JP5707675B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  As a kind of gaming machine, for example, a pachinko machine is known. This gaming machine includes a control device. The control device is electrically connected to a device constituting the gaming machine via an electrical wiring such as a harness, and the control device is controlled by the control device to advance the game.

  In the above gaming machine, the ROM in the control device (if the CPU or ROM is a single chip, the chip is illegally exchanged to change the game content and obtain the game medium illegally, etc.) Many fraudulent acts have been reported, and various countermeasures against fraud have been studied. For example, if the substrate box of the control device is configured with a transparent case body so that the control board can be easily seen from the outside, or if the substrate box is provided with a sealing structure (so-called caulking structure) and the substrate box is opened, the opening history Countermeasures for improper use such as making the image remain are employed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the configuration in which these countermeasures against fraud are adopted, a fraudulent discovery is performed by a game hall manager or the like visually confirming the control device.

JP 2003-180917 A

  However, even if the above-described fraud countermeasures are adopted, the discovery is not easy when the following fraud is performed. For example, in order to enter a game ball illegally using a magnet or the like so that a game ball enters a winning opening to which a privilege is given when entering a ball, or a rate at which a gaming ball enters a winning opening The game nail to be adjusted may be bent incorrectly. If these cheating activities are performed, game balls may enter excessively, resulting in excessive benefits being granted to the player, and disadvantages may occur in game halls where gaming machines are installed. Conceivable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can suppress an act of illegally receiving a privilege.

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

The present invention
A launching means for launching a game ball toward a game area based on a launch operation by a player;
A first entrance that is provided in a game area where the game ball flows down and into which the game ball can enter;
A second entrance that is provided in a game area where the game ball flows down and into which the game ball can enter;
First entrance detection means for detecting that a game ball has entered the first entrance;
Second incoming detection means for detecting that a game ball has entered the second entrance;
A first number of game balls are paid out when an entrance is detected by the first entrance detection means, and a second number greater than the first number is detected when an entrance is detected by the second entrance detection means. A payout means for paying out game balls;
Lottery means for performing a lottery to determine whether or not to give a privilege to a player based on the presence of a ball at the first ball slot;
And benefits applying means for applying a Privilege to the player based on the fact that became a winner by the lottery means,
Grasping means for grasping information on the association between the number of times of detection of the second entrance detection means and the number of game balls fired by the launching means as entrance information;
Monitoring means for monitoring the entry information;
A first clearing unit for clearing the incoming ball information each time the incoming ball information satisfies a predetermined condition when no abnormality occurs in the monitoring result by the monitoring unit;
Second clearing means for clearing the entrance information when an abnormality occurs in the monitoring result by the monitoring means;
Special processing execution means for continuously executing special processing until a predetermined end processing is performed when the entrance information is cleared by the second clearing means;
In a state where the special processing is being executed by the special processing execution means, the number of times the first clearing means has been cleared by the first clearing means is the number of times that the second clearing means has not been cleared. Ending means for ending the special process by executing the ending process when the number of times has been reached;
With
When the special processing is being executed by the special processing execution means, the end means performs the end processing when the number of times the clearing of the ball-entry information by the second clearing means reaches a second number. The special processing is continued without being performed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the act which tries to receive grant of privilege illegally can be suppressed.

It is a front view which shows a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structures of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structures of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a front door frame. It is a front view which shows the structure of a main body frame. It is a front view which shows the structure of a game board. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game board. It is a front view which shows the structure of a back pack unit. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the channel | path structure formed inside the dispensing device. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display content of a symbol display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the various counters used for game control. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure of a 1st input port. (A) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the counter area for prize balls, (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a command storage area. It is a flowchart which shows a timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows a start winning process. It is a flowchart which shows a main process. It is a flowchart which shows a normal process. It is a flowchart which shows an information determination process. It is a flowchart which shows an input state monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows a prize ball signal monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows the output process for payment. It is a flowchart which shows a prize ball command output process. It is a flowchart which shows the main process by CPU of a payout control board. It is a flowchart which shows the interruption process at the time of an input. It is a flowchart which shows a timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows a prize ball setting process. It is a flowchart which shows payout number setting processing. It is a flowchart which shows payout control processing. It is a flowchart which shows a payout state setting process. It is a flowchart which shows a winning ball permission signal setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the audio | voice lamp control process by an audio | voice lamp control board. It is a flowchart which shows a command reception process. It is a flowchart which shows payout frequency monitoring processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the aspect in case an abnormality alerting | reporting process is performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as “pachinko machine”), which is a type of gaming machine, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the main configuration of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10. FIG. In FIG. 2, the configuration in the game area of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for convenience.

  The pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 that forms an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10, and a gaming machine main part 12 that is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11. The outer frame 11 is configured by connecting wooden plates to four sides and has a rectangular frame shape. The pachinko machine 10 is installed in the game hall by attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to the island facility.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ball lending device Y (for example, a CR unit) is provided on the side of the outer frame 11. A card insertion slot H is provided on the front side of the ball lending device Y so that a number of game balls corresponding to the amount stored in the card can be lent by inserting the card into the card insertion slot H. It has become.

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

  As shown in FIG. 2, a front door frame 14 is rotatably supported on the main body frame 13, and can be rotated forward with the left side as a rotation base end side and the right side as a rotation front end side in a front view. It is said that. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the backpack unit 15 is rotatably supported on the main body frame 13, and when viewed from the front, the left side is the rotation base end side and the right side is the rotation front end side. It is possible to move.

  Next, the front door frame 14 will be described. In the following description, FIGS. 1 to 3 are referred to, and FIG. 5 is referred to for the configuration of the back surface of the front door frame 14. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the front door frame 14.

  The front door frame 14 is provided so as to cover the entire front side of the main body frame 13. A window portion 21 is formed on the front door frame 14 so that almost the entire gaming area described later can be viewed from the front. The window portion 21 has a substantially oval shape and is fitted with a transparent glass 22. Around the window portion 21, light emitting means such as various lamps are provided. For example, an annular illumination part 23 incorporating a light emitting means such as an LED is provided along the periphery of the window part 21. In the annular illumination part 23, lighting or blinking is performed in accordance with a change in the gaming state at the time of a big hit or a predetermined reach. In addition, an error display lamp unit 24 that is turned on at the time of a predetermined error is provided at the center of the annular illumination unit 23 and at the uppermost part of the pachinko machine 10, and a prize that is turned on while the prize ball is being paid out on the left and right sides. A ball lamp portion 25 is provided. In addition, a speaker unit 26 is provided at a position close to the left and right prize ball lamp units 25 to output a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state.

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

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 10, the window portion 21, the upper plate 33, and the lower plate 34 are integrated with the front door frame 14. In the conventional pachinko machine, at least the window part and the lower plate are provided as separate units, and the window part can be rotated independently with respect to the lower plate. There was a boundary between the units. In this case, an illegal act performed by inserting a fraudulent jig or the like from the boundary is assumed. In addition, a fraud suppression structure can be provided at the boundary between the units in order to suppress such fraud, but this leads to a complicated configuration. Further, it is not preferable in design that a boundary is generated in the front portion of the pachinko machine. On the other hand, since the window portion 21, the upper plate 33, and the lower plate 34 are integrated with the front door frame 14 as described above, a boundary is generated between the window portion 21 and the lower plate 34. And the above inconvenience is suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ball lending operation device 36 is disposed in the upper bulging portion 31. The ball lending operation device 36 is provided with a ball lending button 37, a return button 38, and a frequency display unit 39. With a card or the like inserted into the ball lending device Y, the ball lending operation device 36 can perform a ball lending operation, a card return operation, and confirmation of the card frequency. That is, the ball lending button 37 is operated to obtain a lending ball based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and the lending ball is paid out as long as there is a remaining amount on the card or the like. The return button 38 is operated when requesting the return of a card or the like inserted into the ball lending apparatus Y. The frequency display unit 39 displays remaining amount information such as a card.

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

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a passage forming unit 50 is attached to the back surface of the front door frame 14. The passage forming unit 50 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a front door side upper dish passage 51 that communicates with the upper dish 33 and a front door side lower dish passage 52 that communicates with the lower dish 34. In the passage forming unit 50, a receiving portion 53 that protrudes rearward and opens upward is formed at an upper corner portion thereof, and the receiving portion 53 is divided into left and right portions by a partition wall 54, whereby the front door side upper plate is formed. A passage 51 and an entrance portion of the front door side lower dish passage 52 are formed. The upstream side of the front door side upper dish passage 51 and the front door side lower dish path 52 are connected to a game ball distributing section described later, and the game balls that have entered the front door side upper dish path 51 are guided to the upper plate 33, The game balls that have entered the door-side lower dish passage 52 are guided to the lower dish 34.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the passage forming unit 50 is provided with a full tank detection sensor 59 so as to detect a game ball passing through the front door side lower dish passage 52. The full tank detection sensor 59 is configured by a magnetic detection type proximity sensor, and a change in the magnetic field when the game ball passes through the detection range is detected and output as an electric signal. The full tank detection sensor 59 is not limited to a magnetic detection type proximity sensor, and may be any as long as it can detect a game ball. For example, a photo sensor or a limit sensor may be used. .

  The full tank detection sensor 59 outputs an electrical signal to a payout control device 242 described later. Specifically, a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and an HI level signal is output when a game ball is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which a HI level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is detected. It is good also as a structure which outputs an electrical signal only in the state which is detecting.

  The payout control device 242 specifies whether or not the lower tray 34 is full based on the detection result of the full tank detection sensor 59. Specifically, when the detection state of the game ball in the full tank detection sensor 59 is continued until a predetermined period elapses, the lower tray 34 is specified to be full. When the payout control device 242 specifies that the lower tray 34 is full, the payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is stopped. As a result, when the lower tray 34 is in a full state and game balls continue to the position of the full tank detection sensor 59 in the front door-side lower tray passage 52, payout of further game balls is stopped. The stop of the payout is canceled based on the fact that the full state of the lower plate 34 is canceled and the game ball is no longer detected by the full tank detection sensor 59. Further, when the dispensing control device 242 specifies that the lower tray 34 is full, a notification process corresponding to that is executed.

  Protrusion shafts 61 and 62 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the rotation base end side (the right side in FIG. 5) on the back surface of the front door frame 14. These projecting shafts 61 and 62 constitute an assembly mechanism for the main body frame 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of hook metal fittings 63 extending rearward are arranged in the vertical direction on the rotating front end side (left side in FIG. 5) on the back surface of the front door frame 14. These hooks 63 constitute a locking mechanism for the main body frame 13.

  Next, the main body frame 13 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a front view of the main body frame 13.

  The main body frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 71 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11. Support metal fittings 72 and 73 are attached to an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the rotation base end side (left side in FIG. 6) on the front surface of the resin base 71. Although illustration is omitted, shaft holes are formed in the support fittings 72 and 73, and the projecting shafts 61 and 62 of the front door frame 14 are inserted into these shaft holes, so that the front door with respect to the main body frame 13. The frame 14 is rotatably supported.

  Insertion holes 74 for inserting the metal fittings 63 provided on the back surface of the front door frame 14 are provided on the rotation front end side (right side in FIG. 6) on the front surface of the resin base 71. The pachinko machine 10 is configured such that a locking device for locking the main body frame 13 and the front door frame 14 is hidden behind the main body frame 13. Accordingly, the front door frame 14 is locked to the main body frame 13 so as not to be opened by the hook metal 63 being locked to the locking device via the insertion hole 74.

  A cylinder lock 75 for performing an unlocking operation of the locking device is installed at the lower right corner of the resin base 71. The cylinder lock 75 is integrated with the locking device. When the key inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 75 is turned to the right, the front door frame 14 is unlocked with respect to the main body frame 13. When the key inserted into the key hole of the cylinder lock 75 is turned counterclockwise, the lock of the main body frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11 is released.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a front door frame opening switch (front body opening) that detects whether or not the front door frame 14 is opened (or closed) is disposed above the resin base 71. Detection means) 78 is provided. The front door frame opening switch 78 has a pin that can be projected and retracted from the front surface of the resin base 71. When the front door frame 14 is closed with respect to the main body frame 13, the pin is pushed in and the front door frame 14 is closed. When the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the main body frame 13, the pin returns to the protruding position and the opening of the front door frame 14 is detected.

  Incidentally, the front door frame opening switch 78 outputs a front door frame opening signal to a main controller 162 described later when the front door frame 14 is in an open state, and when the front door frame 14 is in a closed state, Stop outputting the front door frame opening signal. However, the signal output mode is not limited to this, and one of the HI level signal and the LOW level signal is output when the front door frame 14 is open, and the other is output when the front door frame 14 is closed. Also good.

  A substantially elliptical window hole 76 is formed at the center of the resin base 71. A game board 81 is detachably attached to the resin base 71. The game board 81 is made of plywood, and the game area formed on the front surface of the game board 81 is exposed to the front surface side of the main body frame 13 through the window hole 76 of the resin base 71.

  Here, the structure of the game board 81 is demonstrated based on FIG. The game board 81 has a plurality of large and small openings penetrating in the front-rear direction by being subjected to router processing. Each opening has a first general winning port 82a, a second general winning port 82b, a third general winning port 82c, a variable winning device 83, an upper operating port 84a, a lower operating port 84b, a through gate 85, a variable display unit 86, and the like. Are provided.

  The upper operating port 84 a and the lower operating port 84 b are provided at the approximate center in the width direction of the game board 81. Each of the upper operation port 84a and the lower operation port 84b is provided so as to be positioned below the variable display unit 36. The upper working port 84a is provided side by side so as to be positioned above the lower working port 84b. A first general winning port 82a is provided on the open front end side of the gaming machine main part 12 (the main body frame 13 and the front door frame 14) with respect to the upper operation port 84a. A second general winning port 82b is provided on the open base end side of the gaming machine main part 12 with respect to the upper operating port 84a. Specifically, the first general winning port 82a and the second general winning port 82b are provided so as to be symmetric with respect to the upper operation port 84a in the game board 81. A third general winning port 82c is provided closer to the open base end than the second general winning port 82b. Further, each of the general winning ports 82a to 82c is provided in a region below the upper operation port 84a when viewed in the vertical direction on the game board 81 (that is, closer to the upper plate 33 and the lower plate 34 on the game board 81). Is provided in the area).

  When a game ball enters the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, and the operation ports 84a and 84b, it is detected by a detection sensor described later, and a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out based on the detection result. The In addition, an out port 87 is provided at the lowermost part of the game board 81, and game balls that have not entered various winning ports etc. are discharged from the game area through the out port 87. The game board 81 is provided with a large number of nails 88 in order to appropriately disperse and adjust the falling direction of the game ball, and various members (instruments) such as a windmill. In the following description, in order to clearly distinguish the game ball from entering the out port 87, the general game ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, the upper operation port 84a, and the game ball entering the through gate 85 are described. Is also expressed as a prize.

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

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

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

  The operation ports 84a and 84b are provided closer to the variable display unit 86 than the general winning ports 82a to 82c. Since winning a prize at the operation ports 84a and 84b can be a trigger, a big win can be generated. Therefore, the player pays attention to whether or not a winning is made at the operation ports 84a and 84b, and a pattern for grasping whether or not a big win is generated. It is considered that attention is paid to the display device 91 and the first specific lamp unit 93. Providing the operation ports 84 a and 84 b in the vicinity of the variable display unit 86 is a device for concentrating the portion that the player wants to pay attention to around the variable display unit 86.

  Further, in the second specific lamp portion 94, the emission color is switched in a predetermined order triggered by the passage of the game ball through the through gate 85, and when the stop color is displayed in a predetermined color, the lower operation port 84b. The electric accessory 89 attached to is opened for a predetermined time.

  By the way, the lower operation port (lottery opportunity entrance ball portion) 84b is in the case where the openable entry assist device (entrance assist means) or the electric accessory 89 as the open / close member (open / close means) is in the open state (assist state). It becomes possible to enter the ball or it is easy to enter the ball, and in the closed state (non-assist state), it becomes impossible to enter or difficult to enter.

  The variable winning device (special winning device or special winning means) 83 is a closed state in which the open / close door as the opening / closing member (opening / closing means) is normally unable to win (enter) or prevent winning (entering). Thus, the game ball can be switched to a predetermined open state in which it is easy to win a prize (win) in the case of a big win. As an opening mode of the variable winning device 83, the variable winning device 83 repeats a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings as one round and a plurality of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) as an upper limit. What is opened is common.

  An inner rail portion 101 and an outer rail portion 102 are attached to the game board 81, and a guide rail is constituted by the inner rail portion 101 and the outer rail portion 102. A game ball is guided to the upper part of the game area.

  The game ball launching mechanism 110 is attached below the window hole 76 in the resin base 71 as shown in FIG. The game ball launch mechanism 110 includes an electromagnetic solenoid 111, a launch rail 112, and a ball feed mechanism 113, and the output shaft of the solenoid 111 moves in the expansion / contraction direction by the input of an electrical signal to the solenoid 111. Then, the game ball placed on the firing rail 112 is launched toward the game area by the ball feeding mechanism 113.

  There is a gap of a predetermined interval between the inner rail rails 101 and 102 attached to the launch rail 112 and the game board 81, and below this gap is formed in the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14. A foul ball passage 55 shown in FIG. Therefore, if the game ball launched from the game ball launching mechanism 110 does not reach the upper part of the game area and returns to the guide rail constituted by the inner and outer rail portions 101 and 102, the foul ball is Enter the foul ball passage 55. The foul ball path 55 communicates with the front door side lower dish path 52, and the game balls that have entered the foul ball path 55 are discharged to the lower dish 34.

  In the resin base 71, a passage forming portion 121 is provided on the left side of the firing rail 112 through the resin base 71 in the front-rear direction. A main body side upper dish path and a main body side lower dish path are formed in the passage forming portion 121. The upstream side of each passage leads to a game ball distribution unit. A receiving portion 53 of a passage forming unit 50 attached to the front door frame 14 is inserted below the passage forming portion 121, and a front door side upper plate passage 51 is disposed below the main body side upper plate passage. A front door side upper dish passage 51 is disposed below the main body side lower dish path.

  An opening / closing member 124 that opens and closes the main body side upper dish path and the main body side lower dish path is attached to the resin base 71 below the passage formation portion 121. The opening / closing member 124 is supported by a support shaft 125 provided at the lower end of the opening / closing member 124 so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction. A force member is provided. Therefore, when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the main body frame 13, the opening / closing member 124 rises and closes the main body side upper dish passage and the main body side lower dish path. Thereby, when the front door frame 14 is opened in a state where game balls are stored in the main body side upper dish passage or the main body side lower dish passage, it is possible to prevent such a problem that the stored balls spill out. On the other hand, when the front door frame 14 is closed, the opening / closing member 124 is pushed open against the biasing force by the receiving portion 53 provided in the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14. In this state, the main body side upper dish path and the front door side upper dish path 51 communicate with each other, and the main body side lower dish path and the front door side lower dish path 52 communicate with each other.

  A plurality of locking metal fittings are provided on the back surface of the resin base 71, and the game board 81 is attached to the resin base 71 with these locking metal fittings as described above. Here, the configuration of the back surface of the game board 81 will be described. FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a state in which the main controller unit 160 is removed from the game board 81.

  The variable display unit 86 disposed in the center of the game board 81 is provided with a frame cover 141 made of synthetic resin that covers the center frame 92 from the back, and is provided rearward with respect to the frame cover 141 from the rear side. The above-described symbol display device 91 is attached, and a display control device for driving the symbol display device is attached (not shown). The symbol display device 91 and the display control device are arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction (the symbol display device is in front and the display control device is in rear), and the sound lamp control device unit 142 is mounted on the rear side. The sound lamp control device unit 142 includes a sound lamp control device 143 and a mounting table 144, and the sound lamp control device 143 is mounted on the mounting table 144.

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

  As shown in FIG. 8, a collective board unit 150 is provided below the variable display unit 86 on the back surface of the game board 81. The collective board unit 150 is provided with a game ball collecting mechanism for collecting game balls won in various winning ports, a winning detection mechanism for detecting winning of game balls in various winning ports, and the like. .

  The game ball collecting mechanism will be described. The collective plate unit 150 is provided in one place on the downstream side corresponding to the game board openings of the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, and the operating ports 84a and 84b. A recovery passageway 151 is formed. Accordingly, all of the game balls that have won the general winning ports 82a to 82c, etc. gather below the game board 81 via the collection passage 151. Below the game board 81 is a discharge passage which will be described later, and the game balls gathered below the game board 81 by the collection passage 151 are led out into the discharge passage. Similarly, the out port 87 leads to the discharge passage, and a game ball that has not won any winning port is led out into the discharge passage through the out port 87.

  Explaining about the winning detection mechanism, the collective board unit 150 is provided with winning port sensors 152a to 152c at positions corresponding to the general winning ports 82a to 82c on the front side of the game board 81, respectively. A count sensor 153 is provided at a position corresponding to the variable winning device 83, and operating port sensors 154a and 154b are provided at positions corresponding to the operating ports 84a and 84b, respectively. Further, a gate sensor 155 that detects a game ball passing through the through gate 85 is provided on the right side of the variable display unit 86 outside the collective board unit 150. These winning balls are detected by sensors 152 to 155 as ball detecting sensors (game medium detecting means). These sensors 152 to 155 output electric signals to a main controller 162 described later. Specifically, an HI level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and a HI level signal is output when a game ball is detected. It is good also as a structure which outputs an electrical signal only in the state which is detecting.

  A main controller unit 160 is mounted on the back of the game board 81 so as to cover the collective board unit 150 from the rear side. The main control unit 160 has a synthetic resin mounting base 161, and the main control unit 162 is mounted on the mounting base 161. The main controller 162 includes a main control board having a function (main control circuit) that controls the main control of the game and a function (power failure monitoring circuit) that monitors the power source, and the main control board is made of a transparent resin material. Etc. (see FIG. 3).

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

  Next, the back pack unit 15 will be described. FIG. 9 is a front view of the back pack unit 15.

