters C1 to C3 and CS stored in the reserved ball storage area 613h to perform a big hit lottery or the first specific lamp unit 93. The switching time of the color displayed on the screen is determined. Information on the lottery result determined here and information on the switching time are transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143 as a game turn command. The sound lamp control device 143 determines the effect contents of the corresponding game times, such as the variation pattern in the symbol display device 91 and the presence / absence of reach, based on the game times command.

  In addition, the value of the electric utility release counter C4 at that time is acquired at the timing when the winning to the through gate 85 occurs, and a lottery is executed as to whether or not the electric accessory is to be opened based on the acquired value. Is done.

  With reference to FIG. 15 again, an electrical configuration used in various processes when a big hit occurs will be described.

  If it is determined that the jackpot is won as a result of the internal lottery described above, the variable winning device 82 is switched to the open state. As a release mode of the variable winning device 82, a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings is defined as one round, and a maximum number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) is opened.

  In the various counter areas 613f, a round counter RC that counts the rounds of big hits, a winning counter PC that counts the number of winnings, an opening timer counter OTC that counts the opening period in each round, and a closing period between rounds are provided. A closing timer counter CTC for counting is provided.

  The round counter RC is a counter whose maximum value is “15”, and is decremented by 1 every time one round passes. When the round counter reaches “0”, the release mode of the variable winning device 82 associated with the jackpot ends. The winning counter PC is a counter whose maximum value is “10”, and is decremented by one every time it is determined by the first detection counter that the game ball has won. The open timer counter OTC is a counter whose maximum value is “15000”, and is decremented by 1 each time a timer interrupt process described later is performed. When one of the winning counter PC and the open timer counter OTC becomes “0”, one round is completed. Further, the closing timer counter CTC is a counter whose maximum value is “2000”, and is decremented by 1 every time a timer interrupt process described later is performed, and the closing timer counter CTC becomes “0”. It moves to the next round, and the opening / closing door 270 of the variable winning device 82 is opened.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 10, the power failure monitoring circuit 603, the payout control board 622, and the relay terminal board 623 are connected to the output side of the main control circuit 602. Various commands such as a prize ball command are output to the payout control board 622. Various commands including the notification command are output from the main control circuit 602 to the sound lamp control board 624 provided in the sound lamp control device 143 via the relay terminal plate 623.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 603 relays between the main control circuit 602 and the power / launch control board 621, and monitors a DC stable 24 volt power source that is the maximum power output from the power / fire control board 621.

  The payout control board 622 controls payout of prize balls and rental balls by the payout device 224. The MPU 631 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 632 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 631, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 633 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  Similar to the RAM 613 of the main control circuit 602, the RAM 633 of the payout control board 622 is configured such that the data storage holding power is supplied from the power / launch control board 621 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off, and the data is held. It has become.

  An input / output port is connected to the MPU 631 of the payout control board 622 through a bus line including an address bus and a data bus. On the input side of the payout control board 622, a main control circuit 602, a power / fire control board 621, and a back pack board 629 are connected. A main control circuit 602 and a back pack substrate 629 are connected to the output side of the payout control substrate 622.

  The power / launch control board 621 includes a power source unit and a launch control unit. The power supply unit supplies necessary operating power to the main control circuit 602, the payout control board 622, and the like through a path indicated by a double line arrow. The launch control unit is responsible for launch control of the game ball launch mechanism 110 according to the operation of the game ball launch handle 41 by the player, and the game ball launch mechanism 110 is driven when predetermined launch conditions are met. .

  The sound lamp control board 624 controls the various lamp units 26 to 28, the speaker unit 29, and the display control device 625. The MPU 641 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 642 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 641, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 643 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  An input / output port is connected to the MPU 641 of the sound lamp control board 624 via a bus line including an address bus and a data bus. A main control circuit 602 is connected to the input side of the sound lamp control board 624 by being relayed to the relay terminal plate 623, and various lamp units 26 to 28, speakers, and the like based on various commands output from the main control circuit 602. The unit 29 and the display control device 625 are controlled. The display control device 625 controls the symbol display device 91 based on a display command input from the sound lamp control board 624.

<Various processes executed by main controller 162>
Next, timer interrupt processing and normal processing executed by the MPU 611 of the main controller 162 will be described. In addition to the timer interrupt process and the normal process, the MPU 611 executes a main process that is activated when the power is turned on and an NMI interrupt process that is activated by the input of a power failure signal to the NMI terminal (non-maskable terminal). Description of these processes is omitted.

<Timer interrupt processing>
First, timer interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is started periodically by the MPU 611 (for example, at a cycle of 2 msec). This period is arbitrary. However, since the timer interrupt processing is set to be executed repeatedly in a short cycle such as confirmation of power interruption signal or fraud detection signal, confirmation of various winnings, etc., other processing is set. It is preferably set shorter than the repetition period of the normal process described later.

  First, in step S101, a signal reading process is executed. In the signal reading process, information input to the input port from the detection sensors individually provided for the general winning port 81, the variable winning device 82, the operating ports 83 and 84, and the through gate 85 is confirmed, and the confirmation result To determine whether or not there is a ball entering each ball club. Specifically, input of a signal (for example, a LOW level signal) corresponding to not detecting a game ball in any one process is confirmed, and a game ball is detected in the subsequent two processes. When the input of a signal (for example, an HI level signal) corresponding to being performed is continuously confirmed, it is specified that a game ball has entered in the entrance corresponding to the detection sensor. Hereinafter, a part of the signal determination process, specifically, a process based on signals from the detection sensors 350A and 350B corresponding to the variable winning device 82 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Signal reading process>
In the signal reading process, first, a detection signal input process from the first detection sensor 350A (steps S201 to S207) is performed, and then a detection signal input process from the second detection sensor 350B (step S208). To Step S214). Note that the order of reading processing of these detection signals is not limited to this, and the reading processing of the detection signals input from the second detection sensor 350B may be performed first.

  In step S201, it is determined whether or not the detection signal input from the first detection sensor 350A is at the HI level. If a negative determination is made in step S203, that is, if the detection signal is at the LOW level, the process proceeds to step S202, the value of the first detection counter DC1 is updated to “0”, and then the second detection sensor. Proceed to the signal reading process for 350B.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S201, that is, if the detection signal is at the HI level, the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, it is determined whether or not the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “1”.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S203, that is, if the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “1”, the value of the first detection counter DC1 is updated to “2” in step S204 (1). After adding, the process proceeds to step S205. The affirmative determination in step S204 indicates that the detection signals are input in the order of LOW level → HI level → HI level. Based on the input of such signals, the game ball has passed through the detection area DE1. That is, it is determined that there has been a winning at the big winning opening 261. In a subsequent step S205, the first winning detection flag is set. The first winning detection flag is a flag used when a game ball is paid out based on winning in the big winning opening 261.

  After the winning detection flag is set in step S205, the signal reading process for the first detection sensor 350A is terminated, and the process proceeds to the signal reading process for the second detection sensor 350B.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S203, that is, if the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “0” or “2”, the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “2” in step S206. It is determined whether or not. If an affirmative determination is made in step S206, that is, if the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “2”, the signal reading process for the first detection sensor 350A is terminated and the second detection sensor 350B is read. Proceed to signal reading process.

  When a negative determination is made in step S206, that is, when the value of the first detection counter DC1 is “0”, the process proceeds to step S207 and the value of the first detection counter DC is updated to “1” (added by 1). Thereafter, the process proceeds to a signal reading process for the second detection sensor 350B.

  Next, a signal reading process for the second detection sensor 350B will be described.

  After executing the processes of steps S202, S205, and S207, the process proceeds to step S208, and it is determined whether or not the detection signal input from the second detection sensor 350B is at the HI level. If a negative determination is made in step S208, that is, if the detection signal is at the LOW level, the process proceeds to step S209, the value of the first detection counter DC1 is updated to “0”, and then the signal reading process is performed. finish.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S208, that is, if the detection signal is at the HI level, the process proceeds to step S210. In step S210, it is determined whether or not the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “1”.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S210, that is, if the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “1”, the value of the second detection counter DC2 is updated to “2” in step S211 (1 After adding), the process proceeds to step S212. The affirmative determination in step S210 indicates that the detection signals are input in the order of LOW level → HI level → HI level, and based on the input of such signals, the game ball has passed through the detection area DE2. That is, it is determined that there has been a winning at the big winning opening 261. In step S212, the second winning detection flag is set. The second winning detection flag is a flag used when a game ball is paid out based on winning in the big winning opening 261.

  After the winning detection flag is set in step S212, the signal reading process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S210, that is, if the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “0” or “2”, the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “2” in step S213. It is determined whether or not. If an affirmative determination is made in step S213, that is, if the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “2”, the signal reading process ends.

  If a negative determination is made in step S213, that is, if the value of the second detection counter DC2 is “0”, the process proceeds to step S214 and the value of the second detection counter DC2 is updated to “1” (added by 1). Thereafter, the signal reading process is terminated.

  With reference to FIG. 17 again, timer interrupt processing will be described. After executing the signal reading process detailed above, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated in step S102. In subsequent step S103, the big hit random number counter C1, the big hit type counter C2, the reach random number counter C3, and the electric accessory release counter C4 are updated. Specifically, the value of each random number counter is incremented by 1 and it is determined whether or not the added value is an upper limit value. If the added value exceeds the upper limit value, the counter value is set to the initial value. Thereafter, the updated values of the counters C1 to C4 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 613.

  Here, with respect to the jackpot random number counter C1, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1. Since the random number initial value counter CINI is a random value, the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1 varies. Therefore, the timing at which the value of the jackpot random number counter C1 coincides with the winning value is different every time the jackpot random number counter C1 makes a round, so it is difficult to grasp the timing at which the value of the jackpot random number counter C1 becomes the winning value. It has become.

