JP5768242B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a storage case for storing an electronic device and a mounting base to which the storage case is attached, and screwing the storage case to the mounting base.

  In conventional gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and encapsulated ball-type gaming machines, based on the winning of a game ball at the start opening provided in the game area, a variable display game that displays a plurality of identification information on a display device is executed. When the variable display game has a predetermined special result, it is common to generate a special game state (big hit) advantageous to the player by converting the variable prize apparatus from the closed state to the open state. .

  In such a gaming machine, an opening is formed in the gaming board so that a display unit of a display device (display unit) disposed on the back of the gaming board faces the front, and a so-called center case is formed on the front of the opening. And a mounting base member for mounting the display device from the back side is provided on the back side of the opening. The mounting base forms a concave chamber that opens on the front side, which is the game area side, and a window portion that faces the display unit of the display device is opened on the rear side wall that defines the back side of the mounting base in the concave chamber. ing. In addition, there is an inside of the concave chamber in which a movable accessory (director) that is movable in front of the display unit is provided in order to produce a variable display game (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-61222 A

  By the way, in the gaming machine as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, it is common in that the display device (display unit) is attached to the back surface of the mounting base by screwing. Since the display device is not positioned on the back surface of the base, the workability during production is very poor.

  Therefore, an enclosing wall for enclosing the display device is provided on the back surface of the mounting base, and the front portion of the display device (display unit) is accommodated in an accommodation space defined inside the enclosing wall by screws. Although it is conceivable to attach the display device to the mounting base, there are cases where it takes time to accommodate the display device inside the wall, and this also has the problem that the workability during production is very poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of efficiently performing the attaching operation of the components attached to the attachment base. .

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and according to a first aspect of the present invention, a storage case for storing an electronic device and a mounting base for mounting the storage case are provided. In the gaming machine for fixing the storage case with a fastening member,
The mounting base is
A mounting portion for attaching the storage case;
A support part capable of supporting the lower part and one side part of the storage case,
In the middle of the side part that supports one side part of the storage case among the support parts, the front part of the gaming machine has a dimension shallower than the front-rear width along the front and back direction of the gaming machine. A support step that is recessed toward the surface is formed,
In one aspect of the storage case, a support protrusion is provided that protrudes toward a side of the storage case and is supported by being engaged with the support step .

The thing of Claim 2 provides the positioning part which positions the said storage case attached to the said attachment part in the site | part which supports the said storage case among the said support parts,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage case is provided with a positioning receiving portion that is positioned by the positioning portion .

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform the attaching operation of the components attached to the attachment base.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage case can be easily fixed and the storage case can be easily attached.

It is a front view of an enclosure ball type game machine. It is a front view of a game board, a ball circulation mechanism part, and a launching device. It is a disassembled perspective view of a game board. It is the perspective view which looked at the attachment base to which the display unit, the production control device, and the relay base holder were attached from the rear. It is a disassembled perspective view of a control base unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a display unit. (A) is explanatory drawing of a support protrusion, (b) is explanatory drawing of a contact part. It is the perspective view which looked at the attachment base from back. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the engagement state of a support step part and a support protrusion, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the engagement state of a positioning part and a positioning receiving part. It is the perspective view which looked at the attachment base from the front. It is the fragmentary sectional view which looked at the attachment base with which the display unit was attached from upper direction. It is the fragmentary sectional view which looked at the attachment base to which the display unit was attached from the side. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball | bowl circulation mechanism part and a launcher. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of a ball | bowl circulation mechanism part. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a ball | bowl feeder, (a) is the schematic of a supply prevention attitude | position, (b) is the schematic converted from the state of (a) to the supply allowable attitude | position, (c) is of (b) It is the schematic converted into a supply prevention posture from a state. It is the perspective view which looked at the ball introduction part connected to the ball circulation mechanism part from back. It is sectional drawing of a ball introduction apparatus. It is a block diagram of a control system mainly showing a game control device. It is explanatory drawing of the effect | action of a ball | bowl circulation mechanism part, (a) is explanatory drawing of the state which stopped the game ball in the bending channel, (b) is the state which discharges | emits a game ball from a bending channel to a ball | bowl discharge | emission part It is explanatory drawing of. It is explanatory drawing of the introduction operation | movement to the ball | bowl circulation mechanism part of a game ball, (a) is explanatory drawing of the drive state of a ball introduction apparatus, (b) is the game ball which flowed down from the ball introduction part in a collection ball | bowl flow path. It is explanatory drawing of the state which flows into. It is a flowchart of the main process in an enclosed ball control apparatus. It is a flowchart of a holding ball control process. It is a flowchart of an enclosure ball control process. It is a front view of a game board, a ball circulation mechanism part, and a launching device in the second embodiment. It is a perspective view of a ball circulation mechanism part and a launching device to which a ball exchange unit is connected. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball exchange unit, a ball circulation mechanism, and a launching device. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball | bowl accommodating member. It is explanatory drawing of the ball feeding member in a ball accommodation member, (a) is explanatory drawing of the state which stopped the game ball in the ball accommodation flow path, (b) is a game from a ball accommodation flow path to a ball feed flow path. FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a ball is derived, and FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the game ball is stopped again after the state of (b). It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a structure of a moving mechanism and its periphery. It is explanatory drawing of the ball | bowl exchange unit converted into the 2nd derivation state. It is explanatory drawing of the ball | bowl exchange unit converted into the 1st derivation state. It is sectional drawing of a ball | bowl exchange unit, (a) is explanatory drawing of a 2nd derived state, (b) is explanatory drawing of a 1st derived state. It is a block diagram of the control system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the main process of the enclosure ball control apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the lending rate setting process in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an enclosed ball type gaming machine which is a kind of gaming machine as an example. For convenience of explanation, the player side is referred to as “front” or “front” with respect to the enclosed ball type gaming machine, and the side opposite to the player across the enclosed ball type gaming machine is “back” or “back”. Called.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the enclosed ball type gaming machine is attached to a rectangular machine frame (outer frame) 2 in a state where a front frame (inner frame) 3 can be opened and closed, and is attached to the front frame 3. Can accommodate a rectangular gaming board 5 (see FIG. 2) from the front of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 1, and a gaming area 6 is defined on the surface of the gaming board 5. In addition, on the front side of the front frame 3, an opening / closing member (glass frame) 8 on which one side (left side in FIG. 1) is attached can be opened and closed (open state in which the front surface of the game area 6 is opened and closed in which it is closed). The transparent member (glass plate) 9 is held by the opening / closing member 8 so that the game area 6 can be viewed from the front of the encapsulated ball game machine 1 through the transparent member 9. doing.

  Further, a horizontally long ball lending input / output panel 12 is provided below the transparent member 9, and a speaker 13 that generates sound as the game progresses is disposed below the ball lending input / output panel 12 in the left-right direction of the opening / closing member 8. The firing operation unit (launching handle) 15 for operating the launching device 14 (see FIG. 2) is disposed on the open side (right side in FIG. 1) of the opening / closing member 8 relative to the speaker 13. The ashtray 16 is provided on the shaft attachment side (left side in FIG. 1) of the opening / closing member 8. In addition, an error indicator 18 for displaying an error in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is provided on the front surface of the upper side of the opening / closing member 8 on the shaft-attached side (left side in FIG. 1). 1 is provided with an open / close detection switch (open / close detection unit) 19 that can detect the open / close state of the open / close member 8.

  The ball lending input / output panel 12 includes a card reader / writer 21 that can read and write a player's prepaid card, and a plurality of buttons that can be operated by the player (a lending that operates lending of game balls). The button 22, the return button 23 for operating the return of the card in the card reader / writer 21, the effect button 24 operated during the progress of the game effect, and the change of the valuable value (lending rate) per rented game ball A rate changeover switch 25), an information display unit for displaying information on the valuable value possessed by the player (a loan rate display unit 27 for displaying a currently set loan rate, and a valuable stored in the player's prepaid card) A balance display unit 28 for displaying the value as a balance and a number-of-ball display unit 29) for displaying the number of players' balls are provided.

  In addition, on the side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 (on the left side in FIG. 1), a vertically long ball rental unit 31 that is separate from the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is provided. A bill insertion part 32 is provided in the upper part, and a card insertion part 33 for inserting a card such as a membership card is provided in the lower part of the front surface.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a ball circulation mechanism unit (circulation path) 35 for collecting the game balls used in the game by flowing down the game area 6 below the game board 5 inside the front frame 3. The launching device 14 is connected to the lower part of the ball circulation mechanism 35, the launching rail 36 provided on the launching device 14 is extended toward the upper game board 5 side, and the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 The game ball enclosed therein is configured to be circulated through the launching device 14, the game board 5, and the ball circulation mechanism 35. Specifically, the game ball enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is launched from the launching device 14 and jumps into the game area 6, and after flowing down the game area 6, it is collected by the ball circulation mechanism 35. Furthermore, it is configured to be supplied again to the launching device 14 by the ball circulation mechanism 35. The ball circulation mechanism 35 will be described in detail later.

Next, the game board 5 will be described.
2 and 3, the gaming board 5 includes a rectangular gaming board main body 40 formed of plywood or plastic, and a plurality of side cases 41 are fastened to the surface of the gaming board main body 40. The game area 6 is sectioned, and on the side of the game area 6 (on the left side in FIG. 2), a vertically-launched ball that guides the game ball launched from the launch device 14 to the upper side of the game area 6. A guide path 42 is formed. In addition, an enclosure frame body 44 is provided in the approximate center of the game area 6, and the front side portion (front surface component) of the enclosure frame body 44 is disposed in a state of protruding to the front side of the game board main body 40, and the rear side portion ( A display unit 48 configured by housing a display device 46, which is an electronic device, in a storage case 47 behind the enclosure frame 44. In addition, a predetermined effect display executed as the game progresses can be displayed on the display unit 46a provided on the front surface of the display device 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an effect control device 49 that controls the effect operation in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is attached to the back surface of the display unit 48, and the opening side of the opening / closing member 8 is more open than the effect control device 49. A relay base holder 50 is mounted on the left side (in FIG. 4, left side), and the relay base holder 50 supports a relay base (not shown) that relays between a plurality of control devices including the effect control device 49. doing.

