JP5386668B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine that pays out a winning ball in response to winning of a gaming ball at a winning opening.

  A pachinko gaming machine, which is a bullet ball game machine, is provided with a payout device for paying out a winning ball when the gaming ball wins a winning opening. This payout device generally has a mechanism for paying out game balls as unpaid prize balls using a motor-driven rotating body.

  The game balls that have been paid out are detected by the pay-out ball detection switch, and the payout of the unpaid prize balls is completed while checking whether there is an error between the number of prize balls stored in the gaming machine and the number of game balls actually paid out. To do.

  In addition, in recent pachinko machines, speeding up of the winning ball is required so as not to hinder the progress of the game. Therefore, the motor is driven at high speed to a mechanically possible speed to discharge a predetermined number of game balls set as one payout number, and the motor is stopped when the payout detection switch counts the predetermined number of game balls. The operation is repeated until there are no unpaid prize balls. In this case, the motor repeats high-speed driving with the stop operation interposed therebetween. However, by stopping the motor, the ball pressure of the game ball rectified to enter the payout device is increased, and the payout speed is increased. There is an effect of suppressing the heat generation of the motor.

  In such a configuration in which the motor repeats only high-speed driving, there is a problem that the motor is not stopped accurately and game balls are excessively paid out. There is an invention in which the drive speed of the motor is reduced and the drive of the motor is stopped when the payout is completed. As a result, an effect of stopping the motor accurately at a predetermined position and preventing excessive payout was obtained.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-091047 JP 2005-021663 A

  However, in these gaming machines, when a large amount of game balls such as a big hit game are paid out, the driving speed of the motor, that is, the payout speed is reduced every time a predetermined number of payouts are made, so that the payout speed is increased. Has become a factor that hinders.

The ball game machine according to claim 1,
A payout means for paying out the game ball by rotating the rotating body;
A payout control means for controlling a drive source connected to the rotating body;
A payout detecting means for detecting a game ball paid out from the payout means;
A payout counter to be subtracted based on the detection of the payout detection means;
A winning detection means for detecting a game ball that has entered a winning opening provided in the gaming area;
An unpaid counter added based on detection of the winning detection means;
With
On condition that the value of the payout counter is 0 and the value of the unpaid counter is not 0,
When the value of the unpaid counter is less than a predetermined number, the value of the unpaid counter is added to the payout counter and the value of the unpaid counter is cleared,
When the value of the unpaid counter is a predetermined number or more, the predetermined number is added to the payout counter and the predetermined number is subtracted from the value of the unpaid counter,
The total value of the value of the unpaid counter and the value of the payout counter is configured to indicate the number of unpaid prize balls that have not yet been paid out,
The payout control means reduces the driving speed of the drive source and pays out the game ball by the payout means on condition that the value of the unpaid counter is 0 and the value of the payout counter is a predetermined value. It is a ball game machine characterized by reducing the speed.

  The drive source connected to the rotator only needs to be able to control the rotation angle of the rotator and set the number of game balls to be paid out by the rotator according to the controlled rotation angle. Furthermore, it can be said that a motor (for example, a pulse motor) that can control the rotation speed of the rotating body and can control the rotation angle and the rotation speed is preferable. In addition, the connection between the rotating body and the driving source may be a configuration in which the operation and stop of the driving source can be transmitted without a time difference except for the rattling of the component mounting state. In addition to the configuration in which the rotating body is directly attached to the driving source, A configuration in which a gear or the like is disposed between the rotating body and the drive source is also conceivable.

  The payout detection means only needs to be able to individually detect the game balls discharged from the rotating body (game balls to be paid out from the game machine), and may be configured to include a plurality of detection devices. It may be used.

  The number of winning balls for winning one gaming ball is set in advance for each winning opening in the winning opening provided in the game area. Each time the winning detecting means detects a gaming ball, the number of winning balls is internally set. A configuration in which the calculated value and the calculated value are added to the unpaid counter is preferable.

  The payout counter adds the value corresponding to the number of game balls to be paid out in one payout operation from the value of the unpaid counter, and from the value obtained by adding the number of game balls that have been paid out according to the detection of the payout detection means It is a counter to subtract. Accordingly, the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the game ball is a value obtained by adding the value of the unpaid counter and the value of the payout counter.

  The payout counter, together with the payout detection means, is a device for determining whether or not a game ball has been paid out according to the payout control. The payout detection means can be used at any time regardless of whether the payout means is activated or not. A configuration capable of detecting a game ball is preferable.

  The payout means is preferably started when the payout counter is added and stopped when the value of the payout counter becomes 0 in response to the detection of the game ball by the payout detection means. When paying out, it is desirable to repeat a payout operation (for example, payout of 15 game balls) up to a predetermined number added to the payout counter with a stop of the payout means (stop of the drive source).

The ball game machine according to claim 2
In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
An excess ball counter that adds a value according to detection of the payout detection means on condition that the value of the unpaid counter is not 0 and the value of the payout counter is 0;
If the excess sphere counter value is other than 0, an excess sphere adjusting means for subtracting the excess sphere counter value from the value added to the payout counter and clearing the excess sphere counter value is provided. It is a ball game machine.

  The game ball detected by the payout detection means when the value of the payout counter is 0 is not a game ball discharged based on the payout control, but a drive caused by a load such as a ball pressure of a plurality of game balls applied to the drive source This is an excessive payout ball caused by a malfunction of the source (for example, stepping motor step-out) or looseness of the assembly of the drive source and the rotating body. Not subtracted. Therefore, after the detection by the payout detecting means, the payout counter value which is the number of unpaid prize balls is subtracted.

  Regardless of the timing at which the payout detecting means detects a game ball, when a game ball other than the game ball discharged based on the payout control is detected, the detected number is stored and the payout counter to be added next time is stored. A configuration is also possible in which the memory is erased after the detected number is subtracted from the value. Further, it can be said that a configuration in which the payout error process is performed according to the operation frequency of the excess ball adjusting means is preferable.

The ball game machine according to claim 3 is:
In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The payout control means sets a drive period of the drive source at which the rotating body pays out a predetermined number of game balls at the start of payout,
After the start of payout, the drive period is reset when the payout detecting means detects a predetermined number of game balls even if the drive source does not reach the drive period,
With the condition that the payout detecting means has not detected a game ball and the driving period ends according to the setting, the driving speed of the driving source is decelerated and paying out in the previous driving period according to the setting is performed. With retry means to
If the payout detecting means does not detect a game ball even if the retry means is executed a predetermined number of times, a payout error process is performed.

  The predetermined number of game balls detected by the payout detecting means that resets the driving period is desirably smaller than the upper limit value of the value added to the payout counter, and may be one. Further, the number of game balls that can be paid out by the rotating body in the set driving period may be equal to or less than the upper limit value of the value added to the payout counter, and may be four, for example.

  When the driving period is set and the payout is started during the control of the driving source, when the payout detecting means detects a predetermined number (for example, one) of game balls, the driving period is set again and the payout is performed. The setting process is repeatedly performed until the value of the payout counter becomes 0 in accordance with the game ball detection by the payout detecting means.

  For example, when 15 is added to the payout counter, which is the upper limit of the number of payouts per time, the drive period of the drive source for paying out 4 game balls is set, and the rotating body starts rotating. When the payout detecting means detects a game ball at the timing when the rotating body ejects the first game ball, at that time, a driving period for paying out four game balls to the drive source is set again, and the rotating body rotates. Each time one game ball is detected until the number of 15 game balls is detected, the setting of the drive period for driving out the four game balls is repeated. When 15 game balls are detected (the payout counter is 0). The driving source is stopped.

  Each time the rotation angle is set, the rotator starts a new rotation for paying out a predetermined number (for example, four), but the rotator according to the setting of a new rotation angle from the game ball detection of the payout detection means. The rotation process of the rotating body is not performed before the rotation starts, and the actual rotating body does not stop due to the internal processing speed.

  Even if the rotating body has finished paying out a predetermined number (for example, four) of game balls, the retry means that is executed when the payout detecting means has not detected a game ball is used to eliminate the payout failure. This is a process of paying out one game ball more accurately than normal, and is made possible by making the rotation speed of the rotating body of the payout means slower than normal.

  If the payout detection means does not detect a game ball during the retry means, the retry means is repeated a predetermined number of times. If the game ball is not paid out even after the predetermined number of times, error processing is performed, but each time the retry means is repeated. A configuration in which the rotation speed of the rotating body is slowed (the drive speed of the drive source is reduced) is also conceivable.