  The back pack unit 15 includes a back pack 201, and a payout mechanism unit 202 and a control device assembly unit 204 are attached to the back pack 201. The back pack 201 is formed of a synthetic resin having transparency, and includes a base portion 211 to which the payout mechanism portion 202 and the like are attached, and a protective cover portion 212 that protrudes rearward from the pachinko machine 10 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The protective cover portion 212 has a shape in which the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface are closed and only the lower surface is opened, and has a size sufficient to surround at least the variable display unit 86.

  The base portion 211 is provided with an external terminal plate 213 at the upper right portion thereof. The external terminal board 213 is provided with various output terminals, and various signals are output to the management control device on the game hall side through these output terminals.

  The base portion 211 is provided with a main body frame opening switch (main body opening detecting means) 217 for detecting whether or not the main body frame 13 is opened (or closed) outside the external terminal plate 213. It has been. When the body frame 13 is closed with respect to the outer frame 11, the metal contact of the switch 217 is closed and the closing of the body frame 13 is detected. When the body frame 13 is opened with respect to the outer frame 11, the metal contact is opened. Thus, the opening of the main body frame 13 is detected.

  Incidentally, the main body frame opening switch 217 outputs a main body frame opening signal to a main controller 162 described later when the main body frame 13 is in an open state, and the main body frame opening signal when the main body frame 13 is in a closed state. Stop the output of. However, the output mode of the signal is not limited to this, and one of the HI level signal and the LOW level signal may be output when the main body frame 13 is in the open state, and the other may be output when the main body frame 13 is in the closed state. Good.

  Further, the base portion 211 is provided with a pair of upper and lower latch pins 214 at the right end when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and by inserting the latch pins 214 into the bearing portion provided on the main body frame 13, The pack unit 15 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body frame 13. Further, the base portion 211 is provided with a fastener 215 for fastening to a fastening hole provided in the main body frame 13, and the main body frame 13 is fitted by fitting the fastening tool 215 into the fastening hole. On the other hand, the back pack unit 15 is fixed.

  In the base portion 211, a payout mechanism portion 202 is disposed so as to bypass the protective cover portion 212. That is, a tank 221 opened upward is provided at the uppermost portion of the back pack 201, and the game balls supplied from the island facilities of the game hall are sequentially replenished to the tank 221. A tank rail 222 that is gently inclined toward the downstream side is connected to the lower side of the tank 221, and a case rail 223 that extends in the vertical direction is connected to the downstream side of the tank rail 222. A dispensing device 224 is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 223.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the case rail 223 is provided with a ball non-detection sensor 223 a so as to detect a game ball connected from the tank 221 to the payout device 224 through a passage in the case rail 223. The ball non-detection sensor 223a is configured by a magnetic detection type proximity sensor, and a change in the magnetic field when the game ball passes through the detection range is detected and output as an electric signal. Note that the ball non-detection sensor 223a is not limited to a magnetic detection type proximity sensor, and may be any as long as it can detect a game ball. For example, a photo sensor or a limit sensor may be used. .

  The ball non-detection sensor 223a outputs an electrical signal to a payout control device 242 described later. Specifically, a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and an HI level signal is output when a game ball is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which a HI level signal is output when a game ball is not detected, and a LOW level signal is output when a game ball is detected. It is good also as a structure which outputs an electrical signal only in the state which is detecting.

  The payout control device 242 specifies whether or not the tank 221 is in a no-sphere state based on the detection result of the no-ball detection sensor 223a. Specifically, when the non-detected state of the game ball in the ball non-detection sensor 223a is continued until a predetermined period elapses, the tank 221 is identified as having no ball. When the payout control device 242 specifies that the tank 221 is in the absence of a ball, the payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is stopped. This prevents the dispensing device 224 from continuing to operate even when the tank 221 is in the absence of a ball. The stop of the payout operation is released when the ball 221 in the tank 221 is released and the game ball is detected by the ball non-detection sensor 223a. Further, when the dispensing control device 242 specifies that the tank 221 is in a ball-free state, a notification process corresponding to the tank 221 is executed. Note that even when a ball clogging occurs in the tank 221 and a game ball does not flow to the payout device 224 side, it is specified that there is no ball.

  The case rail 223 is provided with a ball removal switch 223b. For example, when the game balls stored in the tank 221 are discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 10, the ball removal switch 223b is pushed when all the game balls on the case rail 223 are discharged, and the case rail 223 and the downstream side thereof are The stored game balls can be discharged. In addition, the installation location of the ball removal switch 223b is not limited to the case rail 223, and may be installed, for example, in the payout control device 242.

  The payout device 224 pays out game balls. Here, the configuration of the payout device 224 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a passage structure formed inside the dispensing device 224. In FIG. 10, the game balls flowing down inside the payout device 224 are indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  In the housing 251 of the payout device 224, a game ball inlet 252 for taking in a game ball supplied from the case rail 223 is formed at an upper end thereof, and a game that has entered from the game ball inlet 252 inside. A game ball passage 253 for passing a ball is provided.

  The game ball passage 253 communicates with a game ball outlet 254 formed at the lower end of the housing 251, and the game balls entering from the game ball inlet 252 flow down one by one toward the game ball outlet 254. A storage portion 255 whose passage width is widened to the left and right is provided in an intermediate portion of the game ball passage 253, and the rotating body 256 is stored in the storage portion 255. The center of the rotating body 256 is fixed to the output shaft 257 a of the payout motor 257.

  The payout motor 257 is a stepping motor, and the output shaft 257a is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 10). The output shaft 257a is set to advance one step by giving a drive signal of one pulse and to make one rotation by giving a drive signal of 360 pulses. The payout motor 257 is accommodated in the housing 251.

  Concave portions 256 a are formed at two positions on the periphery of the rotating body 256 at intervals of 180 °. The concave portion 256a has a curved surface, and the curvature thereof is approximately the same as the curvature of the game ball. Further, the distance between the portion between the recesses 256a on the periphery of the rotating body 256 and the passage wall of the housing portion 255 is shorter than the diameter dimension of the game ball, whereas the passage between the recess 256a and the housing portion 255. The distance to the wall is longer than the diameter dimension of the game ball. As a result, when the game ball that has flowed down the game ball passage 253 reaches the recess 256 a of the rotating body 256, the gaming ball is led to the downstream side as the rotating body 256 rotates.

  The game ball passage 253 is provided with a payout ball detection sensor 258 having a substantially flat plate shape at a position downstream of the housing portion 255. The payout ball detection sensor 258 is configured by a known magnetic detection type proximity sensor, and converts a magnetic field change caused by the game ball passing through the through hole into an electric signal and outputs it. The number of game balls paid out through the payout device 224 can be confirmed by the payout ball detection sensor 258.

  The game balls paid out from the payout device 224 are supplied to a game ball distribution unit provided in the base portion 211 of the back pack 201 through a payout passage (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the payout device 224. The game ball distribution unit has a function of distributing the game balls paid out from the payout device 224 to any one of the upper plate 33, the lower plate 34, and a discharge passage to be described later. Openings are respectively formed so as to communicate with the upper plate 33 through the upper plate passage 51, through the lower plate 34 through the main body side lower plate passage and the front door side lower plate passage 52, and to the discharge passage.

  A backpack substrate 229 is installed in the dispensing mechanism unit 202. The back pack substrate 229 is supplied with, for example, a main power of AC 24 volts, and is turned on or off by a switching operation of the power switch 229a.

  At the lower end portion of the base portion 211, the discharge passage board and the control device collective unit 204 are attached so as to sandwich the lower end portion in the front-rear direction. The discharge passage board is formed with a discharge passage opened rearward on the surface facing the control device assembly unit 204, and the open portion of the discharge passage is closed by the control device assembly unit 204. The discharge passage is formed so as to discharge the game ball to the island facility or the like of the game hall, and the game ball led out to the discharge passage from the above-described recovery passage 151 or the like passes through the discharge passage so that the outside of the pachinko machine 10 To be discharged.

  The control device assembly unit 204 has a horizontally long mounting base 241 on which a payout control device 242, a power source / launch control device 243, and a ball rental connection terminal plate 249 are mounted. The payout control device 242, the power supply / launch control device 243, and the ball lending connection terminal plate 249 have the payout control device 242 and the ball lending connection terminal plate 249 behind the pachinko machine 10, and the power supply / launch control device 243 is a pachinko machine. 10 are placed one on top of the other so as to be front.

  The payout control device 242 accommodates a payout control board for controlling the payout device 224 in a colorless and transparent substrate box 244. The payout command signal from the payout control device 242 to the payout device 224 is relayed by the back pack substrate 229 described above. The payout control device 242 is provided with a state return switch 245. For example, when the state return switch 245 is pressed when a payout error occurs, such as a ball jam in the payout device 224, the ball jam is eliminated. Further, a 7-segment display 242a is mounted on the payout control board, and the display content of the 7-segment display 242a can be visually recognized through the substrate box 244 by opening the main body frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11. ing.

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

  The ball lending connection terminal plate 249 is electrically connected to the ball lending device Y, the payout control device 242 and the ball lending operation device 36 on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10, and mainly takes in the command of the ball lending operation by the player and uses it. This is output to the payout control device 242.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 11, a power supply line is indicated by a double arrow, and a signal line is indicated by a solid arrow.

  A main control board 301 provided in the main controller 162 includes a CPU 311 and a power failure monitoring circuit 303 (power failure monitoring circuit).

  The CPU 311 temporarily stores various control programs executed by the CPU 311 and a ROM 312 (non-volatile storage means) that stores fixed value data, and various data and the like when executing the control program stored in the ROM 312. A RAM 313 (volatile storage means) which is a memory for storing, and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data input / output circuit are incorporated. Note that some or all of the CPU 311, the ROM 312, and the RAM 313 may be provided as separate chips.

  The RAM 313 is configured to store and hold information even when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off, by storing and holding power from the power and launch control board 321 provided in the power and launch control device 243.

  The CPU 311 is provided with an input port and an output port. On the input side of the CPU 311, a power failure monitoring circuit 303 provided on the main control board 301, a payout control board 322 provided on the payout control device 242, and other sensor groups are connected. In this case, a power / fire control board 321 is connected to the power failure monitoring circuit 303, and power is supplied to the CPU 311 via the power failure monitoring circuit 303.

  On the other hand, a power failure monitoring circuit 303, a payout control board 322 and a relay terminal board 323 are connected to the output side of the CPU 311. Various commands such as a prize ball command are output to the payout control board 322. Various commands and the like are output from the CPU 311 to the sound lamp control board 324 provided in the sound lamp control device 143 via the relay terminal plate 323.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 303 relays between the CPU 311 and the power / fire control board 321, and monitors the DC stable voltage of 24 volts, which is the maximum voltage output from the power / fire control board 321. When this voltage becomes less than 22 volts, it is determined that the power is shut off, and a power failure signal is transmitted to the CPU 311.

  The payout control board 322 controls payout of prize balls and the like by the payout device 224. The CPU 331 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 332 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 331, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 333 that is used as a work memory or the like. Note that some or all of the CPU 331, the ROM 332, and the RAM 333 may be provided as separate chips.

  The CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 is provided with an input / output port. A CPU 311 of the main control board 301, a power / fire control board 321, and a backpack board 229 are connected to the input side of the CPU 331. Further, the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 and the back pack board 229 are connected to the output side of the CPU 331.

  The power / launch control board 321 includes a power-on power supply unit 321a and a launch control unit 321b. The power-on power supply unit 321a is connected to, for example, a commercial power supply (external power supply) in a game hall or the like. Then, based on the external power supplied from the commercial power supply, necessary operating power is generated for each of the CPU 311 of the main control board 301, the payout control board 322, etc., and the generated operating power is indicated by a double line arrow. Is supplied to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301, the payout control board 322, and the like through the path indicated by. As its outline, the power-on power supply unit 321a takes in the AC 24 volt power supplied via the back pack substrate 229, + 12V power for driving various sensors, motors, etc., + 5V power for logic, etc. And supplies these + 12V power and + 5V power to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301, the payout control board 322, and the like.

  The launch control unit 321b is responsible for launch control of the game ball launching mechanism 110 in accordance with the operation of the game ball launch handle 41 by the player, and the game ball launching mechanism 110 is driven when predetermined launch conditions are met. The

  Further, the power supply / launch control board 321 is equipped with a power supply unit 321c for power interruption. The power supply unit 321c for power interruption includes a capacitor, and is charged when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is ON (when power is supplied from an external power supply). Further, when the power supply of the pachinko machine 10 is in an OFF state or in a power cut-off state such as when a power failure occurs in a commercial power supply (when power supply from an external power supply is cut off), the main power unit 321c is discharged from the power cut-off. Memory holding power is supplied to the RAM 313 of the control board 301. Therefore, even in such a situation, the information stored in the RAM 313 is stored and held without being erased while the power for storing and holding is supplied from the power supply unit 321c for power interruption.

  Incidentally, the capacity of the power supply unit 321c for power interruption is relatively large, and information stored in the RAM 313 before the power is shut off is retained within a predetermined period (for example, 1 day or 2 days). The power supply unit for power interruption is not limited to a capacitor, and may be a battery or a non-rechargeable battery. In the case of a non-rechargeable battery, it is not necessary to store power in the power supply means for power interruption when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is ON, but it is necessary to replace it periodically.

  Further, the power supply / launch control board 321 is provided with a power supply unit for power failure processing different from the power supply unit for power interruption 321c. In the power supply / launch control board 321, even after the DC stable 24 volt power supply becomes less than 22 volts, the power supply unit for power failure processing discharges for a time sufficient for execution of power failure processing described later. The output of 5 volts, which is the drive power source for the control system, is configured to maintain a normal value. Thereby, the CPU 311 and the like of the main control board 301 can normally execute and complete the power failure process.

  The sound lamp control board 324 controls the various lamp units 23 to 25, the speaker unit 26, and the display control device 325. The CPU 341 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 342 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 341, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 343 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  The CPU 341 of the sound lamp control board 324 is provided with an input / output port. A CPU 311 of the main control board 301 is connected to the input side of the CPU 341 by relaying to the relay terminal board 323. Based on various commands output from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301, various lamp units 23 to 25, speakers The unit 26 and the display control device 325 are controlled. The display control device 325 controls the symbol display device 91 based on a display command input from the sound lamp control board 324.

  Here, the display content of the symbol display device 91 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the symbol display device 91, three symbol columns of left, middle, and right are set. Each symbol row is composed of, for example, a main symbol with numbers “0” to “9” and a sub-symbol made of, for example, a diamond-shaped picture. Each main symbol and sub-design constitute a first symbol. In each symbol row, main symbols are arranged in ascending or descending order of numbers, and sub symbols are arranged between the main symbols. That is, each symbol row is provided with a total of 20 first symbols of 10 main symbols and 10 sub symbols. In the symbol display device 91, 20 first symbols are variably displayed so as to scroll from top to bottom with periodicity for each symbol row. The symbol display device 91 is configured to display the first symbol of the upper, middle, and lower levels for each symbol row. Therefore, the symbol display device 91 displays a total of nine first symbols of 3 rows × 3 columns. In addition, five effective lines, that is, an upper line L1, a middle line L2, a lower line L3, a right rising line L4, and a left rising line L5 are set in the symbol display device 91. Then, the variable display stops in the order of left symbol sequence → right symbol sequence → middle symbol sequence, and at the time of the stop, it is a combination of jackpot symbols on any active line (in this embodiment, the same main symbol combination) If you arrange it, a big hit video will be displayed as a big hit.

  Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 configured as described above will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 311 in the main control device 162 uses various counter information in the game to make a big hit lottery, set the emission color of the first specific lamp unit 93, set the symbol display of the symbol display device 91, etc. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the jackpot random number counter C1 used for the jackpot lottery and the jackpot type counter C2 used when determining the jackpot type such as the probability variation jackpot or the normal jackpot A reach random number counter C3 used for reach lottery when the symbol display device 91 fluctuates and fluctuates, a random number initial value counter CINI used for setting an initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1, and a variation pattern selection of the symbol display device 91 The period for switching the color displayed on the first variation type counter CS1 to be used and the first specific lamp unit 93 is determined. A second change type counter CS2 that has been decided to use the left column, the middle column and the right column the off each off symbol counters in the left-and right to use the setting symbol CL of, CM, and CR.

  Among these, the counters C1 to C3, CINI, CS1, and CS2 are loop counters that each add 1 to the previous value and return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Further, the out symbol counters CL, CM, CR are configured such that the register values are added using the R register (refresh register) in the CPU 311 and, as a result, the numerical values change randomly. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a counter area set in a predetermined area of the RAM 313. The RAM 313 is provided with a holding ball storage area including one execution area and four holding areas (holding first to fourth areas). In each of these areas, a game to the operation ports 84a and 84b is provided. The values of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2 and the reach random number counter C3 are stored in time series in accordance with the winning prize history of the ball.

  For details of each counter, the jackpot random number counter C1 is configured such that, for example, 1 is sequentially added within a range of 0 to 676, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 676), it returns to 0. In particular, when the jackpot random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the big hit random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 676). The jackpot random number counter C1 is updated periodically (once every timer interruption in this embodiment), and stored in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 313 at the timing when the game ball is won in the operation ports 84a and 84b.

  The jackpot type counter C2 is incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 49, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 49) and then returns to 0. In the present embodiment, the jackpot type counter C2 determines whether the probability change state or the normal state is set after the jackpot is finished. The jackpot type counter C2 is updated periodically (once every timer interruption in the present embodiment), and stored in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 313 at the timing when the game ball wins the operation port 84a, 84b.

  For example, the reach random number counter C3 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 238, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 238) and then returns to 0. In the present embodiment, the reach random number counter C3 causes the last stop symbol to stop after the reach has occurred by shifting the last stop symbol by only one before and after the reach symbol, and the last stop symbol after the reach has occurred. “Reach other than front / rear out” and stop “complete out” that does not occur reach. The reach random number counter C3 is updated periodically (once every timer interruption in the present embodiment), and stored in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 313 at the timing when the game ball wins the operation port 84a, 84b.

  The first variation type counter CS1 is, for example, incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 198, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 198) and then returns to 0. The second variation type counter CS2 includes, for example, Within the range of 0 to 240, 1 is added in order, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 240), it returns to 0. The first variation type counter CS1 determines the display mode of the symbol display device 91, such as so-called normal reach, super reach, premium reach, etc., the reach type of the first symbol and other rough symbol variation modes, and the second variation type counter CS2 The switching display time is determined as a period for switching the color displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93. The switching display time corresponds to the symbol variation time of the symbol display device 91. Therefore, by the second variation type counter CS2, the elapsed time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the final stop symbol (in the present embodiment) stops after the occurrence of reach in the symbol display device 91, etc. A detailed design variation mode is also determined. That is, regarding the symbol display device 91, a variety of variation patterns can be easily realized by combining these variation type counters CS1 and CS2. Both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are updated once every time a normal process to be described later is executed once, and are repeatedly updated even within the remaining time in the normal process. Then, the area values of both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are acquired when switching the color displayed on the first specific lamp section 93 and determining the variation pattern at the time of starting the variation of the first symbol by the symbol display device 91.

  The left, middle and right off symbol counters CL, CM, CR determine the stop symbol of the left row 1 symbol, the middle row 1 symbol, and the right row 1 symbol when the big hit lottery is missed. In each column, any one of the 20 first symbols is displayed in combination with the main symbol and the sub symbol, so 20 counter values (0 to 19) are prepared for each. The left, upper, middle and lower symbols are determined by the out symbol counter CL, the upper, middle and lower symbols are determined by the out symbol counter CM, and the right symbol column is determined by the out symbol counter CR. The top, middle and bottom symbols are determined.

  In the present embodiment, the value of each counter CL, CM, CR is updated at random by using the value of the R register built in the CPU 311. That is, when each outlier symbol counter CL, CM, CR is updated, the value of the lower 3 bits of the R register is added to the previous value, and when the addition result exceeds the maximum value, 20 is subtracted to determine the current value. The Each outlier symbol counter CL, CM, CR is updated in the normal process so that the update times do not overlap, and the combination of these outlier symbol counters CL, CM, CR is the reach other than the front / rear outreach symbol area of the RAM 313, the other than front / rear out. It is stored in either the symbol area or the completely off symbol area. Then, when determining the variation pattern at the time of starting the variation of the first symbol, one of the area values of the front / rear out of reach symbol area, the reach symbol area other than front / rear out of reach, and the completely out of symbol area is acquired according to the value of the reach random number counter C3. The

  Although illustration is omitted, a second specific lamp random number counter is used for lottery of the second specific lamp unit 94. The second symbol random number counter is configured as a loop counter that increments one by one within a range of 0 to 250, for example, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 250). The second specific ramp random number counter is updated periodically (once every timer interruption in this embodiment), and is acquired when it is detected that the game ball has passed through the through gate 85.

  Returning to the description of the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10, the configuration relating to the payout of the game ball will be described in detail.

  The main control board 301 and the payout control board 322 are electrically connected via an electrical wiring (signal line) such as a harness, and a command as command information is output from the main control board 301 to the payout control board 322. At the same time, various electrical signals are output from the payout control board 322 to the main control board 301.

  The CPU 311 of the main control board 301 includes a first input port (first input part) 351 and a second input port (second input part) 352, and the electric power from the payout control board 322 is input to these input ports 351 and 352. In addition to inputting signals, electric signals from various sensors are input. Here, the configuration of the first input port 351 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the first input port 351.

  The first input port 351 includes a signal input buffer B. The signal input buffer B includes 0th bit D0 to 8th bit D8. These 0th bit D0 to 8th bit D8 are formed with signal paths between different signal output sources, and information is stored based on signals input from these signal output sources.