  In the game area 6, a plurality of winning areas where game balls can be won are set. Specifically, a normal start gate 53 is arranged on one side (left side in FIG. 2) of the surrounding frame 44 in the game area 6, and a start winning opening 54 is provided below the surrounding frame 44. A first big prize opening (first attacker) 55 is arranged below the start prize opening 54, and a second big prize opening (second attacker) 56 is arranged above the surrounding frame body 44. Yes. In addition, side lamps 57 that perform various decorative displays by light emission are arranged on both the left and right sides of the first grand prize opening 55, and the side lamps 57 are provided with general winning holes 58. And, at the lower end of the game area 6 located below the first grand prize winning opening 55, an out opening 59 for collecting the game balls that have flowed down without winning is opened in the front and back direction of the game board 5, A plurality of obstacle nails (not shown) are provided in the game area 6 except for the mounting portion such as the surrounding frame body 44, the general start gate 53, the start winning port 54, the side lamp 57, the first big winning port 55, and the like. Have been planted. Further, a collective display device 60 is provided below the side case 41, and the collective display device 60 displays a general map change display game, a special map change display game, and a game state. As shown in FIG. 3, a winning ball collection unit (switch base unit) 64 having a plurality of winning ball channels 63 formed therein is provided below the surrounding frame 44 on the back surface of the game board 5. The winning ball flow path 63 is connected to the rear part of the winning area such as the general winning opening 58 and the first large winning opening 55, and the gaming balls (winning balls) that have flowed down the gaming area 6 and won the winning area are won balls. It can be recovered to the road 63. Further, the downstream end of the winning ball channel 63 is communicated with the upstream end of the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 so that the game balls flowing down the winning ball channel 63 can be guided to the ball circulation mechanism unit 35. A winning ball detection switch 65 capable of detecting a winning ball is disposed in the middle of each winning ball channel 63.

Next, the surrounding frame body 44 and the display unit 48 that is screwed and attached to the back surface of the surrounding frame body 44 (fixed by a fastening member) will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the surrounding frame body 44 includes a frame-shaped center case (decorative frame portion) 71 disposed as a front constituent member (a front side portion of the surrounding frame body 44) on the surface side of the game board main body 40. The control base unit 72 is disposed on the back side of the game board main body 40 as a back surface constituent member (the rear side portion of the surrounding frame body 44). The game board main body 40 is mounted between the center case 71 and the control base unit 72 from the front and rear in a large opening 40 a opened in the center of the game board main body 40, and is provided behind the control base unit 72. The display unit 46a of the display device 46 is faced to the front side of the game board 5 from the opening 40a.

  The center case 71 is a unit having a frame structure arranged in front of the display device 46 in the game area 6, and a display opening 74 penetrates the center portion of the center case 71 in the front and back direction of the game board 5. The display 46 a of the display device 46 faces the front of the game board 5 through the display opening 74. In addition, a second big prize opening 56 is disposed on the side of the launch ball guide path 42 (left side in FIG. 3) of the upper part of the center case 71, and on the side part (left side in FIG. 3) of the center case 71. Is formed with a vertically long winning ball guiding path 75 for flowing down the game ball won in the second big winning port 56, and a stage portion 76 on which the game ball can roll is provided at the lower portion of the center case 71. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the control base unit 72 includes a frame-like mounting base 78 that is mounted on the back surface side of the game board 5 so as to cover the opening 40 a, and the inside of the mounting base 78. Forms a concave chamber 79 opened on the front side located on the game area 6 side. Further, a rectangular window portion 81 is penetrated in the front and back direction of the game board 5 in the rear side wall portion 80 (in other words, the rear portion of the mounting base 78) defining the back side of the mounting base 78 in the concave chamber 79. The display device 46 is mounted from the rear of the mounting base 78, and the display portion 46a of the display device 46 is moved forward from the window 81 and the display opening 74 of the center case 71 toward the game area 6 side. We are facing.

  Further, in the concave chamber 79, the front part of the peripheral edge of the window 81 has a stage effect (first role unit 83, second role) capable of performing a stage operation in accordance with the game stage displayed on the display device 46. The object unit 84) is arranged in a rectangular frame shape. Specifically, a first accessory unit 83 having a gate shape is disposed on the front part of the upper edge and the left and right side edges of the window part 81, and a horizontally long second part is provided on the front part of the lower edge of the window part 81. An object unit 84 is arranged to connect the left and right lower ends of the first accessory unit 83. Further, the central part of the second accessory unit 84 is provided with a vertically long accessory member 84a that moves up and down to perform an effect operation. When the accessory member 84a is located at the bottom dead center, the accessory member A lower part of 84a protrudes downward from the control base unit 72 and covers the back side of the winning ball collection unit 64 (see FIG. 3). The front portion of the second accessory unit 84 on the side of the firing ball guide path 42 (left side in FIG. 3) is provided with a connection passage 85, and the downstream end of the big winning ball guiding path 75 and the winning ball passage 63. The game ball that is connected to the upstream end and wins the second big winning opening 56 passes through the surrounding frame body 44 and is collected to the winning ball collecting unit 64.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 48 includes a thin box-shaped storage case 47 extending along the left-right direction of the game board 5, and the display device 46 is stored inside the storage case 47. ing. The storage case 47 is formed by superposing a front case 47a located on the front side of the storage case 47 and a rear case 47b located on the back side, and faces the window 81 of the mounting base 78 in the front case 47a. At the position, a large rectangular case window 47c is opened to allow the display unit 46a of the display device 46 to face. Further, a transparent plate-like cover lens 87 is provided between the front case 47a and the display device 46. The cover lens 87 covers the display portion 46a from the front of the display device 46 and closes the case window 47c. ing. In the present embodiment, the display device 46 is configured by providing an LED backlight on the back side of the liquid crystal panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an effect display is performed by the display unit 46a provided on the front surface. If possible, the display device 46 may have any configuration.

  Further, a plurality of fastening portions 90 through which screws (fastening members) can be inserted are provided at the periphery of the storage case 47, and one side of the storage case 47 on the side of the firing ball guide path 42 (left side in FIG. 6). In this case, a rectangular plate-like support protrusion 91 is provided so as to protrude toward the side (left side in FIG. 6) of the storage case 47 (see FIG. 7A). A rectangular plate-like contact portion 92 that is slightly larger than the support protrusion 91 is provided on the other side (right side in FIG. 6) opposite to the support protrusion 91 across the side of the storage case 47. In FIG. 6, it protrudes toward the right side (see FIG. 7B) and is disposed on the back side of the storage case 47 with respect to the display unit 46 a of the display device 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), a positioning receiving portion 92a, which is a concave portion by being recessed in an arc shape upward, is formed at the lower end portion of the contact portion 92 located below the storage case 47. Forming. The operations of the support protrusion 91, the contact portion 92, and the positioning receiving portion 92a will be described in detail later.

  And the back surface of the attachment base 78 is equipped with the structure which positions and attaches the storage case 47 (display unit 48). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the attachment base 78 is formed with a rectangular frame-like attachment portion 95 for attaching the storage case 47 around the window portion 81 on the back surface of the attachment base 78. The attachment portion 95 includes a plurality of attachment receiving portions 96, and the attachment case 95 is attached to the attachment portion 95 by screwing the attachment portions 90 to the attachment reception portion 96. Further, on one side (right side in FIG. 8) and below of the attachment portion 95, a support portion 101 having an inverted L shape when viewed from the back side of the attachment base 78 is provided in the reverse direction of the attachment base 78 (attachment base). The side portion 101 a located on one side of the mounting portion 95 of the support portion 101 is brought into contact with one side portion of the storage case 47. At the same time, the lower side portion 101b located below the attachment portion 95 is brought into contact with the lower portion of the storage case 47 to support the storage case 47 attached to the attachment portion 95. Further, the lower side portion 101b of the support portion 101 is extended to the left and right side portions of the storage case 47, and the extended end portion (on the opposite side of the side portion 101a across the window portion 81 of the lower side portion 101b) ( In the upper portion of the left end portion in FIG. 8, the positioning portion 102 is formed as a convex portion protruding upward from the lower side portion 101b of the support portion 101, and the positioning portion 102 is engaged with the positioning receiving portion 92a. Thus, the storage case 47 can be positioned.

  Further, in the middle of the side portion 101a of the support portion 101 in the vertical direction, a front game board having a dimension shallower than the front-rear width of the support portion 101 (the front-rear width along the front and back direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1). A support step 104 that is recessed toward the main body 40 side (the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1) is formed, and a support protrusion 91 is engaged with and supported by the support step 104 (FIG. 9 ( a)). Further, the other side of the mounting base 95 on the other side (the left side in FIG. 8) of the mounting base 78, in other words, the position positioned above the positioning unit 102, has a size narrower than the front-rear width of the support unit 101. A stepped portion 105 protruding toward the rear of the mounting base 78 (the back side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1) is formed in a vertically long state along the side edge of the window portion 81. Then, the contact portion 92 (specifically, the contact portion 92 provided at a position facing the step portion 105 in the storage case 47) is contacted to the stepped portion 105 from the rear, and the positioning receiving portion 92a is positioned to the positioning portion. The upper and lower portions 102 are engaged with each other to position the storage case 47 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 9B).

  In the operation of attaching the display unit 48 (storage case 47) to the attachment base 78 having the support portion 101, the positioning portion 102, and the step portion 105 having such a configuration, first, the display unit 48 is attached from the back side of the attachment base 78. The display unit 48 is positioned near the support unit 101 by pressing the side and lower portions of the display unit 48 in this state. Then, the support protrusion 91 is engaged with and supported by the support step 104, and the movement of the display unit 48 in the vertical direction can be restricted (see FIG. 9A). Further, the contact portion 92 overlaps the stepped portion 105 and the positioning receiving portion 92a is fitted to the positioning portion 102, so that the movement of the display unit 48 in the left-right direction can be restricted (see FIG. 9B). . When the position of the display unit 48 is determined, the display unit 48 is fixed to the mounting base 78 by screwing the fixing unit 90 with a screw through the fixing receiving unit 96.

  Thus, by fitting the positioning portion 102 and the positioning receiving portion 92a, the working efficiency when positioning the storage case 47 with respect to the mounting base 78 is improved, and the storage case 47 can be easily screwed. It becomes easy to attach the storage case 47. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform the attaching operation of the components attached to the attachment base 78. Furthermore, by engaging the support step portion 104 and the support protrusion 91, the vertical movement of the storage case 47 can be sufficiently restricted, and the positioning operation and screwing operation of the storage case 47 can be performed more efficiently. It can be carried out. In addition, the contact between the contact portion 92 and the stepped portion 105 can sufficiently stabilize the fitting state between the positioning portion 102 and the positioning receiving portion 92a, and thus the positioning state of the storage case 47, and can be secured with screws. The work efficiency can be further improved.