  According to the ball game machine of claim 1, the unpaid counter and the payout counter are provided, the total value of which indicates the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the game machine, the value of the unpaid counter is 0, and the value of the payout counter Is a predetermined value (when the game ball of the payout counter value is paid out, the number of unpaid winning balls is lost), the drive speed of the drive source is reduced to reduce the payout speed. Under other conditions, the drive source can be maintained at high speed and the payout speed can be increased, and the time until the payout of all the unpaid prize balls is completed is shorter than that of the conventional machine.

  According to the ball game machine of claim 2, although there is an increased risk of paying out game balls as the speed of payout increases, an excess ball counter for counting excess balls is provided, and the stored excess ball number is not paid. By subtracting from the value of the payout counter that is a part of the number of winning balls, it becomes possible to make the excess balls payout balls according to the number of unpaid winning balls, and there is an effect of erasing the payout as excessive balls.

  According to the ball game machine according to claim 3, if a predetermined number (for example, one) of game balls less than the predetermined number is paid out before a predetermined number (for example, four) of the payout operation is completed, the payout Since the configuration is such that no defect occurs, it is possible to suppress the frequency of occurrence of a payout failure during the payout operation. Further, a payout failure is determined every time a predetermined number (for example, 1) of game balls is paid out, and a retry process is performed when a payout failure occurs. Therefore, it becomes possible to cope with a payout failure early.

The front view of the gaming machine 1. The back view of the gaming machine 1. The front view of the game board 8. FIG. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a game machine. The figure which shows the operation principle of game ball payout. The figure which shows the main routine of the main controller. The flowchart which shows the prize ball data creation process which the main controller 50 performs. The flowchart which shows the prize ball data transmission process which the main controller 50 performs. The flowchart which shows the prize ball data reception process which the payout control apparatus 51 performs. The flowchart 1 which shows the prize ball payout process which the payout control apparatus 51 performs. The flowchart 2 which shows the prize ball payout process which the payout control apparatus 51 performs. The flowchart 3 which shows the prize ball payout process which the payout control apparatus 51 performs. The flowchart which shows the excessive sphere memory | storage process which the payout control apparatus 51 performs. The timing chart 1 which shows the payout operation | movement of the payout motor 24a. The timing chart 2 which shows the payout operation | movement of the payout motor 24a. 10 is a flowchart showing an unpaid counter addition process executed by the main controller 50 according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart 1 showing payout data transmission processing executed by the main control device 50 according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart 2 showing payout data transmission processing executed by the main control device 50 according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart 3 showing payout data transmission processing executed by the main controller 50 according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing excess sphere storage processing 2 executed by main controller 50 in Embodiment 2. 9 is a flowchart showing a winning ball payout process 2 executed by the payout control device 51 according to the second embodiment. The flowchart which shows the low-speed payout withdrawal process which the payout control apparatus 51 in Example 2 performs.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and various forms belonging to the technical scope of the present invention can be adopted. Differences in contents described in the respective examples are possible. Needless to say, the portions can be appropriately combined.

  FIG. 1 shows a front view of a pachinko machine 1 which is a kind of gaming machine, and will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which each part is held by a casing that becomes a large rectangular outer frame 2, a front frame 3, a design frame 4a, and a design frame 4b.

  A metal fitting 5a is provided on the upper left side of the outer frame 2, and a metal fitting 5b is provided on the lower part. The metal fittings 5a and 5b form a hinge mechanism, and the front frame 3 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame 2. A front frame closing switch 38 (see FIG. 4) (not shown) is mounted so as to detect the closed state of the front frame 3. A metal fitting 5c is provided in the middle of the left side of the front frame 3. The metal fitting 5a and the metal fitting 5c form a hinge mechanism, and the design frame 4a is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the front frame 3. Further, the metal fitting 5c and the metal fitting 5b form a hinge mechanism, and the design frame 4b is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the front frame 3.

  On the opposite side (here, the right side) where the hinge mechanism is formed, the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 are locked, the front frame 3 and the design frame 4a are locked, and the front frame 3 and the design frame 4b are locked / unlocked. A slide lock 6 (see FIG. 2) having a keyhole 6a for locking is provided. The pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described as a so-called CR machine in which the CR prepaid card unit 7 is provided on the left side of the outer frame 2. However, the pachinko machine 1 may be a so-called cash machine in which the CR prepaid card unit 7 is not provided. Absent.

  The design frame 4a protects the speaker 10 on the front surface of the speaker 10 provided on the window portion 9 and the front frame 3 provided with a transparent resin plate or a glass plate so that a game board 8 to be described later can be visually recognized. A protective sound passage portion 11 for passing sound is provided.

  The design frame 4b has an upper plate 12 and a lower plate 13 for storing game balls in the approximate center, a game button 14 that can be operated by the player, a CR prepaid card unit 7, and a CR unit terminal to be described later. The payment display device 15, the ball lending button 16 and the payment button 17 connected via the board 60 are provided on the left side.

On the lower right side of the front frame 3 (on the right side of the design frame 4b), a launch handle 18 for adjusting the launch strength of the game ball is provided, and in the vicinity of the launch handle 18, a launch stop button 19 (FIG. 4) and a touch plate 20 (not shown).
A speaker unit 21 including a speaker 10 is provided below the front frame 3 (below the design frame 4b).

  Then, the back view of the pachinko machine 1 is shown in FIG. 2, and it demonstrates in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the front frame 3 to which the game board 8 is detachably attached is housed in the outer frame 2. The front frame 3 is provided with a payout device 24 including a ball tank 22, a tank rail 23, and a payout unit 24c, which will be described later, from above, and a game ball enters a payout opening described later provided in the game board 8. Thus, when the payout motor 24a of the payout device 24 is driven, the game balls stored in the ball tank 22 and the tank rail 23 are paid out to the upper plate 12 described above. The payout unit 24c corresponds to payout means for paying out game balls by rotating a rotating body in the present invention.

  A main control device 50, a sub-integrating device 53, and an effect symbol unit 54 are provided on the back side of the game board 8, and a payout control device 51, a launch control device 52, and a power supply device are provided on the back side of the front frame 3. 55, and the power supply 55 is provided with a power switch 55a, a RAM clear switch 55b, and a backup power source (not shown). Although the launch control device 52 is not shown, it is disposed at a position hidden by the payout control device 51.

  Further, the front frame 3 is provided with an external connection terminal board 61, and signals indicating a gaming state, a game result, fraud and the like are sent from the external connection terminal board 61 to the hall computer 70 (see FIG. 4). It is configured as follows. In this embodiment, the external connection terminal plate 61 is used for both the board and the frame. However, the external connection terminal plate 61 and the frame may be provided separately.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a front view of the game board 8 and will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 8 is provided with a substantially circular game area 26 surrounded by known guide rails 25a and 25b, and a large number of game nails 27 are implanted therein. A liquid crystal frame decoration 28 having a window portion 28a is provided substantially at the center of the game area 26, and the LCD screen of the effect symbol display device 54b (see FIG. 4) is configured to be visible to the player, and is not shown. Warp entrance, warp passage, stage, etc. are also provided. Further, a special symbol display device 29 and a normal symbol display device 30 constituted by a light emitting member such as a 7-segment LED are provided above the window portion 28a.

  A normal symbol operation gate 32 having a normal symbol operation switch 32a (see FIG. 4) to be described later is provided on the left and right sides or the left side of the liquid crystal frame decoration 28, and a special symbol start switch 31a (FIG. 4) to be described later is provided on the lower side. A normal electric accessory 31 having a reference) is provided. Below the ordinary electric accessory 31, a big prize opening unit 33 having an attacker-type big prize opening 33a is arranged, and an out opening 34 is provided below the big prize opening unit 33. A special symbol reservation number display device 29a composed of four LEDs is provided on the left side of the big winning opening 33a, and a normal symbol reservation number display device 30a composed of four LEDs is provided on the right side. . In addition, on both the left and right sides of the big prize opening unit 33, a prize opening unit 35 provided with a plurality of general prize openings 35a including general prize opening switches 35b, 35c, 35d, and 35e (see FIG. 4) described later is provided. . The general prize opening switches 35b, 35c, 35d and 35e are distinguished by the position of the general prize opening switch 35a as viewed from the front of the game board. The general prize opening switch 35b is located on the upper right side and the general prize opening switch 35c is located on the lower right side. A general prize opening switch 35d is arranged on the upper left side, and a general prize opening switch 35e is arranged on the lower left side.