  In the subsequent step S104, a through winning process is performed in conjunction with winning through the through gate 85. In the through winning process, if a winning to the through gate 85 has occurred, the number of stored item holdings stored in the electronic combination holding area is less than the upper limit (for example, “4”). As a condition, the value of the electric accessory release counter C4 updated in step S103 is stored in the electric utility reservation area. In addition, the voice lamp control device 143 performs a process for lighting the holding lamp unit 96 corresponding to the number of stored item holdings.

  Thereafter, a start winning process is executed in step S105. In the start winning process, it is determined whether or not a winning detection flag for the operating opening is stored in the winning detection flag storing area in the various flag storing areas 613i of the RAM 613, whereby the game ball wins the operating openings 83 and 84 ( It is determined whether or not a start prize has been won. If it is determined that the game ball has won the operation ports 83 and 84, it is determined whether or not the number N of the operation reservation balls of the first specific lamp portion 93 and the symbol display device 91 is less than the upper limit value (4 in the present embodiment). judge. When there is a winning at the operation ports 83 and 84 and the number of the operation reservation balls N <4, the operation reservation ball number N is incremented by one. Thereafter, the values of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2 and the reach random number counter C3 stored in the lottery counter buffer 613g are stored in the first area of the free space in the reserved ball storage area 613h of the RAM 613.

  Then, after the start winning process, the MPU 611 once ends this timer interrupt process.

<Normal processing>
Next, the flow of normal processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The normal process is a process that is started after the main process that is started when the power is turned on, and the main process of the game is executed in the normal process. As an outline, the processing of steps S301 to S306 is executed as a periodic processing with a period of 4 msec, and the counter update processing of steps S309 and S310 is executed with the remaining time.

  In the normal process, in step S301, output data such as a command set in the timer interrupt process or the previous normal process is transmitted to each control device on the sub side. Specifically, the presence / absence of a prize ball command is determined, and if a prize ball command is set, it is transmitted to the payout control device 242. Further, when a game time control command or a game state command is set, it is transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143. Further, when an error detection flag (to be described later) is stored in various flag storage areas 613i of the RAM 613, the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29 are controlled by outputting a notification command to the sound lamp control device 143. While notifying that it has been used, error information is output to the hall computer via the external terminal board 213.

  In the subsequent step S302, the variation type counter CS is updated, and in step S303, a first specific lamp unit control process for switching the color displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 is executed. In the first specific lamp unit control process, jackpot determination, on / off control of a light source switch of an LED lamp disposed in the first specific lamp unit 93, and the like are performed. In the first specific lamp unit control process, the symbol display device 91 also sets the first symbol variation display.

  Specifically, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is based on the value of the jackpot random number counter C1. More specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the jackpot random number counter C1 coincides with a winning value that is a predetermined jackpot winning. Further, the type of jackpot is determined based on the value of the jackpot type counter C2 (determining whether or not it is a so-called probable big hit). Further, based on the value of the reach random number counter C3 and the value of the variation type counter CS, the color switching display time displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 and the variation display time of the first symbol are determined. Each time the on / off control of the first specific lamp unit 93 is started in the first specific lamp unit control process, the number of the operation reserved balls N is decremented by 1 and when the number of the operation reserved balls N is 0, the on / off control is performed. Does not start.

  After the first specific lamp unit control process, a special winning opening opening / closing process is executed in step S304. In the big prize opening / closing process, the big prize opening of the variable prize winning device 82 is opened or closed in the case of the big hit state. That is, it is determined whether the big winning opening is opened for each round of the big hit state, and whether the maximum opening time of the big winning opening has passed or whether a predetermined number of game balls have been won in the big winning opening. The details of the special prize opening / closing process will be described later.

  Thereafter, in step S305, a second specific lamp unit control process for switching the color displayed on the second specific lamp unit 94 is executed. In the second specific lamp unit control process, switching of the display color in the second specific lamp unit 94 is started on the condition that a game ball has won the through gate 85. At this time, the display color switching time is also set. In addition, the color to be stopped and displayed is set based on the value of the second specific lamp random number counter acquired when the game ball wins the through gate 85. When a predetermined color is set as the stop-displayed color, the electric accessory 89 associated with the operation ports 83 and 84 is opened for a predetermined time after the stop display of the color.

  After step S305, a game ball launch control process is executed in step S306. In the game ball launch control process, the game ball is launched toward the game area PE once every predetermined period (for example, 0.6 sec) on condition that a launch permission signal is input from the power supply / launch control device 243. As shown, the game ball launching mechanism 110 is driven. Specifically, the MPU 611 outputs a firing pulse signal to the power source / launch controller 243 every elapse of a predetermined period. Based on the input of the firing pulse signal, the power source / launch control device 243 directs the drive signal (drive voltage) obtained by amplifying the voltage of the launch pulse signal to the solenoid 111 mounted on the game ball launching mechanism. The output of the solenoid 111 is moved to the launch position and the storage position to control the launch of the game ball.

  Thereafter, in step S307, it is determined whether or not a power failure flag is stored in the RAM 613. If the power failure flag is not stored, the process proceeds to step S308 to determine whether or not the next normal processing execution timing has been reached, that is, the interrupt criterion in which the timer interrupt processing is preset as a plurality of times from the start of the previous normal processing. It is determined whether or not the number of times (specifically, twice) has occurred. Specifically, the number of timer interrupts is grasped by adding 1 to the value of the interrupt counter in the various counter areas 613f of the RAM 613 every time the timer interrupt is activated, and immediately before executing the process of step S301. At the timing, the counter value is cleared to 0 (initialized). If the timer interrupt processing has not occurred for the reference number of times, the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S309, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated. Specifically, the random number initial value counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 (initialized) when the counter value reaches the maximum value. Then, the update value of the random number initial value counter CINI is stored in the lottery counter buffer 613g of the RAM 613. In step S310, the variation type counter CS is updated. Specifically, the variation type counter CS is incremented by 1 and cleared (initialized) to 0 when the counter values reach the maximum value. The updated value of the variation type counter CS is stored in the lottery counter buffer 613g of the RAM 613.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S307, and the above-described process is repeated from the start of the previous normal process until the timer interrupt process occurs for the interrupt reference number. When the interrupt reference number is reached, the process returns to step S301. That is, when the power failure flag is not stored, various processes in steps S301 to S306 are repeatedly executed at a cycle of 4 msec. Note that the period is not limited to 4 msec as long as the progress of the game can be well controlled.

  When the power failure flag is stored, the power failure process after step S311 is executed. That is, in step S311, the generation of the timer interrupt process is prohibited, and then the RAM determination value is calculated and stored in step S312, and after the access to the RAM 613 is prohibited in step S313, the power supply is completely shut down and processed. Continue infinite loop until no longer runs.

<Big prize opening and closing process>
Here, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 20 and 21, supplementary explanation will be given on the special winning opening and closing process shown in step S <b> 304.

  In the big prize opening / closing process, it is first determined in step S401 whether or not a big win has occurred. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a flag indicating a big hit is stored in the various flag storage areas 613i of the RAM 613. If a negative determination is made in step S401, the main prize winning opening / closing process is terminated. On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S401, the process proceeds to an error determination preparation process in step S402.

  In the error determination preparation process, as shown in FIG. 21A, first, a first winning detection flag indicating that a game ball has passed through the detection area DE1 is stored in various flag storage areas 613i of the RAM 613 in S501. It is determined whether or not. If an affirmative determination is made in step S501, the value of the check counter CC is updated in the subsequent step S502, specifically, “1” is added. After updating the value of the check counter CC in step S502, or if a negative determination is made in step S501, the process proceeds to step S503.

  In step S503, it is determined whether or not the second winning detection flag indicating that the game ball has passed through the detection area DE2 is stored in the various flag storage areas 613i of the RAM 613. If an affirmative determination is made in step S503, the value of the check counter CC is updated, specifically, “1” is subtracted. After the value of the check counter CC is updated in step S503, or when a negative determination is made in step S503, the error determination preparation process ends.

  Referring to FIG. 20 again, after the error determination preparation process is performed in step S402, the process proceeds to step S403, where it is determined whether or not the special winning opening 261 (opening / closing door 270) is open. . Specifically, this determination is performed based on the driving state of the variable winning device 82.

  If a negative determination is made in step S403, the process proceeds to step S404, and an error determination process S404 is executed.

  In the error determination process S404, as shown in FIG. 21B, first, a determination timer counter JTC is updated in step S601. Specifically, “1” is subtracted from the value of the determination timer counter JTC. In the following step 602, it is determined whether or not the value of the determination timer counter JTC is “0”. That is, it is determined whether or not it is time to execute error determination after the opening / closing door 270 is closed.

  If a negative determination is made in step S602, that is, if it is determined that it is not time to perform various processes relating to the following error determination, this error determination process ends. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S602, that is, if the game ball that has flowed into the big prize opening 261 at the time when the open / close door 270 is closed will have passed through the detection area DE2, the following steps are performed. In S603, it is determined whether or not the value of the check counter is a normal value. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the check counter CC is out of a predetermined range, specifically, “99” to “101”. As already described, when there is no mixing of noise or the like, the value of the check counter CC in which addition and subtraction are repeated is maintained at “100”. When the value of the check counter CC deviates from “100”, noise or the like may be mixed. However, in this embodiment, an error of 2 or less is allowed by giving a width to the threshold value. doing. This is to consider the possibility that a game ball is passing between the detection areas DE1 and DE2 at the time of executing this error check, and to suppress a sensitive reaction to accidental noise contamination. It is a device.

  If it is determined in step S603 that the value of the check counter CC is a normal value, that is, “99” to “101”, this error determination process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the check counter CC is not a normal value, the process proceeds to an error counter update process in step S604. In the error counter update process, “1” is added to the value of the error counter EC. Thereafter, in step S605, it is determined whether or not the value of the error counter EC has reached “3”.