  Furthermore, a space communicating with the concave chamber 79 is formed on the front surface portion (front surface portion located on the concave chamber 79 side) of the support portion 101, the positioning portion 102, and the stepped portion 105. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the front surface portion of the support portion 101 is recessed toward the back direction of the storage case 47 (the back side of the encapsulated ball game machine 1), A communication space 107 having an L-shape when viewed from the front surface side is formed, and the communication space 107 is communicated with the lower part and the side part (left side part in FIG. 11) of the concave chamber 79 from the rear. Further, the front portion of the positioning portion 102 is recessed upward from the upper edge portion of the communication space portion 107, and the side end portion of the communication space portion 107 located below the step portion 105 (the right end in FIG. 10). The expansion space portion 108 is formed to expand the portion) upward. Further, the front surface portion of the step portion 105 is recessed toward the back direction of the storage case 47 (the back side of the enclosing ball type gaming machine 1) to form a vertically long step side space portion 109 above the expansion space portion 108, The step side space portion 109 communicates with the side portion (right side portion in FIG. 11) of the concave chamber 79 from the rear, and communicates with the side end portion (right end portion in FIG. 10) of the communication space portion 107 from above. .

  The rear portion of the first accessory unit 83 faces the front side of the side portion of the communication space portion 107 (location located on the front side of the side portion 101 a) and the front side of the step side space portion 109. The rear portion of the second accessory unit 84 faces the front of the lower portion (the portion located on the front side of the lower side portion 101b), and the expansion space portion 108 and the communication space portion 107 communicating below the expansion space portion 108 In the side end portion, an accessory driving motor 84b provided in the rear portion of the second accessory unit 84 is accommodated (see FIG. 12). Accordingly, the space for arranging the directors 83 and 84 can be sufficiently secured by forming the support portion 101 and the step portion 105. In addition, since the positioning portion 102 is formed, it is possible to expand the arrangement space for the production actors 83 and 84.

  If the positioning portion 102 has a curved surface shape with a dome shape on the upper surface and the positioning receiving portion 92a has a curved shape with a lower end portion (a lower end portion facing the upper surface of the positioning portion 102) recessed in a mortar shape, the positioning receiving portion 92a. And the positioning portion 102 can be smoothly fitted, and the storage case 47 can be smoothly applied to the mounting base 78. Further, both the mounting base 78 and the storage case 47 are hardly damaged, and manufacturing defects can be prevented.

Next, the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 includes a collection rod member 113 positioned above the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 and a collection ball channel 114 connected below the collection rod member 113. (The connection communication path 115 serving as the upstream part and the bent flow path 116 serving as the downstream part) and the lower part of the ball circulation mechanism part 35 (in other words, the downstream end part of the game ball path in the ball circulation mechanism part 35) The ball feeding unit 117 is capable of supplying a game ball to the launching device 14.

  The recovery rod member 113 includes a foul ball receiving portion 119 positioned on the shaft attachment side (left side in FIG. 13) of the opening / closing member 8, and an open side (right side in FIG. 13) of the opening / closing member 8 from the foul ball receiving portion 119. ) In which the collection ball receiving unit 120 located in the position), the foul ball receiving unit 119, and the foul ball descending rod 121 connecting the collection ball receiving unit 120 are arranged in the horizontal direction (left and right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1). It is formed by integral molding. The foul ball receiving unit 119 is a box-shaped portion that receives and collects a game ball (foul ball) that has been launched from the launching device 14 but has flowed back through the launch ball guide path 42 without reaching the game area 6. It arrange | positions under the lower end (entrance) of the ball guide path 42, and it is comprised so that the upper part which faces the entrance of the launch ball guide path 42 may be open | released and a foul ball may be received from upper direction. Further, a foul ball falling rod 121 capable of flowing down foul balls in a row is connected to the side portion (right side in FIG. 13) of the foul ball receiving portion 119, and the foul ball falling rod 121 is connected to the foul ball. Inclined downward from the receiving unit 119 side toward the collecting ball receiving unit 120 side, and the lower end of the tilt of the foul ball descending rod 121 is opened to the collecting ball receiving unit 120. Further, a foul sphere detection switch 122 capable of detecting a foul sphere is provided in an upstream portion located on the foul sphere receiving portion 119 side of the foul sphere descending rod 121. In the front side portion of the foul ball receiving portion 119, the place where the launch ball is located above the launch rail 36, in other words, the place located on the trajectory of the game ball (launch ball) launched from the launch device 14, The projecting ball passage space portion 123 that can pass through is cut away to avoid collision of the launch ball with the foul ball receiving portion 119, and a ball intrusion prevention wall 124 is erected along the edge of the launch ball passage space portion 123, The launch ball is prevented from entering the foul ball receiver 119 before reaching the launch ball guide path 42.

  The collection ball receiving unit 120 has an upper surface opening portion for a game ball (safe ball (winning ball)) that has passed through the winning ball channel 63 and a game ball (out ball) that has been collected in the out port 59 without winning the winning area. Is a horizontally long bowl-shaped portion that is received and collected from, and is disposed below the winning ball collection unit 64 and the out port 59, and the upper part facing the game board 5 side is opened to provide an out ball and a safe ball (in other words, a game area 6 (game balls guided to the back side of the game board 5) can be received from above. In addition, the bottom portion of the collection ball receiving portion 120 is inclined downward toward the foul ball descending rod 121 side, and the width dimension of the bottom portion (dimension in the direction orthogonal to the inclination direction) is set slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball. Thus, the game balls are configured to be aligned in a line along the inclination direction of the bottom of the collection ball receiving unit 120. Further, a connecting communication path 115 upstream of the recovery ball channel 114 is connected to the inclined lower end of the bottom of the collection ball receiving section 120, and the opening size of the connection communication path 115 is set slightly larger than that of the game ball. Then, the game balls in the collection ball receiving unit 120 and the game balls (foul balls) that flow into the collection ball receiving unit 120 from the foul ball descending rod 121 are lined up to the connection communication path 115 (collection ball channel 114). A recovery ball detection switch (recovered ball detection unit) capable of detecting a game ball recovered by the recovery rod member 113 and flowing down to the recovery ball channel 114 at the lower end of the connection communication path 115. 126 is provided. Then, the lower end of the bottom of the collection ball receiving section 120 is shifted downward from the downstream end of the foul ball falling bowl 121 so that the game ball flowing down the foul ball falling bowl 121 is a game ball in the collection ball receiving section 120 ( Specifically, it is configured so as to avoid the inconvenience of colliding with a game ball about to flow down to the connection communication path 115, and the inconvenience that the game ball does not easily flow down to the recovery ball channel 114.

  The bent flow path 116 is a flow path in which the inner opening size is set to be slightly larger than that of the game balls so that a plurality of (16 in this embodiment) game balls can flow down and stop in a line. It is configured to meander (bend) along the left-right direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1. Specifically, the upstream portion 116a of the bent flow passage 116 is inclined downward toward the open side (right side in FIG. 13) of the opening / closing member 8, and the downstream portion 116b of the bent flow passage 116 is moved to the axis attachment side ( It is inclined downward toward the left side in FIG. A game in the collection ball channel 114 is detected by detecting the presence or absence of a game ball located in the bent portion 116c at the bent portion 116c of the bent channel 116 (the connection portion between the upstream portion 116a and the downstream portion 116b). A ball quantity switch (circulating sphere detection unit) 128 that makes it possible to grasp the stationary state of the sphere is arranged. As shown in FIG. 15A, the length of the bent flow path 116 is such that all the game balls (16 game balls in this embodiment) enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 are arranged in a line. It is set to a length that can be stopped in a state where all the game balls are stopped so that the last game ball (most upstream side) is positioned downstream of the recovery ball detection switch 126. (See FIG. 19A).

  The ball feeding unit 117 includes a ball feeding channel 131 that communicates the collection ball channel 114 and the launching device 14, and a ball feeding device 132 that performs a ball feeding operation from the collection ball channel 114 to the ball feeding channel 131. It is configured with. The ball feed flow path 131 is a flow path in which the opening size of the inside is set to be slightly larger than that of the game balls so that the game balls can flow down in a row, and the upstream of the ball feed flow path 131 The end communicates with the downstream end of the bent flow passage 116 (the downstream end of the collection ball flow passage 114), and the downstream portion of the ball feed flow passage 131 is bent toward the front launching device 14 to launch the launching device 14. It communicates with the launch position S set at the lower end of the rail 36 so that the game ball in the collection ball channel 114 can be supplied to the launch position S. In addition, a feed ball detection switch (supply ball detection unit) 133 capable of detecting a game ball supplied to the launch position S through the ball feed channel 131 is disposed upstream of the ball feed channel 131. ing. A launch ball support unit 134 that supports the game ball supplied to the launch position S from below is provided below the launch position S where the game ball that has passed through the ball feed channel 131 reaches, and the launch ball support unit 134. When the launching solenoid 14a of the launching device 14 is driven to rotate the launching rod 14b, the tip of the launching rod 14b enters the launch position S through the gap, The game ball supported by the launch ball support unit 134 is configured to be ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the ball feeding device 132 includes a ball feeding member 137 that faces the downstream end of the bent flow path 116 from above, and a ball feeding solenoid that drives the ball feeding member 137 (the posture conversion of the ball feeding member 137). Drive source) 138. Specifically, a ball feed casing 139 is provided above the downstream end portion of the bent flow passage 116, and the ball feed communication opening 140 penetrating the ball feed casing 139 and the downstream end portion of the bent flow passage 116 in the vertical direction. The ball feed member 137 is arranged in a posture extending in the lateral direction (inclination direction of the bent flow path 116) in the ball feed communication opening 140. One end of the ball feed member 137 facing the downstream side of the bent flow path 116 (left end in FIG. 15A) is pivotally attached to the opening edge of the ball feed communication opening 140 as a shaft attachment portion 137a. The other end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 15A) facing the upstream side of the bent flow passage 116 is a ball engaging end portion 137b, and is pivotable in the vertical direction around the shaft attachment portion 137a.