  Specifically, a signal path is formed between the 0th bit D0 and the lower working port sensor 154b, a signal path is formed between the first bit D1 and the upper working port sensor 154a, and the second A signal path is formed between the bit D2 and the count sensor 153, a signal path is formed between the third bit D3 and the gate sensor 155, and a fourth bit D4 is connected to the first prize opening sensor 152a. A signal path is formed between the fifth bit D5 and the second winning port sensor 152b, and a sixth bit D6 is a signal between the third winning port sensor 152c. A path is formed, and a signal path is formed between the seventh and eighth bits D7 and D8 and the payout control board 322. In addition, a prize ball permission signal output from the payout control board 322 is input to the seventh bit D7, and a prize ball stop signal output from the payout control board 322 is input to the eighth bit D8. Details of the prize ball permission signal and the prize ball stop signal will be described later.

  As described above, the lower operation port sensor 154b, the upper operation port sensor 154a, the count sensor 153, the gate sensor 155, and the winning port sensors 152a to 152c flow down the game area, and the lower operation port 84b, the upper operation port 84a, and the variable. This is for detecting a game ball won in the winning device 83 and the general winning ports 82a to 82c and a game ball that has passed through the through gate 85, and outputs a HI level signal while no game ball is detected, While the game ball is detected, a LOW level signal is output. However, the main control board 301 has an inverting circuit. Therefore, “0” is stored in the 0th bit D0 to the 6th bit D6 while the HI level signal is output from the corresponding sensors 154b, 154a, 153, 155, 152a to 152c, and the LOW level signal is stored. “1” is stored while the data is being output.

  The sensor 152 to 155 may output a LOW level signal while the game ball is not detected, and may output a HI level signal while the game ball is detected. In this case, the inverting circuit is not provided, and further, “0” is stored in the 0th bit D0 to the 6th bit D6 while the LOW level signal is output from the corresponding sensors 152 to 155, and the HI is stored. “1” is stored while the level signal is output.

  On the other hand, the prize ball permission signal and the prize ball stop signal are not the targets of the inverting circuit, and the seventh while the LOW level signal is output from the payout control board 322 for the prize ball permission signal or the prize ball stop signal. Alternatively, while “8” is stored in the eighth bits D7 and D8 and the HI level signal (this corresponds to the prize ball permission signal and the prize ball stop signal in the pachinko machine 10) is output, “1” is stored in the 8 bits D7 and D8.

  The CPU 311 of the main control board 301 determines the presence / absence of a prize based on the information stored in the bits D0 to D8 of the first input port 351. The second input port 352 is configured in the same manner as the first input port 351, although not shown in the figure, and each bit has an electrical signal from the front door frame opening switch 78 and the body frame opening switch 217. Among the signals output from the payout control board 322, signals other than the prize ball permission signal and the prize ball stop signal are input. That is, some signal used for executing processing in the CPU 311 is input to each bit of the second input port 352.

  The electrical signals output from the front door frame opening switch 78 and the main body frame opening switch 217 are input to the main control board 301 after being relayed to the power / release control board 321 and the payout control board 322. In this case, the dispensing control board 322 only relays electrical signals from the front door frame opening switch 78 and the main body frame opening switch 217 and does not input it to the CPU 331 of the dispensing control board 322. The same applies to the power / fire control board 321.

  A configuration of the RAM 313 of the main control board 301 will be described. In the following description, FIG. 15 is referred to as appropriate. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the RAM 313.

  The RAM 313 of the main control board 301 is provided with a prize ball counter area 361 as individual storage means. The prize ball counter area 361 includes 15 prize ball counter areas 361a, 10 prize ball counter areas 361b, 4 prize ball counter areas 361c, and 3 prize ball counter areas 361d. It has been.

  Here, as already described, the pachinko machine 10 is provided with the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, the upper operating port 84a, and the lower operating port 84b as the winning units. The number of prize balls for entering the ball (the number of game balls to be paid out) is different for each part. Specifically, the number of winning balls when entering the general winning ports 82a to 82c is 10, and the number of winning balls when entering the variable winning device 83 is 15, and the upper operating port 84a has The number of prize balls when entering the ball is three, and the number of prize balls when entering the lower operation port 84b is four.

  In this configuration, the 15 winning ball counter area 361a stores how many times 15 winning balls will be made for entering the variable winning device 83 (15 winning balls for entering the variable winning device 83). The ten-ply-ball counter area 361b stores how many times ten-thousand award balls are to be entered for the general winning openings 82a to 82c. (It stores the number of unimplemented 10 prize balls for the entrance to the general winning openings 82a to 82c), and the 4 prize counter area 361c has 4 prize balls for entering the lower operating opening 84b. Is stored (the number of unsuccessful executions of four award balls with respect to the entry into the lower operation port 84b is stored), and the three award ball counter area 361d is the upper operation port. For entry to 84a That is the three prize balls used for storing whether to perform many more times (in which to store the non-execution count of three award balls for entering the sphere of the above operating ports 84a). Each of the prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d is composed of 1 byte, and can memorize a maximum of 256 prize balls.

  The prize ball number pattern is an example, and each number is arbitrary. Also, the pattern of the number of winning balls is not limited to the above four types, and may be two types, three types, or five types or more. Each of the prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d is not limited to 1 byte, and may be 2 bytes or 3 bytes or more. Furthermore, the number of unexecuted prize balls that can be stored in each of the prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d is not necessarily 256 at the maximum, and if multiple times can be stored, it is less than 256 times or There may be many.

  The CPU 311 of the main control board 301 determines the presence / absence of winning based on the information (principal ball information) stored in each of the winning ball counter areas 361a to 361d. A prize ball command corresponding to the winning type is output to the payout control board 322.

  Here, the information format of the prize ball command will be described with reference to FIG.

  The prize ball command is stored in advance in the command storage area 312a of the ROM 312 of the main control board 301. As prize ball commands, 15 prize ball commands, 10 prize ball commands, 4 prize ball commands, and 3 prize ball commands are set. When a prize ball command is output based on the prize ball information stored in the 15 prize ball counter area 361a, 15 prize ball commands are outputted and stored in the 10 prize ball counter area 361b. When a prize ball command is output based on the prize ball information, ten prize ball commands are output, and a prize ball command is output based on the prize ball information stored in the four prize ball counter area 361c. If four prize ball commands are output, three prize ball commands are output when prize ball commands are output based on the prize ball information stored in the three prize ball counter area 361d. Is done.

  Each prize ball command is composed of 2 bytes. That is, each prize ball command includes high-order information and low-order information, and each piece of information is composed of 1 byte. That is, the upper information and the lower information are composed of the same number of bits. Among the upper information and the lower information, information for specifying that the command is a prize ball command in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 is set in the upper information, and the lower information includes the information on the payout control board 322. In the CPU 331, information on the number of winning balls of the winning ball command is set.

  The specific information form of each prize ball command is as shown in FIG. In this case, all prize ball commands are set so that the form of information consisting of 1 byte when the logical sum of the upper information and the lower information is calculated is “FF” in hexadecimal. For example, for the 15 prize ball commands, the upper information is “11110000” and the lower information is “00001111”. When these logical sums are calculated, “11111111” is obtained. Further, in detail for the three prize ball commands, the upper information is “11111100” and the lower information is “00000011”. Since the prize ball command is in the information form as described above, the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 can determine whether or not the prize ball command input from the main control board 301 is normal. ing.

  In addition, the RAM 313 of the main control board 301 is provided with a prize ball permission counter area 365 and various flag storage areas 366. The winning ball permission counter area 365 is used when the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 executes processing related to the winning ball permission signal. Various flag storage areas 366 are used when the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 executes various control processes.

  The payout control board 322 is electrically connected to the payout device 224, and the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 257 and indicates whether or not a game ball is detected from the payout ball detection sensor 258. Input an electrical signal. Also, the payout control board 322 is electrically connected to the ball lending device Y via the ball lending connection terminal plate 249, and the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 receives an electric signal from the ball lending device Y. The ball rental control is executed by outputting.

  In addition, the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 inputs electrical signals from the full tank detection sensor 59 and the ball no-detection sensor 223a, specifies whether or not the lower plate 34 is full, and the tank 221 has no ball. Specify whether or not it is in a state. An electric signal output from the full tank detection sensor 59 among the full tank detection sensor 59 and the non-ball detection sensor 223a is relayed to the power supply / launch control board 321 and then input to the payout control board 322. Note that the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 outputs to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 the result of specifying whether or not the lower plate 34 is full. Thus, the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 can grasp whether or not the lower plate 34 is full.

  A command storage area 373 is provided in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. The command storage area 373 is used for temporarily storing a prize ball command input from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. The RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is provided with a prize ball number storage area 374. The prize ball number storage area 374 is composed of 1 byte, and has a function for storing information on the number of prize balls specified by the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 from the prize ball command.

  Here, when the information on the number of prize balls is specified from the prize ball command, the prize ball table storage area 332a provided in the ROM 332 of the payout control board 322 is referred to. In the prize ball table storage area 332a, a correspondence relationship between a prize ball command input from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 and the number of prize balls is stored.

  Further, the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is provided with a number-of-balls storage area 375. The number-of-balls storage area 375 is composed of 1 byte and has a function for storing information on the number of balls entered from the ball lending device Y in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. In addition, a payout number counter area 376 is provided in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. The payout number counter area 376 is composed of 1 byte, and has a function as an execution area for executing the payout of game balls in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322.

  The award ball number storage area 374, the rented ball number storage area 375, and the payout number counter area 376 are not limited to 1 byte, and may be 2 bytes or 3 bytes or more. Further, these areas 374 to 376 need not have the same number of bytes.

  Various flag storage areas 377 are provided in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. The various flag storage areas 377 are used when the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 executes various control processes. The RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is provided with a ring buffer for temporarily storing the command when the command is input from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. The ring buffer has a plurality of storage areas, and a read pointer and a read pointer are set. A command is sequentially read into each storage area based on the read pointer, and a command stored in each storage area is sequentially read based on the read pointer.

  The power from the power-on power supply unit 321a of the power supply / launch control board 321 is supplied to the VCC terminal of the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 and the VCC terminal of the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. In a situation where power is supplied from the external power supply by the power supplied to the VCC terminal, various control processes are executed by the CPUs 311 and 331, and information is stored and held by the RAMs 313 and 333. Is called.

  In addition, power from the power interruption unit 321 c of the power / launch control board 321 is supplied to the VBB terminal of the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. In other words, the power from the power supply unit 321 c for power interruption is supplied to the RAM 313 of the main control board 301 but is not supplied to the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. Information is stored and held in the RAM 313 of the main control board 301 in a situation where the power supplied from the external power supply is cut off by the power supplied to the VBB terminal. As already described, the power supplied to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 from the power-on power supply unit 321a and the power-off power supply unit 321c is relayed by the power failure monitoring circuit 303.

  Further, the ROM 342 of the CPU 341 of the sound lamp control board 324 is provided with a command storage area 342a for specifying what command is input from the main control board 301. When a prize ball command is output from the main control board 301 to the payout control board 322, a prize ball command corresponding to the prize ball command is output to the sound lamp control board 324. The sound lamp control board 324 stores the number of times a predetermined prize ball command is received from among the prize ball commands output from the main control board 301, and executes special processing according to the number of times received. .

  The pachinko machine 10 stores the number of times that a game ball has won the general winning openings 82a to 82c. Then, it is determined that the winnings to the general winning ports 82a to 82c are abnormally generated when the number of the received prize ball commands based on the winnings to the general winning ports 82a to 82c is equal to or more than the prescribed number. The notification process for notifying this is executed as a special process.

  In the RAM 343 of the CPU 341 of the sound lamp control board 324, when receiving a prize ball command corresponding to the prize winning from the main control board 301 to the general prize winning openings 82a to 82c, the number of reception times for storing the number of times the prize ball command is received is stored. A counter 400, a monitoring timer counter 401 used for specifying whether or not to execute the special process, and a loop number counter 402 are provided. Further, various flag storage areas 403 in which various flags are set when special processing is executed are provided. The sound lamp control board 324 executes control with reference to the flags set in the various flag storage areas 403. The counters 400 to 402 and various flag storage areas 403 will be described in detail later.

  Next, each control process executed by the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 will be described. Such processing of the CPU 311 is roughly classified into main processing that is started when the power is turned on and timer interrupt processing that is started periodically (in this embodiment, at a cycle of 2 msec). The process will be described, and then the main process will be described.

  The timer interrupt process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S101, a reading process is executed. In the reading process, a signal reading process from a sensor relating to winning of a game ball, such as the winning hole sensors 152a to 152c, the count sensor 153, the operating hole sensors 154a and 154b, and the gate sensor 155, is executed. In a succeeding step S102, an information determination process is executed. The information determination process will be described later in detail.

  Thereafter, in step S103, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated. Specifically, the random number initial value counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (676 in this embodiment). Then, the updated value of the random number initial value counter CINI is stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 313. In subsequent step S104, the big hit random number counter C1, the big hit type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 are updated. Specifically, the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 are each incremented by 1 and their counter values reach the maximum values (in the present embodiment, 676, 49, and 238, respectively). Each time it is cleared to 0. And the update value of each counter C1-C3 is stored in the applicable area of RAM313. Thereafter, a start winning process is executed in step S105.

  In the start winning process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, first, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the operating port flag is stored in the operating port flag storage area of the RAM 313, whereby the game ball is moved to the operating port 84a. , 84b is determined whether or not (starting winning) is won. If it is determined that the game ball has won the operating holes 84a, 84b, in the subsequent step S202, the number N of the operation reserved balls of the first specific lamp portion 93 and the symbol display device 91 is less than the upper limit value (4 in the present embodiment). It is determined whether or not there is. The process proceeds to step S203 on condition that there is a winning at the operation ports 84a and 84b and the number N of activated balls is <4, and 1 is added to the number N of activated balls. Note that the operation port flag is deleted after the process of step S203. In subsequent step S204, the values of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2 and the reach random number counter C3 updated in step S104 are stored in the first area among the free storage areas of the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 313. Then, after the start winning process, the CPU 311 once ends the timer interrupt process.

  Next, the main process that is started upon reset at power-on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S301, a startup process associated with power-on is executed. Specifically, in order to wait for the slave control board (such as the payout control board 322) to be operable, it waits for about 500 msec, for example.

  In the subsequent step S302, it is determined whether or not 1 sec, which is a permission prohibition period, has elapsed since the start-up process in step S301. If 1 sec has not elapsed, the process of step S302 is executed again. This time measurement is performed by counting the number of times of processing in step S302. For example, if the time required to execute the process of step S302 again after making a negative determination in step S302 is 0.1 msec, the count value becomes 10,000 times, so that after the startup process of step S301 It is determined that 1 sec has passed. Note that the specific configuration of time measurement is arbitrary, and for example, time measurement may be performed using a real-time clock. If it is determined in step S302 that 1 sec has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S303.

In step S303, access to the RAM 313 is permitted. Thereafter, in step S304, it is determined whether or not the RAM erasure switch 247 provided in the power / fire control device 243 is turned on. In subsequent step S305, whether or not the power failure flag is stored in the power failure flag storage area of the RAM 313 is determined. Determine. The power failure flag is a flag that is set in NMI interrupt processing that is periodically executed. Specifically, it is executed when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. That is, when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 303 to the NMI terminal of the CPU 311 and the CPU 311 interrupts the control being executed and starts the NMI interrupt processing. . In the NMI interrupt process, the power failure flag is stored in the power failure flag storage area provided in the RAM 313.
In step S306, a RAM determination value is calculated. In subsequent step S307, it is determined whether or not the RAM determination value matches the RAM determination value stored when the power is turned off, that is, the validity of the stored data. The RAM determination value is a checksum value at a work area address of the RAM 313, for example. It is also possible to determine the validity of the stored data based on whether or not the keywords written in a predetermined area of the RAM 313 are correctly stored.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 10, when RAM data is initialized when the power is turned on, for example, at the start of business in the hall, the power is turned on while pressing the RAM erase switch 247. Therefore, if the RAM erase switch 247 is pressed, the process proceeds to steps S308 to S309. Similarly, when the information on occurrence of power shutdown is not set, or when abnormality of data stored and held is confirmed by the RAM judgment value (checksum value or the like), the process proceeds to steps S308 to S309.

  In step S308, the used area of the RAM 313 is cleared to 0, and in step S309, initialization processing of the RAM 313 is executed. Thereafter, in step S310, an initial command is output to the payout control board 322, interrupt permission is set in step S311, and the process proceeds to normal processing described later. The CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 recognizes that communication with the main control board 301 is normally performed by inputting an initial command from the main control board 301.

  On the other hand, if the RAM erase switch 247 is not pressed, the power failure flag is stored in step S312 on the condition that the power failure flag is stored and that the RAM determination value (checksum value, etc.) is normal. Clear the power failure flag stored in the area. Thereafter, an initial command is output in step S310 and interrupt permission is set in step S311, and the process proceeds to normal processing described later. Thereby, it returns to the state before power-off.

  Next, normal processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In this normal process, the main process of the game is executed. As an outline, the processing of steps S401 to S409 is executed as a periodic processing with a period of 4 msec, and the counter update processing of steps S411 and S412 is executed with the remaining time.

  In the normal process, in step S401, the both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are updated. Specifically, both the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are incremented by 1, and are cleared to 0 when their counter values reach the maximum values (198 and 240 in this embodiment). Then, the update values of both variation type counters CS 1 and CS 2 are stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 313. In the subsequent step S402, the outlier symbol counters CL, CM, CR of the left symbol row, the middle symbol row, and the right symbol row are updated.

  In the update process of the out symbol counters CL, CM, CR, it is determined whether or not it is the update time of any of the left, middle, and right symbol sequences, and the out symbol counter CL, CM, CR of the symbol sequence that has reached the update time is determined. Update. Each out symbol counter CL, CM, CR is updated one by one in one normal process without duplication, and every time the normal processing is executed three times, one set of out symbol counters CL, CM, CR is obtained. It has been updated. And, when the combination of the updated out symbol counters CL, CM, CR is a combination of outreach symbols that are front / rear out of reach, a combination of reach symbols other than front / rear out of reach, a combination of completely out symbols that do not become reach In some cases, the combination is stored in the corresponding area. If the combination of the updated off symbol counters CL, CM, and CR is a combination of jackpot symbols, the update process is terminated as it is.

  After the update process of the off symbol counters CL, CM, CR, the first specific lamp unit control process for switching the color displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 is executed in step S403. In the first specific lamp unit control process, jackpot determination, on / off control of a light source switch of an LED lamp disposed in the first specific lamp unit 93, and the like are performed. In the first specific lamp unit control process, the symbol display device 91 also sets the first symbol variation display.

  Specifically, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is based on the value of the jackpot random number counter C1, and further determines the type of jackpot based on the value of the jackpot type counter C2 (determines whether or not it is a so-called probabilistic jackpot). . At this time, the type of jackpot symbol in the first symbol and the stop line for the combination of jackpot symbols are also determined and set as a stop symbol command. If it is determined that no jackpot will occur, the combination of outlier symbols in the first symbol is determined based on the value of the reach random number counter C3. In such a case, the combination of symbols updated in the outlier symbol counter updating process and stored in the area is set as a stop symbol command. Further, based on the value of the second variation type counter CS2, the color switching display time displayed on the first specific lamp unit 93 and the first symbol variation display time are determined. Further, the reach type in the first symbol and its rough symbol variation mode are determined based on the value of the first variation type counter CS1, and set as a variation mode command. Each time the on / off control of the first specific lamp unit 93 is started in the first specific lamp unit control process, the number of the operation reserved balls N is decremented by 1 and when the number of operation reserved balls N is 0, the on / off control is performed. Does not start.

  After the first specific lamp unit control process, a special winning opening opening / closing process is executed in step S404. In the big prize opening / closing process, the big prize opening of the variable prize winning device 83 is opened or closed in the case of the big hit state. That is, it is determined whether the big winning opening is opened for each round of the big hit state, and whether the maximum opening time of the big winning opening has elapsed or whether a predetermined number of game balls have been won in the big winning opening. The determination as to whether or not the prescribed number has been won is made by checking the special prize counter. When either of these conditions is satisfied, the special winning opening is closed.

  Thereafter, in step S405, a second specific lamp unit control process for performing a process of switching the color displayed on the second specific lamp unit 94 is executed. In the second specific lamp unit control process, the switching of the display color in the second specific lamp unit 94 is started on condition that the number of gate holding balls is 1 or more. At this time, the display color switching time is also set. In addition, a color for stop display is set based on the value of the second specific lamp random number counter already acquired. When a predetermined color is set as the stop-displayed color, the electric accessory 89 associated with the lower operation port 84b is opened for a predetermined time after the stop display of the color.

  Incidentally, in the present pachinko machine 10, a frequency improvement state is set as a kind of special gaming state in which the frequency per unit time at which the electric utility item 89 is opened is increased. In this frequency improvement state, winning to the lower working port 84b is likely to occur. The specific content of the frequency improvement state is to continue until a predetermined number of games after the jackpot state ends (the number of symbol display variations on the symbol display device 91) or the next jackpot occurs. In the state, the lottery interval for determining whether or not the electric accessory 89 is in the open state is shorter than the normal gaming state (the state where the frequency is not improved). The number of times of opening becomes greater than that in the normal gaming state, and the duration when the opening state is reached becomes longer than in the normal gaming state. The probability of whether or not the open state win in the frequency improvement state is set to be the same as the probability in the normal gaming state, but may be set higher than that in the normal gaming state.

  After step S405, a game ball launch control process is executed in step S406. In the game ball launch control process, on the condition that the launch permission signal is input from the launch control unit 321b of the power source / launch control board 321, the game ball is once in a predetermined period (0.6 sec in this embodiment). The solenoid 111 of the firing mechanism 110 is excited. Thereby, the game ball on the launch rail 112 is launched toward the game area.