  If a negative determination is made in step S305, that is, if the value of the error counter EC has not reached “3”, this error determination process ends. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S306, an error notification flag is stored in various flag storage areas 613i of the RAM 613 in step S606, and the error counter EC is updated to “0” in the subsequent step S607. This error determination process ends.

  As shown in FIG. 20, after the error determination process in step S404 is completed, the process proceeds to step 405, where it is determined whether or not the value of the round counter RC is “0”.

  If a negative determination is made in step S405, the process proceeds to step S406 to determine whether or not the value of the closing timer counter CTC is “0”. If an affirmative determination is made in step 406, a special winning opening opening process is executed in step S407. Specifically, the solenoid of the variable winning device 82 is energized to open the special winning opening 261, and the open / close door 270 is moved to the open position.

  In subsequent step S409, setting processing for each round is executed. In the setting process for each round, “15000” (that is, 30 sec) is set in the open timer counter OTC. The count value set here is decremented by 1 every time the timer interrupt process (FIG. 7) is started, that is, every 2 msec. In addition, in order to count the number of winning game balls to the big winning opening 261, “10” is set in the winning counter PC provided in the various counter areas 613f of the RAM 613.

  Thereafter, an opening command is set in step S409, and after the large first detection flag and the second detection flag are erased in subsequent step S412, the main prize winning opening / closing process is terminated. The release command is transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143 in step S301 in the normal process (FIG. 19). The sound lamp control device 143 changes the effect contents in the display lamp unit 26 and the speaker unit 29 based on the received release command. Further, the sound lamp control device 143 transmits the release command to the display control device 625 while maintaining the information form. The display control device 625 switches the effect on the symbol display device 91 based on the received release command.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S405, that is, if the round counter RC is “0”, the value of the error counter EC is updated to “0” in step S410, and various flags are stored in the subsequent step S411. The jackpot flag stored in the area 613i is erased and each detection flag is erased in step S412, and then the big prize winning opening / closing process is terminated.

  If a negative determination is made in step S406, that is, if the closing timer counter CTC is not “0”, each detection flag is deleted in step S412, and then the main prize winning opening / closing process is terminated.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S403, that is, if the big prize opening is open, the process proceeds to step S413 to determine whether or not the value of the open timer counter OTC is “0”. If the value of the release timer counter OTC is not “0”, it is determined in step S414 whether or not the game ball has won the big winning opening 261 based on whether or not the first detection flag is stored. If no winning has occurred, each detection flag is erased in step S412, and the main prize winning opening / closing process is terminated. On the other hand, if a winning has occurred, the value of the winning counter PC is decremented by 1 in step S415, and then it is determined in step S416 whether the value of the winning counter PC is “0” or not. In this case, after the detection flags are deleted in step S412, the main prize winning opening / closing process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S413 that the value of the open timer counter OTC is “0”, or if it is determined that the value of the winning counter PC is “0” in step S416, the special winning opening closing condition is It means that it was established. In such a case, in step S417, the solenoid of the variable winning device 82 is brought into a non-excited state so as to close the special winning opening 261.

  In subsequent step S418, the value of the round counter RC is decremented by “1”, and in step S419, it is determined whether or not the value of the round counter RC is “0”. If the value of the round counter RC is not “0”, the value of the closing timer counter CTC is updated to “2000”, and a closing command is set in the subsequent step S421.

  The set closing command is transmitted to the sound lamp control device 143 in step S301 in the normal process (FIG. 19). The sound lamp control device 143 specifies that the opening of the big winning opening 261 for one round is completed based on the received closing command. In addition, the sound lamp control device 143 transmits the closing command to the display control device 625 while maintaining the information form. Based on the received closing command, the display control device 625 specifies that the opening of the big winning opening 261 for one round has been completed, and executes processing corresponding thereto.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S419 (when the round counter RC is “0”), or after the close command is set in step S421, each detection flag is erased in step S412, and the main prize winning opening The opening / closing process is terminated.

  Next, specific examples of the winning determination and signal determination modes when the game ball passes the detection sensors 350A and 350B (specifically, the detection areas DE1 and DE2) will be described based on the timing charts of FIGS. FIG. 22 shows a state where no noise is mixed, and FIGS. 23 and 24 show a state where noise is mixed. 22A to 24A are schematic diagrams showing noise, and FIGS. 22B to 24B are schematic diagrams showing signals generated by the oscillation circuit 660A of the first detection sensor 350A. 22 (c) to 24 (c) are schematic diagrams showing signals generated by the oscillation circuit 660B of the second detection sensor 350B, and FIGS. 22 (d) to 24 (d) are diagrams from the first detection sensor 350A. FIG. 22 (e) to FIG. 24 (e) are schematic diagrams showing signals input to the main controller 162 from the second detection sensor 350B, and FIG. 22 (f). ) To 24 (f) are schematic diagrams showing the value of the check counter CC.

  First, a case where noise is not mixed in the detection signal will be described with reference to FIG.

  At the timing ta1, when the game ball reaches the detection area DE1, the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660 of the first detection sensor 350A is attenuated. As a result, the detection signal output from the first detection sensor 350A rises from the LOW level to the HI level.

  Thereafter, in the timer interrupt processing (specifically, signal reading processing), it is confirmed at the timing ta2 that the detection signal is LOW level → HI level → HI level, and the game ball has passed the detection area DE1. That is, it is determined that a winning has occurred at the special winning opening 261. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is incremented by “1” and changed from “100” to “101”.

  Thereafter, at the timing ta3, the game ball passes through the detection area DE1, and the attenuated high frequency returns to the original state. As a result, the detection signal output from the first detection sensor 350A falls from the HI level to the LOW level.

  The game ball that has passed the detection area DE1 flows down the downstream passage 335 and reaches the detection area DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B at the timing ta4. Thereby, the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660B of the second detection sensor 350B is attenuated, and the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B rises from the LOW level to the HI level.

  Thereafter, in the timer interrupt process (specifically, the signal reading process), it is confirmed at the timing ta5 that the detection signal is LOW level → HI level → HI level, and the game ball has passed the detection area DE2, that is, It is determined that a winning has occurred at the big winning opening 261. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is decremented by “1” and returns from “101” to “100”.

  After it is determined that a winning has occurred at the timing ta5, specifically, at the timing ta6 when approximately 30 msec has elapsed from the timing ta4, the gaming ball passes through the detection area DE2, and the attenuated high frequency is the original. Return to the state. As a result, the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B falls from the HI level to the LOW level.

  When the number of game balls determined to have won the grand prize opening 261 based on the detection signal from the first detection sensor 350A reaches “10”, the open / close door 270 of the variable winning device 82 returns to the closed position. From this timing, error determination based on the value of the check counter CC is performed at the timing of ta7 when 4 seconds have elapsed. This time, there is no mixing of noise or the like, and the value of the check counter CC is “100”, so the error counter EC is not updated.

  Next, a case where noise is mixed in only one of detection signals output from both detection sensors 350A and 350B will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, a case will be described in which noise having the same frequency and the same amplitude as the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660A of the detection sensor 350A is periodically generated and mixed in the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660A. .

  At the timing of tb1, when the game ball reaches the detection area DE1, the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660A of the first detection sensor 350A is attenuated. As a result, the detection signal output from the first detection sensor 350A rises from the LOW level to the HI level.

  Thereafter, in the timer interrupt process (specifically, the signal reading process), it is confirmed at the timing tb2 that the detection signal is LOW level → HI level → HI level, and the game ball has passed the detection area DE1. That is, it is determined that a winning has occurred at the special winning opening 261. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is incremented by “1” and changed from “100” to “101”.

  If noise is mixed at the timing tb3 when 4 msec has elapsed from the timing tb2, the detection signal falls from the HI level to the LOW level in response to the mixed noise. As a result, the passage determination by the detection counter is validated and the next HI level signal input wait state is entered.

  After that, when noise disappears at timing tb4 after a period of 2 msec or more, the detection signal output from the first detection sensor 350A returns from the LOW level to the HI level, and the winning determination using the first detection counter DC1 is made. It is executed, and at the timing of the subsequent tb5, it is erroneously determined that a winning game ball has occurred. In other words, the detection signal corresponding to one game ball is actually differentiated by noise, so that it is erroneously determined that the second game ball has been won. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is incremented by “1”, and the value of the check counter becomes “102”.

  When the noise is mixed again at the subsequent timing tb6, the detection signal temporarily falls to the LOW level similarly to the timing tb3, and the detection signal returns to the HI level when the noise disappears at the timing tb7. Then, when it is erroneously determined that a winning of a game ball has occurred again at the timing of tb8, the value of the check counter CC is incremented by “1”. As a result, the value of the check counter becomes “103”.

  For the subsequent tb9 to tb11, an event similar to that of tb4 to tb6 already described occurs, and as a result, the value of the check counter CC is added to “104”.

  When the game ball finishes passing through the detection area DE1 of the first detection sensor 350A at the subsequent timing tb12, the high frequency generated in the oscillation circuit 660A returns to the original state, and the first detection sensor 350A The output detection signal falls to the LOW level.

  Thereafter, the noise continues until the game ball reaches the second detection sensor 350B (specifically, the detection area DE2). However, the detection signal does not fall to the LOW level due to the noise during this period. .

  The game ball that has passed through the detection area DE1 flows down the downstream passage 335 and reaches the detection area DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B at the timing of tb13. Thereby, the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660B of the second detection sensor 350B is attenuated, and the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B rises from the LOW level to the HI level.

  Thereafter, in the timer interruption process (specifically, the signal reading process), it is confirmed at the timing tb15 that the detection signal is LOW level → HI level → HI level, and the game ball has passed the detection area DE2, that is, It is determined that a winning has occurred at the big winning opening 261. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is decremented by “1” and updated from “104” to “103”.