  Further, a ball feed solenoid 138 is arranged in a position in the ball feed casing 139 above the ball engaging end portion 137b so that the plunger 138a faces downward, and the lower end of the plunger 138a has a ball engagement. The end portion 137b is connected, and the ball engaging end portion 137b is moved in the vertical direction by the operation of the ball feed solenoid 138 so that the ball end portion 137b can move in and out of the bent flow path 116. Specifically, in a normal state in which the ball feed solenoid 138 is not driven, the plunger 138a is lowered by a biasing force of a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring built in the ball feed solenoid 138, and the plunger 138a is pushed down. The ball feeding member 137 is rotated downward by the force, and the ball engaging end portion 137b protrudes into the downstream end portion of the bent flow path 116, and can engage with the game ball located in the downstream end portion of the bent flow path 116. Is maintained in a supply blocking posture (a state in which the supply of the game ball to the launching device 14 is blocked) (see FIGS. 15A and 15C). On the other hand, when the ball feed solenoid 138 is driven, the plunger 138a rises against the urging force of the urging member, and the ball feeding member 137 is rotated upward by the pulling force of the plunger 138a and the ball engaging end 137b. Is removed upward from the downstream end portion of the bent flow passage 116, and the supply allowable posture in which the game ball located in the downstream end portion of the bent flow passage 116 cannot be engaged (the supply of the game ball to the launching device 14 is allowed). State) (see FIG. 15B).

  Further, the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 receives a game ball supplied from the outside (external) of the enclosed ball game machine 1 and can introduce the ball into the ball circulation mechanism unit 35, and the ball circulation mechanism unit. A game ball is extracted from the ball 35 and connected to a ball discharge unit 144 that discharges the game ball to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 16, the sphere introduction part 143 has a vertically long configuration provided at a position located behind the firing ball guide path 42 in the front frame 3, and a sphere located above the sphere introduction part 143. A supply receiving unit 146, an introduction sphere channel 147 located below the sphere introduction unit 143, and a sphere introduction device 148 provided between the sphere supply reception unit 146 and the introduction sphere channel 147. Has been.

  The ball supply receiving portion 146 has an upper end opened upward to provide a ball receiving port 146a. The ball receiving port 146a faces a ball supply outlet (not shown) of the ball supply device of the island facility. Further, a lower end of a ball supply rod 146b extending downward from the ball receiving port 146a is connected to an inlet of the ball introducing device 148, and a game ball received from the ball receiving port 146a (enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1). The game ball having the same diameter as the game ball is guided through the ball supply basket 146b to the ball introduction device 148. The introduction ball flow path 147 is a flow path for guiding the game balls discharged from the ball introduction device 148 to the ball circulation mechanism unit 35, the upper end portion is connected to the outlet of the ball introduction device 148, and the lower end opening is received by the foul ball reception. It faces the upper part of the part 119 (specifically, directly above the position of the foul ball receiving part 119 shifted rearward from the launching ball passage space part 123). Further, the opening size of the introduction ball channel 147 is set to be slightly larger than that of the game balls, and the game balls flow down toward the foul ball receiving portion 119 in a state where they are arranged in a line.

  The ball introduction device 148 is a device that can pay out the introduction ball flow path 147 while counting the game balls received from the ball supply receiving unit 146. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, a vertically-facing ball flow down passage 150 is formed inside the ball introduction device 148, the upper end portion of the ball flow down passage 150 is used as an entrance for a game ball, and the lower end portion is played as a game. The exit of the ball. Further, in the middle of the spherical flow lower passage 150, the rotating shaft 151 a faces the end of the sprocket 151 set in a posture orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the spherical flow lower passage 150. An introduction ball detection switch 152 capable of detecting a game ball is provided below, and a ball introduction motor 153 (see FIG. 16) for rotationally driving the sprocket 151 is disposed on the side of the ball introduction device 148. The output shaft 153 is connected to the rotation shaft 151 a of the sprocket 151. When a plurality of ball holding grooves 151b are formed on the outer periphery of the sprocket 151 and the game balls are fitted one by one in the ball holding grooves 151b, the sprocket 151 is rotated. It is configured to be detected by the introduction ball detection switch 152 after flowing down to the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the ball discharge portion 144 is configured to be provided upstream of the ball feed portion 117 and downstream of the ball amount switch 128 in the downstream portion 116 b of the bent flow passage 116. A discharge ball channel 156 communicating with the bent channel 116, and a game ball flowing down the discharge ball channel 156 (in other words, discharged to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 through the ball discharge unit 144). A discharge ball detection switch (discharge ball detection unit) 157 capable of detecting a game ball), and a flow path switching device 158 that allows or prevents the game ball from flowing down to the discharge ball flow path 156. .

  More specifically, a ball discharge port 160 is opened at a size slightly larger than the game ball on the downstream side of the ball amount switch 128 in the bottom of the downstream portion 116b of the bent flow channel 116, and the ball discharge port 160 The discharge ball channel 156 extends downward, and a discharge ball detection switch 157 is disposed in the middle of the discharge ball channel 156. Further, the flow path switching member 161 that can open and close the ball outlet 160 and the flow path switching solenoid 162 that slides the flow path switching member 161 constitute a flow path switching device 158, and the flow path switching solenoid 162 is a plunger. 162a is arranged in a posture facing the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1, and a flow path switching member 161 is connected to the tip of the plunger 162a. In a normal state in which the flow path switching solenoid 162 is not driven, the plunger 162a is attached to the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 by the biasing force of a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring built in the flow path switching solenoid 162. Moving to the rear side, the flow path switching member 161 is set in a closed state in which the ball discharge port 160 is closed (a discharge prevention state in which the game ball is prevented from flowing down to the discharge ball flow path 156) (see FIG. 14 and FIG. 14). (See FIG. 19 (a)). On the other hand, when the flow path switching solenoid 162 is driven, the plunger 162a moves to the rear side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 against the biasing force of the biasing member, and the flow path switching member 161 opens the ball discharge port 160. The state is converted into an open state (a discharge allowable state in which the game ball is allowed to flow down to the discharge ball flow path 156) (see FIG. 19B).

  In addition, since the ball discharge unit 144 is arranged on the downstream side of the bent flow channel 116 with respect to the ball amount switch 128, the ball amount switch 128 is arranged on the upstream side of the bent flow channel 116 with respect to the ball discharge unit 144. It is configured to be able to detect a state (sphere present state) that exists (stops) until.

Next, a control system centered on the game control device 165 that controls the progress of the game of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control device 165 includes a CPU that controls game control, a ROM that stores a control program for game control, and a RAM that is used as a work area during game control, an input interface, an output interface, and the like. . Then, as shown in FIG. 18, in response to detection signals from various detection devices (winning ball detection switch (winning port switch, start port switch) 65, count switch 168, gate switch 169, open / close detection switch 19, etc.) Various processes such as special game state (big hit state), notification to the player, power failure response process, and the like are performed. Further, in addition to the production control device 49 and the enclosed ball control device 170, the command signal is transmitted to the general electric solenoid 171, the big prize opening solenoid 172, the collective display device 60, the external information terminal board 173, etc., and the game is integrated. Control.

  The effect control device 49 includes a CPU for effect control, a PROM storing a control program for effect control, an image ROM storing image data, etc., a VRAM used as a work area during image control, an input interface, and an output interface Etc. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, a signal generated as the game progresses in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1, specifically, a control signal (effect control command) from the game control device 165, an effect button, An effect operation is controlled based on an operation signal, a position detection signal from an effect position detection switch 175 provided in each effect accessory 83, 84, and the like. Specifically, display on the display device 46 (display unit 46a), output of sound effects from the speaker 13, and driving and light emission in the production / decoration devices such as the production actors 83 and 84 and the side lamp 57 are controlled.

  The enclosing ball control device 170 includes a CPU that controls the enclosing ball, a ROM that stores a control program for controlling the enclosing ball, a RAM that is used as a work area when controlling the enclosing ball, an input interface, an output interface, and the like. It is configured. The signals from the ball lending unit 31, the ball circulation mechanism 35, the ball introduction unit 143, and the switches provided in the ball discharge unit 144 (feed ball detection switch 133, recovery ball detection switch 126, foul ball detection switch 122, Signals from the ball amount switch 128, the discharge ball detection switch 157, and the introduction ball detection switch 152), signals from the operation buttons (lending button 22, return button 23) provided on the ball lending input / output panel 12, the card reader / writer 21 The card reading information is received, and a signal is output to the firing control device 176, the card reader / writer 21, the balance display unit 28, the number-of-balls display unit 29, the ball introduction motor 153, the notification device 177, etc. Operation, introduction of game balls into the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 by the ball introduction unit 143, output of information about the player's ball and prepaid card , To control the notification operation, such as an error. Further, the game functions as floating ball monitoring means, and a game existing outside the ball circulation mechanism 35 based on detection signals (detection results) of the collected ball detection switch 126 and the feed ball detection switch 133 during the game. The number of balls (in other words, the game ball moving in the launching device 14, the launching ball guide path 42, the game area 6, and the winning ball flow path 63) is counted as a floating ball (specifically, the enclosing ball control device 170 It is stored in the floating sphere counter set in the work area), and the existence of the floating sphere can be accurately monitored.

  Next, the action of the ball circulation mechanism 35, the ball introduction part 143, and the ball discharge part 144, particularly the action during the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 8 will be described. In addition, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 19A, the execution of the game is stopped in advance, and the ball feeding member 137 is converted to the supply blocking posture and the flow path switching member 161 is discharged. It is assumed that all the game balls (encapsulated spheres) enclosed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 are stopped in the bent flow path 116 after being converted to the blocked state. Furthermore, it is assumed that game balls received from the ball supply device of the island facility are stored in the ball supply receiving unit 146 of the ball introducing unit 143 up to the lower end of the ball supply basket 146b.

  First, when the opening / closing member 8 in the closed state is opened and the opening / closing detection switch 19 outputs an opening signal as a detection result, the game control device 165 outputs an opening command to the enclosed ball control device 170 based on the reception of the opening signal. To do. The encapsulated ball control device 170 that has received the release command functions as a launch control unit, stops transmission of the launch permission signal to the launch control device 176, and moves to the launch position S by maintaining the supply blocking posture of the ball feed member 137. The supply of the game ball is blocked, and the regulation of the release of the game ball from the launching device 14 is started. When the opening / closing member 8 is closed from the open state and the opening / closing detection switch 19 stops outputting the opening signal as a detection result (or outputs a closing signal instead of the opening signal), the detection result of the opening / closing detection switch 19 is received. The gaming control device 165 functions as a condition determination unit, and based on the detection result of the opening / closing detection switch 19, it is determined that the opening / closing member 8 is converted from the open state to the closed state and the ball replacement condition is satisfied, Based on the establishment, a closing command is output to the enclosed ball control device 170.