  After step S406, an input state monitoring process is executed in step S407, and a payout output process is executed in step S408. These processes will be described in detail later. Thereafter, in step S409, it is determined whether or not a power failure flag is stored in a power failure flag storage area provided in the RAM 313. When the power failure flag is not stored, the last process of the plurality of processes that are repeatedly executed is completed, so whether or not the next normal process execution timing has been reached in step S410, that is, the previous normal process It is determined whether or not a predetermined time (4 msec in this embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the process. Then, the random number initial value counter CINI and both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are repeatedly updated within the remaining time until the next normal processing execution timing. That is, in step S411, the random number initial value counter CINI is updated. Specifically, the random number initial value counter CINI is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (676 in this embodiment). Then, the updated value of the random number initial value counter CINI is stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 313. In step S412, updating of both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 is executed. Specifically, both the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are incremented by 1, and are cleared to 0 when their counter values reach the maximum values (198 and 240 in this embodiment). Then, the update values of both variation type counters CS 1 and CS 2 are stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 313.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S409 that the power failure flag is stored, the power interruption has occurred, so the power failure processing from step S413 is executed. That is, in step S413, the generation of the timer interrupt process is prohibited, and then the RAM determination value is calculated and stored in step S414. After the access to the RAM 313 is prohibited in step S415, the power supply is completely shut down and processed. Continue infinite loop until no longer runs.

(Processing configuration related to game ball payout and processing configuration in the CPU 311 of the main control board 301)
Next, the processing configuration in the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 relating to the payout of game balls will be described. In the following description, the value of the counter area refers to a value that virtually represents the value of the counter area configured in units of bytes in decimal.

  Here, the information determination process executed in the timer interrupt process of the main control board 301 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the information determination process, first, in step S501, whether or not there is winning information in the 0th bit D0 of the signal input buffer B, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the 0th bit D0. judge. If there is no winning information in the 0th bit D0 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S503 as it is. If there is winning information in the 0th bit D0 (when “1” is stored), after executing the first storage process in step S502, the process proceeds to step S503. In the first storing process, 1 is added to the value of the four prize ball counter areas 361c in the prize ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313. This is because winning information in the 0th bit D0 means that winning has occurred in the lower operating port 84b.

  Incidentally, in the first storing process, the operating port flag (lottery trigger information) is stored in the operating port flag storage area (lottery trigger information storage means) of the RAM 313. This operating port flag is used to determine whether or not a winning to the lower operating port 84b has occurred in the above-described start winning process (FIG. 17). In addition, since the upper operating port 84a and the lower operating port 84b are provided as the operating ports, the operating port flag storage areas are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the operating ports 84a and 84b. That is, the first lottery opportunity information storage means and the second lottery opportunity information storage means are provided as the lottery opportunity information storage means.

  In the subsequent step S503, it is determined whether or not there is winning information in the first bit D1, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the first bit D1. If there is no winning information in the first bit D1 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S505 as it is. If there is winning information in the first bit D1 (when “1” is stored), after executing the second storage process in step S504, the process proceeds to step S505. In the second storing process, 1 is added to the value of the three prize ball counter areas 361d in the prize ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313. This is because the fact that there is winning information in the first bit D1 means that winning has occurred in the upper working port 84a. Incidentally, in the second storage process, the operation port flag is stored in the operation port flag storage area corresponding to the upper operation port 84a in the RAM 313.

  In a succeeding step S505, it is determined whether or not there is winning information in the second bit D2, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the second bit D2. If there is no winning information in the second bit D2 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S507 as it is. If there is winning information in the second bit D2 (when “1” is stored), the third storage process is executed in step S506, and then the process proceeds to step S507. In the third storing process, 1 is added to the value of the 15 prize ball counter areas 361a in the prize ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313. This is because the fact that there is winning information in the second bit D2 means that winning in the variable winning device 83 has occurred. Incidentally, in the third storing process, the big prize mouth flag (special prize information) is stored in the big prize mouth flag storage area (special prize information storage means) provided in the RAM 313. The big prize opening flag is used to determine whether or not a prize for the variable prize winning device 83 has occurred in the above-described big prize opening opening / closing process (step S404 in FIG. 19).

  In a succeeding step S507, it is determined whether or not winning information is present in the third bit D3, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the third bit D3. If there is no winning information in the third bit D3 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S509. If there is winning information in the third bit D3 (when “1” is stored), after executing the fourth storage process in step S508, the process proceeds to step S509. In the fourth storage process, a through flag is stored in a through flag storage area provided in the RAM 313. This through flag is used to determine whether or not the game ball has passed through the through gate 85 in the above-described second specific lamp unit control process (step S405 in FIG. 19). This is because the fact that the third bit D3 has winning information means that the game ball has passed through the through gate 85.

  In a succeeding step S509, it is determined whether or not winning information is present in the fourth bit D4, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the fourth bit D4. If there is no winning information in the fourth bit D4 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S511. If there is winning information in the fourth bit D4 (when “1” is stored), the fifth storage process is executed in step S510, and then the process proceeds to step S511. In the fifth storing process, 1 is added to the value of the ten-award ball counter area 361b in the award-ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313. This is because the fact that the fourth bit D4 has winning information means that winning has been made to any of the general winning ports 82a to 82c among the general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  In a succeeding step S511, it is determined whether or not there is winning information in the fifth bit D5, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the fifth bit D5. If there is no winning information in the fifth bit D5 (when “0” is stored), the process proceeds to step S513. If there is winning information in the fifth bit D5 (when “1” is stored), the fifth storage process is executed in step S512, and then the process proceeds to step S513. The fifth storage process has already been described. This is because the fact that the fifth bit D5 has winning information means that winning has been made to any of the general winning ports 82a to 82c among the general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  In a succeeding step S513, it is determined whether or not there is winning information in the sixth bit D6, that is, whether or not “1” is stored in the sixth bit D6. If there is no winning information in the sixth bit D6 (when “0” is stored), the information determination process is terminated as it is. If there is winning information in the sixth bit D6 (when “1” is stored), the information determination process is terminated after the fifth storage process is executed in step S514. The fifth storage process has already been described. The fact that the sixth bit D6 has winning information means that winning has been made to any of the general winning ports 82a to 82c among the plurality of general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  As described above, in the present pachinko machine 10, the determination of whether or not a winning has occurred in the ball-entry portions such as the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, the upper operating port 84a, the lower operating port 84b, and the through gate 85 This is performed by monitoring the first input port 351 (signal input buffer B) in a reading process executed at a predetermined period (specifically, 2 msec).

(Input status monitoring process)
Next, the input state monitoring process executed in step S407 of the normal process (FIG. 19) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the input state monitoring process, first, input information is acquired from the second input port 352 in step S601. Specifically, the input information of the second input port 352 is stored in a 1-byte general-purpose register provided in the CPU 311.

  In the subsequent step S602, a payout abnormality signal monitoring process for specifying whether or not an abnormality has occurred regarding the payout of game balls is executed. Specifically, in the payout abnormality signal monitoring process, when information indicating that an abnormality signal is input from the payout control board 322 is stored in the general-purpose register, the occurrence of a payout abnormality is identified in the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. To do. When the occurrence of a payout abnormality is specified, a payout abnormality command (payout abnormality information) is output to the audio lamp control board 324, and abnormality notification is executed. The payout abnormality mentioned here includes the absence of a ball in the tank 221 and a failure of the payout device 224. In the pachinko machine 10, as the abnormality notification, a message indicating that there is no ball or that the dispensing device 224 is out of order is output from the speaker unit 26. The payout abnormality command is output until the occurrence of the payout abnormality is no longer specified. When the sound lamp control board 324 does not receive the payout abnormality command, the abnormality notification is terminated.

  The manner of abnormality notification is arbitrary, and for example, notification display may be performed on the display screen of the symbol display device 91 or the like. In addition, an abnormality signal may be output to the game hall management computer (hall computer) through the external terminal board 213.

  In a succeeding step S603, a full tank signal monitoring process for specifying whether or not the lower plate 34 is in a full state is executed. Specifically, in the full tank signal monitoring process, when information indicating that a full tank signal is input from the payout control board 322 is stored in the general-purpose register, the lower plate 34 is in a full state. The CPU 311 of the control board 301 is specified. When it is specified that the lower plate 34 is in a full state, a full state command (full state information) is output to the sound lamp control board 324, and a full tank notification is sent from the speaker unit 26. A message indicating the status is output. The full state command is output until no full state is specified. The voice lamp control board 324 is configured to end the full tank notification when the full lamp state command is not received.

  Note that this full tank notification mode is arbitrary. For example, notification display may be performed on the display screen of the symbol display device 91 or the like. Further, a full signal may be output to the game hall management computer (hall computer) through the external terminal board 213.

  In a succeeding step S604, a main body frame open signal monitoring process for specifying whether or not the main body frame 13 is in an open state is executed. Specifically, in the main body frame open signal monitoring process, when the information indicating that the main body frame open signal is input from the main body frame open switch 217 is stored in the general-purpose register, the main body frame 13 is in the open state. Is specified by the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. When it is specified that the main body frame 13 is in the open state, a main body frame open state command (main body open notification information) is output to the sound lamp control board 324, and the main body frame is notified from the speaker unit 26 as the main body open notification. A message indicating that the frame is open is output. The body frame open state command is output until it is not specified that the body frame 13 is in the open state. When the sound lamp control board 324 does not receive the main body frame open state command, the main body open notification is terminated.

  Note that the main body opening notification mode is arbitrary, and for example, notification display may be performed on the display screen of the symbol display device 91 or the like. Further, a main body opening signal may be output to the management computer (hall computer) of the game hall through the external terminal board 213.

  Thereafter, a front door frame opening signal monitoring process is executed in step S605. Specifically, in the front door frame opening signal monitoring process, it is specified whether the front door frame 14 is in an open state or a closed state. When it is specified that the front door frame 14 is in the open state, a front door frame open state command (main body open notification information) is output to the sound lamp control board 324, and the speaker unit is notified as the front door frame open notification. A message indicating that the front door frame 14 is in an open state is output from 26. The front door frame open state command is output until it is not specified that the front door frame 14 is in the open state. When the sound lamp control board 324 does not receive the main body frame open state command, the main body open notification is terminated. When the front door frame opening signal monitoring process is executed, the winning ball signal monitoring process is executed in the subsequent step S606, and then the input state monitoring process is terminated.

  Note that the main body opening notification mode is arbitrary, and for example, notification display may be performed on the display screen of the symbol display device 91 or the like. Further, a main body opening signal may be output to the management computer (hall computer) of the game hall through the external terminal board 213.

(Prize ball signal monitoring process)
Next, the prize ball signal monitoring process in step S606 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the winning ball permission signal will be described.

  In the pachinko machine 10, as described above, the power from the power interruption unit 321 c of the power supply / launch control board 321 is supplied to the RAM 313 of the main control board 301, but is supplied to the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. Is not supplied. With this configuration, the capacity of the power interruption unit 321c can be reduced, and accordingly, the cost of the pachinko machine 10 can be reduced.

  However, in this configuration, when the power supply from the external power source to the pachinko machine 10 is stopped, all the information stored in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is erased (destroyed). In this case, if all the information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 as in the conventional pachinko machine, the pachinko machine 10 can be connected to the pachinko machine 10 in a situation where there are unpaid prize balls. When the power supply is stopped, all the unpaid prize balls are erased without being paid out. If it does so, it will cause a great disadvantage to a player.

  On the other hand, in this pachinko machine 10, unpaid prize ball information is basically stored in the prize ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313 of the main control board 301, and the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 stores the payout control board 322. When a prize ball permission signal is input from the CPU 331, a prize ball command is output to the CPU 331. Then, in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322, the information on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 is the maximum number of prize balls (15 prize balls) for one winning at a maximum. The output start timing and output stop timing of the winning ball permission signal are set so as to be the sum of the permitted reference number. In addition, this permission reference number is the minimum number of winning balls for one winning or less. Thereby, even if the power supply to the pachinko machine 10 is stopped in a situation where a large number of unpaid prize balls remain, it is possible to reduce the number of prize balls to be erased as much as possible. That is, the prize ball permission signal is information output from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 in order to specify the output timing of the prize ball command in the CPU 311 of the main control board 301.

  In the prize ball signal monitoring process, first, in step S701, it is determined whether or not prize ball permission information indicating that a prize ball permission signal is input is stored in the seventh bit D7 of the first input port 351. . If the prize ball permission information is stored, whether or not the prize ball stop information indicating that the prize ball stop signal is input is stored in the eighth bit D8 of the first input port 351 in step S702. Determine whether.

  In the prize ball signal monitoring process, the information of the first input port 351 may be stored in a general-purpose register or a dedicated register of the CPU 311. In this case, prize ball permission information and prize ball stop information are stored in the register. It is set as the structure which determines whether it is each.

  If prize ball stop information is stored in step S702, prize ball stop command output processing is executed in step S703. In the prize ball stop command output process, the prize ball stop command is output to the voice lamp control board 324 of the voice lamp control device 143. As described above, when the game ball is paid out, the prize ball lamp unit 25 is lit in response to the game ball being paid out by the sound lamp control board 324. The prize ball stop command is a command output to turn off the prize ball lamp unit 25.

  A supplementary explanation of the prize ball permission signal and the prize ball stop signal will be given. The CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 outputs a prize ball permission signal when the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 becomes equal to or less than a specified number. That is, a prize ball permission signal is output during the execution of game ball payout. In the state where the prize ball permission signal is output, the prize ball stop signal is output when the number of prize balls not paid out in the prize ball number storage area 374 becomes “0”. Therefore, when a prize ball permission signal is output and a prize ball command is received from the main control board 301 in a state before the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 becomes “0”, Information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the prize ball number storage area 374, and no prize ball stop signal is output. By outputting the prize ball permission signal at the timing before outputting the prize ball stop signal, when the unpaid prize ball information is stored in the RAM 313 of the main control board 301, the prize ball of the payout control board 322 is stored. It can be suppressed that the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the number storage area 374 becomes “0”.

  For example, a configuration is possible in which a prize ball command is output from the main control board 301 based on the fact that a prize ball permission signal is not set and a prize ball stop signal is output from the payout control board 322. In this configuration, even when information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 313 of the main control board 301, the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 of the payout control board 322 is stored. After the information becomes “0”, a prize ball command is output from the main control board 301. In this case, the information on the number of unpaid prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 once becomes “0”, and the information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 313 of the main control board 301. Regardless, the payout motor 257 is stopped. For this reason, when information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 313 of the main control board 301, the driving and stopping of the payout motor 257 are repeated in a short period. The output of the prize ball permission signal from the payout control board 302 means that an unpaid prize is stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 when information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the main control board 301. This is a device for suppressing the information on the number of balls from being “0” and suppressing the driving and stopping of the payout motor 257 from being repeated.

  If no prize ball stop information is stored in step S702, or if prize ball stop command output processing is executed in step S703, the process proceeds to step S704, and the prize ball permission counter area (in RAM 313 of the main control board 301) ( It is determined whether or not the value stored in the permission opportunity grasping means 365 is “5”. The prize ball permission counter area 365 means that the prize ball permission signal is actually output from the payout control board 322 when the prize ball permission information is stored in the first input port 351. This is for the CPU 311 to specify whether the data is stored due to noise or the like.

  If the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is “5” or more, an affirmative determination is made in step S704, and the present winning ball signal monitoring process is terminated. On the other hand, if the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is less than “5”, a negative determination is made in step S704, and the process proceeds to step S705. In step S705, the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is incremented by 1, and then the prize ball signal monitoring process is terminated.

  Here, since the prize ball signal monitoring process is executed as a part of the normal process, its execution cycle is about 4 msec. Therefore, when a prize ball permission signal is output from the payout control board 322 and the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is less than “5”, the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is set to 1 at a cycle of about 4 msec. Is added. Further, by executing the processing of step S704, the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 becomes “5” or more even in a situation where the output of the prize ball permission signal from the payout control board 322 is continued. In the case where the winning ball is permitted, the process of adding the value in the winning ball permission counter area 365 is not executed.

  If it is determined in step S704 that no winning ball permission information is stored, the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is cleared to “0” in step S706, and then the present winning ball signal monitoring process is performed. finish. That is, in a situation where no prize ball permission signal is output from the payout control board 322, the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is maintained at “0”.

(Output processing for withdrawal)
Next, the payout output process executed in step S408 of the normal process (FIG. 19) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The payout output process is a process for outputting various commands from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322.

  In step S801, it is determined whether or not the front door frame 14 is opened. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the front door frame opening flag is stored in the front door frame opening flag storage area of the RAM 313. Supplementing the front door frame opening flag, when the front door frame opening signal monitoring process is executed in the input state monitoring process described above, and the front door frame 14 is in the open state, the front door frame opening flag of the RAM 313 is displayed. A front door frame release flag is stored in the storage area. Further, when the front door frame 14 is closed in the front door frame opening signal monitoring process, the front door frame opening flag storage area of the RAM 313 is cleared. If the front door frame opening flag is stored, the payout output process is terminated as it is.

  If the front door frame release flag is not stored, it is determined in step S802 whether or not the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 of the RAM 313 is “5” as the output permission reference number. Here, as described above, the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is the value when the winning ball permission signal is output from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 and the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is less than “5”. Is incremented by 1 with a period of about 4 msec. The value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is cleared to “0” when the output of the prize ball permission signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 is stopped. Therefore, in step S802, it is determined whether or not the output of the winning ball permission signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 has continued for 20 msec as the output permission continuation period.

  If the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is not “5”, the payout output process is terminated as it is. If the value of the winning ball permission counter area 365 is “5”, whether or not the winning ball information is stored in any of the various counter areas 361a to 361d in the winning ball counter area 361 of the RAM 313 in step S803. Determine whether or not. If no prize ball information is stored in any of them, the payout output process is terminated as it is.

  If prize ball information is stored in any of the various prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d, the value of the prize ball permission counter area 365 is cleared to “0” in step S804. Thereafter, a prize ball command output process is executed in step S805, and the payout output process is terminated.

  Here, the prize ball command output processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In this award ball command output process, a prize ball command is output to the payout control board 322 so as to execute the game ball payout, and the voice lamp control board 324 is recognized so as to recognize that the game ball is paid out. Outputs a prize ball command. The payout control board 322 controls the payout device 224 to execute payout of the game ball by receiving the command. The sound lamp control board 324 receives the command to control the prize ball lamp unit 25 so as to notify that the game ball is being paid out, and the received prize ball command is a predetermined prize. If it is a ball command, the number of times the predetermined prize ball command is received is counted.

  First, in step S901, it is determined whether or not the value of the 15 prize ball counter area 361a in the RAM 313 is "0". If it is not “0”, it means that incomplete information on prize balls is stored for 15 prize balls, so that 15 prize ball commands are output to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 in step S902. In step S903, 1 is subtracted from the value of the counter area 361a for 15 prize balls. As described above, the 15 prize ball commands are composed of 2 bytes composed of the upper information “11110000” and the lower information “00001111”. In step S902, the upper information and lower information are output to the payout control board 322.

  In subsequent step S904, as the first prize ball command output process, the first prize ball command is output to the sound lamp control board 324 so as to recognize that the game ball is paid out. Specifically, the first prize ball command is composed of 2 bytes including upper information and lower information. The upper information is “11110000” and the lower information is “00001111”. This is the same as the 15 prize ball commands output to the payout control board 322. Thereafter, the prize ball command output process is terminated.

  If the value of the 15 prize ball counter area 361a is “0” in step S901, the process proceeds to step S905. In step S905, it is determined whether or not the value of the four prize ball counter area 361c in the RAM 313 is "0". If it is not “0”, it means that incomplete information on prize balls is stored for the four prize balls, so that in step S906, the four prize ball commands are output to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. In step S907, 1 is subtracted from the value of the four prize ball counter area 361c. As described above, the 4-prize ball command is composed of 2 bytes including upper information “11111011” and lower information “00000100”. In step S906, the upper information and lower information are output to the payout control board 322.

  In subsequent step S908, the first prize ball command is output as in step S904. That is, in step S908, a command having higher information “11110000” and lower information “000011111” is output as the first prize ball command. Thereafter, the prize ball command output process is terminated.

  In step S905, when the value of the four prize ball counter area 361c is “0”, the process proceeds to step S909. In step S909, it is determined whether or not the value of the three prize ball counter area 361d in the RAM 313 is "0". If it is not “0”, it means that incomplete information of prize balls is stored for the three prize balls, so that in step S910, three prize ball commands are output to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. In step S911, 1 is subtracted from the value of the counter area 361d for three prize balls. As described above, the three prize ball commands are composed of 2 bytes composed of the upper information “11111100” and the lower information “00000011”. In step S910, the upper information and lower information are output to the payout control board 322.

  In subsequent step S912, the first prize ball command is output in the same manner as in step S904. That is, in step S912, a command having higher information “11110000” and lower information “000011111” is output as the first prize ball command. Thereafter, the prize ball command output process is terminated.

  In step S909, when the value of the three prize ball counter area 361d is “0”, the process proceeds to step S913. In step S913, the 10 award ball commands are output to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322, and in step S914, 1 is subtracted from the value of the 10 award ball counter area 361b. As described above, the 10 award ball commands are composed of 2 bytes composed of the upper information “11110101” and the lower information “00001010”. In step S913, the upper information and lower information are output to the payout control board 322.

  In subsequent step S915, the second prize ball command is output to the sound lamp control board 324 as the second prize ball command output process. Specifically, the second prize ball command is composed of 2 bytes including upper information and lower information. The upper information is “11110101” and the lower information is “0000010”. This is the same as the ten prize ball commands output to the payout control board 322. Thereafter, the prize ball command output process is terminated.

  In this prize ball command output process, a prize ball command is output to the payout control board 322 and a prize ball command is output to the sound lamp control board 324. Thereby, it can be recognized that the payout of the game ball is executed by the sound lamp control board 324. Further, when outputting a prize ball command to the sound lamp control board 324, a first prize ball command, which is the same command as the 15 prize ball commands, is output corresponding to the 15, 4, and 3 prize ball commands. The second prize ball command, which is the same command as the 10 prize ball commands, is output as a command corresponding to the 10 prize ball commands. As a result, the voice lamp control board 324 can recognize whether the game ball to be executed this time corresponds to 10 prize ball commands or other prize ball commands.