  By configuring the game board 8 as described above, when the normal symbol operating gate 32 enters the ball (the game ball is detected by the normal symbol operating switch 32a (see FIG. 4)), the normal symbol is displayed on the normal symbol display device 30. The variable electric display 31b (see FIG. 4), which will be described later, is driven in accordance with the mode of the normal symbol that starts the variable display and stops after a predetermined time. When the normal electric combination solenoid 31b is driven, the blade member of the normal electric combination 31 is driven almost synchronously, and the rate of entering the normal electric combination 31 (with the special symbol start switch 31a (see FIG. 4)) The detection rate is increased.

  In addition, when a ball is entered into the ordinary electric accessory 31 (a game ball is detected by the special symbol start switch 31a (see FIG. 4)), the special symbol starts to display a change, and according to the state of the special symbol stopped after a predetermined time. Then, a special winning opening solenoid 33c (see FIG. 4) described later is driven. When the big prize opening solenoid 33c is driven, the door member of the big prize opening unit 33 is driven almost in synchronism, and the rate of entering the big prize opening 33a (detection rate at the count switch 33b (see FIG. 4)). Is configured to increase.

  It should be noted that the number of prize balls to be acquired when one game ball is won is set to 3 for the ordinary electric accessory 31, 14 for the big prize opening 33 a, and 10 for the general prize opening 35 a.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical wiring of the pachinko machine 1 and will be described in detail. The block diagram does not include a complicated power supply circuit, but is configured to be supplied directly or indirectly from the power supply 55 to a control device or actuator that requires power.

  As shown in FIG. 4, at the input end of the main controller 50, a special symbol start switch 31a for detecting a game ball that has entered the normal electric accessory 31 via the game board relay terminal plate 62, and a normal symbol operation gate 32, a normal symbol operation switch 32a for detecting a game ball that has entered the game, a count switch 33b for detecting a game ball that has entered the big prize opening 33a, and a general prize for detecting the game ball that has entered the general prize opening 35a. The mouth switches 35b (upper right), 35c (lower right), 35d (upper left), and 35e (lower left) are connected, and these switches enter the winning mouth provided in the game area in the present invention. This corresponds to a winning detection means for detecting. Further, a front frame closing switch 38 for detecting that the front frame 3 is closed via the back wiring relay terminal plate 63, and a design frame closing switch 39a for detecting that the design frames 4a and 4b are closed, 39b is connected.

  The front frame closing switch 38 and the design frame closing switches 39a and 39b are each provided with a battery (which may be either a primary battery or a secondary battery), and at normal times (power is supplied and the power switch 55a is ON) operates with DC12V supplied from the back wiring relay terminal plate 63, which will be described later, and when power is not supplied (power cutoff or power switch OFF), the front frame 3 or the design frame 4a using the battery power supply. 4b is configured to output a closed state. In addition, when a primary battery is used as a battery, it will be replaced due to battery consumption (only the battery is replaced or the limit switch is replaced). It is desirable to configure it so that it can be used repeatedly.

  At the output end of the main controller 50, a large winning opening solenoid 33 c that drives the door member of the large winning opening 33 a through the game board relay terminal plate 62 and a normal electric combination that drives the blade member of the normal electric accessory 31. A special symbol display device 29 that displays a special symbol via a solenoid 31b, a symbol display device relay terminal board 64, a special symbol hold number display device 29a that displays the number of special symbols held, and a normal symbol that displays a normal symbol The display device 30, the universal figure reservation number display device 30 a that displays the number of normal symbols retained, and the hall computer 70 are connected via the back wiring relay terminal plate 63 and the external connection terminal plate 61.

  The main controller 50 includes electrical components such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU executes processing in accordance with a program stored in the mounted ROM, and progresses the game based on various input detection signals. Various related commands are generated and output to the payout control device 51 and the sub integration device 53. Further, the main control device 50 receives the detection signal output from the front frame closing switch 38 or the design frame closing switches 39a and 39b when the front frame 3 or the design frames 4a and 4b are closed. A signal indicating that the front frame or the design frame is in a closed state (a signal corresponding to the detection signal) is output to the hall computer 70 via the plate 61. Here, the main control device 50 and the payout control device 51 are configured as a bidirectional communication circuit, and the main control device 50 and the sub-integrating device 53 are sub-integrated from the main control device 50 via the production relay terminal board 65. A one-way communication circuit to the device 53 is configured.

  At the input end of the payout control device 51, a ball break switch 22a or 23a for detecting a shortage of game balls in the ball tank 22 or the tank rail 23 via the back wiring relay terminal plate 63, and a back wiring relay A payout switch 24b for detecting a game ball paid out via the terminal plate 63 and the payout relay terminal plate 66, and a full switch 13a for detecting that there are a large number of game balls on the path to the lower plate 13 without passing through various terminal plates. And are connected. A payout motor 24 a for paying out game balls to the upper plate is connected to the output end of the payout control device 51 via the back wiring relay terminal plate 63 and the payout relay terminal plate 66. The payout switch 24b corresponds to a payout detecting means for detecting a game ball paid out from the payout means in the present invention, and the payout motor 24a corresponds to a drive source connected to the rotating body.

  The payout control device 51 includes electrical components such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The payout control device 51 performs processing by the CPU according to a program stored in the mounted ROM, and is input from various detection signals that are input and from the main control device 50. Based on the command, various commands relating to payout of the game ball are generated and output to the main controller 50 and the launch controller 52. Here, the payout control device 51 and the main control device 50 are configured as a bidirectional communication circuit, and the payout control device 51 and the launch control device 52 are configured as a one-way communication circuit from the payout control device 51 to the launch control device 52. Has been. The payout control device 51 corresponds to a payout control device that controls a drive source connected to the rotating body in the present invention.

  Connected to the input end of the firing control device 52 are a firing stop switch 19a for stopping firing and a touch switch 20a for detecting that the player is touching the firing handle 17. A launch motor 36 for launching a game ball to the game area 26 is connected to the output end of the launch control device 52. The firing control device 52 does not include a CPU, ROM, or RAM, and is a digital circuit composed of an IC or the like. The firing control device 52 controls driving of the firing motor 36 based on various detection signals inputted and inputs from the payout control device 51. ing.

  A game switch 14 a that can be operated by a player is connected to an input terminal of the sub-integrating device 53. Various LED / lamps 37 provided in the design frames 4 a and 4 b and the game board 8 and the speakers 10 provided in the front frame 3 and the speaker unit 21 are connected to the output end of the sub-integrating device 53. The sub integration device 53 and the main control device 50 are configured as a one-way communication circuit from the main control device 50 to the sub integration device 53 via the production relay terminal board 65 between the sub integration device 53 and the production symbol control. The device 54a is configured as a one-way communication circuit from the sub-integrating device 53 to the effect symbol control device 54a.

  The sub-integrating device 53 includes electrical components such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The sub-integrating device 53 executes processing by the CPU according to a program stored in the mounted ROM, and is input from the input of the game switch 14a and the main controller 50 Various commands related to effects are generated based on the input command, and are output to the effect symbol control device 54 a of the effect symbol unit 54. In the present embodiment, the game information stored in the RAM of the sub-integrating device 53 is not retained when the power is cut off. However, the VBB is supplied from the power device 55 so that the memory can be retained, and the game stored when the power is restored. There is no problem even if the game is restarted before the power is cut off based on the information.

  Further, the sub integration device 53 is provided with a volume adjustment switch 10a for adjusting the volume, detects the state (position) of the volume adjustment switch 10a, determines the detection result and the content to be transmitted to the speaker 10, and determines the speaker. 10 is configured to control the volume of sound output from 10 in a software manner. For example, the production voice and the part of the error notification (such as front frame 3 and design frame 4a, 4b frame open / close notification, etc.) are accompanied by a volume changed according to the state of the volume control switch 10a. Other error notifications (such as special notifications) output from the speaker 10 can be configured to be output from the speaker 10 at a preset volume regardless of the state of the volume control switch 10a.

  Next, the structure of the payout unit 24c corresponding to the payout means in the present invention will be shown using FIG. 5, and the operation principle of game ball payout will be described. The payout unit 24c has a payout motor 24a in which the rotary shaft of the payout sprocket 24d is fitted to the rotary shaft. As the payout motor 24a, a stepping motor that can rotate forward and backward and can control the rotation angle is used. The dispensing motor 24a rotates in the reverse direction when releasing the ball.

  The tank rail 23 described above has a structure that allows game balls to flow down in two rows, and the game balls enter the payout unit 24d in two rows and are guided to the payout sprocket 24d. The payout sprocket 24d corresponds to the rotating body in the present invention.

  Six recesses for receiving game balls are formed at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the payout sprocket 24d. Each recess is formed with an end so as to receive one game ball. When two rows of game balls enter the payout unit 24c, the game balls on the inner side (the payout motor 24a side) and the game balls on the outer side are 1 The balls are alternately received by the dispensing sprocket 24d.