  The enclosing ball control device 170 that has received the closing command functions as a ball exchanging means, and it is a case where it is determined that there is no floating ball based on the monitoring result as the floating ball monitoring means, and the ball quantity switch 128 has a ball present state. When a state where a game ball is present upstream from the ball discharge portion 144 to the upstream side of the bent flow path 116 is detected, a ball for exchanging a plurality of game balls stopped upstream of the bent flow path 116 Exchange control (specifically, ball exchange control in which a game ball in the bent flow passage 116 is discharged through the discharge portion and a new game ball is introduced into the bent flow passage 116 through the ball introduction portion 143) Execute. If it is determined that there is a floating sphere, or if the sphere presence state is not detected, execution of the sphere exchange control is not started.

  In the ball exchange control, first, control for converting the flow path switching member 161 of the ball discharge unit 144 to the discharge allowable state is executed. Then, as shown in FIG. 19B, the ball discharge port 160 is opened, and among the game balls in the bent channel 116, the game ball located on the ball discharge port 160 and the ball discharge port 160 on the upstream side. The game ball located at the bottom flows down to the discharge ball channel 156 and is discharged to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1. In addition, the discharge ball detection switch 157 detects the game ball that has passed through the discharge ball flow path 156, and transmits a detection signal to the enclosed ball control device 170. Further, in this detection signal (the detection result of the discharge ball detection switch 157). Based on this, the encapsulated ball control device 170 functions as a discharge ball number specifying means, and specifies the number of game balls (the number of discharged balls) discharged to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1. The discharged game balls are collected by a discharge ball collection unit (not shown) provided in the island facility.

  When the discharge ball detection switch 157 no longer detects the flow of the discharge ball and the completion of the discharge of the game ball is confirmed, the enclosed ball control device 170 converts the flow path switching member 161 from the discharge permission state to the discharge prevention state. The control which performs is performed and the ball | bowl discharge port 160 is closed. Next, a driving signal is transmitted to the ball introduction motor 153, and the number of game balls (specifically, the same number of games as the number of discharged balls) corresponding to the number of game balls (number of discharged balls) specified by the enclosed ball control device 170. Sphere) is introduced from the sphere introduction unit 143 to the sphere circulation mechanism unit 35. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20A, the sprocket 151 is rotated by driving the ball introduction motor 153 to cause the game ball to flow down to the ball flow down passage 150 and be discharged to the introduction ball flow path 147. Then, the introduced ball detection switch 152 detects and counts the game balls that have passed through the ball flow down passage 150, and when the counted result reaches the number corresponding to the number of discharged balls, the driving of the ball introduction motor 153 is stopped. The game ball introduction operation (discharge operation) to the ball circulation mechanism 35 is finished.

  The game ball that has flowed down the ball introduction portion 143 is introduced into the foul ball receiving portion 119, passes through the foul ball falling rod 121, the collection ball receiving portion 120, and the connection communication passage 115, and flows into the bent flow passage 116 to flow therethrough. It stops from the switching member 161 to the upstream side of the bent flow path 116 (see FIG. 20B). In this manner, when the opening / closing member 8 is converted from the open state to the closed state, the ball exchange control is executed, and the game ball stopped on the upstream side of the bent flow path 116 is enclosed from the ball discharge unit 144. Since the game machine 1 is discharged outside the game machine, and a new game ball is introduced into the bent flow path 116 from the ball introduction unit 143 instead, a small-diameter ball enters the game area 6 when the opening / closing member 8 is opened. Even if it is illegally mixed in the mechanism portion 35, the small-diameter sphere can be discharged to the outside of the enclosing ball-type gaming machine 1, and the illegal use of the small-diameter sphere in the game can be prevented.

  In addition, the encapsulated ball control device 170 receives the detection signal of the recovery ball detection switch 126, thereby grasping that the game ball introduced from the ball introduction unit 143 is flowing into the recovery ball flow path 114. Then, when the detection signal of the recovered ball detection switch 126 is not received, it is determined that the ball exchange control has been completed, and the stopped launch permission signal is transmitted to the launch control device 176 to launch the controlled game ball. Allow. In this way, since the enclosed ball control device 170 functioning as the launch control means regulates the launch of the game ball from when the conversion of the opening / closing member 8 to the open state is detected until the ball exchange control ends, Even if the small-diameter sphere is illegally mixed in the circulation path during execution of the ball exchange, the mixed small-diameter sphere is fired from the launching device 14 before being discharged out of the encapsulated ball game machine 1. There is nothing.

  Furthermore, since the enclosed ball control device 170 functioning as a ball exchange means executes the ball exchange control when the ball presence state is detected by the ball quantity switch 128, the small-diameter sphere is turned into the ball circulation mechanism unit when the opening / closing member 8 is opened. Even if it is illegally mixed in the ball 35, it is possible to reliably discharge the mixed small-diameter sphere out of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1. In the ball exchange control, a number of game balls corresponding to the number of game balls discharged to the outside of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 are introduced into the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 by the ball introduction unit 143. It is possible to avoid the number of game balls existing in the mechanism unit 35 from extremely increasing or decreasing before and after the ball exchange, and there are not enough game balls to be fired or game balls overflow from the ball circulation mechanism unit 35. There is nothing. If it is determined that there is a game ball (floating ball) outside the ball circulation mechanism unit 35, the execution of the ball exchange control is not started, so that the small diameter illegally mixed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 The ball exchange control can be started at an accurate timing at which the sphere can be removed, and the disadvantage of failing to eliminate the small-diameter sphere despite the execution of the ball exchange can be avoided.

  Next, the ball exchange control executed by the enclosed ball control device 170 will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, in the main process of the enclosed ball control device 170, as shown in FIG. 21, the signals from the detection switches, the ball lending unit 31 and the like are received and the signals are transmitted to the solenoids and the ball introduction motor 153 and the like. Output process (S1), command reception process (S2) for receiving a control signal from the game control device 165 (award ball number command, open / close command, etc.), the number of balls held in the prepaid card in the card reader / writer 21 Card control processing (S3) for adding to the number-of-balls counter set in the work area of the enclosed ball control device 170 or writing the data written in the number-of-balls counter to the prepaid card based on the operation of the return button 23 ) When the lending button 22 is operated in a state where there is a balance (value stored in the player's prepaid card), Rental control process in communication with Tsu preparative 31 adds the ball number for the number of lending lifting counts counter (S4) performed. Further, the ball holding control process for increasing / decreasing the ball holding counter based on the prize ball number command from the game control device 165, the ball feeding operation by the ball feeding unit 117, and the collection detection of the gaming ball by the collection ball detection switch 126 (S5). ), The enclosed ball control process (S6) for executing the counting of the number of game balls in the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 and the ball exchange control, the display of the number of balls held display unit 29, the balance display unit 28, etc. based on the number of balls held counter The display control process (S7) for controlling is executed.

  In the holding ball control process (S5), as shown in FIG. 22, first, it is determined whether or not the firing operation unit 15 is operated to generate a firing operation signal (S11), and a firing operation signal is generated. If the opening / closing member 8 is open, it is determined whether or not the firing operation of the launching device 14 is in a stopped state (launch restricted state) (S12). In step S13, it is determined whether or not the ball count counter is a positive value (whether or not there is a ball). If the ball count counter is a positive value, a ball feed solenoid is determined. The operation of sending the game ball to the firing position S of the launching device 14 by driving 138 is executed (S14). Then, after executing the ball feeding operation in step S14 or when it is determined in step S11 that the firing operation unit 15 is not operated, it is determined whether or not the feeding ball detection switch 133 has detected a game ball. If it is determined (S15) and the ball detection switch 133 detects a game ball, a process of subtracting 1 from the number-of-ball counter (S16) and a process of adding 1 to the floating ball counter (S17) are executed. To do.

  After executing steps S16 and S17, or when it is determined in step S12 that it is in the firing restriction state, or when the number-of-ball counter is not a positive value (ie, there is no ball) in step S13. Then, it is determined whether or not the foul ball is collected by the foul ball receiving unit 119 and detected by the foul ball detecting switch 122 (S18). If a foul ball is detected, 1 is added to the holding ball number counter. (S19). Then, after updating the number-of-ball counter by +1, or when no foul ball is detected in step S18, whether the game ball flows into the collection ball channel 114 and is detected by the collection ball detection switch 126. It is determined whether or not (S20), and if inflow of the game ball into the collection ball channel 114 is detected, a process of subtracting 1 from the floating ball counter is performed (S21). Furthermore, after the floating ball counter is updated by -1 or when the inflow of the game ball into the collection ball flow path 114 is not detected in step S20, a prize ball number command is received from the game control device 165. If it has not received a prize ball number command, it immediately ends the holding ball control process. If it has received, it has a number of game balls corresponding to the received prize ball number command. This is added to the ball counter (S23), and the ball holding control process is terminated.

  In the enclosing ball control process (S6), as shown in FIG. 23, first, it is determined whether or not the enclosing ball control device 170 has received an opening command for notifying the opening of the opening / closing member 8 from the game control device 165. (S31) If the release command has been received, a launch stop state (launch restriction state) for stopping the launch of the game ball from the launch device 14 is set (S32). Then, after setting the firing stop state or when no opening command is received in step S31, the enclosing ball control device 170 receives a closing command for notifying the closing of the opening / closing member 8 from the game control device 165. If the closing command is not received, the enclosed ball control process is immediately terminated. If the closing command is received, the ball amount switch 128 is present for the predetermined time or longer. It is determined whether or not a state (a state with a sphere) is detected (S34, S35). If the sphere presence state is detected, the presence or absence of a floating sphere is confirmed by referring to the floating sphere counter (S36). If there is no floating sphere, the flow path switching solenoid 162 is driven to flow path switching member 161. Is converted into a discharge allowable state (open state), and the ball discharge port 160 is opened to start the operation of causing the game ball in the bent flow path 116 to flow down to the ball discharge unit 144 (S37). On the other hand, if the sphere presence state is not detected in step S35, or if it is confirmed that there is a floating sphere in step S36, an error (specifically, a game ball in the bent flow path 116 is detected in the notification device 177). (S38) is executed to notify that the ball is not stopped up to the ball outlet 160 or that all the game balls enclosed are not stopped in the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 (S38). It returns to the process (S31) which determines the presence or absence of reception.