  The prize ball command output to the payout control board 322 is the same as the prize ball command output to the sound lamp control board 324. As a result, the types of commands output from the main control board 301 to the slave control board can be reduced, and the storage capacity of the command storage area 312a in the ROM 312 of the main control board 301 can be reduced.

  Supplementing the description of the output of the prize ball command on the main control board 301, the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 may receive the prize ball command on the payout control board 322 even if the prize ball permission information is stored in the first input port 351. It is not immediately specified that the output is permitted, and when the award ball permission information is confirmed continuously for the number of times of the output permission reference set as a plurality of times, that is, the award is given over the output permission reference period of 20 msec. When the state where the ball permission signal is output is confirmed, it is specified that the output of the prize ball command is permitted (identified as being in the output permission state). Then, by specifying that the output of the winning ball command is permitted, one winning ball command corresponding to one winning is output to the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. In the pachinko machine 10, when the power supply from the external power supply is stopped, the information stored in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is erased. For this reason, it is desirable to store information regarding the payout of game balls in the main control board 301 as much as possible. When it is confirmed that the prize ball permission signal has been output for 20 msec, which is the output permission reference period, the fact that the output of the prize ball command is permitted is determined instantaneously by the influence of noise or the like. This is a device for suppressing the determination that the ball control information is stored and the main control board 301 is permitted to output the prize ball command.

  Further, when the process of step S804 is executed in the payout output process (FIG. 23), when the front door frame 14 is in the open state, the period during which the prize ball permission signal is input reaches the output permission reference period. No prize ball command is output. In the pachinko machine 10, when the front door frame 14 is in an open state, the payout of game balls is stopped. In this case, by preventing the prize ball command from being output when the front door frame 14 is in the open state, it is possible to prevent the prize ball command from being newly output in a situation where the payout of the game ball is stopped. It becomes possible. When a prize ball command is output in a situation where the payout of game balls is stopped, the prize ball corresponding to the prize ball command is paid out when power supply is stopped with the front door frame 14 open. It will be erased without being deleted. On the other hand, according to the present configuration, such inconvenience can be prevented. It is not essential to prohibit the output of the prize ball command when the front door frame 14 is in the open state, and the prize ball command may be output when the front door frame 14 is in the open state.

  In the prize ball command output process (FIG. 24), priorities are set as follows for command output for a plurality of types of prize ball information. That is, the priority is set in the order of (1) 15 prize ball information → (2) 4 prize ball information → (3) 3 prize ball information → (4) 10 prize ball information ((1) is The highest priority is (4) is the lowest priority).

  In the pachinko machine 10, the prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d of the RAM 313 of the main control board 301 are composed of 1 byte, and there is an upper limit to the number of prize ball information that can be stored, and each upper limit number is constant. It has become. On the other hand, the output of a prize ball command may be prohibited as in the case where the front door frame 14 is in an open state. On the other hand, by setting the priority with respect to the output of the prize ball command as described above, the prize ball information corresponding to the prize is added to the prize ball counter areas 361a to 361d even though the prize has occurred. The possibility of inconvenience of being erased without being performed is reduced.

  In other words, among the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the variable winning device 83, the upper operating port 84a, and the lower operating port 84b, it is highly likely that a large number of winnings will occur in a short time. 84b → upper operating port 84a → general winning ports 82a to 82c (the possibility of the variable winning device 83 is the highest, and the possibility of the general winning ports 82a to 82c is the lowest). And it can be said that there is a high possibility that the above-mentioned inconveniences occur as the possibility that a large number of winnings will occur in a short time. On the other hand, by setting the priority as described above, a prize ball command is output in preference to prize ball information corresponding to a prize that is likely to cause a large number of prizes in a short time. The possibility of the occurrence of the above inconvenience is reduced.

  The variable winning device 83 is in an open state in the case of a big hit state, and when it is in an open state, a large number of wins are generated in a short time. The lower operating port 84b is opened when the frequency is improved, and a large number of winnings are generated in a short time when the lower operating port 84b is opened. However, the number of winnings per unit time in the open state is larger in the variable winning device 83. The upper operating port 84a is always in a state where a winning can be made, but there is no member for supporting winning such as the variable winning device 83 and the lower operating port 84b. The number of winnings per unit time when the opening 84b is in the open state is smaller in the upper operating port 84a than in the variable winning device 83 and the lower operating port 84b. Furthermore, the general winning ports 82a to 82c are fixed winning ports. For this reason, although it is possible to win the general winning ports 82a to 82c regardless of the gaming state, the nail 88 is more difficult to win than the upper operating port 84a. To supplement the explanation about the possibility of winning for each winning mouth, the expected number of winning game balls per 60 seconds is 0.5 for the general winning holes 82a to 82c, and 40 for the variable winning device 83 in the big win state. The number of the upper operation ports 84a is eight, and the number of the lower operation ports 84b is 35 in the frequency improvement state. That is, the expected number of game balls to win the general winning ports 82a to 82c is set low. The general winning openings 82a to 82c can be won regardless of the game state, and even when the player is playing a game, even if a chance to become a big hit state is not obtained, a minimum game ball is played. It is provided to keep the so-called sphere-like base.

  The possibility of winning in the general winning openings 82a to 82c will be described individually. When a game is performed so that the game ball passes through the left side of the symbol display device 91 (the open base end side of the front door frame 14), the symbol display is performed. It is easier to win the second and third general winning ports 82b and 82c than when the game is played so that the game ball passes through the right side of the device 91 (the open front end side of the front door frame 14). When a game is played so that the game ball passes through the right side of the symbol display device 91, the first general winning opening 82a is won more than when a game is played so that the game ball passes through the left side of the symbol display device 91. It has become easier. Therefore, there is a possibility that a player who plays a game ball so that the game ball passes through the left side of the symbol display device 91 may win a prize more than a game where the game ball passes through the right side of the symbol display device 91. There are a lot of winning prizes and it is advantageous for players. In other words, in addition to the second general winning port 82b provided symmetrically with the first general winning port 82a, there is a possibility of winning the third general winning port 82c, so that the game ball passes through the left side of the symbol display device 91. It is advantageous for the player to play the game.

  For this reason, the player plays the game so that the game ball passes through the left side of the symbol display device 91, and the opportunity for the game ball to win the first general winning port 82a among the general winning ports 82a to 82c is reduced. . In addition, a game machine with a long period of playing a game so as to pass through the left side of the symbol display device 91 is generally used regardless of winning in the general winning openings 82a to 82c, and a game ball wins in the first general winning opening 82a. There are fewer opportunities to do.

  In this pachinko machine 10, the game ball can pass through the right side of the symbol display device 91, but depending on the game machine, the game ball cannot pass through the right side of the symbol display device 91 or When the game ball passes on the right side, the player can no longer obtain benefits such as granting a big hit state or paying out the game ball. For example, when the game ball passes the right side of the symbol display device 91, it is conceivable that the game ball will not win the upper and lower operation ports. In the above-described configuration, the opportunity for a game ball to win the first general winning opening 82a provided on the open front end side is further reduced.

(Processing configuration in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322)
Next, a processing configuration in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 will be described. The processing of the CPU 331 can be broadly divided into main processing that is started when the power is turned on, input interrupt processing that is started by inputting a command from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301, and periodically (in this embodiment). There is a timer interrupt process activated at a cycle of 2 msec.

(Main process)
The main process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This main process is started upon reset at power-on.

  First, in step S1001, initial setting associated with power-on is executed. In a succeeding step S1002, an initial display process is executed. In the initial display process, “0” is displayed on the 7-segment display 242a provided on the payout control board 322 as an initial display.

  In subsequent step S1003, RAM access is permitted, and in step S1004, an external interrupt vector is set. Thereafter, the entire area of the RAM 333 is cleared to “0” in step S1005, and the CPU peripheral device is initialized in step S1006. In the subsequent step S1307, an interrupt is permitted. The series of processes in steps S1001 to S1007 described above corresponds to the startup process in the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322, and 300 msec is required until the startup process is completed. The time required for the start-up process is not limited to 300 msec, and is arbitrary as long as it is shorter than the time required for the start-up process in the CPU 311 of the main control board 301.

  Thereafter, the process of step S1007 is repeatedly executed until the power is completely shut off and the process cannot be executed. Note that, by repeatedly executing the interrupt permission setting process in step S1007 in this manner, even if the interrupt permission setting is canceled due to the influence of noise or the like and the non-permitted setting is made, the interrupt permission state is restored. Can be set again.

(Input interrupt processing)
Next, the interruption process at the time of input executed by the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the interruption process at the time of input, it is first determined whether or not the command input in step S1101 is an initial command. If it is an initial command, the initial display cancellation process is executed in step S1102, and then the interrupt process at the time of this input is terminated. In the initial display cancellation process, the initial display on the 7-segment display 242a is terminated.

  If the input command is not an initial command, it is determined in step S1103 whether the command is a prize ball command. If the command is a prize ball command, the command storing process is executed in step S1104, and then the interrupt process at the time of this input is terminated. In the command storage process, the prize ball command input this time is stored in the command storage area 373 of the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322.

  If the input command is not a prize ball command, it is determined in step S1105 whether or not it is a front door frame opening command. If it is a front door frame opening command, the front door frame opening flag (dispensing side front body opening information) is stored in the front door frame opening flag storage area (dispensing side front body opening information storage means) of the RAM 333 in step S1106. After storing, interrupt processing at the time of this input ends.

  If the input command is not a front door frame opening command, it is determined in step S1107 whether or not it is a front door frame closing command. If it is a front door frame closing command, the front door frame opening flag is erased from the front door frame opening flag storage area of the RAM 333 in step S1108, and then the interrupt process at the time of this input is terminated. If it is not a front door frame release command, the interrupt processing at the time of this input is terminated as it is.

(Timer interrupt processing)
Next, timer interrupt processing executed by the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 every 2 msec, for example, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S1201, the state return switch 245 is chucked, and when it is determined that the state return operation has started, the state return operation is executed. Thereafter, in step S1202, a full tank process is executed as a process related to the full state of the lower plate. The full tank process in step S1202 will be described. In the full tank process, it is determined whether or not the lower tray 34 is in a full tank state. When the lower plate 34 is in a full state, a full tank detection signal is output to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the lower plate 34 is full based on the detection result of the full tank detection sensor 59 provided in the front door side lower plate passage 52 to the lower plate 34 (full tank detection sensor 59). When a game ball is detected by the above, it is specified that the game ball is full). The CPU 311 of the main control board 301 recognizes that the lower plate 34 is in a full state by receiving a full tank detection signal.

  In the subsequent step S1203, a sphere useless process is executed as a process related to the absence of a sphere in the tank 221. In the ball-free process, it is determined whether or not the tank 221 is in a ball-free state based on the detection result of the ball-free detection sensor 223a provided on the case rail 223. Specifically, it is determined whether or not sphere non-detection information indicating that a sphere non-detection signal is input from the sphere non-detection sensor 223a is stored in the input port of the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322. By storing the ball non-detection information, the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 starts outputting a payout abnormality signal to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 (specifically, the payout abnormality signal is an abnormality signal of the payout state setting process). In addition, the output state of the payout abnormality signal is maintained while the ball-free state is set. Thereby, it is possible to grasp that a payout abnormality has occurred in the main control board 301.

  When the ball useless process is executed, a prize ball setting process is executed as a process related to the setting of the number of prize balls in step S1204. The prize ball setting process will be described later.

  In the subsequent step S1205, a rent setting process is executed as a process related to setting a lent. Next, the lending setting process in step S1205 will be described. In the ball lending setting process, the number of balls to be rented is specified based on the ball lending request signal input from the ball lending device Y through the ball lending connection terminal board 249, and the specified number of balls to be lended in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 A process of adding to the ball number storage area 375 is executed. Then, based on the value stored in the number-of-lending storage area 375, the game ball is paid out (rented out).

  In the pachinko machine 10, when game balls are paid out based on the prize ball command, information corresponding to the payout of balls is not input from the ball lending device Y. This is a device for giving priority to the payout of the prize ball even if the ball lending operation is performed in the ball lending operation device 36 while the payout of the prize ball is being executed.

  Supplementary information on the priority for paying out prize balls. Assuming a configuration in which priority is given to a ball lending operation when a ball lending operation is performed in a situation where a prize ball is being paid out, information on the number of prize balls is stored in the award ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. However, it is necessary to stop paying out the prize balls. In this case, when the pachinko machine 10 is in a power-off state, the information on the number of winning balls is deleted along with the fact that the power for interruption is not supplied to the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. On the other hand, the ball lending device Y has its own memory retention function when information is interrupted, so that a ball lending request signal is not input from the ball lending device Y in a situation where award balls are being paid out. Thus, the information on the number of balls lent is stored and held in the ball lending device Y, and the information on the number of balls lent is not erased even if the pachinko machine 10 is turned off. In the above circumstances, even if a ball lending operation is performed in a situation where a prize ball is being dispensed, the prize ball information will be erased without actually being dispensed by giving priority to the prize ball. It is prevented.

  When the ball lending setting process is executed in step S1205, the payout number setting process is executed as a process related to the setting of the payout number in step S1206, and the payout control process is executed as a process related to the game ball payout in step S1207. After executing the prize ball permission signal setting process as the process related to the setting of the prize ball permission signal, the timer interruption process is terminated.

  Hereinafter, the prize ball setting process in step S1204, the payout number setting process in step S1206, the payout control process in step S1207, and the prize ball permission signal setting process in step S1208 will be described in detail.

(Prize ball setting process)
Next, the winning ball setting process of step S1204 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the winning ball setting process, the number of winning balls is specified from the winning ball command input from the CPU 331 of the main control board 301, and the specified winning ball number is added to the winning ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322. Is executed.

  In the winning ball setting process, first, in step S1301, it is determined whether or not a winning ball command is stored in the command storage area 373 of the RAM 333. If no prize ball command is stored, the prize ball setting process is terminated. If a prize ball command is stored, the process proceeds to step S1302. In step S1302, it is determined whether or not the prize ball command is normal. As described above, each prize ball command is composed of 2 bytes including upper information and lower information. Each prize ball command is set such that the form of information when the logical sum of the upper information and the lower information is calculated is “FF”. In step S1302, it is determined whether the result of the logical sum of the prize ball commands is “FF”. If it is not “FF”, the award ball setting process is terminated. In this case, the current prize ball command is deleted without being added to the prize ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 as information on the number of prize balls.

  If it is determined in step S1302 that the prize ball command is normal, the process advances to step S1303. In step S1303, a prize ball number specifying process is executed. Specifically, based on the information stored in the prize ball table storage area 332a of the ROM 332, it is specified which number of prize balls corresponds to the prize ball command input this time. In this case, the low-order information of the prize ball command is compared with the prize ball table storage area 332a, and the number of prize balls is specified. The number of prize balls specified here is stored in a general-purpose register of the CPU 331 instead of information on the prize ball command.

  In a succeeding step S1304, an award ball number adding process is executed. In the addition process, the information on the number of prize balls specified in step S1303 is added to the information on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374.

  In the subsequent step S1305, it is determined whether or not the prize ball low speed flag (prize ball low speed information) is stored in the prize ball low speed flag storage area (prize ball low speed information storage means) of the RAM 333. The prize ball low speed flag is a switching reference number (specifically, “2”) in which information on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 is stored in advance in the ROM 332 of the payout control board 322. It is a flag that is stored in the event of a failure, and is erased when the switching reference number is exceeded.

  Here, when the information on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 becomes the switching reference number, the pachinko machine 10 sets the payout speed of the payout motor 257 in the normal cycle until then. It is comprised so that it may change into a low speed cycle. This is due to the following reason. That is, in the situation where the information on the number of prize balls is not stored in the prize ball number storage area 374, the driving of the payout motor 257 is stopped for power saving. In this case, if a single winning is repeatedly generated at predetermined intervals, it is necessary to repeatedly start and stop driving the payout motor 257. Since driving of the payout motor 257 requires a larger driving force than when the driving state of the payout motor 257 is maintained, it is not preferable that the driving start and stop of the payout motor 257 are repeatedly performed as described above. . On the other hand, when the information on the number of winning balls stored in the winning ball number storage area 374 becomes the switching reference number, the payout speed of the payout motor 257 is switched to a low speed cycle so that a single winning can be achieved. Even if it repeatedly occurs at a predetermined interval, the possibility that the next winning will occur while executing the switching reference number of winning balls in a low-speed cycle is increased, and the start and stop of driving of the payout motor 257 are repeated. The possibility of being done is reduced.

  Although a configuration in which the payout speed of the payout motor 257 is always low is conceivable, in this case, the payout speed of the game ball is chronically slowed down, and the player receives a prize ball in spite of the occurrence of a win. It takes a considerable amount of time to receive, which is not preferable.

  If it is determined in step S1305 that no prize ball low speed flag is stored in the prize ball low speed flag storage area, the process directly proceeds to step S1307. On the other hand, if the prize ball low speed flag is stored, the prize ball low speed flag is erased from the prize ball low speed flag storage area in step S1306, and then the process proceeds to step S1307. When the winning ball low speed flag is erased, the payout speed of the payout motor 257 set in the low speed cycle returns to the normal cycle.

  In step S1307, error flag erasure processing is executed. For example, the error flag is a flag stored when a command that cannot be analyzed is input from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 or when a command is not input from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 for a predetermined period. The error flag is deleted in step S1307 when a winning ball command is normally input and a winning ball setting process for the winning ball command is executed. After the error flag erasing process is executed in step S1307, the winning ball setting process is terminated.

(Payout quantity setting process)
Next, the payout number setting process in step S1206 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the payout number setting process, information stored in the winning ball number storage area 374 or the rented number storage area 375 of the RAM 333 is stored in the payout number counter area of the RAM 333, which is an execution area for paying out game balls. Executed.

  In step S1401, it is determined whether a ball removal operation is in progress. The ball removal operation refers to an operation for discharging the game balls stored in the tank 221 to the outside of the pachinko machine 10.

  Here, the procedure of the ball removing operation will be described. First, the supply from the island facility to the tank 221 is stopped. Thereafter, the front door frame 14 is opened, and a large number of game balls are put into the variable winning device 83 by hand. After that, by closing the front door frame 14, the payout control board from the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 in response to the prize ball permission signal being output from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. A prize ball command is output to the CPU 331 of 322, and a payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is executed.

  Thereafter, when there is no game ball stored in the tank 221, a ball non-detection signal is output from the ball non-detection sensor 223a, and the payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is stopped. In this case, by operating the ball removal switch 223b provided on the case rail 223, the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 sets the ball removal state. Specifically, the ball removal state flag is stored in the ball removal state flag storage area of the RAM 333. Thereby, even if the ball non-detection signal is output from the ball non-detection sensor 223a, the payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is resumed, and is downstream of the ball removal switch 223b and the payout device 224. The game balls that continue to the position of the payout motor 257 are discharged. Then, when the game ball is discharged, the ball removal from the tank 221 is completed. At this time, the setting of the ball removal state is canceled. That is, the ball removal state flag stored in the ball removal state flag storage area of the RAM 333 is deleted.

  If the ball removal state is not set in step S1401, the process proceeds to step S1402, and it is determined whether or not a payout error state exists. If it is in the payout error state, the payout number setting process is terminated as it is. This prevents the game ball from being paid out in the payout error state. The payout error state is a state corresponding to any of the front door frame open state, the lower pan full state, the tank ball free state, or the payout device abnormal state.

  If it is not in the payout error state, it is determined in step S1403 whether a retry operation is in progress. The retry operation is a process of rotating the rotating body 256 in a reverse manner to the normal case when a game ball is clogged in the payout device 224. If the retry operation is being performed, the payout number setting process is terminated as it is, and if the retry operation is not being performed, the process proceeds to step S1404.

  In step S1404, it is determined whether or not a ball rental operation is in progress. The renting operation is in a state where the renting status flag is stored in the renting status flag storage area of the RAM 333 or the renting number information is stored in the renting number storage area 375 of the RAM 333. Say. If the rented state flag is stored or if the number of rented balls is stored in the number of rented balls storage area 375, the information on the number of rented balls storage area 375 is stored in the payout number counter of the RAM 333 in step S1405. After updating to the area 376, the payout number setting process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the ball rental status flag is not stored and the ball rental number information is not stored in the ball rental number storage area 375, the information in the prize ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 is stored in step S1406. After updating the payout number counter area 376 of the RAM 333, the payout number setting process is terminated. Even when the ball removal state is set in step S1401, after the information in the prize ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 is updated to the payout number counter area 376 of the RAM 333 in step S1406, the actual payout number setting is performed. The process ends.

(Payout control process)
Next, the payout control process of step S1207 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the payout control process, a process of paying out game balls is executed based on information stored in the payout number counter area 376 of the RAM 333.

  In the payout control process, first, a payout state setting process is executed in step S1501. Here, the payout state setting process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the payout state setting process, first, in step S1601, it is determined whether or not there is a payout error state. The payout error state has already been described. If it is in the payout error state, the payout motor 257 is set to a stopped state in step S1602. Thereby, the output of the drive signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the payout motor 257 is stopped, and the payout of the game ball by the payout device 224 is stopped. If the game ball has already been paid out, this state is maintained.

  In step S1603, a payout abnormality signal output process is executed. In the payout abnormality signal output process, a payout abnormality signal is output to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. The main control board 301 can grasp the payout error state by receiving the payout abnormality signal (step S602 in the input state monitoring process). When the payout abnormality signal output process is executed, the payout state setting process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S1601 that there is no payout error state, it is determined in step S1604 whether the value in the payout number counter area 376 of the RAM 333 is “0”. If the value of the payout number counter area 376 is “0”, it means that there is no game ball to be paid out, so the payout motor 257 is set to the stop state in step S1605, and the process goes to step S1606. The prize ball stop signal output process is executed. In the prize ball stop signal output process, a prize ball stop signal is output to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301. The main control board 301 can grasp that the payout device 224 has been stopped by receiving the prize ball stop signal (step S702 in the prize ball signal monitoring process). When the winning ball stop signal output process is executed, the payout state setting process is terminated.