  When the payout sprocket 24d is rotated by the drive of the payout motor 24a (clockwise rotation with the payout sprocket 24d in front), the game balls from the payout sprocket 24d are received in the order they are received when the payout sprocket 24d rotates approximately half a round from the game ball receiving portion. Are discharged one by one. The stepping motor serving as the payout motor 24a is controlled by two-phase excitation, and is configured to pay out one game ball in eight steps.

  A payout switch 24b is disposed directly below the payout sprocket 24d, and is configured to be able to detect the game ball discharged from the recess of the payout sprocket 24d.

  Using the above payout unit 24c, the configuration of the entire gaming machine for paying out the prize ball is such that the special symbol start switch 31a, the count switch 33b, and the general winning opening switch 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e detect the game ball. The main control device 50 receives the detection signal, the main control device 50 determines the number of game balls to be paid out (the number of prize balls), and transmits a payout signal instructing the payout number to the payout control device 51. Upon receiving the payout signal, the payout control device 51 drives the payout motor 24a in the payout unit 24c to rotate the payout sprocket 24d to pay out the game balls one by one, and the payout game balls are discharged by the payout switch 24b. The detected signal is transmitted to the payout control device 51.

  Next, a main routine executed by the main controller 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 represents a main process executed by the microcomputer of the main controller 50, and is a process periodically executed by a hardware interrupt every about 2 mS. In the present embodiment, each process from S10 to S24 is a process that is executed only once in the interrupt process and is referred to as “main process”, and is repeated as long as time permits within the remaining time after executing this main process. The executed processes of S25 and S26 are referred to as “residual process”.

  When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not the interrupt is a normal interrupt (S10). If it is determined that the interrupt is not normal (S10: NO), pre-initial setting is performed (S11), and the process proceeds to the remaining process. If S10 is affirmative (S10: YES), the initial value random number 1 is updated (S12). This process is an increment process that increments the value of the initial value random number 1 every time this process is executed. The process increments the value of the initial value random number 1 before execution of this process by one, but the random number before this process is executed is increased. When the numerical value is the maximum value, the initial value is returned to “0” in the next processing. After the process of S12, the initial value random number 2 is updated (S13). This process is an increment process that increments the value of the initial random number 2 by 1 for each execution, as in the process of S12.

  Subsequent to S13, the big hit determination random number update process (S14), the big hit determination random number update process (S15), the big hit symbol determination random number update process (S16), and the small hit symbol determination random number update process (S17) Reach determination random number update process (S18), variation pattern determination random number update process (S19), winning confirmation process (S20), special figure success / failure determination process (S21), ordinary figure success / failure determination process (S22), Output processing (S23) and fraud monitoring processing (S24) are performed.

  The remaining process subsequent to this process is composed of an update process of initial value random number 1 (S25) and an update process of initial value random number 2 (S26), which are exactly the same as the processes of S12 and S13 described above. is there. This process forms an infinite loop and is repeated as long as time permits until the next interrupt is executed.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, a description will be given of a prize ball data creation process showing a process of determining a signal indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out in accordance with each prize slot prize. When the award ball data creation process is started, it is determined whether or not the special symbol start switch 31a has detected a game ball (S30). If the determination is affirmative (S30: YES), the lower first bit of the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out stored in the prize ball data storage buffer is set to 1 (S31). Here, the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is represented by 1 byte data, such as 00000,000, and the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out by the detection of the special symbol start switch 31a is 00000001. Each bit represents a winning state at the corresponding winning opening, where 1 indicates detection and 0 indicates no detection.

  After the process of S31, or if S30 is negative (S30: NO), it is determined whether or not the count switch 33b has detected a game ball (S32). If the determination is affirmative (S32: YES), the lower second bit is set to 1 (S33). Data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out by winning only the big winning opening 33a is 00000010.

  After the process of S33, or if S32 is negative (S32: NO), it is determined whether or not the general winning opening switch 33b arranged at the upper right position when viewed from the front of the game board has detected a game ball (S34). . If the determination is affirmative (S34: YES), the lower third bit is set to 1 (S35). Data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out by winning only the general winning opening switch 33b is 00000100.

  After the process of S35 or if S34 is negative (S34: NO), it is determined whether or not the general winning opening switch 33c arranged at the lower right position when viewed from the front of the game board has detected a game ball (S36). ). If the determination is affirmative (S36: YES), the lower 4th bit is set to 1 (S37). Data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out by winning only the general winning opening switch 33c is 00001000.

  After the process of S37, or if S36 is negative (S36: NO), it is determined whether or not the general winning opening switch 33d arranged at the upper left position when viewed from the front of the game board has detected a game ball (S38). . If the determination is affirmative (S38: YES), the lower 5th bit is set to 1 (S39). The data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out by winning only the general winning opening switch 33d is 00010000.

  After the process of S39, or if S38 is negative (S38: NO), it is determined whether or not the general winning opening switch 33e arranged at the lower left position when viewed from the front of the game board has detected a game ball (S40). . If the determination is affirmative (S40: YES), the lower sixth bit is set to 1 (S41). The data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out by winning only the general winning opening switch 33e is 00100000.

  After the process of S41, or if S40 is negative (S40: NO), the prize ball data obtained by the above process is stored in the prize ball data storage buffer (S42), and the process returns.

  The above is the prize ball data creation processing. The prize ball data storage buffer stores six pieces of data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out (prize ball data storage 00H to 05H) and the number of prize balls to be paid out separately. Since a prize ball data storage buffer for transmitting data is provided, there is no problem even if the number of stored data is increased. In addition, it can be said that a configuration that reduces the processing burden by allocating the lower-order bits in the order of winning prizes having the highest winning frequency as in this embodiment is preferable.

  Next, the winning ball data transmission process executed by the main controller 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The winning ball data transmission process is a process of transmitting data indicating the number of winning balls to the payout control device 51 based on the data created in the process of FIG.

  When the prize ball data transmission process is started, it is first determined whether or not there is data stored in the prize ball data storage buffer in step S42 (whether it is not 00000000) (S50). In the process, when there is no data in the prize ball data storage buffer, a prize ball data shift process is performed. The prize ball data shift process is performed when there is no data in the prize ball data storage buffer and there is data stored in the prize ball data storage 00H, and indicates the number of prize balls to be paid out stored in the prize ball data storage 00H. Processing for transferring data to the prize ball data storage buffer is performed. At the same time, the process of moving the prize ball data stored in the prize ball data storage 01H to 05H to the previous area is performed.

  If a negative determination is made in S50 (S50: NO), the process returns. If the determination is affirmative (S50: YES), it is determined whether or not an unpaid full tank signal has been received from the payout control device 51 (S51). Here, the unpaid full tank signal is data notifying that the data indicating the number of unpaid prize balls is equal to or larger than a predetermined capacity of the RAM capacity of the payout control device 51.

  If S51 is negative (S501: NO), the process returns so that transmission of data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out can be interrupted. Thereby, the storage capacity of the RAM of the payout control device 51 can be reduced, which can contribute to cost reduction. If S51 is affirmative (S51: YES), it is determined whether or not the lower 1st bit of the prize ball data stored in the prize ball data storage buffer is 1 (S52).

  If the determination is affirmative (S52: YES), the data of three prize balls is set on the data bus (S53), the lower first bit is set to 0 (S54), and the process proceeds to step S70. If the determination is negative (S52: NO), it is determined whether or not the data of the lower second bit is 1 (S55).

  If the determination is affirmative (S55: YES), 14 winning ball data are set on the data bus (S56), the lower 2 bits are set to 0 (S57), and the process proceeds to step S70. If the determination is negative (S55: NO), it is determined whether or not the data of the lower third bit is 1 (S58).

  If the determination is affirmative (S58: YES), 10 winning ball data are set on the data bus (S59), the lower third bit is set to 0 (S60), and the process proceeds to step S70. If the determination is negative (S58: NO), it is determined whether the data of the lower 4th bit is 1 (S61).

  If the determination is affirmative (S61: YES), 10 winning ball data are set on the data bus (S62), the lower 4th bit is set to 0 (S63), and the process proceeds to step S70. If the determination is negative (S61: NO), it is determined whether the data of the lower 5 bits is 1 (S65).

  If the determination is affirmative (S65: YES), 10 winning ball data are set on the data bus (S66), the lower 5th bit is set to 0 (S67), and the process proceeds to step S70. If the determination is negative (S65: NO), 10 winning ball data are set on the data bus (S68), the lower 6 bits are set to 0 (S69), and the process proceeds to step S70.