  If the flow path switching member 161 is converted to the discharge permitted state in step S37, it is determined whether or not the discharge ball detection switch 157 detects a game ball that has passed through the discharge ball flow path 156 (S39). If detected, a process of adding 1 to the discharge ball counter (S40) and a process of setting the discharge ball monitoring timer (S41) are executed to determine again whether or not the game ball is detected by the discharge ball detection switch 157. Return to the process (S39). If a game ball is not detected in step S39, a process of subtracting 1 from the discharge ball monitoring timer (S42) is executed, and whether the monitoring time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed after checking the discharge ball monitoring timer is confirmed. If the monitoring time has not elapsed (S43), the process returns to the process of determining whether or not the game ball has been detected by the discharge ball detection switch 157 (S39). If the monitoring time has elapsed, The drive of the path switching solenoid 162 is stopped, the flow path switching member 161 is converted to the discharge prevention state, and the ball discharge port 160 is closed (S44).

  If step S44 is performed, the operation | movement which starts the ball introduction motor 153 and introduces a new game ball to the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 is started (S45), and the introduction ball detection switch 152 is flowing down the ball flow down passage 150. It is determined whether or not the game ball is detected (S46). If it is detected, 1 is subtracted from the discharge ball counter (S47), and it is determined whether or not the discharge ball counter is 0 (S48). If the discharge ball counter is not 0, or if a game ball flowing down the ball flow path 150 is not detected in step S46, the flow returns to step S45 and the ball introduction motor 153 is continuously driven to play the game ball. Continue the introduction operation. In addition, when the discharge ball counter reaches 0 in step S48, the ball presence state detects whether or not the ball amount switch 128 has detected the ball presence state (ball presence state) for a predetermined time or more. Until it is determined (S49, S50), and if the ball presence state is detected, the launch stop state set in step S32 is canceled (S51), and the launch of the game ball is permitted (the launch stop state is The notification of the release) is performed by the notification device 177 (S52), and the enclosed ball control process is terminated.

  In the first embodiment, the sphere introduction device 148 is provided in the sphere introduction portion 143 provided on the back side of the front frame 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ball introduction portion provided in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is configured only by a vertically long ball introduction basket, and instead, the ball introduction device is provided as a ball supply device in the island facility where the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is installed. The game ball discharged from the ball introduction device may be introduced into the ball introduction basket. Then, the enclosed sphere control device 170 and the sphere introduction device (sphere introduction motor, introduction sphere detection switch) are electrically connected via the external information terminal plate 173, and the detection signal of the introduction sphere detection switch is sent to the enclosure sphere control device. 170 may be transmitted to the ball introduction motor, and a control signal (drive signal) from the enclosed ball control device 170 may be transmitted to the ball introduction motor.

  By the way, in the encapsulated ball game machine 1 in the first embodiment, the game is executed by circulating one kind of game ball in the encapsulated ball game machine 1, but the present invention is limited to this. Not. For example, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 1 in the second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, but is not provided with a ball introduction part and a ball discharge part, and instead, a plurality of different diameter dimensions are provided. A ball exchange unit that can accommodate various types of game balls faces the ball circulation mechanism, and the ball exchange unit allows game balls (in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 to be used in games) to be used in response to changes in the lending rate. The difference is that the diameter of the game balls to be circulated can be changed.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the ball circulation mechanism 35 ′ in the second embodiment includes a recovery rod member 113 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and a lower portion of the recovery rod member 113. And a short recovery ball channel 114 ′ for introducing the game balls recovered by the recovery rod member 113 into the ball exchange unit 180, and a ball feed arranged spaced apart downward from the recovery ball channel 114 ′ The recovery ball detection switch 126 is disposed at the downstream end of the recovery ball channel 114 ', and the feed ball detection switch is provided at the side of the ball feed channel 131'. 133 is arranged. Further, the lower end (exit) of the collection ball channel 114 ′ is opened downward, and the upper end (inlet) of the ball feed channel 131 ′ is opened upward.

  A ball exchange unit 180 is disposed between the collection ball channel 114 ′ and the ball feed channel 131 ′. As shown in FIG. 26, the ball exchange unit 180 includes a unit case 185 (a part of the front frame 3) formed at a position located below the game board 5 on the back side of the front frame 3, and a sealed ball type. A plurality of (two in the present embodiment) ball housing members 186 disposed in the unit case 185 in a state of overlapping in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 1, and a moving mechanism 187 that allows the ball housing members 186 to move. Configured. The unit case 185 is a bottomed box-like member that is horizontally long along the longitudinal direction of the recovery rod member 113, and the upper portion of the unit case 185 is opened so that the upper portion of the ball housing member 186 is directed to the upper recovery rod member 113 side. It is exposed. In addition, the bottom opening of the unit case 185 passes through the bottom opening 185a in the vertical direction on the axis attachment side (left side in FIG. 26) of the opening / closing member 8, and the opening edge of the bottom opening 185a (specifically, the opening / closing member 8 The upper part of the ball feed channel 131 ′ is connected to the shaft-attached side (opening edge located on the left side in FIG. 26), and the upper end of the ball feed channel 131 ′ faces the inside of the unit case 185.

  The ball housing member 186 is a thin box-shaped member extending along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the unit case 185, and as shown in FIG. 27, the front panel 188 located on the front side of the ball housing member 186. And a rear panel 189 located on the back side. In addition, a spherical housing flow path 190 that meanders (bends) along the longitudinal direction of the spherical housing member 186 is formed inside the spherical housing member 186. Specifically, the upstream portion of the ball housing channel 190 is inclined downward toward the open side of the opening / closing member 8 (right side in FIG. 27), and the downstream portion of the ball housing channel 190 is attached to the shaft-attached side of the opening / closing member 8 ( 27, it is inclined downward toward the left side), and the opening area inside the ball housing channel 190 is set to be slightly larger than the game ball, and a plurality of (24 in FIG. 27) are set in the ball housing channel 190. The game balls can be accommodated in a line.

  In the two ball accommodating members 186, the diameters of the game balls to be accommodated are set different from each other, and the ball accommodating flow path of the first ball accommodating member 186a located on the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 is set. 190 (first sphere housing flow path 190a) accommodates a gaming ball having a diameter of 11 mm as a first enclosing sphere, and the sphere housing flow path 190 (second sphere housing flow path of the second sphere housing member 186b located on the rear side. In 190b), a gaming ball of φ11.1 mm having a diameter larger than that of the first enclosing ball is accommodated as a second enclosing ball. Since the second encapsulated sphere has a larger diameter than the first encapsulated sphere, the second encapsulated sphere easily comes into contact with the obstacle nail or the like during the flow down of the game area 6 and the flow down direction is likely to change. Moreover, it is easy to collide with the opening edge of winning areas, such as the start winning opening 54 and the big winning openings 55 and 56, and it is easy to be played to the outside of a winning area. Therefore, the winning rate (ease of winning) when the game is played using the second encapsulated ball in circulation is higher than the winning rate when the game is played using the first enclosed ball circulating. As a result, the exit rate when using the second encapsulated sphere is lower than the exit rate when using the first encapsulated sphere.

  Further, the upstream end (inlet) of the sphere receiving channel 190 is opened at a position that can be located immediately below the lower end of the recovery sphere channel 114 ′ on the upper surface of the sphere receiving member 186, while the lower surface of the sphere receiving member 186 is opened. Among them, the downstream end (exit) of the ball housing channel 190 is opened at a position that can be located immediately above the upper end of the ball feeding channel 131 ′, and the game ball accommodated in the ball housing member 186 is sent to the ball feeding channel. In addition to being led out to 131 ′, the game balls collected by the collection rod member 113 and flowing into the collection ball channel 114 ′ can be introduced. In addition, the length of each ball accommodating flow path 190 is different for each ball accommodating member 186 corresponding to the diameter of the game ball to be accommodated, and in any ball accommodating member 186, the length (at the most upstream side) is different. The game ball to be accommodated is set so as to be located downstream of the entrance of the ball accommodation flow path 190.

  In addition, a ball feed member 194 driven by a ball feed solenoid 193 is faced from above at the inclined lower end of the downstream portion of the ball housing flow path 190. More specifically, a ball feed arrangement space portion 196 is set above the inclined lower end of the downstream portion of the ball containment flow path 190 in the inside of the ball accommodation member 186, and the ball feed arrangement space portion 196 and the ball accommodation flow The downstream end of the path 190 is communicated with a ball feed communication opening 197 penetrating in the vertical direction, and a ball feed member 194 is extended in the lateral direction (inclination direction of the ball housing flow path 190) to the ball feed communication opening 197. Arranged in the existing posture. In addition, one end portion (left end portion in FIG. 27) of the ball feeding member 194 facing the downstream side of the ball housing channel 190 is pivotally attached to the opening edge of the communication opening as a shaft attachment portion 194a. The other end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 27) facing the upstream side of 190 is a ball engaging end portion 194b, and is rotatable in the vertical direction around the shaft attachment portion 194a.

  Further, a ball feed solenoid (a driving source for changing the attitude of the ball feed member 194) 193 and a plunger 193a are directed downward at a location in the ball feed arrangement space 196 located above the ball engaging end 194b. The ball engaging end 194b is connected to the lower end of the plunger 193a, and the ball engaging end 194b is moved in the vertical direction by the operation of the ball feed solenoid 193 to enter the ball accommodating flow path 190. It is configured so that it can appear and disappear. Specifically, in a normal state where the ball feed solenoid 193 is not driven, the plunger 193a is lowered by the biasing force of a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring built in the ball feed solenoid 193, and the plunger 193a is pushed down. Due to the force, the ball feeding member 194 is rotated downward to project the ball engaging end portion 194 b into the downstream end portion of the ball accommodating flow path 190, so that the game ball located in the downstream end portion of the ball accommodating flow path 190 is engaged. The lead-out preventing posture (a state in which the lead-out of the game ball to the ball feed passage 131 ′ is prevented) is maintained (see FIGS. 28A and 28C). On the other hand, when the ball feed solenoid 193 is driven, the plunger 193a rises against the urging force of the urging member, and the ball feeding member 194 is rotated upward by the pulling force of the plunger 193a and the ball engaging end 194b. Is released upward from the downstream end portion of the ball accommodating flow path 190 and is allowed to engage with the game ball located in the downstream end portion of the ball accommodating flow path 190 (to the ball feeding flow path 131 ′ of the game ball). (An attitude that allows the derivation of) (see FIG. 28B).