  If the value in the payout number counter area 376 is not “0” in step S1604, it is determined in step S1607 whether or not a prize ball low speed flag is stored in the prize ball low speed flag storage area of the RAM 333.

  If any one of the low speed flags is stored, in step S1608, the payout speed of the payout motor 257 is set to a low speed cycle, and then the payout state setting process ends. By setting the payout speed of the payout motor 257 to the low speed cycle, one game ball is paid out from the payout device 224 every 1.2 sec. If the low speed cycle is already set, this state is maintained.

  On the other hand, if none of the low speed flags are stored, in step S1609, the payout speed of the payout motor 257 is set to the normal cycle, and then the payout state setting process ends. By setting the payout speed of the payout motor 257 to the normal cycle, one game ball is paid out from the payout device 224 every 60 msec. If the normal cycle has already been set, that state is maintained.

  Returning to the explanation of the payout control process (FIG. 30), after executing the payout state setting process in step S1501, the process proceeds to step S1502. In step S1502, it is determined whether or not a game ball is detected by the payout ball detection sensor 258 of the payout device 224. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a payout ball detection signal is input from the payout ball detection sensor 258. This determination is performed by determining whether or not the input continuation period of the payout ball detection signal has reached the payout detection continuation period. If the payout ball detection signal is not input, the payout control process is terminated as it is. If a payout ball detection signal is input, the process advances to step S1503.

  In step S1503, it is determined whether or not a ball rental operation is in progress. If the ball lending operation is not in progress, the payout control process is terminated after the prize ball subtraction process in steps S1504 to S1508 is executed. On the other hand, if the renting operation is in progress, the payout subtraction process in steps S1509 and S1510 is executed, and then the payout control process is terminated.

  In the winning ball subtraction processing, first, in step S1504, 1 is subtracted from the value of the winning ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333, and in the subsequent step S1505, 1 is subtracted from the value of the payout number counter area 376 of the RAM 333. Thereafter, in step S1506, it is determined whether or not the value in the prize ball number storage area 374 is “2” or less. If it is not “2” or less, the payout control process is terminated as it is. If it is “2” or less, it is determined in step S1507 whether or not a prize ball low speed flag is stored in the prize ball low speed flag storage area of the RAM 333. If the prize ball low speed flag is stored, the payout control process is terminated as it is. If the prize ball low speed flag is not stored, the prize ball low speed flag is stored in the prize ball low speed flag storage area in step S1508. After that, the payout control process is terminated.

  Further, in the renting subtraction process, first, in step S1509, 1 is subtracted from the value in the rented number storage area 375 of the RAM 333, and in the subsequent step S1510, 1 is subtracted from the value in the payout number counter area 376 in the RAM 333. Then, the payout control process ends.

(Prize ball permission signal setting process)
Next, the winning ball permission signal setting process in step S1208 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the winning ball permission signal setting process, a process of stopping and starting the output of the winning ball permission signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 is executed.

  In the winning ball permission signal setting process, first, in step S1701, it is determined whether or not the number of winning balls stored in the winning ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 is three or less, which is the permission reference number. If the number is four or more, after setting the prize ball non-permission state (output non-permission state) in step S1707, the award ball permission signal setting process is terminated.

  Specifically, the setting of the prize ball non-permission state is performed when a prize ball permission state flag (prize ball permission information) is stored in the prize ball permission state flag storage area (prize ball permission information storage means) of the RAM 333. The prize ball permission state flag is deleted. In a state where the winning ball permission state flag is erased, the output of the winning ball permission signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 is stopped and the state is maintained.

  In this pachinko machine 10, since the state in which the prize ball permission signal is output is the output state of the HI level signal, the state in which the output of the prize ball permission signal is stopped is the output state of the LOW level signal. . However, when the state where the prize ball permission signal is output is the output state of the LOW level signal, the state where the output of the prize ball permission signal is stopped may be the output state of the HI level signal. Furthermore, the state where the output of the winning ball permission signal is stopped may be a state where no signal is output for the signal path.

  On the other hand, if the information on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball number storage area 374 is three or less, which is the permitted reference number, in step S1701, whether or not a ball removal operation is being performed in step S1702. Determine. If the ball removal operation is not being performed, it is determined in step S1703 whether or not there is a payout error state.

  If it is in the payout error state, after setting the prize ball non-permission state in step S1707, the prize ball permission signal setting process is terminated. In this way, by setting the prize ball non-permission state in the payout error state, in the payout error state, the output of the prize ball permission signal is stopped and the output of the prize ball command is prohibited.

  As already explained, in the payout error state, payout of the game ball is stopped. In addition, in the pachinko machine 10, when the power supply from the external power supply is stopped, the information stored in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is deleted. Therefore, when a prize ball command is output in the payout error state, if the power supply is stopped while the payout error state continues, the prize ball corresponding to the prize ball command is erased without being paid out. . That is, in a configuration in which a prize ball command is output in a payout error state, there is a high possibility that a prize ball corresponding to the prize ball command is erased without being paid out. On the other hand, according to the present configuration, such inconvenience can be prevented.

  If it is determined in step S1703 that there is no payout error state, it is determined in step S1704 whether or not a full tank low speed flag is stored in the full tank low speed flag storage area of the RAM 333. In step S1705, it is determined whether or not the ball no low speed flag is stored in the ball no low speed flag storage area of the RAM 333.

  If either the full tank low speed flag or the ball no low speed flag is stored, after setting the prize ball non-permission state in step S1707, the prize ball permission signal setting process is terminated. In this way, when the full tank low speed state or the ball no low speed state is set, the prize ball disallowed state is set. Output is prohibited.

  As already described, the full tank low speed state or the ball no low speed state is a state that is set as a preceding stage when there is a high possibility of a payout error state thereafter. Then, in the payout error state, payout of the game ball is stopped. In addition, in the pachinko machine 10, when the power supply from the external power supply is stopped, the information stored in the RAM 333 of the payout control board 322 is deleted. Therefore, when a prize ball command is output in the payout error state, if the power supply is stopped while the payout error state continues, the prize ball corresponding to the prize ball command is erased without being paid out. . That is, in a configuration in which a prize ball command is output in a payout error state, there is a high possibility that a prize ball corresponding to the prize ball command is erased without being paid out. On the other hand, as in this configuration, when it is determined that there is a high possibility of a payout error state, the payout error state is disabled by stopping the output of the prize ball permission signal and prohibiting the output of the prize ball command. It is possible to prohibit the output of the prize ball command before it becomes, and the possibility of the occurrence of the above inconvenience is drastically reduced.

  If the full tank low speed flag is not stored in step S1704, and if the ball no low speed flag is not stored in step S1705, the winning ball permission state (output permission state) is set in step S1706. Later, the winning ball permission signal setting process is terminated. Even when the ball removal operation is being performed in step S1703, after setting the winning ball permission state in step S1706, the winning ball permission signal setting process is terminated.

  More specifically, the winning ball permission state flag is stored when the winning ball permission state flag is not stored in the winning ball permission state flag storage area of the RAM 333. In the state where the prize ball permission state flag is stored, the output of the prize ball permission signal from the CPU 331 of the payout control board 322 to the CPU 311 of the main control board 301 is started, and this state is maintained. That is, in a state where the ball removal operation is not being performed, the information on the number of winning balls stored in the winning ball number storage area 374 of the RAM 333 is three or less, which is the permitted reference number, and further, a payout error state, a full tank low speed When the state and the ball no low speed state are not established, the output of the prize ball permission signal is continued.

(Audio lamp control processing)
Here, the sound lamp control process executed by the sound lamp control board 324 at a cycle of 2 msec will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1801 to step S1808 in the voice lamp control process, when the first and second prize ball commands output from the main control board 301 are received, it is assumed that the payout device 224 is paying out the game ball. The prize ball lamp unit 25 is turned on, the number of times ten prize ball commands are output is counted, and the number of times ten prize balls are generated is grasped. Then, in the payout number monitoring process in step S1809 in the voice lamp control process, if 10 award balls more than the specified number occur within the specified period, 10 award balls are generated due to fraudulent acts. It is determined that the player has played 10 award balls over the specified number of times.

  In step S1801 in the sound lamp control process, a command reception process is executed. This command reception process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1901, it is determined whether or not a prize ball stop command (command output in step S703 in the prize ball signal monitoring process) has been received from the main control board 301. If no prize ball stop command has been received, the process advances to step S1902 to determine whether or not a prize ball command has been received from the main control board 301. That is, it is determined whether or not the first or second prize ball command output in the prize ball command output process by the main control board 301 has been received. If no winning ball command has been received, the command receiving process is terminated.

  When any command is received from the main control board 301, the command information is received by comparing it with information stored in the command storage area 342a provided in the ROM 342 of the sound lamp control board 324. Identifies which command was the command. For example, when the received command is a combination of “11110101” and “00001010” composed of the upper information and the lower information, it is specified as the second prize ball command.

  If a prize ball command has been received, the process advances to step S1903 to determine whether or not the received prize ball command is a second prize ball command. If the received prize ball command is the second prize ball command, the process proceeds to step S1904, and the value of the reception number counter 400 provided in the RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324 is incremented by one. If the prize ball command received in step S1903 is not the second prize ball command, or if the value of the reception number counter 400 is incremented by 1 in step S1904, the process proceeds to step S1905, and the prize ball is displayed as a payout display process. The lamp unit 25 is turned on and the command reception process is terminated.

  By executing the processing of steps S1902 to S1904, it is determined whether the prize ball command received by the sound lamp control board 324 is a command corresponding to ten prize balls or a command corresponding to other prize balls. It can be done.

  When a prize ball stop command is received in step S1901, the prize ball lamp unit 25 is turned off as a payout display termination process in step S1906, and this command reception process is terminated. When the prize ball lamp unit 25 is already turned off, the turn-off is maintained.

  Returning to the description of the sound lamp control process, if the command reception process is executed in step S1801, the process proceeds to step S1802, and the value of the monitor timer counter 401 provided in the RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324 is set to 1 as the monitor timer counter subtraction process. Decrement. As described above, the sound lamp control process is executed at predetermined intervals. By subtracting the value of the monitoring timer counter 401, the sound lamp control board 324 can grasp the elapsed period. Yes.

  When the monitoring timer counter subtraction process is executed, the process advances to step S1803 to determine whether or not the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 is zero. If the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 is 0, the value of the reception number counter 400 is cleared to 0 in step S1804, and then 30000 is set in the monitoring timer counter 401 in step S1805. In the subsequent step S1806, the value of the loop number counter 402 provided in the RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324 is incremented by one.

  If the value of the loop number counter 402 is incremented by 1 in step S1806, the process proceeds to step S1807, and it is determined whether or not the value of the loop number counter 402 is 20. If the value of the loop number counter 402 is 20, the process proceeds to step S1808. In step S1808, the loop number counter 402 is cleared to 0, and first and second abnormality flags (flags set in a payout number monitoring process described later) are cleared. Furthermore, in step S1808, when the first and second abnormality notification processes are respectively executed, an abnormality notification end process for ending the execution of the abnormality notification process is executed (the first and second abnormality notification processes are performed). This is executed in the payout count monitoring process described later). If each abnormality notification process has not been executed, the process of step S1808 ends without executing the abnormality notification end process.

  Supplementing the processing in steps S1803 to S1808 described above, when the monitoring timer counter 401 reaches 0, 30000 is set in the monitoring timer counter 401. Since the monitoring timer counter 401 is subtracted at a cycle of 2 msec, it can be said that the monitoring timer counter 401 measures a period of 60 seconds. The loop number counter 402 is incremented by 1 when the monitoring timer counter 401 becomes 0, and cleared to 0 when the value becomes 20, so the loop number counter 402 measures a period of 20 minutes. It can be said that they are doing.

  Note that the period of time measured by the monitoring timer counter 401 and the loop number counter 402 may be changed. For example, the monitoring timer counter 401 measures a period of 59 seconds or less or 61 seconds or more. A period of less than or equal to 21 minutes or more may be measured. In this case, the value to be set in the monitoring timer counter 401 and the value at which the loop number counter 402 is cleared to 0 may be changed. Further, the method of measuring the period may be changed, the period may be measured by the monitoring timer counter 401 when the value is incremented, or the loop number counter is decremented from the predetermined value. The period may be measured using 402. Furthermore, instead of indirectly measuring the value by updating the value, the pachinko machine 10 may be provided with a real-time clock and measure the directly elapsed period.

  If the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 is not 0 in step S1803, if the value of the loop number counter 402 is not 20 in step S1807, or if the process of step S1808 is executed, the process proceeds to step S1809, and payout Execute the count monitoring process. When the payout count monitoring process is executed, the voice lamp control process is terminated.

(Payout count monitoring process)
The payout count monitoring process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 35 and the explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing an aspect when the abnormality notification process is executed.

  In FIG. 36, for convenience of explanation, lighting of the error display lamp unit 24 is indicated by dots. Further, the timing at which the abnormality notification process is executed will be described with the timing at which the abnormality flag is set.

  As described above, in the payout count monitoring process, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception count counter 400 stored in steps S1801 to S1808 of the sound lamp control process is equal to or greater than a specified value. Further, in the payout number processing, special processing to be executed differs depending on the number of times that the value of the reception number counter 400 becomes equal to or greater than a specified value. By performing the special process, it is possible to notify the hall related persons or the like who have installed the pachinko machine 10 that the winnings to the general winning ports 82a to 82c are excessively generated.

  In steps S2001 to S2003, it is determined whether the third to first abnormality flags are set in the abnormality flag storage area 403 provided in the RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324. Hereinafter, in the case where the first abnormality flag is set in steps S2004 to S2010, in the case where the second abnormality flag is set in steps S2011 to S2018, the third abnormality flag is set in steps S2019 to S2023. Each case of setting will be described.

  If the first abnormality flag is not set in step S2003, the process proceeds to step S2004, and the value of the reception number counter 400 is referred to as the reception number counter reference process. In subsequent step S2005, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is 5 or more based on whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value stored in the ROM 342 of the sound lamp control board 324 in advance. Since the reception number counter 400 is cleared to 0 when 60 seconds have elapsed, in step S2004 and step S2005, 10 or more prize balls (winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c) are received 5 times or more in 60 seconds. It is determined whether or not it has occurred. If the value of the reception number counter 400 is less than 5, the payout number monitoring process is terminated.

  When the value of the reception number counter 400 is 5 or more in step S2005, the process proceeds to step S2006, where the first abnormality flag is set in the abnormality flag storage area of the various flag storage areas 403, and in step S2007, the first abnormality is detected. As the notification process, an abnormality notification lamp control process is executed. In the control process, the error display lamp unit 24 is turned on. By turning on the error display lamp unit 24, the hall related person who understands when the error display lamp unit 24 is lit is excessively awarded to the general winning ports 82a to 82c. Can be informed. For example, when the first abnormality flag is set at the timing t1 and the first abnormality notification process is executed, the error display lamp unit 24 is turned on as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the value of the reception number counter 400 is cleared to 0 in step S2008. In step S2009, 30000 is set in the monitoring timer counter 401, the value of the loop number counter 402 is cleared to 0, and the payout number monitoring process is terminated.

  Processing that is executed when the first abnormality flag is set will be described. If the first abnormality flag is set in step S2003, the process proceeds to step S2011 to execute a reception number counter reference process. In step S2012, whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value is determined in step S2005. Similar to the processing, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is 5 or more. When the value of the reception number counter 400 is smaller than the specified value, the payout number monitoring process is terminated. About the process of step S2011 and step S2012, since it is the same as the process of step S2004 and step S2005, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  If the value of the reception number counter 400 is greater than or equal to the specified value in step S2012, the first abnormality flag is cleared in step S2013, and then the second abnormality flag is stored in the abnormality flag storage area 403 in step S2014. Set in the area. In subsequent step S2015, an abnormality notification lamp control process and a second abnormality display command output process are executed as the second abnormality notification process. Since the abnormality notification lamp control process is the same as that described above, the description thereof is omitted. In the second abnormality display command output process, a second abnormality display command is output to the display control device 325. When receiving the second abnormality display command, the display control device 325 gives a message (in this embodiment, “mass payout”) as a special notification that teaches that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10. ! ”) Is controlled to display the symbol display device 91.

  When the second abnormality notification process is executed, special notification is executed by the error display lamp unit 24 and the symbol display device 91, thereby confirming that winnings to the general winning ports 82a to 82c are excessively generated. Hall personnel can be found well, and the player can understand that a large amount of game balls are paid out. When the second abnormality flag is set, the second abnormality display command is continuously output to the display control device 325, and the display control device 325 has a period during which the abnormality display command is received. The symbol display device 91 is controlled to display a message.

  For example, when the first abnormality flag is cleared, the second abnormality flag is set, and the second abnormality notification process is executed at the timing of t2, as shown in FIG. While the lighting state is maintained, a message is displayed on the symbol display device 91. Specifically, a message is displayed on the lower left (end) of the symbol display device 91. That is, it is suppressed that the display of a change of a symbol becomes difficult to visually recognize by displaying a message.

  When the second abnormality notification process is executed, the process from step S2016 to step S2018 is executed and the payout number monitoring process is ended. Since the processing from step S2016 to step S2018 is the same as the processing from step S2008 to step S2010, description thereof will be omitted.

  In the first abnormality notification process and the second abnormality notification process, an abnormality occurs in the pachinko machine 10 in consideration of the possibility that a winning above the prescribed value in the general winning openings 82a to 82c has occurred accidentally. It is a notification mode that can be grasped by the hall personnel, and is a notification mode that is difficult for the player to grasp.

  A process executed when the second abnormality flag is set will be described. If the second abnormality flag is set in step S2002, the process proceeds to step S2019 to execute a reception number counter reference process. In step S2020, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value. Similar to the processing, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is 5 or more. When the value of the reception number counter 400 is smaller than the specified value, the payout number monitoring process is terminated. About the process of step S2019 and step S2020, since it is the same as that of the process of step S2004 and step S2005, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  If the value of the reception number counter 400 is greater than or equal to the specified value in step S2020, the second abnormality flag is cleared in step S2021, and then the third abnormality flag is set in the abnormality flag storage area 403 in step S2022. In subsequent step S2023, as a third abnormality notification process, an abnormality notification lamp control process, an abnormality notification speaker control process, and a third abnormality display command output process are executed. Since the abnormality notification lamp control process is the same as that described above, the description thereof is omitted. In the abnormality notification speaker control process, as a special notification that teaches that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10, a message for informing that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10 (in this embodiment, “ Please call me !! ”) is output. In the third abnormality display command output process, a third abnormality display command is output to the display control device 325. When the display control device 325 receives the third abnormality display command, the display control apparatus 325 notifies that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10 as a special notification that teaches that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10. The symbol display device 91 is controlled to display a message (in this embodiment, “Please call a staff member!”).

  For example, when the second abnormality flag is cleared at the timing of t3, the third abnormality flag is set, and the third abnormality notification process is executed, as shown in FIG. While the lighting state is maintained, the message of the symbol display device 91 is changed, and the message is output from the speaker unit 26. Specifically, a message is displayed at the center of the symbol display device 91. The display of the message is displayed over a wider range on the symbol display device 91 than when the second abnormality notification process is executed. That is, when the third abnormality notification process is executed, it is difficult for the player to visually recognize the change display of the symbol by the displayed message.

  In the third abnormality notification process, it is determined that an illegal act is performed in the pachinko machine 10, and it is taught that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10. When the third abnormality notification process is executed, the message is continuously output repeatedly.

  If the third abnormality flag is set, it is determined in step S2001 that the third abnormality flag is present, and the payout count monitoring process is terminated without executing the processes in steps S2002 to S2023.

  In the pachinko machine 10, when a game ball wins in the general winning holes 82 a to 82 c exceeding the specified value, processing (first to third abnormality notification processing) to be executed is changed according to the number of times that the game ball has been generated. ing. Supplementally, if the same processing is executed regardless of the number of times that a game ball has been awarded to the general winning ports 82a to 82c exceeding the specified value, the winning to the general winning ports 82a to 82c exceeding the specified value will occur once. In such a case, it is necessary to make an excessive notification, and it is difficult to distinguish it from the winning of the game ball to the general winning holes 82a to 82c that are accidentally generated without exceeding the prescribed value. In the pachinko machine 10, there is a possibility that an illegal act is performed by changing the abnormality notification process to be executed according to the number of times that the game balls are won in the general winning openings 82a to 82c that are equal to or greater than the specified value. Abnormality notification processing corresponding to the height can be executed.

  Here, a case where the flag is cleared after the first to third abnormality flags are set will be described. The set first abnormality flag and second abnormality flag are cleared in step S1808 when the value of the loop number counter 402 becomes 0 in step S1807 in the sound lamp control process. The value of the loop number counter 402 is cleared to 0 when the first and second abnormality flags are set. That is, when the first abnormality flag is set, when it is continuously determined that the value of the reception number counter 400 is smaller than the specified value in step S2012 over a period of 20 minutes, the first abnormality flag is cleared. . When the second abnormality flag is set, the second abnormality flag is cleared when it is continuously determined in step S2020 that the value of the reception number counter 400 is smaller than the specified value over a period of 20 minutes. In step S1808, each abnormality flag is cleared and an abnormality notification end process for ending each abnormality notification process is executed. As a result, it is possible to make a state in which no abnormality notification process is executed.

  In the pachinko machine 10, when the first or second abnormality flag is set once, it is assumed that there is a possibility that an illegal act has been performed, and abnormality notification processing corresponding to each abnormality flag is performed for a predetermined period (20 minutes). It continues to run for a long time. As a result, it is possible to discriminate whether the prize winnings to the general prize winning openings 82a to 82c are accidentally generated or whether the prizes are constantly generated due to illegal acts.