  In S70, data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out obtained from the above processing is transmitted from the main control device 50 to the payout control device 51, and the process returns. The data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is deleted after being transmitted to the payout control device 51.

  The above is the winning ball data transmission process executed by the main controller 50, but the main controller 50 has received data from the payout controller 51 notifying that the data indicating the number of unpaid prize balls has exceeded a predetermined capacity. In this case, transmission of data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out can be interrupted (S51: NO). Therefore, when the payout control device 51 receives data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out from the main control device 50 in a state where the storage capacity of the RAM provided for storing and storing data related to the prize balls is insufficient. The resulting player's disadvantage can be avoided.

  Next, prize ball data reception processing executed by the payout control device 51 will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed when it is determined that the NMI signal received from the main controller 50 relates to data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out. Further, in the present invention, the present process is a process for establishing a configuration corresponding to an unpaid counter added based on the detection of the winning detection means together with the processes of FIGS.

  When the payout control device 51 starts the winning ball data receiving process, it is determined whether or not data indicating the number of winning balls to be paid out is received from the main control device 50 (S80). If a negative determination is made (S80: NO), the routine returns. If the determination is affirmative (S80: YES), it is determined whether the received data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is data of three prize balls (S81).

  Here, communication between the main controller 50 and the payout controller 51 is a bi-directional communication circuit. When the bi-directional communication circuit is used, when the control board receives data, the data is normally sent to the control board that transmitted the data. The reception confirmation signal indicating that it has been received is transmitted. However, when data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out by the payout control device 51 is received in step S80, the reception confirmation for the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is received. The signal is not transmitted to the main controller 50. For this reason, it is possible to reduce a control burden related to transmission / reception of data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out most frequently between the main control device 50 and the payout control device 51, and to execute suitable control.

  In addition, when data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out from the main controller 50 is transmitted to the forced interrupt (NMI) terminal, data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out by the payout controller 51 is received. Even when the reception confirmation signal for recognizing the reception is not transmitted, there is no problem.

  If S81 is affirmative (S81: YES), the unpaid counter is incremented by 3 (S82). The unpaid counter is a counter that stores data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out transmitted from the main controller 50, and is configured to add to the counter the number of prize balls designated by the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out. Is done.

  If S81 is negative (S81: NO), it is determined whether or not the received data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is data of 10 prize balls (S83). If the determination is affirmative (S83: YES), an unpaid counter is set. If the determination is negative (S83: NO), the unpaid counter is increased by 14 (S85). After the processes of S82, S84, and S85, it is determined whether or not the value of the unpaid counter added by the above process is larger than a set predetermined value (S86). If the determination is affirmative (S86: YES), an unpaid full tank signal is transmitted from the payout control device 51 to the main control device 50 informing that the data indicating the number of unpaid award balls has exceeded a predetermined value (S87). After the process of S87, or if S86 is negative (S86: NO), return to return.

  Since the main controller 50 executes a process that does not cause the payout process by transmitting the unpaid full tank signal (S51: NO), the storage capacity of the RAM provided in the payout control apparatus 51 for storing and storing data relating to prize balls It is possible to avoid the disadvantage of the player that occurs when the data indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out from the main control device 50 is received in a state where there is not enough.

  Next, the winning ball payout process executed by the payout control device 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. This processing is performed according to the present invention as follows: “If the value of the unpaid counter is less than a predetermined number on the condition that the value of the payout counter is 0 and the value of the unpaid counter is not 0, the value of the unpaid counter Is added to the payout counter and the value of the unpaid counter is cleared. If the value of the unpaid counter is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the predetermined number is added to the payout counter and the predetermined number is subtracted from the value of the unpaid counter. The total value of the counter value and the value of the payout counter indicates the number of unpaid prize balls that have not yet been paid out, and the payout control means has a value of the unpaid counter equal to 0 and the value of the payout counter On the condition that the driving speed of the driving source is decelerated and the payout speed of the game ball is reduced by the payout means, and the value of the unpaid counter is 0 There is an excess ball counter that adds a value according to the detection of the payout detection means on the condition that the value of the payout counter is 0, and if the value of the excess ball counter is other than 0, the value is added to the payout counter. A process corresponding to “comprising an excess sphere adjusting means for subtracting the value of the excess sphere counter from the value to be cleared and clearing the value of the excess sphere counter”, A driving period of a driving source for paying out game balls is set, and after the start of paying, the driving period is reset when the payout detecting means detects a predetermined number of gaming balls even if driving of the driving source does not reach the driving period, The payout detecting means includes a retry means for detecting the game ball and detecting the driving period according to the setting by decelerating the driving speed of the driving source on the condition that the driving period according to the setting is ended. Place the retry means If even if the number of executions payout detection means undetected game balls, it is intended to include a process corresponding to the payout error processing performing. "

  When the payout control device 51 starts the prize ball payout process, it is first determined whether or not various error flags are 0 (S100). If a negative determination, that is, if an error has occurred (S100: NO), the routine returns from this routine for error handling. If the determination is affirmative (S100: YES), it is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out is 0 (S101). The payout counter is a counter used for a game ball payout operation currently being executed, and is configured to be decremented (−1) based on payout of one prize ball (the payout switch 24b detects one game ball). Has been. This is a configuration corresponding to the payout counter which is subtracted based on the detection of the payout detecting means in the present invention.

  If S101 is affirmative (S101: YES), that is, if the payout operation is not performed at the present time, it is determined whether or not the value of the non-payment counter is greater than 0 (S102). If the determination is negative (S102: NO), there is no unpaid prize ball and there is no need to pay out, so the routine returns.

  If a positive determination is made in S102 (S102: YES), it is determined whether or not the value of the unpaid counter is 15 or more (S103). If the determination is affirmative (S103: YES), 15 is added to the value of the payout counter because the upper limit of the number of prize balls to be paid out at one time is 15 (S104).

  Following the processing of S104, it is determined whether or not the value of the excess sphere counter is 0 (S105). Excess balls are game balls that are excessively discharged in addition to the game balls that are paid out as unpaid prize balls, and are likely to occur when the payout motor 24a pays out game balls at high speed. This is because when the payout motor 24a is driven at high speed rotation, the stepping motor is likely to step out due to the ball pressure generated by a plurality of game balls. An excessive ball is also generated due to a failure of the dispensing device 24.

  The excess sphere counter is a counter that counts excess spheres generated in the above situation, and the process related to storing excess spheres will be described using the excess sphere storage process shown in FIG. When the excess ball storage process is started, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter is 0 (S181). If the determination is affirmative (S181: YES), it is determined whether or not the payout switch 24b has detected a game ball (S182). If the determination is affirmative, a decrement process to increment the excess ball counter by 1 is performed (S183). After S183, or if S181 and S182 are negative (S181: NO, S182: NO), the process returns.

  A state in which the value of the payout counter is 0 is a state in which there is no unpaid prize ball number that needs to be paid out at that time, and when the payout switch 24a detects a game ball regardless of the state, the detected game ball In order to indicate that it is not a game ball discharged by the control of the payout control device 51, a process of counting as an excess ball and storing the number in an excess ball counter is performed. In addition, when the value of the excess ball counter reaches a predetermined number, a failure of the payout device 24 may be considered, so that a payout error may be considered. In addition, it is possible to determine whether or not the value of the unpaid counter is 0 before the determination of S181. However, by not adding this determination, it is possible to cope with excessive payout due to failure of the payout device 24 or the like. Processing.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 10, if the determination in S105 is affirmative (S105: YES), that is, if there is no excessive number of balls stored at that time, 15 is subtracted from the value of the unpaid counter (S106). If S105 is negative (S105: NO), a process of subtracting the value of the excess sphere counter from the value of the payout counter is performed (S107), and the value of the excess sphere counter is cleared (S108).

  By the process of S107, it becomes possible to post-process the number of game balls discharged irrespective of the process of unpaid prize balls as post-pay prize balls, and process the number of game balls paid out and unpaid prize balls. It becomes the structure where the difference with the played game ball does not occur. That is, excessive payout of game balls can be eliminated.

  If S103 is negative (S103: NO), that is, if the value stored in the unpaid counter is less than 15, the same value as the value stored in the unpaid counter is added to the payout counter (S109). It is determined whether or not the value is 0 (S110). If the determination is affirmative (S110: YES), the value of the unpaid counter is cleared (S111). By the processing of S111 and S106, the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine is the sum of the value of the unpaid counter and the value of the payout counter. This is the value of the unpaid counter and the payout in the present invention. The total value with the value of the counter corresponds to a configuration indicating the number of unpaid prize balls that have not yet been paid out.