  Specifically, after it is determined that the winning is made at tb14, the game ball passes through the detection area DE2 at the timing of tb15 when about 30 msec has elapsed from the timing of tb13, and the attenuated high frequency returns to the original state. . As a result, the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B falls from the HI level to the LOW level.

  Note that, during the period from tb13 to tb15, the noise described above has already disappeared, so that the differentiation of the detection signal due to noise does not occur unlike the signal output from the first detection sensor 350A.

  When the number of game balls determined to have won the grand prize opening 261 based on the detection signal from the first detection sensor 350A reaches “10”, the open / close door 270 of the variable winning device 82 returns to the closed position. Error determination based on the value of the check counter CC is performed at timing tb16 when 4 seconds have elapsed from this timing. Since the value of the check counter CC is “103”, it deviates from the above-described threshold (specifically, “99” to “101”). For this reason, in this round, an erroneous determination occurs due to the influence of noise, and the error counter EC is updated. Here, if the value of the error counter EC becomes “3”, that is, if it is recognized that an erroneous determination due to noise mixing has occurred in at least three rounds, the error notification described above. Will be executed.

  Next, a case where noise is mixed in both detection signals output from both detection sensors 350A and 350B will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, noise having the same frequency and the same amplitude as the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuits 660A and 660B of the detection sensors 350A and 350B is periodically generated, and the same noise is generated at the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuits 660A and 660B. The case where it mixes is demonstrated.

  Regarding the timing from tc1 to tc12, it is determined that four winnings are generated by dividing the detection signal indicating the winning of one game ball into four, similarly to the timing from tb1 to tb12. Then, based on the determination result, the value of the check counter CC is added from “100” to “104”.

  In this specific example, since noise is generated so as to cover the detection signal output periods of both detection sensors 350A and 350B, the detection signal from the second detection sensor 350B also changes due to noise.

  Specifically, the game ball that has passed through the detection area DE1 flows down the downstream passage 335 and reaches the detection area DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B at the timing of tc13. Thereby, the high frequency generated by the oscillation circuit 660B of the second detection sensor 350B is attenuated, and the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B rises from the LOW level to the HI level.

  Thereafter, in the timer interrupt process (specifically, the signal reading process), it is confirmed at the timing ta5 that the detection signal is LOW level → HI level → HI level, and the game ball has passed the detection area DE2, that is, It is determined that a winning has occurred at the big winning opening 261. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is decremented by “1” and updated from “104” to “103”.

  Thereafter, when noise is mixed at the timing of tc15 when 2 msec has elapsed from the timing of tc14, the detection signal falls from the HI level to the LOW level in response to the mixed noise. As a result, the passage determination by the detection counter is validated and the next HI level signal input wait state is entered.

  After that, when the noise disappears at timing tb16 after a period of 2 msec or more, the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B returns from the LOW level to the HI level, and the winning determination using the second detection counter DC2 is made. It is executed, and at the timing of the subsequent tc17, it is erroneously determined that a winning game ball has occurred. In other words, the detection signal corresponding to one game ball is actually differentiated by noise, so that it is erroneously determined that the second game ball has been won. As a result, the value of the check counter CC is decremented by “1”, and the value of the check counter becomes “102”.

  After it is determined that a winning has occurred at the timing of tc17, specifically, at the timing of tc18 when approximately 30 msec has elapsed from the timing of tc13, the gaming ball passes through the detection area DE2, and the attenuated high frequency is the original. Return to the state. As a result, the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B falls from the HI level to the LOW level.

  When the number of game balls determined to have won the grand prize opening 261 based on the detection signal from the first detection sensor 350A reaches “10”, the open / close door 270 of the variable winning device 82 returns to the closed position. From this timing, an error determination based on the value of the check counter CC is performed at the timing of tc19 when 4 seconds have elapsed. Since the value of the check counter CC is “102”, it deviates from the above-described threshold (specifically, “99” to “101”). For this reason, in this round, an erroneous determination occurs due to the influence of noise, and the error counter EC is updated. Here, if the value of the error counter EC becomes “3”, that is, if it is recognized that an erroneous determination due to noise mixing has occurred in at least three rounds, the error notification described above. Will be executed.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects are obtained.

  The game balls that have flowed into the big winning opening 261 are individually detected by the two detection sensors 350A and 350B, and the winning determination is made based on the detection signals output from the respective detection sensors 350A and 350B. We are trying to improve. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the disadvantage by misdetection can be suppressed and it can contribute to the reliability improvement of a game machine.

  The noise mixed in the signals output from the detection sensors 350A and 350B is not only due to an accidental factor, but may be intentionally mixed by an unauthorized person. For example, noise is intentionally generated by emitting high frequencies similar to those generated by the oscillation circuits 660A and 660B of the detection sensors 350A and 350B from the front of the pachinko machine 10 to the detection sensors 350A and 350B. Can be mixed. In this regard, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suitably improve the crime prevention function against the illegal acts by making the output periods of the detection signals output from both the detection sensors 350A and 350B different.

  Specifically, since it is configured to detect the passing of the game ball by reducing the amplitude of the high frequency, even if the illegal high frequency is output when the game ball is not flowing into the big prize opening 261, It is difficult to reduce the amplitude of the high frequency. For this reason, it is assumed that the misbehavior injects the above-mentioned fraudulent high frequency in anticipation of the timing at which the game ball flows into the special winning opening 261. In this way, when noise is mixed in the detection signal, a signal indicating that one game ball has been detected is differentiated into a plurality of signals, and may change as if a plurality of game balls have been detected. As described above, the number of detection signals differentiated can be made different by changing the output period of the detection signals. After that, by comparing the number of game balls detected by the detection sensors 350A and 350B, it is possible to easily find out the above-described noise contamination.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, when the winning determination is performed based on the detection signals input from the detection sensors 350A and 350B, the determination conditions for each determination are the same. As a result, it is possible to distinguish between substantially harmless noise and harmful noise that may affect the progress of the gaming machine. It is not preferable to react sensitively to harmless noise because it hinders the smooth progress of the game, and a practically preferable configuration can be realized by ignoring such noise. In addition, when noise is intentionally mixed by an unauthorized person as described above, such harmful noise can be suitably identified. Thereby, it is possible to facilitate the discovery of fraud.

  In addition, the payout of the game ball based on the winning is executed based on the detection result of the first detection sensor 350A arranged on the upstream side, and the detection result by the second detection sensor 350B is not reflected in the payout. Thereby, it is possible to quickly give a privilege at the time of winning a prize.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of embodiment mentioned above, For example, you may implement as follows. Incidentally, the configuration of another embodiment described below may be applied individually to the configuration in the above embodiment, or may be applied in combination with each other.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the first winning sensor 261 as the “first detecting means”, the second detecting sensor 350B as the “second detecting means” The configuration associated with the detection sensors 350A and 350B was applied, and the detection results of the detection sensors 350A and 350B were compared to improve the winning determination accuracy. Three or more “detecting means” may be provided. In this case, a storage unit that individually stores determination results based on detection signals from the respective detection units (for example, the number of game balls determined to have won a prize) may be adopted, and the determination results may be compared. . For example, in the case of a configuration having three detection sensors, a determination result is individually output based on an output signal from each detection sensor, and when one of the determination results is different from the other two, It may be configured to determine that noise has occurred.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, it is configured to recognize that a winning of a game ball has occurred based on the determination result of the “determination means”, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply the technical idea related to the detection accuracy improvement shown in the present embodiment in addition to the winning determination.

  For example, in a slot machine or the like, a lottery such as a jackpot can be made by inserting a predetermined number of game media. The game media is detected by the “detection means” and the detection information is detected by the “determination means” It is also possible to adopt a configuration for determining whether or not the charging is possible by determining. As a result, it is possible to avoid making a determination as if a game medium has been inserted even though no game medium has been inserted due to the influence of noise or the like.

  (3) It is also possible to apply the technical idea regarding the detection accuracy improvement shown in the above embodiment to the operation ports 83, 84, the general winning port 81, and the like. That is, it is also possible to employ the general winning port 81, the operating ports 83, 84, etc. as the “ball-entering portion”. Furthermore, the “entrance ball portion” does not necessarily have to be the one that causes the game ball to be detached from the game area PE, and includes a configuration in which the entered game ball does not leave the game area PE like the through gate 85. When such a change is made, the timing for performing the error determination is arbitrary. For example, at the timing when it is determined that a winning has occurred based on the detection signal of one of the detection sensors, It is also possible to make an error judgment by referring to the judgment result.

  Since the opening period and the closing period are set at the big prize opening 261, the timing when the game ball does not stay in the downstream passage 335 as the “guide passage”, that is, the detection areas DE1, 2 of the detection sensors 350A and 350B. It was possible to make an error determination at the timing of passing DE2. However, there is a possibility that game balls will always flow into the operation ports 83, 84 and the like. For this reason, depending on the timing of error determination, the determination result (the number of game balls determined to have won a prize) may differ even though no noise is generated. Therefore, when adopting such a configuration, the following changes may be made together.

  In other words, the threshold value is the number of game balls that can stay in the passage from the detection area DE1 of the first detection sensor 350A to the detection area DE2 of the second detection sensor 350B, and the difference between the determination results of both detection sensors 350A and 350B (winning) The difference between the number of game balls determined to be greater than the threshold value may be determined as an error. In the case of adopting such a configuration, it is possible to set a strict threshold for error determination by reducing the number of game balls that can stay between the detection area DE1 and the detection area DE2. The error notification pattern is not limited to 1. For example, if the threshold is set in two stages and the threshold of one stage is exceeded, a message that commends the player such as “DOOD JOB” by exchanging the possibility that many game balls are flowing in at once A configuration that displays a message suggesting that a problem such as “Please call a staff member” occurs when the threshold value of the two-stage surface (that is, the above-described realistic maximum value) is exceeded. It is good.