  The moving mechanism 187 is a mechanism that can change the ball housing member 186 that moves the plurality of ball housing members 186 to face the collection ball flow channel 114 ′ and the ball feed flow channel 131 ′ of the ball circulation mechanism 35 ′. As shown in FIG. 29, a moving tray (accommodating member mounting portion) 201 that is mounted (placed) in a state where two ball accommodating members 186 are stacked in the front-rear direction, and the movable tray 201 is enclosed in a ball game A slide drive unit 202 that slides in the front-rear direction of the machine 1 and a position detection switch 203 (first position detection switch 203a, second position detection switch 203b) that detects the position of the moving tray 201 are provided. The moving tray 201 is a horizontally long shallow dish-like member. At the bottom of the moving tray 201, a tray communication port 205 that communicates with the outlet of the ball housing member 186 of each ball housing member 186 is installed. A plurality of (two in the present embodiment) penetrates the slide tray 206 along the right and left side portions of the moving tray 201 along the moving direction of the moving tray 201 (the front and rear direction of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1). The slide protrusion 206 is extended and fitted into a slide guide groove 207 provided on the left and right side walls of the unit case 185 in a slidable state. Further, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a cam groove 208 connecting the slide drive unit 202 is formed on the lower surface of the moving tray 201 in the left-right direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving tray 201 (the longitudinal direction of the moving tray 201). The position detection piece 209 that can be detected by the position detection switch 203 is provided on the side opposite to the tray communication port 205 (on the right side in FIG. 30) with the cam groove 208 interposed therebetween. Projecting downwards 201.

  The slide drive unit 202 is attached to the lower part of the unit case 185 with the conversion drive motor 211 protruding from the output shaft to the upper moving tray 201 side, and the output drive shaft rotates together with a disk-shaped drive rotary plate 212. The cam follower 213 protrudes and engages with the cam groove 208 at a position outside the rotation center of the drive rotary plate 212. On the opposite side (right side in FIG. 29) of the unit case 185 to the opposite side (right side in FIG. 29) of the ball drive channel 131 ′ (bottom opening 185a) across the slide drive unit 202 on the bottom upper surface of the unit case 185, the moving tray 201 A first position detection switch 203a that detects the position on the rear side and a second position detection switch 203b that detects the position on the front side of the unit case 185 are arranged in a line along the moving direction of the moving tray 201. doing.

  In the ball exchange unit 180 having such a configuration, the conversion drive motor 211 is driven to rotate the cam follower 213 together with the drive rotation plate 212. At this time, when the cam follower 213 rotates and moves to the front side of the ball exchange unit 180, the cam follower 213 presses the cam groove 208 toward the front side of the ball exchange unit 180, and the moving tray 201 and the ball housing member are pressed by this pressing force. 186 moves to the front side of the ball exchange unit 180. When the cam follower 213 reaches a position immediately in front of the output shaft, the second encapsulated sphere is converted into a second derived state that can be derived to the ball feed channel 131 ′. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 32 (a), the second tray accommodating member 186b mounted on the rear side of the moving tray 201 is located at the front end of the moving range of the moving tray 201. Arranged in a derivable position (a position sandwiched between the ball feed flow path 131 ′ and the collection ball flow path 114 ′), the second sphere receiving flow path 190 b is connected to the ball feed flow path 131 ′ and the recovery sphere. The second enclosing sphere can be led out to the spherical feed channel 131 ′ through the spherical channel 114 ′. Further, the position detection piece 209 is detected by the second position detection switch 203b, and by this detection, the second ball housing member 186b is disposed at a position where it can be withdrawn, and further, the second sealed ball is moved to the ball feed channel 131 ′. It is possible to detect that the second encapsulated sphere can be introduced into the second sphere accommodating flow path 190b through the launching device 14, the game area 6, the recovery rod member 113, and the recovery sphere flow path 114 ′. It becomes.

  On the other hand, when the cam follower 213 rotates and moves to the rear side of the ball exchange unit 180, the cam follower 213 presses the cam groove 208 toward the rear side of the ball exchange unit 180, and this pressing force causes the moving tray 201 and the ball storage. The member 186 moves to the rear side of the ball exchange unit 180. When the cam follower 213 reaches a position immediately behind the output shaft, the first encapsulated sphere is converted into a first derivation state that can be derivatized into the ball feed flow path 131 ′. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 (b), the first tray accommodating member 186 a mounted on the front side of the moving tray 201 is located at the rear end of the moving range of the moving tray 201. The first sphere accommodating flow path 190a is disposed at the derivable position and communicates with the ball feed flow path 131 'and the recovery sphere flow path 114' so that the first enclosed sphere can be led to the ball feed flow path 131 '. . Further, the position detection piece 209 is detected by the first position detection switch 203a, and by this detection, the first ball housing member 186a is arranged at the derivable position, and further, the first sealed ball is in the ball feed flow path 131 ′. It is possible to detect that the first encapsulated sphere can be introduced into the first sphere accommodating flow path 190a through the launching device 14, the game area 6, the recovery rod member 113, and the recovery sphere flow path 114 ′. It becomes.

  The control system in the second embodiment is basically the same as that in the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 33, the enclosed ball control device 170 is operated by a ball exchange unit based on a signal from the rate changeover switch 25. It is configured to control 180. Specifically, a drive control signal is transmitted to the conversion drive motor 211 based on a signal from each position detection switch 203 or a switch signal from the rate switch 25. If the switching signal of the rate changeover switch 25 is a signal indicating “high rate” (for example, a lending rate set to 3 yen or 4 yen per game ball), the ball exchange unit 180 is set to the first. The first encapsulated ball of φ11 mm is circulated and used in the game after being converted to the derived state, and the switching signal of the rate change switch 25 is “low rate” (for example, a lending rate set to 1 yen or 2 yen per game ball) ), The ball exchange unit 180 is converted to the second derived state, and the second encapsulated ball having a diameter of 11.1 mm is set to be circulated and used in the game.

  The enclosed ball control device 170 functions as a floating ball monitoring unit, and during the game, the ball circulation mechanism unit 35 is based on detection signals (detection results) from the collected ball detection switch 126 and the feed ball detection switch 133. Floating spheres of game balls (in other words, game balls moving in the launching device 14, the launch ball guide path 42, the game area 6, and the winning ball flow path 63) existing outside the ′ and outside the ball exchange unit 180 The number is counted (specifically, it is stored in a floating sphere counter set in the work area of the encapsulated sphere control device 170), and the presence of the floating sphere can be accurately monitored.

  In the enclosed ball game machine 1 of the second embodiment having such a configuration, when the player operates the rate change switch 25, the enclosed ball control device 170 functions as setting information receiving means, and the rate change switch The switching signal from 25 is received as setting information of a conversion rate (lending rate) when converting the valuable value possessed by the player into the game value used for the game. Also, it functions as a sphere diameter changing means, and determines the derivation state of the sphere exchange unit 180 based on the setting information received as the setting information receiving means (switching signal from the rate changeover switch 25), and the ball circulation mechanism section 35 ' The sphere storage member 186 to be exposed to the sphere is selected. Further, when it is determined that there is no floating sphere functioning as the floating sphere monitoring means, the sphere diameter changing means is selected based on this determination. Control is performed so that the ball receiving member 186 faces the ball circulation mechanism 35 '.

  Specifically, when the player operates the rate changeover switch 25 to switch to the “high rate”, the enclosing ball control device 170 causes the first ball housing member 186a associated in advance with the setting information of “high rate”. (Sphere accommodating member 186 that accommodates the first enclosing sphere having a diameter of 11 mm) is selected, and further functions as a movement mechanism control means that is a part of the sphere diameter changing means, and controls the movement of the movement mechanism 187 to change the ball exchange unit. 180 is converted into the first lead-out state, and the first ball-containing member 186a is made to face the ball circulation mechanism 35 'so that the first enclosing ball can be led out and introduced. Further, when the player operates the rate change switch 25 to switch to the “low rate”, the enclosing ball control device 170 causes the second ball accommodating member 186b (φ11. A ball housing member 186) that accommodates a 1 mm second enclosed ball is selected, and further functions as a moving mechanism control means that is a part of the spherical diameter changing means, and controls the movement of the moving mechanism 187 to perform a ball exchange unit 180. Is converted into the second lead-out state, and the second ball-containing member 186b is made to face the ball circulation mechanism portion 35 'so that the second enclosing ball can be led out and introduced. As a result, when the “high rate” is set, the first enclosing ball is used, and when the “low rate” is set, the second enclosing ball is used so that the winning rate and the winning rate are set lower than when the “high rate” is set. .

  After the ball exchange unit 180 is converted to the first derivation state or the second derivation state based on the player's operation of the rate changeover switch 25, when the game ball operates the firing operation unit 15, it is arranged at the derivation possible position. In the ball housing member 186, the ball feed solenoid 193 in the ball housing member 186 is driven, and the ball feed member 194 changes from the normal derivation preventing posture to the derivation allowed posture, and one game ball is transferred to the ball feeding member 194. Let it be derived. If it is detected by the feed ball detection switch 133 that one game ball has been led out, the driving of the ball feed solenoid 193 stops and the ball feed member 194 returns to the normal lead-out preventing posture again, and the ball containing flow The game ball in the path 190 is prevented from being led to the ball feeding member 194. In addition, in the ball housing member 186 deviated from the derivable position, the ball feed solenoid 193 is not driven regardless of whether or not the firing operation unit 15 is operated, and the ball feed member 194 is maintained in the lead-out preventing posture. By providing the ball feeding member 194 that performs such an operation, the game ball can be easily led out from the ball housing member 186, and the ball housing member 186 facing the rear part of the ball circulation machine (arranged at a position where it can be led out). The game ball is not spilled out from the ball housing member 186 when changing the ball housing member 186). Further, since the feed ball detection switch 133 is disposed in the ball feed channel 131 ′, it is not necessary to provide the feed ball detection switch 133 for each ball housing member 186.