  If S110 is negative (S110: NO), the process of subtracting the excess sphere counter value from the payout counter value is performed (S107) and the excess sphere counter value is cleared (S108). ). After S111 or S106, the process returns.

  If S101 is negative (S101: NO), that is, if an unpaid prize ball for which payout processing must be performed is set in the payout counter, it is determined whether or not the value of the unpaid counter is 0 (S112). If the determination is affirmative (S112: YES), it is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter is 1, that is, whether or not the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine is one (S113). If both S112 and S113 are negative (S112: NO, S113: NO), that is, if the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine is two or more, the payout motor as the drive source along the flowchart shown in FIG. 24a is controlled and a game ball is discharged. If S113 is affirmative (S113: YES), that is, if the number of unpaid award balls stored in the game ball is 1, the payout motor 24a as a drive source is controlled according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Discharge.

  If the negative determination of S112 and S113 is followed by the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the driving period of the payout motor 24a required for the payout unit 24c to discharge four game balls is set (S120), and the game ball The payout motor 24a is driven at a high speed (S121). At this time, the drive period set for the payout motor 24a to discharge the four game balls is 32 steps because the payout motor 24a pays out one game ball in 8 steps as described above. It becomes.

  When the high-speed driving of the payout motor 24a is started in S121, it is determined whether or not the payout switch 24b has detected a game ball (S123). If the determination is affirmative (S123: YES), a decrement process that decrements by 1 from the value of the payout counter is performed (S137). If S123 is negative, it is determined whether or not high-speed driving of the payout motor 24a has been executed for a period of paying out four game balls (S124). If a negative determination is made (S124: N0), the determination of S123 is repeated until S124 becomes a positive determination.

  If S124 is affirmative (S124: YES), that is, if the payout switch 24b has not detected a game ball even after the drive period in which the payout motor 24a pays out the set number (4) of game balls has ended, payout Processing for stopping the driving of the motor 24a is performed (S125), and processing for adding 1 to the value of the retry counter is performed (S126). Next, similarly to the processing performed in S120, the payout unit 24c sets a driving period of the payout motor 24a necessary for discharging the four game balls (S127), and the payout motor for paying out the game balls 24a is driven at a low speed slower than the speed driven in S121 (S128). The driving of the payout motor 24a at this low speed is a control for more accurately performing a retry process for solving the trouble of the payout that has occurred.

  When the low-speed driving of the payout motor 24a is started in S128, it is determined whether or not the payout switch 24b has detected a game ball (S129). If the determination is affirmative (S129: YES), the payout failure has been resolved by the retry process, the value of the retry counter is cleared (S135), and the payout motor 24a is set to a speed slower than the drive speed implemented in S128. It is driven at an ultra-low speed (S136), and the decrement process is decremented by 1 from the value of the payout counter (S137) in the same manner as the affirmative determination of S123. Following the process of S137, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter is 0 (S138). If the determination is affirmative (S138: YES), the drive of the payout motor 24a is stopped (S139), and after the process of S139 or S138. If the determination is negative (S138: NO), return to return. The ultra-low speed drive performed in S136 is performed in order to confirm the position of the excitation layer of the payout motor 24a and to set the payout sprocket 24d to the initial position.

  If S129 is negative (S129: NO), it is determined whether or not the low-speed driving of the payout motor 24a has been driven for a period of paying out four game balls (S130). If a negative determination is made (S130: NO), the determination of S129 is repeated until S130 becomes a positive determination.

  If S130 is affirmative (S130: YES), in other words, if the problem is not improved even if retry processing is performed, it is determined whether or not the value of the retry counter is 3 (S131). Return to the above process and execute the retry process. Therefore, when the game ball is not discharged in the retry process, the same retry process is repeated up to three times including the first one.

  If S131 is affirmative (S131: YES), that is, if the game ball discharge is not detected even after repeating the retry process three times (if the payout failure has not been improved), an error relating to payout has occurred. Therefore, the driving of the payout motor 24a is stopped (S132), a payout error signal is transmitted to the main controller 50 (S133), the retry counter is cleared (S134), and the process returns to the return. The payout error is cleared by reset processing or RAM clear processing of the main control device.

    Next, a payout process performed when the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine becomes 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Since this process is substantially the same as the contents described in FIG. 11, only different parts will be described in detail, and FIG. 11 is used for the same parts.

  In S150, similarly to S120 in FIG. 11, the driving period of the payout motor 24a necessary for the payout unit 24c to discharge four game balls is set. Next, unlike FIG. 11, the payout motor 24a is driven at a lower speed than the driving speed of S121 (S151). This is because the remaining one payout is accurately performed by low-speed driving (suppressing the occurrence frequency of defects).

  The process from the determination process of S152 to S164 has the same configuration as the process of S123 to S135 of FIG. 11, but the drive of the payout motor 24a during the retry process performed in S157 is an ultra-low speed drive and is different from FIG. Different. In the case where a failure occurs during the last one payout control executed at a low speed, the speed of the payout motor 24a is set to a slower speed and the retry process is executed.

  After S152 is affirmative (S152: YES) or after the process of S164, a decrement process is performed to decrement the value of the payout counter (S165), and the drive of the payout motor 24a is stopped (S166). After the process of S166 or S163, the process returns.

  11 and 12 show the contents of the payout control executed when the value of the payout counter is 2 or more and the payout control executed when the value of the payout counter is 1. This is the payout control means in the present invention. Sets the drive period of the drive source for the rotating body to pay out a predetermined number of game balls at the start of payout, and the payout detection means detects a predetermined number of game balls after the start of payout even if the drive source does not reach the drive period Then, the driving period is reset, and the payout detection means has not detected a game ball, and the driving speed of the driving source is reduced according to the setting on the condition that the driving period according to the setting ends. This is a process corresponding to performing a payout error process when a payout detecting unit has not detected a game ball even if the retrying means is provided for a predetermined number of times.

  In the conventional payout control, when the drive period (rotation angle) of the payout motor 24a is set (the process corresponding to S120 of the present invention), the drive period (rotation angle) for paying out the same number of game balls as the value set in the payout counter. Was set. Accordingly, when the driving of the payout motor 24a according to the value of the payout counter is finished, it is determined whether or not the number of game balls detected by the payout switch 24b is a value according to the drive period (rotation angle), and a negative determination is made. In such a case, the retry processing is performed.

  In the gaming machine of the present invention, in order to discharge one game ball, a discharge operation of four game balls is set (S120). Therefore, for example, at the time of the first discharge to the third discharge, Even if the payout failure occurs and the game ball is not discharged, if the game ball is discharged at the fourth discharge angle, the payout operation can be continued as a normal operation. . In the case of the conventional configuration, if even one payout failure occurs during the payout operation, a retry process must be performed. Therefore, the configuration of the gaming machine of the present application has an effect of suppressing the occurrence frequency of payout failure and promoting the speeding up of payout.

  In addition, since it is configured to be able to determine a payout failure for each payout of one game ball, it is possible to respond early to payout failures, leading to quick resolution of the malfunction, This has the effect of shortening the time required to pay out all the unpaid prize balls to be memorized.

  Next, the operation of the payout motor 24a at the time of payout control will be described using the timing charts of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 14, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, when the value of the unpaid counter is larger than 15, 15 is set in the payout counter (S104), and 15 by a single (series) payout operation. Game balls are paid out. In this case, the payout motor 24a starts driving at a high speed when 15 is set (added) to the payout counter (S121). If no payout failure occurs (if retry processing is not performed), the value of the payout counter The high-speed drive is maintained until the value becomes 0, and the drive is stopped when the value of the payout counter becomes 0 (S139). This payout operation is controlled according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

  A value of 15 or less is set (added) to the payout counter (S109). When the value of the unpaid counter becomes 0, the payout motor 24a starts driving at high speed (S121), and no payout failure occurs. High speed driving is maintained until the value of the payout counter becomes 1 (if retry processing is not performed), and low speed driving is performed from the time when the value of the payout counter becomes 1 (S151). This low speed driving is maintained until the value of the payout counter becomes 0, and the drive is stopped when the value of the payout counter becomes 0 (S166). This payout operation is controlled according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

  Conventionally, at the end of each payout operation (when the last one of the payout operation is paid out), the game ball is paid out by driving the motor at a low speed (speed reduced from the normal speed) (see FIG. In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the last one payout operation is driven at low speed only when the value of the unpaid counter is 0. Accordingly, there is an effect of speeding up the payout operation as much as the portion (A) is driven at high speed. (When the part (A) is driven at a low speed, it takes longer to pay out one game ball.)