  Furthermore, when comparing the determination results, the determination results at the same timing do not necessarily have to be compared. For example, there is provided a stabilizing means for stabilizing the period of the game ball from the detection area DE1 to the detection area DE2, and is defined by the above-mentioned stabilization means from the timing when it is determined that a winning has occurred in the detection area DE2 located on the downstream side. It is also possible to compare the past determination result in the detection area DE1 retroactively with the current determination result in the detection area DE2.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the output period of the detection signal output from the first detection sensor 350A is longer than the output period of the detection signal output from the second detection sensor 350B. The reverse is also possible. In this case, the passing speed of the game ball in the first detection sensor 350A (specifically, the detection area DE1) can be increased, and an improvement in the response of winning determination can be expected.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the second detection sensor is configured such that a privilege is given to the player (specifically, a game ball is paid out) according to the winning determination result based on the detection signal from the first detection sensor 350A. Although 350B is used as an error determination sensor, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, according to the winning determination result based on the detection signal from the second detection sensor 350B, it is possible to give a bonus to the player, and the first detection sensor 350A can be used as an error determination sensor. . It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the above-mentioned privilege is given only when the winning determination result based on the detection signals of both detection sensors 350A and 350B matches.

  However, when these modifications are adopted, it is assumed that the waiting period from when the player visually confirms the winning until the privilege is granted becomes longer. That is, there is a concern that the responsiveness at the time of winning a prize will be reduced. Therefore, preferably, the first detection sensor 350A located on the upstream side is a privilege-giving sensor, and the second detection sensor 350B located on the downstream side is an error detection sensor.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the first detection sensor 350A is disposed in the first vertical passage 336, and the second detection sensor 350B is disposed in the second vertical passage 338. That is, the passage direction of the downstream passage 335 constituting the “guide passage” is changed between the detection sensors 350A and 350B. It is also possible to change this and arrange both detection sensors 350A and 350B in a passage extending in one direction.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the game balls pass through the passages 325 and 335 defined by the prize winning collection passage portion 310, so that the moving speed is made constant, and the passing speed in each detection region. A difference was made. The method for adjusting the output period is not limited to this. For example, by making the widths (length dimensions in the passage direction) of the detection areas DE1, DE2 different, the output periods may be different, or the output periods may be set in the control circuits 670A, 670B of the detection sensors 350A, 350B. An adjustment circuit for adjustment may be provided.

  (8) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the passing speed of the game ball passing through the detection area DE2 is made constant. However, it is also possible to make this configuration arbitrarily changeable. A specific example will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the output period adjusting means.

  As shown in FIG. 25, in the middle position of the downflow passage 802 defined by the special winning opening collection passage portion 801 (specifically, a position between the first detection sensor 350A and the second detection sensor 350B), Is provided with a ball feeding mechanism 810. The ball feed mechanism 810 has a function of sending the game ball that has flowed out of the guide passage 265 to the second detection sensor 350B side at a predetermined speed.

  Specifically, the ball feeding mechanism 810 includes a rotating body 811 and a driving motor as a driving unit that drives the rotating body 811. Specifically, the rotating body 811 has a substantially disc shape, and its center is fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor.

  The drive motor is constituted by a stepping motor, and always rotates at a constant speed by the power supplied from the power supply / launch control device 243. By driving the drive motor in this way, the rotator 811 rotates in the predetermined direction at a constant speed.

  Concave portions 812 are formed on the periphery of the rotating body 811 at a plurality of locations (in this variation, two locations at intervals of 180 °). Only game balls that have entered these recesses 812 are guided downstream.

  In other words, no matter how the moving speed of the game ball varies on the upstream side of the rotating body 811, the moving speed is constant by moving to the second detection sensor 350B side through the rotating body 811. It is adjusted to become. That is, by adopting the ball feed mechanism 810, the passing speed when passing through the second detection sensor 350B (detection area DE4) can be adjusted to an arbitrary speed, and the output period can be adjusted. .

  Moreover, when the structure having such a ball feeding means is adopted, further improvement in crime prevention can be expected by adopting the following structure together. In the above modification, it is possible to adjust the ball feed speed according to the rotation speed of the drive motor, and to change the period in which the detection signal (HI level signal) is output from the detection sensor periodically or irregularly. The value input to the timer counter may be changed in accordance with such a change in period. For example, the voltage applied to the drive motor can be switched between HI and LOW, the detection signal output period is 20 msec when the voltage is at the HI level, and the detection signal output period is set when the voltage is at the LOW level. Set to 30 msec. The output period switching condition is associated with noise detection. For example, the output period is set to be 20 msec in a normal state in which noise is not mixed, and the output period is set to be switched from 20 msec to 30 msec when noise is mixed. Thereby, it becomes possible to grasp | ascertain suitably mixing of noise. In addition, when the responsiveness at the time of detection is taken into consideration, it is assumed that it is preferable that the ball feeding speed is high. Therefore, when noise is detected as described above, the output period is temporarily extended, so that it is possible to make it difficult to hinder the smoothness of the game progress while enhancing the noise detection function, which is practically preferable. The configuration can be realized.

  (9) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that the game ball is free-falled to suppress the speed variation when the game ball passes through the detection area DE. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to have a configuration in which a game ball flows down along a passage extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and a detection region DE may be provided at an intermediate position in the passage.

  (10) In the above embodiment, the movement period from the detection area DE1 to the detection area DE2 is fixed, but both movement periods can be variable. In this case, for example, it is possible to change the movement period by changing the passage length. However, with such a configuration, it may be difficult to ensure smooth flow of the game ball. Therefore, for example, a conveyor may be provided on the upper surface of the horizontal passage 337 and the game balls may be transported to the second vertical passage 338 by the conveyor. By adjusting the transport speed by the conveyor, the moving periods can be made different. As a result, it is possible to make difficult the act of mixing noise at the timing when the game ball passes the detection area.

  (11) In the above embodiment, a game ball winning is generated by recognizing the signal input from the detection sensor 350 in the signal reading process performed periodically as LOW level → HI level → HI level. However, this determination condition is arbitrary. For example, it may be configured that it is determined that a winning of a game ball has occurred by recognizing LOW level → HI level → HI level → HI level, or by recognizing the LOW level → HI level, It may be configured to determine that a winning has occurred.

  (12) In the above embodiment, the determination condition for error (noise) determination in the signal determination process is the same as the determination condition for normal winning determination. That is, it is determined that an error has occurred by recognizing that the signals input from the detection sensors 350 and 450 are LOW level → HI level → HI level. The determination conditions for the error determination are arbitrary, and are not necessarily the same as the determination conditions for the winning determination. However, if both determination conditions are the same, it is possible to distinguish harmless noise from harmful noise, and it is excellent in that it can be expected to improve crime prevention. Therefore, it is desirable to unify both judgment conditions.

  (13) In the above embodiment, detection information from the detection sensor 350 as “detection means” is input to the main control device 162, and signal reading processing and signal determination processing constituting the “passage determination means” are performed by the main control device. The configuration is executed by the MPU 611 of 162. However, this can be changed as follows. That is, the detection information from the detection sensor 350 may be input to another control device such as the payout control device 242 and the control device may execute the signal reading process and the signal determination process. Furthermore, the signal input process and the signal determination process are not necessarily executed by the same control device, and both processes can be executed by separate control devices.

  (14) In the above embodiment, the “notification means” has a function of transmitting error information to the error display lamp unit 27, the speaker unit 29, and the hall computer, so that it is easy to grasp when an error occurs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which notification using the error display lamp unit 27 and the speaker unit 29 performed in the pachinko machine 10 is not performed, and the information is transmitted only to the hall computer when an error occurs.

  Furthermore, a lock means for interrupting the game progress when the frequency of occurrence of errors increases is provided, and the game is resumed by releasing the lock state by the lock means based on the operation of the state return switch 245 or the like. A configuration is also possible.

  (15) In the above embodiment, the high-frequency oscillation type magnetic sensor is adopted as the “detecting means”, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an optical proximity sensor such as a photo sensor may be employed, or a contact sensor such as a push sensor may be employed.

  (16) In the above embodiment, a part of the longitudinal passages 336 and 338 constituting the “guide passage” is defined by the detection sensor 350 (specifically, the cylindrical portion 362a) as the “detection means”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is not necessary to partition a part of the guide passage by the detection sensor. Particularly in the present embodiment, since the detection sensor 350 is a magnetic sensor, it is also possible to arrange the detection sensor outside the passage wall of the guide passage.

  (17) In the above-described embodiment, the abnormality determination is performed by comparing the number of detected game balls by each detection sensor 350. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the abnormality is detected by comparing the number of times that the detection signal is detected as the HI level by the first detection sensor 350A and the number of times that the detection signal is detected as the HI level signal by the second detection sensor 350B. It is good also as a structure which performs determination. However, when such a change is made, it is assumed that a difference occurs in the number of times of detection because the output periods of the detection signals are different. This difference is assumed to increase or decrease due to variations in the passing speed of game balls. Therefore, it is preferable to set a margin for allowing a certain amount of error in the abnormality determination in consideration of such variation.

  In addition, the number of times that the first detection sensor 350A detects that the detection signal is at the LOW level during the period in which the game ball detection signal is output, and the detection signal is a LOW level signal by the second detection sensor 350B. It is good also as a structure which compares the frequency | count detected as there being. In this case, the margin can be reduced as compared with the case of referring to the number of times of detection of the HI level signal, and a practically preferable configuration can be realized.

  (18) Other types of pachinko machines different from the above-described embodiment, such as pachinko machines in which an electric accessory is released a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, or a game ball in a specific area of a special device The present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine that generates a right if a player enters, a pachinko machine equipped with other objects, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball, and other gaming machines.