  When the third abnormality flag is set, the third abnormality flag is not cleared unless the RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324 is cleared. The RAM 343 of the sound lamp control board 324 is cleared when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off. That is, the third abnormality notification process executed when the third abnormality flag is set is continued to be executed until the power of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off. When the third anomaly flag is set, there is a high possibility that fraud is being performed because a winning more than a prescribed value has occurred in the general winning openings 82a to 82c more than once in a short period of time. It means that. For this reason, even if the third abnormality notification process continues to be executed until the power supply of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off by hall personnel or the like, no problem occurs.

  Further, ten award balls are generated when winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c, and are set so as to be less likely to occur than other award balls. If it occurs five times or more in 60 seconds, there is a possibility that the illegal act is performed more than the expected number (0.5) of winnings set to the general winning openings 82a to 82c. There is. In particular, when 10 award balls are generated, the symbol display is not performed on the symbol display device 91 like the upper and lower operation ports 84a and 84b. For this reason, even if an illegal act is performed so as to excessively win the general winning openings 82a to 82c, the illegal act is less conspicuous and the illegal act cannot be found. By executing the payout number monitoring process, it is possible to monitor the number of winnings of the game ball at the winning opening that is difficult to detect when an illegal act is performed.

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

  The number of times that the game ball has won the general winning openings 82a to 82c is counted, and the winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c generated per 60 seconds is compared with the prescribed value. For example, a gap is formed in the pachinko machine 10, and a game ball is directly awarded to the general winning holes 82a to 82c from the gap (that is, a game ball is directly awarded by a cheating person's hand). There is an illegal act of deforming the game nail 88 so as to increase the number of game balls to be won in 82c, or guiding the game ball to win the general prize ports 82a to 82c from the front of the pachinko machine 10 using a magnet or the like. It is possible that it will be done. In the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not a game ball winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c has occurred abnormally. If the game ball winning has occurred abnormally, an abnormality notification process is performed. By executing this, it is possible to discover fraudulent acts on the general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  The first abnormality notification process is executed, and when the first abnormality flag is set, the second abnormality notification process is executed when a winning to the general winning ports 82a to 82c occurs again a predetermined number of times or more. did. As described above, by executing the abnormality notification process in a plurality of stages, it is possible to execute control according to the high possibility that an illegal act is performed.

  As the second abnormality notification process, the symbol display device 91 displays that the game balls are paid out frequently. Thereby, it is possible to notify the player that a large amount of game balls are generated. In addition, it is possible to warn a player who is performing an illegal act that it has been specified that a winning to the general winning ports 82a to 82c has occurred abnormally. In addition, when the second abnormality notification process is executed, a message for praising the player is displayed. Thereby, it can suppress that the warning which suggests that the fraudulent act is performed is performed with respect to the player who is not performing the fraudulent act.

  Furthermore, when the second abnormality notification process is being executed, the third abnormality notification process is executed when a winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c occurs again. Thereby, it can be suitably notified that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10.

  Even if the first and second abnormality flags are set and a monitoring result is obtained that there is a winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c at a frequency that deviates from the normally assumed situation, it may occur accidentally frequently depending on the behavior of the game ball. I can't believe I won the prize. In this situation, it is dangerous to conclude cheating. In this regard, in the pachinko machine 10, when the first abnormality flag is set, whether or not the second abnormality flag is set is monitored. When the second abnormality flag is set, monitoring is performed as to whether or not the third abnormality flag is set. Thereby, it can be grasped by shifting the timing that a winning equal to or greater than the period constant has occurred in the general winning openings 82a to 82c. As a result, when the first and second abnormality flags are set, it is first determined that there is a certain degree of fraud, and when the third abnormality flag is subsequently set, it is not an accidental entry. It becomes possible to judge.

  When 60 seconds have elapsed, the value of the reception number counter 400 is cleared to 0, so that the number of game balls won in the general winning openings 82a to 82c per 60 seconds is determined. In other words, if only the number of game balls won in the general winning ports 82a to 82c is grasped, the number of winnings in the general winning ports 82a to 82c per 60 seconds can be grasped. As a result, each time a game ball wins in the general winning openings 82a to 82c, the timing at which the winning is generated is stored, and the ratio of winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c per predetermined period is calculated from the winning history. There is no need.

  After the first abnormality flag is set, it is determined whether or not the second abnormality flag is set. In addition, when a predetermined period (20 minutes) has elapsed after the first and second abnormality flags are set, the first abnormality flag is cleared and it is determined whether or not the first abnormality flag is set again. did. Furthermore, when the first abnormality flag is set and the predetermined period elapses without the second abnormality flag being set, the first abnormality notification process being executed is terminated. Similarly, when the second abnormality flag is set and the predetermined period has passed without the third abnormality flag being set, the second abnormality notification process being executed is terminated. In other words, the abnormality notification process is terminated when the predetermined period has elapsed. As a result, it is possible to ensure a period during which the abnormality notification process is executed while suppressing the abnormality notification process from being continued.

  Based on the fact that a game ball has won a prize in the general winning openings 82a to 82c, a configuration is made in which a prize ball command is output from the main control board 301 to the payout control board 322 and the sound lamp control board 324, respectively. Further, the outputted prize ball command is a prize ball command having the same information. As a result, a prize ball command for outputting to the payout control board 322 and a prize ball command for outputting to the sound lamp control board 324 when a game ball wins in the general winning openings 82a to 82c on the main control board 301. There is no need to generate two types of prize ball commands.

  It was set as the structure which monitors whether fraudulent act is performed with respect to the general winning opening 82a-82c. This makes it possible to directly monitor fraudulent acts on the general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  In addition, when the game ball is won, the general winning openings 82a to 82c are not displayed with the symbol change on the symbol display device 91, and the winnings to the general winning openings 82a to 82c are abnormally generated. Even so, it may be difficult to find the abnormal occurrence. For this reason, it is possible that fraudulent acts are highly likely. According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to monitor a fraudulent act with respect to a winning opening that is likely to be cheated.

  Further, the general winning ports 82a to 82c are provided apart from the variable display unit 86 as compared with the upper and lower operating ports 84a and 84b. As a result of winning the lottery lottery on the variable display unit 86 (such as the symbol display device 91) triggered by winning at each of the operating ports 84a and 84b, the degree of attention to each of the operating ports 84a and 84b is high. If cheating is performed on the mouths 84a and 84b, it is considered that the cheating is easily found by a viewer viewing the pachinko machine 10. That is, it is conceivable that the general winning ports 82a to 82c have a lower degree of attention than the operation ports 84a and 84b, and it is difficult to find fraud. Further, the general winning ports 82a to 82c are fixed winning ports, and there is no change regardless of the game state (the progress of the game). For these reasons, they are subject to fraud. In the said embodiment, the illegal act with respect to the winning opening with a high possibility that an illegal act will be performed is monitored by monitoring the illegal act to the general winning openings 82a-82c.

  In addition, when winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c, more game balls are paid out than when winning in the upper and lower operating ports 84a and 84b. For this reason, it is conceivable that the disadvantage that occurs in the game hall is greater when an illegal act is performed, compared to the upper and lower operation ports 84a and 84b. Since it is possible to monitor fraudulent acts at the general winning openings 82a to 82c, when fraudulent acts are performed, it is possible to directly monitor the fraudulent acts against the winning holes that have a large disadvantage in the game hall.

  The power from the power supply unit 321 c for power interruption of the power supply and launch control board 321 is supplied to the main RAM 313 but not supplied to the payout RAM 333. Thereby, the capacity of the power supply unit 321c for power interruption can be reduced, and the cost of the pachinko machine 10 can be reduced accordingly.

  However, in this configuration, when the power supply from the external power source to the pachinko machine 10 is stopped, all the information stored in the payout side RAM 333 is erased. On the other hand, unpaid prize ball information is basically stored in the main RAM 313, and the main CPU 311 receives a prize ball permission signal from the payout CPU 331 to receive one prize for the CPU 331. The corresponding prize ball command is output. Then, the payout side CPU 331 stores the information on the number of prize balls corresponding to the input prize ball command in the payout side RAM 333, and drives and controls the payout device 224 based on the information on the number of prize balls stored in the payout side RAM 333. I tried to do it. As a result, when there are a large number of unpaid prize balls, only a part thereof is stored in the payout side RAM 333 and the rest is stored in the main side RAM 313. Therefore, even if the power to the pachinko machine 10 is shut off in a situation where a large number of unpaid prize balls remain, the number of prize balls to be erased at that time can be reduced as much as possible.

  Incidentally, a configuration is also conceivable in which information on the number of prize balls stored in the main RAM 313 is subtracted each time a game ball is paid out by the payout device 224 without storing information on the number of prize balls in the payout RAM 333. However, in this configuration, the processing load on the main CPU 311 is extremely increased, and the effect of reducing the processing load on the main CPU 311 by providing the payout CPU 331 separately from the main CPU 311 disappears. End up. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the above-described excellent effect can be obtained while obtaining the effect of providing the payout side CPU 331 separately from the main side CPU 311.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, it is not limited to the description content of each embodiment mentioned above, For example, you may implement as follows. Incidentally, each of the following configurations may be individually applied to the above-described embodiment, or a part or all of the configurations may be combined and applied to the above-described embodiment.

  (1) In the above embodiment, when the first and second abnormality flags are set, each abnormality flag is cleared and the abnormality notification process corresponding to the flag is ended when a predetermined period elapses. However, at least one of the first and second abnormality flags may not be cleared even when a predetermined period has elapsed, and the abnormality process corresponding to the flag may not be terminated.

  The timing at which the second abnormality flag is cleared may be the timing at which a predetermined period has elapsed since the first abnormality flag was set. In this case, the loop number counter 402 may not be cleared to 0 when the second abnormality flag is set (that is, the process of step S2018 in the payout number monitoring process may not be executed).

  Further, when the third abnormality flag is set, the third abnormality flag is not cleared without turning off the power of the pachinko machine 10, but when the predetermined period has elapsed, the third abnormality flag is set. In addition to being cleared, the third abnormality notification process may be terminated.

  (2) You may change the abnormality alerting | reporting process as a special process performed. That is, the notification as a special process when each abnormality flag is set does not need to be executed by the pachinko machine 10, and information indicating that there is a possibility that an illegal act is performed outside the pachinko machine 10. It may be output. In other words, it may be configured to include an external output means for outputting a comparison result signal corresponding to the determination that the number of times that the game ball has won is equal to or greater than the reference value to the outside of the gaming machine.

  For example, when the first abnormality flag is set, a signal corresponding to excessive winning of game balls to the general winning openings 82a to 82c without turning on the error display lamp unit 24 is sent to the pachinko machine. One that outputs to the hall computer of the game hall in which the machine 10 is installed can be considered. In this case, at the timing when the first abnormality flag is set, only those involved in the hall can know the abnormality, and when a predetermined number of winnings occur accidentally, the pachinko machine 10 itself notifies that Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the player from grasping that the winning of the game ball is excessively generated.

  When a signal is output to the outside of the pachinko machine 10, the signal may be output from the sound lamp control board 324 or may be output via the main control board 301.

  (3) Further, as the second abnormality notification process, a message that praises the player is displayed, and the third abnormality notification process is configured to warn that an abnormality has occurred in the pachinko machine 10, The configuration is not limited to this. That is, the notification mode in each abnormality notification process is arbitrary. For example, it may be a message that directly teaches that there is a possibility that an illegal act is performed as the second abnormality notification process. Further, for example, as the third abnormality notification process, the game may not be continued such that the game ball cannot be launched.

  Further, as each abnormality notification process, the error display lamp unit 24, the speaker unit 26, and the symbol display device 91 execute notification corresponding to the abnormality notification process, but the abnormality notification device corresponding to each abnormality notification process (Abnormality notification means) may be provided separately.

  Further, when the first abnormality flag is set, it is grasped that the winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c has excessively occurred in the pachinko machine 10, but any special processing (first abnormality notification processing) ) May not be executed. That is, when the second abnormality flag is set, execution of the abnormality notification process is started as a special process. In this case, the first abnormality notification process in step S2007 in the payout number monitoring process may not be executed.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the number of winnings to the general winning openings 82a to 82c is monitored by the sound lamp control board 324. However, the monitoring may be executed by the display control device 325, The above monitoring may be executed by the main control board 301. When monitoring is performed on the main control board 301, it is possible to satisfactorily output signals to the outside of the pachinko machine 10 described above.

  (5) Although the number of winnings to the general winning ports 82a to 82c is counted, the number of winnings of the game ball to other than the general winning ports 82a to 82c may be counted. In this case, it is not necessary to count the number of winnings in the general winning ports 82a to 82c, or the number of winnings in a plurality of types of winning ports may be counted individually. For example, it is possible to count the number of times that a game ball has won the upper working port 84a. In this case, the winning ball command may be output from the main control board 301 to the sound lamp control board 324 so that the winning opening where the winning of the game ball has occurred can be distinguished.

  (6) The specified value used for the comparison determination in step S2005, step S2012, and step S2020 of the payout number monitoring process in the above embodiment may be changed. For example, the specified value may be 10 times or 20 times. .

  In the above embodiment, when any abnormality flag is not set, when the first abnormality flag is set, and when the second abnormality flag is set, step S2005 in the payout number monitoring process, In S2012 and Step S2020, the prescribed values that are determined to be abnormally generated are the same, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the specified value may be different according to the set abnormality flag. Furthermore, the first specified value when the first abnormality flag is set, the second specified value when the second abnormality flag is set, and the third specified value when the third flag is set are individually set. May be.

  For example, when none of the abnormality flags are set, the first abnormality flag is set when a winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c occurs five times or more over a period of 60 seconds. Then, when the first abnormality flag is set, the second abnormality flag is set when winning is made to the general winning ports 82a to 82c six times or more over a period of 60 seconds. When the second abnormality flag is set rather than when the first abnormality flag is set, the specified value is increased, so that when the winning to the general winning ports 82a to 82c occurs accidentally, It can suppress that 2 abnormality flag is set.

  Moreover, you may make it set the abnormality flag according to the number of game balls which won the general winning opening 82a-82c in the period of 60 seconds. That is, in the above embodiment, the second abnormality flag can be set when the first abnormality flag is set. However, the second abnormality flag is set regardless of whether or not the first abnormality flag is set. It may be set. For example, when 5 to 7 game balls have won in the 60-second period, the first abnormality flag is set, and the first abnormality notification process is executed. Further, when 8 to 10 game balls have won in the 60-second period, the second abnormality flag is set and the second abnormality notification process is executed. And when 11 or more game balls have won in a period of 60 seconds, it is possible to set a third abnormality flag and execute a third abnormality notification process.

  (7) In the above embodiment, when the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 becomes 0, the reception number counter 400 is cleared to 0, thereby counting the number of winnings to the general winning openings 82a to 82c in 60 seconds. Although it is a thing, the history (timing) that the winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c has occurred in the pachinko machine 10 is stored, and the ratio of the winning to the general winning openings 82a to 82c is calculated from the history. You may do it. In other words, the storage means for storing the content of the payout game content is provided, the grasping means grasps the cumulative specific value based on the storage history of the storage means, and the storage means is the closest Stores the history of payout game content for the period necessary to grasp the accumulated specific value in the range from the specification of payout game content to the passage of the unit period, and the unit period has elapsed from the specification of payout game content A configuration may be adopted in which the history is deleted sequentially.

  (8) In the above embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than the specified value is performed every time the sound lamp control process is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, it is only necessary to determine whether the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value at a predetermined timing or a predetermined cycle. For example, when the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 becomes 0, it is possible to determine whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value. In this case, if it is determined in step S1803 of the sound lamp control process that the value of the monitoring timer counter 401 is 0, it is determined whether or not the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value before executing the process of step S1804. Should be executed.

  (9) In the above embodiment, a prize ball stop command is outputted from the main control board 301 to the sound lamp control board 324 based on the prize ball stop signal outputted from the payout control board 322 to the main control board 301. However, if the main control board 301 determines that there is no winning, a winning ball stop signal may be output. That is, if it is not determined in step S803 in the payout output process by the main control board 301 that there is a winning, a prize ball stop command may be output.

  (10) In the above embodiment, the first and second prize ball commands are output to the voice lamp control board 324 in the prize ball command output process by the main control board 301. The timing for outputting each prize ball command is arbitrary. For example, the first and second prize ball commands may be output when the information determination process by the main control board 301 is executed. In this case, the first prize ball command is output when the processes of step S502, step S504, step S506, and step S508 are executed, and the second prize is issued when the processes of step S510, step S512, and step S514 are executed. A sphere command may be output.

  (11) In the above embodiment, the same information (commands) as the 15 prize ball commands and 10 prize ball commands output from the main control board 301 to the payout control board 322 are used as the first prize ball command and the second prize ball. Each command is output to the sound lamp control board 324, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the information on the winning ball command to the payout control board 322 and the information on the winning ball command to the sound lamp control board 324 may be different from each other. In this case, information on prize ball commands to be output to the control boards 322 and 324 may be stored in the command storage area 312a of the main control board 301, respectively.

  (12) In the above embodiment, the priority is set with respect to command output for a plurality of types of prize ball information, but the mode of command output is arbitrary.

  For example, the priority of command output of prize ball information may be changed, and ten prize ball commands may be outputted with priority. By outputting the 10 prize ball commands with priority, the 2nd prize ball information is also outputted to the voice lamp control board 324 with priority, and the voice lamp indicates the timing at which a prize is awarded to the general winning holes 82a to 82c. The control board 324 can be grasped more accurately.

  In addition, for example, the order in which winning a prize to each winning mouth is generated may be stored, and a winning ball command may be output in that order.

  (13) You may change the expectation number which a game ball wins to each winning opening set in the said embodiment. For example, it may be set so that an average of 5 game balls can be awarded per 60 seconds to the general winning openings 82a to 82c. When changing the expected number of the general winning openings 82a to 82c, the specified value to be compared with the reception number counter 400 in the payout number monitoring process of the sound lamp control board 324 may be changed according to the change.

  Further, the expected number of winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c does not need to be set lower than that of other winning ports. For example, the expected number of winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c is set in other winning ports. It may be set higher than that.

  (14) The payout number monitoring process by the sound lamp control board 324 is executed regardless of the gaming state of the pachinko machine 10, but the payout number monitoring process is executed in a predetermined gaming state. May be.

  (15) In the above embodiment, when each abnormality flag is set, each abnormality flag that is set when the value of the loop number counter 402 becomes 20 is cleared. The timing for clearing is arbitrary. For example, the abnormality flag that is set when the value of the loop number counter 402 becomes a predetermined value of 19 or less may be cleared, and the value of the loop number counter 402 becomes a predetermined value of 21 or more. In some cases, the abnormal flag that is set may be cleared. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the abnormality flag that is set when the value of the reception number counter 400 is determined to be equal to or less than the specified value even once is cleared.

  Further, when the value of the loop number counter 402 becomes 20 with the second abnormality flag set, the second abnormality flag may be cleared and the first abnormality flag may be set. That is, when it is determined that the value of the reception number counter 400 is equal to or greater than a specified value and each abnormality flag is set, the abnormality flag may be released in stages.

  (16) The configuration of giving a game ball to the winning of game balls to the winning ports such as the general winning ports 82a to 82c is not limited to the configuration of paying out the game balls directly, and the function of storing virtual game media In the configuration having the above, the virtual game medium may be provided.

  (17) The symbol display device 91 may be omitted, and a lottery result such as a jackpot lottery may be taught by a movable decorative member.

  (18) When a game ball is won at each prize opening, the game ball is paid out to the player. However, even if a game ball wins at each prize opening, the game ball may not be paid out. That is, when a game ball wins a winning opening, a privilege may be given to the player.

  For example, in a configuration in which a game ball is not paid out when a game ball is won at the general winning ports 82a to 82c, when the game ball is won at the general winning ports 82a to 82c, the upper and lower operation ports 84a and 84b A jackpot lottery may be performed as in the case where a game ball has won, or a lottery may be performed regarding whether or not the electric accessory 89 is released.

  In addition, for example, the number of game balls to be paid out when winning at each prize opening may be changed. When game balls win at the general prize winning holes 82a to 82c, three game balls are paid out. , Five game balls may be paid out when the game balls win the lower operation ports 84a and 84b. That is, the number of game balls to be paid out when winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c is at least better than when winning in the upper and lower operating ports 84a and 84b, and games are played in either the upper or lower operating ports 84a and 84b. Even if the ball wins, the number of game balls to be paid out may be the same.

  (19) In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the total number of game balls won for the plurality of general winning openings 82a to 82c is greater than or equal to the specified value. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, you may make it grasp | ascertain separately the winning to the general winning opening 82a-82c provided in multiple numbers. In this case, a winning ball command corresponding to each of the general winning ports 82a to 82c may be output from the main control board 301 to the sound lamp control board 324.

  In this configuration, fraudulent acts on the general winning ports 82a to 82c can be individually monitored. Since the positions where the general winning ports 82a to 82c are provided on the game board 81 are different, it is conceivable that the risk of cheating is different in each of the general winning ports 82a to 82c. For example, the first general winning opening 82a is provided on the open front end side of the front door frame 14 as compared with the upper and lower operating openings 84a and 84b, the second general winning opening 82b, and the third general winning opening 82c. When the front door frame 14 is distorted, it is likely that a gap is easily formed on the open front end side compared to the open base end side, and the first general winning port 82a is more easily accessible than other winning ports. In this configuration, since the fraudulent acts can be individually monitored, the fraudulent acts can be found well when the fraudulent acts are performed.

  As described in the above embodiment, it is conceivable that the first general winning opening 82a has few opportunities for a game ball to win and is not particularly noticeable among the general winning openings 82a to 82c. For this reason, it is easy to become a target of fraudulent acts by fraudsters. By monitoring the illegal act on the first general winning opening 82a, it becomes possible to directly monitor the illegal act on the winning prize port which is highly likely to be performed.

  In addition, since it is possible to specify which general winning opening 82a to 82c has been won by each sensor 152a to 152c in the information determination process by the main control board 301, in this configuration, the sound lamp control board is used in the information determination process. A prize ball command may be output to 324. Supplementally, a configuration in which a prize ball command corresponding to each of the general winning ports 82a to 82c is output in the prize ball command output process of the main control board 301 in the above embodiment is conceivable. It is conceivable that a prize ball counter area must be provided individually for each of the plurality of general winning ports 82a to 82c.