  14 (C) of the payout motor 24a stop portion in FIG. 14 is a stop from high-speed driving (S139), there is a risk of discharging excessive game balls that are not counted by the payout counter. Due to the excessive ball counter and the excessive ball subtraction process of S105, S107, and S108, game balls exceeding the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine are not paid out.

  The upper part of FIG. 15 is a time chart showing the drive speed of the payout motor 24a and the drive period setting timing when 15 is set (added) to the value of the payout counter. When 15 is added to the value of the payout counter (S104), the payout motor 24a sets a driving period until paying out four game balls (S120), and starts high-speed driving (S121). When the payout switch 24b detects one game ball, the payout motor 24a sets a drive period until paying out four game balls again, and starts high-speed driving. Until a total of 15 game balls are detected, a driving period (four payouts) of the payout motor 24a is set for each detection of one game ball of the payout switch 24b, and the payout motor 24a keeps driving at a high speed. . When the unpaid counter is 0, the driving speed of the payout motor 24a is low until the payout switch 24b detects the 14th game ball until the 15th game ball is detected (S151).

  The lower diagram of FIG. 15 is a time chart showing the drive speed of the payout motor 24a and the drive period setting timing during the retry process. Even if the payout motor 24a executes a driving period for paying out four game balls at a high speed, if the payout switch 24b has not detected a game ball, the payout motor 24a drives until four game balls are paid out. The period is set and low-speed driving is started (retry processing). When the payout switch 24b detects the game ball by the retry process, the payout motor 24a is rotated to the initial position at the start of the high speed rotation by the ultra low speed driving, and the operation in the upper diagram of FIG. 15 is resumed.

  When game ball non-detection occurs when the payout motor 24a is driven at a low speed, the payout motor 24a at the time of retry processing is driven at an ultra-low speed. In addition, when the game ball is not detected even during the retry process, the retry process is repeated again. However, when the game ball cannot be detected even after the retry process is performed three times, a payout error process is performed (S133 or S162).

  The above is the description of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, an unpaid counter and a payout counter in which the total value is the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the gaming machine are provided, and the payout counter value becomes 1 only when the unpaid counter value is 0. When the driving speed of the payout motor 24a is changed from high speed driving to low speed driving and one game ball is paid out by the low speed driving, the driving of the payout motor 24a is stopped.

  In a situation where the number of unpaid prize balls increases in a short time, such as during a big hit game, the value of the unpaid counter is maintained at a value greater than 15 for a long time. In such a situation, the payout of unpaid prize balls is performed only by the high-speed driving of the payout motor 24a until the value of the unpaid counter becomes 15 or less, and this has the effect of shortening the payout time.

  Further, since the payout is performed using only the high speed drive of the payout motor 24a, the payout motor 24a may not stop at the initial position at the start of the high speed rotation, and there is a possibility that excessive game balls may be paid out. An excessive ball counter provided in the gaming machine and a calculation process of the excess ball counter and the payout counter (subtract the value of the excess ball counter from the value of the payout counter) eliminates excessive payout of game balls.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a driving period of the payout motor 24a for paying out a predetermined number (4) of payouts for each game ball is set, and a predetermined number (4) of payout motors is set. If a game ball is not detected even after the drive period of the payout motor 24a for paying out the game ball is implemented, the retry speed is reduced to reduce the drive speed of the payout motor 24a.

  This configuration can be said to be a payout control including a retry process in the normal payout control of a single game ball (if a single game ball is paid out before a predetermined number of (4) game ball payout operations are completed. It is possible to reduce the retry operation itself as compared with the conventional payout control, further increasing the effect of high-speed payout and increasing the effect of shortening the time required for paying out unpaid prize balls. In addition, this configuration is a configuration that enables early response when a payout failure occurs.

  Next, Example 2 will be described. In this embodiment, the parts constituting the gaming machine and their electrical connections are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the overlapping part is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the main controller 50 includes the unpaid counter provided in the payout controller 51 in the first embodiment. Specifically, the main control device 50 is provided with an unpaid counter, and when the value of the unpaid counter reaches 0, a deceleration instruction command for instructing to decelerate the driving speed of the payout motor 24a when the value of the payout counter reaches a predetermined value. Is sent to the payout control device 51, and after sending the deceleration instruction command and before receiving the payout completion command from the payout control device 51, if the value of the unpaid counter is added, an instruction by the deceleration instruction command Is withdrawn and a withdrawal command is transmitted to instruct the drive speed of the payout motor 24a to be the normal speed.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the description of the first embodiment is used for the same portions as the first embodiment.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an unpaid counter addition process executed by main controller 50. As described above, in this embodiment, since the main control device 50 includes the unpaid counter provided in the payout control device 51 in the first embodiment, the prize ball data transmission process described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. Unpaid counter addition processing is performed by changing a part of. Therefore, only the changed part from FIG. 8 is demonstrated and the same part is used.

  When main controller 50 starts the unpaid counter addition process of FIG. 16, it is determined whether there is data stored in the prize ball data storage buffer in step S42 as in S50 of FIG. 8 (S190). If the determination is negative (S190: NO), the process returns to the return. If the determination is affirmative (S190: YES), it is determined in FIG. 8 whether an unpaid full tank signal has not been received from the payout control device 51 (S51). Then, since the main controller 50 itself has an unpaid counter, this determination process is not performed. Therefore, if S190 is affirmative, as a determination process corresponding to S52 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the lower 1st bit of the prize ball data stored in the prize ball data storage buffer is 1 (S192). .

  Since the subsequent processing contents from S196 to S208 are the same as those in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, they are used, and in this embodiment, the unpaid counter addition processing is performed in contrast to the prize ball data transmission processing performed in S70 of FIG. This is performed (S209). The unpaid counter addition processing is processing for adding the number of prize balls to be paid out obtained in the processing from S192 to S208 to the value of the unpaid counter provided in the main controller 50.

  Also in this embodiment, the number of unpaid winning balls stored in the gaming machine is the sum of the value of the unpaid counter and the value of the payout counter, but the value of the unpaid counter is stored in the main controller 50 and the value of the payout counter Is stored in the payout control device 51.

  Next, payout data transmission processing executed by main controller 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this process, when the value of the unpaid counter becomes 0 and the value of the payout counter becomes 1, a deceleration instruction command for instructing to decelerate the driving speed of the payout motor 24a is transmitted to the payout control device 51. If the value of the unpaid counter is added after the deceleration instruction command is transmitted and before the payout completion command is received from the payout control device 51, the instruction by the deceleration instruction command is canceled and the drive speed of the payout motor 24a is increased. The configuration includes a process of transmitting a withdrawal command instructing the normal speed.

  When main controller 50 starts payout data transmission processing, it is determined whether or not various error flags are 0 (S220). If a negative determination, that is, if an error has occurred (S220: NO), the routine returns from this routine for error handling. If the determination is affirmative (S220: YES), it is determined whether the value of the unpaid counter is 0 (S221). If the determination is affirmative (S221: YES), it is determined whether a payout operation signal is being received from the payout control device 51 (S222). The payout operation signal is a signal indicating that the payout control device 51 is performing control of the payout operation, and is continuously output during the control (the payout counter of the payout control device 51> 0) (ON state). .

  If S222 is affirmative, it is determined whether the low speed instruction flag is 1 (S223). The low speed instruction flag is a value stored in the main controller 50. When the low speed instruction flag is 1, the payout motor 24a is driven at a low speed when the value of the payout counter of the payout control apparatus 51 becomes 1. When the payout data 2 to be instructed has been transmitted to the payout control device 51, and it is determined that the payout control device 51 has not completed the payout ball payout according to the payout data 2, and when the low speed instruction flag is 0, This is a value for determining that the payout data 2 has not been transmitted yet.

  Therefore, the affirmative determination in S223 is based on the affirmative determination of both determination whether the value of the unpaid counter is> 0 and whether or not the payout operation signal is being received. Specifically, the unpaid counter has become 0. At that time, payout data 2 is sent to the payout control device 51 for instructing to pay out the last one game ball by the low-speed driving of the payout motor 24a, and during the payout control according to the payout data 2, This shows that the number of unpaid prize balls has been added based on a new winning of game balls.

  If S223 is affirmative (S223: YES), a payout data 2 withdrawal signal is transmitted to the payout control device 51 (S224), and a low speed instruction flag is set to 0 (S225). After the process of S225, or if S223 is negative (S223: NO), a standby state process is performed (S226), and the process returns. The standby state process is continued until the payout operation signal received from the payout control device 51 is turned off.