  Also, a non-ball-type gaming machine, for example, a plurality of reels with a plurality of types of symbols attached in the circumferential direction, starts rotation of the reel by inserting a medal and operating a start lever, and a stop switch is operated. If a specific symbol or a combination of specific symbols is established on the effective line visible from the display window after the reel has stopped after a predetermined time has passed, a privilege such as paying out medals is given to the player The present invention can also be applied to a slot machine.

  Further, the gaming machine main body supported by the outer frame so as to be openable and closable is provided with a storage unit and a capture device, and the start lever is operated after a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage unit are captured by the capture device. Thus, the present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are started.

<Invention Group Extracted from the Embodiments>
Hereinafter, the features of the invention group extracted from the above-described embodiment will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configuration in the above embodiment is appropriately shown in parentheses, but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses.

Features 1. Guide passages for guiding game media (eg, guide passage 265, upstream passage 325 and downstream passage 335);
First detection means (first detection sensor 350A) for detecting a game medium passing through a first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
Second detection means (second detection sensor 350B) for detecting a game medium passing through a second detection position downstream of the first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
First determination means for determining whether or not the game medium has passed through the first detection position in the guide passage based on the detection signal output from the first detection means (signal reading in the MPU 611 of the main controller 162) Processing step S201 to step S207)
Second determination means for determining whether or not the game medium has passed through the second detection position in the guide passage based on the detection signal output from the second detection means (a signal in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162). A function of executing steps S208 to S214 of the reading process);
The length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the first detection means, and the length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the second detection means Output period adjusting means (for example, the guide passage 265, the upstream passage 325, and the downstream passage 335),
Based on the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means. And an abnormality determination means (function of executing step S603 of error determination processing in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162).

  According to the feature 1, when the game ball guided by the guide passage is detected by the first detection means and the second detection means, detection signals are output from the first detection means and the second detection means, and the respective detections are performed. Based on the signal, the game medium is determined to pass. Then, by performing an abnormality determination based on (for example, comparing) the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position, The occurrence of an abnormality in the detection signal (for example, mixing of noise or the like) can be found. Thereby, for example, it can suppress that a privilege is given unfairly with respect to a player based on an incorrect determination result, and can contribute to the guarantee of the soundness of a game.

  The inconveniences described above may occur due to accidental factors or human factors. Assuming a case where noise generated continuously and repeatedly is mixed into the game medium detection signal during the output period of the game medium detection signal as the detection signal, for example, the detection signal is partially converted into a game medium non-detection signal. By switching, one game medium detection signal can be differentiated into a plurality of game medium detection signals. In other words, the presence of noise may change the signal for detecting one game medium as if the passage of a plurality of game media was detected. If such noise is mixed in the detection signal from the first detection means and the detection signal from the second detection means in the same manner, the following inconvenience may occur. That is, it is assumed that the number of game media determined by each determination unit is the same, abnormality determination based on the number of both game media is avoided, and it is difficult to grasp noise by the abnormality determination unit.

In particular, when the above-described noise is artificially mixed, in order to efficiently perform an illegal act, a plurality of noises are mixed in anticipation of the passing timing of the gaming medium (that is, the output timing of the detection signal), thereby allowing one gaming medium to be mixed. It is assumed that the detection signal corresponding to the passage of the game is differentiated into detection signals of a large number of game media. If it becomes difficult to find such fraudulent acts, damages in game halls and the like can be enormous. In this regard, in this feature, the above-described inconvenience can be suitably suppressed by making the length of the output period of the game medium detection signal output from each detection means different. In other words, when a plurality of noises are mixed in one detection signal as described above, the number of differentiation is likely to be different because the output periods of the detection signals are different. More specifically, when a plurality of noises are repeatedly mixed continuously, the number of detection signals differentiated within the two output periods. Thereby, the number of game media determined to have passed based on each detection signal will be different.
For this reason, by comparing the determination results by the abnormality determination means, it is possible to suitably find the above-described fraud.

  As described above, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy by suppressing erroneous determination due to noise mixing or the like by the period adjusting unit and the abnormality determining unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of disadvantage due to erroneous detection and contribute to the improvement of the reliability of the gaming machine.

  Feature 2. The output period adjusting means adjusts the passage speed of the game medium at the first detection position so as to be different from the passage speed of the game medium at the second detection position. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the length of the output period is different from the length of the output period in the second detection means.

  In order to realize the configuration shown in feature 1 or the like, it is preferable that the passing speed of the game medium at each detection position is made different by the output period adjusting means.

  Feature 3. The output period adjusting means adjusts the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position to be slower than the passing speed of the game medium at the second detection position. 2. The gaming machine according to 2.

  As shown in the feature 1 and the like, in the configuration in which the output period of the game medium detection signal output from each detection means is different, if the difference in the length of each output period becomes small, the function of improving the determination accuracy is provided. Can be reduced. For example, when the flow of game media stagnates in the guide passage, the game media may interfere with each other and the passing speed at each detection position may not be stable. This can be a factor for reducing the difference between the length of the output period of the game medium detection signal output from the first detection means and the length of the output period of the game medium detection signal output from the second detection means. Therefore, it is not preferable.

  In this regard, as shown in this feature, if the moving speed of the game ball moving along the guide path can be slow on the first detection position side and fast on the second detection position side, The game media can be moved smoothly, and the above-described interference between the game media can be suitably suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience such that the difference in output period is reduced.

  In particular, at the second detection position, if the preceding game medium is accelerated when the subsequent game medium hits the preceding game medium, the passing speed of the preceding game medium at the second detection position may be increased. There will be no delay. Since the output period of the detection signal output from the second detection means is set shorter than the output period of the detection signal output from the first detection means, when the game medium is accelerated as described above, The difference in output period will be enlarged. Therefore, the above inconvenience can be more preferably avoided.

Feature 4. When the first determination unit determines that the game medium has passed through the first detection position, a privilege granting unit that grants a privilege to the player based on the determination result (e.g., normally in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162) A function of executing step S301 of processing)
The output period adjusting means adjusts the passing speed of the game medium at the second detection position so as to be slower than the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position. 2. The gaming machine according to 2.

  For example, when it is determined that the game medium has passed through the second detection position, the above-described privilege (for example, payout of the game medium) is given, or both detection positions of the first detection position and the second detection position are played. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the privilege is given when it is determined that the medium has passed. However, in these configurations, since privilege grant is not performed until it is determined that the second detection position has been passed, it is assumed that the period from when the game medium flows into the guide passage until the privilege is granted is extended. Is done. That is, in the configuration exemplified above, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy, but it may be difficult to improve the responsiveness of granting a privilege.

  In this regard, according to this feature, the game medium flowing into the guide passage passes through the first detection position upstream of the second detection position, and the game medium passes through the first detection position by the first determination means. By determining that it has been made, a privilege is given to the player. Thereby, while aiming at the improvement of detection accuracy, the fall of the responsiveness at the time of the privilege provision resulting from it can be suppressed.

  In addition, the first detection position is arranged upstream of the second detection position in the guide path, and the passing speed of the game medium at the second detection position is reduced by reducing the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position. Compared with the case where the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position is increased at the second detection position, the period from when the game medium flows into the guide passage until the privilege is granted is increased. It can shorten and can improve the responsiveness at the time of the privilege provision mentioned above. That is, it is possible to prevent the period from when the game medium actually passes through the first detection position until the privilege is granted from being extended, and to contribute to the smooth progress of the game.

  Feature 5. The output period adjusting means is configured such that a speed adjusting unit that adjusts the passing speed of the game medium is provided in a portion between the first detection position and the second detection position in the guide passage. The gaming machine according to any one of features 2 to 4, characterized in that:

  As shown in the feature 1, when the game ball that has flowed into the guide passage is detected by the detection means, it is assumed that various processes are executed using the game medium passage determination result. As shown in this feature, if the speed adjustment unit (output period adjustment means) is arranged between the first detection position and the second detection position, the first detection position can be arranged upstream of the guide passage. Thus, it is possible to prevent the period from when the game medium flows into the guide path until the above process is performed from being extended, thereby contributing to an improvement in the response of the process. For example, in combination with the feature 4, it is possible to contribute to the smooth progress of the game by improving the responsiveness at the time of granting the privilege.

Feature 6 When a game medium passage determination is made based on the detection signal of the first detection means, or when a game medium passage determination is made based on the detection signal of the second detection means, one of the results is determined as a passage determination result. The difference value calculating means (mainly) that adds the detected number of gaming media based on the detected number difference counter (check counter CC) and subtracts the detected number of gaming media based on the passage determination result from the detected number difference counter. The MPU 611 of the control device 162 has a function of executing steps S501 to S504 of the error determination preparation process)
The abnormality determination means is configured to determine the number of game media determined to pass by the first determination means and the number of game media determined to pass by the second determination means based on the amount of change from the initial value of the detected number difference counter. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 5, wherein the abnormality is determined by comparing with a number.

  When there is no noise or the like and the passage determination based on the detection signal is normally performed, the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position and the second detection position are passed. The number of game media to be determined matches. For this reason, although the number of game media stored in the storage means temporarily increases or decreases, it is held at the same value as the initial value. On the other hand, when noise or the like is mixed in the detection signal, the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position is different from the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position. It will be. As a result, the number stored in the detection difference number counter remains out of the initial value. Based on such deviation from the initial value of the detected difference number counter, the number of gaming media determined to pass by the first determining means is compared with the number of gaming media determined to pass by the second determining means. By performing the determination, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the detection signal. For example, it is possible to easily grasp the occurrence of noise or the like by transmitting the comparison result to a hall manager or the like using a notification means or the like.

  Particularly in this feature, determination results by the respective determination means can be handled together by one counter, and it is possible to improve the determination accuracy and suppress complication of the configuration. .