  (20) You may change the position and number in which each winning opening is provided. For example, it is conceivable that the general winning ports 82a to 82c are provided closer to the variable display unit 86 than the upper and lower operating ports 84 and 84b. In addition, for example, one in which one, two, four or more general winning ports 82a to 82c are provided can be considered.

  (21) In the above embodiment, the number of game balls won in the general winning openings 82a to 82c in a predetermined time is counted. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

  For example, with respect to the number of game balls fired from the game ball launching mechanism 110, the number of winning prizes in the general winning ports 82a to 82c may be counted. In the above embodiment, in order to count the number of prizes received in the general winning openings 82a to 82c with respect to the elapsed time, if the cheating person who is cheating continues to cheat while interrupting the game, It may be difficult to detect fraud. For this reason, it is conceivable that it becomes difficult to find fraudulent acts depending on the game pace at which the game is played. On the other hand, in this configuration, since the number of game balls won in the general winning ports 82a to 82c is counted with respect to the number of game balls fired, it becomes difficult to find fraud by the game pace. This can be suppressed.

  In addition, the number of winning balls in the general winning ports 82a to 82c may be counted with respect to the number of game balls won in a predetermined winning port. For example, the number of winning in the general winning ports 82a to 82c may be counted with respect to the number of winning game balls in the upper operating port 84a. Even in this configuration, it is possible to suppress the difficulty of finding fraudulent acts due to the game pace. In addition, the upper operation opening 84a is a lottery lottery based on winning, and it is considered that the expected number of game balls to be awarded to the upper operation opening 84a per unit period is set. For this reason, even if the number of winning prizes in the general winning openings 82a to 82c is counted with respect to the number of winning prizes in the upper operation opening 84a, problems are unlikely to occur.

  (22) In each of the above embodiments, the sound lamp control device 143 controls the display control device 325. Alternatively, the display control device 325 may control the sound lamp control device 143. . Further, a single control device having both functions of the sound lamp control device 143 and the display control device 325 may be provided.

  (23) Other types of pachinko machines different from the above-described embodiments, such as pachinko machines that release a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, or games in a specific area of a special device The present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine that generates a big hit when a ball enters, a pachinko machine equipped with another accessory, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball, and the like. Further, the present invention may be applied to a pachinko machine where gaming balls are not lent through the ball lending device Y.

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

Features 1. A launching means (game ball launching mechanism 110) for launching a game ball toward a game area based on a launch operation by a player;
A game entrance where game balls flow down, and a game entrance where game balls can enter (general winning entrances 82a to 82c);
Incoming ball detecting means (a function for executing a reading process in the main CPU 311) for detecting that a game ball has entered the ball inlet,
A privilege granting means (payout control board 322) for granting a privilege to the player based on the presence of a ball at the ball entrance;
Grasping means (command reception processing in the sound lamp control board 324) for grasping information associated with the number of times of detection and the period of the entry detection means as entry information;
Monitoring means for monitoring the entrance information in a plurality of stages (steps S2005, S2012 and S2020 in the payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324);
Special processing execution means (step S2007, step S2015, step S2023 in the payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324) for executing the special processing set for each stage according to the monitoring result by the monitoring means;
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

  According to the feature 1, when a game ball enters the entrance, a privilege is given to the player. For this reason, there is a possibility that an illegal act of illegally entering a game ball into the entrance is performed in order to illegally receive a privilege. On the other hand, in this feature, the entrance information based on the entrance to the entrance is monitored in a plurality of stages. By monitoring the entrance information in a plurality of stages, it is possible to take measures according to each stage. In addition, since the entrance information is information that associates the number of detections of the entrance detection means with the period, the possibility of fraud such as when there is an entrance with a frequency that deviates from the normally assumed situation is appropriately set. Can be judged. As a result, it is possible to suppress an illegal act of causing a game ball to enter the entrance to try to receive privilege grants illegally.

  In addition, “giving a privilege” in this feature includes those that give a game ball to a player, and those that shift the gaming state to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player.

  Feature 2. 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the grasping means grasps the number of times of detection by the entrance detecting means during a predetermined period as the entrance information.

  According to the feature 2, the number of times of entering the entrance into the entrance is monitored during a predetermined period. In other words, by counting the number of times of entering the entrance, it can be determined whether or not an abnormally large number of game balls enter the entrance during the period. As a result, each time an entry to the entrance is detected, the processing load for grasping the entrance information is compared to a configuration in which the ratio of entering the entrance is calculated from the history of entering the entrance. Can be reduced.

Feature 3. In the feature 2, the monitoring means includes:
First monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the number of detections in the first period which is the predetermined period is in an abnormal state (step S2005 in the payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324);
When the monitoring result in the first monitoring unit is in an abnormal state, the monitoring unit further monitors whether the number of detections in the second period, which is the predetermined period after the first period, is in an abnormal state. 2 monitoring means (steps S2012 and S2020 in the payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324);
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

  According to the feature 3, even if the first monitoring means obtains a monitoring result of an abnormal state in which there is an incoming ball with a frequency that deviates from the normally assumed situation, depending on the behavior of the game ball, it is frequently entered accidentally. There is no doubt that you entered the ball opening. In this situation, it is dangerous to conclude cheating. In this regard, in this feature, when the monitoring result that the abnormal state is obtained by the first monitoring means, the monitoring by the second monitoring means is executed subsequently, so that the frequency of entering the ball It is possible to grasp that an abnormal state has occurred at different timings. As a result, the first monitoring means first determines that there is a certain probability of fraud, and if the monitoring result of the abnormal state by the second monitoring means is subsequently obtained, it is determined that it is not an accidental entry. It becomes possible.

  As described above, according to this feature, it is possible to improve the accuracy of classification as to whether it is due to fraud or accident.

  Feature 4. In the feature 3, the monitoring means stops monitoring by the second monitoring means and monitors by the first monitoring means when the monitoring result by the second monitoring means is not determined to be abnormal for a predetermined period. A gaming machine characterized by being executed again.

  According to the feature 4, when the monitoring result by the second monitoring unit is not determined to be abnormal for a predetermined period, the monitoring by the second monitoring unit is stopped and the monitoring by the first monitoring unit is executed again. That is, when the monitoring result by the second monitoring unit does not become an abnormal state, the monitoring by the monitoring unit that is performed stepwise can be set to the initial state. For example, even if incidents to the entrance frequently occur accidentally and the monitoring result by the first monitoring means becomes abnormal, the monitoring result by the second monitoring means does not become abnormal again. Monitoring by the first monitoring means is performed. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the monitoring by the second monitoring means from being continuously performed when an incidental game ball enters.

  Moreover, when the monitoring result by the first monitoring unit becomes an abnormal state, monitoring by the second monitoring unit is performed for a predetermined period. Thereby, the monitoring of the monitoring means in a situation where the possibility of fraudulent activity cannot be denied can be secured for a predetermined period.

  Feature 5. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring process by the second monitoring unit is executed a plurality of times within the predetermined period.

  According to the feature 5, the monitoring process by the second monitoring unit is executed a plurality of times within a predetermined period. That is, the monitoring by the second monitoring unit is stopped when the monitoring result by the second monitoring unit is not abnormal for a plurality of times. As a result, when the monitoring result by the first monitoring unit becomes an abnormal state, it is possible to secure the execution of the monitoring process, which is assumed to be a possibility of fraud, for a plurality of times.

Feature 6 In any one of features 3 to 5,
The special process execution means includes
A first special process execution unit (step S2007 in the payout count monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324) that executes a first special process when an abnormal state monitoring result is obtained by the first monitoring unit;
When a monitoring result of an abnormal state is obtained by the second monitoring unit, a second special process execution unit that executes a second special process different from the first special process (payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324) Step S2015, step S2023) in FIG.
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

  According to the feature 6, the first special process is executed when the monitoring result of the abnormal state is obtained by the first monitoring unit, and the second special process is executed when the monitoring result of the abnormal state is obtained by the second monitoring unit. Is executed. In this way, by executing different special processes at a plurality of stages, it is possible to execute special processes according to the high possibility of fraud.

Feature 7. In the feature 4, the special process execution means includes:
A first special process execution unit (step S2007 in the payout count monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324) that executes a first special process when an abnormal state monitoring result is obtained by the first monitoring unit;
When a monitoring result of an abnormal state is obtained by the second monitoring unit, a second special process execution unit that executes a second special process different from the first special process (payout number monitoring process in the sound lamp control board 324) Step S2015, step S2023) in FIG.
With
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first special process executing means continuously executes the first special process until monitoring by the second monitoring means is stopped.

  According to the feature 7, the first special process is executed when the monitoring result of the abnormal state is obtained by the first monitoring unit, and the second special process is executed when the monitoring result of the abnormal state is obtained by the second monitoring unit. Is executed. In this way, by executing different special processes at a plurality of stages, it is possible to execute special processes according to the high possibility of fraud.

  The first special process is executed until monitoring by the second monitoring unit is stopped. Thereby, execution of the 1st special processing when the monitoring result by the 1st monitoring means turns into an abnormal state can be secured over a predetermined period. In addition, when the monitoring by the second monitoring means is stopped, the first special process is continued when the incident of an incidental game ball occurs if the first special process is terminated. Can be suppressed.

  Feature 8 In the feature 6 or 7, the second special process execution means controls the notification means (the speaker unit 26, the symbol display device 91) so as to execute the special notification as the second special process. Machine.

  According to the feature 8, when the monitoring result of the abnormal state is obtained by the second monitoring unit, the special notification by the notification unit is executed. Thereby, the situation obtained from the monitoring result can be suitably notified.

  Further, if the notification is directed to the player, it functions as a warning for fraudulent acts, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of disadvantages to game halls and the like due to further fraudulent acts. In addition, if the notification is directed to an administrator or the like of a game hall, it can be used to identify an unauthorized person.

Feature 9 In any one of the features 1 to 8, the game area is provided with a plurality of ball entrances (upper and lower operation ports 84a and 84b, general winning ports 82a to 82c),
The game machine characterized in that the grasping means grasps the entry information of a predetermined entrance (general winning entrances 82a to 82c) among these entrances.

  According to the feature 9, entry information corresponding to a predetermined entry is grasped among a plurality of entry openings. As a result, it is possible to monitor the fraudulent behavior of the entrance that is likely to be cheated.

Feature 10 In any one of the features 1 to 9, transition determination means (start winning process by the main control board 301) for determining whether or not to shift to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player,
When a transition determination is made by the transition determination means, a display means (symbol display device 91) for displaying the result of the transition determination;
With
As the entrance,
A first entrance (upper and lower operation ports 84a, 84b) in which a transition determination by the transition determination means is performed based on the game ball entering,
A second entrance (general winning entrances 82a to 82c) in which the game ball is given to the player without making a transition determination by the transition determination means when the game ball has entered;
With
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the grasping means grasps entry information of the second entrance.

  According to the feature 10, an illegal act is monitored about the 2nd entrance among the 1st entrance and the 2nd entrance. Even if the player enters the second entrance, a lottery for determining whether or not to shift to the specific gaming state is not performed. For this reason, even if a game ball is illegally entered at the second entrance, it may be difficult to find the illegal act. Supplementally, when a game ball is illegally entered at the first entrance, it is considered that the result of the transition determination is displayed on the display means, and an excessive amount of game balls entered at the first entrance. In such a case, it may be considered that the result of transition determination is excessively displayed or the transition to the specific gaming state is performed. As a result, it is conceivable that fraudulent acts at the first entrance are more conspicuous and easier to find than those at the second entrance. That is, it is conceivable that fraudulent acts are likely to be performed on the second entrance compared to the first entrance. According to this feature, it is possible to directly monitor the second entrance that is likely to be fraudulent.

Feature 11. In any one of the features 1 to 10, an opening / closing body (front door frame 14) that is displaceable between an open state in which the game area is opened and a closed state disposed in front of the game area,
As the entrance,
A first entrance (upper and lower working ports 84a, 84b);
A second entrance (first general winning opening 82a) provided on the open front end side of the opening / closing body in the game area from the first entrance;
With
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the grasping means grasps entry information of the second entrance.

  According to the feature 11, of the first entrance and the second entrance, an illegal act is monitored to the second entrance provided on the open front side of the opening / closing body with respect to the first entrance. Is called. When the opening / closing body is opened and illegally entered, since it is easy to find an illegal act if the opening / closing body is largely opened, it is conceivable to perform an injustice while opening the opening / closing body a little so as not to stand out. In this case, it is considered that the entrance opening arranged near the open front end of the opening / closing body is likely to be an illegal target. On the other hand, according to this feature, it is possible to suitably perform monitoring of the entrance that is likely to be fraudulent.

Feature 12. In any one of features 1 to 11, as the entrance,
A first entrance (upper and lower operation ports 84a, 84b) to which a game ball is given to a player when a game ball enters,
A second entrance (general winning entrance) which is provided as the entrance and has a larger number of game balls given to the player when a game ball enters than when entering the first entrance 82a-82c),
With
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the grasping means grasps entry information of the second entrance.

  According to the feature 12, an illegal act is monitored about the 2nd entrance among the 1st entrance and the 2nd entrance. When entering the second entrance, the number of game balls given to the player is larger than when entering the first entrance. For this reason, the game when the cheating is carried out excessively to enter the second entrance than when the cheating is conducted excessively so as to enter the first entrance. It is possible that the disadvantages that occur in game halls where machines are installed will increase. Further, it is conceivable that fraudulent acts are executed within a short period of time so as not to be discovered. In this case, it is considered that the entrance with a large number of game balls to be given is likely to be fraudulent. In this regard, according to this feature, it is possible to suitably monitor the entrance that tends to be disadvantageous if the cheating is performed in a short time when the cheating is performed. .

  In addition, in the configuration to which this feature and feature 10 are applied, when an illegal act is performed at the second entrance, the illegal act is more than when an illegal act is performed at the first entrance. However, it is conceivable that the above disadvantages are larger than those in the case where an illegal act is performed on the first entrance. On the other hand, it is possible to enhance the effect of suppressing the occurrence of a disadvantage by monitoring the illegal act on the second entrance.

Feature 13. In any one of features 1 to 12, as the entrance,
A first entrance (upper and lower working ports 84a, 84b);
A second entrance (general winning entrances 82a to 82c) provided closer to the outside of the gaming area than the first entrance;
With
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the grasping means grasps entry information of the second entrance.

  According to the feature 13, the illegal act is monitored for the second entrance. The second entrance is provided closer to the outside of the game area than the first entrance. For this reason, for example, an illegal act is performed on the second entrance rather than the first entrance, for example, the second entrance is accessed through a gap between members that separate the game area and the other areas. It may be easy to do. In addition, since it is provided near the outside of the game area, it is considered that it is difficult to find cheating at the second entrance compared to the case where cheating is performed on the center side of the game area. It is done. According to this feature, it is possible to monitor fraudulent behavior for entrances where cheating is likely to occur.

  It should be noted that “the grasping means grasps the entrance information of the second entrance provided below the game area than the first entrance”. In general gaming machines, there is a display means provided approximately at the center of the gaming area or above the gaming area, and a player or a viewer who does not play a game from the center of the gaming area to the upper area. Can be considered. For this reason, the lower part of the game area is less likely to be noticed, and it may be difficult to stand out even if cheating is performed. According to this configuration, it is possible to suitably perform monitoring of the entrance that is less noticeable and difficult to detect when an illegal act is performed.

Feature 14. In the feature 13, a transition determining means (start winning process by the main control board 301) for determining whether or not to shift to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player,
When a transition determination is made by the transition determination means, a display means (symbol display device 91) for displaying the result of the transition determination;
With
The gaming machine, wherein the second entrance is provided farther from the display means than the first entrance.

  According to the feature 14, the second entrance is provided farther from the display means than the first entrance. The result of the transition determination is displayed on the display means, and the periphery of the display means may be visually recognized by a viewer who is not playing the game. That is, when an illegal act is performed around the display means, it is conceivable that the illegal act is discovered by a viewer. For this reason, it is conceivable that a fraudulent person who performs a fraudulent act may perform a fraudulent act on the second entrance which is farther from the display means than the first entrance. . According to this feature, it is possible to suitably perform monitoring of the entrance that is likely to be a target of fraud.

  In the configuration to which the present feature and the feature 10 are applied, when a game ball enters the first entrance, the result of the transition determination is displayed on the display unit. For this reason, it is conceivable that the entrance to the first entrance has a higher degree of attention from the viewer than the entrance to the second entrance. It is possible to avoid the act. As a result, it is considered that the risk of fraudulent acts being performed on the second entrance is higher than that on the first entrance. According to this feature, it is possible to satisfactorily monitor for illegal acts at the entrance that are likely to be fraudulent.

Feature 15. In any one of features 10 to 14, a plurality of the second entrances are installed in the gaming area,
The said entrance detection means detects so that it can specify which 2nd entrance is into a 2nd entrance among a plurality of 2nd entrances,
The game machine characterized in that the grasping means grasps the entrance information individually for a plurality of second entrances.

  In a configuration in which a plurality of second entrances are provided, for example, it is conceivable that the magnitude of the risk of fraudulent acts being different for each second entrance. For this reason, it is desirable to be able to specify to which second entrance the fraudulent act is being performed. On the other hand, according to this feature, the entrance information is grasped individually for the plurality of second entrances. Thereby, it is possible to individually monitor which second entrance of each second entrance is being cheated.

  In addition, since the cheating is monitored for each of the plurality of second entrances, it is possible to vary the entrance information that makes the monitoring result abnormal for each of the plurality of second entrances. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately set the entrance information that sets the monitoring result to an abnormal state according to the plurality of second entrances.

  Note that the “first entrance” in any one of the features 10 to 15 may be the same or different. Further, the “second entrance” in any one of the features 10 to 15 may be the same or different.

Feature 16. In any one of the features 1 to 15, the command providing information is provided to the privilege granting unit so as to grant a privilege to the player based on the fact that the entrance detection unit detects a ball entering the entrance. A provision command information output means (main control board 301) for outputting,
The privilege granting means receives the grant command information from the grant command information output means, and gives grant information specifying means for specifying information corresponding to the grant command information (Step S1303 of the prize ball setting process in the payout control board 322). And grant a privilege based on the information specified by the grant information specifying means,
The game machine characterized in that the grasping means grasps the entrance information by inputting the grant command information.

  According to the feature 16, the privilege granting unit inputs grant command information and grants a privilege based on the grant command information. Further, the grasping means grasps the entry information by inputting the giving command information. In other words, the provision of the privilege and the grasp of the entry information are executed using the same information. As a result, it is possible to grasp the entry information by using the grant command information used for the usual privilege grant in the gaming machine, and it is necessary to newly generate a special signal in order to grasp the entry information. Absent.

  In addition, this feature is provided with a main control device that is connected to the entrance detection means and outputs the grant command information, and a sub-control device that receives the grant command information from the main control device and grants the privilege. When applied to a gaming machine, it can also be realized without changing the main controller itself.

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

  Pachinko machine: operation means (game ball launching handle 41) operated by a player, game ball launching means (game ball launching mechanism 110) for launching a game ball based on the operation of the operation means, and the fired A ball passage (inner and outer rail portions 101 and 102) for guiding a game ball to a predetermined game area and game components arranged in the game area are provided. A gaming machine that gives a privilege to a player when a ball enters.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pachinko machine as a gaming machine, 13 ... Main body frame constituting a gaming machine main body, 14 ... Front door frame as a gaming machine front body, 15 ... Back pack unit constituting a gaming machine main body, 24 ... Error display lamp section , 26 ... Speaker unit, 41 ... Game ball launch handle, 82a to 82c ... General winning port, 84a, 84b ... Upper and lower operation ports, 91 ... Symbol display device, 101, 102 ... Inner and outer rail units, 110 ... Game Sphere launching mechanism, 143 ... voice lamp control device, 162 ... main control device, 224 ... payout device, 242 ... payout control device, 301 ... main control board, 311 ... CPU, 322 ... payout control board, 324 ... voice lamp control board 325, display control device, 361, counter area for prize ball, 400, reception frequency counter, 401, monitoring timer counter, 402, loop number counter.

Claims (1)

A launching means for launching a game ball toward a game area based on a launch operation by a player;
A first entrance that is provided in a game area where the game ball flows down and into which the game ball can enter;
A second entrance that is provided in a game area where the game ball flows down and into which the game ball can enter;
First entrance detection means for detecting that a game ball has entered the first entrance;
Second incoming detection means for detecting that a game ball has entered the second entrance;
A first number of game balls are paid out when an entrance is detected by the first entrance detection means, and a second number greater than the first number is detected when an entrance is detected by the second entrance detection means. A payout means for paying out game balls;
Lottery means for performing a lottery to determine whether or not to give a privilege to a player based on the presence of a ball at the first ball slot;
And benefits applying means for applying a Privilege to the player based on the fact that became a winner by the lottery means,
Grasping means for grasping information on the association between the number of times of detection of the second entrance detection means and the number of game balls fired by the launching means as entrance information;
Monitoring means for monitoring the entry information;
A first clearing unit for clearing the incoming ball information each time the incoming ball information satisfies a predetermined condition when no abnormality occurs in the monitoring result by the monitoring unit;
Second clearing means for clearing the entrance information when an abnormality occurs in the monitoring result by the monitoring means;
Special processing execution means for continuously executing special processing until a predetermined end processing is performed when the entrance information is cleared by the second clearing means;
In a state where the special processing is being executed by the special processing execution means, the number of times the first clearing means has been cleared by the first clearing means is the number of times that the second clearing means has not been cleared. Ending means for ending the special process by executing the ending process when the number of times has been reached;
With
When the special processing is being executed by the special processing execution means, the end means performs the end processing when the number of times the clearing of the ball-entry information by the second clearing means reaches a second number. A gaming machine characterized in that the special processing is continued without being performed.

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