  If S222 is negative, the process shown in FIG. 18 is performed. This process is performed under the condition that the number of unpaid prize balls is not 0 and the payout control device 51 is not executing payout control (payout operation signal OFF state). This process is the same as the process from S102 to S111 of the prize ball payout process executed by the payout control device 51 described in FIG. 10 of the first embodiment. Therefore, only different portions from S102 to S111 will be described, and the same portions will be used.

  If S222 of FIG. 17 is negative determination, the determination process of S230 of FIG. 18 will be performed. This process is a determination process corresponding to S102 of FIG. 10. If S230 is affirmative (S230: YES), 15 is added to the payout data 1 to be transmitted to the payout control device 51 to create payout data 1. (S231). Subsequent S232 to S235 are the assistance of FIG. 10, and subsequent to S235, processing for transmitting the payout data 1 to the payout control device 51 is performed (S236).

  If S230 is negative (S230: NO), the payout data 2 is generated by adding the value of the unpaid counter to the payout data 2 transmitted to the payout control device 51 (S237). Subsequent S238 to S239 (including S233 and S234) are used in FIG. 10, and after S239, the payout data 2 is sent to the payout control device 51 (S240), and the low speed instruction flag is set to 1 ( S241). The payout data 2 transmitted to the payout control device 51 in S240 corresponds to a command for instructing low speed driving of the payout motor 24a. After the process of S236 or the process of S241, the process returns.

  Next, the processing shown in FIG. 19 that is executed when S221 in FIG. 17 is negative, that is, when the value of the unpaid counter stored in the main controller 50 is 0 will be described. If S221 in FIG. 17 is negative (S221: NO), it is determined whether a payout operation signal is being received (S250), and if affirmative (S250: YES), standby state processing is performed (S251). If S250 is negative (S250: NO), it is determined whether the low speed instruction flag is 1 (S252), and if it is affirmative (S252: YES), the low speed instruction flag is set to 0 (S253). If S252 is negative (S252: NO), or after the processing of S251 and S253, the process returns.

  The above is the payout data transmission process executed by the main controller 50 in the present embodiment. This process includes a part of the prize ball payout process executed by the payout control apparatus 51 in the first embodiment. In the example, the main control device 50 performs a calculation process of an unpaid counter and a payout counter (payout data to be transmitted).

  Next, the excess sphere storage process 2 executed by the main controller 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 20 has the same contents as the excess sphere storage processing shown in FIG. 13, but the payout control device 51 executes in the first embodiment, whereas the main control device 50 executes in the present embodiment. It has become. Therefore, FIG. 13 is used for the description. The excess ball storage process 2 may be executed by the payout control device 51 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In this case, the main control device 50 is also provided with an excess ball counter and is detected by the payout control device 51. The counter value is transmitted to the main controller 50.

  Next, the prize ball payout process 2 executed by the payout control device 51 will be described with reference to FIG. The prize ball payout process 2 mainly includes a process of adding a value corresponding to the payout data 1 and 2 received from the main control device 50 to the payout counter. When the payout control apparatus 51 starts the prize ball payout process 2, the payout control is performed. It is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter included in the device 51 is 0 (S280). If the determination is affirmative (S280: YES), it is determined whether or not the payout operation signal is in an output state (S281). If the determination is affirmative (S281: YES), output of the payout operation signal is stopped (S282). After the processing of S282 or if S281 is negative (S281: NO), the payout flag is set to 0. The payout flag is a value stored in the payout control device 51. If the value of the payout flag is 1, the payout according to reception of the payout data 1 is being executed. If the value of the payout flag is 2, the payout data 2 This is a value for determining that the payout according to the receipt of the payout is being executed, and that if the payout flag is 0, the payout is not being executed.

  Following the process of S283, it is determined whether or not the payout data 1 has been received from the main controller 50 (S284). If the determination is affirmative (S284: YES), 1 is set in the payout flag (S285), and 15 is added to the payout counter (S286). If S284 is negative (S284: NO), it is determined whether or not the payout data 2 has been received from the main controller 50 (S287). If the determination is affirmative (S287: YES), 2 is set in the payout flag (S288), and the value of payout data 2 is added to the payout counter (S289). After the processing of S286 or S289, the payout operation signal is set to the output state (S290). After the process of S290, or if S287 is negative (S287: NO), return to return.

  If S280 is negative (S280: NO), it is determined whether or not the payout flag is 2 (S291). If the determination is affirmative (S291: YES), it is determined whether or not the value of the payout counter is 1 (S292). If S291 or S292 is negative (S291: NO, S292: NO), FIG. Perform the indicated process. If S292 is affirmative (S292: YES), the process shown in FIG. 12 described in the first embodiment is executed.

  Since the contents of control of the payout motor 24a at the time of game ball payout are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description of FIGS. 11 and 12 is incorporated.

  Next, the low-speed payout withdrawal process executed by the payout control device 51 will be described with reference to FIG. When the low-speed payout withdrawal process is started, it is determined whether or not a payout data 2 withdrawal signal is received from the main control device 50 (S300). If the determination is affirmative (S300: YES), 1 is set in the payout flag (S301). After the process of S301 or if S300 is negative (S300: NO), the process returns to the return.

  The above is the explanation of the second embodiment. However, when the payout control device 51 receives the payout data 2 from the main control device 50, the payout flag is set to 2 and the payout counter value becomes 1, and the payout is made at the time. The process of FIG. 12 in which the motor 24a is driven at a low speed is performed. However, if the unpaid counter of the main control device 50 is added during the payout control when the payout flag is 2, the main control device 50 sends a withdrawal signal for low-speed payout (S224), and the payout that has received the signal The control device 51 is configured to change the payout flag from 2 to 1 and continue the high-speed payout without performing the low-speed payout.

  With this configuration, the frequency at which the payout motor 24a is controlled to be driven at a low speed is reduced, the speed at which unpaid prize balls are paid out can be maintained at a high speed, and the payout speed can be increased to shorten the payout time. .

  As described above, according to the ball game machine of the present invention, only when the value of the unpaid counter is 0 (except during retry processing), when the value of the payout counter becomes 1, the drive speed of the payout motor 24a is reduced. It becomes possible to speed up the payout of unpaid prize balls. Therefore, it can be effectively applied to a ball game machine capable of controlling the driving speed of the payout device.

8 gaming board 24 payout device 24a payout motor 24b payout switch 24c payout unit 24d payout sprocket 31 normal electric accessory 31a special symbol start switch 33a big prize opening 33b count switch 35a general prize opening 35b general prize opening switch upper right 35c general prize opening switch Lower right 35d General winning opening switch Upper left 35e General winning opening switch Lower left 50 Main controller 51 Dispensing control unit

Claims (3)

A payout means for paying out the game ball by rotating the rotating body;
A payout control means for controlling a drive source connected to the rotating body;
A payout detecting means for detecting a game ball paid out from the payout means;
A payout counter to be subtracted based on the detection of the payout detection means;
A winning detection means for detecting a game ball that has entered a winning opening provided in the gaming area;
An unpaid counter added based on detection of the winning detection means;
With
On condition that the value of the payout counter is 0 and the value of the unpaid counter is not 0,
When the value of the unpaid counter is less than a predetermined number, the value of the unpaid counter is added to the payout counter and the value of the unpaid counter is cleared,
When the value of the unpaid counter is a predetermined number or more, the predetermined number is added to the payout counter and the predetermined number is subtracted from the value of the unpaid counter,
The total value of the value of the unpaid counter and the value of the payout counter is configured to indicate the number of unpaid prize balls that have not yet been paid out,
The payout control means reduces the driving speed of the drive source and pays out the game ball by the payout means on condition that the value of the unpaid counter is 0 and the value of the payout counter is a predetermined value. A ball game machine characterized by slowing down the speed. In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
An excess ball counter that adds a value according to detection of the payout detection means on condition that the value of the unpaid counter is not 0 and the value of the payout counter is 0;
If the excess sphere counter value is other than 0, an excess sphere adjusting means for subtracting the excess sphere counter value from the value added to the payout counter and clearing the excess sphere counter value is provided. Ball game machine. In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
The payout control means sets a drive period of the drive source at which the rotating body pays out a predetermined number of game balls at the start of payout,
After the start of payout, the drive period is reset when the payout detecting means detects a predetermined number of game balls even if the drive source does not reach the drive period,
With the condition that the payout detecting means has not detected a game ball and the driving period ends according to the setting, the driving speed of the driving source is decelerated and paying out in the previous driving period according to the setting is performed. With retry means to
A bullet ball game machine, wherein, even if the retry means is executed a predetermined number of times, if the payout detecting means does not detect a game ball, payout error processing is performed.

Images