Feature 7. A shielding means (for example, a game board 80) for shielding the guide passage so that the first detection position and the second detection position are difficult or impossible to see from the front of the gaming machine;
The period adjusting means includes output period changing means for changing at least one of the length of the output period in the first detecting means and the length of the output period in the second detecting means. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 6,

  As described above, the mixing of noise that can affect the determination result is not limited to the accidental occurrence, and may be intentionally performed by an unauthorized person. Assuming that such unauthorized noise is mixed, the noise mixed in the first detection means and the noise mixed in the second detection means are adjusted, for example, noise mixed in each detection means The number of game media, the output period, etc. are adjusted so that the number of game medium detection signals output from each detection means is the same, so that there is no difference in the number of game media determined to pass by each determination means. . Thereby, it may be difficult to find an abnormality by the abnormality determining means.

  Therefore, in this feature, the detection position is first made difficult or impossible to be visually recognized by the shielding means, and the length of the detection signal output period is changed. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to equalize the number of game media determined to pass by both determination means by adjusting the number of noises intentionally mixed as described above. Therefore, further improvement in crime prevention can be expected.

  For example, in the combination with the feature 2, the configuration shown in this feature can be suitably realized by changing the passing speed of the game medium.

  Feature 8 In the output period changing means, the number of game media determined to pass by the first determining means and the number of game media determined to pass by the second determining means are different from each other by the abnormality determining means. 8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein when it is determined that the output period is changed, the length of the output period is changed.

  In the configuration having the output period changing means as shown in the feature 7, the effect of improving the security function can be enjoyed by sequentially changing the length of the output period. However, when a configuration in which the length of the output period is sequentially changed is adopted, an improvement in the crime prevention function can be expected, but an increase in uncontrollability due to it can be expected. In this regard, as shown in this feature, the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means, and the game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means If it is determined that the number of output periods is different from that of the output period, the increase in the uncontrollability can be suitably suppressed, and a practically preferable configuration can be realized. it can.

Feature 9 The abnormality determination means compares the number of game media determined to pass by the first determination means with the number of game media determined to pass by the second determination means, and the difference in the number of game media is determined in advance. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred when the specified abnormality determination value is reached,
The abnormality determination value is determined based on a length of a movement period required for the game medium to move between the first detection position and the second detection position within the movement period by the first determination unit. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 8, wherein the gaming machine is set to be larger than a maximum number of game media that can be played.

  According to the feature 9, when there is a difference in the number of game media determined to have passed through the detection position due to mixing of noise or the like, an abnormality determination is made when the difference reaches a predetermined abnormality determination value. The When the first detection position and the second detection position are arranged apart from each other, there is always a time lag in the passage determination by each determination unit. Therefore, the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means are temporary. Differences can occur. Therefore, it is configured to determine that an abnormality has occurred when the difference in the number of game media reaches the abnormality determination value, and the abnormality determination value is moved between the first detection position and the second detection position. Based on the length of the movement period required to do so, it is set to be larger than the maximum number of game media that can be determined to pass by the first determination means within the movement period, so that such a normal difference is made. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent the abnormality determining means from reacting sensitively and to realize a practically preferable configuration.

  Here, as described above, when adopting a configuration in which it is determined that an abnormality has occurred when the difference in the number of game media reaches the abnormality determination value, discovery of the abnormality may be delayed if the abnormality determination value is excessively provided. There is sex. For example, by setting the abnormality determination value close to the maximum value (specifically, a number that is one larger than the maximum value, etc.), it is possible to improve the comparison accuracy regarding abnormality determination, and to improve the reliability of the abnormality determination means. Can contribute to improvement.

Feature 10 A shielding means (for example, a game board 80) for shielding the guide passage so that the first detection position and the second detection position are difficult or impossible to see from the front of the gaming machine;
The output period adjusting means includes movement period changing means for changing a period required for the game medium to move between the first detection position and the second detection position. The gaming machine according to any one of 9 above.

  As already described, the mixing of noise that can affect the determination result is not limited to the accidental occurrence, and the possibility that it is intentionally performed by an unauthorized person cannot be eliminated. If it is possible to discriminate between the noise that the fraudster mixes with the first detection means and the noise that mixes with the second detection means, it may be difficult to grasp the noise mixed trace by the abnormality determination means. . For example, when the number of noises to be mixed is adjusted according to one of the output period of the detection signal output from the first detection means and the output period of the detection signal output from the second detection means, It may be difficult to grasp the noise mixed trace by the abnormality determining means.

  In this regard, according to this feature, the detection signal is output from one of the detection means by extending or shortening the period required to move from the first detection position to the second detection position by the changing means. It can be difficult to determine the timing at which the detection signal is output from the other detection means with reference to the timing. As a result, the above-described fraud can be suppressed, and further improvement in crime prevention can be expected.

Feature 11. A game board (game board 80) in which a game area (game area PE) in which a game ball as the game medium flows down is formed;
Provided with a pitching portion (such as a big prize opening 261) provided in the gaming area and capable of entering a gaming medium flowing down the gaming area;
The guide passage guides the game medium that has entered the entrance part to at least the back side of the game board,
The game medium detection position is arranged in a portion located on the back side of the game board in the guide passage,
The first detection means is a high-frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, and temporarily suppresses high-frequency oscillation when the game medium passes through the first detection position, so that when the game medium passes and does not pass Outputs different binary signals,
The second detection means is a high-frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, and temporarily suppresses high-frequency oscillation when the game medium passes through the second detection position, thereby allowing the game medium to pass through and not pass through. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 10, wherein the gaming machine outputs different binary signals.

  According to the feature 11, when a game ball flowing down the game area enters the entrance portion, the game ball is guided to the back side of the game board by the guide passage. Thereafter, when the game ball passes through the detection position, high-frequency oscillation is suppressed, and different binary signals are output when the game ball passes and when it does not pass. When detecting the passage of a game ball using a high frequency, if a high frequency is output from the outside of the gaming machine to the detection means, it is assumed that such a high frequency from the outside of the gaming machine is mixed in the detection signal.

  Therefore, in this feature, by arranging the detection position on the back side of the game board, the detection position can be made difficult to see from the front of the gaming machine. As a result, for example, even if a fraudulent person intentionally mixes a high frequency, it is difficult to grasp at which timing the game ball passes the detection position. For this reason, in order to efficiently perform fraud, the fraudulent high-frequency output cycle is set shorter than the output period, and a certain amount of time passes from the timing before the game ball passes through the game medium detection position to the timing when the game ball finishes passing. It becomes necessary to continue high-frequency output for a period of time. In this case, the detection signals corresponding to the passage of one game ball are easily differentiated into a large number.

  Even if the first detection means and the second detection means are arranged close to each other, a difference is likely to occur between the detection signals output from both detection means. That is, the detection signals having different output periods have different numbers to be differentiated, so that it is possible to easily grasp the noise contamination. In this way, even if the detection means are arranged close to each other, it is possible to suppress a reduction in detection accuracy and a security function caused by the detection means, and thus the degree of freedom in arrangement of the detection means can be improved.

Feature 12. When the first determination unit determines that the game medium has passed through the first detection position, a privilege granting unit that grants a privilege to the player based on the determination result (e.g., normally in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162) A function of executing step S301 of processing)
The first detection position is arranged on the back side of the game board at a position overlapping the game area in the front-rear direction,
12. The gaming machine according to claim 11, wherein the second detection position is arranged at a position that does not overlap the game area on the back side of the game board.

  As shown in the feature 11, when the high-frequency oscillation type detection means is employed, the high frequency is output to each detection means, so that noise is easily mixed. In this feature, by arranging the first detection position behind the game area, it is possible to contribute to improving the response of the game ball detection with respect to the ball entering the ball entering part. In addition, by arranging the second detection position at a position that does not overlap the game area, it is difficult to emit a high frequency from the outside toward both the first detection position and the second detection position. Can do. Thereby, even when noise is mixed, the difference between the detection signals can be made clear, and the detection of noise by the abnormality determination unit can be facilitated.

Feature 13. A variable ball entry means (provided in the game area) that can be switched between a first state in which game balls easily flow into the guide passage and a second state in which game balls are less likely or impossible to flow than the first state. Variable prize winning device 82),
When the number of game balls determined to have passed through the first detection position by the first determination unit reaches a predetermined number, the variable pitching unit changes from the first state to the second state. The gaming machine according to Feature 11 or 12, wherein the gaming machine is capable of being switched to

  According to the feature 13, when the game balls flowing down the game area enter the guide passage and the number reaches a predetermined number, the variable pitching means is switched to the second state. In the configuration in which the first state is switched to the second state based on the determination result by the first determination unit, the first detection position is arranged on the upstream side of the passage with respect to the second detection position. Responsiveness of the state switching of the variable entry means to the inflow of game balls can be enhanced.

  For example, by using the first detection means for switching the variable ball entry means and using the second detection means for noise determination, it is possible to suitably achieve both improvement in determination accuracy and smooth game progress. .

  Feature 14. The abnormality determination means is determined to pass by the first determination means during a period in which the variable pitching means is held in the first state after the variable pitching means is switched to the second state. 14. The gaming machine according to claim 13, wherein the abnormality determination is executed based on the number of game media and the number of game media determined to pass by the second determination means during the held period.

  In the configuration having the variable pitching means as shown in the feature 13, when the variable pitching means is in the first state, a large number of game balls can flow into the guide passage at once. In a configuration in which the first detection position and the second detection position are not arranged at the same location, a large difference may temporarily occur in the determination result by each determination unit. In such a configuration, by performing abnormality determination based on the number of game media (for example, the number of game media detected based on the passage determination by the passage determination unit) after the variable pitching means is switched to the second state, There is no need to consider a temporary difference, and noise discrimination using the comparison result can be facilitated.