  In this way, in the second embodiment, a ball ball 186 from which a ball can be derived and introduced can be selected from the ball ball members 186, and a ball that circulates through the ball circulation mechanism 35 '( Since the diameter of the game ball used for circulation in the game can be changed, the winning rate of the game ball into the winning area without adjusting the setting of the path of the game ball (separation distance of the obstacle nail, etc.) in the game area 6 Can be changed, and the exit rate in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 can be easily changed. Further, since the ball housing member 186 is selected based on the setting information of the conversion rate (lending rate) at the time of conversion to the game value, it is possible to easily set the ball-out rate suitable for the valuable value conversion rate. Furthermore, since the ball storage member 186 is changed by moving the plurality of ball storage members 186 by the moving mechanism 187, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 capable of easily setting the ball exit rate can be realized with a simple configuration. .

  Further, since the ball housing member 186 is changed based on the determination that there is no floating sphere, either the first encapsulated sphere or the second encapsulated sphere is placed on the outside of the ball circulation mechanism 35 ′ and the sphere exchange. While the unit 180 exists outside the unit 180, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the other encapsulated ball is set in a state where it can be circulated in the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent game balls having different diameters from being mixed in the ball housing member 186. Further, since the recovery ball detection switch 126 is disposed at the downstream end of the recovery ball flow path 114 ′, the floating ball is introduced into the ball storage member 186 before the ball storage member 186 is changed, and the change of the ball storage member 186 is performed. It is possible to reliably confirm that the preparation has been completed, and it is possible to further prevent the game balls having different diameters from being mixed in the ball housing member 186. Further, it is not necessary to provide the collection ball detection switch 126 for each ball housing member 186.

  Next, the ball exchange control executed by the enclosed ball control device 170 in the second embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. First, as shown in FIG. 34, the main process of the enclosing ball control device 170 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but does not execute the enclosing ball control process (S6), and instead performs card control. The difference is that the lending rate setting process (S60) is executed between the process (S3) and the lending control process (S4). The lending rate setting process is a process for setting a lending rate based on a lending rate signal from the ball lending unit 31 or a switching signal from the rate changeover switch 25. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 35, first, it is determined whether or not the rate switching signal is generated by operating the rate switching switch 25 (S61), and when the rate switching signal is not generated. Terminates the lending rate setting process immediately, and if a rate switching signal has been generated, sets the firing stop state by turning off the transmission of the firing permission signal to the firing control device 176 (S62). If the firing stop state is set, the gaming state is determined. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the game is in the special game state (S63), whether or not the probability change / time is short (S64), whether or not there is a start memory (S65), and whether or not the variable display game is being executed (S66). ). Then, if it is in any gaming state determined in steps S63 to S66, the lending rate setting process is immediately terminated, and if it is not in any gaming state, it is determined whether or not a floating ball exists. (S67). Further, if there is a floating ball, the lending rate setting process is immediately terminated, and if it does not exist, a lending rate corresponding to the rate switching signal (rate switching input) is set (S68).

  If the lending rate is set in step S68, it is determined whether or not the possessed ball number counter is a positive value (whether or not there is a retained ball) (S69), and the retained ball number counter is a positive value. In the event that the number of balls held is changed, the value of the number-of-balls counter is converted into the number of balls according to the lending rate (S70). Then, after executing the ball number conversion in step S70, or if the ball holding number counter is not a positive value in step S69 (that is, there is no ball holding), the lending rate is set to “high rate”. It is determined whether or not (S71). If the result of this determination is that “high rate” is set, control is performed to enable the first encapsulated sphere to be circulated. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the first position detection switch 203a detects the position detection piece 209 and is in the ON state, in other words, whether or not the first ball housing member 186a is disposed at the derivable position ( S72) If the first position detection switch 203a detects the position detection piece 209, the lending rate setting process is immediately terminated; otherwise, the first position detection switch 203a detects the position detection piece 209. The conversion drive motor 211 is driven (S73, S74), and it is determined in step S74 that the first position detection switch 203a has detected the position detection piece 209 (the first ball housing member 186a is disposed at a position where it can be derived). If so, the lending rate setting process is terminated.

  Further, if the result of determination in S71 is that “high rate” is not set (in other words, “low rate” is set), control is performed to enable circulation of the second encapsulated sphere. Specifically, it is determined whether the second position detection switch 203b detects the position detection piece 209 and is in an ON state, in other words, whether the second ball housing member 186b is disposed at the derivable position ( S75) If the second position detection switch 203b detects the position detection piece 209, the lending rate setting process is immediately terminated. If not, the second position detection switch 203b detects the position detection piece 209. The conversion drive motor 211 is driven (S76, S77), and it is determined in step S77 that the second position detection switch 203b has detected the position detection piece 209 (the second ball housing member 186b has been placed in a derivable position). If so, the lending rate setting process is terminated.

  By the way, in the said 2nd Embodiment, although the diameter of the game ball used in a game was changeable based on operation of the rate change switch 25 by a player, this invention is not limited to this. In short, as long as the diameter of the game ball used in the game can be changed, the diameter of the game ball may be changed based on any information or input. For example, a position in which a desired ball housing member 186 can be derived by operating the ball exchange unit 180 with a selection operation switch arranged in a state in which the player is not operable (such as not being exposed to the front surface of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1). If a game is not performed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 (preparation for opening a game store, etc.), the game store clerk operates the selection operation switch to win a winning rate in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1; As a result, it is possible to adjust the pitch rate. Moreover, it is preferable that the winning rate and the winning rate can be easily adjusted without adjusting the setting of the path of the game ball in the game area 6 (such as the separation distance of the obstacle nail).

  Further, in the second embodiment, the lending rate is set in two stages, and the two ball housing members 186 are attached to the ball exchange unit 180 corresponding to this setting, but the present invention is not limited to this. The lending rate is set to a plurality of stages of three or more stages, and the ball exchange unit 180 is equipped with three or more ball housing members 186 having different diameters of game balls to be accommodated, and based on the switching of the lending rate, You may set so that the diameter of the game ball used for a game may be changed. Further, the ball feeding solenoid 193 is built in each ball housing member 186, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a ball feeding solenoid is provided outside the ball housing member 186 in the unit case 185, and only the ball feeding member 194 of the ball housing member 186 arranged at the detachable position is engaged with the plunger of the ball feeding solenoid. The ball feeding member 194 of the ball housing member 186 that is convertible to the derivation allowable posture and is located outside the derivable position may be configured to be maintained in the derivation blocking state.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the storage case 47 is attached to the mounting base 78 mounted on the back side of the game board 5, and the display device 46, which is an electronic device, is stored in the storage case 47. It is not limited to this. In short, as long as the storage case in which the electronic device is stored is fixed to the mounting base 78, the type of the electronic device and the mounting position of the mounting base 78 in the gaming machine can be any setting. Good. Further, the storage case may be fastened (fixed) to the mounting base 78 using a fastening member that is a substitute for the screw.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the encapsulated ball type gaming machine 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and includes a storage case for storing an electronic device, and a mounting base to which the storage case is attached, Any gaming machine may be used as long as the storage case is screwed to the mounting base. For example, it may be a pachinko gaming machine that flows down the game area 6 and discharges the game balls used for the game to the island facility without circulating inside.

  It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the above description, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Enclosed ball game machine 3 Front frame 5 Game board 6 Game area 8 Opening and closing member 9 Transparent member 12 Ball lending input / output panel 14 Launching device 15 Launching operation unit 18 Error indicator 19 Opening and closing detection switch 25 Rate change switch 27 Lending rate display Unit 28 Balance display unit 29 Number of balls held 35, 35 'Ball circulation mechanism unit 40 Game board main body 40a Opening portion 42 Launch ball guide path 44 Enclosure frame 46 Display device 46a Display unit 47 Storage case 48 Display unit 49 Effect control Device 53 Normal start gate 54 Start winning opening 55 First big winning opening 56 Second big winning opening 58 General winning opening 64 Winning ball collecting unit 71 Center case 72 Control base unit 74 Display opening 75 Large winning ball guide path 78 Installation Base 79 Recessed chamber 80 Rear side wall portion 81 Window portion 83 First accessory unit 84 Second accessory unit 84a Member 84b Accessory drive motor 85 Connection passage 87 Cover lens 90 Fastening portion 91 Supporting protrusion 92 Contacting portion 92a Positioning receiving portion 95 Mounting portion 96 Fastening receiving portion 101 Supporting portion 101a Side side portion 101b Lower side portion 102 Positioning portion 104 Supporting step portion 105 Step portion 107 Communication space portion 108 Expansion space portion 109 Step side space portion 113 Recovery saddle member 114, 114 'Collection ball passage 115 Connection passage 116 Bending passage 117 Ball feed portion 119 Foul ball receiving portion 120 Collection Ball receiving portion 121 Falling ball drop cage 122 Falling ball detection switch 126 Recovery ball detection switch 128 Ball amount switch 131, 131 ′ Ball feed flow path 132 Ball feed device 133 Feed ball detection switch 134 Launch ball support portion 137 Ball feed member 138 Ball Feed solenoid 143 Ball introduction unit 144 Ball discharge unit 146 Ball supply receiving unit 1 47 Introduction ball flow path 148 Ball introduction apparatus 153 Ball introduction motor 156 Discharge ball flow path 157 Discharge ball detection switch 158 Flow path switching apparatus 161 Flow path switching member 162 Flow path switching solenoid 165 Game control apparatus 170 Enclosed ball control apparatus 180 Ball exchange Unit 186 Ball housing member 187 Moving mechanism 190 Ball housing flow path 193 Ball feed solenoid 194 Ball feed member 201 Moving tray 202 Slide drive unit 203 Position detection switch 211 Conversion drive motor

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine comprising a storage case for storing an electronic device, and a mounting base for mounting the storage case, and fixing the storage case to the mounting base with a fastening member,
The mounting base is
A mounting portion for attaching the storage case;
A support part capable of supporting the lower part and one side part of the storage case,
In the middle of the side part that supports one side part of the storage case among the support parts, the front part of the gaming machine has a dimension shallower than the front-rear width along the front and back direction of the gaming machine. A support step that is recessed toward the surface is formed,
A gaming machine , wherein one side portion of the storage case is provided with a support protrusion that protrudes toward a side of the storage case and is supported by being engaged with the support step portion . A portion of the support portion that supports the storage case is provided with a positioning portion that positions the storage case attached to the attachment portion,
  The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage case is provided with a positioning receiving portion positioned by the positioning portion.

Images