Feature 15. The first determination means performs a passage determination based on a game medium detection signal output from the first detection means in a periodic process periodically executed.
The second determination means executes a passage determination based on a game medium detection signal output from the second detection means in the regular process.
When a game medium detection signal is output from the first detection means, a determination period required when the first determination means performs passage determination based on the signal, and a game medium detection signal from the second detection means Any one of the characteristics 1 to 14 is set such that the determination period required when the second determination means performs a passage determination based on the signal when the second determination means outputs the same. A gaming machine according to claim 1.

  The number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means as shown in feature 1 and the like, and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means, By applying the configuration shown in this feature to the configuration capable of grasping the occurrence of abnormality based on the mixing of noise or the like, a practically preferable configuration can be realized. That is, the first determination unit and the second determination unit are executed by regular processing, and the period required for the passage determination is the same, so that the comparison is facilitated and the reliability of the comparison result is preferably improved. Can be increased.

  Feature 16. The period adjusting unit adjusts the difference between the length of the output period in the first determination unit and the length of the output period in the second detection unit to be at least larger than the determination period. The gaming machine according to feature 15, wherein the gaming machine is characterized by that.

  In order to realize the configuration shown in the feature 1 or the like, it is desirable that the difference in the output period of the detection signal output from each detection unit is larger than the determination period.

  Feature 17. The output period adjusting means is a decelerating section that decelerates the game medium that has flowed into the guide passage, and the length of each output period is made different by decelerating the game medium. The gaming machine according to any one of the features 16 to 16.

  When the flow-down speed of the game medium in the guide passage varies, the influence of the variation can affect the passage speed of the game medium when passing through each detection position. If there is a variation such that the difference in passing speed between the first detection position and the second detection position is small, there is a concern that the difference in the length of the output period will be small and it will be difficult to determine an abnormality using the difference. The Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the game medium is decelerated by the output period adjusting means, it is possible to suppress variations in the flow-down speed and favorably secure the above difference. Specifically, when the game ball flows down along the guide passage, by dropping the game ball by its own weight while keeping the speed before passing the detection position (hereinafter referred to as initial speed) small, It is possible to reduce the contribution of the initial speed to the passing speed and to suitably suppress the speed variation.

  For example, the speed reduction unit may be arranged at a position immediately upstream of the first detection position and a position immediately upstream of the second detection position.

  Feature 18. 18. The gaming machine according to claim 17, wherein the output period adjusting means decelerates the flow speed of the game medium that has flowed into the guide passage so as to become substantially zero at an intermediate position in the guide passage. .

  According to the feature 18, the speed variation shown in the feature 17 can be suitably suppressed by decelerating the flow speed of the game medium so as to be almost zero. In other words, even if the speed before reaching the output adjustment engine is whatever, it is possible to eliminate the influence due to the variation in the initial speed by decelerating the speed so that it becomes almost zero. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the passing speed when passing through the detection position, and a practically preferable configuration can be realized.

Feature 19. Guide passages for guiding game media (eg, guide passage 265, upstream passage 325 and downstream passage 335);
First detection means (first detection sensor 350A) for detecting a game medium passing through a first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
Second detection means (second detection sensor 350B) for detecting a game medium passing through a second detection position downstream of the first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
First determination means for performing determination based on the detection signal output from the first detection means (function of executing step S201 to step S207 of signal reading processing in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162);
Second determination means (function of executing step S208 to step S214 of signal reading processing in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162) for making a determination based on the detection signal output from the second detection means;
The length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the first detection means, and the length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the second detection means Output period adjusting means (for example, the guide passage 265, the upstream passage 325, and the downstream passage 335),
An abnormality determination unit that performs an abnormality determination based on the determination result of the first determination unit and the determination result of the second determination unit (function of executing step S603 of the error determination process in the MPU 611 of the main control device 162) is provided. A gaming machine characterized by that.

  According to the feature 19, when the game ball guided by the guide passage is detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit, detection signals are output from the first detection unit and the second detection unit, and the respective detections are performed. Determination by each determination means is performed based on the signal. Then, by detecting an abnormality based on the determination result by the first determination unit and the determination result by the second determination unit (for example, by comparison), the occurrence of an abnormality of the detection signal (for example, mixing of noise or the like) is found. Can do. Thereby, for example, it can suppress that a privilege is given unfairly with respect to a player based on an incorrect determination result, and can contribute to the guarantee of the soundness of a game.

  The inconveniences described above may occur due to accidental factors or human factors. Assuming a case where noise generated continuously and repeatedly is mixed into the game medium detection signal during the output period of the game medium detection signal as the detection signal, for example, the detection signal is partially converted into a game medium non-detection signal. By switching, one game medium detection signal can be differentiated into a plurality of game medium detection signals. In other words, the presence of noise may change the signal for detecting one game medium as if the passage of a plurality of game media was detected. If such noise is mixed in the detection signal from the first detection means and the detection signal from the second detection means in the same manner, the following inconvenience may occur. That is, it is assumed that the number of game media determined by each determination unit is the same, abnormality determination based on the number of both game media is avoided, and it is difficult to grasp noise by the abnormality determination unit.

  In particular, when the above-described noise is artificially mixed, in order to efficiently perform an illegal act, a plurality of noises are mixed in anticipation of the passing timing of the gaming medium (that is, the output timing of the detection signal), thereby allowing one gaming medium to be mixed. It is assumed that the detection signal corresponding to the passage of the game is differentiated into detection signals of a large number of game media. If it becomes difficult to find such fraudulent acts, damages in game halls and the like can be enormous. In this regard, in this feature, the above-described inconvenience can be suitably suppressed by making the length of the output period of the game medium detection signal output from each detection means different. In other words, when a plurality of noises are mixed in one detection signal as described above, the number of differentiation is likely to be different because the output periods of the detection signals are different. More specifically, when a plurality of noises are repeatedly mixed continuously, the number of detection signals differentiated within the two output periods. Thereby, the number of game media determined to have passed based on each detection signal will be different.

  For this reason, by comparing the determination results by the abnormality determination means, it is possible to suitably find the above-described fraud.

  As described above, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy by suppressing erroneous determination due to noise mixing or the like by the period adjusting unit and the abnormality determining unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of disadvantage due to erroneous detection and contribute to the improvement of the reliability of the gaming machine.

  Note that “determining based on the detection signal output from the detection means” means, for example, whether the signal is a HI level signal or a LOW level when the detection signal is a HI / LOW binary signal. Including “determining abnormality determination based on the determination result of the first determination unit and the determination result of the second determination unit” is the number of times that each determination unit determines that the signal is an HI level signal, This includes performing abnormality determination by comparing the number of times the LOW level signal is output.

  The basic configuration of the gaming machine to which the above features can be applied is shown below.

  Pachinko machine: operation means (game ball launching handle 41) operated by a player, game ball launching means (game ball launching mechanism 110) for launching a game ball based on the operation of the operation means, and the fired A ball path (guidance rail 100) for guiding a game ball to a predetermined game area and game parts (nails 88, etc.) arranged in the game area, and a predetermined passing portion (general prize) among these game parts A gaming machine that gives a privilege to a player when a game ball passes through the mouth 81 or the like.

  Slot machine, etc .: A variable display means that displays a symbol sequence consisting of a plurality of symbols in a variable manner and then stops and displays the symbol sequence. Special game advantageous to the player on the condition that the change of the symbol is stopped due to the operation of the operation means for stoppage or when a predetermined time elapses and the final stop symbol at the time of stoppage is a specific symbol A gaming machine that generates a state (bonus game, etc.).

  Ball-use belt-type game machine: Equipped with variable display means that displays the symbol sequence consisting of multiple symbols in a variably displayed state, and then stops and displays the symbol sequence. The special game state (bonus) that is advantageous to the player on the condition that the change of the symbol is stopped due to the operation of the operating means or when the predetermined time elapses, and the final stop symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol A throwing device that performs a throwing process for taking a game ball from the ball tray and a payout device for paying out the game ball to the ball tray, A gaming machine configured such that the operation of the starting operation means is made effective when a game ball is inserted by.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pachinko machine as a game machine, 27 ... Error display lamp part which comprises an alerting | reporting means, 80 ... Game board, 82 ... Variable prize-winning apparatus which forms a ball entry part, 84 ... Operating opening as a ball entry part, 150 ... Collecting plate, 151... Recovery passage, 162... Main controller, 272... Guide passage constituting guide passage, 325... Upstream passage constituting output period adjustment means, 335. ... 1st vertical passage, 337 ... Horizontal passage, 338 ... 2nd vertical passage, 350A ... 1st detection sensor as 1st detection means, 350B ... 2nd detection sensor as 2nd detection means, 364 ... Coil, 660 ... Oscillator circuit, 661, capacitor, 670, processing circuit, 611, MPU, PE, game area.

Claims (1)

A guide passage for guiding game media;
First detection means for detecting a game medium passing through a first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
Second detection means for detecting a game medium passing through a second detection position downstream of the first detection position in the guide passage and outputting a predetermined detection signal;
First determination means for determining, based on the detection signal output from the first detection means, whether or not the game medium has passed the first detection position in the guide passage;
Second determination means for determining, based on the detection signal output from the second detection means, whether or not the game medium has passed through the second detection position in the guide passage;
The length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the first detection means, and the length of the output period during which a game medium detection signal is output as the detection signal from the second detection means And different means to make the difference
Based on the number of game media determined to have passed the first detection position by the first determination means and the number of game media determined to have passed the second detection position by the second determination means. An abnormality determination means for performing abnormality determination ,
A privilege granting means for granting a privilege to the player based on the determination result when the first determination means determines that the game medium has passed through the first detection position ;
The different means is such that the length of each output period is made different so that the passing speed of the game medium at the second detection position is slower than the passing speed of the game medium at the first detection position. A featured gaming machine.

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